On 3A, Compassion, Clarity, Collaboration are Key
Dear Editor,
The state law passed by Governor Baker in early 2021 known as the MBTA Communities Act, or Section 3A, has sparked a firestorm of unrest in Winthrop (and several of the other 177 communities subject to this law) since its first public presentation at a Town Council meeting in January. Some of this response has been warranted- after all, there was no context provided as to why new zoning for multifamily housing was being proposed, no background explaining how or why the state came up with this ruling, and no effort to engage the public in a process until what appeared to have been fully baked maps were put forth. Indeed, we’ve had a lot of catching up and a lot of collective learning to do around this law.
However, some of the public response that’s taken shape, particularly on social media, has been divisive and combative, aimed at instilling fear and skepticism rather than seeking to understand and form solutions. Rather than urging our elected officials to reject state law and risk losing access to critical grant programs while taking on expensive legal fees, we should be supporting them towards opportunities for creative thinking and collaboration- with the state, with each other, and with the communities they serve. This type of thinking requires compassion, both for the people who support this law and for those who oppose it, fueled by a willingness to hear other perspectives while seeking information that provides clarity to an otherwise confusing issue (zoning).
We believe Winthrop has the ability to be part of the solution to our state’s debilitating housing crisis without overcrowding our neighborhoods, burdening our schools or exacerbating traffic or parking woes. Robust and thoughtful planning informed by both the lived experiences of residents and the guidance of industry experts can help us succeed. But we have to be willing to listen, to learn and in some cases, to make compromises.
In a state where population and job growth has outpaced housing growth for decades, zoning is but one of many tools at our disposal to proactively respond to this supply/demand mismatch. Only the market can determine what actually gets built, but with careful and strategic planning, we can create zoning that steers new development to the places we deem most appropriate with design characteristics and additional requirements (for heights, affordability, greenspace etc) that reflect the priorities of our community. A robust and transparent public process will be critical to ensuring this happens, and we hope our town officials make this a priority.
The State is not and should not be our enemy- nor should the people who try to inform and support this process. We can, and should, work collaboratively towards a zoning plan that reflects the work Winthrop has already done to meet housing demand while still meeting compliance with the law. We believe this is possible if both “sides”- including the Town and the State, the supporters and the opponents- are willing to bend.
Ultimately, both “sides” of the 3A debate have been guilty of overstating the magnitude of the 3A zoning law, from its capacity to build affordability to our region’s most exclusive suburbs to its risk of being a boon to greedy developers. While there are merits of truth in these claims, both are creating a somewhat distorted perception and clouding our ability to see things clearly. This quote in a recent Commonwealth Beacon article sums it up in a way that we think resonates: “To borrow a baseball analogy, MBTA Communities is a clutch hit. But it’s more likely a single than the promised (or threatened) home run.”
Winthrop is a strong, amazing community with minds and backgrounds as diverse as our housing stock. We have the ability to take in all perspectives, all concerns, and all resources available to us as we move through this planning process for which we have until the end of 2024 to complete. As concerned residents who have invested in this town, we look forward to working with our state and local elected leaders and our neighbors as fellow stakeholders in that process.
Scott Mahoney-Wright, Precinct 3
Julia Wallerce, Precinct 2
Thank You, Viking Nation
Dear Editor,
On behalf of Coach Norris, our staff and myself, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude towards our fans, parents, alumni, boosters and administrators for your unwavering support. I want to especially thank our student section whose enthusiasm and creativity with different themes for each game was awesome!!
This season was so special because an incredible group of kids made us all feel so proud to be Vikings! The brotherhood these boys formed was so genuine and our captain’s and seniors should be very proud in creating such a selfless culture both on and off the ice. I’ve had so many people approach me and not just from our town, telling me what a classy group of kids we have which speaks volumes to their character!
Although we didn’t achieve our ultimate goal of winning a state championship for our great town and program, this year’s NEC Championship was our seniors’ third in four years which is an amazing feat. This team has left its mark in our program’s great Tradition and leaves a legacy and blueprint of the highest of standards for all our youth players, parents and fans to follow.
Personally, I will miss this senior class immensely (Petey Silverman, Billy Hayes, Rob Rich, Hunter Fife, Joe Rich, Jackson Andy, Glen Calla and Teddy Bailey) but you will walk together forever!
Respectfully,
Coach Dunbar