What happens next?
Dear Editor,
One of the more pivotal questions we can ask ourselves before taking an action is “What happens next?” It’s what the dog needs to ask itself before catching the car it’s chasing.
I can’t help but think of this question when looking at the new majority on the Town Council, all of whom ran in opposition to the MBTA-related, multi-family zoning law (3A) requiring public transportation-adjacent towns to establish one intensified density zoning district in their town. The 3A legislation easily passed because housing is a pressing issue that needs to be solved regionally, and building new housing close to public transportation makes the most sense.
The winning council members amply demonstrated the understanding that emotion often drives elections. And, even as a relative newcomer to Winthrop, I share the emotional attachment to Winthrop that most of its long-time residents hold. Winthrop is a very special place, largely an accident of geography that encouraged the development of a tight-knit residential community largely isolated from the pressures that drove commercial sprawl in other suburbs surrounding Boston. Telling people in a community that their town is at risk of losing its identity exploits understandable fears to win an election. It’s out of a tried-and-true playbook. Just look at our national politics.
But what works for a political campaign often doesn’t work for governing. The truth is that 3A will have minimal impact on Winthrop as has been amply documented by the Planning Board and the more thoughtful members of the council. On the other hand, it does put Winthrop at risk of losing access to grants and other critical funding sources and facing possible unmanageable legal costs. Our state representative amplifies the problem by proposing legislation that will somehow exempt Winthrop from 3A requirements. It’s a Hail Mary pass with little to no chance of success.
By taking a contrary path and joining the dozen or so communities (out of 177) still opposing the provisions of 3A, the new council majority presents itself with a dilemma and, like the hapless dog catching the car, needs to answer the question: “What happens next?”
Bill Demo
Town of Winthrop resident