Talk:Newton, Massachusetts

Use of exceptional

To me, at least, this quote raises questions:

"It is known for its exceptional public schools and other public services."

1. The use of exceptional, to describe anything, other than when used in a quotation, seems very out of place in an Encyclopedia 2. "...known for..." Known for? By whom? I'm not disputing this, but I believe more than that is needed.

As a newton resident, with family members who are teachers, over the years I have heard anecdotes to the effect that Newton has long been known for its excellent public schools; will try to look into the 24.60.137.141 00:23, 1 October 2006 (UTC) I'll be editing that bit. If anyone would like to elaborate and/or prove that POV, I think it'd be a good idea if they posted their reasoning here. Picaroon9288 23:11, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

Aquinas College

Aquinas College doesn't exist anymore, so I'm deleting it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.91.194.224 (talk • contribs) .

"Local legend"

Calling the bilious anti-semitic line about Newton's naming origins a "local legend" and footnoting it raises a dumb joke to the level of academic fact. Look closely at the reference and you'll notice even the original author acknowledges this is as a "quip" and nothing more. Surely it beggars reason that the nickname "Garden City" would have any origin other than the region's natural abundance of green space. --Stirlazy 10:55, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Uh, what? It's not anti-semitic. Newton has a fairly high percentage of Jews (not as high as Brookline, I suspect, but still quite high), and many people do make that joke. FYI, you might find this interesting: http://www.newtoncitizens.com/worsh_denom.shtml

Would "local joke" be acceptable? Ladlergo 12:39, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

The original wording of the "local legend" entry clearly identified the pun linking Rosenbloom to Garden City as nonserious language; i.e., nothing more than a local legend or local joke. But a funny, and well documented, local legend nonetheless. I think it's worth including, and don't see how it's "bilious" or "anti-semitic" — and the editors of American Jewish History would seem by their actions to agree. --ScottMainwaring 02:58, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

I wouldn't characterize it as anti-semitic or a legend. It may be tasteless and crass, but it was a fact of life. We pretty much shut classes down on Jewish High Holidays. I count that multi-cultural exposure as on of the most valuable things in my life. I grew up in Newton in the '50s and it was a common joke among high-schoolers that Newton was the Garden City because there was a Rosenbloom on every corner. Wake 03:13, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Why anyone would want to add this "joke" of suspicious tone in the opening paragraph to an otherwise encyclopedic entry is beyond me. Why not call New York City "Hymietown" in its opening paragraph and footnote it to Jesse Jackson? Stirlazy 05:48, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

-> The "hymietown" reference would be appropriate if it were in wide use, or its origins were referred to frequently. In fact a section on the ethnic history of Newton might resolve this -- anyone up for it? I don't think simply deleting the entry and its reference is the healthy way to go and I deplore someone's simply using a red pen this way.-RICH July 28 5:40 pm

Mr. Stirlazy...are you from Newton or the greater Boston area? Because if you were you would realize this is not anti-semitic in the least. I wouldnt say its tasteless or crass as numerous jewish newtonians like myself are certainly proud of the fact that we essentially dominate the "safest city in america". Therefore the reference, as it was, was very tastefully stated and explained why the saying is what it is. Encyclopedia articles are supposed to let you know information about things, and explaining the origin to people reading this article (again, it is EXTREMELY common to hear this quip around Boston, the area where most of the people reading this article will be from anyways) is very important to educate people about something they may hear so they aren't surprised to hear something so common. Besides, like I said, Us Newtonian Jews are most proud of our accomplishments in Newton

Call to talk to contributors

I'm a reporter for Boston Globe writing a story about Wiki entries for local cities and towns. Interested to talk to contributors to this article. On deadline. Please contact me at thomascaywood@yahoo.com by Sunday, Sept. 17. Thanks! Thomas

This guy left a note on my talk page and I talked to him this afternoon, blabbing away all over the place. He's writing a piece for the West Suburban Globe next Thursday. He was interested in the editing process and I explained how a watchlist worked, also history and talk page. He wanted to know if any politicians had tried to influence the page. I pointed to the list of notable dwellers, no politician listed.

He seemed pretty straight-arrow to me, interested in Wikipedia. I told him he should find his favorite band and edit something. He said he liked rockabilly, so I suggested Sleepy LaBeef. Ortolan88 02:37, 15 September 2006 (UTC) PS -- Having been a reporter myself, I will be interested to see how this ends up looking in print. Tom P.

I see Joe DeNucci, a legitimate newsmaker, is in there, and a little bit of ax-grinding about the Needham taxes and Newton traffic, a bit POV, but that's not a lot of politics for an article about a decent-sized city. Ortolan88 02:44, 15 September 2006 (UTC)

Yikes, Globe took my picture today. I hope to hell I'm not the only one they talked to. Ortolan88 23:48, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

No article after two West sections. I think he wanted a story about politicians busting in, but it wasn't there. Ortolan88 20:58, 25 September 2006 (UTC) Later: Scheduled for Sept. 28. Developing . . . as the big boys say. Ortolan88 15:38, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

Here it is: "Answering Wikipedia's Call to Fill In the Blanks". I don't think I sound as much of an idiot as I feared. No pix online, but only in print, limiting collateral damage. Ortolan88 14:32, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Poor Quality of life due to High Housing Costs

Newton is an example of a phenomenon that has occured in many areas of the US since the 90s: rapidly rising housing prices have had very profound effects on the community. For instance, the price of housing in Newton now is such that school teachers, police and fire officers, etc, can no longer live in the town, and that "well paid" proffessionals have what is, in efffect, a greatly reduced standard of living. Perhpas this is a harbrigner of a change in what is consdiered standard in American middle class housing, as we move to standards more typicall of , say, Japan.24.60.137.141 00:23, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Why is this here? This isn't a forum for your political opinions. This for discussion of the encyclopedia entry. And there are still plenty of working class people living in Newton. I am one of them. We don't all live in those mansions on Comm Ave....Newtonville, Nonantum, and West Newton are hardly "rich."

Map of Newton

We need a map! I changed the "picture request" tag to a "map request". Yuletide 19:27, 22 March 2007 (UTC)