I’d Trade Pickleball Courts for a Working Rainwater System Any Day – Newton Daily News

Unbelievable! That was one of the reactions I got when I read that our City Council will not raise stormwater rates to fund much-needed improvements to Newton’s aging and crumbling sewer and wastewater systems. Even after we just experienced a city-wide flood, our elected officials don’t think they can justify a 5 percent rate increase, with a nominal increase each of the next five years to fund these much-needed improvements? It defies common sense. The Council knows this is a problem that should have been addressed years ago. I’d trade pickleball courts and a non-existent softball complex for a working stormwater system any day.

And why are they so against this? It seems like businesses here in Newton are being hurt by a rate increase. Think about the residents whose basements saw inches of water, in some cases feet, and the streets that were flooded throughout the city. No, I think our city council is more concerned with not upsetting the businesses in town than they are with taking care of the citizens they are supposed to represent.

I can understand why nonprofits are getting a break, but the big corporations in town, and we all know who I’m talking about, can well afford the increase. They use the exact same utilities as the rest of us, they should pay.

My water bill hovers around $70-$75 per month. A 5 percent increase would mean I pay an extra $3.75 per month. I don’t think that will put anyone out on the street. And compared to the cost of cleaning a flooded basement, it’s a piece of cake.

Joel Mills and Stacy Simbro have the right attitude about this. I wish I could say our other council members were as reasonable and not so beholden to the business interests of the city.

Every Newton resident should be outraged by our council’s hesitation on this. The next time your basement floods, send the city the cleanup bill. If they don’t solve the problem, they own the problem. They have made some improvements in some neighborhoods, including mine, for which I am grateful. But the rest of Newton residents need to clean up the mess caused by the council’s crippling inaction.

Make your voice heard.

John Moore

Newton