To comply with campaign finance laws, citizens have taken sides and formed two Ballot Question Committees, the pro override Move Newton Forward and anti-override Newton For Fiscal Responsibility.

Another group with the same street address as the Newton Public School system has taken a position too, The Newton Schools Foundation.

On page 9 of last week’s edition of the Newton Tab the Newton Schools Foundation (NSF) placed a half page “paid political advertisement” endorsing the override.

Using a NSF logo the ad’s headline states, “Newton Schools Foundation Supports “YES” on May 20.” It goes on to say the “Newton Schools Foundation supports a “yes” vote for the $12 million operating override on May 20, 2008″ and then concludes with an urgent appeal to voters to “vote yes on May 20th.”

According to the ad, it was “paid for privately by members of the Board of Directors of the Newton Schools Foundation.” Newton Public Schools (NPS) Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Young is on this board.

The newspaper ad says the”Newton Schools Foundation is not part of the Newton Public Schools” but raises private money for special programs in the schools and “broaden[s] public support for public education.” The NSF has the same office address as the Newton Public Schools, is listed in the NPS online phone directory, and has an NPS email address.

But, as of election day it does not appear that the NSF, a 501c3 non profit, has registered a separate ballot question committee with the Newton Election Commission to raise and expend money for the TAB advertisement.

His first bill, HR 5842 lets doctors prescribe and recommend marijuana to their patients. Congressman Franks’ second bill, HR 5843 eliminates criminal penalties for possession of up to “100 grams” of the drug. Any adult who wants to smoke marijuana, could legally do so under Frank’s proposal.

HR 5842 does not require a prescription, only a recommendation by a doctor. HR 5843, also decriminalizes the “not for profit” transfer of the drug.

In a statement released by Mr. Frank’s Congressional office, he did not see any distinction between smoking marijuana and smoking cigarettes. Despite new laws that crack down on tobacco smokers, Frank said “I do not believe that the federal government should treat adults who choose to smoke marijuana as criminals.”

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML, a Washington based organization seeking the repeal of all civil and criminal penalties for the possession and use of marijuana urged their members to support the legislation. NORMAL PAC has given $3500 in contributions to Congressman Frank since 2002.

The February 4th resolution suggests that the US military is the cause of “sectarian” violence and wants to start a war with “neighboring countries” such as Iran.

The resolution blames Newton’s current fiscal crisis on the Iraq war. It says the money funding the war could be better spent by the Aldermen on items such as “health care,”"education” and dealing with local “political threats” in the Newton community.

In the coming weeks NewtonLiberalmania will examine this action more carefully. To date, no other news source or blog has done so. We will be the first.

#349-07
CITY OF NEWTON
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN
FEBRUARY 4, 2008
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ AND BEGIN AN IMMEDIATE, ORDERLY, RAPID WITHDRAWAL OF ALL UNITED STATES MILITARY FORCES FROM IRAQ

BE IT RESOLVED:

WHEREAS, the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, which was passed by the United States Congress on October 11, 2002, cited Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United Armed Forces against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, on January 12, 2005, President Bush, having found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, officially declared an end to the search; and WHEREAS, the war in Iraq, now in its fourth year, has caused the deaths of more than 3,700 American soldiers and an estimated 600,000 Iraqis, the physical and psychological wounding and disabling of more than 27,000 American soldiers and of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and the destruction of the homes, communities, and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; and

WHEREAS, the United States occupation of Iraq has placed significant strains on the capacity of our Armed Forces, both active duty and reserve, as well as the National Guard; and

WHEREAS, the war and continued occupation have devastated Iraq’s physical and social infrastructure and led to widespread and continuous resistance to the U.S. presence that threatens the lives of Iraqi civilians and the men and women who compose the ranks of the U.S. Military; and

WHEREAS, the war in Iraq has created a climate of human rights violations including torture and detention of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other sites, that have inflamed anti-American passions throughout the world and have increased the terrorist threat to United States citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Administration’s current plans require an open ended and indefinite continuation of the war and include plans for permanent military bases in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to bring an end to this war because our military presence exacerbates sectarian and regional conflicts, and increases the risk the war will spread to neighboring countries; and

WHEREAS, the funds used for the war in Iraq are necessary to address the urgent needs of Newton and other communities for health care, education, and protection from natural and political threats; and

WHEREAS, long-term concurrent military operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq have strained military resources resulting in extended and multiple tours of duty for military personnel; and

WHEREAS, a newly commissioned U.S. armed forces study has found a rise in reported incidence of mental and emotional conditions resulting in increased suicides, depression, and divorce among military personnel and their families; and

WHEREAS, at a time when the need for health and social services for military personnel has never been greater, military care facilities such as Walter Reed Hospital, have been determined to be deficient and in need of significant rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, particularly in the face of recent economic downturns, U.S. military veterans have been prevalent among those experiencing joblessness, mental illness, drug addiction and homelessness; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the Board of Alderman to act on behalf and in the best interest of the citizens of Newton,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Newton Board of Aldermen

• urges the President and the Defense Department to commence immediately an orderly and rapid withdrawal of all United States military personnel from Iraq;

• urges the President and the Department of State, to act in accordance with international law, by pursuing the security and stability of Iraq through diplomacywith the cooperation of other nations and the United Nations;

• urges members of Congress to use their legislative powers to bring about an end to the war and the adoption of other means to assist Iraq and defend the safety of the United States; and

• urges that appropriate state and federal agencies join with municipalities to provide comprehensive health and social care services for current U.S. militarypersonnel, U.S. veterans, and their families.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Newton Board of Alderman shall send copies of this resolution to President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to all members of the Massachusetts Congressional and Senatorial delegation, Governor Deval Patrick, Mayor David Cohen and to the Newton TAB, the major Boston-area newspapers and television stations.

Resolution Approved
20 yeas 4 nays (Aldermen Harney, Gentile, Salvucci, Yates)

R. Lisle Baker, President

His announcement that he is filing a bill to legalize marijuana was made last Friday on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.

“The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly” and should be decriminalized for possession and use of “small amounts” the Congressman said.

It is currently illegal to smoke tobacco, not just marijuana, in most public spaces in Newton. Violators may be subject to legal action for breaking the law.

It’s unclear whether Congressman Frank’s bill would also decriminalize tobacco use or if it only applies to marijuana smokers using a “small amount” of the drug to get high.