A Step Toward Better Service or a Community Concern? Make Your Voice Heard! The MBTA has now filed a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Reading Turnback project, formally triggering the public review process. Residents are STRONGLY encouraged to attend the below meetings to make their voices heard — if approved by the Conservation Commission, construction could begin as early …
Beyond the Labels: Restoring Respect in Local Dialogue!
Even in small-town communities like Reading, heightened political rhetoric can deepen divisions and strain community bonds. Labels like “racist,” “book banner,” “anti-LGBTQ,” “radical _____wing” (take your pick), “King,” “Woke,” or “Communist” may stem from strong convictions, but when used to characterize neighbors, they risk inflaming tensions and reducing people to caricatures. This kind of language creates mistrust and makes respectful …
Primrose Schools seeks Main Street location
Greetings to all! We hope you had a restful summer. Reading Votes intends to pick up the frequency of communications now that it’s fall. To start, here’s a notable building application you should weigh in on if you have an opinion. Please email CPDC (cpdc@ci.reading.ma.us) or attend the upcoming meeting on Monday, September 8th. Details are here: https://www.readingma.gov/707/CPDC-Upcoming-Meeting-Information Primrose Schools, a national …
Reading Votes P1-8
The following candidates we would like you to kindly consider casting a vote for are listed below on the sample ballots. These candidates represent our ideals of common sense and decision making based on facts and data. They are hardworking individuals with the best interests of Reading voters in mind. We endorse Town Meeting candidates who voted for minimalist …
Meet the candidates on March 11
Dear Reading Votes, Reading will hold a Town Election on April 8. In the coming weeks, we’ll keep you posted on candidates, issues, events, and activities. There are crucial positions on Town Meeting, the School Committee, and the Select Board to fill. Please attend a meet-and-greet next Tuesday, March 11 at the Masonic Lodge (110 Haven Street) from 6:30-8:30PM to …
MBTA Rail Extension Sparks Concerns
Dear Reading Votes, Soon after the MBTA Communities plan approval, Reading now faces another major MBTA project barreling down the tracks. The MBTA proposes to build a 4,500-foot turnback track, allowing trains to turn around and head back towards Boston on the main line. This would allow for more frequent trips between Reading and Boston at a cost of $15-$20 …
MBTA Communities Outcome & 2024 in Review
Dear Reading Votes, On November 14, Town Meeting passed Article 17, the less disruptive “paper compliance” proposal to comply with the state’s MBTA Communities law. The vote on article 17 was 129 Yes, 32 no. Before this, the vote on the more expansive Article 16 failed, with 76 yes and 85 no. A simple majority was required to pass either article. Article 16 would …
🚨MBTA Communities is Down to the Wire!
We’ve covered the MBTA Communities zoning requirements and the risks they present to Reading for over a year. Now, it’s GO TIME! We are down to two options, and only one is acceptable.Please read this short note and take action ASAP. What’s NextThe final public hearings on MBTA communities are on September 16 and 19.Then, the Community Planning & Development …
Sleepwalking Toward Unchecked Growth
MBTA Communities Act: The Big Picture The Act is essentially a way for the state of Massachusetts to bypass local zoning rights and force density on the suburbs. Your house—likely your biggest investment—is at risk of being devalued. Our infrastructure, schools, roads, and businesses are all at risk of being overwhelmed by NON-smart growth. This Act is not popular. In …
Town Planner Accusations: “Insidious Goals” and “Gaming the System”
The MBTA Communities Act meeting is this Wednesday at 7 pm. We hope you will attend (virtually or in person) and SPEAK UP. The train has left the (virtual) station and is now lumbering down the track, possibly inexorably. More details on that, but first… Why this Matters Your home is quite possibly your biggest financial investment. And the MBTA …