Goldbach: Correct this mistake in Newton ASAP!
“As a long-time Newton resident who regularly visits Nonantum — and as the wife of an Italian-American — I was shocked and disappointed to see the traditional green, white, and red center lines on Adams Street erased by the DPW last Thursday night.
This action is especially upsetting given the upcoming 90th Festa of the St. Mary of Carmen Society, taking place July 16–20. The traditional Sunday night candlelight procession will again travel from Pellegrini Park to Our Lady’s Church on Adams Street, where the beloved Flight of the Angel will occur. Removing these heritage lines just before this celebration shows a troubling lack of cultural sensitivity.
While Adams Street is considered a collector street per a 2015 study, the City has never before required that it have yellow center lines. There exists no specific, recent, daily vehicle count for Adams Street. Furthermore, Massachusetts law does not mandate yellow lines on all collector streets; the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices offers guidance, not absolute rules.
The Mayor claims to have worked with a “group” on this decision, but Festival organizers have said that they were not notified that the traditional green, white, and red center lines were going to be replaced with double yellow lines, and residents report receiving no notice of the City’s plan to remove them. This lack of transparency and communication is unacceptable.
I respectfully urge the City to correct this error and restore the traditional green, white, and red lines on Adams Street in time for this year’s celebration. This small act would show respect for Nonantum’s vibrant Italian-American heritage and help preserve a cherished tradition for future generations.
Anne Goldbach
Newtonville”
Source: https://figcitynews.com/2025/06/goldbach-correct-this-mistake-in-newton-asap
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BOSTON HERALD: Opinion
Murphy: Newton mayor yellow on street lines
Nonantum residents decry loss of beloved red, white and green
Read more: https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/07/07/murphy-newton-mayor-yellow-on-street-lines
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Arri Proia: If you missed it, catch the full (commercial-free) segment of Nightside with Dan Rea where we confront the controversy Mayor Fuller caused by removing the historic Adams Street lines in Nonantum. Hear directly from me, City Councilor John Oliver, and Mayor Fuller herself as she tries to justify her decision.
The primarily Italian American neighborhood of Nonantum in Newton is outraged over a 90-year-old road marker that was painted over. For decades, the center line down Adams Street has been red, white, and green, the colors of the Italian flag. Last week, the city of Newton had the colors painted over with a yellow line, citing safety reasons. A majority of Nonantum residents prided themselves on the Italian flag road marker and are upset over this change just three weeks before the St. Mary of Carmen Society Italian Festival and parade. Did the neighborhood deserve to be included in discussions over a change in the road marker? Newton residents as well as the Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, joined Dan to discuss!
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Statement from the American Italian Alliance
Statement from 2025 Newton Mayoral Candidate Marc Laredo
Statement from Jordan Lee Wagner
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Contact city leaders to demand accountability and end to bias at city hall:
Mayors email: rfuller@newtonma.gov
City council email: citycouncil@newtonma.gov
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Sign Change.org petition @ https://chng.it/p6crqRjQTh
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A statement from the St. Mary Of Carmen Society
To our friends, neighbors, and fellow residents of Newton:
Late on the night of June 26th, without any public notice or outreach, the City of Newton abruptly removed the iconic Italian-colored lines on Adams Street. These lines are not just paint, they are sacred symbols of Italian-American pride, religious tradition, and community identity. They have been faithfully re-painted each July since 1935 to honor the Blessed Mother and mark the path of the Saint Mary of Carmen procession to our church.
This tradition is not new. It has existed in harmony with city traffic and public safety regulations for nearly a century. In fact, it has been formally permitted by the City of Newton for decades—long before the current administration.
This surprise removal of our sacred religious public art installation was done hastily and under the cover of darkness, mere weeks before the 90th Annual Festival.
The sudden invocation of a decades-old law and the timing of this selective enforcement raise
serious concerns about motive and priorities. This decision didn’t just disrupt logistics, it struck a blow to the heart of our community.
To the generations of immigrant families who built Nonantum, and to the young immigrant families who are learning to carry their legacy forward, this was a painful reminder that our traditions can be erased without warning or respect. It was more than a breach of trust: it was a slap in the face.
We have worked closely and in good faith with city departments over the decades to ensure the
safety, structure, and success of the festival. We have always complied with every process, filed
the necessary paperwork, and maintained open communication.
At no point were we informed formally, that the painting would be removed. The actions taken that night stand in direct violation of the spirit and content of our relationship with the city.
We are calling on the City to do the right thing:
- Immediately restore the historic religious procession route on Adams Street
- Publicly acknowledge the harm caused to the Nonantum community due to unconscious cultural bias
- Recommit to honoring the cultural and religious traditions that have defined this neighborhood for generations
Let this moment not divide us, let it unite us in defense of what makes our city strong: its
diverse neighborhoods, its traditions,and its history. No matter race, religion, creed, or
social-economic background, the Nonantum community has always stood together as one—and we always will. Our community does not tolerate bias, exclusion, or the erasure of identity. We respect our differences. Our St Mary Of Carmen Society was formed so that newcomers to our city support each other and stand by each neighbor.
We invite you to stand with us.
In community & in pride,
The members of the Saint Mary of Carmen Society
I wonder if this has to do with the war on Christians.