City Watch

First City Watch Round-table to Air on NewTV March 3rd

2010-03-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

The first City Watch monthly round-table review with NewTV and The Newton TAB will air Wednesday, March 3rd during the Newton News on NewTV.

Our "progress to prosperity" watch will analyze Newton City government decision-making and key issues.

We are pleased to work with NewTV and The Newton TAB to bring an open dialogue of Newton’s key issues, and to evaluate City government’s progress to prosperity, directly to Newton residents. We feel that by including all Newton media – television, newspaper and radio – into the discussion makes for the broadest and most compelling conversation.

Mayor's Watch is Now City Watch

2010-02-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

As we have expanded our "progress to prosperity" watch to include Newton City government decision making, which must include discussing decision making by the Mayor, Board of Alderman, School Committee and our General Assembly representatives, we have re-named our program - City Watch.

Mayor’s Watch Adds Monthly Roundtable Review with NewTV and The Newton TAB

2010-02-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Mayor's Watch is pleased to announce that Newton’s cable access television, newspaper and radio media will come together in a monthly roundtable analysis of Newton City government decision-making and key issues.

The Mayor’s Watch broadcast, which airs Wednesdays at 11:20am, will be expanded to include a monthly review of Newton’s political issues. The new program will be in the form of a roundtable and will air during the fourth Wednesday of each month on NewTV’s Newton News program. The roundtable will include NewTV’s Newton News Anchor Jenn Adams, who will moderate the discussion with Mayor’s Watch hosts John Frassica and Ron Lipof, Greg Reibman, Publisher of the Newton TAB, and Gail Spector, Editor of the Newton TAB.

Mayor’s Watch closely monitors the Mayor’s performance and keeps residents informed about key issues facing Newton, on a weekly basis. We feel that adding a monthly recap with many opinions will help to keep our listeners well informed.

We are pleased to work with NewTV and The Newton TAB to bring an open dialogue of Newton’s key issues, and to evaluate City government’s progress to prosperity, directly to Newton residents. We feel that by including all Newton media – television, newspaper and radio – into the discussion makes for the broadest and most compelling conversation.

Tune in to Mayor's Watch on Wednesdays at 11:20am on WNTN 1550AM; and join us for the roundtable discussion monthly on the NewTV Newton News with The Newton Tab.

Let's Make Sure We're Watching The Little Costs!

2010-02-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

Can I believe that I find myself getting excited these days to receive a piece of mail? In radio, you're checking your email on an hourly basis, making sure not to miss a story. I also check my other sources of Internet messengers twice per day. But actually seeing an envelope get delivered in the mail is exciting these days. First, I make sure the letter is really for me. Never can be sure of another John Frassica in the world. Then, who is it from? I could simply open it, but it's more fun to look in the left hand upper corner to see first. Oh, the joy!

Now, time to open it. Do I try and reopen the flap? Or, do I tear it on the side and pull the letter out length wise? WOW, the excitement is building! Wait, maybe I could use that golf club letter opener I got for Christmas 10 years ago? Why not? All I need to do is find it under the large amount of CD's in my desk drawer. I love my mail.

But last week, when the radio station received an envelope from the Assessment Office in Newton, I started to question my love for my mail.

It was a large envelope, so you'd think I'd be excited, but I wasn't. It was delivered certified mail, costing the city $5.54 to deliver. Inside, there was a questionnaire that needed to be filled out regarding our building. Since the questions didn't pertain to us, all he needed to do was sign his name at the bottom of the two paged, one color, double sided, saddlestitched (which means stapled in the printing world) questionnaire.

"How many of these went out," I thought? This seems a bit costly to send during times when we need to save, doesn't it? I know we go online and fill in our water meter reading, so why couldn't we do the same for this type of form?

I have no doubt that each city department is making these changes for our new Internet world. Then again, maybe each department needs to have a hard copy of some of these forms in their files? Understandable. Let's just make sure we are watching the little costs that could become big money busters in the future. I trust that this is being done, but I wanted to share my thoughts.

Sorry, I need to stop typing now! Here comes the mailman!!! I wonder if there's anything for me??

Banning Texting While Driving in Newton

2010-01-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

Aldermen Ted Hess-Mahan and Jay Harney have proposed banning texting while driving in Newton.

While this bill would serve to be in the public's best safety interest, Alderman Hess-Mahan has noted that he wants to send a message to state legislators who are considering a state-wide ban on texting. Up on Beacon Hill, Representative Peter Koutoujian has proposed that texting while driving be a secondary offense (like not wearing a seat belt).

Texting bans while driving are gaining much acceptance nationwide. In October 2009, President Obama signed an executive order banning 4.5 million federal employees from texting while driving. Additionally, the federal government is planning to ban texting for bus and truck drivers who travel across state lines. Moreover, many state, including Massachusetts, are looking to ban texting while driving.

Research from Virginia Tech shows that texting while driving materially increases the risk of a crash.

Many countries and US states already ban cell phone use while driving. Click here for a listing.

I feel that banning texting while operating a motor vehicle is in the public's best safety interest and that this legislation should be swiftly passed in Newton, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and by the federal government.

Press Release

2010-01-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

1550 WNTN Radio Launches Newton Mayor’s Watch Program

Weekly broadcast will analyze and measure Newton Mayor Setti Warren’s strategies and performance

Newton, January 26, 2010: WNTN Radio 1550 AM, today announced the creation and launch of its newest political broadcast, Mayor’s Watch. The weekly program, hosted by veteran broadcaster John Frassica and political scientist Ron Lipof, will review, analyze and measure the strategies and progress of Mayor Warren’s efforts and performance.

Newton’s Mayor faces numerous challenges – the, Newton North build out, efficiency of city government, fiscal challenges, city infrastructure and education. During the Mayor’s inaugural address, he promised to reach out to and include citizens in decision-making, to conduct town hall meetings, respond to questions openly and with transparency, to make tough choices and govern as he campaigned. Mayor’s Watch will closely monitor the Mayor’s performance to keep residents informed and to monitor progress.

"We are excited about Mayor’s Watch. WNTN has been following Newton politics for years and we feel a weekly broadcast will serve to keep listeners informed on a timely basis," noted John Frassica. Ron Lipof added “We have serious challenges here in Newton that will take years to properly address. Prosperity down the road requires thoughtful, focused action along the way. Mayor’s Watch simply wants to make sure our city government efforts remain focused and on track.”

About the Hosts
John Frassica began his career in broadcasting back in 1984. During his career, he has had the opportunity to interview guests from US Senator Ted Kennedy, to actress Doris Roberts of CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond. Ron Lipof is a political analyst, former Massachusetts State Senate candidate, and long time member of the DCCC. During the historic 2008 Presidential election, he interviewed Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback and Dennis Kucinich.

About 1550 WNTN
WNTN was born in 1968 and although it has featured many different music and language programs, it has always provided local news and information for residents of Newton and Metro West. WNTN can also be heard on the Internet at wntn.com.