Newton City Council, Ward 2 Candidate Profile: Tarik Lucas

NEWTON, MA — Newton will have two contested races in this spring's Special Election. Among the candidates vying to replace Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss in Ward 2, is Tarik Lucas.

He is facing off against David Micley and Bryan Barash for the seat in the March 16 election.

Lucas,38, moved to Newton in 2009. He comes from Brookline, where he graduated from Brookline High School, and then went on to Springfield College. For the past 13 years he's worked at Harvard University Press as a royalty specialist. In 2018, he joined the Newtonville Area Council and was vice president on that council. He has also served as an alternate on the Newtonville Historic District Commission.

This isn't the first time he's run for office. In 2019 he made a bid for city council.

Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Here's what Lucas had to say:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to ensure that Newton remains welcoming to people at all income levels, as it was for me, and to help all our residents feel that they have a voice in our government. I believe my background and experience as an elected member of the Newtonville Area Council and a leader in the campaign to preserve local representation demonstrate my ability to work well with others to achieve a common purpose in our City.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The biggest issue I hear from people is about the basic infrastructure of life in Newton. Our roads are in disrepair. Our athletic fields are pocked and bare. Many of our municipal and school buildings need replacing. Streetlights remain out for months at a time. Our parks and roadways are filled with litter. I intend to be that squeaky wheel to ensure we start investing in these basic needs of our community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

On zoning, I do not support eliminating single family zoning as a way to increase affordable housing. I believe that will simply increase the amount of market rate — ie expensive — housing being built, and incentivize more teardowns of existing housing stock. I believe we need to do more to partner with nonprofit housing developers rather than be so focused on for profit developers. When it comes to for profit developers, their focus is their bottom line, not the public good, and that is their right, but a city councilor needs to keep their eye on the ball of what is best for the public.

In terms of local representation, I campaigned against the change to our city charter that would have eliminated local representation. My opponent was a charter commissioner seeking to eliminate the Ward Councilor seat, and make all Councilor seats be elected city-wide. Lastly as a Black man who grew up in low-income housing, I would bring a diversity in lived experience that the City Council lacks; in fact Newton has not had a Black councilor in nearly 40 years.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

N/A

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I believe for the most part our Mayor did a good job in what was a very difficult situation. No local office was prepared for a global pandemic, including Newton. We provided support to residents having difficulty meeting their rent or mortgage payments.

We changed our rules to allow outdoor dining, though I would have liked to see us take the approach Waltham did in closing down Moody Street for restaurants. I also think we should have done more to restore in person instruction more quickly.

The City Council does not have direct responsibility for the schools the way the School Committee does. Having said that, the City Council controls funding and is an important voice. A number of City Councilors sent two letters to the Mayor and School Committee asking for more urgency in restoring in-person instruction, and I would have signed the letters.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Climate change is an existential threat facing all life on Earth. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change even here in Newton, from droughts, storms, flooding, and extreme heat. Newton has taken great steps, but we must do more.

Did you know that Newton is powered by more clean energy than any other community in the state? 80%, thanks to the Newton Power Choice program. But we can do more. I will be a champion for Newton’s Climate Action Plan and turning a plan into action. In new construction, heating and cooling should come from clean energy, not fossil fuels. We also must plant more trees, especially in places where asphalt dominates and trees are scarce.

For years Newton has been losing tree canopy. Trees sequester carbon, clean and cool the air, prevent flooding, and provide health benefits. I will be a leader on environmental protection if elected to the City Council.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a Newtonville Area Councilor, I led on conducting a survey of Newton residents of what type of development they would like to see along Washington Street. We found strong consensus for buildings of up to four stories, with small, local retail, and more benches, trees and beautification.

Some residents said to me, “This is the first time anyone from the city has ever asked for my opinion.” In 2017, I also worked on the campaign to preserve local representation in the form of the Ward Councilor. As a youth sports referee I am trained in the art of being calm under pressure, and being fair. I think these are excellent skills in a City Councilor.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My late cousin, Butch would always say to me and my siblings, "You gotta have a plan."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Moving to Newton in 2009, was the best decision I've ever made in my life. This is truly a remarkable city.

Campaign website
www.TeamTarik.org

Watch the NewTV interview: