Support for Lisle Baker: Alderman Lisle Baker, Newton, Massachusetts

Lisle has received the support of many of his constituents in Newton. If you would like to give your support to Lisle's campaign, please contact him about how you would like to help. You can call him at (617) 566-3848 or send email to: AldermanBaker@comcast.net.

Please take a look at some of the ways that you can help.

Thank you!

See a partial list of people who endorsed Lisle's campaign in 2003 (opens new browser window).

Here are several letters of support for Lisle:

Dear Alderman Baker,

Your help on Newton Serves Day was way above the call of duty and we totally appreciate the effort you made. Without your support (food, extra recruits and relentless hard work) we would probably not have achieved even half of what we got done.

Our school grounds look absolutely beautiful and we will be enjoying the view for months to come. Thank you so much!!

I have attached some photos from yesterday for you to remember us by!

Missy Costello, Algonquin Road

We are pleased to endorse Alderman Lisle Baker for re-election as the Ward Alderman for Ward Seven.

As residents of Brackett Road in Ward Seven we called upon Alderman Baker to facilitate a contentious matter to a successful resolution acceptable to the City and the residents of Brackett Road.

The issue involved a tree on a city berm on Brackett Road where there was a dispute regarding the removal of the tree. Alderman Baker engaged all parties involved - Brackett Road residents, Newton officials, and others concerned with the removal of the tree. Alderman Baker, over a 6 month time span, spent much time and energy mediating the heated situation, providing creative solutions and positive encouragement to find a solution to this matter. Alderman Baker spent many hours speaking with residents of Brackett Road and city officials, directing the parties to each successive step in order to bring closure to the dispute. As a result of Alderman Baker's effort, it was agreed that 12 new, privately funded trees were planted on Brackett Road while the disputed tree was removed. This favorable outcome would not have been achieved without Alderman Baker's tireless effort to bring the town and the street together.

Throughout this difficult process Alderman Baker always proceeded in a fair and objective manner, considering all aspects of the issue and guiding it to its ultimate positive resolution. We applaud Alderman Baker for his perseverance and positive attitude throughout this difficult situation. He is an outstanding advocate for the welfare of the community.

Howard Barnstone & Gayle Ehrlich, Brackett Road

We very strongly support Lisle Baker for re-election to the Board of Aldermen for Ward 7 for many reasons.

We have known Lisle for over 30 years, a period during which a great many difficult issues have arisen in the City. Many of these have occurred while he has been an Alderman and in recent years President of the Board. Issues have ranged from severe traffic and parking to the establishment of a Historic District and to building and expansion activity of Boston College and of residential and commercial interests throughout the city.

While having to deal with these substantial matters Lisle has always attended to and provided time and energy to respond patiently and effectively to the complaints of individual constituents.

Newton is a better place for Lisle's presence and commitment and we must maintain the same.

H. Day and Catherine V. Brigham

We have known Alderman Lisle Baker for at least twenty years. In that time, we have found many reasons to commend and to thank him. He is a voice of reason in this city. Not only are we grateful for his contributions to the Newton city government, but he has always given us timely and accurate advice on city-related matters of concern to us personally.

For example, we have been exposed, as have many Newton residents, to zoning and building permit controversies. Lisle has unfailingly helped us determine the best course of action. As another example: at our request, Lisle referred us to legislators who might help implement a captioned telephone system in Massachusetts, which would be of great help to the hearing disabled, including one of us. He did not stop with a simple recommendation, but also took the time to contact these people personally.

Lisle is a knowledgeable, thorough, intelligent and approachable person. He is one of those admirable people who are capable of resolving issues and also care enough to do so.

Phil and Sharon Lichtman, Valley Spring Road

I want to commend the work Alderman Lisle Baker has done to facilitate a compromise solution on the Covenant Residences in Chestnut Hill. A year ago, B'nai B'rith proposed a 132 unit, 10 story building on a 1.5-acre site that would have been twice as dense as any other 40B project in the city. The neighborhood was outraged, all 24 aldermen signed a letter saying it was too big, and even the Newton Housing Partnership said it should be smaller.

Since then, Alderman Baker has mediated a compromise 57-unit project, including a 4-story building, that provides a total of 15 units of affordable housing. The new project has received an important commitment of $1.2 million in CPA funding. However, far more than that was needed to overcome the financial obstacles to cutting the project in half, and Alderman Baker worked tirelessly over the last year to find creative solutions to those obstacles. He sought out a housing expert to devise the idea of preserving and selling the units in an existing building on the site to help finance the project, rather than tearing the building down. This alone may have allowed a reduction on the order of 70 units.

He dedicated hundreds of hours, meeting late at night and before work with neighbors and the developer. He encouraged the developer to negotiate a reduced purchase price for the land. And he convinced neighbors and the developer to stop fighting and instead focus on working together to reach a solution. B'nai B'rith also deserves credit for working hard on a compromise and accepting a reduced developer fee.

Alderman Baker's devoted commitment to his constituents and his creative problem solving has been inspirational, and his work on this project has earned the respect of housing and neighborhood advocates alike.

Bill Hicks, Algonquin Rd.

Letters to the Editor, The Newton TAB, October 15, 2003:

To the Editor:
We support Lisle Baker for re-election to the Board of Aldermen for Ward 7. We appreciate the many ways he has been valuable to the community and to the city government. We recommend him to our fellow citizens for the following reasons:

In summary, he has served in outstanding fashion as Ward 7 Alderman for twenty years, and we hope he will continue to serve for many more.

Sarah and Octo Barnett
Westminster Rd.

Letters to the Editor, The Newton TAB, October 22, 2003:

To the Editor:
I am pleased to endorse Alderman Lisle Baker for re-election as the Ward Alderman for Ward Seven.

As Chairman of the Newton Community Preservation Committee, I have had an opportunity to work with Alderman Baker through the his role on the Ad Hoc Committee on Community Preservation which has reviewed all of the recommendations proposed for funding under the Community Preservation Act. Alderman Baker is thorough and thoughtful in his review of our proposals. His efforts assure that every project funded through the Community Preservation Act meets our high goals for Newton's community preservation efforts.

I am also a Ward 7 resident and constituent of Alderman Baker's. He has been a knowledgeable and effective advocate for our neighborhood's needs within the wider Newton community.