Vote NO on May 13: We Can Do Better

Make a plan to VOTE NO ON MAY 13, early in person, or vote by mail because Newburyport can do better than the proposed recreation center at 59 Low St. If you’re not aware, the Mayor is asking taxpayers to fund an $8.3m+ new recreation center through a debt exclusion vote. If this passes, taxpayers will be paying for this project for three decades. If this fails, a dialogue can be opened about sensible alternatives and actual consensus to be reached.

Proponents of the project have turned to the unfortunate trope that opposing this project somehow means opposing youth, the mission of Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services (NRYS), and providing social services to a population that can and does benefit. These are simply attempts to deflect from a project that makes little financial or operational sense and failed to gain the consensus of the Newburyport City Council.

The vote NO campaign feels strongly that there is value in the services provided by NRYS and those services should, can, and will continue regardless of the outcome of this project – just as they have since NRYS left the Brown School a few years ago. We flat out reject any below-the-belt arguments trying to politicize things like the mental health of our city’s youth and adults for political gain. We advocate for respectful debate about the project.

Physically, the project falls short on key objectives. It prioritizes office space for staff (adults) over gym space for kids (supposedly the main goal). Some say it’s a “school sized gym” which is code for an undersized, non-regulation size gym that will have limited applications. One of Newburyport’s biggest youth needs is full-size gym space. We don’t need more undersized gyms and kids don’t need office space. The site itself has concerns over wetlands and contamination – boards and commissions sign off giving every grace in the book while putting other applicants and homeowners through the wringer. And safety for kids is a huge concern – making a single crossing across Low St. will not make Low St. safer. This is ironic, because the location was touted as the best option for walkability.

The city is not in a financial position to fund a project of this expense which doesn’t effectively, efficiently, and safely meet our youth recreation needs. Taxes have gone up significantly in recent years, which has created considerable pressure on seniors and families too. There is no slowdown, and the hits keep on coming. Planning for large, necessary projects which are in the pipeline, add up to a staggering $150 million, and there is no credible plan to fund even half of these projects. Many of them are critical infrastructure that deliver clean drinking water, public safety, and replacement of critical systems in existing buildings that have been put off for years, while project-hungry mayors pursue the next new thing.

The recreation center project didn’t earn the consensus of the Newburyport City Council over many years and many meetings. It doesn’t deserve consensus of the taxpayers. A NO vote is a signal that a sensible compromise and alternative is desired. It’s never too late for compromise. We want a fiscally sustainable alternative. Please vote NO and deliver this message.

If you’re interested in joining the effort to educate residents about the importance of voting no on May 13 in hopes of a better plan for Newburyport, please email: votenomay13@gmail.com.

Liz McCauley
Chair for Vote No May 13
Newburyport resident

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