Dear Editor,

Councilors Block, Farrell and Malakie already submitted a docket item to the City Council to suspend or change the VCOD zoning for Auburndale and West Newton until work has begun on those two commuter rail stations.

Shoot yourself in the foot why don’t you? If Newton doesn’t allow more people to live near the train stops in Auburndale and West Newton, why should the state put up the money to upgrade those two stations? Reducing what can be built in and near these villages gives the state the totally wrong message. Why did the state opt to upgrade the Newtonville station? It’s pretty clear.

Currently, based on recent data from the MBTA, more people get on and off in Newtonville than Auburndale and West Newton combined. Plus, more new places for people to live have been and continue to be built near that stop. These two factors made upgrading the Newtonville stop first the clear choice.

Kathy Pillsbury
Newton Highlands