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Newton marijuana store seeks end to appointment-only rule, as nearby competition grows
By John Hilliard Globe Staff,Updated February 17, 2021, 5:05 p.m.
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Customers picked up orders at Garden Remedies in Newton late last month.Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
Newtonâs only recreational marijuana store is seeking to end a restriction limiting sales only to customers with appointments, as more cannabis businesses line up to open in the city.
Garden Remedies wants to be more competitive with stores in other nearby communities, chief operating officer Jeff Herold said in an interview.
âAs far as we know, Newton is really the only location that has a stringent kind of appointment rule,â Herold said. âAnd we definitely feel like it hurts our overall business.â
Wicked Local
Job dissatisfaction and frustration with local leadership topped police survey results revealed during the Newton Police Reform Task Force’s recent presentation to the City Council.
Before delving into recommendations for the future of the department, the task force and consulting firm Strategy Matters went over feedback from the survey, which was given to sworn and civilian employees.
Of the entire force (as of June 2020 there were 141 uniformed officers) and civilian employees, 44 responded to the survey. Of the 44, 26 identified themselves as officers and 10 as civilian staff (the rest had other departmental positions).
A majority (43.9 percent) said they were “dissatisfied” with the department as a place to work. Some reasons included a “Lack of support from the mayor, city council and community,” the facilities, and “Lack of confidence in NPD leadership and management.” These factors have undermined morale, according to the report.
Wicked Local
The Middlesex District Attorney’s office will not release the names of the two Newton police officers involved in a Jan. 5, 2021, fatal shooting, until the investigation is over, according an official.
“We are still awaiting the completion of outside reports in this case. This can take some time,” said Meghan Kelly, chief of administration for Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, via email.
According to the DA, two Newton officers shot resident Michael Conlon, who was holding a knife, near an apartment above the candy store Indulge! at 16 Lincoln St., in Newton. He later died at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
As of Jan. 25, the officers had not returned to work, said interim Police Chief Howard Mintz.
Newton police shooting prompts calls for crisis intervention, mental health resources
By John Hilliard Globe Staff,Updated January 14, 2021, 12:48 p.m.
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Protestors demonstrated next to the Newton Police headquarters Jan. 6 to protest the fatal shooting of a man in Newton Highlands the day before.Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff
As an investigation continues into the fatal shooting by Newton police of a 28-year-old resident experiencing a mental health crisis, advocates are calling on local leaders to prioritize mental health resources as part of efforts to overhaul the cityâs police department.
Michael Conlon, 28, was shot Jan. 5 inside the building where he lived in Newton Highlands after he threatened the owner of a candy store, then attacked officers with a knife and fire extinguisher, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. A Newton police clinician with mental health expertise was at the scene, but did not enter the Lincoln Street building due