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Newton is removing Italian flag colors from street, again
The mayor and public works commissioner cited public safety as the reason for removal on Wednesday.
For the second time, Newton is scraping the Italian flag colors off Adams Street, stirring up debate in the community.
In a joint statement, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and DPW Commissioner Shawna Sullivan acknowledged that the Adams Street lines had caused “a lot of consternation.” Still, they said restoring the double yellow lines is necessary for public safety and visibility.
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, the city began removing the green, white and red centerline paint markings covering the yellow lines.
Residents can paint white, red and green lines along Adams Street alongside the yellow center lines, fire hydrants and crosswalks in specific locations as long as federal regulations allow it.
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“All of us are committed to keeping Nonantum safe for everyone, while continuing to celebrate the rich traditions of this neighborhood,” the statement said.
It is the second time this summer that Newton removed the paint.
In June, the city removed the colors shortly before the annual Italian heritage festival in July, garnering massive blowback from the large Italian immigrant population in the village of Nonantum.
The city painted over the tri-color stripes on Adams Street after being there nearly 100 years, but many residents consider them a key part of the community’s identity.
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When crews first removed the stripes in June, residents fought back, repainting the Italian flag colors over the double yellow lines. The colors stayed in place until Wednesday morning.
NBC10 reported that a small group of protesters lined Adams Street on Wednesday morning as crews washed off the Italian flag street lines, saying they don’t want their history erased.
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