Poll results: Milton Neighbors’ biggest concerns, Spring 2018

Top three concerns include traffic & dangerous driving, increasing taxes, and airplane traffic & pollution.

Recently, we asked this question on Milton Neighbors:

As a #MiltonMA resident, what are your biggest concerns about our town today? We also invited participants to add concerns that we missed.

Here are the results, in order of concern:

1. Traffic & dangerous driving: 132
2. Increasing taxes: 75
3. Airplane traffic & pollution: 72
4. Large nonprofits not paying enough taxes: 43
5. Condition of roads: 46
6. Lack of affordable housing: 32
7. Overcrowded/unsustainable schools: 32
8. Not enough COMMERCIAL development/tax base: 25
9. Racial segregation of the community: 21
10. Too little development: 16
11. Coyote population: 12
12. Too much development: 8
13. An actual dog park: 2
14. Distrust of police department: 1

Neighbors voiced additional concerns as follows:

“Sustainability of our schools, commutes, access to our local natural resources, town population diversity and renewable energy options.”

“Traffic congestion in East Milton soon to be exacerbated by Falconi apartments proposal.

‘More of a police presence in certain areas like the Central Ave. bridge. The recent attack on the owners of Tino’s was highly disturbing.’

“Lack of commercial tax base. Lack of businesses that would appeal to young homeowners.”

“Good schools are nice but that doesn’t help the majority of residents who don’t have school age children or seniors that have to sell and move out.”

“People driving 60mph down Robbins Street despite the young kids that live on this street. Rising property taxes (and not much commercial tax base to offset).”

“Sidewalk conditions…the tree stumps are busting through the sidewalks causing people to trip and fall, particularly the elderly. Rising property taxes and this blasphemy of a storm water fee.”

“I need to find out more but I’ve heard there isn’t a Wilson or OT-trained reading specialist at the middle school (and I haven’t inquired about high school yet). But that’s insane if it’s true. About 10% of the population is dyslexic….and there HAS to be support for them, never mind other kids who need structured reading intervention.”

“No decent breakfast place.”

“I’m worried about East Milton Square’s traffic pattern. I feel unsafe as a pedestrian. I wish it were safer so I could feel comfortable taking my kids for a walk in the stroller and grab some groceries.

“The inability of our town leaders to make decisions and move forward (with anything!) in a timely manner.

“We need a master plan for our playing fields and Ulin Rink. The limited green space we have is poorly utilized and not well kept, and Ulin Rink could be a tremendous year round resource for kids.

“Can we differentiate Housing Development from commercial development? I am unconcerned about additional housing. I’m very concerned about additional commercial development.”

The Milton Scene urges you to attend the upcoming candidate forums to voice your concerns to the candidates:

• Fair Skies Nation candidate forum on April 5, focusing on air traffic and pollution in Milton
• East Milton Neighborhood Association Candidate Forum, April 12

Disclaimer:

Milton Scene and Milton Neighbors online polls are not intended to be a scientific sample of local opinion. Instead, they are a way for readers to share their views on the news with the Milton Scene and Milton Neighbors.

Respondents are not randomly selected, but select themselves to vote on a specific question or set of questions. The polls are not presented as scientific surveys or as representative of the opinion of the general population of our readership areas, region or nation.