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PODCAST

Mack"s Newtown Voice

Mack"s Newtown Voice

I have been a resident of Newtown, PA since 1995. I am currently a member of the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors. The opinions expressed here are solely those of John Mack and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity.

government

All Episodes

00:11:53

Sycamore Window Zoning Variance Denied

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/09/05

The New Town Township Zoning Hearing Board convened a meeting on September 4, 2025, to address a zoning appeal, number 1236-25, concerning the property at 255 North Sycamore Street (Mélange on Sycamore). The applicant sought permission for six window signs, each 5.6 feet in size, which significantly exceeded the permitted two square feet per sign and were not allowed under previous grants of relief. During the meeting, the applicant's council failed to appear, leading the board to an executive

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00:12:12

John Mack's Unconventional Life Journey

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/09/04

These memoir excerpts by John Mack offer a multifaceted look into his life. "In My Brother's Shadow" explores his academic and anti-war activism during the Vietnam era, highlighting his decision to leave a Ph.D. program to pursue community organizing. "More Cow Valve Please!" details his recent, life-saving heart surgery, where a cow valve replaced his aortic valve, emphasizing the unexpected and vital role this object plays in his continued health. "My Major Life Work" recounts his transition from

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00:14:27

Beyond the Bush: Unpacking the Native Plant Mandate...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/09/03

This presentation made before the #NewtownPA Planning Commission on 2 September 2025 focuses on the revised landscape ordinance for the township, specifically the new requirement for 100% native plants in development projects. Kim Flanders, a registered landscape architect with CKS Engineers, defines native plants as those that have evolved in a given place, forming complex relationships with their environment and other organisms, and distinguishes them from cultivars, hybrids, and adaptive

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00:13:41

Mack's "Are You Shitting Me" Standup Comedy Routine

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/08/30

This podcast was created by Google NotebookLM based on the text from a comedy routine delivered by Newtown Township Supervisor John Mack. Mack, who is retired and identifies as "old," uses humor to discuss the unexpected realities of local politics and the challenges of being a public servant. The routine covers a range of local issues, from the abundance of fast-food chicken establishments to controversies surrounding a proposed sewage treatment plant and even opposition from "dead residents"

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00:08:40

Newtown's Historic Window War

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/08/29

How a Hiccup in Rules Exposed a Battle for Heritage I provided NotebookLM with the transcript from a YouTube video featuring Craig Deutsch’s Comments at 13 August 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting (https://youtu.be/zERFq8CajU0) and it generated this podcast. The video features a discussion concerning violations of historic district regulations by an applicant (Mélange on Sycamore). The central issue revolves around the unapproved replacement of historically compliant windows with

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00:13:45

Newtown's Historic Preservation Blunder: When Good...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/08/29

I provided NotebookLM with the transcript from a YouTube video featuring Craig Deutsch’s Comments at 13 August 2025 Newtown Board of Supervisors meeting (https://youtu.be/zERFq8CajU0) and it generated this podcast. The video features a discussion concerning violations of historic district regulations by an applicant (Mélange on Sycamore). The central issue revolves around the unapproved replacement of historically compliant windows with single-pane windows, and the addition of etched glass

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00:24:35

NBCJMA EDU Comments 12 August 2025

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/08/12

Discussion regarding EDUs.

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00:05:41

Newtown Sewer Authority 8 July 2025 Public Discussions

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/07/09

At the 8 July 2025 public meeting of the NBCJMA (Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority, aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Board, two items were discussed/voted on that are of interest to residents: (1) Adoption of Policy for Conduct of Authority Meetings, and (2) Approval of the 2025/2026 Budget.Item (1) actually concerns the intent of the Board to limit public comments. As the Solicitor said the "desire" of the Board is to remove the paragraph in the resolution that says "For ALL (emphasis

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00:29:18

24 June 2025 Newtown Sewer Authority Public Comments

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/06/25

At the 24 June 2025 public meeting of the Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipality Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board, several residents in attendance voiced opinions about several issues including making these meetings more accessible to the public. Residents also had questions about the future of the land purchased by the Authority. At the end of the meeting, the Board discussed a new policy for public comments at meetings as if to say, "We heard you. Now we need to

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00:17:46

Residents Have MORE Questions Regarding Proposed...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/02/13

At the 11 February 2025 Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (aka Newtown Sewer Authority) Advisory Board public meeting, several residents from Newtown and Middletown demanded answers to their questions regarding the sewage treatment that the Authority is planning to build on Lower Silver Lake Rd in Newtown. [For more on that, read "Opposition Builds to Proposed #NewtownPA Sewage Treatment Plant'; https://johnmacknewtown.info/ntnu_feb2025.html].Most people were incensed about the recent

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00:15:13

Residents Question Sewer Authority About Proposed WWTP

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/01/26

At the 14 January 2025 Newtown Sewer Authority public meeting, residents from Middletown and Newtown had several questions regarding the proposed Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP, aka Sewerage Treatment Plant) on Lower Silver Lake Road abutting Middletown.One important question had to do with ACT 537, which currently provides: "The Township’s continued use and expansion of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority’s (BCWSA) conveyance system that includes the Neshaminy Interceptor for sewage

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00:06:25

Mark Friend Questions Sewer Rate Increase for Well...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2025/01/03

At the 16 October 2024, Newtown Sewer Authority Board meeting, Mr. Mark Friend, who lives at 15 Stoopville Rd in Newtown, questioned the high increase in his sewer bill. Mr. Friend has well water. His sewer rate increased from $90 per quarter at the end of 1992. In 2023 the rate went up to $125. Now (2025) the rate is $183 per quarter. A 100% increase over 2 years. Hear what the sewer authority told him.

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00:39:57

Meet Mack Monday 23 Sep 2024 Discussion

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/12/21

At the September 23, 2024, Meeting Mack Monday Zoom meeting, participants discussed several issues including road paving, Blue Zones, Wawa delays, new sewage treatment plant, crosswalk on Bypass, working with the Middletown Traffic Committee, 2025 police & fire budget, Silver Lake Park, etc.

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00:07:40

Middletown EAC Member Kevin Deeny Comments on Sewage...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/12/19

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Kevin Deeny - a member of Middletown's Environmental Advisory Council - expressed concern about the environmental impact of the proposed Waste Water (aka Sewage) Treatment Plant (WWTP) that the Newtown Sewer Authority plans to build on Lower Silver Lake Rd on the border with Middletown.Mr. Deeny specifically mentioned that effluent (treated water discharge from the plant) will pass through one of the primary

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00:01:15

Middletown EAC Vice Chair Andy McAloon Comments On...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/12/19

At the 16 December 2024 Middletown Township Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting, Middletown Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) Vice Chair Andy McAloon expressed concerns about potential flooding caused by the plant, which will dump million of gallons per day of effluent into Core Creek.

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00:54:46

MeetMack Monday 9 December 2024

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/12/10

Presentation and Discussion Audio. Agenda: * Sewage Treatment Plant: Environmental Concerns * Proposed Pedestrian Sidewalk Along NT-Yardley Rd * Grant Awarded for Newtown Creek Bridge * Gas Leaf Blower Ban Survey Results * Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Survey * Changes to the 2025 Budget * 11 December 2024 BOS Meeting Agenda Privilege of the Floor: Open discussion with attendees

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00:54:40

MMM_21Oct2024_Discussion

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/10/25

Host John Mack in Q&A session with attendees at the October 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting.

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00:26:53

Newtown Sewer Authority Q&A Regarding Rate Hike &...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/10/16

This a recording of the Q&A session at the 16 October 2024 meeting of the Newtown Water & Sewer Authority public meeting. At issue was the 43% rate increase starting in 2026 (read "#NewtownPA Sewer Authority Rates to Increase 43%!"; https://sco.lt/8o4g9A) and the proposed sewage treatment plant down Lower Silver Lake Rd from the Wawa site on the Newtown Bypass (read "#NewtownPA Sewer Authority Purchases Land for Sewage Treatment Plant"; https://sco.lt/6VZozw).

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00:34:02

Meet Mack Monday Attendees Discuss Chick-fil-A on...

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/07/01

At the 29 April 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting, several attendees had a lively discussion regarding the proposal to build a drive-thru Chick-fil-A restaurant "on the Bypass" (actually at the northeast corner of the Bypass and Newtown-Yardley Rd diagonally across from the soon-to-be built Wawa).Specifically, the applicant is seeking relief for a proposed 6,110sq.ft. restaurant with drive-thru (Chick Fil-A) on and existing 3.21-acre corner property, with frontage on Newtown-Yardley Road and

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00:24:02

17 June 2024 Meet Mack Monday Discussion

Mack"s Newtown Voice ·

2024/06/19

17 June 2024 Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting attendees discuss what's on their minds including:* Tara Blvd crosswalk safety improvements * The possibility of Wawa selling beer 24/7 * Problems with the LI/O-LI Overlay proposal * and other issues

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234 results

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