Greg Reibman, president and CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber, wrote in response to recent disinformation tactics on social media. Below is from his weekly email newsletter this week.
A few weeks ago, I announced that our chamber was teaming up with a coalition of civic, housing and climate activists, and clergy supporting the proposed Village Center Overlay District currently under consideration by the Newton City Council.
The goal of the Newton For Everyone coalition was to educate the public about the proposal which we believe will make Newton more welcoming and affordable and will be beneficial to our planet.
We also agreed that we would not endorse political candidates in Newton’s Nov. 7 election.
But now someone, or some group, has been using social media and paid online ads purporting to endorse city council candidates both under both the “Newton For Everyone” name and under the similar name “Newton for Everybody.”
This person, or persons, also formed a “Newton for Everyone PAC” with the state Office of Campaign Finance that also has no connection to us.
To be clear, the candidates these fraudsters are promoting are those opposed to the Village Center Zoning plan.
It’s disheartening that anyone would resort to using disinformation to confuse the public rather than engage in an honest discussion.
We urge these impersonators to end these deceitful tactics immediately.
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