For nearly 90 years, Adams Street in Newton has carried more than just traffic. Its center lines, painted in the green, white, and red of the Italian flag, have symbolized a proud community tradition. For generations of families, those colors stood as a tribute to Newton’s Italian heritage and the bonds of neighborhood pride.

This summer, that history was erased. Twice. City workers have now removed the colors from Adams Street, most recently on August 27, despite residents’ pleas to preserve them. Neighbors even stood in the road holding the Italian flag, trying to stop the removal. Many are asking the same question: why now, after nearly a century?

City officials argue that the double yellow traffic lines must be visible for safety. But this is not a zero-sum choice. Residents and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller have already acknowledged there’s a compromise: keeping the legally required yellow lines while allowing the Italian colors alongside them. That solution ensures safety while honoring culture. Yet instead of working with the community, City Hall has chosen erasure.

This fight is about more than paint on a road. It’s about respect for tradition, recognition of heritage, and listening to the voices of people who have called Newton home for generations. When officials ignore those voices, they send the message that community identity doesn’t matter.

We call on Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, the Newton Department of Public Works, and the Newton City Council to restore the Italian flag colors on Adams Street and commit to a permanent compromise that safeguards both traffic safety and cultural pride.

Adams Street’s colors were never just decoration. They were a living part of Newton’s history. And that history deserves to be protected, not washed away.

Sign if you agree: Newton must restore the Italian heritage lines and keep this tradition alive for the next generation.