Somerville Voices

If a municipality’s Bus stops are unreachable and inaccessible, due to badly built street facilities, then its residents are restricted from accessing public transportation systems, etc..For some individuals, the challenges created by these issues cause them to be nearly or fully housebound.
Do you think such quality of life issues should continue to be put off until “tomorrow?” …

On Monday, I went to the Union Square rezoning meeting held at Somerville High. I took my laptop with me and took the following “live blog” notes. The slides and maps are available on the city website.

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is gathering public input for a study of emerging issues and trends affecting the lives of people with disabilities. Information gathered will be used in the development of NCD’s next annual progress report to the President and Congress, “National Disability Policy: A Progress Report,” which is required by Section 401(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

The Sunsetters are a group of preteens and teenagers who sing and dance to Broadway tunes. Check them out at the fireworks celebration, June 26 at 6PM. Available dates are as follows…

The Sunsetters are a group of preteens and teenagers who sing and
dance to Broadway tunes. Check them out at the fireworks celebration, June 26 at 6PM.

Another of the city’s popular family events, Family Fun Day includes a variety of activities for residents of all ages. Obstacle courses, games, watermelon eating contests, dancing, and a dunk tank are only a few examples of the day’s events! Dunk the Mayor! Dunk your Alderman! Eat your weight in watermelon! Bring your children, your parents, and your friends.

The Turbulent Tween Years

Communicating with your 8-13 year-old daughter

a facilitated discussion to help parents understand the unique challenges associated with growing up in today’s environment. Sponsered by Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.

When can I drop off hazardous household waste? When does school start? Now you can find out on Somerville Voices.…

Second Saturday of the month, April through November.

Time: 9 to noon.

Place: DPW yard, 1 Franey Road.

Who: Residents with proof. No businesses or property owners who don’t live in Somerville.

What: Read the list of what they take. (Note: It includes rechargeable batteries, but non-rechargeable batteries should be put in regular trash.)…

Somerville for IRV is a group I started for exploring the benefits of Instant Runoff Voting for local elections here in Somerville. In the coming weeks, I’ll begin a series of posts that highlight the many benefits of using IRV for our municipal races, but first, let me explain what in the world IRV is.

Below, from City’s PR:

June 25th Meeting to Showcase Preliminary Designs for Public Discussion; …residents and business owners in East Somerville are invited to a community meeting to discuss preliminary plans and designs for a streetscape and roadway improvement project for Broadway, between McGrath Highway and the City Line near Sullivan Square. The meeting…

There will be a Public Hearing before the Board of Aldermen on Monday, June 23, 2008, at 6:30 PM, in the Aldermen’s Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, on the Order of Alderman Maryann M. Heuston, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, for public input on the proposed FY 2009 budget. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND AND BE HEARD.

Just a heads up: the Somerville Garden Club is presenting a self guided garden tour  “Urban Gardens  Revealed,” TOMORROW June 21, from noon to five.  Be aware that tickets ($12) have been selling out, indicating more interest than the Garden Club may have anticipated.  As I write this they are still available at Pemberton and…

Today, 2 residents from the Community Access Project of Somerville (CAPS) took their digital levels and measuring tapes and perambulated down Holland Street. We checked both sides of the sidewalk, from Winter Street to the Traffic and Parking Building (133 Holland St.) and then went back to Davis Square via the other side

What would you like to know that could help you live better in Somerville?

So far, we’ve put together on this web site information about summer activities for kids, and property tax breaks available to many residents.

We’d like to do more along those lines—offering useful information in an easy-to-use format. What shall we work on…

Come out to the next PDS Meeting:

Tuesday, June 24th at 7:30pm at the College Avenue United Methodist Church on Chapel Street.

PLEASE NOTE: We have moved our meeting to start a little later so interested people can attend the Union Square Zoning Meeting that starts at 6pm.

Check out our June meeting which will…

New technology at Somerville Community Access Television means better video and show playback for all our Somerville viewers. (snip) …another reason that Somerville Community Access Television (SCAT) has won nationwide awards and remains a leader in the New England access television marketplace.

So, you are a blind pedestrian at Weston and Broadway and you need to cross after getting off the bus. Because there is no curbcut on the bus stop side of Weston to cross to Dickson, you cross Weston to the corner pictured below. You rely on the tactile strips to guide you straight into the crosswalk and to the curbcut exactly opposite. Now, here: how many steps will it take before you’re a smashed pumpkin at rush hour?

The Pedestrian Signal post at the raised island mid-crossing in Union Square, at Somerville and Washington Street is inaccessible to wheelchair-mobile pedestrians. The pedestrian-activated button is at least seven feet - 84 inches- away from the wheelchair pedestrian’s hand!

The Milk Row Cemetery is a Historic Preservation Commission project, and its improvements triggered sidewalk accessibility improvements by 2005. Below is the copy of the complaint I submitted today. This is at least the third time this issue has been brought to the attention of the City ADA Coordinator in the past year.

Somerville Democratic City Committee Public Meeting, all are welcome!

Please join us for this important AHOC meeting as we discuss our leadership, prepare for the Union Square meeting Zoning on June 24th, plan for a busy summer in the green line corridor and get updates on the Condo ordinance!

Attorney General Martha Coakley will be our guest speaker on Wednesday from 6 - 8 pm at the Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road in Somerville, at the corner of Central Street, just south of Highland Ave. There’ll be music by Michelle Nover and Pamela Ambrose of the Winchester Community Music School. And of…

Federal Realty Investment Trust will present development plans, and the exchange of a parcel currently owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation for a slightly larger strip along the river which FRIT will develop into DCR parkland. FRIT will also discuss access to Draw 7 Park, and proposals for easements. Legislation to accomplish the land swap is currently before the legislature. Community members are invited to learn about the process and plans for community investment and mitigation. There will be a chance to ask questions and raise concerns.

This community meeting on the Mystic River Reservation Master Plan will include a presentation of the Draft Master Plan, followed by smaller group discussions on specific topics, including: Open Space and Recreation Programming, Conservation Plans, Pathways, and River and Riverfront Access.

Somerville families don’t have to run away to join the OPENAIR Circus. The Circus is offering its 23d year of summer circus workshops for children, teens, and adults. Classes will run June 24th through July 24th. Performances will be August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.under the big top at Nunziato Field near Union Square in Somerville.

For those of you who may not know, Governor Patrick filed the environmental bond bill (H.4446) this past December. Open space for outdoor recreation (as we all know) is extremely limited in Somerville. These funds can be used to develop Foss Park into the Urban Oasis we so desperately need in Somerville. There is tremendous potential to significantly upgrade the park for all who utilize the area. We must maximize this critical moment by taking advantage of these opportunities.

The Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) invites you for a night of trivia, food and good company.

TRIVIA NIGHT at Johnny D’s - 17 Holland Street in Davis Square
Monday, June 9th
8:00pm - Trivia Night with Free Pizza
Come on down and join a PDS team in the ever so popular Trivia Night!

If you have…

The city is holding a Community Meeting on the latest proposal for Zoning in Union Square on Tuesday, June 24th, at 6 PM at the Somerville High School auditorium.

Having the Green Line go to Route 16 will also serve Somerville residents so STEP hopes that you will support the goals of Green Line advocates in Somerville and Medford by signing the petition for the terminal stop at Route 16.  There are some Medford residents who opposed this location for the end of the line and want to end it the stop to be built  near Tufts.  Take a minute and sign the petition on line.…

On Friday, June 6, 2008, the Union Square Citizen’s Bank began breaking up the large platform front step that has been dividing this Bank and its services from people with mobility restrictions. Barack Obama won the nomination in 16 months. This access project for just one public accommodation has taken over 18 months already…

If you believe the papers, the politicians, or the pundits, the Massachusetts plan to make sure everyone has health insurance–by forcing them to buy it for themselves–is a great success. The uninsured don’t believe it, however. Neither do low-income people in Somerville, where I live. Neither do I.

This week, the Progressive Democrats of Somerville officially launched their endorsement process for the upcoming round of state elections. Invitations were emailed to candidates in local contested races: Rep. Carl Sciortino and Ald. Bob Trane in the 34th Middlesex (Somerville/Medford) House race and Patrick McCabe, Jim Caralis, and Rep. Paul Donato in the 35th Middlesex…

Fred Berman and Bill Bumpus host a program called “Progressive Voices” on Somerville Community Access Television. I thought this might be a good program for folks to view if they want more info about the Green Line Expansion Project. Their guest is Ellen Reisner from STEP (Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership. She brings with her a lot of info about the project and its ramifications for our fine city.

In the ordinary course of business, one notices accessible route problems throughout Union Square’s Somerville Reconstruction Project area. During construction, it is very important for the City to maintain continuous, unobstructed, level and safe sidewalks, as well as safe curbcuts and walkways for everyone.

Here’s an idea for formulating one’s beneficial worth to a community:

If you have a job serving the public, and you’re not doing it, then take the number of people you are not serving adequately, divide it by 10, and place those zeros to the left of one. Then put a decimal point at…

From the 1950s, through the 1970s, well over half of Somerville’s long-term residents permanently left the city. The first clearly identifiable group of newcomers who replaced them was Portuguese immigrants.

Even though today I feel like words are ultimately meaningless, I’m gonna start a little idea train here, asking what makes a community:

When school’s out, it can be hard to find enough good things for your kids to do. Here’s a local guide that several of us have put together.…

I would like to invite you to the East Coast Theatrical Premiere of SOUR, which is screening with the upcoming Boston International Film Festival series mid-day on June 14th. Filmed in 2006 during the Second Lebanese War, SOUR presents a new look at the grassroots peace process begun by 9 young skaters from Israel and…