The New England Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston University has taken an interest in our (Somerville Voices) proposed investigation of parking fines and has offered to analyze the ticket data for the amount of $500.…

After six years as an organization, PDS is spending some time assessing our work and visioning about our efforts moving forward.

Approximately fifteen people crowded around two small tables this afternoon at the Danish Pastry House in Medford to share their concerns and questions in a wide-ranging conversation with State Representative Carl Sciortino at his first district coffee hour of the year.  …

According to this post on the ResiStat blog in answer to my question, the Mystic Children’s Zone will use college enrollment as the final measurement of its success.  Perhaps this, and not high school graduation, should be used to measure the performance of our school system over all.…

Having only lived in Somerville for about three and a half years, I have much to learn about the city’s past. Here are some historical articles that may be of wider interest. I hope others will share other stories that can inform the newer residents of what life was like in the good/bad old days.…

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The night before Martin was assassinated he spoke of going to the mountain top and seeing The Promised Land. In a premonitory way, he wondered out loud if he would get there, but he seemed powerfully convinced WE would surely get there. You might well ask: ‘Are we there yet?’

Registered Democrats in Somerville will be holding a caucus at the Capuano School, 150 Glen St. on Monday, February 8 at 7:20 PM to elect 8 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2010 Massachusetts Democratic Convention to be held on Fri June 4th and Sat, June 5th at the DCU Center in Worcester. At that time, Democrats from across the state will gather to endorse statewide candidates.

Cross-posted from the SCAT website [link to source here]

Save the date: January 28 from 6:00 to 9:00pm for the SCAT Annual Meeting. This year, to celebrate the redesign of the HotSet, we will begin the evening at 6:00 with a live show hosted by Bill Barrell and Jessica Barnhouse, featuring the…

Cross-posting from the SCAT website [link to source here]

Thursday, February 4, 6:30-9; afterparty to follow
SCATV, 90 Union Square, Somerville
6:30pm: doors and prescreening activities; 7:00pm sharp: screening followed by panel discussion;
9pm: afterparty @ the Independent, 75 Union Square
***SEATING IS LIMITED; please come on time***
The event will be…

In this close race, your vote counts more than ever!

Find your polling place here and then go vote while you can before 8pm…

As the City prepares to sell the closed Powder House School building to private developers, the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) just posted an Aug 24, 2009 real estate analysis report (pdf) to its website .…

Ceremony to Honor Local Individual, Organization for Community Service; Program Begins at 10am at SHS

OneVille.org just launched today with a message that begins:
We’re writing to introduce a new community project in Somerville called OneVille. OneVille is working to unite people in our vibrant, diverse city around one goal: pursuing the success of every young person in Somerville.…

My wife saw this message on the Somerville Moms Yahoo list.

Barry

——————————–

Information Night for the Choice Program will be held next Thursday, January 21, at the Healey School (5 Meacham Street.)

The meeting will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Teachers, students and parents will offer their perspectives…

My wife saw this on the Somerville Moms group:

Barry

——————————

Learn about the Argenziano School from other Parents!

As you explore your options for public schools in Somerville, make sure you check out the Argenziano School at Lincoln Park. I looked extensively at schools for my daughter last year and…

Following an armed robbery in the Market Basket parking lot last October, store representatives promised the Aldermen to address safety issues by installing surveillance cameras and better lighting in the parking lot. They also promised to undertake a parking study to address concerns about overcrowding and parked cars in fire lanes.  I wonder how much progress they’ve made so far?…

From http://justicewithpeace.org/node/819 :

Redirecting Military Spending to Meet Human Needs

The 25% Solution Task Force of UJP is conducting an interactive workshop on military spending and the campaign to redirect it to meet human needs at home. With the U.S. facing devastating economic…

This was posted to the Somerville-4-Schools list on Monday by Consuelo Perez:

—————————————

Would you like a weekly Drop-in Playgroup for your child, aged 0-3?

Come to the next Somerville Family Network Parents Advisory Council meeting and talk about how we can provide one and best serve the needs of…

By way of Abby Yanow of Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace:

These events come to us by way of Transition Somerville and Somerville Climate Action.  SMUJP is exploring ways to support other progressive group’s activities

——————–

Please join us on Monday January 11
for the FIRST-EVER SOMERVILLE FARM…

By way of Abby Yanow with Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace:

Inside the Revolution: A Journey into the Heart of Venezuela is a just-released documentary filmed in Caracas in November 2008, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Hugo Chavez’s controversial presidency.

According to journalist John Pilger, “This is a rare…

To have an effective democratically-elected Government, the People must trust that their elected officials are acting as good stewards of public resources. This trust is hindered when people can not verify the integrity of candidates and office-holders.…

This post came today from Cambridge-Somerville for Change:
The Elections Team held their first meeting Monday night, and we’re working on a bunch of initiatives. We’ll be holding our first phone bank on January 3rd. In addition, we’ll also be working on GOTV (Get Out The Vote) locally and state-wide. And, finally, we’re…

From http://www.openinternet.gov/workshops/innovation-investment-and-the-open-internet.html

The Internet has become an unprecedented, global platform for commerce, unleashing the power of American innovators and driving economic growth and job creation…

PSA from the City website:
Important Influenza (FLU) Update

Updated December 21, 2009

The Somerville Health Department has begun to receive more doses of H1N1 vaccine, and anticipates receiving regular shipments in the coming weeks. With this increase in supply, we are pleased to offer flu…

Cambridge Somerville for Change presents:

• Next meeting: Jan. 20th 6:30 pm
• 359 Cambridge St. #8 East Cambridge
• Email Pamela: immigration@cambridgesomervilleforchange.com

We need your help and ideas to help to get CSfC’s energy and climate effort going. So please come to our meeting on January 12th, at 7pm, at 154 Auburn Street in Cambridge. We will be planning our kick-off action forum, currently set for February.

And if you have any questions or…

Cambridge Somerville for Change

• Next meeting: Jan. 5th 7:00 pm
• 175 Harvey St. Cambridge
• Email Karly: health.reform@cambridgesomervilleforchange.com

Are you concerned about your opioid drug use, or that of a loved one? The holiday season is often a time of strain and stress, especially for individuals who are struggling with addiction. Yet, the advent of a new year is a time when many people make efforts toward change. The Opioid Addiction and Family Project may be able to help.

This Sunday, Dec 13th, many of my Davis Square neighbors and I will be unable to get in or out of our neighborhood by car between the hours of 9am and 1pm due to the 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Run.  This 4-hour restriction will be my birthday present from the City of Somerville, a headache I didn’t ask for nor was ever consulted about it.…

According to a Globe article published earlier this evening [Coakley picks up endorsements from Capuano's hometown] endorsements from current and former Somerville pols break down like this:…

Last week, the Board of Aldermen extended the City’s contract with FW Russell for another year plus 5 more under a new contract despite concerns stemming from a 2-year-old investigation by AG Coakley’s office into the waste disposal company’s labor practices. The company was selected for offering the lowest price among 4 bids procured by the City this past year.…

From Ward 6 Ald. Gewirtz’s Winter ‘09 newsletter :
There is a proposal being made by the owners of the Citizens Bank building on Elm Street on the corner or Bowers Ave. to bring a Staples to that space. I have been very concerned about large chain stores coming into the square. I’m…

PSA: The following message was sent to the City’s Parents ResiStat email list [link to original message]

———————————————–

Mayor Curtatone and the City of Somerville Health Department are pleased to offer a free family flu clinic for Somerville residents at the Immigrant Health Fair at the Edgerly School, 8 Bonair…

It looks like the climate crisis is taking a back seat to the economic crisis as Mayor Curtatone and the Somerville Arts Council promote the annual Illuminations Holiday Tour,  “the annual trolley tour of holiday light displays” around the city.  Certainly, keeping the holiday lights off is the least we could do to help reduce our carbon footprint.…

The Somerville Democratic City Committee is hosting a Debate Watch Party. What: Candidates for US Senate televised debate. Where: The Precinct Bar in Union Square. When: 6:30 pm Tues December 1st

Permit parking changes are coming. The City has officially set Monday January 4th as the enforcement date for citywide resident permit parking. + SPARCs Push for Tweaks to Permit Parking- Wins to Report + Summary from Nov 4th Parking Solutions Task Force meeting.

As part of ‘Our Voices, Our Vote,’ a civic participation campaign, Centro Presente would like to invite you to an Electoral Forum (Oct 7, 6pm) to hear from local candidates on the issues of concern to the community of Somerville, to talk about how to increase civic participation in the city, and to educate ourselves about the next electoral process.

My wife and I are fortunate enough to have kept our jobs through this Great Recession, but the news is filled with reports of massive layoffs, furloughs, and benefit reductions. Are you still employed? Do you know people who are struggling to find jobs? How are you coping? Are you hopeful that the government stimulus…

The Somerville Health Foundation (SHF) is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s community funding.

A new online tool exists to plot crimes on a searchable map. This would empower residents to know how safe their neighborhood is and where and what to watch to deter crime. It would probably catalyze neighborhood crime watches and make our streets safer.

Here is the agenda for our meeting this coming Tuesday.

Somerville Human Rights Commission
Tuesday, Sep 15th Monthly Public Meeting
6:30pm-8:30pm
Super Stop & Shop
2nd Floor Conference Room
775 McGrath Hwy, Somerville

Agenda:

• Recent Complaints to the HRC and On-going Investigations (new and updated)
• Special guest Eileen Feldman, accessibility

About a month ago, on Aug 16th, I submitted a 311 service request through the new SeeClickFix tool to repair a loose utility wire tied to the fence at Hodgkins-Curtin Park along Simpson Ave (see photo below). After an initial flurry of promises from a Somerville 311 rep to have the issue fixed asap, it was ignored. Today the wire is still there, menacing passers-by and testifying to the failure of the 311 system.…

Almost half of the Aug 27th BOA mtg agenda (pdf) basically consists of 311 service requests like orders to fix potholes and sidewalks. The other half contains some interesting items including these highlights (emphasis added by me):

Note that Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane was the only member to not have sponsored any items. The Aldermen each earn a salary of $24,521.03 in FY2010.…

From item # 79. of the Aug 27th BOA mtg agenda (pdf) :
Mayor’s Comm.
Proclaiming Monday, September 28, 2009, as Family Day, a day to eat dinner with your children.
Our baby daughter is usually in bed by the time we eat dinner, so I hope that’s ok.

How often does your family eat dinner together?

Why do you think the mayor would make this proclamation?…

On Aug 27th, the Board of Aldermen raised taxes on meals by 0.75% and on hotels by 2% effective Oct 1st, according to Danielle Dreilinger’s report today on Boston.com. These taxes will generate an estimated $620,715 in revenue. One wonders why this item did not appear on the meeting agenda (pdf) and also how the extra money will be spent?…

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>,
John Gannon <JGannon(at)somervillema.gov>
date Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 9:16 AM
subject Public Records Request : 311 Service Requests

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti, (cc Thomas Champion, Exec Dir of Communications and John Gannon, City Solicitor)

In the public interest and per MA public…

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:

—————–

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:16 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Meter Revenues

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti…

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:

—————–

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:10 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Officer Data

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti…

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:

——————

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:00 AM
subject Public Records Request : Car Towing Information

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti…

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the City:

——————

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:55 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Ticket Appeals

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti…

In preparation for the parking tickets story, I have submitted the following request for public records to the city:

——————

to Jaclyn Rossetti <JRossetti(at)somervillema.gov>
cc Thomas Champion <TChampion(at)somervillema.gov>
date Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 9:21 AM
subject Public Records Request : Parking Ticket Data

Dear Public Information Officer Jackie Rossetti…

Celebrating at:

The Center for Arts at the Armory

191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Visit the Somerville Community Corporation online at SomervilleCDC.org

From the Tufts website:
All are invited to a day of education, art, and family entertainment. All activities, including lunch, are free of charge.

Residents, neighbors and friends are invited to celebrate the seventh annual Community day at Tufts University from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. The event will take place on the academic quad at Tufts’ Medford and Somerville campus and is cosponsored by the two cities.…

How do you know that I, Barry Rafkind, am a real person who is authoring this blog post? Maybe this name is just a pseudonym for somebody else? Until now, you’ve had to trust that I am who I say I am. But, now there is a brand new online service called Validize which allows anyone to authenticate him or herself and then display a “badge” on blogs to prove their identity.…

The SeeClickFix tool on the Globe’s local Somerville website allows anyone to report and track 311 service requests on a map of the city.  You can even include a photo of the problem. All reported requests are visible to everyone, so it’s easy to view what others have submitted and add your support to those that you care about.…

I just submitted the following query through ResiStat’s public Q/A tool called SomerBlog:
What types of information are stored with each 311 request? (e.g. request, date + time of request / resolution, service location, requester’s name, address, and phone, language, ethnicity, gender, etc…) Which parameters are required and which are optional? How long…

As Wig Zamore and others explain, adding a second entrance to the future T Stop at Assembly Square would expand public transportation ridership there and improve air quality in East Somerville, an environmental justice neighborhood.…

Although parking tickets are meant to punish violators and provide maximum street access to those who live, work, or visit here, the city depends on this revenue to shore up its budget. We intend to find out whether all residential neighborhoods and business districts pay an equitable share of parking fines. If not, why? We will analyze the ticket data to see who is paying or not and for which types of tickets.…

Today, Somerville became the 4th community in the “North of Boston” region to have its own Your Town portal on Boston.com. Your Town websites are local hubs for real estate, events, sports, news, schools, and discussions.

The Your Town sites are grouped by region (North of Boston, Metro West, and South Shore). Somerville joins…

2nd Floor Conference Room
Super Stop & Shop
775 Mcgrath Hwy

Agenda:

• Director’s Report
• Immigrant Police Dialogues
• Snow Removal Committee
• Other activities
• Recruitment
• Evaluate events since last meeting : Art Beat, Commission’s Cookout, and National Night Out
• Next recruitment steps
• Recent

Over 60 people filled a lecture hall at the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts University on Thursday (Aug 6) to hear a panel of Honduran social movement leaders speak about the growing resistance movement against the recent coup d’etat in their country.

This public hearing will be convened by the Traffic Board in the Aldemanic Chamber at City Hall. I initially noticed this in Deb Filcman’s Aug 7 SJ blog post.  For background about the parking changes, visit the SPARC blog , check out the just-posted video of the 7/27 interview on SCAT’s Progressive Voices of SPARC-co-founder Courtney Koslow,  or see the recent articles on Somerville Voices/Journal/News.…

Thanks to the Socialite plugin, you can now follow Somerville Voices on Facebook as well as Twitter. Befriend the blog and help spread the word to all your friends!…

I am excited to see that the City has launched SomerBlog: “the open community forum associated with the Somerville ResiStat program.”. Started on July 14th and managed by ResiStat’s Stephanie Hirsch, the blog adds to the City’s growing array of online communications with residents which started with CTY emails and Google email groups targeted by ward and demographics. …

All are invited to our next semi-biweekly blog meeting where we will discuss story ideas for our new journalism initiative, fundraising campaigns, and anything else related to the Somerville Voices blog.

Where : VNA 1st Floor Private Dining Room, 259 Lowell Street, Somerville (an accessible facility)

When : Wednesday, July 29th, 6:30-8:30pm…

Do you have any used or unwanted gadgets at home that you’d like to recycle? Would you also like to help support a great cause at the same time?! We at Somerville Voices are hosting an online gadget recycling drive through Gazelle to raise money for the blog and would love your support!…

Thanks to the TwitterBot plugin, you can now follow Somerville Voices blog posts on our Twitter account @SomervilleVox. Followers will receive short Tweets with the blog title and a link back to the post. This will help connect us with readers wherever they are using their mobile devices.…

Many questions remain unanswered from George Hassett’s July 16th Somerville Journal article “Somerville vet awarded $225K after police beating“.

Here are my questions. Feel free to add your own!…

The Somerville’s Human Rights Commission invites the public to its monthly meeting to discuss: * Recruitment (we currently only have 4 serving commissioners out of a possible 12) * Director’s Update
* Complaints before the commission * Any other business

This new partnership will enable SV to collect and use tax-deductible donations from you so we can focus on producing high quality local stories that matter to you while SCAT (Somerville Community Access TV) gets to handle our filings to the IRS and also take a small cut for their help.…

Please join us for a team meeting this Friday, June 19th, 6:30-8:30pm to discuss the blog and plans for community-funded reporting.…

Public meeting of the Somerville Human Rights Commission
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
2nd Floor social hall, Tufts Administration Bldg, 167 Holland St., Somerville

Agenda:

• Introductions (10 min)
• Discussion on DHS Surveillance Cameras in Somerville w/ SPD Chief Holloway, City Solicitor Gannon, Health Dept. Dir. Paulette Renault-Caragianes, and Nancy Murray of

According to a recent report (pdf) by the city of Somerville, health care costs currently account for about 15% of the municipal budget and are out-pacing growth in revenues. A single payer plan would lift this burden, allowing cities like Somerville to maintain threatened services such as education, police, fire and libraries.…

How many Somerville residents blog or tweet regularly about life in Somerville? Which blogs or Twitter accounts do you check regularly? I’m not into the Twitter scene yet, but here are some of the local blogs I’d recommend.…

The Welcome Project has helped produce Digital Storytelling Videos of inspirational immigrant stories including one that seemed especially moving to me entitled “My Mom” by Rocky Man :

From a flyer of The Welcome Project:

Join us at the Welcome Project for our Graduation Celebration!

Show your support for our Youth Interpreters and Adult English Language Learners!

The event will be held on June 7th from 4-7pm

Mystic Activity Center

530 Mystic Ave, Somerville, MA

RSVP by…

From the SPS homepage, entitled “A message from Tony Pierantozzi, Superintendent of Schools”
… The extent of the impact of the current financial crisis on fiscal year 2010 remains unclear. We do know that the impact of the revenue decrease at the State level will require creative solutions and difficulty in maintaining our…

Come on out to our next PDS meeting. There is a lot going on so come on out and get involved in one of the most exciting organizations in the city!

When: Tuesday, May 26 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Blue Shirt Cafe – 424 Highland Avenue – Davis Square

From 6:30 to…

Somerville by the numbers, our community’s carbon foot-print, and collecting resident immigration stories are just a few of the story ideas generated at last Sunday’s Brainstorming Session. Read on for more suggestions and please leave your ideas and feedback below in the comments. Some of these stories will soon be pitched (in more detail) for funding on the blog!…

As announced in the Somerville Journal : What should happen with the former Powder House Community School?

According to the Somerville Journal:
Somerville Democrats will meet Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at the Visiting Nurses Association at 259 Lowell St.

Mayor Joe Curtatone will speak on “The Economic Challenges Facing Somerville.”
Note : this location is wheelchair accessible …

Please join us!

Spring Reception to Support

Rebekah Gewirtz

Ward 6 Alderman

Where: Sagra Restaurant, 400 Highland Ave Davis Square

When: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Time: 6-8pm…

The following was posted by Ward 5 School Committee member Mark Niedergang to the list of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) on Apr 24th.

How do you think Somerville should respond to the budget cuts?

-Barry

————————————–

Dear friends at PDS,

The Board of Aldermen and School Committee together…

From Mark Niedergang… The Board of Aldermen and School Committee together will be holding a public forum on the FY 2010 budget this Tuesday, April 28th, at 7 PM in the Aldermen’s Chambers in City Hall. This is an opportunity to get an update from the Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools on the City and School budgets for next year and to share your concerns, ideas, and suggestions about priorities and ways to make the FY 2010 budget stretch further.

Wednesday, May 27th, Cross Street Elderly Center. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This…

Tuesday, May 26th, 7:00 p.m., VNA Community Room, 259 Lowell Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all…

Wednesday, May 20th, 7:00 p.m., First Congregational Church of Somerville, 89 College Avenue . From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will…

Tuesday, May 12th, 7:00 p.m., Senior Center, TAB building, 167 Holland Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at…

Monday, May 11th, 7:00 p.m., Central Library Meeting Room, 79 Highland Avenue. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at…

Tuesday, May 5th, 7:00 p.m., Healey School, 5 Meacham Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of…

Last night, I attended a presentation about Transition Towns, a grassroots movement to catalyze community visioning processes with an aim towards local, sustainable, and environmentally friendly economies.  The presenters admitted this was not meant as a panacea for the impending triangle emergency of peak oil, global climate change, and our economic crisis, but it was at least something concrete that people can do together with their neighbors.…

Following up on my 4/10 article “Ald. Roche wants to keep public business “privileged and confidential”” is my email exchange with him below from last weekend. Since he intended this to be a public conversation (“I do this openly and not behind closed doors.”), I felt it was appropriate to share it with the community and hopefully provide some insight into his thinking. …

Public meeting of the Somerville Human Rights Commission
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
2nd Floor social hall, Tufts Administration Bldg, 167 Holland St., Somerville

Agenda:

• Introductions (10 min)
• Director’s Report (10 min)
• Update on the hiring process for Human Rights investigators (20 min)
• Immigrant-Police Dialogs (10 min)

A member of Eighth District Rep. Mike Capuano’s staff will hold office hours Thursday, April 23, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Aldermen’s Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Constituents are encouraged to stop by with questions…

As the following pie chart shows, nearly 60% of Rep. Capuano’s 2010 earmark requests (totaling almost $80 million of tax-payer money) are for military research programs out of a total of close to $136 million in pet projects. He claims he didn’t know about the political contributions he received from the PMA Group lobbying firm, but he should have checked into it before earmarking millions of dollars for its members! We need to send Capuano a strong signal that we’re watching him and we won’t tolerate his earmarks!

It sounds like the reason he was upset was not that his email was leaked early, but that there was organized opposition to his idea. The only rational conclusion is that he hoped his motion would come to a vote without much public scrutiny. When a legislator wants to keep the public out of the legislative process, that should be grounds for impeachment!

Home Energy Savings for Renters to learn hands-on ways you can reduce home energy use and expenses. Refreshments provided.

April 14, 2009
6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Alderman’s Chambers, Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Cost: FREE

For more information, contact: David Lutes, 617-625-6600 ext. 2106, dlutes(at)somervillema.gov , Office of…

Our community is not being served adequately by the level of investigative reporting provided by our two local newspapers: The Somerville Journal and The Somerville News. There is a plethora of local blogs offering opinions and media filtering, but there remains a poverty of the kind of quality in-depth journalism that can only be obtained…

Dear Chairperson Bill White and distinguished aldermen, I strongly object to the installation of surveillance cameras in public spaces around our city and urge you to request their immediate removal. I believe this surveillance program, which was roundly rejected in Cambridge, MA, violates American ideals of freedom and liberty and the Constitutional right to privacy…

This past January, when my wife was 31 weeks pregnant with our baby, she slipped on an icy patch of sidewalk in Somerville, did a belly-flop, and ended up in the hospital with pre-term contractions as a result.  A group of residents is organizing to advocate for more effective snow removal policies and stronger enforcement.…

Maria Landaverde says:

yes, the meeting is from 5 to 6:30 pm our organization is The Welcome Project and it is located at 530 Mystic Ave Somerville, MA you can invite other youth too…other students from SHS are also coming…you can also e-mail me at maria(at)welcomeproject. org . This is our first…

My neighbor, Dave, got so fed up with the unfairness of Somerville’s parking regulations, he started an online discussion group to collect stories of similarly aggrieved residents.

So far the stories touch upon a variety of issues, including:…

Answer President Barack Obama’s call to action and get involved in your community by preparing for the next election cycle! You are invited to our training to learn the basics of how to run and win a local campaign. Topics will include fundraising, crafting a message, field operations/Get Out The Vote, and media and communication…

Answer President Barack Obama’s call to action and get involved in your community by preparing for the next election cycle! You are invited to our training to learn the basics of how to run and win a local campaign.

While Somerville stands to lose up to $5 million in state aid over the next 17 months , it has requested hundreds of millions of federal stimulus dollars through Gov. Patrick’s economic recovery infrastructure program. Mayor Curtatone sits on the program’s Municipal Facilities Task Force.

So far, all we’ve been told by the city about the people appointed by Mayor Curtatone to serve on Somerville’s new Financial Advisory Committee is their names and titles. But, the residents of this city deserve to know more about these advisors who will have such big influence on how we cope with massive budget cuts.

According to “Latest News” on the website of the Somerville Democratic City Committee www.SomDems.org :
The Ward Caucuses to elect delegates to the 2009 State Convention in Springfield will be held on Thursday, February 5th at 7pm with the exception of Ward Five which will be at 8:00 p.m. at the same…

This sounds like a proactive and timely step on the part of the mayor, but is this “outside” panel of “experts” truly a good source of guidance for our city in these dire times?

Do you see the effects of the economic down-turn here in Somerville? Have you seen for-sale and foreclosure signs in your neighborhood? Have you or your neighbors lost jobs? Do you see businesses closing or reducing hours? Have you noticed higher prices at the supermarket and in your energy bills? How are you affected?…

Following Gov. Patrick’s announcement today of $128 million in local aid cuts, Mayor Joe Curtatone told CBS radio station affiliate WBZ that Somerville could lose “close to $3 million in this fiscal year”. How much pain will that mean for jobs and services in our city?

[Note, I am the Endorsements Chair of PDS - Barry]

Come out to the first meeting of the new year!

What: PDS January Meeting

When: Tuesday, January 27th – 6:45pm to 8:45pm

Where: Visiting Nurses Association, Community Room, 259 Lowell Street, Somerville

Agenda includes…

On my way down to the train at Davis Station around 8:30am this morning, I was about to pass through the gate when a transit officer asked me to submit to a bag inspection. There was a group of about 4 or 5 officers wearing yellow and black jackets standing next to a small folding table with a machine on top.

10 A.M. – Noon, Monday, January 19, 2009

Somerville High School auditorium, 81 Highland Ave

• Keynote address
• 2009 MLK awards
• Musical Performances

This event is free and open to the public

Free Refreshments generously provided by the Somerville Public Schools

Co-sponsored by the Somerville Public Schools…

The following message was sent by Stephanie Hirsch to some ResiStat groups today. This is the park bounded by Holland Street, Simpson St., and Paulina St..

Hello ResiStat groups –

Please see below for an announcement of a planning meeting regarding Hodgkins Park:

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Robert…

A new exhibition, cosponsored by the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and the Chinese Historical Society of New England features material from the Chinese American Women Oral History Project. Exhibited are transcripts, audio, and video clips, artifacts, correspondence, and books that document the experiences of several women who…

And now, a meeting announcement from the Chair of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville…
HEY PDSers…

Come to our November meeting at the VNA at 259 Lowell Street on Tuesday, November 25th from 6:30 to 8:30.

Topics include:

• Celebrating the election of BARACK OBAMA!!!!
• Union Square Zoning Update
• Condo Conversion

Two days ago, the City of Somerville announced it would start enforcing regulations prohibiting the use of bicycles on sidewalks with fines between $20 and $50… Given the city’s budget problems, I wonder whether this policy change is motivated more by a need to find new sources of revenue rather than by public safety concerns.

[Posted on behalf of Alisa Wind]

Dear friends at Somerville Voices,

We would like you to join us at a special “What’s Next?” event with Noam Chomsky next Wednesday, Nov 19th. We would also like to encourage your organization to advertise in our program book to share your work with hundreds of viewers…

Nearly a third of Somerville residents were born outside of the United States. Who are we in this immigrant city? What dreams and aspirations brought us here? How did we cope in a new community and in a new country? What brings us together – what pulls us apart – across generations of immigrants?

Saturday, November 22 at the Cambridge Senior Center in Central Square, United for Justice with Peace is holding a post-election conference to discuss how best to move the agenda for peace and justice forward in the Greater Boston area

This announcement appeared on the smujp(at)yahoogroups.com list on Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30-9:30 PM

at the Middle School

FROM WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET – Watertown: A Community Speak-Out on the Economic Meltdown

The following message was sent by Jackie Rossetti to the ResiStatYoungSomerville Google group on Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Hi All,

If you live in the Grimmons Park area, you may be interested in the
following community meeting, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 20th:

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone…

I just received this invitation in the mail from the Somerville Community Corporation:

The Somerville Community Corporation

Cordially invites you to attend our

39th Annual Dinner and Meeting

“PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS”

Wed, Dec 3, 2008, 6-8:30pm

Holiday Inn Boston – Somerville

30 Washington St., Somerville

Please join…

On November 1st, I submitted a grant proposal for $390,000 on behalf of the Somerville Voices team to the 2009 Knight News Challenge titled Transforming the News and Each Other. Please take a look. Your comments would be appreciated. We should find out if we make it past the first round on Nov 15th, so stay tuned for more details.

Do you want to learn more about schools in Somerville? Did you miss the last forum, or want another opportunity to ask questions? Many of us have babies or toddlers and haven’t had time to investigate our options yet. Some wonder whether we should stay in Somerville or move to

From an Oct 12th article on Boston.com: Romulo Santos of Somerville headed off to work Sept. 9 at a Wal-Mart in Walpole as usual. But that day he was electrocuted on the job. Some might consider the 47-year-old Brazilian native’s death a freak accident, but local advocates say that for many immigrant workers, the risk of injury is all too real. Tufts University, Cambridge Health Alliance, and five Somerville community groups have come together to raise awareness of occupational health risks and to teach people their rights.

Somerville Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan was defeated in last night’s Democratic Caucus for Register of Probate of Middlesex County despite his supporters’ attempts to deceive other delegates into believing that he had been endorsed by third-place candidate Maria Sheehy. O’Donovan finished in second place to Medford attorney Tara DeChristofaro…

From the homepage of the Somerville Democratic City Committee www.SomDems.org :
Our first annual Somerville Democratic City Committee Picnic has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 4th, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street. All Somerville Democrats are welcome…

Come hoist a pint of whatever beverage catches your fancy at a casual after-work hang-out with the folks from Open Media Boston – at Johnny D’s, right across from the Holland St. entrance of the Davis Square Red Line T stop. If you want to talk about the OMB website or pitch content ideas that’s fine with us. If you just want to drink and chat about anything that comes to mind, that’s also good. Brought to you by your pals at Open Media Boston

The Mayor has called a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen to create two new Deputy Chief of Police positions that he then wants to take out of civil service. Without any community input or community process on the impact of creating two new politically appointed positions in the leadership of the police department, the Mayor is pushing the Board of Aldermen to agree to their removal from the civil service process.

I share Melissa McWhinney’s concerns about the impact of the Mayor’s new commission staffing reorganization on the quality of the city’s human services. The HRC and other commissions should not have to compete with each other for staff services as they now do under the new arrangement.

Please join us for a wonderful evening of folk, rock, pop, and jazz music to benefit Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against The War. The benefit will be on Tuesday, July 29 at 8:30 PM at Johnny D’s, 17 Holland St. Davis Square Somerville. Performers include Celia Slattery, Deb Pasternak, Porch Party Mamas, Media Made, and Katrina Degel Jazz Quartet. Admission is $15.

The misuse of cost-benefit analysis is impeding efforts to protect and clean up our environment, especially in the case of toxic chemicals. However, there is an alternative, precautionary approach to making decisions under uncertainty.

Just passing this along:
The city will be holding a meeting about Albion Park Monday, July 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the VNA Building, 259 Lowell Street.

SOS members will be at the event to support keeping activities for young adults and teenagers. There have been several parks such as Perry Park and the Kemp Nuts site…

PDS has endorsed Rep. Carl Sciortino for re-election in the 34th Middlesex District (Somerville/Medford) House race. PDS members were impressed by Rep. Sciortino’s hard work on behalf of the district on a variety of issues including working for increased local aid for education, advocating for the extension of the Green Line and his continued efforts on behalf of all the residents of the district.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone will hold Community Office Hours on Wednesday, July 9th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Diesel Café in Davis Square. Residents can…

East Somerville residents deserve the dream of a better community. Let’s talk together about what costs and benefits the new development will bring to our community and to East Somerville residents.

SEIU 615 26 West St Boston MA 02111

For Immediate Release:

Media Contact:
Max Goldman                                  Roxana Rivera
Maxwell.Goldman@tufts.edu Rrivera@seiu615.org

Phone
W: 617-878-7559 C: 860-917-1742    W: 617-878-7458 C: 401-965-3555

Tufts Janitors and the Somerville Community Stand United

Who:     Contracted Janitors at Tufts University…

Conguero Vicente Lebron has been a cornerstone of the Latin and jazz scenes in Boston for over 30 years. He is currently being held in a Homeland Security prison and threatened with deportation.

From the ArtBeat Festival webpage:

“During the heat of summer (held on the third weekend in July), artists and festival goers converge on Davis Square, transforming it into one of the area’s largest and most innovative arts festivals. ArtBeat includes music, performance art, craft vendors, dance, theater, food, and a whole more…

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…

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!

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.

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.

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…

If you listen to a local NPR radio station like me, you’ve probably heard segments of Living on Earth with Steve Curwood, a program on the environment and environmental policy. After listening to this week’s show, I picked up on the fact that they broadcast from a studio in Davis Square, right down the hall from the office of the Somerville Journal, at 20 Holland Street Suite 408 to be exact.

I’m due to get some of this incentive money from the federal government. Perhaps some of you are too. Since it isn’t in my budget, I’d be happy to pool it with others for some good community cause.

This would be a great way for the public to engage in a process that could impact Somerville in a big way. There are five resident seats on this committee, so I encourage you to apply and invite others who might be interested.

The following letter was released by Centro Presente yesterday regarding the cancellation of their hip-hop concert scheduled for Friday of last week at the Somerville High School.

The recent raids at the Pilgrim Pride poultry plants that garnered nationwide media attention only underscore the fact that future ICE raids are imminent.

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground.…