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	<title>Somerville Voices &#187; Barry Rafkind</title>
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	<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org</link>
	<description>An independent, open forum for reports and opinions about life in our city.</description>
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		<title>Rep. Capuano to Address Democratic City Caucus Feb 13th</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/08/events/rep-capuano-to-address-democratic-city-caucus-feb-13th/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/08/events/rep-capuano-to-address-democratic-city-caucus-feb-13th/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:35:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10989</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ February 13, 2012; 6:15 pm; ] Mayor Curtatone will introduce Candidate for US Congress in the newly created 7th (yes seventh) Congressional District, Congressman Michael Capuano. Candidates for US Senate have been invited to address the meeting.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/08/events/rep-capuano-to-address-democratic-city-caucus-feb-13th/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>City&#8217;s ACE Webpage for Responsiveness Data Now 3 Months Stale</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/04/government-reform/citys-ace-webpage-for-responsiveness-data-now-3-months-stale/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/04/government-reform/citys-ace-webpage-for-responsiveness-data-now-3-months-stale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:02:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10974</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;We should not have to tell you we are doing well. We should be able to show we are doing well. And if we are falling short in some areas, then you should be able to see that too. &#8221; &#8211; Mayor Curtatone, in his 7/15/2011 op-ed to the Somerville News announcing his new ACE program and stating a customer [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2012/01/04/government-reform/citys-ace-webpage-for-responsiveness-data-now-3-months-stale/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Young Democrats of MA Endorse Ballantyne, Barber for Alderman</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/young-democrats-of-ma-endorse-ballantyne-barber-for-alderman/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/young-democrats-of-ma-endorse-ballantyne-barber-for-alderman/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:40:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Press Release]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ward 4]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ward 7]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10669</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Young Democrats of Massachusetts (YDM) and Greater Boston Young Democrats (GBYD) have endorsed Katjana Ballantyne and Christine Barber in their races for Somerville Alderman seats.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/young-democrats-of-ma-endorse-ballantyne-barber-for-alderman/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Somerville Journal Endorses Neither Candidate in Ward 7</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/somerville-journal-endorses-neither-candidate-in-ward-7/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/somerville-journal-endorses-neither-candidate-in-ward-7/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:34:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ward 7]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10665</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, the Somerville Journal announced (see quote below) it would not endorse in the race for Ward 7 Alderman. They rightly refrained from endorsing incumbent Bob Trane because of his lack of independence from the mayor. However, while they praised Katjana Ballantyne for her commitment to responsiveness and mixed-use development, they stopped short of endorsing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/11/04/politics/somerville-journal-endorses-neither-candidate-in-ward-7/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ward 7 Alderman Trane&#8217;s 1st General Election Mailing</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/politics/ward-7-alderman-tranes-1st-general-election-mailing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/politics/ward-7-alderman-tranes-1st-general-election-mailing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:54:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ward 7]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10143</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hypocrisy. Negativity. Obsolescence.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/politics/ward-7-alderman-tranes-1st-general-election-mailing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Come to the Progressive Massachusetts Kickoff on October 2nd!</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/events/come-to-the-progressive-massachusetts-kickoff-on-october-2nd/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/events/come-to-the-progressive-massachusetts-kickoff-on-october-2nd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=10139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[[ October 2, 2011; ] As we launch on October 2, we will: take positions on public policies through a democratic process; organize members to directly contact elected officials to support these policies; and help elect and support progressive candidates for public office.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/09/24/events/come-to-the-progressive-massachusetts-kickoff-on-october-2nd/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Joan Whitney Puglia Proposes Community Preservation Act Referendum</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/23/housing/joan-whitney-puglia-proposes-community-preservation-act-referendum/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/23/housing/joan-whitney-puglia-proposes-community-preservation-act-referendum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:14:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment and Open Space]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Historical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=9900</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Saying, &#8220;the Community Preservation Act (CPA) could generate millions of dollars for affordable family housing, open space and historic preservation&#8221;, Ward 7 alderman candidate Joan Whitney Puglia has announced her support for a city-wide referendum seeking adoption of the Act.
“For Ward 7, the CPA could provide funding to rehabilitate the baseball playing fields and tot-lot [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/23/housing/joan-whitney-puglia-proposes-community-preservation-act-referendum/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Shameful Truth About the Ward 7 PDS Endorsement</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/16/politics/the-shameful-truth-about-the-ward-7-pds-endorsement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/16/politics/the-shameful-truth-about-the-ward-7-pds-endorsement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:48:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ward 7]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=9887</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Tues, Aug 9th, the Progressive Democrats of Somerville held a meeting at which they cast endorsement votes in the upcoming municipal races. Challenger Katjana Ballantyne received the group&#8217;s endorsement in the Ward 7 race. However, given what happened, that endorsement might be more of a liability for her &#8230;
Prior to the meeting, PDS Chair [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/16/politics/the-shameful-truth-about-the-ward-7-pds-endorsement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>30</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Joan Whitney Puglia calls for major reform to the zoning approval process</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/11/development-and-zoning/joan-whitney-puglia-calls-for-major-reform-to-the-zoning-approval-process/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/11/development-and-zoning/joan-whitney-puglia-calls-for-major-reform-to-the-zoning-approval-process/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:54:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Development and Zoning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=9862</guid>
		<description><![CDATA["There is no accountability in the existing zoning approval process.... I believe decisions about developments that could substantially impact our neighborhoods should be made by the aldermen, who must answer to the voters every two years."]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/08/11/development-and-zoning/joan-whitney-puglia-calls-for-major-reform-to-the-zoning-approval-process/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Curtatone Administration Not as Transparent and Open as Promised</title>
		<link>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/07/28/government-reform/curtatone-administration-not-as-transparent-and-open-as-promised/</link>
		<comments>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/07/28/government-reform/curtatone-administration-not-as-transparent-and-open-as-promised/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:26:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Rafkind</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[311 Requests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investigative Reports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Records / FOIA Requests]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.somervillevoices.org/?p=9814</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the following examples indicate, the Curtatone administration routinely ignores, delays, or over-charges for data sought under the state&#8217;s public records law, in contrast to what the Mayor calls an &#8220;open, transparent and efficient government&#8221;.
Here are just two examples of the many instances in which Mayor Curtatone professes to deliver on that promise:
On his list [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.somervillevoices.org/2011/07/28/government-reform/curtatone-administration-not-as-transparent-and-open-as-promised/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
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