Civil and Human Rights

January 11, 2012:  State and local news organizations report today that the City is suing the local firefighters union and a state panel in order to halt payment on what is legitimately owed Somerville’s Fire Fighters Local 76.  (See today’s Boston Globe report)…

Some Massachusetts DCR Ice Skating rinks offer independently-usable and accessible ice skating sleds. These are available during the public skating hours posted for each rink. Here is more information along with a list of rinks with phone numbers.

The City of Somerville submitted a variance application on December 2, 2011 that stated that a “proposed secondary stair case” was being considered for the west sidewalks of Lowell St. Bridge into the future Max’sGreen. the City requested to forego creating an adjacent ramp route; claiming it would be “redundant.”

The Community Access Project and the Boston Center for Independent Living sent an Opposition letter to the State Board regarding this Variance. Five photos of the “proposed secondary” pedestrian route included here.

Local residents rallied at the Bank of America on Saturday, December 10 pushing for changes to reign in corporate greed and address growing inequality in both Somerville and the United States. The rally was a kickoff event for Occupy Somerville.…

Today, December 3rd is:  International Day of Persons With Disabilities.

In celebration, the American Association of People with Disabilities has launched a video, in which Students with Disabilities Speak Up and say “I…

Somerville’s economic development policies should place the highest priority on creating the good jobs our community needs.…

Over 80% of Somerville’s new sidewalks and curb cuts, installed since 2004, are hazardous for people with various types of disabilities (one-in-five). These infrastructure improvements don’t even adhere to basic, standard building code. See a listing of the first 50 locations that the City of Somerville promises to re-do, equalling about $500K wasted the first time around- for starters.

October, 2011:  The Somerville Community Corporation is organizing strategy sessions to get more affordable housing in Somerville by “strengthening our city’s inclusionary zoning ordinance.”

The Community Access Project has placed a FOI request to the…

If there were a listing of  ”100 Worst Communities for Young Residents With DisAbilities,” Somerville would be at the top of the list.

The Mayor’s Young Somerville Advisory Group end-of-year meeting and presentation…

At Chester and Elm Streets in Davis Square, the brick curb cuts have been replaced with concrete, compliant ones. People using wheelchairs and other rolling mobility devices at this location can now rock and roll to the beat of the Ville, knowing that they don’t have to “pull the hill” at either end of the crosswalk. Keep up the good work, Mayor Joe!

Disabled residents of Somerville experience disproportionate poverty, substandard housing conditions, and face pervasive exclusion, even in the city’s inclusionary and affordable housing opportunity programs. Today, a FOIA request was lodged to learn how four influential nonprofits guide the City to step up to its obligations to affirmatively further Fair Housing for economically disadvantaged residents.

Although the City of Somerville is well aware that the Armory facility is still inaccessible at the entrance ramp, the Mayor continues to hold important events and meetings here. At the same time, the Architect and Owner continue to claim that various City Departments are refusing to accept an accessible design. Who’s benefitting from this back-and-forth?

September 6, 2011:  The City of Somerville has generously published the raw data spreadsheets from the much-touted “Happiness Survey” online.

The Community Access Project heard from low-income, disabled and senior residents, who…

The Community Access Project did a reality check of the 2010 East Somerville Safe Routes 2 School Map. We found that less than 20% of the pedestrian features are even up to basic standard code. “Safe” is a misnomer.

These streets ain’t fit for walkin’.

Ward 7 Alderperson Candidate Joan Whitney Puglia is proving to have a keen awareness of conditions around town.  Her mention of Dilboy Field‘s tot lot and baseball field has the Community Access Project members…

So far—and rightfully so—Somerville activists have framed proposed development of 378-382 Somerville Avenue as a displacement issue. As predicted, the advent of the Green Line to Union Square would mean gentrification; 378-382 Somerville Avenue, site of proposed luxury condos, is the first incursion.…

Not hiring any local people (or making a good faith effort to do so) is an insult to our community. It should be unacceptable to the planning board, the Board of Alderman and all of our elected officials.

Rising rents, increased privately-funded housing development, excessive rental burdens, and physically inadequate subsidized housing stock are contributing to Somerville’s transformation into an less diverse, more expensive place to live.

The Armory at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville fails to uphold their promise to State Board to achieve an Accessible entrance by May 15, 2011.

Domestic violence is a hidden reality. It affects people of all incomes, races and religions. Domestic violence is often not reported to the police due to the abused fear of additional abuse by the abuser. …

Collaboration beats what we see in Congress, and…in…the Planning Board’s “solution” to Union Square affordable housing.

Joe Medeiros, man about town, disability rights activist, and wry humorist, died June 14.  He would have turned 91 on June 21, 2011.

The Somerville Home held a lovely Memorial Service for…

Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville has made plans to discriminate yet again, during the 2011 Joe’s Jazz and Blues Fest, curated by the Somerville Arts Council.

The MRC recently redesigned their brochure for the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP). This is a well-funded state low-interest loan program for projects to allow elders, adults with disAbilities, and families with children with disAbilities to keep living independently. Information for Somerville residents included in this post.

At least seven Somerville organizations, including civil rights, immigrant, anti-poverty, churches and peace groups, have signed on to a letter urging Governor Patrick “to decline to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement to participate in a program that damages the social fabric of our Commonwealth and makes our communities more vulnerable and less safe.” The letter was delivered on May 27, 2011 by the ACLU of Massachusetts.

The Somerville Homeless Coalition will hold their annual meeting Thursday, May 12th, at 6:30 pm at its offices in the basement of One Davis Square. This is an open meeting and all are welcome. The…

The Somerville Human Rights Commission will hold a fund raiser at the Friday, April 29th performance of John Shea’s racially charged play, “The Painter.”  The performance will be at the Unity Church, 6 William Street, (corner of College Ave. and William Street,) at 8:00pm.  A talk back, hosted by Sonja Darai, will follow the performance and issues in the play: racial intolerance, violence and hatred, will be discussed with Shea, director Robert Lublin and actors, Michael Nurse and Jared Wright. …

American Comedy Award winner, Wendy Liebman, will be performing at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square (55 Davis Square. Somerville, MA 02144) on April 21st.

Wendy is a nationally famed comedian, who has been…

Link to meeting announcement http://www.somervillema.gov/calendar/eventdtl.cfm?id=8180

The Somerville Arts Council has made plans to discriminate against residents with disabilities again.

More than 50 Somerville residents signed a petition requesting a hearing by the Board of Alderman on union jobs and local hiring.

The hearing will be at 6:00 PM on February 17. There will be a short rally beforehand at 5:45 PM.…

A half dozen community supporters greeted shoppers at Rite Aid’s Davis Sq. store in Somerville on Valentine’s Day to focus public attention on the company’s culture of corporate greed and its assault employees’ health care benefits and job rights.…

Do students do better if their teachers look and sound like them?

Ashraf spoke with Tom Ashbrook and guests twice recently.…

The monthly public meeting of the Human Rights Commission will be at 6:30pm at SCALE in the TAB at 167 Holland Street (basement level, room #103) The agenda is:

In the first week of 2011, City of Somerville Mayor Joseph E. Curtatone and Somerville School District Superintendent Pierantozzi signed a Final Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), to voluntarily come into compliance regarding inaccessible public school facilities and programs. In addition, Somerville will redraft its policies regarding relocation and other accessibility accommodations.

You’ll see a lot of “best of” lists this week. At The Welcome Project, we”ve compiled our own list. Times remain tough for immigrant families, but with support from the community, we accomplished a lot in 2010. We have chosen 5 highlights from our work this year.

That’s a pretty bold statement made by Phantom Gourmet on facebook.

A firestorm was ignited when a recent front page Boston Globe story reported that Upper Crust Pizza, a rapidly-growing local chain, hired and exploited illegal immigrant workers from Brazil.

On November 29, 2010, the state Architectural Access Board voted to accept the Armory architect’s Plan 1.1b, dated October 17, 2010, which will provide for an accessible entrance ramp for this much-used Somerville facility.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, December 10 is celebrated around the world as Human Rights Day.

This year’s theme is:  SPEAK UP STOP DISCRIMINATION.…

Somerville, Boston and Cambridge Human rights activists encouraged the BOA Public Health and Safety Committee to allow economic integration, safety, inclusion and accessibility to trump aesthetics at a recent Meeting.

A lot of Somervillians care about inclusion. Here are 10 examples of easily removable barriers with easy-to-implement solutions!

See case summaries and read my update in Help discover the relationship between ICE and Somerville police

On December 6 at 6 pm, Alderman White and the Public Safety Committee will hold a Special Hearing to understand the justification for using brick paver materials in the recently constructed Somerville Avenue crosswalks. The vibrations from such materials hurts wheelchair drivers, and causes additional discomfort for people with visual and balance impairments.

As someone who does not own a car, I am already accustomed to the life of a pedestrian living around the edges of a world designed for cars. But I was completely unprepared for how dramatically marginalized I would feel trying to navigate the streets by wheelchair.

Residents of Somerville concerned about the development of the old MaxPak paper factory where 199 units of new housing are being built will picket and rally for jobs at the entrance to the site (56-61 Clyde Street) in Somerville, MA on Thursday, Dec 2 from 6:00 to 9:00 AM.…

On October 5th, I submitted the following request to the Director of Somerville Historic Commission:

Following the unanimous approval by both the School Committee and Aldermen of resolutions supporting passage of the DREAM Act, comes this announcement yesterday from Tito Meza of the Somerville Community Corporation’s Voices of Immigrants of Somerville (SCC VIS):…

The first line of the recently crafted Somerville Vision Statement includes a sentence about valuing the diversity of our people, cultures, housing, and economy. Since “diversity” is so prominently represented in our vision for our community, I’ve been thinking about this word and what it means.

Somerville’s disability culture should also be celebrated as part of our rich multicultural diversity. But as we see, even voting is still not routinely made accessible and integrated for voters with physical disAbilities. How can we reverse Segregation in Somerville?

The Somerville Homeless Coalition is hosting the 2nd Annual Tina DeLellis Luncheon on October 29 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at The Highland Kitchen. The luncheon is held in memory of Tina DeLellis…

First, James Madden with the Campaign to Protect Affordable Housing discusses campaign initiatives, November’s ballot Question 2 concerning 40B affordable housing, and whether or not it should be repealed. In the previous episode, Joe and KyAnn interview Jed Lippard, Head of School at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School. Only on Greater Somerville

According to a recent Boston Herald article, a Somerville-based group, Centro Presente, wants to stop the BPD practice of running immigration background checks on those that have been arrested…

This Thursday, September 30, at 6 pm, Villens and others will have the opportunity to hear the voices of youth members from Centro Presente and The Welcome Project, who are working to support the Dream Act.

In these final crazy hazy days of summer 2010, Mayor Joseph Curtatone has succeeded in sneaking a detour around a new State rule. Here’s why that matters to Human Rights advocates..

Labor Day is coming up. I hope all everyone gets a chance to enjoy some time with their friends and families.

This is the holiday brought to you by the labor movement. What is the labor movement? …

The Architectural Access Board will hold a Hearing on 18 Architectural Access Code Violations for Arts at the Armory facility on Monday, May 24, at 1 p.m.

back story: On February 8, Building…

Immigrants who gather at Foss Park each morning as early as 5 am looking for work as day laborers are the subject of a new play that will enjoy its community premiere on Friday, May 21st at the Black Box Theater at the Elizabeth Peabody House, 277 Broadway. The program begins at 7:30 pm.

The new play, “They Don’t Tell You Anything!” will be performed as part of an evening of theater, stories and conversation about the struggles and challenges that many Somerville residents face after they are picked up by contractors each morning to paint or perform demolition work. Written by playwright and English teacher Meryl Becker, the play will be performed by student actors from the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE).

The AGO, through its Division of Open Government is requesting public comment on proposed alternatives to the notice posting requirement in the Open Meeting Law. Comment should be submitted by April 23, 2010.

We’ll be joined by Acting Somerville Police Chief Michael Cabral for a discussion to include the following topics: * the 2008 Romelus Police Beating Case * Private security contractors in Somerville * DHS Surveillance Cameras * The idea of creating a public oversight board for the SPD

Well, she doesn’t scare this citizen and I doubt she scares you, dear reader, but her sojourn into the birthplace of this here nation sure calls for a strong non-violent response.

The City of Somerville was one of 10 cities honored as an All America City by the National League of Cities in 2009. During the announcement, the audience was informed that, “this is a community that uses information to improve the lives of its residents.” Here’s some information about the inaccessible DPW facility.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick spoke in the inaccessible Somerville High School auditorium this past Monday March 8, 2010, celebrating the fact that Somerville, MA was named one of the 10 All America Cities

This spring, Somerville is launching its first “one city, one book” campaign, a community reading project in which people all over the City will be encouraged to read and discuss the same book.

The…

The City of Somerville, with it’s clear mandates and civil rights obligations from Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, continues to be really , truly, obviously unskilled at inclusive community-building.

Here are several immediate local opportunities to become trained in how to assist Haitians in completing TPS (Temporary Protected Status) applications and fee waivers. Trainings are being provided by Nancy Kelly, an immigration attorney at…

MPO Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA Meeting

Wed. Feb. 24 1:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rms. 2, 3
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)…

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?’

The goal of this meeting is to provide accurate information about Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was granted last Friday to Haitians living in the United States in response to last week’s earthquake.

Why Commissions Can Improve Our Community

Sat. Jan. 30 1:30 PM

Somerville Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a workshop from the “How to”…

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

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…

Judging by the fumbles on Election Day, 11/3/09, we can’t assume that Somerville will provide Accessible Voting on Primary Day, December 8. Despite the fact that the Secretary of State’s Office ordered structural accessibility changes at 7 Somerville polling sites after an audit in July, a spot-check of 9 Somerville Polling sites on Election Day 2009 proved that the current Mayor’s heart is still not in the game.

1.  The Disability Policy Consortium hoped to be able to offer some guidance to its constituency on the candidate most likely to fill the late Senator’s big shoes on disability issues. In mid-November, DPC sent…

Our neighbors are being evicted and our community destabilized by the foreclosure crisis.

Community ratifies set of 11 principles for land use planning along the Green Line extension.

Here’s a 12% slope in Union Square, at the crosswalk between 2 HP parking spaces, nearest curbcut to the Union Square Bus stop, necessary to access the commercial area and the SCAT building…

On Friday, October 9 at 51 Winthrop Street, Amy Goodman, host of the award-winning “Democracy Now!” and David Goodman, prominent investigative journalist, will have a lively discussion about the problems and promise of media to bring about social change.

Q:  Why Didn’t the Rolling Somerville Pedestrian Cross the Road at the Crosswalk?

A:  Because the City of Somerville Deciders have been playing chicken with standards.

This photo essay will show 30 lost opportunities to create a safer community on Mayor Curtatone’s watch.

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…

Bullying, is it a problem in Somerville-Why or why not? Prevention and how to deal with bullying in school.

Whoda thunk that a simple sign could be a liar?  Here’s a photo essay of some misleading signage in three City of Somerville facilities.

1.  Somerville Schools Administration Building, 181 Washington Street:   At…

Our friend reports that her son (22 months) fell while walking on bricks at the Walnut Street Park, fractured his right femur, and is in a cast for four weeks.  She says that…

Thanks to SomervilleVoices for providing this venue to post our Public Information Requests -and to share the responses (or lack therof) that we receive.

Here’s one example of a PIR response that raises red…

Election Day in July?  Yes, for residents of Clarendon Hill Public Housing Development.

This summer, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) helped the Clarendon Hill Tenant Association (CHTA) to hold elections. …

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

Agenda:

• Director’s Report
• Immigrant Police Dialogues
• Snow Removal Committee
• Other activities
• Recruitment
• Evaluate

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.

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

…what say this Lady, Dear SomervilleVoices Reader?…

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

The Acting Director of the Office of Somerville Commissions and the Somerville Health Department have announced their plans for the celebration of National PRIDE week.…

Join us for an Interfaith Pride service on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at Havurat Shalom Congregation, 113 College Ave., Somerville, MA. The service, in English and Hebrew, will celebrate the theme of this…

Join us for an Interfaith Pride service on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at Havurat Shalom Congregation, 113 College Ave., Somerville, MA. The service, in English and Hebrew, will celebrate the theme of this year’s Boston Pride, “Trans-forming our Communities.”…

Drop off from 9 to noon, 1:00 to 5:00 – see list of items needed

Please join The Welcome Project on June 7 for a graduation celebration for some special people from cultures and countries all over the world. These are the students in our youth language interpretation and adult language learners programs who have just completed a year’s worth of learning as language interpreters and English language learners.

The City of Somerville, as an Entitlement Community, receives millions of Federal dollars from HUD each year from the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, and HOME programs.  These monies must be spent on…

With summer just around the corner and tens of thousands of young people entering the workforce in Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has proclaimed May “Safe Jobs for Youth Month” to focus attention on preventing workplace injuries and deaths.…

‘Villens, as one of the culminating events of our church’s “Sacred Conversations on Race” justice project, we are hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, April 30. The presenters are all fantastic, and should stimulate excellent…

‘Villens, as one of the culminating events of our church’s “Sacred Conversations on Race” justice project, we are hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, April 30. The presenters are all fantastic, and should stimulate excellent, truth-telling conversation about racism as its persists in Somerville and surrounding communities. We hope you can come!…

The Board of Directors of the Somerville Teachers Association (STA) voted to endorse HR 676 at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 7.

“Health care reform is finally on the national agenda,” said Linda Vitiello, President of the Somerville Teachers Association. “We are excited to be part of a national grassroots movement for Medicare for All and H.R. 676 and to join with so many other labor organizations that support it.”…

On March 19, 2009, the City of Somerville was one of the 118 recipients of an “e-government Award,” from Common Cause. This citation is given for providing online access to Board

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

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…

A small group of union members converged on the Rite Aid drugstore in Davis Sq. on Friday, April 3 to condemn the company’s abuse of workers’ rights and urge Congress to pass the “Employee Free Choice Act” — a law backed by President Barack Obama that would better protect employees who want to form unions by limiting employer interference in the process.…

Rite Aid has been abusing the rights of employees – and provides a “textbook example” of why Congress should pass the “Employee Free Choice Act,” reform legislation that would better protect employees who want to form unions by limiting employer interference in the process.

Reminder:  Tonight at 7:00 at City Hall is the hearing on surveillance cameras.  Below is an op-ed that appeared in last week’s Somerville Journal.  Please come and give your opinion tonight!  Thanks,

Melissa…

Reminder:  Tonight at 7:00 at City Hall is the hearing on surveillance cameras.  Below is an op-ed that appeared in last week’s Somerville Journal.  Please come and give your opinion tonight!  Thanks,

Melissa…