Economy & Poverty

The HUD block grants are a very important source of funding for affordable housing in Somerville, yet very few people attend these hearings. More…

While governments posture and dither, a pragmatic practitioner and intellectual entrepreneur, Allan Savory, has been developing and demonstrating a powerful technique that can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere immediately while reversing desertification and providing livelihoods and food for millions of people.

Please join us for the New England Premier of “Shift  Change”,

What: An inspirational new documentary by veteran filmmakers Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin about the real possibilities offered by worker cooperatives during this…

Are you a low-income resident of Somerville, or a Head Start parent in Somerville or Cambridge?  Starting October 1, you can help elect the Board

of Somerville’s anti-poverty agency.…

Do you want to help set the direction for Somerville’s anti-poverty agency?  The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is seeking candidates for its Board elections, coming up in October.

“We are looking for…

The Family Center, a 30-year-old non-profit agency in Union Square that serves at-risk families in the Greater Boston area, appointed non-profit leader Sue Heilman as its new Chief Executive Officer.

A crowd of 80 Union Square residents and other Somerville supporters gathered last night to proclaim Union Square as the heart of diversity with their message: “We support an affordable, diverse Somerville: Let’s keep Union Square a place for everyone!”

Presented by State Representative Denise Provost and Somerville Climate Action. Rather than dispensing facts about climate change; peak energy, food and water; and biodiversity loss, this film examines the cultural barriers that prevent us from acting rationally.

Fare hikes and service cuts hurt economically depressed areas first. Somerville will only get its transportation needs met if the legislature adequately funds the MBTA and other mass transit.

Agenda not available. The Trust manages payments made in lieu of affordable housing units required by the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, along with revenues from loans made by the Trust.

Agenda includes the FY 2012 budget.

Somerville residents opposed to Walmart coming to our town have scheduled a campaign day this Saturday, March 31. They will knock on doors, hand out flyers, and ask small

Join Mass Senior Action in telling the MBTA…”Bail Out the Riders, Build Massachusetts!”

The letter to resistat previously posted on SV is copied below. The response (which follows)  was posted on the resistat blog within 72 hours of the letter’s submission.…

Fuel Assistance is available based on the total annual income of all members of a household who are eighteen years or older. This year, to be eligible, a household size of 1 must be making less than $31,218 annually while a household of 4 can be making up to $60,035 annually.

Do you ever play the “If-I-had-a-million-dollars” game? Whenever I play, I think of throwing intimate parties for brilliant, powerful people who will orchestrate the betterment of society before my eyes. Now that TEDx is coming to the Armory, I don’t have to hit the lottery to get a full day’s taste of the experience.…

Put on your dancing shoes for a good cause.  The Social Action Committee of Temple B’nai Brith invites you to a Benefit Dance for the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Saturday, March 3…

Join The Bull and Bear, a “financial folk” band for a night of relevant and original music played live from the band’s most-recent album, Recession Sessions. The record highlights the major events of the current global financial crisis. …

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.…

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

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…

High Quality, Cheap Internet, way below normal costs for those who need it.

What’s so funny about Somerville?  Tony V knows.

When supporters of Somerville’s anti-poverty agency, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), gather to celebrate another year of working to end poverty where we live…

If you’re in a room with ten other Somerville residents, two of them are likely to be poor.

Over 13,000 Somerville residents lived below the poverty level last year, according to figures the U.S…

Community Cooks, a volunteer organization of neighbors feeding neighbors, is pleased to announce its first annual celebration. Tastes of Community Cooks, an exhibition of food and art, will take place on Sunday, October 2 from 4 – 7 pm at the Somerville Museum at 1 Westwood Road.

The latest robocall announced the 4th Annual Riverfest, Saturday, 9/17, featuring “fireworks, entertainment, food and family activities” for Somerville residents. The familiar and friendly voice of Jackie Rossetti encouraged residents to participate. The latter part…

Celebrate with the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), the organization working to end poverty where we live.  Enjoy music, refreshments, a look back at the past year and a look ahead at how we are…

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’.

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.…

On behalf of Somerville Climate Action we want to express our grave concern with the possibility of Walmart descending upon Somerville.

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.

A good way to get to know interesting neighbors and maybe even accomplish something:
My husband and I hosted a MoveOn.org “American Dream” house party Saturday. …

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. …

The following email was sent to me as a subscriber to Change.org. I have forwarded the body of the notice, and you will find the link to the online petition in the text of the story. It brings to mind the maxim that if it sounds too good to be true (as with the detente reached by parties to  Assembly Sq. development/IKEA), it probably is.…

Somerville residents interested in a night of social action and rock and roll are invited to come out Wed., June 29th, for a mid-week benefit titled “Johnny D’s End Homelessness Bash”. The benefit will be…

Alba Perez, Family Advocate Supervisor at CAAS Head Start, has been selected by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as one of the Commonwealth’s 100 “Unsung Heroines of 2011.”  …

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…

Support housing and community, and enjoy a lively event in Somerville Apr. 23rd.

The budget crisis continues, as local aid and programs from those for disabled children to assistance for vulnerable seniors are threatened with cuts or closure. This year’s budget promises to be the worst yet. So what can we do this year?

FILM SCREENING

Somerville Climate Action & Representative Denise Provost Film Series present

The Economics of Happiness
followed by a discussion with Julie Matthaei, Economics Professor at Wellesley College

Monday March 28th, 6:30…

“Your opinion matters,” Fischman says. “Please tell us your highest priorities for work to end poverty where we live. We will share the information with the City government and other community organizations so we can work together on the issues the community needs most to resolve.”

SOMERVILLE – 02/15/2011 — Best Rate Insurance today announced that it has donated $500 to the Somerville Homeless Coalition. As part of the Arbella Insurance Group Charitable Foundation’s “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” program, Arbella matched the donation two-to-one, resulting in a total contribution of $1,500 to the Somerville Homeless Coalition.…

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.…

We’re bringing all the CSAs together to get you the info you need to get signed up — meet the folks who grow your food, and bring your checkbook to reserve a share!

The groups fighting for the inclusion of local residents and union jobs on the proposed MaxPac development petitioned the Board of Aldermen on December 22 to hold a hearing on the Covenant language for union jobs that KSS Realty signed with the City of Somerville.

I love getting thoughtful emails from readers with questions, feedback, suggestions and stories. I received the following email a few days ago, and it raises an interesting question.

I read your blog all the

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.…

[11/23/2010]

Greater Somerville takes its show on the road to kickoff the holiday season,
encourage local shopping, taste some great wines and prove that reindogs can
host a TV talk show.…

There is now a $63 M gap in infrastructure funding for Assembly Square. The Orange Line T-Stop and the rest of the development is in jeopardy unless we close the gap by a combination of stopgap funding and a $25 M DIF in Assembly Square.

In yesterday’s Time Trade Circle newsletter (I’m a member), I learned about the Somerville Trading Post that meets at the Somerville Community Growing Center on Vinal Ave. Have you…

Flatbread Restaurant holds a benefit for the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) Tuesday evening, November 16. Eat at the restaurant (45 Day Street in Davis Square) any time from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Flatbread will donate a portion of the cost of dinner to CAAS, Somerville’s anti-poverty agency.

Over coming generations, ocean acidification may cause massive die-offs of fish species. Our descendants may inherit a world without fish.

What do you think about using over 40,000 acres of farm land, 20-24 inches of rain/irrigation water, and countless barrels of fuel to plant, cultivate, harvest, and ship a fruit that is primarily purchased for the purpose of being decorated, displayed in the front yard until it’s smashed in the street or overcome with rot and mold, and then thrown unceremoniously in the trash?

Please come to a Sleeping Bag Rally (bring your sleeping bag & pillows to show that everyone needs a place to sleep)

Thurs, Oct 14, 6-7:30 PM

Outside City Hall

On Sept…

Jimmy Tingle will appear at Somerville anti-poverty agency’s celebration.

Board elections will take place at three locations daily, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. during the week of October 18-22.

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.

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? …

Second community meeting. Mixed response from neighborhood. Some felt something was better than nothing, others thought we should stick to the new zoning plan. Key point: minimum 10 year lease, could be as long as 25 years. City expects change in neighborhood in 10 years, after Green Line comes in.

This meeting was called by Ocean State Job Lot to reintroduce themselves as a potential tenant at 299 Broadway, the former Star Market site. The previous meeting did not elicit public support. This meeting is worth attending because this use is inconsistent with the new Winter Hill zoning, could tie up the site for a long time, and could affect local property values.

Currently the Steering Committee is working on policies and actions to implement the plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

I am a school custodian for the City of Somerville.  I see a Boston Herald article that Boston is cutting 83 school custodians.

Reading the comments ( there are 249 comments so far!) I see that many of what these other people are saying is true…

Bring Dad to any of a list of Somerville restaurants on Father’s Day and the restaurant will make a donation in his honor to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS).

This meeting is important because it relates to Green Line Extension economic development around Magoun Square.

This event features presentations by local “green” businesses and tips for utilizing more sustainable and energy-efficient practices. A key part of sustainable development is making it a profit center for Somerville.

A town cannot set its tax rate until it has received the Cherry Sheet. But what does it mean?

Under the Roof, an event recognizing 25 years of support, housing and community by the Somerville Homeless Coalition and honoring Karen LaFrazia, one of our founding board members and now executive director of the St…

BOA Land Use Committee and Planning Board Joint Meeting

Thurs. Mar. 4 6:00 PM

Somerville City Hall
Aldermen’s Chamber
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda

BOA Land Use Committee Meeting

Tues. Mar. 2 7:00 PM

Somerville City Hall
2nd Fl. Comm. Rm.
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

As Franklin Delambert, Executive Director of the Haitian Coalition, says, it will be an evening of solidarity.

This hearing is important because it is a key step toward getting Federal money for improving Somerville.

Banks and Verizon need to be held to the kind of standards they use to torture their customers.

Feeling pretty blue that Ames Envelope’s leaving town. Maybe others know different(ly), but it seemed as if this Somerville-based business has been a good neighbor.…

Our neighbors are being evicted and our community destabilized by the foreclosure crisis! The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in collaboration with Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services (CASLS) has initiated a foreclosure outreach and organizing campaign in Somerville.

Smart Growth/Transit Oriented Development – What is working or not?

Thurs. Feb. 4 11:30 AM

Radisson Hotel
200 Stuart St.
Boston MA (map)

This presentation by the…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Planning Meeting

Tues., Feb. 16, 6:30 PM

Upper Hall
Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the rescheduling of the…

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.

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Visioning Meeting

Tues., Jan. 26, 6:30 PM

Upper Hall
Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the last Visioning meeting…

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”…

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…

Assembly on the Mystic 2nd Annual Holiday Drive

Sat. Dec. 19, All Day

Assembly Square Marketplace
Somerville MA (map)

Flier (PDF)

To benefit the…

About 450 laundry workers at Angelica Textile in Somerville went out on strike Thursday… negotiations have been focused on obtaining quality affordable healthcare, well-funded pension benefits, and living wages. Come support these hard working employees as they stand up for a fair contract!

Ward 1 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Dec. 7, 7:30 PM

Cafeteria
Capuano Early Childhood Center
150 Glen St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward…

Ward 4 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 8, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
Arthur D. Healey School
5 Meacham St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward…

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

From SOMERVILLE, MA City website: There will be a joint public hearing by the Board of Alderman Land Use Committee and the Somerville Planning Board regarding proposed amendments to the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to define senior housing types, add design guidelines, establish Senior Housing Zoning and Dimensional Requirements and incorporate relevant parking requirements. WHEN: Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 pm

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…

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.…

It’s a bit of an awkward holiday for Somerville Homeless Coalition this year.  Hard times have gobbled up all the resources, the gravy train (state aid) crashed, people are mashed and squashed into emergency housing like never before, and SHC is cran-buried in new requests for help with food and shelter.  But you can help for mere beans!…

Deaf and hard of hearing Somerville residents living on low incomes can now call the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) for help making ends meet. CAAS’ new TTY number is 617-628-6387.

Comprehensive Plan Visioning Meeting

Tues. Nov. 17, 6:30 PM

Argenziano School
290 Washington Street
Somerville MA (map)

This is the November meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee…

“Ismael is a pillar in Somerville’s non-profit community and particularly in its immigrant community,” said CAAS Executive Director Kimberly Smith-Cofield. “He is a rare and wonderful gift to Somerville, and we are so lucky to have him.”

Come to the CAAS Annual Meeting, Thursday, October 29, 2009, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Somerville City Club, 20 Innerbelt Road

If you’re on the fence about attending Sen. Pat Jehlen’s forum on expanded State gambling tomorrow night (Thurs. Oct 15 from 7-9pm at Century Bank, 400 Mystic Avenue in Medford), at which State Sen. Sue Tucker and State Rep Kathi-Anne Reinstein will debate the issue, here are some reasons why you should come, and why this really is a big deal.

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…

Cuba. What did you just think of? Communism, Fidel, the revolution? Many people believe things in Cuba are being run wrong and should be changed. I, however, disagree. When I think of Cuba I think of kindness, generosity, and community. It didn’

t used to be this way.…

On Sunday, September 13, 2009, Pabst Blue Ribbon [www.pabstblueribbon.com] and Precinct Bar and Restaurant [www.precinctbar.com] in Union Square, Somerville, will present “Music Festival 2009” to benefit RESPOND, Inc., a New England agency providing safe haven for women and children., and CAAS,(Community Action Agency of Somerville). The event will run from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

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…

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. …

Broadway Rezoning Community Meeting

Wed. Aug 12, 6:30 PM

Cross Street Senior Center
165 Broadway
Somerville MA (map)

This is the last of a series of community meetings…

Pig out and enjoy a cool drink and cooler music to benefit SHC!

sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to provide information on what planning information is provided by the Commonwealth and how to access it. * Data sources for public health effects of VOCs in I-93 and McGrath corridors. * Data sources for economic development along Green Line.* Data sources for transportation development impact equity.

This is a city-sponsored meeting to discuss economic development in Somerville. This gives citizens of Somerville the chance to look into progress on developments such as: * Assembly Square Development * Boynton Yards/Brickbottom Development * Union Square Development * Somerville Avenue Development

Save Money! – Learn New Things! – Get Help Without Paying! – Meet New Friends!

Have you ever noticed that people are good at different things? The Time Trade Circle lets us share our own skills and get help from others who offer things we need. When you spend an hour helping another member, one hour credit is added to your account. …

We’re working on educating the public about the incredible amount of money spent on weapon systems, and the need to get the government to redirect that money to basic human needs, such as jobs, education, housing, and health care. … and that’s where you can help. We’re going to ask the Board of Aldermen of Somerville to endorse the campaign. As preparation for that, we’re asking you to call your alderman/ woman to urge their endorsement of this campaign.

This Somerville ARRA Funding Watch is gleaned from the Massachusetts Area Planning Council’s Municipal Resource Guide on the Federal Economic

We campaigned, we won and now we want to hear from YOU about changes you want to see in our community. Please join us on Mon. June 22nd at 6:30pm for a Cambridge-Somerville for Change community meeting

I thought Somerville Voices readers might be interested in my recent newsletter about the state budget.  If you’d like to receive future newsletters, you can sign up at www.patjehlen.org

Here’s a link to a map that shows 99 foreclosed properties in our city. Are we surprised that they are concentrated in the east and northeast?

Here’s a link to a somewhat shorter list without a map.

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.

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…

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…

Forum on Gentrification and Displacement!
Thursday, May 14th, 6 PM
Elizabeth Peabody House
277 Broadway (at Broadway & Grant Street) Somerville, MA

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), the designated anti-poverty agency for the City of Somerville, MA, is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration. This position is responsible for managing financial, administrative, human resources and other operational systems and practices and is a key member of the senior management team. Reports to the Executive Director.…

Thanks to Jessica, a senior in the Tufts class entitled “Experimenting with Philanthropy,” CAAS will receive $1,800 to hire youth interpreters to help the residents of Clarendon Hill build a stronger tenants’ association.

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.…

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.

‘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!…

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.…

Somerville’s future – what’s in the works? Come find out.

Walk to raise funds for emergency assistance to individuals and families teetering on the brink of homelessness.

Rock out and chow down to keep our neighbors off the streets!

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.

Senator Jehlen’s state budget forums have been terrific in the past.  On a local level, the Progressive Democrats are apparently planning a community forum on budget issues in May.  I haven’t heard a specific date…

No Fooling: Budget Forum April 1

Every day we learn of more cuts in services and proposed tax increases. Why are we in this situation? What can we do to protect the basics we…

No Fooling: Budget Forum April 1

Every day we learn of more cuts in services and proposed tax increases. Why are we in this situation? What can we do to protect the basics we…

Meet and Greet Kim Smith-Cofield, March 30!

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.

What is going on with our economy? How is the economic crisis affecting local issues? What can we do? This Sunday, February 22 at 7pm, come to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in…

What is going on with our economy? How is the economic crisis affecting local issues? What can we do? This Sunday, February 22 at 7pm, come to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in the heart of Union Square (in the old police building above Precinct 116) to participate in a discussion about the economic crisis and how it is affecting affordable housing. …

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.

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?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can put up to $5,548 in your pocket this tax season! EITC is the federal and state income tax credit available to low and moderate-income working families and individuals. Don’t miss out! Last year, more than 50,000 eligible working families in Massachusetts failed to apply for EITC, leaving an estimated $75 million in unclaimed money in Washington, D.C. Couldn’t you use that money where you live?

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?

The Board of Directors of CAAS, the Community Action Agency of Somerville, is pleased to announce that Kimberly Smith-Cofield is the new Executive Director of Somerville’s anti-poverty agency. She began work on Monday, January 5.

Read more for details…

A focus group of Civil and DisAbilities Rights advocates will join with the longest-running TV Access producers group in the country during Civil Rights Week in MA to tackle the challenges of designing equal opportunity communities.

One week ago, Somerville went overwhelmingly for Obama-Biden. To keep the promises made by the Obama campaign, the Obama Administration will need all the help it can get. We in Somerville should do our part to help–and to keep the politicians honest.

Here is a very partial and incomplete list of campaign promises that I think Obama should keep:

As cold autumn weather approaches, Davis Square’s Amethyst Center announced today that it is hosting a “Get Healthy for the Holidays” open house offering refreshments and holistic health treatments. The short treatments—available in exchange for a suggested $10 donation to the Somerville Homeless Coalition—include: acupuncture; shiatsu; massage; craniosacral therapy; naturopathy consultations; reiki and other energy balancing sessions. Participants are also encouraged to bring gently-used or new blankets to donate to the Coalition.

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is seeking an Executive Director to start January 1, 2009. Please refer to our website for more information: www.caasomerville.org.

When Jack Hamilton began serving as the Executive Director of CAAS (the Community Action Agency of Somerville), Ronald Reagan was President, postage stamps cost 20 cents, IBM had just introduced the first personal computer running on MS-DOS, and PacMan-mania was sweeping the country. After more than a quarter-century of service to Somerville’s low-income residents, Hamilton has announced he will retire as the head of Somerville’s anti-poverty agency at the end of 2008.

Who says all summer reading lists have to be filled with fluff? CAAS, the Community Action Agency of Somerville, is offering a summer reading list about poor people and people rising out of poverty–and what we can all do to help. “There is something on this list for every reader”