Health Care

“In budget-cutting season, politics can be brutal,” wrote the author of a recent View from Prospect Hill column in the Somerville News.  With an $8.1 million budget gap, it is imperative that the city cut costs.  However, the current, shortsighted approach, with its focus on outsourcing hourly jobs, will sow the seeds of discord for [...]

[ May 8, 2010; 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Amethyst Center is again hosting a fundraiser for the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Saturday May 8, 1:00-5:00. “Nourish Your Well Being” will offer short treatments from its practitioners in exchange for a suggested $10 donation. This is the 13th benefit in 6 years that Amethyst has hosted for the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Amethyst’s practitioners include specialists [...]

The timing of support is worth lots more than just a single vote.

[ February 16, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] 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 Feb. 9 Phase 3 planning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will begin specifying goals, policies and actions to implement the vision statement. A guest speaker is [...]

[ January 26, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] 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 of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will finish the vision statement.

The goal of the comprehensive plan is to improve the quality of life for Somerville’s residents and workers [...]

[ January 30, 2010; 1:30 pm; ] 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” Series for Civic Engagement by the Office of Somerville Commissions. It discusses how commissions, such as the Human Rights Commission, can help improve our community.

This workshop is important it discusses how [...]

The Somerville Community Partnerships for Children and the Parent Information Center have put together a list of agencies that work in Haiti, as well as advice on responding to the needs of children and families affected by the devastation of the earthquake, that Superintendent Pierantozzi has disseminated to Somerville Public School employees.  I’m forwarding them [...]

[ January 5, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] 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.

[ December 17, 2009; 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] At the Medical Reserve Corps meeting this evening we learned that tomorrow there will be a vaccination clinic for both seasonal and/or H1N1 at the City Hall Annex.  It isn’t on the city web site yet because approval to open up vaccination beyond risk groups just happened too late today.

Summary: Flu vaccination clinic

Thursday Dec 17

4-7 [...]

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!

[ December 8, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] 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 4 Alderman Pero, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 4. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

[ December 9, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] BOA Committee on Finance

Wed. Dec. 9, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Finance to discuss retiree health coverage under Medicare and municipal Medicare insurance plans, along with other business. All the Aldermen will be present, meeting as a [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] BOA Committee on Finance

Tues. Dec. 1, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Finance to discuss retiree health coverage under Medicare and municipal Medicare insurance plans, along with other business. All the Aldermen will be present, meeting as a [...]

[ December 4, 2009; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. December 5, 2009; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] PSA: The following message was sent to the City’s Parents ResiStat email list [link to original message]

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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 Street, on Friday December 4th from 5-7 [...]

A five month delay in filling Kennedy’s seat with a similarly minded temporary successor guarantees a health care bill to the advantage of current insurers. Can it be coincidental that CEO of the largest of those insurers in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Health Care, would not materially benefit from a delay in filling this seat? How much [...]

[ July 15, 2009; 8:30 am; ] 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.

[ June 22, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] 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

[ June 22, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] 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.

On Monday, June 22, [...]

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.
The proclamation was announced at a youth leadership conference organized by youth leaders from the Jovenes Latinos program [...]

[ May 3, 2009; 10:00 am; ] The City will be hosting our first annual Shape up the Old Somerville Road Race, a 2.7 mile race/walk beginning and ending on the City Hall concourse. A children’s “Fun Run” will begin from the concourse at 10:00 a.m., with the 2.7 miler beginning at 11:00 a.m. Following the race, there will be a Health [...]

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 [...]

[ May 3, 2009; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] The Mayor’s Office recently announced that the City of Somerville will host a 2.7-mile “Shape Up the Old Somerville Road Race,” combining an old tradition in the Recreation Department’s “Old Somerville Road Race,” and a new tradition with the Shape up Somerville component. The run will take place on Sunday, May 3rd at will start [...]

[ March 14, 2009; 10:30 am; ] The next Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace meeting will be on Saturday, March 14, 10:30 AM at 77 Walnut St., Somerville.  On the agenda: a brief presentation and discussion of Single Payer health insurance, updates on UJP efforts on Iraq, Afghanistan and other issues, upcoming events and actions.

The next Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace meeting will be on Saturday, March 14, 10:30 AM at 77 Walnut St., Somerville.  On the agenda: a brief presentation and discussion of Single Payer health insurance, updates on UJP efforts on Iraq, Afghanistan and other issues, upcoming events and actions.

I don’t agree with his accusatory tone–I think most people voted for Obama with their eyes open–but Sam Smith has “listed nearly three dozen things that Obama supports or opposes with which no good liberal or progressive would agree.” Most prominent among them to my perspective:

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:

[ July 16, 2008; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] 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.

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

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

Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m a full-time student at Tufts University, where I started a student group, the Jumbo Janitor Alliance. The group focuses on bringing Tufts janitors more into the Tufts community. The janitors are currently in contract negotiations with their employer, the cleaning contractor ABM/One Source.