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

Pending all final approvals, Somerville is in line for…

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In spite of the overwhelming cupidity of the Board of Aldermen, one or more may ask why or how the Mayor connects "access" to higher tickets across the board? ... The obvious conclusion is that he cares nothing about access, and everything about money. While that may be good for his budget, it is at real cost to citizens and businesses, and, ultimately, to the management system that justifies - or rationalizes - that cost.Read More.>>

If the entire city will be changed to permit-only parking, the permit system must be changed to allow non-residents to obtain restrictive permits and to easily allow more than 2 visitors on occasion.Read More.>>

I live outside Davis Square and every time I ride the T, I stop and look at the tiles that line the entrance to the station. I grew up in Somerville at the same time as many of the people who made these tiles, so I usually look for someone I know, and I often wonder what they're all doing today. … Read More.>>

The Community Corridor Planning Project invites you to attend a meeting on April 29th to learn about and talk with your neighbors about changes that will come about in Somerville and in your neighborhood with the Green Line extensions.… Read More.>>

Somerville's future - what's in the works? Come find out.Read More.>>

An all-ages fair of forward-thinking fun. Get your spirits up and your footprint down!Read More.>>

Thanks to the interdependence of everything, Barry Rafkind's post Keep Big Brother ouf of Somerville has morphed into a discussion about whether or not traffic cameras can induce more folks to obey traffic laws (see comments starting from # 7). I'm saying that, with regards to the specific pedestrian safety issues that Steve Roix has worked gallently to solve, this speaks to a deeper need to create a signal timing plan… Read More.>>

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...Read More.>>

I got ticketed for not moving my car. The snow had melted, noone had complained. This rule is AWFUL… Read More.>>

Pleasant Auto School and Somerville Adult Evening School have teamed up to provide a 5 week driver's education course for any teens or adults with a learner's permit. Students receive 30 hours of classroom instruction, twelve hours of Road Lessons, six hours of observation time.Read More.>>

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.Read More.>>

The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) and the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA) are jointly hosting a community meeting to discuss the proposed extension of the Green Line service to the Medford/Somerville line at Mystic Valley Parkway.

The meeting, will be at 7 p.m. on Monday

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There is a simple state law that limits motor vehicle idling to 5 minutes max. Reefer trucks are an exception. This law is clearly ignored by both private citizens and public officials. Way too many cars idle. Way too many city cars idle. How can we stop this? It is a waste of gas and a pollutant.Read More.>>

Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee for the 16th Annual Tour de Somerville on Saturday, October 18th.   We'll meet at 10 am at Seven Hills Park, behind the Holland Street T entrance in Davis Square.    From there, we'll trace the entire boundary of our city, from leafy Alewife Brook and Tufts University to gritty… Read More.>>

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am part of a group of Somerville and Cambridge residents organizing the third Honk! Festival of activist street bands, and I wanted to extend an invitation to all of you to take part in the Honk Parade from Davis Square to Harvard Square on Sunday, October 12. It's a…

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PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY FOR

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING INPUT

UNTIL AUGUST 5, 2008:

The Boston Region MPO will hold two Open House sessions on July 30, 2008 from 12:30 pm - 2 p.m.

and from 5:30 pm - 7 pm

AT: Suite 2150, State Transportation Building

10 Park Plaza, Boston…

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At a fundraiser for his reelection campaign at Sabur Restaurant this evening, Representative Carl Sciortino got some strongly worded support from Governor Deval Patrick, and announced that an upcoming environmental bond bill would include two million dollars for improvements to Somerville’s largest open space, Foss Park.…Read More.>>

Note: We’re planning to run a range of views on the rezoning of Union Square. This one is from Matt McLaughlin, president of Save Our Somerville. The Green Line is coming through, which is a great step forward for Somerville. I look forward to jumping on the Green Line and going into Boston. But where am I going to live? ...…Read More.>>

If a municipality's Bus stops are unreachable and inaccessible, due to badly built street facilities, then its residents are restricted from accessing public transportation systems, etc..For some individuals, the challenges created by these issues cause them to be nearly or fully housebound. Do you think such quality of life issues should continue to be put off until "tomorrow?" ...Read More.>>

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.Read More.>>

The Milk Row Cemetery is a Historic Preservation Commission project, and its improvements triggered sidewalk accessibility improvements by 2005. Below is the copy of the complaint I submitted today. This is at least the third time this issue has been brought to the attention of the City ADA Coordinator in the past year.Read More.>>

Having the Green Line go to Route 16 will also serve Somerville residents so STEP hopes that you will support the goals of Green Line advocates in Somerville and Medford by signing the petition for the terminal stop at Route 16.  There are some Medford residents who opposed this location for the end of the line and want to end it the stop to be built  near Tufts.  Take a minute and sign the petition on line.…Read More.>>

This Saturday, May 31, I'm co-leading a bicycle tour of historical sights around Somerville, on behalf of the Somerville Bicycle Committee and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission. The ride will focus on the many commuter rail stations that Somerville once had, and on the Green Line stations that will soon take their place. The ride starts at 10 am at Somerville City Hall ...Read More.>>

I'm proposing the 89 bus route be changed as shown (bigger image here): For the reasons why read on . . .Read More.>>

If the Red Line at Davis Square is any indication, Green Line trolleys will transform our city in the near future.…Read More.>>

April 14, is the last day the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will accept public comments on how to improve the proposed Assembly Square IKEA, and lessen its impact on the public’s right to freely travel to and enjoy our Mystic River waterfront.Read More.>>