As one of many Somerville homeowners and residents who showed up at city hall to oppose the home rule petition. I want to thank everyone who attended or spoke at the meeting, sent emails, wrote letters or watched it live.
I think we garnered more than a little attention by the amount of people who attended or spoke. Along with the four hours of testimony we turned in more than 300 signatures over half of them were acquired during the meeting.
The interest and efforts of everyone will help us defeat this measure as we move forward with the process.
On Monday April 9 th @ 6:00 P.M. at City Hall the Board of Alderman will meet to discuss the TRANSFER TAX. The meeting will be open to the community however there will not be any public input. I strongly urge everyone to attend and hear the discussion by the BOA.
Anyone who did not get to attend the meeting and voice your concerns you can give written testimony via email to the Board of Alderman or the City Clerks office. It must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. on Friday April 6 th. Those wishing to hand deliver their testimony must do before 12:00 noon on Friday April 6 th.
In order for this to pass by the Board of Alderman they need to have a two thirds vote. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN OPPOSITION TO LOBBY YOUR WARD ALDERMAN AND THE AT LARGE ALDERMAN AND ATTEND AS MANY MEETINGS AS YOU CAN.
A final vote will likely occur at the regular scheduled Board of Alderman meeting on Thursday April 12 th @ City Hall. Be there and be seen.
SOMERVILLE LEADS THE WAY. STOP THE TRANSFER TAX coming to a street near you.
Thanks
John L. Sullivan and the Committee
FYI check out the finance committee’s agenda for their next meeting. They’re bonding $6,000,000. for affordable housing to be paid through cpa funds. How do you trust your alderman when they don’t provide the full picture and they take so long to do what they said they would do with the CPA funds? Are you willing to trust them on the transfer tax?
Maybe people should buy a house somewhere they can afford? A revolutionary idea I know. Why do people think they have a right to live somewhere. I mean, where is a my house on Central Park West?
A novel and revolutionary idea is right!
I have written in opposition, as well. The lack of details makes me uncomfortable supporting this initiative.
7 alderman and four at Large are going to tell the home ownes what is good for us. Put it on the ballot and let the home ownes vote.
Totally agree Jennine. Stop thrusting this down the throats of homeowners and put it to a citywide vote
The only problem I see here is that how many of our alderpersons are going to oppose Joe?
Thank you, John
I did include that in my letter to all the alderman which I sent a few hours ago.
John and Judy: My husband and I sent a lenthy email to our Aldermen opposing this Transfer Fee (TAX) as well and so far have had a response from only 1-Alderperson! We will be at the meeting on Monday evening to hear what the remaining Alderpersons have to say.
Lengthy!
Judy,
The other important aspect of this home rule petition it also includes commercial properties. Unfortunately that also trickles down to the residents that do business in the city.
Thank you, John for the work you are doing to raise awareness of the deceptive motives behind the transfer tax.
Former Alderman and State Rep, Vinny Ciampa’s comments at last night’s meeting proved questionable tactics involved of trying to rush this bill through to the state house legislators.
Equally as evident, is the intentions of the board to keep our local community uniformed about the transfer tax, it’s implications and their negligence of announcing important timely meetings including those to include public commentary and board only discussions.
In this case— what we don’t know can and will absolutely hurt us!
As Vinny pointed out— Section 5 could be changed at anytime. It would suggest that the percentage rate of their proposed 1%, ($10k per million), could be subject to increase at anytime.
I encourage anyone reading this to please check on the city’s website for meetings about the transfer tax and right of first refusal. Both will hurt long time home and commercial property owners.
Also contact and write your aldermen and local representatives.
Thank you
Judy