By William Tauro
A lot of great people have come out of this wonderful city of Somerville. Many of them have fought and died for our country.
Continue reading Recognizing Somerville Heroes, A Hardy Family Hero Salute
Daily Archives: May 26, 2018
MANDATORY $100,000 DEATH BENEFIT BILL APPROVED
By Bob Katzen
The House gave initial approval to a bill requiring drivers to carry a $100,000 death benefit as part of their auto insurance coverage. The $100,000 would be used to pay the estate of any person killed by the negligence of a driver in cases where a decedent is survived by a minor child, spouse or dependent.
Continue reading MANDATORY $100,000 DEATH BENEFIT BILL APPROVED
SENATE PROTECTS SCHOOL CUSTODIANS
By Bob Katzen
The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill designed to protect the rights of custodians, cafeteria and other non-teaching employees of school districts by exempting them from the Education Reform Act or 1993. That act gave school principals strong control over the hiring and assignment of teachers and other education professionals as part of the effort to improve test scores and overall student performance.
SALES TAX HOLIDAY AMENDMENT REJECTED
By Bob Katzen
The Senate 14-24, rejected an amendment allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 during a two-day weekend sales tax holiday in August without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax.
SENATE TO INCREASE DEEDS EXCISE TAX FROM $20 to $50
By Bob Katzen
Senate 38-0, approved an amendment raising the state deeds excise tax from $20 to $50. The deeds excise tax is paid by the seller of the property and funds the state’s Community Preservation Act Trust Fund that “matches” the money raised by local cities and towns which are allowed to impose a surtax on real estate sales to fund projects like affordable housing, preservation of historical resources and open space.
Continue reading SENATE TO INCREASE DEEDS EXCISE TAX FROM $20 to $50
IMMIGRATION STATUS AMENDMENT APPROVED
By Bob Katzen
The Senate 25-13, approved an amendment that would prohibit police and other law enforcement from asking people about their immigration status. Other provisions end the practice that deputizes state and local law enforcement as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents; bans state resources from being used to create a registry based on ethnicity, religion, country of origin and other criteria; and requires that immigrants be notified of their due-process rights.
SENATE APPROVES $41.49 BILLION FISCAL 2019 BUDGET
By Bob Katzen
The Senate 38-0, approved a $41.49 billion fiscal 2019 budget. Over a 3-day period, the Senate added an estimated $75.5 million to the original version of the budget and considered and voted on more than 1,000 proposed amendments.
Continue reading SENATE APPROVES $41.49 BILLION FISCAL 2019 BUDGET
BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS APPROVED
By Bob Katzen
House 150-0, approved a bill that would expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families. Provisions include reducing from five years to two years the residency period required for some veteran’s property tax exemptions;
Continue reading BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS APPROVED
MENTAL HEALTH BILL AMENDMENT REJECTED
By Bob Katzen
House 42-111, rejected an amendment that would require the court, within 24 hours of the issuance of an ERPO, to assign a mental health counselor to evaluate the individual, assess counseling needs and establish a counseling outline and program. It also requires the Department of Mental Health, if considered necessary, to establish a mental health counseling program for the individual and report back to the court.
COURTS TO RED FLAG ON GUNS
By Bob Katzen
House 139-14, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would allow family or household members to petition the courts to issue an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) that would suspend a person’s license to carry a firearm and order him or her to surrender his or her firearms and ammunition if he or she is believed to be a danger to themselves or others.
SENATE APPROVES $1.8 BILLION HOUSING PACKAGE
By Bob Katzen
House 151-2, Senate 38-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill funding various state programs to construct and preserve affordable housing in the Bay State.
Continue reading SENATE APPROVES $1.8 BILLION HOUSING PACKAGE
HOUSE APPROVES HIKE CAR RENTAL TAX BY $2 TO FUND POLICE TRAINING
By Bob Katzen
House 149-4, Senate 37-0, approved an amendment imposing a $2 tax on car rentals to fund municipal police training.
Amendment supporters said the small fee would raise up to $10 million annually for this fund established by the criminal justice law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker last month.
Continue reading HOUSE APPROVES HIKE CAR RENTAL TAX BY $2 TO FUND POLICE TRAINING
Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 43 – Report No. 21 May 21-25, 2018
By Bob Katzen
THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators and representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of May 21-25.
Continue reading Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 43 – Report No. 21 May 21-25, 2018
GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS by John Dwyer
GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS SATURDAY, May 26, the 146th day of 2018 with 219 to follow. Sunrise in the Boston area is @ 5:12 and sunset is @ 8:08. The moon is waxing. The morning stars are stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury & Saturn. The evening stars are Neptune, Uranus & Venus.
ON THIS DAY IN: 0017 – Germanicus of Rome celebrated his victory over the Germans. Continue reading GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS by John Dwyer
Memorial Day Weekend 4-Tours-of-Duty Homeless Veteran Gets Disrespected In Sanctuary City of Somerville
By William Tauro
He served four tours of duty as well as was wounded in combat protecting our great nation and now he claims that the City of Somerville has turned it’s back on him now that he’s homeless and has nowhere to stay.
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Loans for All Occasions Continue reading Somerville Municipal Federal Credit Union
Somerville Rotary Club Inducts New Member David Worzala
Photo Left : Somerville Rotary New Member David Worzala and Somerville Rotary Past-President Paul Kaufman.
On May 15, 2018 Somerville Rotary Club inducted David Worzala as a new member at their Tuesday May 15, 2018 meeting at the Holiday Inn Boston/Bunker Hill in Somerville, Ma. David Worzala and his family moved to the area from Madison Wisconsin where he was active in the DownTown Madison Rotary Club for the past 15 years.
Continue reading Somerville Rotary Club Inducts New Member David Worzala
Somerville-Naveo Credit Union’s Board of Directors appointed Tina Mancini as New Chairperson of the Board
(Somerville, MA) Naveo Credit Union’s Board of Directors appointed Tina Mancini as the new Chairperson of the Board during their most recent board meeting. Continue reading Somerville-Naveo Credit Union’s Board of Directors appointed Tina Mancini as New Chairperson of the Board
Somerville-Members Appointed to the Mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee
Mayor Curtatone and President of the Board of Aldermen Katjana Ballantyne have announced their appointments to the Mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee (AAC): Jennifer Blundell, Victor DoCouto, and William Durkin. Continue reading Somerville-Members Appointed to the Mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee
SOMERVILLE HOUSE DELEGATION VOTES FOR GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION
Somerville Representatives Christine Barber, Mike Connolly and Denise Provost joined their House colleagues this week in voting to pass H.4517, An Act relative to firearms, known as the “red flag” bill to allow family members, health care providers and law enforcement to petition the court for an Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) that would suspend an individual’s license to carry or firearm identification card if they are deemed at risk of harming themselves or others.
Continue reading SOMERVILLE HOUSE DELEGATION VOTES FOR GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION
Somerville-City Awards $8.2M in CPA Funds to Open Space and Historic Resources & 100 Homes Project, Now Accepting New Applications
Follows $1.2M in funding for affordable housing
SOMERVILLE – This month, the Somerville Board of Aldermen approved and allocated more than $8.3 million in Community Preservation Act funding to ten open space and historic preservation projects and the 100 Homes Initiative, upon the recommendation of the Somerville Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The Aldermen previously approved the CPC’s recommendation to provide $1,200,402 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in March.
June 2: Somerville’s Big Gay Dance Party
This is a free, outdoor dance party to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month in Somerville. There will be drag performances, a DJ and info about local LGBTQ+ organizations. All LGBTQ+ individuals and allies are invited to join the fun. Continue reading June 2: Somerville’s Big Gay Dance Party
Somerville ResiStat Meetings in Wards 1, 4, and 3
Learn about important data, get neighborhood updates and meet the Mayor, elected officials, and City staff at your local ResiStat meeting. Continue reading Somerville ResiStat Meetings in Wards 1, 4, and 3
Somerville Artist of the Month Has Performed the Theremin on ‘America’s Got Talent’
Jon Bernhardt, May’s Artist of the Month, plays the theremin, an electronic instrument played by waiving one’s hands around in the air, thus altering the electromagnetic fields between two antennae. Continue reading Somerville Artist of the Month Has Performed the Theremin on ‘America’s Got Talent’
Mayor: Somerville’s Business Landscape ‘Has Never Been Stronger’
Mayor Joe Curtatone joined the Somerville Chamber of Commerce on May 17, for the annual Business Town Meeting – a chance to discuss growth, employment trends, development projects, and other important topics. Continue reading Mayor: Somerville’s Business Landscape ‘Has Never Been Stronger’
Carnaval in East Somerville on June 3
On June 3, East Broadway will be closed to traffic for Carnaval. This celebration of East Somerville features local food, music, arts, games, activities, and other family fun.
Somerville -June 1: Deadline for Davis Square Neighborhood Plan Comments
Help plan the future of Davis Square by submitting comments about the Davis Square Neighborhood Plan by June 1.
Continue reading Somerville -June 1: Deadline for Davis Square Neighborhood Plan Comments
Planning a Central Hill Campus The Works Better for Everyone
Somerville’s Central Hill Campus – home to City Hall, Somerville High School, and the Central Library – will undergo a transformation in the next few years. Continue reading Planning a Central Hill Campus The Works Better for Everyone
Somerville Speakup Line:Somerville Traffic-Joe Curtatone’s Folly
For several years we have endured the poor planning and misjudgments of the Somerville Traffic and Parking Department, and the City Engineer.
Continue reading Somerville Speakup Line:Somerville Traffic-Joe Curtatone’s Folly