ALLOW NEIGHBORHOODS TO BAND TOGETHER AND FORM A DISTRICT WITH POWER REJECTED

By Bob Katzen

It was a surprise that the House and Senate did not give final approval to a local option bill allowing a city or town to authorize the creation of community benefit districts which would allow owners of contiguous property in a city or town to form a district and require property owners in that district to pay for additional services, improvements, events and other projects and activities within the district. The districts would be operated by a nonprofit board.

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AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION BILL APPROVED

By Bob Katzen

The House 134-16, Senate 36-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would automatically register to vote a person who fills out an application with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) or MassHealth, unless the person opts out. Officials at the RMV and MassHealth would be required to explain to each person that the transaction automatically registers them to vote, unless they opt out, and also inform them that non-citizens are ineligible to vote.

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SENATE APPROVES REGULATION AND TAXING OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS

By Bob Katzen

The House 119-30, Senate 30-8, approved and sent to the governor a bill that extends the state’s current 5.7 percent hotel and motel tax and up to a 6 percent local option room occupancy tax to short-term rentals offered by Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO while leaving the regulation of these rentals including registration, licensing and inspections up to local cities and towns.

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GOVERNOR APPROVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING MASS TAX WEEKEND

By Bob Katzen

The House 151-0, Senate 37-0, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker an economic development package including a sales tax holiday allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax.

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GOVERNOR VETOES LEGISLATION TO CHARGE DIFFERENT TOLLS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY

By Bob Katzen

Governor Baker vetoed legislation directing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to design and implement a temporary pilot program to test the technological feasibility of charging toll rates that differ depending on the time of day, with the goal of relieving congestion for motorists.

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GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS by John Dwyer

GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS SATURDAY, August 04, the 216th day of 2018 with 149 to follow. Sunrise in the Boston area is @ 5:38 and sunset is @ 8:01. The moon is waning. The morning stars are stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury & Saturn. The evening stars are Neptune, Uranus & Venus.

ON THIS DAY IN: 1735 – Freedom of the press was established with an acquittal of John Peter Zenger. The writer of the New York Weekly Journal had been charged with seditious libel by the royal governor of New York. The jury said that “the truth is not libelous.” Continue reading GOOD MORNING – TODAY IS by John Dwyer

Somerville Police Warning of Phone Scams

*****FRAUD ALERT******

IRS Fraud Calls: There has been an increased amount of IRS fraud calls to Somerville residents. The numbers listed below have been identified on the caller id. Please do not send money or give any personal information to these people. Please share this post with neighbors or family members who might be at risk. Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

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