On December 10, 2020, I, Officer Tim Van Nostrand, was on duty and assigned to uniform patrol of Assembly Row. At approximately 2:00pm, while parked at the intersection of Artisan Way and Assembly Row, I observed a male known to me as Rachid Belhadj walking past LegoLand. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Rachid BELHADJ (Resisting Arrest) (Braintree & Boston Warrants) →

By Bob Katzen

Governor Baker signed onto law a $45.9 billion fiscal 2021 state budget that was approved by the House and Senate and sent to him on December 4. Baker also vetoed and amended several items and cut $156 million in spending on various programs. Continue reading GOVERNOR BAKER ACTS ON $45.9 BILLION FISCAL 2021 STATE BUDGET AND ABORTION PROVISIONS →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 4-35, rejected an amendment that would allow bars and pubs and any other establishments that don’t serve food to reopen during the pandemic under the same timetable as restaurants that do serve food. Continue reading BARS AND PUBS DURING COVID-19 →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 9-30, rejected an amendment that supporters say eliminates a current contradiction in the law that allows some restaurants to open and others not to open based on what food is on the menu. Continue reading SERVING ALCOHOL WITH FOOD IN A RESTAURANT →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would establish an online “Supply and Buy Mass” program that would support the Massachusetts economy during its recovery from the economic shutdown in response to the pandemic. Continue reading SUPPLY AND BUY MASS (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

Governor Charlie Baker has returned the bill making changes in the state’s policing system to the Legislature without his signature. He offered several amendments for legislators to consider. Continue reading GOV. BAKER PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO POLICING BILL →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate gave initial approval to legislation that would provide victims of violent crime and human trafficking enhanced protections under the law. The bill standardizes the process for law enforcement, prosecution, judicial and investigatory agencies to provide noncitizen victims, who have been helpful in the investigation or prosecution of serious crimes, with the certification form they need to apply for a U-visa or T-visa. Continue reading PROTECT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING (S 2973) →

By Bob Katzen

Several bills heard by the Committee on Cannabis were shipped off to a study committee where bills are never actually studied and are essentially defeated. It is another way to kill a bill instead of holding a vote on the bill itself. Continue reading DOZENS OF MARIJUANA-RELATED BILLS ARE SHIPPED OFF TO A STUDY COMMITTEE →

The number of COVID-19 infections throughout Massachusetts is rising at an alarming rate. Massachusetts now has more new COVID-19 cases per capita than Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, or Texas— and in the last week alone, MA has seen more COVID-19 deaths per capita than 23 other states. Continue reading State intervention, not personal responsibility, needed to stop the surge State Representative Christine Barber →

By Arthur Moore

Here are two pictures of absolute insanity of placement of those silly poles. You cannot even see all of them in the photos. Continue reading Somerville, More Poles Than a AAA Defense Driving Course →