By Bob Katzen

Bill (HD 4070) – Transfers driver education and training from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to the Department of Education. The education and training would be financed by a combination of parent-student tuition and fees collected by the RMV as well as by automobile manufacturers and dealers and incentives provided by the insurance industry. Continue reading DRIVERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION →

By Bob Katzen

This bill requires the education commissioner to establish a cultural diversity curriculum to be implemented in elementary and secondary schools in the state in the school year 2022. The program would promote cultural diversity awareness among the children of Massachusetts including educating students on diverse world cultures, heritages and backgrounds; Continue reading CULTURAL DIVERSITY CURRICULUM →

By Bob Katzen

UP TO $9,000 IN FUNERAL EXPENSES AVAILABLE FOR COVID-19 DEATHS – Secretary of State Bill Galvin announced that he has provided a link on his website http://www.sec.state.ma.us to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website which has information on getting government assistance to help pay for up to $9,000 in funeral costs of anyone whose death after January 20, 2020 is attributed to COVID-19. Continue reading UP TO $9,000 IN FUNERAL EXPENSES AVAILABLE FOR COVID-19 DEATHS →

By Bob Katzen

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and his House counterpart Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) announced an agreement to increase Chapter 70 aid to school districts by $219.6 million, an increase of $21.9 million over the $197.7 million hike proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this year. The agreement also creates a $40 million enrollment reserve fund targeted to stabilize school districts adversely impacted by pandemic-related enrollment changes.
Continue reading $21.9 MILLION INCREASE IN EDUCATION AID →

With vaccines being made available to all residents over 16 beginning Monday, April 19, the City of Somerville will expand its reopening guidelines to allow more types of outdoor performances and outdoor retail to resume on that date. The City will also work with gyms on plans to safely reopen changing rooms and showers. Continue reading Somerville Additional Types of Outdoor Performances, Outdoor Retail Can Resume 4/19 →

Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Peter P. Fantasia on his passing.

Peter P. Fantasia was a wonderful person who will be sadly missed here in Somerville. Continue reading Somerville Remembering Peter P. Fantasia →

City Council Announces Survey & Community Meeting (5/4) entitled: When She Calls 911 (A Conversation concerning safety in Somerville for women/womyn)
The Somerville City Council invites you to join a virtual community meeting to engage in this facilitated discussion:

Women/Womyn & Safety Virtual Community Meeting, May 5, 6:30 p.m.:
Join the meeting to learn about our ongoing work to establish civilian oversight in Somerville, and how you can get involved. Featuring City Councilors At Large Mary Jo Rossetti and Kristen Strezo and Ward 7 Councilor Katjana Ballantyne. Continue reading “When She Calls 911: A Conversation on Safety in Somerville for Women/Womyn” May 5, hosted by City Council Civilian Oversight Initiative →

On the above date and time, Officers Ribeiro, C. Collette, and I, were dispatched to 78 Broadway, Bairos Liquors, for an intoxicated customer who refused to leave the liquor store after the store manager, XXXX, refused to sell liquor to the defendant, Tyler Manning. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Tyler MANNING (Disorderly, Resisting, Threats) →

Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Come on Billy, you don’t really believe J.T. Scott is a Socialist do you? How does a socialist get over $300k of gold stolen from his house in a house break? Continue reading Somerville/Medford Speakup Line:Councilor JT Scott’s Stolen Gold Stash →