By William Tauro

Since I announced my candidacy as a candidate for Mayor of Somerville last fall, a multitude of hate crimes have been occurring across the city. Many of the hate crimes came in the form of harassment and vandalism against my Somerville/Medford Newspaper and including sister Somerville Scout boxes that are spaced and positioned across the city.

The majority of these suspected crimes are connected to a group of far left progressives of the Davis Square Group Facebook site regarding threats of violence.

Recently a veteran’s house that displayed political signage was intentionally covered over with dog crap. This is a home that’s located on Electric Avenue in Somerville which has four American flags, two USMC flags, a Saint Anthony’s statue and a William “Billy” Tauro campaign sign in front being proudly displayed. The home belongs to a Somerville Veteran and his family who have resided there for many years, life long residents. A family of true Americans for sure exercising their rights of freedom of speech to express their opinions and support who they want to support.
We find it highly appalling and absolutely disgraceful that my opponents would have their supporters out and about encouraging them via a Facebook site driven by hate distributing messages by rubbing dog-waste all along his signs as a message of hate just because they don’t agree and lineup with their similar political views.

Is this really what’s Somerville has become? Have we turned into a society of hate and self-destruction? Only cowards do stuff like this! We have the freedom to choose and they just can’t accept it! We are better than this! Thank you again to this American Veteran and his family for cleaning off the sign, not being intimidated by cowards and still proudly displaying it as American Citizens.

Two suspicious Somerville fires are also currently under investigation possibly related to the Facebook site as well. I’ve been in contact with Somerville Police Department as well as with Somerville Fire Department investigation teams working on the solution and cooperating with them in finding the source of these mysterious fires and acts of vandalism. Local authorities are utilizing security cameras around the city where most of the newspaper boxes are positioned in front of these buildings to connect the dots of suspects relating back to each suspicious fire. At one fire there was a large Elect William Tauro campaign sign mounted in front of the house on the lawn where remnants of the sign’s metal frame still remain located on Bond Street in Somerville. The other house on Temple Street belong to a supporter of the campaign.

Multiple time frames have been recording of when the multiple acts of vandalism have occurred with authorities now trying to piece together the puzzle connecting them to the multitude of sudden mysterious arson fires across the city.
It’s a crime to vandalize and/or destroy a newspaper box where it is considered a depository in itself. It’s a crime to remove personal property especially political signage.

Several members of the Somerville Davis Square Facebook site remain as persons of interest while local authorities conduct their investigation. Members of this Facebook site are also being accused of slanderous behavior of lying creating attention seeking scenarios.

Not only are they emptying the contents of over twenty five news boxes located across the city, they’re also being accused of stripping them all political signage as well as removing bumper stickers that are attached on every newspaper box.

Tauro Committee statement: “We find it absolutely appalling that in today’s day and age that highly intelligent people associated with these few members of a Somerville Davis Square Facebook site are stooping this low.” “If they don’t like a candidate all they have to do is simply don’t vote for them instead of resorting to alleged this criminal behavior.” “We are working with authorities who’s goals are to prosecute any and all individuals involved and end this type of behavior once and for all in Somerville.”

This story is still developing

Statement of Somerville Fire Department:

SOMERVILLE RECENT FIRES

The Somerville Fire Department has battled two serious three alarm fires within the past week. Both of these fires have been determined to be accidental, the result of smoking. The first fire, on Friday, June 18th was reported just after 3 p.m. at 93 Temple Street. Arriving firefighters encountered heavy fire in the rear of the third floor.

The building was an occupied three story dwelling containing three apartments. The fire spread into the third floor apartment and into the attic space eventually burning through the roof. The building suffered heavy damage due to fire, smoke and water and all nine adult occupants have been displaced. Somerville Health & Human Services responded along with the Red Cross. Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries. The fire claimed the lives of two pet cats, a rabbit and a bird. Firefighters responded back to the building the following day to extinguish a smoldering area that was burning between several layers of roof. That fire was quickly extinguished.

On Tuesday, June 22nd a fire was reported at 17 Bond Street at 121 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find the front of the 2 ½ story home fully engulfed in fire and spreading to the adjacent house at 15. Several Somerville Police Officers were first to arrive and were instrumental in notifying and evacuating both houses. The Officers quickly realized the life safety hazard and disregarding their own safety, worked to get residents out. The fire spread into all three floors of the home which contained two apartments. The home suffered significant damage resulting in 10 adult occupants being displaced. The occupants were assisted by Somerville Health & Human Services and the Red Cross. Two Somerville firefighters and one Everett firefighter suffered minor injuries.
It is somewhat disheartening that we continue to see such serious fires caused by smoking materials. We have been fortunate that no one has been killed or seriously injured although serious destruction has resulted. I am disappointed that the message of “Put it out. All the way. Every time” is not being taken seriously. I am urging all residents who smoke to please use a metal bucket or can full of sand or water to dispose of their smoking materials. Do not extinguish smoking material in potted plants, on porch railings or in combustible containers. Also do not toss smoking material off porches where it could land and ignite mulch or other combustible material.

All photos courtesy of Somerville FD

Charles J. Breen Jr.
Somerville Fire Department
Chief Engineer