BRIAN’S OBITUARY:

SEVOICH, Brian M. – Of Somerville March 30, 2023.
Beloved son of the late Helene Sevoich.
Loving father of Lynnsie, Brian Jr., Aleasha and Jonathan Sevoich. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Brian M. Sevoich →

On Monday March 27th 2023, I was on duty assigned to patrol cruiser east 1. At approximately 12:11PM, I was dispatched to XXX Assembly Row, XXXX, for a report of a male masturbating inside the dressing room with the door opened. Officer D. Lambert in patrol cruiser east 4 was dispatched as back up. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: (Lewd Conduct) Arrest →

RE:Somerville Community Safety Meeting

A great time at the community safety meeting. Unfortunately. The current administration does not understand that until the police department can form a connection with the youth. There will never be peace in the streets of Our once great city. Continue reading Top Somerville Comments Online →

JOHN’S OBITUARY:

Gray, John Jr. – Of Roslindale, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2023 at Briarwood Rehab in Needham. He was 77. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering John Gray Jr. →

Photo:Intersection of Middlesex Avenue and Foley Street Somerville (Assembly Row)

By William Tauro

Take the right turn or not? What would you do? It’s a shame that none of our elected officials are as observant when it comes to public safety issues like this! Only in Somerville! Continue reading Letter from the Editor: Take the right turn or not? →

By Bob Katzen

“Massachusetts remains deeply committed to working with our partners across state and local agencies to ensure our schools offer a safe and healthy learning environment for our children and educators. These grants will provide the resources that school officials need to enhance safety and mitigate potential threats.”
—Gov. Maura Healey announcing $570,000 to some Massachusetts school districts to bolster school safety and enhance violence prevention efforts. Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES on Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen
This bill would limit judicial appointments to seven years but would allow judges to be re-appointed by the governor for an unlimited number of years every seven years. The appointment would have to be approved by the Governor’s Council as required under current law. Continue reading LIMIT JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS TO 7 YEARS (H 34) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would grant the governor the power to appoint a lieutenant governor if the office is vacant because of the death, resignation, removal from office or incapacity of the lieutenant governor. The appointment would have to be confirmed by a majority vote of the House and Senate. Current law leaves the seat vacant until the next election. Continue reading APPOINT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. (H 38) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would amend a current section of the constitution that gives Quakers the option to change the oath a person must take upon taking office from the current: “I do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the constitution thereof. Continue reading OATH OF OFFICE (H 33) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would amend the part of the state constitution that creates the title “His Excellency” for the governor and lieutenant governor. The proposal would add “Her Excellency” as a possibility. Continue reading HIS OR HER EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (S 10) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would change the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 years old to 75 years old.
Continue reading CHANGE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR JUDGES (H 36) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would prohibit private property from being taken by the government for private commercial enterprise, economic development or any other private use without the consent of the owner. A similar measure was originally filed in 2005 as a response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows communities to seize private homes and businesses solely for commercial purposes. The ruling also allows states to establish laws prohibiting the practice. Continue reading EMINENT DOMAIN (H 83) →

By Bob Katzen

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on several proposed amendments filed by representatives and senators to amend the state constitution.
Continue reading HEARING ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS →

By Bob Katzen
Governor Maura Healey signed into law a $388.6 million fiscal 2023 supplemental budget. Provisions include $65 million for free school meals; $130 million to keep expanded nutrition assistance in place for a few more months; $2 million for the reimbursement of SNAP benefits for victims of benefit theft; $250,000 for a free abortion-related legal hotline; $45 million for emergency shelter assistance; $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees; and $2 million for the Boston branch of the NAACP for costs of some programs to be included in its 114th National NAACP Conference taking place in Boston in 2023. Continue reading $388.6 MILLION FISCAL 2023 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 3548) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 40-0, approved a bill that includes authorizing $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The $350 million package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $150 million to pay for bus lane improvements, improvement of public transit, electric vehicles and other state transportation projects. The House has approved a different version and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. Continue reading $350 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES (S 2375) →

Local Cultural Ambassadors leading nearly 20 community conversations citywide to discuss how to help arts and culture continue to thrive in Somerville Continue reading Somerville Hosting Community Conversations to Inform Cultural Capacity Planning →

Virtual Meeting Will Highlight Spring/Summer Construction Schedule and Forthcoming Streetscape Improvements on Summer St.

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen invite you to join a virtual community meeting to learn about construction progress on the Spring Hill Sewer Separation project. Continue reading Join the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Virtual Community Meeting on April 10 →

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Parking Department remind all residents that regular street sweeping will resume this season on Monday, April 3, and continue through December 31, 2023. Department of Public Works crews conduct street sweeping not only to help keep our streets clean but to also reduce flooding by preventing clogged street drains. Continue reading Somerville Street Sweeping Resumes April 3, 2023 Somerville Street Sweeping Regulations in Effect April 1 through December 31 →