Click on link below to read April 9th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online April 9th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online (1)

By Bob Katzen

“Our administration is deeply committed not only to preventing overdoses in our state, but also providing the incredible organizations doing the work in communities with the tools they need to improve health outcomes and save lives. By investing in these diverse organizations now, we are laying the foundation for them to have the resources they need to address the overdose crisis appropriately and quickly in the future.”
—Gov. Maura Healey announcing the awarding of $2.9 million to 20 organizations led by Black, Indigenous and people of color to address substance use in the communities they serve, which continue to be disproportionately impacted by increases in overdoses. Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES On Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initital approval to legislation that would double fines for motor vehicles speeding in the far-right lane, or “breakdown” lane in areas where travel in that lane is permitted during peak commuting hours.
Continue reading USE OF BREAKDOWN LANE (H 3370) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would prohibit anyone driving a diesel-powered vehicle from releasing significant quantities of soot, smoke or other particular emissions that obstruct or obscure another driver’s view of the roadway. The measure also bans anyone from retrofitting a diesel-powered vehicle with a device, smokestack or other equipment that enhances the vehicle’s capacity to emit these pollutants. Violators would be fined from $100 to $1,000. Continue reading BAN COAL ROLLING (H 1698) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow cities and towns to restrict two parking spaces in off street parking lots, large retail parking lots and parking garages to parking for veterans only – as long as the lot has more than 1,000 parking spaces. Continue reading FREE PARKING FOR VETERANS (H 3533) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a measure that adds a 7-day license suspension to the current $250 fine for not stopping for a school bus with flashing lights as children get on and off the bus. Continue reading INCREASE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO STOP FOR A SCHOOL BUS →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would amend a four-decade old law that requires an amber dome light and the flashing orange lights on the back of ice cream trucks when the truck is parked and serving ice cream. The bill would provide that the law be enforced and would impose a $50 fine for failure to have the lights. It would also require that the operation of the lights be included as part of the truck’s annual inspection. Continue reading ICE CREAM TRUCKS (H 3471) →

By Bob Katzen

The Governor’s Council unanimously approved Gov. Maura Healey’s executive order that pardons misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions that occurred in Massachusetts before March 14, 2024. The pardons will apply to thousands of people who were convicted of the offense which is no longer an offense. The Bay State decriminalized marijuana possession in 2008 and then legalized it on a ballot question in 2016. Continue reading GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL APPROVES GOV. HEALEY’S PARDON OF MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION →

By Bob Katzen

The House 155-0. approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would modernize and remove archaic language in state laws to reflect the evolution of terminology relating to persons with disabilities. Continue reading CHANGE ARCHAIC LANGUAGE REFERRING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (H 4396) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 155-0. approved and sent to the Senate 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 $375 million package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $175 million for several transportation-related grant programs. Continue reading $375 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES (H 4529) →

SOMERVILLE – Applications are now open for the City of Somerville Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne encourages all interested local teens to apply. Interested teens can apply online now at
somervillema.gov/summerjobs. Continue reading Mayor Ballantyne Invites Local Teens to Apply for Mayor’s 2024 Summer Jobs Program →

Starting Monday morning, April 8, sidewalk detours between Third Street and Rufo Road

CAMBRIDGE/SOMERVILLE – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing daytime construction operations for concrete sidewalk repairs on Route 28 (McGrath Highway) southbound in Cambridge and Somerville between Third Street and Rufo Road. Detours will start Monday, April 8 at 6:30 a.m. and
remain in place for approximately one month.

Continue reading Route 28 (McGrath Highway) Sidewalk Closure and Detours →

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

Well, it was crowded, heckled (not the best defense) and vocal at the podium as appx 100 congregated again at City Council. On Tuesday night, it seemed two issues caused reactions from the public, seemingly mostly taxpayers. One Councilwoman, Anna Callahan, had Agenda 24-059 – trying to create a conversation (beginning a bad end in sheep’s clothing) titled “Resolution to Create a Rental Registry” …..the City “has climate sustainability affordable housing, and other goals that would be easier to accomplish if we could reach either renters or landlords in our city, and…” Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line: More of “As the City of Medford Turns” →

Virtual Meeting to Offer Project Overview and Collect Neighborhood Feedback

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, and City staff invite you to join a virtual community meeting to learn about flood relief and water quality improvement efforts planned for Winter Hill, Ten Hills, and the surrounding neighborhood.
Continue reading Join the Mystic River Outfall and Sewer Separation Community Meeting on April 24 →

Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste Pickup on one-day delay all week due to Patriot’s Day Holiday
on Monday

SOMERVILLE–Somerville’s yard waste pickup begins for the season the week of April 15th. That week’s Continue reading Curbside Yard Waste Pickup Resumes Week of April 15 in Somerville →

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

I really hate this Mayor so I just got a water bill in the mail. They replaced the water meters and they’re charging us $2,000 for them. Is this normal did you get the same bill in the mail?
Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line:Why Is My Water Bill So High? →