Click on link below to read April 30th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online April 30th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online



Word is that the city planning board is going to dismantle and dispose of the World War II Dedication Memorial Wall that’s stands outside of City Hall in the not so far future. That sacred and historic monument has the names of many Somerville and Cambridge veterans names etched onto it. Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line: Let your voices be heard now before it happens! →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that would change the current law which removes from a city or town’s property tax rolls the land of a large-scale condominium project during the construction phase. The bill would keep the land on the tax rolls during the constructions phase.
Continue reading CONDO CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY TAX (H 2982) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that would expand current law and make more farmers eligible for a favorable valuation of property process that results in a tax break.
Continue reading EXTEND TAX BREAKS TO MORE FARMERS (H 2693) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation requiring that in real estate transactions, the fees associated with hiring brokers are paid by the party who hires them.
Continue reading MUST PAY BROKER FEE (H 4474) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill that would mandate that insurance companies in the Bay State provide residential owners with insurance for damage to home and property caused by a leak in a residential liquid fuel tank or home fuel supply lines.
Continue reading HOME OIL LEAKS (S 2737) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say will modernize protections for consumers in automobile transactions. The bill adds legal safeguards for buyers who purchase used and leased cars in Massachusetts by creating new consumer protections in the car buying process.
Continue reading PROTECT CONSUMER WHEN PURCHASING CARS (S 2716) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 29-125, rejected an amendment that would strike a budget section that provides $35 million to subsidize free phone calls for prisoners; and instead use the $35 million to fund additional unrestricted local aid for cities and towns.
Continue reading $35 MILLION FOR LOCAL AID INSTEAD OF FREE PRISONER PHONE CALLS (H 4600) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 25-132, rejected an amendment that would require all public institutions of higher education in Massachusetts to develop and adopt written policies and procedures allowing full acceptance of all appropriate college credits earned by students in advanced placement courses who have successfully completed these courses and have also achieved proficient advanced placement test scores to satisfy these credits.
Continue reading ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COLLEGE CREDITS (H 4600) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 153-4, approved a $58 billion fiscal 2025 state budget after three days of debate. The House version now goes to the Senate which will approve a different version. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to the governor.
Continue reading HOUSE APPROVES $58 BILLION FISCAL 2025 STATE BUDGET (H 460 →

By Bob Katzen

The House 27-129, rejected an amendment that would prioritize honorably discharged homeless veterans for eligibility for placement in the shelter assistance program.
Continue reading PRIORITIZE HOMELESS VETERANS (H 4600) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 30-125, rejected an amendment that would change the state’s Right to Shelter Law which requires the state to provide shelter and other necessities to homeless parents with young children, pregnant women and recently the many migrant families arriving in the Bay State. Homeless individuals are not covered by the Right to Shelter law.
Continue reading RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS (H 4460) →

Bob Katzen

The House 123-35, Senate 29-9, approved and sent to Gov. Healey a supplemental budget that includes an additional $251 million in funding for the Emergency Assistance Program that funds the emergency family shelter system which houses migrants. The measure imposes a new nine-month limit on how long families can stay in the state’s emergency shelters, with up to two 90-day extensions available to some and a new hardship waiver process.
Continue reading SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET INCLUDING $251 MILLION FUNDING FOR SHELTERS (H 4582) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 157-0, Senate 38-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey 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) →

By William Tauro

This past Thursday night a benefit was thrown for Somerville Firefighter Roger Perez at Premiere on Broadway.

Hundreds of people, mostly brother and sister firefighters packed the nightclub to help Somerville Firefighters Local 76 raise funds to care for long time Somerville firefighter Roger Pérez. Continue reading Hundreds Attend Fundraiser To Help Fellow Somerville Firefighter With Progressive Supranuclear Palsy →

Community Invited to Learn More About Somerville’s Updated Climate Forward Plan

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is moving forward a wave of new climate action policies and programs as announced as part of the City’s 2024 SustainaVille Week. Continue reading SustainaVille Week 2024: Mayor Ballantyne Announces New Climate Action Plan & Policies →