Click on link below to read September 24th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online September 24th, 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online (1)
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Daily Archives: September 24, 2024
Religious Discrimination or Hidden Agenda? Pastor Launches Hunger Strike as Medford Mayor Faces Allegations Over Church Targeting
Click on link below to see video
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On September 11th, 2024, a seemingly minor incident—a single sprinkler malfunction—triggered an extraordinary response from the city of Medford. Instead of addressing the issue proportionately, the city inspector delivered a set of demands so extreme that they’ve left the congregation of Vida Real Church reeling. The church, led by Pastor Luis Morales, is now being told that its entire 19,000-square-foot building must be overhauled. The city is insisting on a complete rewiring of the electrical system, removal of baseboards, and the suspension of all services—over a single sprinkler mishap.
Continue reading Religious Discrimination or Hidden Agenda? Pastor Launches Hunger Strike as Medford Mayor Faces Allegations Over Church Targeting
Religious Discrimination or Hidden Agenda? Pastor Launches Hunger Strike as Medford Mayor Faces Allegations Over Church Targeting
Click on link below to see video
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By William Tauro
On September 11th, 2024, a seemingly minor incident—a single sprinkler malfunction—triggered an extraordinary response from the city of Medford. Instead of addressing the issue proportionately, the city inspector delivered a set of demands so extreme that they’ve left the congregation of Vida Real Church reeling. The church, led by Pastor Luis Morales, is now being told that its entire 19,000-square-foot building must be overhauled. The city is insisting on a complete rewiring of the electrical system, removal of baseboards, and the suspension of all services—over a single sprinkler mishap.
Continue reading Religious Discrimination or Hidden Agenda? Pastor Launches Hunger Strike as Medford Mayor Faces Allegations Over Church Targeting
This Week’s Quotable Quotes On Beacon Hill
By Bob Katzen
Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell released updated guidance to K-12 schools on how to address hate and bias-motivated incidents consistent with their legal obligations.
According to the report, “The guidance comes amid a rise in antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ+ hate, Islamophobia and hate across the globe, the country and Massachusetts – including a rise in hate-fueled assaults, incidents of white supremacist propaganda, discriminatory bullying and harassment in Massachusetts K-12 schools.”
Continue reading This Week’s Quotable Quotes On Beacon Hill
TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
By Bob Katzen
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) announced it will administer a tax amnesty program that will run from November 1 through December 30, 2024. The program was part of the fiscal 2025 budget approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Healey on July 29.
Continue reading TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL’S YOUTH COUNCIL
By Bob Katzen
Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced the creation of the first-ever Youth Council to advise her office about critical issues facing youth and help the council members build skills as leaders and advocates. The council would be comprised of 18 members between the ages of 14-18 from regions across the state.
Continue reading ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL’S YOUTH COUNCIL
$362 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 5050)
By Bob Katzen
Gov. Healey signed into law a $362 million budget to help close out fiscal year 2024 that ended on July 31. Key provisions ratify and fund some 38 collective bargaining agreements and direct $228 million in funding for the American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community Based Services before a deadline that would require Massachusetts to return the money to Washington, D.C.
Continue reading $362 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 5050)
USE INTEREST FROM STATE’S “RAIN DAY FUND” TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS (S 2954)
By Bob Katzen
The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey legislation that would leverage the interest from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to better compete for federal dollars, to ensure the state receives the maximum possible share of federal funds and to pay down the state’s long term debt liabilities. The Rainy Day Fund currently has a historic balance of $8.2 billion.
Continue reading USE INTEREST FROM STATE’S “RAIN DAY FUND” TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS (S 2954)
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week
By Bob Katzen
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on the percentage of times local representatives voted with their party’s leadership in the 2024 session through September 20.
Beacon Hill Roll Call uses 101 votes from the 2024 House session as the basis for this report. This includes all roll calls that were not quorum calls or votes on local issues. Quorum calls are used to gather a majority of members onto the House floor to conduct business and members simply vote “present” in order to indicate their presence in the chamber.
Continue reading THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week
Somerville Launches Western Pearl Street Reconstruction Project with Oct 9 Virtual Community Meeting
City will offer a variety of ways to get involved in this redesign of Pearl Street (McGrath Highway to Medford) which aims to increase safety.
SOMERVILLE—As part of the City’s intensive efforts to improve street safety for all, community engagement and design for the
City’s reconstruction of Western Pearl Street is getting underway. All are invited to help inform this project which will bring increased safety, accessibility, and sustainability to Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street.
Continue reading Somerville Launches Western Pearl Street Reconstruction Project with Oct 9 Virtual Community Meeting
Join the Final Presentation & Performance for Exchanging Notes: Dance and Drums from Somerville and Tbilisi, Georgia
SOMERVILLE – The Somerville Arts Council, in partnership with the Program on Georgian Studies at Harvard University’s Davis Center, invites the community to attend a unique cultural exchange project, Exchanging Notes.
This free event features performances by four talented artists from Somerville and Georgia, blending dance and percussion to celebrate the richness of both cultures. Continue reading Join the Final Presentation & Performance for Exchanging Notes: Dance and Drums from Somerville and Tbilisi, Georgia
Join the Somerville Urban Forestry Committee
SOMERVILLE – The Somerville Urban Forestry Committee is seeking two new members to help shape the future of our city’s urban canopy! We have one open position for a youth member (ages 14-17 at the time of appointment) and another position open to any resident passionate about urban forestry and public green spaces.
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Somerville/Medford Remembering Darleen DiStasio
Obituary
Darleen DiStasio, of Danvers, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the age of 67. Born in Medford and raised in Somerville, she was the beloved daughter of the late Romeo and Mary (Kehoe) DiStasio
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Darleen DiStasio