By Bob Katzen

Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) and Rep. Homar Gomez (D-Easthampton) filed a bill, requested by some third-grade students at Hadley Elementary School, to make asparagus the official state vegetable. Other areas in the nation are also working to designate their state as the asparagus capital of the world.
Continue reading MAKE ASPARAGUS THE OFFICIAL STATE VEGETABLE (HD 5474 and SD 3498) →

By Bob Katzen

The State Ballot Law Commission, a five-member body appointed by the governor, issued a decision overruling the objection filed against an initiative petition that would place on the 2026 November ballot a question asking voters to repeal the current laws that legalize, regulate and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. The proposal to put the question on the ballot had garnered the required 74,754 signatures and it will now, like ten other petitions, go before the Legislature for consideration. If not approved by the Legislature by May 6, 2026, proponents must gather another 12,429 signatures by July 1, 2026, in order for the question to appear on the November 2026 ballot.
Continue reading CHALLENGE TO POSSIBLE MARIJUANA BALLOT QUESTION REJECTED →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 6-31, rejected an amendment to a bill requiring more frequent public reporting of fundraising and spending by groups supporting or opposing statewide ballot questions.
Continue reading KEEP DARK MONEY OUT OF LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS (S 2898 →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 37-0, approved a bill that would expand eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral Program by lowering eligibility to qualify for it from the current 10 years to seven years of required state residency.
. Continue reading SENIOR PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL (S 2901) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 36-1, approved an amendment to a bill that would give cities and towns the option to create tax rebate programs for residents who already benefit from a local residential exemption. This new rebate program would allow cities and towns to set income and asset thresholds, tailoring relief to local residents’ needs. Continue reading FURTHER EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR SENIOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION (S 2900) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 36-1 approved an amendment that would increase from 30 days to 75 days the amount of time a property owner has to file for an abatement if they feel that their home evaluation was too high.
Continue reading EXTEND THE TIME TO FILE FOR AN ABATEMENT (S 2900) →

Obituary
Dorothy A. Costa (Morrissey), of Somerville, passed away on January 20, 2026, at the age of 100. She was the beloved wife of 60 years to the late James J. Costa. Dorothy was a loving mother to Ruth Elio and her husband Daniel of Winchester, James J. Costa, Jr. of Somerville, and Martha Costa of Somerville. She was a cherished grandmother to Daniel and Matthew Elio, Jennifer, Michelle, and Amanda Costa, and a great-grandmother to Brady, Connor, Kate, and Brennan.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Dorothy A. Costa (Morrissey) →

SOMERVILLE – Somerville has signed a new union agreement that will raise pay and modernize benefits for Unit D employees — from ISD and Parking staff to social workers, specialized Police Department clerical staff, and DPW custodial and facilities supervisors — who keep Somerville’s day-to-day services running. The newly signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) covers Fiscal Years 2023 through 2025.
Continue reading Somerville Finalizes New Contract with SMEA Unit D Retroactive raises and benefit updates support a strong City workforce →

Obituary
Richard J. Clark, of Somerville, passed away suddenly on January 18, 2026, he was 51. Ricky was born in Cambridge and raised in Somerville, the oldest son of Catherine (Murphy) Clark of Somerville and the late Richard A. Clark and his surviving wife Andrea Clark. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Richard J. Clark →

Virtual meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10; interpretation available in Spanish and Portuguese

SOMERVILLE— Somerville residents have an opportunity to help shape the City’s next annual budget. The City Council Finance Committee is inviting the community to share input on priorities for the City’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget at a virtual community budget meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held on Zoom and is open to all residents. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Continue reading Somerville Invites Residents to Help Shape FY 2027 Budget Priorities →

SOMERVILLE – The City of Somerville is encouraging residents to fill out and complete the city’s annual census form, which is making its way to resident mailboxes in mid-January.

Annual participation in the census is essential for keeping an accurate population count, and it updates or maintains your status as an active voter for upcoming elections. Failure to respond to the City Census may result in your removal from the voting rolls.
Continue reading Participate in Somerville’s Annual City Census Failure to respond may result in removal from the voting rolls →

Park in Brickbottom neighborhood will merge recreation, public art, and agriculture above massive flood-control infrastructure

SOMERVILLE— A decade in the making, plans for Somerville’s unique ArtFarm park are taking shape. At a public meeting on February 9, City staff will present the latest community-driven designs that aim to transform the city’s former waste transfer site into a creative hub where gardens, public art, and recreational space bloom above a massive underground flood-control system.
Continue reading Updated Designs for Somerville’s ArtFarm Park at Feb. 9 Meeting →

SOMERVILLE – Applications for three income-restricted rental units in Somerville are now open. Maloney Properties in partnership with the City of Somerville has three studio income-restricted apartments available across two properties: The Guild (154 Broadway) in East Somerville and Prospect Union Square (50 Prospect Street). Apply now through Friday, February 6.
Continue reading Applications Now Open for Three Income-Restricted Rental Units at Two Properties →

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

Hi Billy,

It’s Max (Maninder).

We’ve known each other a long time, and I don’t usually send 10-page emails. I’m sending this one because what’s happening with Somerville’s water/sewer bills is not an isolated issue. It’s part of a larger structural problem where:

the City’s growth and land-deal ambitions,

its use of eminent domain and redevelopment tools,

its budget and enterprise-fund structure, and

its rate and billing decisions Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line: Was it just an oversight from the previous two administrations or is it Systemic Corruption? →

The City’s snow emergency will end at 12 p.m. noon on Tuesday, January 27, and normal parking rules will resume at that time. Do not move your car to the even side of the road in advance of the 12 p.m. Tuesday lift.
Continue reading Somerville Snow Emergency Lifting →