Vol. 3, No. 4
March 3, 2003
Contents
1) NEW, IMPROVED WEBSITE - PAY A VISIT
As of last week, my website has a new look, lots of new content, and several flash new features,
thanks to the tireless efforts of Geoff Forrest and Larry Stone. Check it out at
http://www.provost-citywide.org and let me know what you think.
I will putting all current events, and indexes to past newsletter stories, on the “What” page --
for instance, my analysis of the NESDEC study, previous stories on the Homans Building and
articles on the Ahold scandal can all be found there.
2) WHY WE SHOULDN'T PLAN ON THE NESDEC STUDY
I've previously mentioned that I had concerns about the reliability of the demographics and
enrollment assumptions underlying the study recently conducted by the New England School
Development Council (NESDEC). Having made my own study of that study, I've prepared some
comments, which I sent last week to the members of the Somerville School Committee. Now
you can read those comments online. Look in the "School Committee/Department" section of
the “What” page of my website:
http://www.provost-citywide.org/what.html
3) SCHOOL COMMITTEE, ALDERMEN TO DISCUSS BUDGETS, FACILITIES
A) School Committee, Aldermen to hold Joint Meeting
On Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at 6:00 p.m., the Board of Aldermen will meet with the School
Committee to discuss the fiscal year 2003 and 2004 budgets, as well as facilities, both city and
school. The meeting is, of course, open to the public to attend, although no public testimony will
be taken. It will be held in either the Aldermen's Chambers or the committee room on the
second floor of city hall.
B) Aldermen to discuss Homans Building Plan
At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, the Aldermen will convene as a Committee of the Whole
to discuss the proposed redevelopment by the city of the Homans Building in Gilman Square as
space for city and school offices and programs. The Homans Building project has evolved
considerably since I reported on it on November 26, 2001, in Vol. 1, No. 1 of this newsletter
(look under "City as Developer" section of http://www.provost-citywide.org/what.html). The total cost of the project is now up to $9 million, from the previous estimate of $5 million.
The city's slide show presentation of the proposal should be on their official website at
http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us
4) WANT TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS ON LINE?
Reader Greg Nadeau invites other readers concerned with the future of our public schools to join
the discussion list Somerville-4-Schools. Greg writes, "Beginning March 1, the group began a
collaborative development process to collect data measuring critical indicators for the schools.
A web site with critical indicators will be created."
For more information contact gregnadeau@rcn.com or michael.chiu@rcn.com
5) CITY BUDGET ON LINE
So many of you have asked for specific information about the Somerville budget, or copies of
it, that my copy seemed to be out on loan most of the time. Last week, it occurred to me to
bring to the Board of Aldermen a proposal that the city put its fiscal year 2003 budget on the
city's website. The order was adopted on Feb. 27, 2003, and on Friday the 28, the '03 budget
went on line under “What's New” at
http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us
6) PUBLIC MEETING ON ASSEMBLY SQUARE TRAFFIC PLAN
In response to another Board Order that I proposed, the Office of Housing and Community
Development (OHCD) informs me that it has scheduled a public meeting for the Assembly
Square Transportation Plan for 7:00pm on Monday, March 10, 2003, in the Aldermen's
Chambers. Rizzo Associates, the city's consultants, will present their "regional model analysis,
internal street network, urban design recommendations, and pedestrian and bicycle connections."
Public comment will be taken.
7) STOP & SHOP PARENT IN TROUBLE
Royal Ahold, the world's third largest food retailer, and the owner of the Stop & Shop chain,
is in the midst of an accounting scandal. Ahold has apparently been caught overstating its
earnings, causing its stock prices and credibility to plummet. Read some newspaper articles
about it, under “Stop & Shop”, again at
http://www.provost-citywide.org/what.html
copyright 2003 Denise Provost
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