Vol. 4, No. 5
March 8, 2004
Contents
1) ASSEMBLY SQUARE MEETINGS CONTINUE
A) Legislative Matters Committee Meetings Scheduled
The aldermanic Committee on Legislative Matters has two more meetings scheduled this week
to discuss Assembly Square. On Monday, March 8, at 7:00 p.m., Congressman Capuano will
come to speak about the chances of funding for transit and highway improvements for Assembly
Square under various development scenarios. Invitations have been sent to the MBTA and Office
of Commonwealth Development to send representatives to attend, but no response has been
received as of this writing.
On Tuesday, March 9, also at 7:00 p.m., consultant Steve Cecil will give a presentation on the
proposed new zoning for Assembly Square, which the administration submitted to the Board of
Aldermen at a Special Meeting on March 1, 2004. This week's meetings will be held in the
aldermanic committee room or in the Aldermen's Chamber on the second floor of City Hall.
B) Another "Public Information" Session
I was unable to hear much of the administration's February 23 "Public Information" Meeting,
due to a conflicting School Committee meeting. One reader who did attend, and wrote me about
the experience, stated that, "the city brought no information to the meeting, and... the
discussions in the break-out groups were largely irrelevant." Others spoke to me of similar
disappointment in this session.
Be that as it may, Mayor Joseph Curtatone and the Office of Housing and Community
Development have planned another such meeting. This one will be held at the East Somerville
School auditorium on Saturday, March 13, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Contact Tuck
O'Brien at 617-625-6600 x2500 for more information.
C) Public Hearing on New Zoning
The joint Planning Board/Board of Aldermen's Public Hearing on the new (March 1, 2004)
proposed zoning for Assembly Square is scheduled for Thursday, March 18, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.,
in the Aldermen's Chamber. After our experience with December's proposed zoning, I had
thought there would be more of a deliberative process next time around. Am I missing
something?
2) MEETING ON LECHMERE STATION CLOSURE
For those who have not yet heard the news, the MBTA will be closing Lechmere Station,
terminus of Somerville's 80, 87, and 88 bus routes, for at least a year, in connection with
construction of the ne North Station. The MBTA plans to substitute a shuttle bus from Lechmere
to Government Center. There will be a meeting with MBTA representatives about this plan on
Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at the Marlowe Hotel, which is on the east (Boston) side of the
CambridgeSide Galleria Mall.
3) LATER CLOSINGS? PUBLIC HEARINGS
A) Somerville Theater
There will be a public hearing on the petition of the Somerville Theater to extend their hours
of operation from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. This petition is in connection with its entertainment
license, and is unrelated to the petition to extend hours of operation for liquor licensees. That
hearing will be held at the Licensing Commission's regular meeting on March 15, 2004, at the
Academy Room of the Public Safety Building in Union Square, 220 Washington Street, at 6:00
p.m.
B) Establishments with Liquor Licenses
The Somerville Licensing Commission's special meeting on Monday, March 22, 2004, on the
proposal to extend closing hours for liquor licensees until 2:00 a.m. will be also be held at 6:00
p.m. in the Academy Room of the Public Safety Building (address given above).
The Licensing Commission expects to vote on this request to extend business hours at a second
special meeting on Monday, March 29, also at 6:00 p.m., same location.
Want to Send Written Comments?
The Secretary to the Liquor Licensing Commission is Joanne Burke, reachable through the
general City Hall number, 617-625-6600, or by e.mail.
Please contact her if you have any questions.
4) "GANG LOITERING" ORDINANCE UPDATE
The Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Matters, Alderman Tom Taylor, says that the
gang loitering ordinance will be taken up in committee before the end of March.
5) DANCE TO BENEFIT RESPOND
A dance to benefit Respond, the Somerville organization serving those affected by domestic
violence, will be hosted this week by Temple B'nai Brith, at 201 Central Street. On Saturday
night, March 13, from 8 to 11 p.m., the band The Usual Suspects will play at this alcohol free,
child-friendly event. The cost is $10 at the door; children 12 and under are free. For
information, contact
Dore Penn.
copyright 2004 Denise Provost
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