Vol. 4, No. 16
November 29, 2004
Contents
1) IMPORTANT ADDRESS CORRECTION
In my last newsletter, I publicized the offer of Abby Yanow to facilitate discussion of the
Divestment issue. Due to an optical scanner misread, the email address given for her was
incorrect. Contact her by phone at 617-625-0211, or
abbyyanow@hotmail.com.
2) SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH: PANEL AND DISCUSSION
The first hour (7-8pm) of the upcoming monthly meeting of the Progressive Democrats of
Somerville (PDS) on Tuesday, November 30
th (at the Visiting Nurse's Assisted Living facility
at 259 Lowell Street) will feature a discussion about the selection by the City of a School
Superintendent. The discussion is open to the public; interested people may stay if they wish
for the PDS meeting that follows.
The panel will open the hour by sharing thoughts about the issues that will face an incoming
Superintendent, and why the hiring decision is so important to the future of the City. An open
discussion among panelists and persons in attendance will take place after the panel presentations.
Refreshments will be served from 6:45-7pm, and the panel presentation will begin promptly at
7pm.
At 8pm, the special discussion will conclude, and PDS will shift its focus to the agenda of its
regular monthly meeting (e.g., review of local elections, development of a training for
progressives who may be interested in participating in a future campaign, Scorecard update,
outreach strategies, etc.). Guests are welcome to remain for the membership meeting.
The VNA Assisted Living facility is a 2-3 minute walk from Highland Ave. towards the Lowell
St. bridge. There is ample off-street parking.
3) PLEASE HELP WITH MAILING TONIGHT
A couple of newsletters ago, I wrote about the fact that I would not be participating in the
selection of a new superintendent of schools. Several people have taken that to mean that I am
stepping down from the Board of Aldermen. For the record: I will still be an alderman next
year, it is my one-year term as president of the board, and thus as ex-officio School Committee
member, which is coming to an end.
So, I am asking those who have a bit of free time this evening to help with a campaign mailing
tonight, Monday November 29, at 20 Albion Street. Stop by at 6 pm if you'd like to help. It
shouldn't take long to do the mailing.
4) GANG ORDINANCE "PROJECT REPEAL" CREATES HOTLINE
In response to incidents of alleged police harassment invoking the Somerville "Gang Loitering"
ordinance," students of Tufts University in recent months have launched Project Repeal, an
organizing effort to achieve repeal of the Somerville ordinance. Project Repeal has recently set
up a Hotline/Voice Mail Box to take complaints about alleged abuses of the Gang Loitering
Ordinance. The Hotline number is 617-627-2325, and Project Repeal asks that it be publicized.
5) ARMORY PROJECT GETS PERMITS
The Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Monday, November 22, granted, with
conditions, the Special Permits necessary for Joseph and Nabil Sater's proposed redevelopment
of the Armory on Highland Avenue as an arts center. The plan calls for an art gallery, a
recording studio, a non-profit dance center, and four artists' live/work spaces as well as a cafe
and performance space. The Special Permits are conditioned on the terms of an agreement
negotiated directly between neighborhood residents and the Sater brothers.
The ZBA received the required traffic study very late in the deliberation process, and the hearing
on the case last Monday recessed in order for additional negotiations to take place. When the
parties returned to the hearing room with a signed Agreement, ZBA Chair Richard Daley praised
all parties for their efforts in coming to such an agreement. "If they ever have a case to follow,
as to how to get it done, this is it," commented ZBA member Richard Rosetti.
6) GREEN LINE, AIR QUALITY AT RISK: LET'S RAISE HELL
On Tuesday December 14 from 1 to 4 pm there will be a public hearing, at the Gardner
Auditorium in the State House in Boston, about the state's proposed process for changing the
Ozone SIP transit commitments and the rules that apply to their delivery and/or substitution. The
Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) and the Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) have been discussing this in private for over a year.
7) "MAXPAK" SITE VISIONING MEETING SET
On Wednesday, December 1, at 6:30 pm, Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and
Community Development will hold another in its series of community workshops to discuss
"possible plan layouts for the development of 56-61 Clyde Street, often referred to as the
MAXPAK SITE. Developers have been primarily looking at this site for residential use, but as
a community, we want to actively participate in what SHOULD go there."
The meeting will be held at the VNA Assisted Living Center's third floor community room. Call
Tuck O'Brien at 617-625-6600 x2500 for more information.
8) PUBLIC MEETING ON DURRELL SCHOOL RE-USE
The Durrell hasn't been used as a school for a long time, but you probably know the building.
The red brick structure at 245 Beacon Street was leased from the city for many years by
CASPAR, for use as a detox facility. It is the administration's plan to sell this property and use
the proceeds of the sale to fund our FY 2005 budget.
There will be a public meeting on Thursday, December 2, to discuss the terms of the Request
for Proposals by which the city plans to solicit plans for the re-use of the Durrell School. It will
be held at 6:30 pm at the Kent Street Apartments Community Room, at 32 Kent Street. Contact
Carrie Sousa at 617-625-6600 x2500 for more information.
9) SAVE THE DAY FOR MLK
The Somerville Human Rights Commission will be holding its annual Martin Luther King Day
Celebration on Monday, January 17, 2005, from 10 am until noon at the East Somerville
Community School, so mark your calendars now.
10) BUGGED BY LITTER? AN IDEA FOR ACTIVISTS
As the leaves come down, and dusk comes earlier, Somerville's perennial litter problem makes
the streets look even drearier than they need to look. Have you ever noticed how much of this
litter is discarded Lottery tickets? Evidently the Lottery Commission has.
I've recently learned that the Massachusetts Lottery Commission has been testing a program (at
county fairs!) whereby people who turn in 20 used lottery tickets get a free one. There must be
some activist or neighborhood group out there who could take on contacting the Lottery about
the status of its experiment. Perhaps Somerville could be its urban pilot program?
copyright 2004 Denise Provost
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