Contents
1) GREETINGS!
A) It's been a while...
Since I put out a newsletter, so it's nice to be back in touch. We're coming to the end of the
“formal” part of this legislative session, a time marked by long hours, overrides of Governor's
vetoes, and many roll call votes. I'm looking forward to writing about some of the struggles,
adventures, and lessons of my first term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
B) But it's already time...
For me to run for re-election, since I was elected only to serve for the unexpired remainder of
the 2005-2006 term. To my amazement, I am running unopposed - for the first time ever.
I'll be having a kick-off and rally for my election campaign on Monday, September 18,
from 5:30-8pm at Johnny D's in Davis Square - so mark your calendars, and plan to come
on by, on the eve of this year's primary election.
2) NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: LET'S GIVE CRIME AND DRUGS A GOING AWAY PARTY
DATE: Tuesday, August 1
TIME: 4pm-10pm
PLACE: Foss Park
SPONSORS INCLUDE: Mayor Curtatone, Somerville Cares about Prevention, National
Association of Town Watch
CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Stephanie Almeida, 617-828-9184 or SCAP 617-625-6600 x4300
AGENDA:
10am-5pm Family Swim at Foss Park Pool
4pm-6pm Youth Obstacle Course sponsored by Somerville Recreation and Somerville Youth
Program; Somerville Police will be on site with Child ID kits, Youth Activity tables, and State
Police K-9 unit presentation
6pm-8:30pm Live performances by JP Dancing, the Somerville Sunsetters, and Girlz II Women
8:30-10:30pm Family Movie “Hocus Pocus” and free popcorn
*Alcohol and Drug-free event
3) GREENLINE EXTENSION UPDATE
On Monday, July 24, I organized a meeting for the Somerville Legislative Delegation with
representatives from MassHighway, MBTA, the Executive Office of Transportation (EOT), and
from the City of Somerville to discuss the Green Line extension. Specifically, we met to clarify
the timeline for progress on the Green Line extension, from engineering and public process, to
identifying a funding source for the project.
We learned that EOT has a consultant doing some of the environmental evaluations, and expects
to hold a public hearing this September (date TBA) on the Environmental Notification Form
(ENF) for the project. The redrafted Ozone State Implementation Plan (“Ozone SIP”) regulations
have gone to the state's Office of Administration and Finance (A&F), and are expected to be
released within the next month or two. It is expected that the project will be in the Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) in July, 2007, but that an alignment and station locations will not be
identified until the end of 2007 or in 2008.
I will share more information about the public hearing as it becomes available. If you have any
questions, please contact me at the State House at 617-722-2810 or
denise.provost@state.ma.us.
4) UPDATE ON BRIDGES
The Green Line meeting also yielded information about the status of MassHighway's bridge
projects in Somerville. The Sycamore Street bridge, long in stop-and-start reconstruction, is
expected to re-open in late October. The Webster Avenue and Cross Street bridges are “under
design now.”
It has been determined that the Cedar Street and Cross Street bridges do have enough “horizontal
clearance” for the Green Line extension. Other bridges do not, including Lowell Street. Plans
for remediation will evolve as the project does.
5) MBTA Fare Increase Proposal
To get a copy of my testimony, email a request to my aide Liz Monnin-Browder at
elizabeth.monnin@state.ma.us or call Liz at 617-722-2810.
Material from this newsletter may be quoted freely, provided that it is credited to Denise Provost, www.provost-citywide.org
copyright 2006 Denise Provost
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