Contents
1) Elections approaching!
A) Reminder-Provost Kick-off Monday, 9/18/06
Please join me on Monday for the one and only fundraiser of my 2006 re-election campaign.
Largely due to your fantastic support in the Special Election last winter, I am running
unopposed. The eve of the primary election is a great occasion for rallying together. I hope that
you will join me for my kickoff event.
Date: Monday, September 18, 2006
Time: 5:30-8pm
Location: Johnny D's Uptown Restaurant and Music Club, 17 Holland Street, Davis Square,
Somerville
For more information call: 617-628-1130
B) The Governor's Race
i.) Volunteer for Deval
In the last few days before Monday's primary, Deval Patrick needs you to come out and be part
of his grassroots campaign for Governor. Whatever time you have to give will be valued, and
will make a difference. Email to get involved.
ii.) Guest Editorial - The Truth About The Income Tax
By Representative Jim Marzilli
When did badly imitating existing state law become innovative? And when did taking a tax cut
away from working families become a mark of fiscal sobriety?
If you read the daily papers and watch the TV ads, you might believe that Chris Gabrieli has
invented a thoughtful way to gradually cut the income tax as state revenues grow. In truth, his
plan is a lot worse than current state law, because it will end the implementation of a tax cut that
benefits working families. If his plan becomes law next year, working families will lose their
tax cut in order to give a bigger cut to upper income families.
Gabrieli's gimmick, which uses one hundred percent of the growth in state revenues, would end
a phased-in growth in the personal exemption enacted by the legislature in 2002. So working
families will not get their tax cut but the rate reduction, most of which goes to households higher
up the income ladder, will move forward.
A little history is needed here. The legislature in 2002 delayed the implementation of two tax
cuts. The first cut was an expansion of the personal exemption championed by former Senate
President Tom Birmingham in 1998. It was one of the most progressive ways possible to cut the
income tax, giving equal sized cuts to working families and millionaires. The second cut was
the rate reduction that passed on the ballot later the same year. Rate reductions give greater
benefits to wealthier households.
When the economic meltdown occurred in 2001-2002, the legislature froze implementation of
both cuts. It created trigger mechanisms based on a growth in state revenue for the two, first
increasing the personal exemption and then gradually reducing the income tax rate.
Massachusetts taxpayers have received the benefits of an increase in the personal exemption for
each of the past two years and if revenues keep coming in at the current rate, we will get
another increase this year and more in future years as state revenues grow.
Once the exemption reaches the maximum level voted by the legislature, future growth in state
revenues will trigger income tax rate reductions until the rate is 5%.
An honest comparison of the existing state law and the Gabrieli plan yields two simple facts:
Gabrieli wants to shift the benefits of tax cutting to upper income households; and he wants the
legislature to rescind one of the most progressive tax cuts in recent Massachusetts history. Is
it possible that Gabrieli does not know what the state law already is? Or is it just a gimmick to
mislead the voters of Massachusetts?
C) Lt. Governor's Race
Andrea Silbert is my choice for Democratic Candidate for Lieutenant Governor. If you are a
registered Democrat or Independent in Massachusetts, I urge you to please join me and Vote for
Andrea on September 19th. Please also take a minute to view her background and impressive convention video
You can also volunteer through that web address.
2) Transit Update
A) Green Line hearing delay
The hearing on the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the Green Line
extension - which we were originally told would be scheduled for September - is now being
postponed until October. The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has not given a reason
for the delay. It is interesting to note that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
has also delayed until October the release of its revised regulations implementing the State
Improvement Plan (SIP) for reducing the air pollutant ozone - a plan that will affect which mass
transit projects go forward in Massachusetts.
As soon as I learn the date, time, and location of any hearing, I will be sure to make this
information available.
B) Ride a Bus? Tell MBTA what you think
STEP is doing a bus survey to capture the opinions of riders, non-riders, and discouraged former
riders about the quality of MBTA bus service in Somerville. The survey can also be completed
by non-Somerville residents who travel on MBTA buses to, from, or through Somerville.
You can complete the survey on-line at the
STEP website or fill out a
hard copy (they will be distributed at some of the major bus stops around Somerville). Hard
copies of the survey are also available in Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Please share your feedback! This data will be useful for making the case for Somerville at future
MBTA Service planning meetings.
The deadline to complete the survey is SEPTEMBER 30.
C) MBTA looks to develop Porter Square Air Rights
The MBTA is about to open the bidding process for the development of the air rights over the
commuter rail.
Representatives from Transit Realty Associates, which is handling the request for proposals, will
present the details and schedule.
Representatives from the MBTA will address the perennial community concerns:
- Maintenance of the park next to the T station
- The still-unknown status of the Bill Wainwright sculpture removed from the station several
years ago
- Operations and maintenance issues of the T station itself
Porter Square Neighborhood Association will also raise a new one: the status of repairs to the
retaining wall under a section of the sidewalk along Somerville Avenue.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Hope Fellowship Baptist Church
Beech and Orchard Streets
Cambridge
7 to 9 PM
D) Zoning hearing for Maxpak site
This “brownfield” site contains two abandoned factories, and abuts the Lowell Line commuter
rail right-of-way, through which the Green line extension is expected to run. On the other side
of the site is the abandoned Arlington and Lexington Branch Line - through which the Bike
Path/Community Path extension is planned to be extended. Proposed new zoning for this site
will determine its fate, and is likely to set a precedent for other underdeveloped land in the
Green Line corridor.
What: Joint Public Hearing Between the Planning Board and Alderman's Sub-Committee on land
use regarding re-zoning that will affect the site at 51-61 Clyde Street (the “Maxpak” site)
When: Thursday, September 21, 2006
Time: 7:00pm
Where: Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, 2nd floor
3) Opportunities
A) Health and Human Services seeking Nurses
The state recently reached a contractual agreement with the Massachusetts Nursing Association
(MNA). The agreement better aligns nursing salaries and employment benefits with
compensation levels in the private sector.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is now seeking qualified nursing
candidates. Eligible candidates should submit their resumes to Andrea Mitchell, Director of
Recruitment, 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 or email to
eohhscareers@state.ma.us.
B) Labor Organizing Positions
i. Community Labor United Senior Organizer
Position Overview
The Senior Organizer will perform a wide range of duties, which may vary according to the
needs of the overall program, a specific campaign, or the needs of the organization as
determined by the Executive Director and the Board. The Senior Organizer will work with the
Executive Director to develop and implement all organizing campaign activity, along with
community and labor outreach associated with our research studies. The Senior Organizer will
also work with the rest of our staff as a team, developing and implementing our Leadership
Institutes.
The Senior Organizer must be able to act independently while keeping the Executive Director
updated on his/her progress. It is expected that this Organizer will be a self-starter who will
take initiative to drive CLU's program goals. The Senior Organizer is expected to have the
skills to execute a monthly work plan with minimal supervision. The position necessitates a
flexible schedule and will involve some evening and weekend hours. The position will involve
travel within metro Boston and some national travel.
Salary Range: $40,000 - $50,000 depending on experience. Full family health & dental
coverage along with other benefits
To Apply: Email letter of interest, resume and three references to:
Lisa Clauson
Executive Director, CLU
lisa@massclu.org
For more information:
Community Labor United
8 Beacon Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 723-2639
www.massclu.org (under development)
ii. PART-TIME COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
“Communities Organizing for Equitable Development” Initiative
of the Tri-City Workforce Development Task Force
Position Summary
The Community Organizer of this Task Force initiative is a part-time (20 hours/week max.),
exempt employee of Tri-CAP, the fiduciary agent of the Task Force. Using a community-building and leadership development model, the Community Organizer will work with the Task
Force and the community to develop and implement all organizing campaign activity to: 1) build
on the work and extend the mission of the Task Force by bringing together organizations and
leaders of low-income, minority, immigrant, and disability communities in the Tri-Cities; 2) help
raise these communities' consciousness about economic and community development in the area;
and 3) increase their active participation in decision-making.
Salary: $16,800/year plus pro-rated health & dental coverage, short-term
disability and life insurance, along with other benefits
To Apply: E-mail: letter of intent, resume, and three references to Loretta Kemp, Deputy Director/Tri-CAP,
LKemp@tri-cap.org.
4) Cambridge/Somerville Opiate Forum
For families, friends and community members from the Cambridge and Somerville
area who have been affected by another's drug use (includes heroin and prescription drugs like Oxycontin)
Date: Wednesday October 11, 2006
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Dante Alighieri Cultural Center, 41 Hampshire Street, Cambridge. (The
Dante Alighieri Society is located near Kendall Square, on the corner of
Hampshire Street and Cardinal Medeiros Ave. The Kendall Square/MIT stop on the
MBTA Red Line is within ten minutes walking distance from the Center. Free
parking is available at the center.)
The forum will address the following topics:
- Information about opiate use in the Cambridge/Somerville area;
- Signs and Symptoms” of opiate use, practical strategies for helping reduce the
harm that opiate use can cause to you or your loved one;
- A speaker who has been personally affected and has learned to cope;
- An overview of the different kinds of drug treatment that are available;
- Practical information about how to access drug treatment and how to advocate
for more treatment options in Massachusetts;
- Question and Answer period;
- Tables with information about different services in the area.
For information call Eliza Wheeler at 617-599-0219 or Emily Rosenberg at 617-441-0700 x206
Organized by Cambridge Cares about AIDS, Somerville Cares About Prevention
(SCAP) and the Regional Center for Healthy Communities with support from
Cambridge Public Health Department and the Cambridge Prevention Coalition
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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