So
imagine how amazing it was for city officials and residents alike when
Somerville won the All America City award in 1972, just on the heels of
what old timers called a "revolution." Thirty seven years later, or a
little over a week ago, Somerville again earned the All America City
award. This time around, the city earned the recognition because of its
forward thinking, which is why those who have been around long enough
find it so interesting to compare and contrast how far this city has
come.

"It's not about a city being perfect, but a move toward
change," said Chisholm, a Somerville native, who was a School Committee
member back in 1972. "Back then, it was a revolutionary time that
prompted the award. This time around it is more about the cutting edge
accomplishments. It seems we are engaged in best practices, now.
Somerville has become quite the place."

The All America City
award is sponsored by the National Civic League, a non-profit
organization that fosters innovative city building and reform. The All
America City award, since 1949, has recognized the efforts of
extraordinary communities. Each year the National Civic League honors
ten communities for effectively addressing their most critical
challenges.

The overall theme Somerville chose this year was
"Improved Communication." The city highlighted its commitment to the
MBTA's Green Line extension through Somerville (which is slated to be
complete in 2014); the efforts of the Somerville Cares about Prevention
program to educate about and prevent substance abuse amongst the city's
youth and the adoption of "SomerStat," the 311 hot line number
initiative that streamlines how the public communicates with the city's
offices.

Over 30 years ago, people say it was Mayor S. Lester
Ralph, who was not only new blood on the political scene, but breathed
new life in the failing city.

The "Spotlight" series exposed
bad contracting practices on the part of the city. In 1969, three men
ran for mayor; incumbent Joe Marino, Jim Brennan and Ralph. Ralph, a
newcomer to politics, was a minister no less in a Catholic city. But he
got up and confronted the two other candidates during one of the
debates, saying he was the "rose between two thorns," Chisholm
recalled.

"He went on to beat Marino," he said, adding Brennan got knocked out in the primary. "It showed the public was fed up."

Not only that, nine out of the 11 Aldermen lost in the election that year.

The
schools were also in terrible shape. In Chisholm's Ward 1, the East
Somerville Community School was condemned. Ralph not only promised to
replace the school, but he also built the Powder House Community School
in West Somerville at the same time. Then he oversaw the building of
the Lincoln Park Community School, followed by the Winter Hill
Community School to make for four new schools in the city, Chisholm
said.

New staff were hired for the schools, there was more
buzz about city office accountability, and citizens groups sprung up
almost as quickly as the school construction.

In those days,
there was a lot of competition for every elected position, Chisholm
said. Every post had a primary. Today, we're lucky if two people run
for a seat, he said. But that could be due to increased public
satisfaction with elected officials.

Somerville's population
is also more transitory in nature, Chisholm said, with people coming
and going and not getting as involved in local politics.

"Back
then, there were so many problems to deal with, that folks were engaged
more in politics," he said. "Today there is a certain level of
contentment with city government…In terms of the award, we're looking
at two different eras, two different times, two different yard sticks.
It's not about the same award for the same type of thing, but the same
basis of movement."

Ralph describes those days as "very
hectic." He admitted he didn't necessarily feel as if he got along with
the rest of the city government, but had an excellent staff and feels
like he got the job done.

And why did he, a politically green
pastor of an Episcopal Church, run for mayor? He said he had to
persuade himself. He felt compelled.

"It was after John F. Kennedy was shot and Martin Luther King was also killed," he said. "It was a traumatic time."

Ralph identified with the people of Somerville. "I said to myself that I could not stay away from public service."

Somerville
is a very vibrant city. It is a great place to be in government, he
said. The people are down to earth and very genuine. "We were a real
community," he said. "I had a sense of accomplishment as a mayor and I
felt great satisfaction in making change. It was a great experience.
Politics can be a tough game sometimes, but it is still worth it."

Jack
Connolly, an Alderman at Large, was a junior at Boston College during
the city's turbulent times. He was around to watch Ralph hire new staff
at City Hall and the city clean up its act. Back then, public
transportation was also an important focus, with officials talking
about extending the Red Line into Davis Square, akin to today's focus
on the Green Line extension.

Residents got active and helped
to make the Red Line happen, finally, in 1984, Connolly said.
"Somerville really united (under Ralph) and people became connected to
the neighborhoods," he said. "The award back then was for the
transition that Somerville made to get back in touch with the people.
It was about opening the doors to City Hall and involving the
neighborhoods."

Frank Bakey, who served as a Ward 2 Alderman
in 1972, said that it was probably more difficult to win the award
today. "(Mayor Joseph) Curtatone has done a great job, considering the
financial limitations," he said.

During Ralph's tenure, the
city built the four schools, repaired 33 percent of the streets in Ward
2, and offered more community outreach. The movement back then was a
huge expansion of services, as the city didn't have much to begin with,
Bakey said.

"It is much harder to win this type of award now,"
he said. "This year, we were up against a lot of competition. It's
quite a tribute to the city. Somerville is now safe, clean, with
amazing educational opportunities."

It is unusual for a city
to win this award twice, said Donald Norton, a long-time resident and
city activist. He remembers when he was chair of the Civic Association
for Ward 7 in 1970. The police department was mired with police
brutality issues. More and more citizens groups were forming to move
Somerville out of corruption. People often referred to Somerville as
"Slumerville."

"There was a big divide in the city," Norton said. "We don't have that now…The city needed the award back then to feel good."