By The Times Staff

The past year was an issues-oriented one for many in the city. A national election took place, which included ballot measures of great importance  to local residents. The city took on a number of matters concerning development and sustenance of both new and existing projects. Protests over the conflict in the Middle East took focus for a time, as did many other demonstrations in support of human rights and equality. The following events highlight some of the top stories of 2024:

In January, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood in Somerville.

The federal dollars delivered by Rep. Pressley helped to increase safe and affordable housing, promote accessibility for residents with disabilities, and support the development of green and open community space for residents.

Union Square’s first large-scale pop-up community center opened in January, a one-stop shop for community resources, diverse programming, events, workshops for all ages, and a gathering space for the community.

The goal of the Union Square community pop-up is to connect new and old residents and create a shared identity for the neighborhood, pilot a community-driven space, and create an operational framework for a long-term community space.

Also in January, members of the Somerville City Council sought action on displacement of small businesses. In April 2023, the city, in response to pressing matters like historic high rents, displacement and affordability issues, convened a year-long Anti-Displacement Task Force to “research and recommend policies to prevent residential displacement and to advocate for a wider range of the Somerville community, including small business displacement and cultural displacement.” The goal of this task force was to “develop programming and policy recommendations that aim to equitably reduce the rate of displacement of people who live in, have businesses in, or make up the cultural fabric of the city.” The city has since stated that the Anti-Displacement Task Force report is now set to be released on February 4, along with 5 other reports.

Later in the month, the Somerville City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution calling on the Biden administration to work toward an immediate and enduring ceasefire in Gaza. The 9 to 2 vote made Somerville the first city in Massachusetts to call for a ceasefire, following mere hours after the Minneapolis City Council passed their own ceasefire resolution.

In February, Mayor Ballantyne testified to state legislators in support of Housing Affordable Homes Act. “As you know, the City of Somerville and other municipalities around the state face tremendous barriers in regard to the development and preservation of affordable housing given increasing construction and land costs and high interest rates. The City of Somerville and cities and towns throughout the state have recognized that a real estate transfer fee is our greatest hope for a new local revenue tool to fund affordable housing,” the mayor said in part.

Mayor Ballantyne announced in March that the City of Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability’s (OHS) new Municipal Voucher Program would offer needed local support to families historically underserved by broader government housing programs.

Under Somerville’s Municipal Voucher program, participating families’ rent and utility costs were capped at 30% of their income, with the voucher covering remaining rental costs. This applies even if their net household income is zero. The voucher program covers all remaining rent and the security deposit.

In May, members of the Tufts community, led by the Tufts Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), staged a tent protest in the middle of the University’s Medford campus. Students in the camp protested the war in Gaza and called for Tufts to divest from companies that have a level of involvement.

Somerville residents were up in arms last year due to severe increases in their water bills due to changes in billing procedures. In spite of city leaders’ concerns, assisting residents with water bills is prohibited by an obscure Massachusetts state law. A consulting firm was brought onboard to search for ways of mitigating the extreme price hikes.

Also in May, members of the School Building Committee (SBC) who will provide oversight of the city’s construction plans for a new school to meet the needs of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School and potentially the Benjamin G. Brown School were selected. The members are working with city and Somerville Public Schools staff and consultants to oversee construction project management such as hiring project managers, architects, and construction contractors, and ensure that detailed plans and designs meet the needs of the school district within budget.

It was announced in June that ‘Homans Lot’ – 350 Medford Street in Gilman Square – would, in a partnership between the city and partnership with CultureHouse, become an outdoor community space called “Gilman Park” from June through September 2024.

The Gilman Square Station Area Plan, released in 2014, identified the property as one of several lots that could be better activated to serve the Gilman Square neighborhood. The city works with the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council on implementation of several aspects of the plan.

Also in June, the City of Somerville reached a new agreement with the Fire Alarm

Unit union representing its Fire Alarm Operators for a new contract, providing improved wages and benefits for a valued set of city workers.

The city’s Fire Alarm Unit provides 24/7 dispatch for the Somerville Fire Department, and its contract is negotiated by Somerville Firefighters Local 76. The new three-year contract covers the city’s 2024 fiscal year (FY24: July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024), as well as FY2025 and FY2026.

Following a vote by the City Council on June 13, Mayor Ballantyne announced that the city has adopted a “Safe Streets” Ordinance that advances pursuit of the city’s Vision Zero goals. The goal of the ordinance is to make city streets safer by ensuring forward-looking design and safety practices are embedded throughout all street improvement projects citywide. This includes reemphasizing the city’s commitment to complete the Somerville Bicycle Network plan’s 40-mile priority network by 2030.

In July, the Somerville Museum honored Mayor Emeritus Eugene Brune for over 30 years of service as a Trustee and for his ongoing commitment and contributions to the Museum. It was a wonderful event with a large and joyous crowd of family and friends who joined together to celebrate Gene, on his birthday, 95 years young.

After months of searching for the ideal candidate for the position of new Somerville Police Department Chief, Boston’s Shumeane Benford was selected in August. The 30-year law enforcement veteran left dual roles as Boston Housing Authority Police Chief as well as Boston Chief of Emergency Management to take up the job in Somerville.

In September, a flurry of complaints arose when the Somerville Central Library curtailed their operating hours due to a pattern of disruptive behavior by both minors and adults, according to library staff. The City Council looked into the issue and made several suggestions related to alleviating the problems. A return to regular hours took place in October with new resources aimed at creating a safe and supportive library environment. Security cameras were installed in strategic locations in the library, and a professional security company trained in de-escalation provides an on-site guard at targeted hours.

A community meeting to discuss the safety situation in Davis Square and the adjoining Seven Hills Park area was held in October to address recent incidents in the Davis Square area, including two stabbings in late September within a few days of each other. The Somerville Police Department has implemented a 24-hour directed patrol of Davis Square and Seven Hills Park in response to escalating concerns over public safety and open drug use.

Safety protocols were examined in October after a Green Line derailment occurred on the Red Bridge during a track switch on the way to Union Square from Lechmere Station. An investigation by the NTSB revealed that the train had left Lechmere Station where it entered a 10-mph zone while moving at 36 mph. The operator ignored the “double red signal” to stop near Red Bridge, where the Medford/Tufts and Union Square branch intersect. It then drove over a track switch while in the process of switching, which made the second car go in a direction other than the first. No serious injuries were reported.

Meanwhile a number of closures at several MBTA stations, including along the Green Line, were scheduled throughout the year in order to conduct maintenance procedures on those lines.

The Presidential Election took place on November 5. Among the issues of local interest, Democratic Senator in Congress Elizabeth Warren handily defeated Republican challenger John Deaton by a wide margin. Question 6, the amendment of the Community Preservation Act that would increase the property tax surcharge from 1.5% to 3% for funding affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation – of particular interest for Somerville voters – passed. The passage of Question 6 increases Somerville’s dedicated fund by way of a tax surcharge that will be matched by state funds.

It was revealed in November that the future of the Arts at the Armory has come into question. Many stakeholders raised their concerns, and the final resolution of the matter is expected to be reach by mid-2025. Then, after an extensive community process, the City of Somerville released a draft Somerville Armory Master Plan, a roadmap of how to best preserve and envision a future for the Armory building as a thriving community arts center for years to come.

In December, Councilor-At-Large Jake Wilson announced that he is launching a campaign for mayor in the 2025 Somerville municipal election.

Also in December, the MBTA completed its work on the Green Line to eliminate slow zones on all of its lines. More than 100,000 feet of rail was replaces over the past year. The upgrades are expected to improve safety and reduce delays.

Phase 1 of Bus Network Redesign (BNR) launched on December 15, changing bus routes 104, 109, 86, 116, 117, and 110. The MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign is a major initiative of the Better Bus Project aimed at improving bus service reliability, frequency, and connectivity throughout the region.

2024 was a year characterized by the usual accomplishments and controversies that are to be expected in this dynamic City of Somerville. May 2025 bring even more of the best that the city has to offer.