We
thought all three speeches were excellent – so lets take a few minutes
to break them down, for better or worse, and see what they were really
all about.

The School Committee – new Chairperson Maureen
Bastardi made it clear that this sitting School Committee and its
members are completely dedicated to making sure that they will fight
tooth and nail to make sure the same level of services are provided to
the students/children of this city. For an elected body that is more
often than not ignored and/or misunderstood, it is clear that they as a
body are ready for whatever is thrown at them – the bottom line is that
they are equal to the task.

The Board of Aldermen – new
President Walter Pero wasted no time taking a shot at the proposed
changes to the Charter that will be moving forward in some form in the
next few months. He did it with a touch of class and a history lesson –
to get his point across. The bottom line is that this year promises to
be interesting with a President of the Board who is not afraid to speak
his mind and a board that isn't afraid to ask the right questions, even
when it seems like they are just rubber stamping something for the
administration.

The Mayor – Joe Curtatone came through with a
speech that covered the bases and had plenty of sound bites; however,
if you listened carefully, there was plenty of substance to what he was
saying. He did it without saying "I did this" and "I did that" or "look
what I am going to do" – he did it with a splash of realism. He
admitted that it will "get worse before it gets better." That is the
kind of stuff we need to hear. Bottom line – he is committed to doing
everything he can to make Somerville a more sustainable community with
broad vision across the spectrum of local interests.