On major local issues there is always a certain modicum of conjecture, posturing and heavily opinionated political haranguing – that being said, the two most hotly debated issues in the last 20 years have arguably been the development of Assembly Square and the Green Line extension through Somerville into Medford. Regardless of what you might think, you can take it to the bank that these two projects will have the most direct effect on the future of this city.

Gov. Deval Patrick took a major step forward this past week at dispelling the popular “street” myth that Somerville will never see the Green Line extension by visiting Gilman Square and announcing that the environmental review and preliminary engineering for the project would begin.

Movement forward on this project, coupled with the recent beginnings of the permitting process for new construction at Assembly Square, will prove to be a time where there will be a lot of accusations and frustration for everyone involved with the entire process – but when it’s all said and done, we will be better off as a community.