Freshman alderman tackles coffee shops and murals in Davis Square
By George P. Hassett

The alderman for Ward 6 was the guest at The Somerville News contributor’s meeting Friday.
  Rebekah Gewirtz defeated 22-year incumbent John M. Connolly in November to become the newest addition to the city‚Äôs legislative branch. Since then, Gewirtz said the most rewarding part of the job is responding to calls from constituents.

  ‚ÄúPeople have called with water bill questions and to tell me about issues in their neighborhood,‚Äù Gewirtz said. ‚ÄúAnd I think they feel like their concerns are really being listened to.‚Äù
  Gewirtz said she received the most calls about the closing of the Someday Caf√©.
  ‚ÄúI got dozens of calls from people who have never called an alderman before. Some from people who I think don‚Äôt even know what an alderman is, and I instantly felt an obligation,‚Äù she said.
  The employees of the Someday Caf√© expect to open a new coffee shop under a different name in Davis Square by the end of the year in Davis Square. They are close to finalizing a deal on a new location in the square, Gewirtz said.
  Another issue for Gewirtz is the recent destruction of the ‚ÄúWall of Respect for Women‚Äù on the side of Brooks Pharmacy. The mural was abruptly painted over because it was peeling and in poor condition.
  ‚ÄúI‚Äôve been involved in that issue since the beginning,‚Äù she said. ‚ÄúAs soon as I walked by I was shocked to see it had been removed.‚Äù
  Gewirtz said she is working with Brooks and the Somerville Arts Council to make plans for a new mural on the side of the wall.
  ‚ÄúDesigning a new mural should be a community process,‚Äù Gewirtz said.
The meter maid from the original wall, Joan Batzek, should be returned to her rightful spot on the “Wall of Respect for Women,” Gewirtz said. Batzek had been part of artist Be Sargent’s original piece.
  ‚ÄúI empathize with Joan,‚Äù Gewirtz said. ‚ÄúAll of a sudden she was gone. I‚Äôd like to see her back up there.‚Äù
  Gewirtz‚Äôs enthusiasm for using government to help people in their everyday lives comes from her mother Nancy, a well known Rhode Island activist, who inspired her to become involved in public service. Nancy Gewirtz passed away in Nov. of 2004.
  ‚ÄúMy mom was a fighter for what she believed in. I‚Äôd like to think I have the same convictions and the same willingness to stand up for what I think is right,‚Äù she said.
  And there is no other place Gewirtz would rather be serving in public office than Somerville, she said.
  ‚ÄúSomerville is such a diverse community. So many different people living in such close quarters creates a great atmosphere that you can see just walking down the street everyday,‚Äù she said.