News talk for the week of Feb. 22

Is it three strikes and you’re out at the ‚ÄúHighway / Lights & Lines Department‚Äù??   First it was Tom Vitello, then Joe Votour, both of whom resigned, and now Mike Buckley all in the span of little more then 2 years. The question to ask is, was Joe forced out and if so by who and why?  We heard through the ‚ÄòVille grapevine that Joe Votour submitted a nasty resignation. Mike Buckley has been Mayor Joe‚Äôs bad news guy to a lot of people, guess he wanted to do more then just make more money, he wanted out of the hot seat.    Another question is did Mike take the job just for the money or to keep an eye on anyone? We‚Äôll let the bloggers handle this one, maybe the ‚ÄúMole‚Äù knows!

Appears that the Mayor has submitted for a new position in the city — Budget Analyst at a proposed salary of $60,000. Don‚Äôt we elect and pay our fine aldermen to analyze the budget? Why hire one at $60,000.00 when we have 11 of them sitting there in the horseshoe. We could use that $60,000 to hire an additional police officer?      
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We heard a rumor recently that we‚Äôre not sure if we can believe. The rumor mill at Sonny‚Äôs Deli churned this little piece of gossip out: Mike Capuano‚Äôs son is considering a run against the Curtatone machine. We heard this from more then one person, but we think the guys at Sonny‚Äôs Deli might be spreading rumors again. Or maybe not.      
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At the ERA Real Estate Convention in San Francisco, ERA The Norton Group won runner up to a New Jersey office for ‚ÄúThe Most Diverse Office‚Äù out of 3,700 offices across the United States. ERA The Norton Group has almost 60 agents, 2-offices (Somerville and Watertown), has been in business here in Somerville for 23 years, and is headed by Donald & Patricia and Jamie Norton.    
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Speaking of which, John Zhang an agent with ERA The Norton Group, and a resident of Cedar Street, was recently named to the Somerville Fair Housing Board, The National Association of Realtors recently did a commercial with John regarding his career in real estate as a minority.      
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With the high cost of Health Insurance that the city has to pay for its employees and retirees becoming more and expensive each year, its only a matter of time before the city has to do something, don‚Äôt be surprised if you don‚Äôt see another increase in taxes again in November. Or maybe a proposal to charge for rubbish collection? We will have to wait and see. 
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Rumor has it that several members of the Board of Alderman are very upset with the Acting Traffic & Parking Director James Kotzuba. We hear that they are not only upset with the missing money at the T&P, but also with his performance on the job and a lack of response to board members. Like we said —  we just heard this, so don‚Äôt start ticketing us.
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Congratulations to Janice Delory for being named chief of staff in the mayors office. She is well qualified for the job and we wish her luck. She has been at the Mayors office now since Joe was first elected two years ago and has been doing a great job. We know for a fact that she at least returns calls and responds to the public, not like you know who under former mayor Dot Gay‚Äôs administration, what was her name again? Cathy something?  We also heard that Mike Buckley‚Äôs replacement doesn‚Äôt live in Somerville and that a few  of the Alderman are upset about it.

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A few weeks ago we predicted that if he wins, Deval Patrick would make Joe Curtatone a judge in return for Joe’s early support. But, recently we have been told that the “thanks for supporting me” judgeship will not go to Joe but his sister Maria. We hope it all tuens out however they have planned it. We’re always happy to see people from Somerville succeed.