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Advocates of the $50 million contribution to the Green Line Extension (GLX) project, including Mayor Curtatone, scored a huge victory last week as the BOA voted unanimously in favor of the plan.
By Joe Ruvido
The Somerville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to approve a $50 million contribution to the Green Line Extension (GLX) project. The vote was held at the Board’s regular meeting last Thursday. The money will be bonded and paid to the state in $10 million dollar installments.
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(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
I’m writing to urge the Board of Aldermen to approve Somerville’s $50 million funding of the Green Line Extension. Financial analysis of the bond issue is complex, and I can’t begin to offer an opinion on it. I think we have to have faith that our city and legislative delegation have negotiated the best deal that we get in order to have the GLX go forward. We need to remember that there are some in the Baker Administration which would be extremely happy to cancel the project using our indecision or lack of approval of this as an excuse.
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December 8 deadline for approval
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On Thursday, the Somerville Board of Alderman will convene to deliberate the appropriation of City funds to close budget gaps in the long-anticipated Green Line Extension project. The meeting is scheduled on the eve of the deadline to notify state authorities as to whether the City of Somerville will dedicate $50 million towards the project. The commitment that the Board will vote on is critical to closing the project budget gap and to receiving affirmation from the Federal Transit Administration that the project will receive $1 billion from a New Starts grant.
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The city is considering a proposal by Garden Remedies to put a medical marijuana dispensary in Davis Sq at the soon-to-be vacant Family Dollar store, Somerville’s second to date.
By Joe Ruvido
A meeting regarding a proposed Medical Marijuana dispensary in Davis Square was held at the Community Baptist Church on Monday, November 28.
Garden Remedies, which opened their first dispensary in Newton 2 weeks ago, hopes to occupy the soon-to-be vacant Family Dollar on Elm Street. After this and an additional public hearing about their plans for the dispensary, Garden Remedies will have to apply for permits under city zoning law.
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By Joe Ruvido
At a special meeting on Thursday December 1, The Board of Aldermen heard the mayor’s in-depth financial analysis of the Green Line Extension (GLX) project. According to the facts presented, Somerville needs to approve a $50M contribution to the project by December 8.
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On Saturday, December 10, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Union Square Main Streets is once again partnering with local businesses to bring you their second annual Union Square Holiday Stroll. They will be building on the success of last year’s inaugural Holiday Stroll with great festive offerings from local businesses, live music, a visit from Santa, a Holiday Display Contest and access to over 60 vendors.
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The Flood Forum Special Committee’s report to the Board of Alderman indicated that a lot of planning and work needs to be put into finding solutions to the city’s flooding problem
By Jim Clark
The report of the Flood Forum Special Committee meeting as a Committee of the Whole was presented to the Somerville Board of Alderman at its Regular Meeting on Thursday of last week.
The Special Committee, comprised of Board members Maryann Heuston of Ward 2, Mark Niedergang of Ward 5, and Robert McWatters of Ward 3, met on Tuesday of last week to discuss findings related to the flooding issues facing the city.
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“Sustainable Neighborhoods” plan to broaden and deepen Somerville’s affordability efforts includes 100-home strategy, expansion of inclusionary zoning, tax credits for benevolent landlords and increased SomerVision housing goals
In the face of a regional affordable housing crisis, the City of Somerville is expanding its already robust housing affordability efforts to create a comprehensive program that addresses affordability from all angles and across all needed income brackets, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced.
Building off the promise he made in his inaugural address in January 2014 to protect people who have chosen to live in Somerville, Mayor Curtatone will present “Sustainable Neighborhoods,” an outline of the next steps to broaden and deepen the city’s efforts to maintain affordability for the people and families of Somerville, at the Board of Aldermen’s Housing and Community Development Committee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
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Seen here arguing against the proposed “Pay-to-Play” ordinance back in July of this year, Mayor Curtatone formally submitted his veto of the final approved ordinance at the Board’s general meeting last week.
By Jim Clark
An updated version of the so-called “Pay-to-Play” ordinance regulating campaign contributions approved by the Board of Alderman’s Legislative Matters Committee was formally vetoed by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in writing at the regular meeting of the Board last week.
The mayor had argued for a differing version of the ordinance, one featuring measures that would restrict city employee contributions, rather than the Boards version that focused on contributions made by property developers.
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