Proposed FY23 budget includes largest increase in history for Somerville Public Schools; repurposes nearly $8.3 million in GLX funds for affordable housing; makes first ever $1 million investment in participatory budgeting; and creates new Office of Accountability, Transparency, and Access

On Tuesday, May 31, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne submitted Somerville’s FY23 budget proposal, a $309 million budget that makes key investments in public education, affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and quality of life issues in line with this year’s budget theme of “A Foundation for Progress.” 

SomerStreets promotes active living and reconnecting with city neighborhoods

By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer was flagged down by a concerned citizen and informed that a man was passed out in a vehicle that had stopped in the travel lane at Paulina St. in the early hours of last Saturday.

The responding officer advised Somerville Control that he observed a man, later identified as Valentini Bonhomme, of Cambridge, passed out inside the vehicle as reported.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

When I was a kid, a trip to Revere Beach meant a day of fun. Mom packed a lunch and off we went. After frolicking in the water, we would eat our baloney and mustard sandwiches. Mayonnaise was a no-no because it might spoil in the heat. Mom would reapply the Coppertone sun block and we went back to playing in the sand and water.

Next Wave and Full Circle students have been volunteering at the Boston homeless shelter, the Boston Rescue Mission, for many years now. Unable to have volunteers during the height of the pandemic, when the Mission opened back up Next Wave and Full Circle students stepped up to help out. The students made over twenty visits to the shelter this school year. On Friday afternoons, after school ends, these students give up their free time to volunteer at the shelter.

Civic leaders, veterans, and private citizens alike gathered on Memorial Day to pay homage to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving for the good of their country. — Photo by Claudia Ferro

By Luda Tang

On Monday, May 30, the City of Somerville hosted the Memorial Day remembrance event at Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery to commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service of the United States.

Ted Louis-Jacques, the director of Veterans’ Services at the City of Somerville, served as the host of the commemoration. He invited Rev. Alejandro Lopez Cardinali to offer the opening invocation. During the invocation, Cardinali affirmed that freedom is not free saying, “Never let’s forget those who pay so terrible a price to ensure that freedom will be our legacy.”

Iceland’s First Lady Eliza Reid and author Ann Hood speaking at Reid’s live author event at the Somerville Theatre last week. — Photo by Mina Rose Morales

By Mina Rose Morales

The First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, came to the Somerville Theatre on Thursday, May 26 for a signing of her book Secrets of the Sprakkar.

The event was organized by Christina Pascucci-Ciampa, the founder and owner of All She Wrote Books. Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne gave a speech about women at the event before the interview began. Reid was interviewed live during the event by author and former flight attendant Ann Hood.

(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)

By State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven

Displacement is an issue our district knows all too well. Uncontrolled rent increases, luxury developments, and commodification and financialization of housing has led to rising rents that are forcing Somervillans to be displaced and forcing potential first time homeowners to look elsewhere.

The City of Somerville and Fenway Health invite you to a virtual community forum to discuss a local supervised consumption site (SCS) on Wednesday, June 1, at 6:00 p.m. This forum will discuss what SCSs are, what the need is in Somerville, and ongoing efforts to explore establishing an SCS. This is an opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and share feedback. The meeting will be hosted on Zoom. Registration is required. Questions for the forum may be submitted in advance during registration. The meeting will be recorded and posted online following the event. To learn more and register to attend, go to somervillema.gov/scs.

By Luda Tang         

Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) held its 18th Annual Meeting virtually on May 26. Lovelee Heller-Botarri, the Program Director at SCAP, introduced the meeting as a celebration of the work they have done over the past year.