Going into this year’s budget season, we’ve gotten a lot of questions from residents about how the budget process works. To help residents better understand the process and how to participate, the city’s Budget Manager is doing a live “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) event at www.reddit.com/r/somerville starting at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22. He’ll take any questions that are submitted within 24 hours, until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23. If you’re unfamiliar with AMAs, they’re a type of post on Reddit where anyone can submit a question and get an answer right away.

By Norah Al-Wetaid and Susan Pacheco

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. For the past six years, the Cambridge Council on Aging and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) have marked the occasion by working together to raise awareness about elder abuse issues and help connect people with local resources.

Dear Community Members,

Here is a COVID-19 update for Saturday, June 20. Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/covid19 for information and resources that are updated frequently.

$1 million in emergency small business support to be distributed to 123 local small businesses

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced that $1 million in Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief funds will be awarded to 123 local, small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by federal Community Development Block Grant monies, the Fund will issue forgivable loans to businesses in the city that collectively employ about 600 people.

Somerville’s second Shared Streets route, which connects West Somerville and Davis Square, is set to open Tuesday, June 23. The Shared Streets initiative opens up low-volume or residential side-streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicle access for residents who live on the street or who need to use the street to get to their homes, first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers. 

New summer face covering guidelines and heat safety tips 

Pools, playgrounds, and splash pads will be opening in Somerville soon with new safety protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The city is also putting summer face covering guidelines into effect. Effective immediately, face coverings are still required for people ages 2 and up at all times when in public both indoors and outdoors, with the exception that during the hot weather season masks may be removed temporarily when outdoors if a distance of at least six feet from others can be maintained. Medical and disability exceptions continue to apply. Finally, as part of the city’s Beat the Heat efforts, all are encouraged to review our heat safety tips and ideas for keeping cool.

Normally there is an editorial from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in this space, but this week the City is instead sharing important information and updates about COVID-19.

 Mobile COVID-19 Testing

The City of Somerville, Cataldo Ambulance, and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) formally launch their mobile COVID-19 testing unit in Somerville, which will help to lower barriers to testing and offer equitable access. The mobile testing unit will accept patients by appointment at roaming locations, as well as hold designated testing days for residents of senior housing buildings. This testing is in addition to the Crown St. testing location at Somerville Hospital, where the City and Cambridge Health Alliance have offered free testing to Somerville residents since April. Individuals seeking tests at either the Somerville Hospital site or the mobile testing site do not need to be symptomatic and do not need insurance or a doctor’s referral. Immigration status will not be checked. The only requirement is that individuals must be Somerville residents and MUST CALL 617-665-2928 to set up an appointment. City of Somerville Health and Human Services Department staff will call residents of senior housing ahead of time to schedule on-site appointments.

On or around June 22, City of Somerville contractors will establish a work zone at the Washington St./Somerville Ave. intersection to support the next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utility and Streetscape Improvements Project. The intersection is expected to remain closed for approximately four months. During that time, contractors will continue installing sections of the new stormwater box culvert drainage system, which will separate stormwater from the city’s sanitary sewer system and reduce historical surface flooding in and around Union Square.