Drive-by shooting on Sewall Street

A 15 year-old boy was shot on Sewall Street last night. The suspects fired from a passing car, described as small and dark, police said. Three or four people were in the car at the time, police said.

The 15-year old is from Malden and was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Police are not releasing any more information at this time. They are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact detectives at 617-625-1212.

Comments

[Jay]

This happened two doors down from my friend's place on Sewall Street. My friend and his wife arrived home ten minutes after the shooting. They're totally freaked out and want to move out of Somerville asap after only moving into the neighborhood a year ago.
What is wrong with the kids today?! This was a 15 year-old shot from a passing car!
There was a shooting near my place (near Walnut Street) several months ago and I'm looking forward to the day when I can get the hell out of Winter Hill (just waiting for the housing market to improve).
I really like Somerville but I don't see anything being done to reduce the crime. Every day I see more and more of these teenage punk kids roaming the streets, getting up to no good. Oh, and the trash seems to keep piling up too.

[freshman]

It was about 4 nights ago that I thought "Hey, I moved to Sewell Street last Winter and generally I like the neighborhood. But if I want it cleaned up I'm going to have to get the other residents together." Guess I should have moved a little faster.

Somerville PD is short-shifted because of the budget so it's time for some community policing. That, and residents getting more involved in local politics.

The fact is - I watched people go in and out of that house (and the house next door to it) at all hours of the night. Everyone sees they are dealing. I guess it's time to document the traffic and let the cops do what they can. It's too bad a kid has to get shot.

The only thing that frustrates me is that we have a bunch of illegals on our street that probably won't care to get involved in any "community action" that doesn't involve MS13. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and ask em.

They better hurry up and get something done with the old Shaw's on Broadway, because having those empty lots just compunds the issue...

[Tricky]

I'm sure once the mural at the Foss Pool gets painted over, these problems will just vanish *poof* into thin air...

[Kate]

jay - I'm not far from Sewall Street, and I agree with your friends; I'm feeling freaked out, too. I'm a renter, and I've been on Craigslist and boston.com for the past hour, seeking apartments/houses for rent in the Needham area. I know people will say this happens everywhere, but that's not true. Some communities are too expensive for the drive-by element and their families to afford. Guess I'm going to take that second job I was considering.
Re: the trash. I agree; there are so many absentee landlords and condo owners, not many people care about cleaning up the sidewalk/street in front of their own home.

freshman - if the illegals you're referring to are Brazilian, and you can communicate with them, I'd be willing to wager that they will be receptive to your idea.

[it *is* funny]

Hey freshman -- I think you are on the money with community policing. I know my Alderman has offered to help our neighbors establish a Neighborhood watch here. We haven't formalized anything yet, but I do know my neighbors watch what's up on our street and we watch out for them. If you set up a meeting, you could invite SPD Chief Holloway and whatever community policeman is supposed to be watching your hood. Good luck.

[fanuche]

First, you should report the company who owns those lots to the mayor's office (take pictures and send them. The place is a mess and you got kids going through there all the time - especially on Sundays when the church up the street lets out).

Then you should start up a community action group - neighborhood watch, cleanup the street (trash is really getting to be an issue again). Ask people what they would like to address (safety, trash, etc) and see if there's interest. Then talk to the cops and see if they have anyone who can advise you.

something like this : http://www.oag.state.ny.us/crime/neighborhood_watch/building_a_watch.html

[freshman]

Okay, that 'illegals' remark was harsh - I was being a bit cynical. It seems (like Kate said) that the Brazialians are pretty hard working folks - hell I wouldn't be standing out at Foss Park at 8 am on a winter morning. I'll see what we can do.

it *is* funny: Thanks for the info, I've been so busy working and trying to get our condo into shape I haven't even taken time to get ot know the local politicians. Being a first time home owner I never really had a need to. What part of Somerville are you in? Hope things go well for you, this city has some great potential and needs people working to realize it.....

When we moved in we said "well, as long as the neighborhood gets flipped into condos (gentrified) we'll be all right". I know long time residents might not like 'yuppies' moving in (not the right term, but you know what I mean). But it's nice, as an owner, to know other peoples' ass is on the line too (via a mortgage) not just mine.

I'd have to disagree with Kate because the condos on our street are the ones with nice yards and who keep their trash in order. The apartment building yards & sidewalks don't get much attention, but that's their nature. Not to say there aren't people who simply can't afford to buy right now but still care about having a nice neighborhood....it's just that I haven't talked to really anyone on the the street.

Thanks for your advice folks.

The book is based on an article titled Broken Windows by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, which appeared in the March 1982 edition of The Atlantic Monthly.[1] The title comes from the following example:

"Consider a building with a few broken windows. If the windows are not repaired, the tendency is for vandals to break a few more windows. Eventually, they may even break into the building, and if it's unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or light fires inside.
Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter accumulates. Soon, more litter accumulates. Eventually, people even start leaving bags of trash from take-out restaurants there or breaking into cars."
A successful strategy for preventing vandalism, say the book's authors, is to fix the problems when they are small. Repair the broken windows within a short time, say, a day or a week, and the tendency is that vandals are much less likely to break more windows or do further damage. Clean up the sidewalk every day, and the tendency is for litter not to accumulate (or for the rate of littering to be much less). Problems do not escalate and thus respectable residents do not flee a neighborhood.

The theory thus makes two major claims: that further petty crime and low-level anti-social behavior will be deterred, and that major crime will, as a result, be prevented. Criticism of the theory has tended to focus only on the latter claim.

(Wikipedia)

[JMD]

We are first time homeowners and chose my area in Somerville because we believed it was safe. Boy, were we wrong! Two shootings ending in deaths, our car being broken into, parties from the kids across the street, etc. We have had to deal with more crap in Somerville than when we lived in Cambridge. Of course, when you call City Hall and ask "what are you going to do about this" you get nowhere.

Kate, I am a very considerate condo owner and take care of my house and sidewalk. I keep the trash where it should be and I shovel the snow to avoid lawsuits and tickets from the City. Don't generalize!

[Cosmo Catalano]

I've lived in Winter Hill, and I have have to say that throughout most of the neighborhood, things feel pretty safe. I walked back to Adams St from Sullivan Station after midnight a couple times when I didn't feel like waiting for the bus, and I managed not to get shot or stabbed.

There's been plenty of crime around Foss Park, and earlier this month a stabbing at Medford and Central, but I can't remember hearing about any serious incidents in most of the rest of the neighborhood. I never had cause to worry about the cleanliness of my building or street, or the attentiveness of my landlord, either.

[Sal]

Sewell St. has been a dump for years. Isnt the old Little League hall a halfway house?

[somebody]

I rented in one of the "worst" places in Cambridge, before buying in one of the "nicest" places in Somerville. I have to say that I am surprised about the differences in cleanliness. Cambridge makes an effort to keep it's streets clean, by having weekly street sweeps. Any car in the way is ticketed and towed. Why can't we do that in Somerville? Somerville is clearly not shy about ticketing cars in general, so why not tow cars that are in the way of cleaning. I think if the city does it's part of regular cleaning, people will make more of an effort to keep things clean.

Also, Somerville should be stricter about when people put their trash out for pickup, and how they put them out. I see many people put bags with rips, etc directly on the pavement without trash cans. That's just asking for trouble. It looks gross when a mess is made. Nobody cleans it up. And it invites rats. Somerville should fine residents that do this. Landlords can pass the fine onto renters so that they get the point.

[Ron Newman]

I generally feel quite safe walking home at night from Temple B'nai B'rith (Central St, atop Winter Hill) to Davis Square.

[Sal]

sombody, residents put out the trash bags with rips so the rats have an easier time eating. Just ask Alderman Sullivan who led the rat patrol a few months ago.

[it *is* funny]

Freshman -- I'm in Winter Hill too and generally feel quite safe, but little things happen everywhere -- breakins, vandalism, etc -- but drive-by shootings are rare, thank god. My advice -- contact your alderman, and also get involved in the Resistat program. Details about Resistat can be found on the city website. Bottom line -- get involved and get your neighbors involved.

[Ron Newman]

Somerville has done some towing for street cleaning, but I'm not sure how much. If they did more, people would be yelling and screaming here about "Tickets Curtatone".

Somerville actually cleans its streets twice as often as Cambridge. Look at the no-parking signs in each city, and you'll see that Somerville cleans each side twice a month, while Cambridge does it once a month.

[Ron Newman]

And while we're at it, this is as good a place as any to remind everyone that street cleaning (and ticketing) starts NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 1.

[somebody]

Ron: I know that street cleaning happens twice as often, but my point is that it is not as effective. I have seen them go around parked cars, which means on some streets, the street doesn't actually get clean.

[Jay]

I agree with JMD that Kate's comments are a little too generalized. I am a condo owner and I'm out cleaning up my street a couple of times a week. I even sent a list of the things I've swept up to the Mayor's office to make a point! Some of the neighbors look at me like I'm crazy. I guess that goes show how little they care about the cleanliness of our city.

The trash situation infuriates me. The city came out with the new trash guidelines last year. If they came across trash bags on the street not in trash barrels, the apartment would be given a ticket. They enforced it for about 2 weeks and then abandoned it.
Every trash day I see bags of trash on the curb with holes in them and disgusting 'stuff' leaking onto the sidewalks. I've complained to the Dept. of Sanitation on several occasions but I never hear anything back and nothing changes.

Part of me wants to get more invovled in the community but the other part of me says screw it, I just want to sell my condo, buy a house in the 'burbs somewhere so I can raise my kids in a safe, clean community that listens to the concerns of its residents.

[Jay]

somebody: I agree completely. Residents on my street don't move their cars so the street simply doesn't get cleaned properly. The street-sweepers go right around the parked cars and there's no-one from the city following behind to ticket the offenders.
If the city street-sweeps twice a month yet no-one moves their cars on those two days, then guess what...my street remains filthy for a month!

[Ron Newman]

How much of this dirtiness is because the city doesn't do street cleaning from January through March? I don't know what Cambridge's schedule is, but I doubt they sweep the streets during the winter either.

I'm hoping everything starts looking a lot better in April.

[freshman]

What Sal put plainly (Sewell St is a dump) is true, but to my eyes that's what half of Somerville is. Technically, it's Winter Hill (according to some) but it's a very different experience there compared to just a few streets up - on the Hill proper (over by Ron).

The annonymous poster made a good point (the Broken Windows reference) - I'm hoping we can get some folks together and clean up the street. It's a good start towards getting people to realize they need to respect the neighborhood.

Of course, the guys dealing drugs at 27 and 21 Sewell Street are the other part of the problem. But we can only keep watch and report back to the police.

[Yorktown Street]

Where I live, they come around BEFORE the street sweepers to "ticket the offenders"!

[Bozo the Clown]

street sweeping starts April 1st?? NO FOOLIN' !!

[JMD]

They ticket the cars (whether for street cleaning or snow removal) but they do not MOVE the cars. If a car is parked where it should not be, MOVE THE CAR! Let the cleaners get by!! Drivers need to learn to read the signs about when and where they can park. I live on a street which does not require a parking sticker (this is another issue entirely) and watch people who do not live on my street park their cars and walk away for a day or more-especially in the winter.

BTW-I called city hall, the police and my alderman regarding certain suspicious activity on my street and it went nowhere. I honestly thought the shooting on Walnut Street would have raised some eyebrows and people would get involved but I was wrong.

[Brittain33]

Where do you guys live that they aren't vigilant about ticketing and towing on street cleaning days? They're completely thorough on my street, year in and year out.

[100 Block Broadway Brian]

This is most likely, in fact, this is definitely a gang related shooting that was probably planned out. Winter Hill and East Somerville is being over run with gangs and another thing, I'm not surprised this shooting happened by temple street. Temple street is somervilles most dangerous street, why aren't there ever any spd patrols that drive around there!?!?!

[tag'em]

dotty gay tried towing for street sweeps, but went about it wrong. no notice, not implemented well, no surprise.

you're right - the car gets tagged, but my street doens't get cleaned. it's frustrating. My solution?? 3 street sweep tags mean you don't give a shit, and you get towed. they've got the little computers and can get the info.

my street routinely has 2-3 cars violating, and that means my little street doesn't get cleaned.
big waste of my tax money. obviously the ticket price isn't getting them out of bed to move it, so tow them after a few. then you will have their attention.

[WHR]

Its been almost 8 years since we bought our home in Somerville's Winter Hill.

Both my wife and I scratch our heads in bewilderment. How did the neighborhood dynamics change so quickly these past couple of years? Crime is up. You read about robberies, shootings, stabbings, assaults each week. Drug use is rampant. Dope is sold on street corners and near our city's elementary schools.

Our city's pols should take note and take action and clean up this mess. The cops have their hands full - but the good citizens need community policing now.

There are plenty of "up to no good" thugs roaming our neighborhood streets at all hours of the day/night. At least give us a greater police presence in the Winter Hill area for peet's sake.

If there are any city officials monitoring the comments on this site - read some of telling, truthful comments posted here. And start cleaning up the neighborhoods of Ward 4 and 5. Here's some local intel - start at ground zero at the Winter Hill Community School and work outward from there -- Medford St, Broadway, School St, Highland Ave -- all streets/roads in between. That would be a good start -- consider it spring cleaning!

[somebody]

Brittain33: I live between Davis and Ball Square. I have also seen the sweepers go around parked cars in other areas. So where do you live that you are so lucky?

[JMD]

I live in Alderman Taylor's neck of the woods and you would think there cars would be towed instead of ticketing them.

[Bozo the Clown]

welcome to Somerville all you condo buying carpetbaggers. Its old school politics with backroom deals. The last person the city is concerned with is YOU. P.S. pay your taxes.

[John]

the majority of the problem is the mystic projects up the street they need to kick the kids out that have been arrested and convicted they are not doing that they fight with ms-13 thats the problem Ms-13 fighting with H-Block thats the gang in the mystic projetcs

[Sewell Street is a dump]

It couldnt of happened on a better street. Since when has Sewell Street been a good street. What did you expect when you bought there. Shame on those who bought there without doing your homework. The people that live on Sewell street that continue to blog about how bad their street is, are only hurting their investment. Wake up u idiots.

Truly yours,
Neighborhood slumblord!

[freshman]

Bozo:
Yes, we're carpetbaggers. Except you probably don't understand what the hell that term refers to or why your use of it is completely wrong. People buying property in your hometown and trying to fix it up (to live and work here) aren't carpetbaggers.

And what's the "pay your taxes" comment?

I bought a condo in Somerville because its all I can afford - or would you have me be like all these idiots who need a federal bailout now because they signed on for more than they could handle? Or would you prefer an Indian or Chinese absentee landlord buy the property instead? I work 50 hours a week, pay my taxes and keep my house in order.

But I supposed your just a bitter ass who never wants to leave the 5 mile radius you call home. So enjoy your home while it rots and you spend your days ingesting howie carr and listening to the Big Show. There's always next year, right?

[Sewage Street]

Hey guys, if you bought there, say bye bye to your investment. It's gonna get MUCH worse. More unemployed folks going crazy and finding sick ways of passing time and getting revenge of those few who are still holding things up.

[Sewall Street is a great street]

Sewall street is a great street, despite its about 100 yards from the projects that are full of filthy hatians, white trash, and brazilians. Lets not forget the highway thats approx 200 yards away. Ohh wait, what about the supermarket thats in your back yard. That wont attract all the losers from the projects! What about all the SHA developments on Jaques Street which is full of retired white trash! Come on will ya! What do you expect could happen. I almost forgot, .....what about foss park which is occupied by approx 150 illegals each morning. Foss park is a great place to take your kids in the summer if you speak portuguese! Actually, I take that back, if you play soccer "its a homerun"! You liberal bastards that are blogging on here and voting for obama should wake up. If Obama gets elected, your whole neighborhood will be infiltrated with drive-by shootings, and people who live on your dime. Keep working 40+ hours a week and upkeep your home, but dont forget to vote for Obama in November. I dont want to hear any shit from you liberal fools. The same idiots that bought condos on Fool Street are the liberals who continue to cause the chaos in this community. The best has yet to come, wait and see!

[Ron Newman]

Living near a supermarket is usually desirable -- ask folks around Porter Square, for instance. The problem here is that this supermarket is CLOSED, and closed commercial buildings blight a neighborhood.

[cabbie]

Ron, the problem is that the guy who posted ahead of you is so far away from reality that his comment about a supermarket maybe the smallest flaw in his "thinking".

"Sewall Street is a great street", are you REALLY twisting this into a game of blame the liberal? REALLY? A kid got shot. A kid got shot in a drive by in OUR city. Did a liberal shot him or a hood with an (illegal) gun? Is this a liberal problem or a conservative problem? Somethings in this world transcend politics. Jackass.

You don't want to hear from "liberal bastards that are blogging". Then go spend your time over at Free Republic where you're one of the smart guys in the room.

[Imux]

Don't say I didn't warn everyone that the place was going down the old crapper - and fast. As soon as the moonbats came in and put out the welcome mat for every lowlife/illegal/criminal - then it was all just a matter of time. So very predictable.

Ron, you weren't born here and you don't own here, so you keep your piehole shut. Keep riding your bike, but this time up/down Sewell street. K?

Cabbie, you just keep drinking the Obama "Osama" koolaid. The guy is a racist and if he gets elected then he wants all whites to pay restitution for slavery. Fat chance of that. His wife and minister like to yell "Kill Whiyey!" in crowds. I hope Lee Harvey pops out of the dirt and rearranges the part in Obama's hair as he did JFK's.

[Young Republican]

I'm ******* sick of this ****! We need to get the liberals like Ron out of Somerville. The place belongs to us. We are the ones paying most of the taxes. **** all liberals. They are destroying our town. We need to hire more cops, round up all the ******* slimy illegal aliens. We need local vigilantism, it's the only way out of this mess. **** you too, Bill Shelton, with your useless **** posts! Imux should be ******* Mayor!!!

[Craig]

Don't you love the intellectual capabilities of the last two posters? Ahhh... with debaters like that, we should just pack up and go home, because they'll always win with sharp arguments, good research, and strong points.

[Brittain33]

Prospect Hill.

[give it up]

will you people give it up already with the "you weren't born here, you don't own here" crap?
a small group of people are creating the impression that new people are not welcome. i understand the issue of people trying to change a city, and that should be addressed whenever it happens. but you lose all respect from me and for your point when you get into that nonsense. So no new residents, and no renters? the citys population must stay the same as when you were in the third grade? People die, you know. they also move. me and many others can't afford to buy anywhere, nevermind Somerville. So i can say nothing because i make crap money and have to have 2 roommates? If you weren't taking up your mom's basement, maybe i could live there and sit around thinking great thoughts all day. Unfortunately, i have to go to two jobs to pay the scum i rent from. I'll try to keep quiet about YOUR city's issues from now on.

[Bill Shelton]

Imux,

You don't have to post under another name in order to insult me. Really. I thought that we understood that.

And "Young Republican" strains credulity. I can't imagine any self-respecting Republican writing that.

[Imux]

Bill, yeah... I know that you basically hang out in a free-fire zone, but I actually did not throw any insults at you this time. I beeyatch-slapped Ron and Cabbie a bit, but didn't toss any in your direction. When you write another one of your mainfestos on bending over for the illegals - that will change and fast.

Whoever said we don't welcome ANY new people is a moron. We need and welcome new blood. If you buy here (or rent here for a long time), raise a family, our good neighbors then - of course - you're welcomed. We're just not going to hug the grab-my-buttcheek-for-illegals/criminals/lowlifes like Ron and his fellow PDS'ers. They're freaks and are trying their "social experiments" out in Somerville at all of our expense. These Godless PDS heathens are destroying family values and our quality of life with their campaign for more-drugs, hug-an-illegal, pro-terrorist, drive-thru-abortions and all around moonbat theories.

[James Norton]

Imux -

Thank you for making me laugh this morning...I should have used that last line in my most recent rant about the PDS. That is, if I wrote it...

Somewhere, someone just dropped their bowl of honey nut tofu and blew apart the theory of the bear in the woods, literally. Well...you get the idea.

Enjoy.

JN

[Somerville (Wikipedia)]

Somerville has experienced dramatic gentrification since the Red Line of Boston's subway system was extended through Somerville in 1985, especially in the area between Harvard and Tufts Universities, centering around Davis Square. Gentrification has historical cycles in the city of Somerville due to its proximity to these and many other colleges and universities.[citation needed] This was especially accelerated by the repeal of rent control in the mid-1990s being directly followed by the internet boom of the late 90s. Residential property values approximately quadrupled from 1991 to 2003 and the stock of rental housing decreased as lucrative condo conversions become commonplace. This has led to tensions between long-time residents and recent arrivals, with many of the former accusing the latter of ignoring problems of working-class families such as drugs, gang violence, and suicides. Incidents such as anti-"yuppie" graffiti, (also known locally as "barnies",[4]) appearing around town, have highlighted this rift. The economic clash between several areas of the city of Somerville and its neighboring cities of Boston, and in particular Cambridge, has created a culture of anti-intellectualism and anti-gentry sentiment that has spanned many generations.[5] Symptoms of this include petty crime, and in some cases, violence against outsiders.[6] Recent years have seen the arrival of community groups such as Save Our Somerville (SOS), dedicated to improving relationships between old and new residents and ensuring that the concerns of the Somerville working class remain at the forefront of the city's political concerns. SOS in particular is headed by young residents of the city who claim to desire unity between all residents but also focus on the difficulties that young adults in Somerville face. They enjoy support from a number of well-known, local adults, including elected officials. Many such community-led groups find it difficult to attract wide support as many would-be advocates are forced to move to less expensive towns due to the density of the population and strong economic forces that have made Somerville a very expensive city to live in.

In November of 1997, the Utne Reader named Davis Square in Somerville one of the 15 hippest places to live in the U.S.[10] The article illustrates how Somerville is in an era socio-economic change shared by many other working-class and industrial areas of the country.

[sick of the shit]

What a sad time it is when your scared to pull in front of your own home without thinking that you might get shot. Time to start thinking about getting license plates of the vehicles that are coming and going and forwarding any info to police Chief of Somerville. Also, I don't think it would hurt to take some photos of people "hanging out" in empty lots and the trash problem and forward them to the media.
Usually people that make a big stink about things get shit done. One last thing - get to know your neighbors that want to to live in a safe neighborhood.

[SSG Jean-Baptiste]

MESSAGE TO SEWALL STREET IS A GREAT -

You are repulsive, scum like you should do society a favor and DON'T reproduce, do society another favor and end your misery as well. Your comments are baseless, devisive, and just plain stupid. You are making yourself look. And I find it wrong of you to describe Haitians and Brazilians as filth. I'm Haitian-American and also a veteran of two wars, (OIF I and OIF II). Everyone readin these posts can clearly the real filth is yourself. People like you are what is wrong with this great country.

[Surveillance]

"The city of Cleveland plans to spend $200,000 to install as many as 80 surveillance cameras at two city parks and six recreation centers this year in a move to better protect children, officials said.

The city hopes the added security will put a dent in the growing violence and threats at the recreation centers. Two years ago, two youths were shot to death near a center on the east side, and two men were hospitalized after being shot during a basketball game at another east-side center.

Councilman Ken Johnson, who chairs a Parks and Recreation Committee, said parents also worry about sexual predators and other criminals entering centers undetected.

Mayor Frank Jackson has budgeted $500,000 this year to station off-duty police officers at 13 of the city's 22 centers.

``We want (kids) to be safe there because they're certainly not safe on the streets,'' Johnson said. He said all 20 of his council colleagues have requested security cameras."

[Chicago Curfew]

Even though this particular shooting happened in the early evening, the below information may help this city if it is enforced;

Chicago’s year-round curfew ordinance prohibits anyone under the age of 17 from being out after 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or after 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Parents whose kids are caught committing crimes after curfew face fines as high as $500.

[Kate]

Freshman, JMD and Jay – I offer my apologies to you, all. My statement DID sound like a generalization of all condo owners, which is not my feeling. My family and I saw the recent condo conversions as something positive for this neighborhood. I'm sorry you didn't know about Sewall St. before you bought there, but I can imagine that the block improving. Welcome to the neighborhood! I'm a renter, who's lived here for 11 years and never felt afraid walking to Rite Aid and Walgreens after dark, until recently, but that is more due to what I read in the national news, than local news.

Sal - do you mean that brown house, on the right, back one from the corner with Grant? I believe it is a halfway house; I've never witnessed anything sketchy going on, during all the times I've walked and driven by there, for the past 11 years.

Imux aka young republican: "They are destroying our town."
For years, many years, before the influx of new homeowners, Somerville was referred to as slumerville. I never thought of it in that way, but that was the perception from the outside. You come across as uneducated in the ways of the world and civilized society, not, necessarily, something to be ashamed of, but, definitely, something to keep to yourself.

Liberals are the only group that gets anything done, that moves anything forward. Progressive, you know, 'p r o g r e s s'! To me, Republican= same old, same old.

This is so unimportant, but the spelling is Sewall.

[Bozo the Clown]

I've got it !! Lets have Sal the Demo guy tear down all the houses on Sewell St, and triple charge the owners. Then we can extend Foss Park, the one the State doesnt take care of. Hey, can the Demo guy get asphalt? I nice layer on Temple St. wouldn't hurt my shocks!!

[Kate]

freshman - call the 617-666-3311 line (311 from inside Somerville) to inquire about contacting the owner(s) of 21 and 27 Sewall St. Doesn't he/she bear responsibility regarding to whom he/she rents? I don't know, but it's a start.

sick of the crap - Ditto. I left and entered by my back door yesterday, but what good did that do; I still have to walk along the sidewalk. I can't live like that. I'll guess I'll relax in a few days.

IMUX - "I'm ******* sick of this ****! We need to get the liberals like Ron out of Somerville. The place belongs to us. We are the ones paying most of the taxes.

We're sick of you and your ilk! If all people like Ron leave Somerville, you can keep it, and you'll deserve what it reverts to. We, renters, are also paying taxes through our rent.

[Kate]

Sewall St, Great St. aka IMUX - "hatians, white trash, and brazilians".

It's apparante which group you're in?

"Foss park is a great place to take your kids in the summer if you speak portuguese!"

So, you actually go to the park to socialize with the other adults? BS! Children will actually benefit from cross-cultural exposure/interaction and not grow up to be closeminded bigots, like yourself.

[SSG Jean-Baptiste]

Republicans are what led us into this deficit of colossal magnitude, republicans led us into a pointless war me and my fellow brothers in arms are fighting. NO MORE republicans, its time for some real progress to be made, time to get these conservatives out of washington. Also I hope Somerville Police step up patrols on Temple St., Foss Park, and around East Somerville which is where most of the cities crimes occur

[freshman]

Wow, i knew this was going to get the trolls out when I posted last night. Guess I was right.

Let's be clear - I've lived on the street for a year and have felt safe (I didn't say its pretty). I don't leave valuables in my car, I lock my doors and keep an eye out on my street. This isn't Beruit, Dorchester or Newton for that matter. But it's pretty much the same situation as we had in Allston (only we got Mexican gangs instead of Russian).

I guess some people long for the good old days when the mob and the feds killed everybody with impunity.

Let me guess - you're over 50(the Bozo the Clown handle gives the generation away)? Well, honestly I can understand you associate 'liberals' with the folks in the 60's and 70's who thought housing projects would be a good idea. They failed and failed spectacularly and now you have urban blight. But that wasn't nearly the only cause of "Slummervile"'s status and you know it. Assembly Square used to be a place where real jobs were....but like the rest of America our manufacturing base was lost. Maynard Ma went to hell too and there are hardly any immigrants there - it's because the Mill and Digital closed down.
Cities have to adjust and encourage other development or they decay....part of that development will bring in people from other towns. You might hate their MiniCoopers (or whatever the fad) but I guarantee you'll prefer to have their tax revenue when the Assembly Square project finishes. Then we can hire some more cops and spend the money on some surveillance, street cleaning enforcement, etc.

I'm sick of this left-over generational crap. The Democrats of the 80's and the Republicans of the mid 90's showed they'll screw you if you pledge your unwaivering allegience to them. So stop deluding yourself into thinking anyone who doesn't vote your way wants their community to fall apart or hates America. Blindly toeing the line of any party (Mr 'Republican') doesn't work - and if anyone knew that, I though it would be you guys who've been around awhile. Look at how well this state runs with an almost exclusively Democratic govt. It's a mess.

But I'm glad the internet gives you a place to spout off. Stay in your homes and let the rest of us do the work because you're convinced the world is ending. Actually - it already ended, on March 21, 1843...err no - make that March 23, 1844. Nope? Wrong again...damn. Well, guess I might as well give it a shot while I'm waiting for everything to go to hell. I like a challenge, and if it ever gets to be too much - I'll become an absentee landlord.

[Ron Newman]

Political parties, whether Democratic or Republican, really have nothing to do with a shooting on Sewall Street, though.

[To Ron]

Then what do you think is the cause of so many shootings in Somerville over the past three years?

[Clarabell the Clown]

well freshman, again welcome to Somerville where the more things change, the more they stay the same. Tell us where your originally from, and did Mummy and Daddy from the suburbs help with the downpayment so you could live in "trendy" Somerville? Those of us that have weathered the storm over the years aren't so worried about an isolated shooting on Sewell St. The Red line made Davis Sq, trendy, but try not to trip over the drunks when you run for the train to your downtown Boston office. The green line will take years, Ass'y Sq has been a dream for over a decade. See you at the next Ward meeting, if you can get out of your investment club social.

[freshman]

Bozo: I bought my condo with my own sweat.

btw - We had low rise projects in Brighton, and they were crappy but they were contained (and were improved) because the local govt wasn't so corrupt. They tended to the other needs of the city in order to keep the bad parts in check.

I assume it's also because Brighton's Irish didn't let the mob run their city, hence it always attracted a more stable population.

[freshman]

So let me clarify this - what's your point Bozo? We're talking about cleaning up our street, what do you care? Or do you just enjoy taunting people who work. Freeloader probably claims SSI while you're insulting the people abusing section 8.

Buddy: the library called and said you've used up all your free time on their computers - time to let some kids do their book reports. Go home, crack a beer and call WEEI - the season's starting and they need your bitterness.

[To Freshman;]

You wrote;

"I assume it's also because Brighton's Irish didn't let the mob run their city, hence it always attracted a more stable population."

What the heck is that supposed to suggest?

[freshman]

It means what it says.

The more important point being, everyone cleans up their own street. So I'll stop useless bickering with the troll. Talk is cheap (including my own).

We'll see what improvements the folks on the street can make. hopefully we won't be posting about another shooting anytime soon.

sláinte

[To Freshman;]

"IT MEANS WHAT IT SAYS"?

No it doesn't.....are you alluding to the Winter Hill Mob?

Pog mo thoin

[To Ron]

You were asked a question;

"Then what do you think is the cause of so many shootings in Somerville over the past three years?"

Why don't you answer it? Is it because the answer would involve more than a one line response?

[Kate]

Clarabell, You Clown - "Those of us that have weathered the storm over the years aren't so worried about an isolated shooting on Sewell St."

Storm? What storm? Well, you should be worried, but that would imply a brain. So, tell us, what DO you actually care about?............I thought so.

[JMD]

To Ron:

I called City Hall and the Somerville Police regarding the shotting on Walnut Street that resulted in a murder. I was told the following: "they are not from Somerville, they are from another town, nothing to worry about." Well, my response to that was they obviously had to get off of 93 to get to Walnut Street-which is a one way coming up from Union Square and not easy to get to. Whoever these people were knew exactly where they needed to go to accomplish this activity. I got the same response regarding the shooting on Prospect Hill. I emailed and asked the Mayor if he had any plans on having a meeting with the public to discuss this and really heard nothing. My Alderman is useless and noticed that at the primary election everyone in his family was running for some office.

[Kate]

Here's more info about the shooting:

A Malden boy shouting "help me, help me.” was shot in the lung Wednesday night in an apparent drive-by shooting. According to a Somerville police report, the 15-year-old victim was shot on the sidewalk in front of 21 Sewall St. shortly after 6 p.m. The victim, whose name was not released by Somerville Police the day after the shooting, was taken to an area hospital. SPD Captain Paul Upton said the victim was “expected to survive.” Police suspect it was a drive-by shooting. Police were told of a small, green vehicle, perhaps with three or four men inside, that drove up before shooting. “We don’t get shootings in Somerville very often,” Upton said, “Thank God.” The victim was shot in the lung, according to eyewitness reports. A woman who lives at the site of the shooting, on Sewall Street, and did not want her name used because she was afraid of her neighbors, said she was coming home from the Stop & Shop when she heard the gunshots. Three shots were fired. One bullet hit the side of 21 Sewall St., one bullet hit by the door, and the other entered into the victim’s lung through his back, a neighbor said. She said she saw eight boys out in front of the house. “They were all friends,” she said. “One of them lives upstairs," the neighbor said, pointing to 21 Sewall St. “They’d been here around two weeks, I think.” The neighbor said she saw a bullet hole in the kid’s back, just at the bottom of his ribcage on the right side. “He was kind of breathless,” she said. One man on the street came home and was told his mom heard the shots fired from her house. Neighbors were shaken up by the incident. Patricia Treadwell, who’s lived at 27 Sewall Street for 14 years, said the neighborhood had vastly improved since she moved in. “When I got here, there were junkies, crime,” she said, “I had to put an alarm in. It was that bad.” But now? “I would have never assumed it was gunshots,” Sewall said. “The neighborhood is so quiet now.” Treadwell said she saw four kids standing outside the house and others in a car. She said they came from the third floor apartment of 21 Sewall Street. “I don’t know if they’re dealing drugs over there,” she said. “It’s a very troubled house.” Treadwell said her grandchildren were visiting the night of the shooting. “My grandson, he’s six, he’s a mess, a complete mess.” Treadwell said after a quiet 14 years, she did not want to live in a neighborhood with gunshots. “Do I have to worry now, [my grandchildren] are going to get shot?”
Another neighbor on Sewall Street refused to comment, saying “I’m not going to get involved. I’m too shaky from it already.”

[Kate]

Who owns 21 Sewall?

[Kate]

I just called the Assessor's Office to get the name of the owner of 21 Sewall, but they close at Noon on Fridays; I'll call on Monday and post the name.

NOTE from JN: I doubt the Assessors Office will tell you that over the phone and I would prefer you NOT to post that person's name on here Kate - if it becomes relevant with regard to a news story, then we will handle it.

[Sewall Street]

Sewall Street is one of the 10 worst streets in Somerville. Is anybody suprised at the fact that their was a drive by shooting on Sewall Street? The Hatian Gang called H-Block lives in the Somerville Projects only steps away. That whole neighborhood is full of animals. Half of the people that live in the projects belong in a cage! The liberals that boought property on Sewall Street should have researched the neighborhood before they bought there. The neighborhood reflects the animals that live their. The neighborhood has been the same for years. I'm happy that the same liberals that support free handouts such as public housing no can get a taste of reality and what they support. Keep supporting public housing and section 8 balls!

[Kate]

I'm sorry James. I will definitely NOT post that information.

[Bill Oreilly up there]

you forgot the cardinal rule of the internet:

-the internet is a bridge between people
-under every bridge lives a troll
-doesn't matter who's crossing the bridge or what the issue is, the troll always has one thing to say when they come up for air: 'life sucks'

Hey pinhead: http://www.despair.com/dysfunction.html

[cabbie]

Hey Imux -

Just noticed your claim that you "beeyatch-slapped" me.

Sure you did. By saying I'm "drinking the Obama "Osama" koolaid." Wow. You really "beeyatch-slapped" me there. Especially since I didn't mention Obama or his koolaid.

I said that some issues rise above mere "left"/"right" politics. A kid being shot on our streets in a drive-by is such an issue to me. That stance isn't a right or a left wing position. It's a realistic position. But you of course don't know from reality.

Funny, I wondered when Bush took office what you and the "blame the liberals" crowd would do. Despite your guy being in office (and with a Rep. Congress for 6 of those years) you and your ilk continue to blame the liberals. You blame the liberals when you don't win the lottery, when you can't find a parking space, when it rains, when anything happens you don't approve of. A guy I know you've heard of and worship likes to say "Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder". But from where I sit there's nothing more Mental on the planet than your twisted world view.

Damn, just ran out of coffee. Must be because of those damn libaloons!

[Ron Newman]

I believe that the ownership of property is a public record. In some cities, this information is available online. I'm not sure why it isn't in Somerville.

[Kate]

You're correct, Ron, it is public record.

[James Norton]

Ron and Kate -

There is much debate over whether cities and towns should or should not post ownership information online. Some do, but most don't (and if they do, it's probably not as accurate as you would believe). As a realtor for over 20 years and an appraiser for over 15 years, I have had a lot of involvement with the Patriot and Vision systems, which have been the two main systems in providing streamlined, accurate and online-postable information.

While the information might be as easy as a phone call or even going up to the Assessors Office, I would rather disseminate the name of a private citizen that may or may not be related to a news-worthy story through an actual news story, not through an online "anonymous" weblog.

We have been able to keep this site as open to any kind of comments for as long as we have (which have included a few silly threats of lawsuits which went nowhere fast - try suing a newspaper sometime) because we follow the ethical responsibilities of responsible journalists/publications. If I would prefer not to have the person's name purposely just posted somewhere, then I'm asking politely - and I would expect some modicum of respect for my request.

Enjoy.

JN

[Ron Newman]

Thanks for your reply. That's fine with me. I'm not planning to inquire about it or post it.

[Kate]

James, I promise you that I'll not publish the name of the owner of 21 Sewall St.; I would never want to jeopardize the continuation of this blog. Have a good weekend!

[Clarabell the Clown]

the even side has several trash filled lots belonging to the old Star Market. Freshman, as you can see, our hardworking City Hall employees bug out at noon on Fridays. So welcome to Somerville, don't forget street sweeping starts April 1st. Yes, the parking cops will be out in force. Kate, you single ? You're kind of fiesty !! Sounds like the late, great Dr. Mrs. McCarthy !! (may she rest in piece)

[Clarabell the Clown]

the even side has several trash filled lots belonging to the old Star Market. Freshman, as you can see, our hardworking City Hall employees bug out at noon on Fridays. So welcome to Somerville, don't forget street sweeping starts April 1st. Yes, the parking cops will be out in force. Kate, you single ? You're kind of fiesty !! Sounds like the late, great Dr. Mrs. McCarthy !! (may she rest in piece)

[Clarabell the Clown]

sorry for the mulitple post. The keyboard here at the library has some sticky keys !!

[Kate]

Actually, there are only 2 empty lots on Sewall.

[JMD]

Speaking of street sweeping, I saw the "street police" this morning on my street putting notices on cars reminding them that street sweeping begins next week. Of course, these cars will only receive tickets instead of being towed when they refuse to move!

[Ed Wood]

It should be called SEWER Street, perhaps that would have enlightened prospective buyers....
It must be one of those "diverse" neighborhoods that white liberals love but never live in!

[Jay]

Sewall Street: You need to understand the difference between the words 'their' and 'there'. Your inability to use these words correctly in your ignorant comment speaks volumes!

[Jay]

Sewall Street: You need to understand the difference between the words 'their' and 'there'. Your inability to use these words correctly in your ignorant comment speaks volumes!

[freshman]

Ed Wood? Don't ruin a good man's name with your petty internet postings. But am I to infer you like cross-dressing?

Clarabell - you're a sad, sad little man. I hope God has a sense of humor and gives you Alzheimer's so you forget what a shit you've been your whole life. I've tasted spring lemons that are less bitter than you, you sad sack. I bet you drown your tears for the old days in booze bought with state money - you freeloader.

And yes, I love the irony of the clean police slapping street sweeping notices on cars today...only to end up in the street. At least we all appreciate a good waste of taxpayer's money.

[senseof]

this is all too serious - let's have some comedy

http://achewood.com/index.php?date=04092003

[thenoseknows]

all i know right now is that if frank p owned this parcel this site would be lite up like the vegas strip.what a bunch of hypocrits.

[Bobby Jr. III]

I read the article that Somerville Journal had and there was one section in the article that said "There's very few shootings in Somerville" and in my head I thought "this guy is oblivious to what's going on. The are more shootings in this city then you all think. Go check the archived police reports for last summer and see how many shootings occured. alot of the shootings went unreport like the shooting that happened near the healey school, I was walking with my cousin and we starting walking into his house near Heath and Moreland and all of a sudden we heard three pops an we thought it was firecrackers until we saw five kids dressed in red running up the street full speed, of course we ran inside too. Someone needs to tell our mayor that "WE NEED MORE POLICE AND AUXILILARY POLICE ON THE STREETS".

[Auxililary police are scabs]

We dont need any auxililary police, we have enough scabs!

[oh boy]

what on earth are the auxilary police gonna do? They're a bunch of misfits, half of them dont even have guns.

[Grant Street]

The place on Sewall St. where the little league was is a home for people who were homeless. Somerville Community Corporation built it about 15 years ago. Bill Shelton was running SCC then. All the people in the house had to do some productive activity 40 hours a week. There were 2 staff people to help them.

Neighbors could call Bill any time day or night. Once there was a pervert who put on a pink tootoo and played with himself in front of his window. I'm not kidding. Bill got him right out of there. He also kicked out drug users.

After Bill left they stopped requiring the productive activity and they cut the staff. Mostly we still don't get much trouble from the house. But when we do, we don't get any response from SCC.

[PEARL_STREET_PETE]

U can call the auxiliary police scabs if u want yet if u just got robbed, beaten, or rapped and needed help and u saw an aux drivin by u would be flagging them down for help right? They wouldn't be misfits then, would they!?! Exactly. Most aux might not be armed with firearms but they do serve as an eye and ear for the PD in general and their presense alone is proven to deter criminal activity

[400BlockOFBroadway]

My friend said word on the street is that the shooting was gang-related, I heard possibly between bloods from over here in Winter Hill and Crips from outside the city but who knows

[Zakus]

Am I the only person that thinks it's kinda scary that this and other drive-by shootings don't appear in the papers? I found out about this one only because I met some people in Paul Revere Liquors who had seen the cop cars and asked about it. I looked and didn't see ANYTHING at all about this shooting accept here, online.

I work with high risk kids in Next Wave/ Full Circle in Somerville and that's the only way I know about the severity of the violence here (I live on Winter Hill). One kid told me that when he's 18 he's getting a tattoo of a graveyard with 12 gravestones... one for each of his friends that's been killed growing up here.

Yah, that's right...

Take that in.

One kid told me he knows of about 100 stabbings/shootings in Foss Park in just the last few years. But does this make the news? No. Barely a flash.

So, what to do? More cops? Ha! I have personally watched a Somerville cop choke a guy answering the door at a party... choked for a noise complaint!?! This wasn't some kid party either. It was an mature adult get together. I know their job is hard, but that was WAAAAAAAAY out of line. I reported it, but nothing happened to the guy.

Another of the kids at the school said the Somerville cops busted into the group home he was living at and proceeded to beat this 17 year old kid right in the house! And they arrested the guy who runs the house for calling the cops on the brutal officer! Weird stuff.

So, what to do? Seems to me it might help to pour money into the school system and social programs so these kids have some incentive to grow beyond the local gang mentality. Let's not forget, POVERTY BREEDS CRIME, not the other way around. Gangs are the symptom, not the sickness. The sickness starts with the bloodless coup that took place here in 2000. Anyone still remember that? Think about it. What has followed... tax-cuts for the ultra-rich, massive national deficit, privatization of US military (a-la Blackwater), and the whole attack-first-ask-questions-later mentality of the American Empire.

Think about it, our government is BREEDING this violence... and profiting from it! Many of the kids who get caught up in gangs end up in the Army etc. Fodder for the war machine. Somerville is a microcosm of the country. I agree with the folks talking about neighborhood patrols. It takes us knowing one another to heal these wounds. Please don't make the mistake of demonizing the kids in the neighborhood. They're people too and they've had it rough... rougher than we're lead to know... for example, how the drive-by shooting wasn't reported. It's all connected. We're all connected. Keep an open mind and an open heart. We're all in this together.