Newstalk for September 3

On the political front, more than a handful of Medford residents and political leaders are hosting a reception for Democratic Candidate Bob Trane (the only candidate on the ballot by the way) this Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Tiki Island Restaurant - across from BJ’s and beside the car wash in Medford – from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Stop by and meet Bob and his wife Nancy - for more information you can call Bob’s headquarters in South Medford Square at 781-395-3008.

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According to sources, Register of Probate John Buonomo is very confident that he is going to win the Democratic Primary on Sept. 16 hands down, in spite of the charges filed against him recently by the District Attorney – stating that John allegedly took money from vending machines in the courthouse. We heard that all is not what appears to be and that John is also confident that he is going to beat the charges.

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Meanwhile, Alderman Sean O’Donovan is waging an unprecedented campaign to get on the ballot by having independents vote for him under the Working Families Party Ballot, that way he can face John in the November election. We heard that Sean has over 2,000 names so far committed to vote for him.

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has chosen to rename the Sandy Beach at Mystic Lakes on Saturday Sept. 13 at 10:00 a.m. - the rededication of the beach will be in honor of the late Senator Charlie Shannon, look for more information here next week.

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Seems like Princess Rebekah Gewirtz, Alderman from Ward 6 (herself a tenant) is pushing along with the same crowd at the Somerville Community Corporation to resubmit a newer version of the Condo Conversion Ordinance - it was submitted to the Committee on Legislation at the Board of Aldermen last meeting and Public Hearings should be held soon on this hot issue.

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Apparently the State Police arrested Richard Scirocco, former Mayoral Candidate and former Little League President, this past Monday in Revere for allegedly possessing a Class B substance (narcotics violation) with intent to distribute in a school zone. The story was first reported by Itemlive.com - he was arrested with a Scott Carty, Jr. of Somerville as well.

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Our condolences to the family of Reggie “Bud” Foster, lifelong resident of East Somerville, who passed away this past weekend. Reggie was a good man who was extremely well-liked  - who worked hard as a truck driver for many years and was a dedicated family man as well - he will be missed. He was very involved in the final years of the Grace Baptist Church on Cross Street until it closed its doors in recent years.

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Mayor Joe was off to East Brookfield for the entire weekend and the majority of last week on his annual football camp consisting of Somerville High School Football players. He worked them hard to get them ready for what we all hope will be a successful year.

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The Neighborhood Impact Team has been keeping the Inspectional Services Department and a few board-up companies busy last week. Apparently, following numerous complaints to the city from neighbors about squatters living in the abandoned house located at 47 Harrison Avenue, all the utilities were cut off and the house was completely boarded up for safety issues. Apparently the property’s owner had passed away and the city has been trying to track down the new owner for over four years. Another home located at 82 Pearson Avenue was also on the list - the homeowner in this case allegedly was renovating the property and ran out of money. Apparently as the property remained unfinished and vacant, vandals stripped it of all the copper wiring as well as all of the copper piping and got away clean. This house was also boarded up for safety reasons - we hear the city is planning on putting liens on both properties.

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Don’t forget this Friday through Sunday is the Annual Greek Festival at the Dormition/Greek Church at 29 Central Street - the event is a popular yearly event attracts the entire family.

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This coming Saturday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, the Rock & Roll Yard Sale with live bands playing will be held in the Union Square Plaza - following the yard sale and beginning at 8:00 in the same location, a 1929 silent martial arts movie with live music accompaniment will be shown.

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Also this coming weekend is the annual Festival of Saints Cosmos and Damian, this year it will be held on Warren Street and all the side streets on both sides of the Cambridge and Somerville line.

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Right before we went to press this week we heard an interesting rumor. It seems Prince Carl is putting out false information to the voters as his bid to hold onto his seat comes to a close. We heard the Prince told anybody who would listen (fewer by the day) that State Senator Anthony Galluccio was supporting his sticker campaign. We hear the Prince may have even circulated a flyer saying he had Galluccio's support, when in fact Galluccio hasn't endorsed anyone in the contest. Now, we hear, Galluccio is steaming mad about his name being thrown around and let Prince Carl have it in a very heated telephone call. We hoped Carl would stop fibbing after his fairytale about campaign papers being stolen was widely rejected.

Comments

[JPM]

The ordinance includes the following provisions:

For buildings of four or more units, a 2-year notice to elderly, handicapped, and low to moderate income tenants and a 1-year notice to all other tenants; a lump sum reimbursement for relocation costs of $4,000 for elderly, handicapped and low to moderate-income tenants and $2,000 for all other tenants; and a conversion permit fee of $750 per unit.
For two and three family homes, the proposed ordinance requires a 6-month notice to all tenants; a lump sum reimbursement for relocation costs of $2,000 for all tenants; and a conversion permit fee of $750 per unit.
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This condo ordinance is disgraceful. Why should people that want to convert THEIR PROPERTY be forced to give these ridiculous lengthy notices and large cash windfalls to tenants? It is simple redistribution of wealth under the guise of a condo ordinance.

I have always rented. Guess what...when you rent you deal with the fact that the landlord owns the property and could give you notice to quit at any time after my lease expires.

Why does Soemrville want to punish people who want to convert a house to condos? Is it pure envy? You do not need 2 years to find alternative living arrangements. I could see giving 6 months to low income, eldelry or handicapped people. Fair enough. But shouldn't that be the case on every lease in Somerville? Why should condo developers be singled out for punishment?

Gerwitz and the Mayor are quick to forget how much additonal revenue has been brought in by condo development not to menton the amount of blue collar jobs that development has brought in.

[Tricky]

So it looks like Medford pols are holding an out-of-district "reception" for Bob Trane.

Hmmm.

[Imux]

Relocation fees for tenants? G-D these progressives!!!!!!!!!!!! This socialism crap is getting out of control around here!

What stops you from not telling anyone that your condo-izing and just tossing the tenants out. Then condo-izing a month later. How stupid are these laws? Of course, NEVER, EVER rent to low income or disabled. EVER. AND who defines MODERATE income??? Moderate income? WTF is that?

And Carl can take a flying you-know-what at the moon. He has a better chance of seeing Teddy "One-more-for-da-road" Kennedy sober than he has of winning this election.

[SomervilleReader]

God, for once I agree with IMUX, mostly. This statute will actually speed up gentrification in Somerville. Any reasonable landlord who even _maybe_ wants to go condo one day will absolutely avoid renting to low income or disabled tenants under this statute. Instead, he or she will find students or other transient renters who are unlikely to stay for years. This seems like the opposite of how you build a stable community of engaged residents. Great job, sponsors. Ugh.

[upset parent]

It's 9PM on a school night and it took my wife and I an hour to get our children to bed but only a few rings of the door bell by Carl Scotino's group to wake them up.
Carl, I'm frustrated at this moment so I'll maintain a level head but I would appreciate a little common courtesy. You're losing votes when you bother people late in the evening.
Good old fashioned family values apparently don't matter to you. Bob Trane is guaranteed a few votes out of this house.

[Winter Hill School Parent]

I was appalled at the sight of the school when i brought my daughter to school yesterday. I entered the main entrance and was totally dismayed at what I saw, or was it what I did not see.

I did not see the clean floors that I use to see. The hallway walls were dirty and the ceiling tiles smudged with a black colored substance. What has the City been doing over the summer months? Why do our children have to come back to an unhealthy environment? Never mind about keeping the street islands green with grass or nice with flowers. My children don't learn on the islands but in our schools.

[Imux]

Winter Hill School Parent, there is no money left for the kids/schools. The city is spending it all on the illegals, the "arts council", "human rights" council and all that other nonesense these progressives (Rebecah, Carl and the rest) have weighed us down with.

Schools? Kids and families are not a priority for the PDS crowd. Homosexuals, illegals, drug pushers are the "in-crowd" with the progressives. The progressives bend over (literally) for them.

[Ron Newman]

The Arts Council goes back to before Mike Capuano was mayor. I don't know when it started, but every mayor has supported it.

[Deval supporter]

Winter Hill parent, I encourage you to contact your School Committee rep. about the situation at the school. In fact, he may be reading right along on this blog. JN -- you out there?

[cczcollins]

I disagree with Imux the DPW is responsible for the cleanliness of the schools. Call Stan Koty and ask why they are so dirty. It has nothing to do with the PDS but with the city not caring. Based on the increased payroll at DPW the schools should be spotless!

[James Norton]

Hello all -

Yes, I am out here. I agree with you - I encourage anyone who wishes to discuss the Winter Hill, the Healey, the High School or anything else pertaining to the schools to contact me at any time. My email is jamesnorton@yahoo.com and my home phone is 617-718-2110. If it is important and you want me during the day, call my cell at 617-293-3853.

Jamie Norton

[no choice-s]

Thank you IMUX for that artful response to "winter hill school parent" and for giving validation to the PDS simply by opposing them.

[Another One Thrown Under The Moving Curtatone Bus]

It appears one more soldier is thrown under the bus by this Administration. M.B., Supervisor of Custodians was hauled back from Florida on the red eye Sunday due to lack of cooperation at some of our schools in getting the cleaning accomplished before school reopened, one of them just so happens to be the Winter Hill School.

M. B. took it upon himself to go around telling everyone that he was suspended for two days for taking a vacation in Florida during the last week before schools opened. This is a no no in the Union contract for custodians to take the last week before school opens as vacation. Seems M. B.s’ boss doesn’t recall giving his permission to go to the Sun Shine State. M. B. should have known this since he was junior building custodian prior to being anointed in his new capacity. M. B. has a long bloodline in the cleaning business. His mother was at one time a custodian, his two cousins are custodians at the High School and his uncle is a custodian at the Cummings. Someone of those must have said something before he left for the trip.

Now M. B. you know what it feels like when they take a bite out of you after all you have done and given to their campaign. Priceless!!!

[an observer of stupidity!]

So what "Trane is the only one on the ballot"! He is a nothing but a big bafoon! The only reason that he's even on the ballot is only because he happened to be in the right place at the right time! And that's it! Still a big bafoon and let him fight his own battles!

[The Patriot]

Imux, get a grip on yourself. I don't like PDS but at least I'm rational about it. Either unintentionally or not, you aid and abet. Look at school funding and overrides for schools and you'll find Provincetown next to Cambridge at the top of the list. If you don't know what you're talking about then those you attack look smart, even if they're not.

[Bumpy Johnson]

If you liked Sal Alabano and you can't get enough Pelosi, you will love Carl Sciortino. The man who once disrupted a sacred church service to protest, uh, the Bible, has brought do-nothing liberalism to new heights as a state rep. He has advocated to abolish the MCAS with no replacement test (teens were complaining about taking tests - big surprise), legalize pot and made the transgender community his top priority. Why? Because these are the special interests that got him elected: teachers unions (who have hurt education efforts for decades by protecting bad teachers), hippies and other assorted freaks who don't live in his district. People in South Medford and Somerville need your help Carl, why are you advocating such radical causes? Don't worry though you'll have plenty of time for "The Revolution" after Bob Trane wipes the floor with you on Election Day. Start sending out your resume Little Carl.