The Somerville News Blog

Drives provide relief to local organizations

Jennifer McInnis Local community organizations that provide necessary assistance to families will be receiving their own form of relief this season through several local drives that have developed in response to the urgent and unprecedented demand for essentials. This year's economic climate coupled with an especially chilly winter season has placed a great deal of strain on organizations whose resources are already stretched thin. From the larger February Food and Boot Drive to the smaller school and church drives, many organizations are stepping-up-to-the-plate to address the growing demand for essential items in these bleak economic conditions. The February Food and Boot Drive, developed by Boston Cares, a volunteer service organization, in partnership with The Boston Globe, Building Impact and the Corporate Volunteer Council of Greater Boston, aims to raise 10,000 pounds of protein and 500 pairs of children's boots in twenty-eight days to benefit two non-profit relief agencies: Cradles to Crayons and the Greater Boston Food Bank. "This is a new drive developed specifically in response to the stories we were hearing about skyrocketing requests for food and clothing that agencies throughout the region were getting from people in their communities," said Rick Wallwork, Associate Director of Boston Cares. "Clearinghouse agencies, including Cradles to Crayons and the Greater Boston Food Bank, were reporting greater demand than they've seen previously, and were having difficulty keeping certain items stocked. Canned protein and children's warm boots were two of the priorities identified where we felt we could make a significant contribution. This drive supports Cradles to Crayons, which ensures that the boots will go to agencies across the state, and the Greater Boston Food Bank's Brown Bag program, which provides supplemental food to 6,500 seniors and families each month. There are so many grass-roots agencies serving so many communities in Greater Boston, to reach them all would be difficult." While the February Food and Boot Drive primarily supports the state-wide agencies, Cradles to Crayons and the Boston Food Bank, many organizations in Somerville are putting together drives to address local demands, here in Somerville. During the month of March, Curves of Somerville will be waiving its service fee for any new members who bring a bag of non-perishable groceries between March 2nd and March 28th. The Curves of Somerville's promotion is part of the national fitness chain's 11th Annual Curves Food Drive, which has distributed about fifty million pounds of food to local communities over the past five years. "The Curves Food Drive is always exciting," said Betsy Tsichlis, the owner of the Somerville club. We have a chance to help so many people at a time when food banks are lowest. Especially during these uncertain times, this food is needed more than ever. It's a win-win situation for everyone, and we're very proud to participate." One Somerville agency that will be benefiting from local drives this year is the Project Soup Food Pantry, a service provided by the Somerville Homeless Coalition. "Project Soup is seeing more and more unemployed families and individuals due to job cuts, high rents, utilities etc... and I anticipate this to go even higher," noted Project Soup Food Pantry Coordinator, Sandra Harris. "In May is the Post Office Food Drive, which the agency benefits greatly from. Also, the schools are running more food drives for us which is always a great help. Churches are also pitching in with food collections. Many individuals bring bags of food to the pantry and say that they know it is very hard for individuals at this time. It makes me feel good to know that there are so many caring people willing to share with all of us."

March 3rd Hearing on Condominium Conversion Ordinance CANCELLED

Notice from the City: Alderman Thomas Taylor, Chairman of the Committee on Legislative Matters, has CANCELLED the Committee Meeting & Public Hearing previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 7:00 PM.

Local aid amendment shot down

State Representative Provost votes on bills and resolutions based on their merits, not purely by political party preference. By Cathleen Twardzik On February 11, State Representatives voted on House rules and joint rules, including "a local aid resolution," requiring annual adoption by March 15, 2011. However, the amendment, which would have required the state to provide each city and town with a fixed amount of aid by mid-March, each fiscal year, did not pass. In the immediate area surrounding Somerville, Representative Denise Provost who represents the twenty-seventh Middlesex District, was the sole member of the House to support its passage. The issue of local state aid is paramount to Provost. "It's important for cities and towns to know what their local aid is going to be when they are building their budgets. I would venture to say that the reason there were so many votes against the amendment is because it was brought by a member of the minority party," she said. However, the last two budgets were secured, according to Provost. Therefore, "we have adopted local aid resolutions in a timely way, without it having to be a rule, but I think that it is a fine thing to impose upon ourselves, a rule that we will have a local aid resolution every year in time to allow cities and towns to plan their budgets," she said. The matter is especially pertinent in Somerville because of the amount of state aid which the city receives. Interestingly, Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi resigned in January 2009. Therefore, the adoption of rules by the House was postponed until February. Although this local aid resolution was not slated to go into effect until 2011, because the legislature has two year sessions, voting for various pieces of legislation can take place well before they would actually take effect. Why did other members of the Democratic Party vote "no," on a rule to require that a specific date be set for local aid? It is quite common for votes in the House to "break along party lines." Provost predicts that chances are high that "most of the amendments that were offered by Republicans were voted for by the Republicans." A few Democrats may have also voted for Republican-offered amendments, she suspects. "Many, many members, I would guess, vote by party, and I always take my votes on the merits. If you look at the other amendments, I voted for several other amendments that day that were offered by Republicans, which most of the Democrats voted against, and which did not pass," she said. It is clear that she followed that sentiment during the last vote. "If I think that a bill or a rule or an amendment or a person has merit, I will vote for them."

The View From Prospect Hill

Last week, we half-heartedly remarked that it would be the last straw if under the less than intelligent leadership of the ZBA, they gave Dakota Partners their extension. After all, the point was that the developer has a less than stellar relationship with the community as a whole - it has been well documented - and they should be told to go pound sand and make their money off the backs of some other community instead of litigating their way to the bank. City boards and committees are there to safeguard the community - to act in a way and manner which preserves the public interest - and those appointed to these various entities are there to make decisions which follow the letter of the law in a way that protects our community. This city has had its own cast of characters over the years as appointed and elected members entrusted with vital roles on behalf of the community, but the Chairman of the ZBA has set the bar at a new depth. That's right, not new height - new depth. To listen to the Chairman of the ZBA tell people assembled at a public meeting that if they want to stay in the chambers, that they had better keep their mouths shut unless they're granted permission to speak is outrageous. To then allude to police officers outside the chambers, stationed there to ensure public safety and stave off outbursts was a shameful display of disregard for the community. If you are angry reading that, wait until you read what comes next. Later on, this very same individual led the charge in giving the developer the extension they were after and then actually used the silly excuse that he was afraid that the developer would personally sue the members of the ZBA if they didn't grant the extension. And then one by one the rest of the members of the ZBA followed right along. Think about it for a minute - when a city board or committee that makes decisions which affect the entire community treats members of that very same community like they're the enemy and then tells every developer that might have been thinking of coming to Somerville that they're afraid of making a decision based on the probability that they will be sued - then you just gave away the keys the city. The entire Zoning Board of Appeals and its members should be ashamed of themselves and the Chairman of that board should resign, plain and simple - before they are given the chance to give any more of this city away based on their own personal fears.

ZBA issues permit extension over aldermen, residents objections

343 Summer St.~Photo by Bobbie Toner By Tom Nash With a police detail on hand to quell any protest, the Zoning Board of Appeals ruled in favor of allowing a heavily opposed condominium development a one-year extension to begin construction at its Feb. 18 meeting. The ruling is the latest chapter of a seven-year legal battle waged by both residents abutting the 343 Summer St. property and its owners, the Dakota Partners, who came before the ZBA to ask for a permit extension because of hardship - a loosely defined term that became the center of the debate. "I think the decision was made one month ago," Evdokia Nikolova, a leader of the opposition to the project, said after the vote. "They just put up a show for the neighbors." Dr. Mohamed Hanif Butt -- who unsuccessfully sued the developer -- and a dozen other residents came to raise their concerns about the project, primarily that the developer had ignored concerns about the development's size. The project is planned to have 14 units. Dakota Partners' attorney Richard DiGirolamo reiterated that the request for an extension stemmed from the difficulty faced during Butt's litigation against the developer and the refusal of the city to allow them to cut down a shade tree to place a required fire lane, which is the basis of a suit by Dakota against Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz. ZBA Chairman Herbert Foster informed the crowd that two police officers were on hand to prevent the outbursts that occurred at the Feb. 4 hearing on the permit extension. Several occurred anyway. "If you want to stay in this chamber, you keep your mouth shut unless you're granted permission to speak," Foster said after the crowd jeered DiGirolamo. "I've been on this board almost ten years, and it's unprecedented that this board has ever taken the measure to have public safety here because of those outbursts." In an attempt to minimize the disruption,Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz took a poll of the residents' questions and grilled the board on why a developer who is suing the city can claim the suit as a hardship. To be eligible for an extension, the Dakota Partners had to prove it could not begin construction within the two year permit length and show a good faith effort to move forward. At the Feb. 4 hearing, four Aldermen and most of the neighbors on hand at the following meeting rejected the developer's claim. A ruling was delayed while Assistant City Solicitor decided if the request was valid. Shapiro explained at the Feb. 18 hearing that Dakota Partners did have the right to an extension despite questions about the term of the original request. Both DiGirolamo and Shapiro agreed that no further extensions are possible under Somerville's ordinance, although a day after the meeting Shapiro sent an e-mail to the ZBA explaining the one-year limit was susceptible to legal challenges based on a 2002 decision by the Massachusetts Attorney General's rejection of a similar proposed ordinance in Swansea. "While the Attorney General opinion does not constitute case law," Shapiro's e-mail stated, "I do agree with the rationale that an ordinance may not limit the number of extensions where there is good cause to extend the permit." Under the Somerville ordinance, "good cause" is defined as hardship faced by a builder including weather, "acts of God" and labor strikes, although Shapiro said the law allowed for any justification suitable to the ZBA. DiGirolamo made no attempt to explain where the request fit into the listed categories. As the board approached a vote, Foster noted the Dakota Partners' pattern of litigating adverse outcomes. "I personally think they would sue us if we don't grant them the extension," he said. "Whether we give it to them or not doesn't alleviate them of the responsibilities of the permit." After the unanimous vote approving the extension, Gewirtz said the ruling did not bode well for the city. "(The ZBA) probably had reason to be concerned about that, because (Dakota has) sued everyone in their path. That is, quote, their 'good faith effort,' " she said. "To me, a good faith effort is working with neighbors. They only want to use a stick." DiGirolamo said he was pleased with the outcome. "We're happy (the ZBA) made the right decision," he said, adding that the city's position is still obstructing the project. "Seven years later, we don't even have a stick in the ground."

Letter to the Editor

(Readers are invited to send letters to the editor to The Somerville News. Please email your letters to News@TheSomervilleNews.com or mail them to 21A College Ave., Somerville, Mass., 02144. The Somerville News Reserves the right to edit letters for style , grammar and length. All letters must include an name and contact information. Contact information will not be shared with the public. We look forward to hearing from you.) To the Editor, This past week marked a significant turn in our nation's role in the fight against global warming with the signing of a stimulus bill that will be sending $80 billion towards the development of clean energy technologies. This a huge step forward for the United States to stand up as a leader in a generation that has recognized the seriousness of this issue. I would like to thank my representative, Michael Capuano, and all of the other members of congress for their support in finally bringing global warming to the forefront of our country's agenda, but this is just the beginning. I would like to see more movement in Washington to implement science based solutions to this issue when drafting any further legislation. Only when global warming takes precedence in the law can we really begin the fight. The facts are out there. We need to take action now to further prevent the catastrophic effects that are quickly gaining momentum, and so that we can pass on the same quality of life we have today to our children, grandchildren, and many generations to come. Chris Timmel

Letter to the Editor

(Readers are invited to send letters to the editor to The Somerville News. Please email your letters to News@TheSomervilleNews.com or mail them to 21A College Ave., Somerville, Mass., 02144. The Somerville News Reserves the right to edit letters for style , grammar and length. All letters must include an name and contact information. Contact information will not be shared with the public. We look forward to hearing from you.) To the Editor: The time for denial and evasion is over. For the first time in a long time, Congress has taken steps to heal the environment by passing the stimulus bill and approving $80 billion to be spent on clean energy solutions to global warming. I thank Congress and my Representative, Michael Capuano, for starting us on this road to recovery. I feel compelled to act for the environment because of the innocent bystanders; the infamous polar bears and penguins, starving, the birds shifting migration patterns north to survive, swaths of forest succumbing to disease and drought, frogs warning of dire changes to the ground we walk on. Each death, each extinction quiets another voice. Perhaps because they don't share the responsibility, perhaps because they have to suffer the consequences without the understanding we are privileged to enjoy or alternatively to dread, perhaps this is why I feel sorrow. I have always believed in the wisdom of older cultures that treasure the past as well as the future, remembering ancestors and lessons learned, celebrating where you have come from and what history lends to who you are. With this celebration, comes a sense of responsibility, to take the gift that our ancestors have left us and to protect it for those who follow. We need to stop ignoring science and our consciences and listen to these voices, and remember what we want the voices seven generations from now to say about us. Ask yourself, what legacy do you want to leave? Michele Gielis

State Transportation Reform: Serious Leadership for Serious Times

By Joseph A. Curtatone (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) Last Friday, Governor Patrick rolled out his comprehensive plan to reorganize and refinance the state's transportation system. To no one's surprise, most of the subsequent media coverage has focused on the Governor's call to raise the gas tax by 19 cents a gallon (meaning the average driver will pay about $2 more per week at the pump). I had a chance to talk to the Governor and to Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi before the announcement of their plan and I can assure you that they expected a firestorm. Neither of them wants to increase taxes on anyone - especially during an economic downturn. As the Governor said on Friday, "this is a crummy time to ask people to contribute more." But anyone who has followed this issue seriously already knows that there's really no way around the need for new revenue. To get our troubled system back on track - a necessary step toward revitalizing our overall economy - it won't be enough just to cut or consolidate (although we have to do that, too). If we want roads, highways, transit, rail and bus services that can support a 21st Century economy, then we have to pay for them - and raising tolls and T fares is neither the smart way to do it nor an adequate way to meet the need. . Here in Somerville, we know that good transportation facilities are crucial to our future economic and physical health. We know that the Green Line Extension, a new Orange Line station at Assembly Square, the long-delayed repaving of Washington Street, the thorough renovation now underway along Somerville Ave - and all of the other state-supported transportation projects in our city - will make this a better, stronger community in which to live, work and raise a family. We know and understand that transportation isn't just good for economic development: it's essential. But here's something you might not know unless you read the fine print: the Governor's transportation reorganization and refinancing plan is a model of how to deal with a fiscal crisis in government. It strikes a fair balance between the need to, on one hand, achieve meaningful reform and savings and, on the other, put new revenue into the system so that it stops accumulating debt and starts doing its job for the people of Massachusetts. If you read the plan (which is online at http://www.youmovemassachusetts.org/ ), you will find out that it abolishes the Turnpike Authority, eliminates 300 jobs, ends the special provision that lets MBTA workers retire on full benefits after 23 years of service regardless of age; curbs health insurance costs; and increases transparency and accountability across the entire system. Of course, all of these things could have and should have been done long ago, but before Governor Patrick, no one did. No one could be bothered to ask the citizens of the Commonwealth to wake up and face the true cost and true value of their transportation system until these reforms were made part of the package. But now Governor Patrick has done just that, setting the stage for a fair and reasonable effort to reinvest in our essential transportation infrastructure. Like President Obama with the economic crisis, the Governor is taking responsibility for a problem he inherited. For nearly two decades, as the state steadily deferred essential maintenance and as the budget for the spiraled out of control, our Commonwealth dug itself into an ever-deepening hole of wishful thinking. All of us - the public, its elected leaders, the business community - pretended that someone else was going to reform the system. Someone else was going to repair the roads and bridges, and build the new transit links that would reduce congestion and pollution. Someone else would work with unions to manage their health care and retirement costs. But now - with our economy in decline, our debt s soaring and our infrastructure in tatters - that wishful thinking has to stop. It turns out that the "someone else" is us. The gas tax hasn't been increased by so much as a penny since 1991. To paraphrase Secretary Aloisi, can you think of any other major commodity that hasn't seen a price increase in eighteen years? During the same period, the real buying power of the gas tax has decreased by one third. Is our transportation system one third less important to our economy than it was in 1991? Is it one third less essential to our daily lives? Governor Patrick deserves enormous credit for his courage in taking on this vital reform. And, when you add them up, the advantages offered by his proposals - for Somerville and the entire Commonwealth - far outweigh the costs. Whether you're interested in a stronger economy, or cleaner air or more livable neighborhoods, I urge you to join me in supporting every element in this reform package.

Lounging in the 'Ville

Jimmy Del Ponte On The Silly Side (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) Today there are plenty of places in Somerville where you can go to have a meal and an adult beverage. From one end of the city to the other, these mid to up-scale eateries offer an enticing menu and a wide array of inebriates. There was a time, not too long ago, when local barrooms were just that, barrooms. If you wanted to see what food was served, it was usually right in front of you, in a large glass jar or hanging on a display rack. The fare was simple, including bags of chips, peanuts, slim-jims and pickled eggs. The upscale joints offered beer nuts to their customers - bon apétit! Now, most establishments offer a slew of fancy beers and ales in bottles and on tap, as well as in bottles. The transformation from gin-mill to hip-spot seems to have happened rather quickly. As usual, my area of expertise is the Davis Square area, so most of my first-hand information comes from there. Thankfully, Sligo's, Redbones (formerly The Coronet, then Barnaby's) and Johnny D's have kept the traditional bar set-up alive. These places haven't changed that much, except for the addition of what seems to be countless new brews including lights, darks, ambers, wheats, summers, winters etc. Back in my heyday we didn't have so many choices. My favorites were Bud, Rolling Rock and once in a while a nice dark Guinness. In the older days, some of the preferred brews were these: Heffenreffer, Rheingold, Pabst, Schlitz, Schaeffer, Carling Black Label, Narragansett Lager and Knickerbocker. Just saying those names brings back memories, fogged as they are. Can you believe that in just Davis Square alone, there are about 32 restaurants and roughly 7 bars? To get into some of these places you are required to have an ID and a piercing of some kind. As usual my timing is impeccable. I quit drinking and there are now endless places and countless choices. My liver is very grateful that those days are behind me - and just my luck, I have three piercings, one on one ear, and two in the other. What a waste! I am the infinite designated driver, which is a very good thing. A cold O'Doul's is fine for me these days. I happened to have seen a packed to the gills Tufts shuttle bus heading to Davis Square at around 6:30 Saturday night. I'm sure not all the students were heading for Joshua Tree and The Burren, but you can bet a lot were. The standing room only bus occupants were decked out in their trendiest Saturday night best (I know because I pass them while walking the dog on College Avenue). Now that St Patrick's Day is in sight, memories of The Blarney Stone Pub start filling me' head. How many of us actually drank green beer? I think of the Stone whenever I walk past Ciampa Manor on College Ave. I had the pleasure of recently talking with a gentleman who served about 8 years on Somerville's Licensing Board. He had some interesting stories for sure. He felt that Somerville had enough bars and he tried to only give liquor licenses to restaurants. Under his watch, Pal Joey's (aka El Cids, and Steppin' Out) lost their license due to too much trouble. He gave them the option to sell their license. The Jumbo in Teele Square was also a trouble spot (I don't recall any brouhahas when I played in bands up there). He was in charge when Bertucci's first opened in Davis Square, happy to see a new restaurant open - too bad he didn't get in on buying some Bertucci's stock! As I've said, I don't drink alcohol (anymore), but I still love the smell of these old, seasoned (or fermented I should say) joints. Back when I was imbibing, you could still smoke your brains out while you drank your mind away. Two or three hours in the barroom was easily detectable by the smell of cigarette smoke that saturated your body and clothes. Imagine what it did to our insides. There are a few places in Ball Square that we used to frequent for an ale or two as well - The Willow was where I would go if I was in that area. You may have memories of the joints that lined Somerville Ave, Broadway and in East Somerville. There were plenty of bars, with plenty of stories. So while you may be craving an ice cold Aventinus wheat Doppelbock and an omelette with red peppers and goat cheese, I'd rather have a frosty Pabst Blue Ribbon and a pickled egg. You can email Jimmy directly at: jimmydel@rcn.com

TheSomervilleNews.com poll of the week

In addition to breaking news, sports and opinion, TheSomervilleNews.com also features a daily poll in which you, the reader, tell us where you come down on local issues. This week's polls concerned your views on whether or not you agreed with House of Representatives passing of a rule that will limit the Speaker's term to a maximum of 8 years and if you were in favor of Governor Patrick's new gas tax proposal. If you don't agree with the results, simply log onto TheSomervilleNews.com.

Davis Square Task Force agenda and meeting room full

By Ben Johnson The Davis Square Task Force held a meeting this past Monday night, February 23rd. Somerville Aldermen, small business owners, and interested residents all gathered in the Tufts Administration Building (TAB) at 7pm to discuss ongoing and future business developments and community updates in the Davis Square area. The crowd in attendance Monday evening was sizeable with nearly 30 people squeezed into the small classroom on the first floor of the TAB. The meeting's agenda included presentations about constructions and business developments followed by crime updates and then a discussion of The Davis Square Task Force's future. The first project brought to the floor was a presentation on the plans for constructing new townhouses at the Carli Fence Site on Willow and Newberne Street. The presentation was given in part by project architect Peter Quinn who said, "The Bike path will be the address" of the new townhouses. In the past, various developers have proposed plans for the Carli Fence Site, but those plans usually consisted of 10 to 20 new residential units. The current plan will only be comprised of seven units. There will also be 21 parking spaces available to the location, which is far in excess of parking requirements for that site. Quinn hopes that by building new homes by the bike path, it will encourage residents to walk to the T and use bikes for their commutes. "The bike path is such an amenity to this community," Quinn said. This plan was greeted with positive reactions from everyone on the Davis Square Task Force. It was mentioned though that the Bike Path should be accurately be referred to as "The Community Path" as people do not just bike on it. J.P. Sacco, owner and proprietor of Sacco's Bowling Haven, Davis Square's historic bowling alley, introduced Jay Gould, owner of the chain "Flatbread All Natural Pizza." Sacco intends on selling Gould his bowling alley, explaining, "I have been attempting to get out of the bowling business." The Sacco family has been running bowling alleys since 1895. Sacco's Bowling Haven in Davis Square has existed since 1939. Speaking to the Task Force, Gould explained he wants not only to be in the Davis Square, but "to be a part of the community." Gould plans on transforming Sacco's Bowling Haven into another restaurant in his chain of "Flatbread All Natural Pizzas." But bowlers should not fear - Gould plans on keeping 10 bowling lanes open, so families and friends can continue to bowl. Unfortunately for billiards enthusiasts, the pool hall will be removed for the restaurant. Gould plans on keeping the façade of the building basically the same, with the minor addition of a small "Flatbread Pizza" sign. He will also be applying for a full liquor license, though Gould was quick to add his restaurants are all about families. "The kids can run around in our restaurants," Gould explained, "and if the parents don't like it we tell them to leave." When asked if he would still pursue this project if the liquor license was not approved Gould said, "No, I like to have a beer with my pizza." Also at the meeting was a presentation about turning a reconverting a vacant property near the Powderhouse Rotary back into a convenience store and a brief update on the plans for a new hotel in the Davis Square area. Although the plans for the hotel are still in beginning stages, there was one irate attendee at the meeting who adamantly opposed the idea of a new hotel in Davis Square. "The hotels in Somerville have led to nothing but drugs and prostitution," she said, "we do not need a hotel." But without definite plans for location or even the size of the hotel, this argument will have to be heard again and debated at many meetings in Somerville's future. Later in the evening there was a suggestion by Michele Biscoe, representative of the dog walking committee, that dog walkers who frequent Davis Square at night should organize a crime watch. "We want to motivate dog owners to do something to make small business owners and their customers feel more safe," Biscoe said. Biscoe and others suggested that when walking dogs through Davis at night, dog walkers could keep a vigilante eye for anything suspicious going on. But one member of the meeting was quick to note that most of the violence and criminal problems occur after midnight - a time when most people are not walking there dogs. "It would never substitute for the police department," Biscoe asserted. "Its about eyes and ears. This is not about sicking your dog on somebody." Whether dog walkers will actually organize to become a crime watch will be subject to future development. Other discussions included the recent shooting and carjacking by Diva and whether later hours at bars and criminal activity should lead to more late night police details. The Davis Square Task Force meets regularly throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to come to the meetings to hear about recent developments in the Davis Square area. The Task Force was founded in 1977 while the Red Line Extension into Davis Square was still in the planning stages. Since then it has initiated many projects, many of which led to the redevelopment of Davis Square in the 1980s. The Task Force is committed to keeping an open dialogue between the residents of Somerville and the small business owners that make Davis Square such a thriving commercial center.

Newstalk for February 25

Tuesday, March 3rd at 7pm at City Hall - finally the hearing that counts, not all those fake hearings that they made up over the past several months on the Proposed Condo Conversion Ordinance, - so-called new and improved and the one pushing for it is Princess Rebekah the Alderwoman from Ward 6 (who by the way doesn't own property). After a miserable defeat a few years back on her first attempt, they resurfaced last year under the lie that the committee make up which included Greater Boston Real Estate Board members. Only a staff person from the GBREB was on the committee and not the dues paying, local working and living members. This guy who is CEO of the board sat on the committee, he even said he never owned property or sold property he is a lawyer and a resident for 15 years paying rent here in Somerville (according to sources moved out a long time ago). They touted back last summer this was a new and improved Ordinance and that the Board of Realtors endorsed it - NOT TRUE - just ask any dues paying member here in Somerville. So march out to City Hall that night and once more show Princess Rebekah and her small group of minions (PDSers), staffers up at city hall and the SCC that are pushing this - that this is RENT CONTROL - nothing more, nothing less. It's bad for the tax base, it's bad for tenants and owners and it's bad for everyone in this economy. *************** Helicopters hovering over the city the other day, this time over Nissenbaum's Auto Recyclers & Parts place on Columbia Street, seems there was a "Reality TV Show" filming there - with all sorts of camera trucks and producers there temporary closing off the entire area around the shop, propping it up for filming set for the day! *************** Condolences to Jimmy Brennan's (not the former mayor but the Plumber) family and friends and he had a lot of them, he passed away at home last Saturday evening with his family present. Jimmy always had a smile and a good word for everyone. Always there to help aide and assist anyone that needed it. His wake is at Doherty's tonight (Wednesday the 25th from 4pm to 8pm) - we who knew him will truly miss him. *************** The Hanneke Cassel Band, featuring Ari Friedman (cello) and Christopher Lewis (guitar) will be playing at the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church at 155 Powderhouse Blvd on Saturday, February 28th at 8:00 pm. Fionnuala O'Donovan and a special surprise guest will be opening for them. Tickets are $15 at the door, $12.50 advance reservations, $10 for seniors and students - for more information, go to: notlobmusic.googlepages.com *************** What's going on over in Lower Broadway at the old Melo Tone building? Seems someone is shooting up the exterior of the building, according to sources this has happened three times so far! Good thing Lower Broadway has a Police substation practically across the street from this location. *************** A big get well to Alderman Tom Taylor, who we hear isn't doing all that well, we know he's in and out of the hospital, but we keep hearing he's not doing too well - we hope everyone will join us in wishing him well and a speedy recovery at his home in Ward 3. Tom has been a watchdog for Ward 3 here in Somerville for many years we should all send him our prayers and good thoughts! *************** Guess at the Davis Square Task force meeting Princess Rebekah found out that the proposed Dunkin Donuts at the old convenience store at Powderhouse could go there with or without her permission (she was against them going there). Lots of neighbors and residents are in favor of it anyway, but of course the Princess dances to a different piper. This particular owner presently owns the DD in Davis Square and on Highland Ave and is highly respected and a good citizen here in Somerville. He applied for all the necessary permits and licenses to open; it's going to be a combination store and Dunkin Donuts, which was there before except he's adding the Dunkin Donuts. *************** Mayor Joe had another successful fundraiser last night in Davis Square at Sagra, no rumors about anyone mounting a challenge to his re-election bid this year, he's been a pretty good Mayor in our opinion - but then again we were the only paper here in Somerville to endorse him from the beginning. Seems like Alderman Sean O'Donovan has been making the rounds in Ward 5, making his presence known and building up a war chest just in case the PDSers find some loser to run against him. *************** Seems like the Farm Team editor has too much time on her hands - the other day she wondered WHO might be the famous Somerville News blogger "Dr. Mrs. McCarthy" in real life - she listed a bunch of names of possibilities. Well, we regret to inform her that none of the names mentioned were correct, we heard from Dr. Mrs. McCarthy today (on news day) and she's been resting at the Home keeping a low profile after the loss on election day in 2007 - she took the last election hard - but she wanted us to tell all her fans she'll be back. We think she sounds differently - she mentioned she was also upset over the lack of Jell-O and juice at the 8 o'clock rounds at the home. *************** Seems like the PDSers web site was down for a few weeks, guess someone forgot to pay the bill, maybe they were looking to see if they got any money from the stimulus package recently voted on. *************** Are you missing your rubbish barrel lid? Recently a lot of people are complaining of missing lids and the rash of tickets being given out. We're wondering if the ordinance needs adjusting or is this a revenue ploy? ***************

Proposed condo ordinance is back and up for debate

The “new” condo conversion ordinance will have its first real public hearing at City Hall this coming week. By Keith Cheveralls A revised version of the condominium conversion ordinance originally proposed by the Mayor's office in 2006 is up for public comment at a hearing next Tuesday. The revised version of the ordinance is the product of eighteen months of work by a task force appointed by Mayor Curtatone in response to the controversy provoked by the original 2006 proposal. Both versions of the proposed ordinance would regulate the conversion of two- and three-unit rental properties. The 2006 proposal, made in response to the increasing rate of two- and three-unit condo conversions in Somerville during the real estate boom, met with fierce criticism from small property owners. It would have increased tenant notification times to four years, and relocation assistance to $4,000 for low- and moderate-income, handicapped and elderly tenants. For all other tenants, the notification time was to have been two years, and relocation payments were to have been $2,000. Somerville's existing ordinance limits notification time to two years, and relocation assistance to one month's rent. The proposed measures prompted Skip Schloming, of the Somerville Small Property Owners Association, to call the proposed ordinance "de facto rent control," and were challenged by Alderman Bill White on legal grounds at a contentious public hearing in 2006. The new proposal is a compromise between the original 2006 proposal and the concerns voiced by property owners. It decreases notification times for two- and three-unit properties to six months for all tenants, and halves relocation assistance to $2,000. But just how much of a compromise these changes represent depends upon whom you ask. "The new version is slightly better than the old one, but still is heavy-handed regulation," Schloming told The Somerville News. Schloming and the Somerville Small Property Owners' Association remain opposed to the revised version of the ordinance. "It is bad policy all around. It hurts rental property owners because, by imposing restrictions, delays and extra costs, it reduces the value of rental property across the whole city," Schloming explained, adding that the consequent reduction in tax revenue "hurts everyone, including the city as a whole." "If you look at the ordinance, it has moved substantially from where it was a couple of years ago," Greg Vasil, CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, told The Somerville News, but as "a further restriction on private property rights" the GBREB also opposes the ordinance. Vasil was one of two representatives of property owners on the task force. He pointed out that "many condo conversions created housing for people who couldn't afford to buy a two or three family property," which, he said, is not a process that the city should restrict. Those in favor of the revised ordinance speak of it in different terms. "It's a fair compromise in that it gives clarity to the process. It allows landlords to convert their property, but balances that against tenants who are facing displacement and must find time and money to relocate," explained Ellen Shachter, a senior attorney at Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services, and one of two tenant advocates on the task force. Mary Regan, of the Somerville Community Corporation, explains that "Tenant advocates gave up some of the things that would have been beneficial to tenants in order to come up with this proposal that we thought would gain the support of property owners." The proposed ordinance provides property owners "with a set of clear guidelines" for the conversion process, and reduces their obligations to their tenants from the original proposal, she said. While proponents see the regulation of two- and three-unit properties as a necessary consequence of Somerville's high concentration of small rental properties, opponents see the regulation as intrusive, pointing out that Somerville is the only city in Massachusetts to regulate rental properties with fewer than four units. "We urge the city to deregulate the two's and three's entirely," Schloming told the Somerville News, referring to two- and three-unit properties. "Those two's and three's are two-thirds of the city's housing stock -- a huge segment of the tax base that is being deliberately depressed in value by condo conversion regulation." Somerville's regulation of two- and three-unit properties dates back to the 1980s, when a home-rule petition allowed the city to regulate those properties. The existing ordinance regulating condo conversions dates from the 1980s as well. It has not been updated to reflect increased relocation costs since that time, Shachter said, and has left "tenants and landlords in limbo in terms of what parts of ordinance apply." The proposed ordinance addresses these concerns by creating a review board to ensure that the process proceeds with clarity and fairness, Shachter and Regan explained. But Schloming expressed concern with the proposed review board. "It supervises every step in the conversion process and invites an owner's tenants in to make objections and cause delays. Owners will need to hire expensive attorneys to make their way safely through the condo review board." Of course, with the economy in crisis and real estate prices in decline, the conditions that motivated the proposal of the original ordinance-significant increases in the rate and profitability of condo conversion-no longer exist. The number of applications for condo-conversion permits declined by 61 percent from 2006 to 2008. Both proponents and opponents, however, agree that the ordinance remains relevant. Schloming argues that the ordinance would "depress property values and reduce owners' equity in their properties when those are already being threatened," as well as reduce tax revenue at a time when the economy is already weak. Shachter, while acknowledging the poor economy, said that the proposed ordinance should be enacted to protect tenants, explaining that "for tenants who are being displaced, it doesn't matter if there are 10 or 60 conversions in a month-displacement is happening to them." The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00pm, in the Aldermen's Chambers at City Hall. A comparison between the existing state law, Somerville's existing ordinance, the 2006 proposed ordinance, and the revised ordinance, is available on Somerville's government website.

Books of Hope helps writers discover how easy it is to become published

Writers of all ages shown how to become published. By Meghan Frederico Small and independent presses offer aspiring authors an opportunity to break into publishing, yet many new writers do not know how to use them to their advantage. "People think it's impossible to get published," said Doug Holder, a Somerville poet, founder of the Ibbetson Street Press and the Arts Editor for The Somerville News, "but with small presses, it can be easier than they think." On Monday, February 23rd, from 7-9 pm at 530 Mystic Avenue, Mr. Holder will talk about how new writers can publish their work through small and independent presses, or even create their own small press. He will speak from experience in the industry, which includes running Ibbetson Street Press, a poetry journal and publisher that produces the work of about 7 new authors a year. Attendees will have a chance to participate in creative writing exercises, and will also hear from guest speaker C.D. Collins, whose book of poetry was recently published by Ibbetson Street. The free event is part of the Youth & Community Writers Series organized by Books of Hope, a collaboration between the Mystic Learning Center, a nonprofit affiliated with the Mystic Housing Development in Somerville, and the Somerville Arts Council. For the past decade, Books of Hope has sought to help urban teens achieve self-expression and advocacy through creative writing. The non-profit's writing workshops teach poetry, short story, memoir, and non-fiction, and publishes books written by participants. According to Florence Bergman, the director of the Mystic Learning Center, Books of Hope has published over 125 young authors, who keep all the proceeds from their book sales. For further information about the event, contact Soul Brown at (617)640-0252.

Old school Capuano speaks out

Congressman Capuano spoke out against banks that received bailout money. By Jeremy F. van der Heiden At the House of Representatives in Washington last Wednesday, lawmakers lined up the chief executives of the eight biggest banks in the country for an old-fashioned tar and feathering. The executives were called before the House Financial Services Committee to discuss with them their dissatisfaction in the CEO's decisions in regards the spending of billions of dollars in bailout money given to their banks by the government. The members of this panel of sorts included the chief executives of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, State Street, Morgan Stanley, Bank of New York Mellon, Wells Fargo and Chase. Probably the fiercest forayer of the day was Massachusetts' 8th District's own Representative Michael Capuano. He was in classic form, berating these executives with his allotted five minutes to speak. First, he asked how many of these executives engaged in dangerous, and possibly illegal actions such as Credit Default Swaps, Collateralized Debt Obligations, and Structured Investment Vehicles. Representative Capuano asked, "How many of your banks had or currently have Special Investment Vehicles, those off the books and somehow unregulated subsidiaries of the bank or sister corporations?" To this, several CEO's in front of him raised their hands to admit engaging in these actions. Capuano answered back sharply, stating that, "So basically, all or most of you engaged in all or at least some of the activities that created this crisis in my opinion, because everyone of those activities, especially the SIV's, to me, I think they're illegal." He went on to state "I can't believe no one has been prosecuted on this. But then again, we haven't had any prosecutorial action whatsoever with the last administration and the new administration has a little time to figure this out, we'll find out whether anybody really cares." Credit Default Swaps, Collateralized Debt Obligations and Structured Investment Vehicles are all forms of asset-backed securities - they are intricate bank transactions that entail borrowing and lending to turn a profit, one of the most basic functions of banks, but in this case the risk is high because of the way they work. For example, Structured Investment Vehicles work by borrowing money for a shorter period of time at a low rate of interest, and lending money for a longer term at a higher rate of interest. With the sparse amount of stability in both major and minor companies today, this puts the parties capitalizing off of these Special Investment Vehicles and those on the other end at risk of taking major losses. Representative Capuano continued on, abashing the CEO's for the poor decisions they had made. Some of the more quote-worthy statements included, "Basically, you come to us today on your bicycles, after buying girl-scout cookies and helping out Mother Theresa, telling us 'we're sorry, we didn't mean it, we won't do it again, trust us.' Well, I have some people in my constituency who actually robbed your banks that say the same thing...do you understand that this is a little difficult for most of my constituents to take, that you learned your lesson?" In a classic Capuano style, the statements reached a climax of intensity when the Representative began to point and yell directly at the CEO's: "you created SIV's, you created CDO's, you created Credit Default Swaps, you created the mess we're in, and now you're saying you're sorry, trust us, we don't even want the money. Interesting, no one has ever come to me telling me I had to take billions of dollars." He then expressed his disappointment in the CEO's: "America doesn't trust you anymore...I don't have one single penny in any of your banks, not one, because I don't want my money going toward CDO's and Credit Default Swaps and making huge bonuses...start loaning the money that we gave you, get it on the street. And don't tell me we're not using that money for bonuses, come on!"

The View From Prospect Hill

Dakota Partners, aka Emerald Development, aka Austin Development, aka whatever name they want to reinvent themselves as this year, is before the city again tonight looking for yet another gift - this time an extension of their construction permit for another year - only this time for a laughable "hardship" variance. A hardship because, when you get through all the language, the city essentially won't allow them to cut down a tree - yes, you read that right - a tree. They ask for a "hardship" even after filing a lawsuit against the city, naming both Mayor Curtatone and Alderwoman Gewirtz in it, stating that the city illegally stopped them from proceeding by refusing to grant a permit to remove a shade tree. That takes a lot of gumption - sue the city and then ask for a gift - its called trying to strong arm a city by doing whatever it takes to get what you want, and from what we hear it's not the first time similar tactics have been used by this and/or other developers. Seven years of general craziness has swirled around this specific location and this developer - and even though they won a case that went before the State Supreme Court, why would anyone want to continue in an area that abutters, neighbors, elected officials and members of the local business community openly hate you and everything you stand for? In our opinion, it's simple - the almighty dollar - that's why - it doesn't matter who says what, as long as they can build. Of course, like any other animal backed into a corner, they will continue to do and say whatever it takes to get what they want - they supposedly have a mortgage on that property that would make your nose bleed and have to be under pressure by the local bank that gave them the money to do something, and soon. Want to kill a couple of hours - don't take our word for it - log onto the Registry of Deeds online and try to follow the deed/paper trail and all the companies and "investors" and mortgage holders related to this project and their other projects - it makes for interesting reading, that's for sure. It is enough to make your head spin, guaranteed. It also wouldn't be so bad if they hadn't left a bad taste in the community's mouth after the last several projects they have done in this city either. From what we hear, abutters, neighbors, Aldermen, local businesses, contractors - pretty much anyone who has had to deal with them on any level has had a less than pleasant experience. We think it would be much better if demo-man and his new friends from Charlestown or even better yet, KSS Realty, were involved with this project instead of this particular developer. In our opinion, this city doesn't need developers like Dakota/Emerald anymore - even in this economy there are plenty of people with plenty of money that won't step on and step over everyone just to get their way. For us, the only thing that would now definitely prove to be the last straw is if the ZBA, under its current less than intelligent leadership, grants this ridiculous "hardship" extension.

Community

William C. Shelton In past columns, I've written about what an extraordinarily rich community Somervillians created and enjoyed in the first half of the Twentieth Century, and how it gradually disintegrated in the second half. Yet I don't think I've ever clearly stated what I mean by "community." It's worth doing, because the word is used and misused to mean many different things. Some use it to mean "place," although where they live is often the only aspect that they share. Some refer to the "immigrant community" or the "Italian-American community." Since immigrants come from different countries speak different languages, and observe different customs, it seems odd to me to think of them as members of the same community. Presumably, this use of "community" refers to whatever interests they share by being immigrants, or Italian Americans, or whatever. Some, who feel solidarity with each other, describe themselves as a "community." In this latter sense, "community" is the third ideal of the French Revolution: Fraternity. When I have used the word in my columns, I mean a rich and interweaving network of relationships in which people know each other and understand that what they share is more important than their differences. In community, these relationships-formal and informal-proliferate until they create a place for everyone as whole individuals. Community's members are known for who they are rather than what they are. Their personal qualities are more important than their formal roles. In community, there is room for as many leaders as there are useful things to do, so there are leadership opportunities for all. In institutions, including those that provide social and human services, relations are often hierarchical. In neighborhoods without community, relationships are nonexistent. In communities, relationships are more egalitarian. Because there is not an authority that defines the "right way" and "wrong way" to do things, communities find creative solutions to problems that institutions cannot. They often do so quickly. When an individual loses a job, a loved one, or their mind, they need the immediate help and comfort that a community can provide. In its absence, they endure the weary isolation that comes with applying for food stamps, waiting for Social Security to decide, or being trapped within a mental health system from which they may never emerge. In neighborhoods with community, we deal with each other as whole people. n those without community, we deal with each other by accident. In institutions, we deal with each other as roles. In community, we are interdependent. To weaken one of us, weakens all. Community is the greatest security that a neighborhood can enjoy. When neighbors know and trust each other, residential streets are not so much anonymous public spaces belonging to no one, but familiar territory that belongs to the neighborhood. Neighbors inquire when someone whom they don't recognize is attempting to enter a neighbor's home. They intervene when someone is being harassed on their street, friend or stranger, because it is their street, and because they know that their neighbors have their back. The economic and cultural forces that destroyed community in Somerville were largely beyond the community's control. Factory closures eliminated thousands of jobs in the same town in which workers lived. Suburbs held a powerful, but ultimately illusive, lure. Steady erosion of hourly wages obligated women, who were often the weavers of relationships, to enter the workforce, whether they wanted to or not. The cars that got people to out-of-town jobs, and the televisions that they watched to recover from working and commuting, reduced opportunities for interaction. Gentrifications brought thousands of professionals whose relationships revolve around where they work rather than where they live. It is impossible for individuals or small groups to reverse the impact of such enormous forces. But we can choose to recreate community in limited contexts, like the few blocks surrounding where we live. We do this most effectively by organizing shared actions around matters that are so concerning that diverse neighbors are willing to take action, and that, in order to make a difference, require cooperation among all who participate. If we create opportunities for specific and achievable changes to make real our 80%-shared vision of a good neighborhood, our diverse neighbors' focus is not on each other's differences, but on how to accomplish shared objectives. In the process of doing so, they develop relationships of trust and cooperation. They come to see the situation through each other's eyes, understand each other's differences, and appreciate those differences as assets rather than liabilities. They create community.

Sciortino appointed to House Transportation Committee

State Rep Sciortino continues his work on the Joint Committee on Transportation. By Keith Cheveralls Last Thursday, Somerville/Medford State Representative Carl Sciortino was appointed to be the Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation in the state House of Representatives. Sciortino, a third-term representative and long-time public transportation advocate, told The Somerville News that he will use his new position to "help advocate for the needs of our community, as well as for improvements in public transportation across the state." Gaining support for the proposed Green Line Extension, which would extend the Green Line from Lechmere Station in Cambridge into Somerville and Medford, is one of Sciortino's major goals. "I have been a strong supporter of the Green Line Extension since day one in office," Sciortino explained. "I was proud to be a part of getting the Governor to commit the state's bond money towards the project, which we passed in a transportation bond bill last spring." "I will continue to closely monitor the progress of the Green Line Extension, to do what I can to ensure the funding needs of this project are met, and that the project is delivered on time." Sciortino also cited his belief in the need for increased reliability of MBTA buses and trains in Somerville. "A large portion of Somerville residents rely on the MBTA for their daily commute to and from work. Every time a bus is late, or a train gets taken out of service for mechanical reasons, we are reminded that the T's finances are a mess. I will be using my role on the committee to make sure a comprehensive transportation reform package includes the needs of the MBTA." The appointment, made by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, comes as Sciortino begins his third term as a Representative in the House. He was a member of the committee during both of his previous terms. "Carl has been a hard-working legislator, and I know that he will continue to serve the Commonwealth and his communities well in these posts," DeLeo explained. "I look forward to working with him as we face the challenging issues confronting us, such as transportation reform." In addition to his appointment to Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, Sciortino was appointed to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. The Committee on Ways and Means handles the budget process for the House and reviews all legislation that involves state finances. The Committee on Health Care Financing crafted the state's health care reform legislation and continues to address issues such as health care affordability and access.

Old school Capuano speaks out

Congressman Capuano spoke out against banks that received bailout money. By Jeremy F. van der Heiden At the House of Representatives in Washington last Wednesday, lawmakers lined up the chief executives of the eight biggest banks in the country for an old-fashioned tar and feathering. The executives were called before the House Financial Services Committee to discuss with them their dissatisfaction in the CEO's decisions in regards the spending of billions of dollars in bailout money given to their banks by the government. The members of this panel of sorts included the chief executives of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, State Street, Morgan Stanley, Bank of New York Mellon, Wells Fargo and Chase. Probably the fiercest forayer of the day was Massachusetts' 8th District's own Representative Michael Capuano. He was in classic form, berating these executives with his allotted five minutes to speak. First, he asked how many of these executives engaged in dangerous, and possibly illegal actions such as Credit Default Swaps, Collateralized Debt Obligations, and Structured Investment Vehicles. Representative Capuano asked, "How many of your banks had or currently have Special Investment Vehicles, those off the books and somehow unregulated subsidiaries of the bank or sister corporations?" To this, several CEO's in front of him raised their hands to admit engaging in these actions. Capuano answered back sharply, stating that, "So basically, all or most of you engaged in all or at least some of the activities that created this crisis in my opinion, because everyone of those activities, especially the SIV's, to me, I think they're illegal." He went on to state "I can't believe no one has been prosecuted on this. But then again, we haven't had any prosecutorial action whatsoever with the last administration and the new administration has a little time to figure this out, we'll find out whether anybody really cares." Credit Default Swaps, Collateralized Debt Obligations and Structured Investment Vehicles are all forms of asset-backed securities - they are intricate bank transactions that entail borrowing and lending to turn a profit, one of the most basic functions of banks, but in this case the risk is high because of the way they work. For example, Structured Investment Vehicles work by borrowing money for a shorter period of time at a low rate of interest, and lending money for a longer term at a higher rate of interest. With the sparse amount of stability in both major and minor companies today, this puts the parties capitalizing off of these Special Investment Vehicles and those on the other end at risk of taking major losses. Representative Capuano continued on, abashing the CEO's for the poor decisions they had made. Some of the more quote-worthy statements included, "Basically, you come to us today on your bicycles, after buying girl-scout cookies and helping out Mother Theresa, telling us 'we're sorry, we didn't mean it, we won't do it again, trust us.' Well, I have some people in my constituency who actually robbed your banks that say the same thing...do you understand that this is a little difficult for most of my constituents to take, that you learned your lesson?" In a classic Capuano style, the statements reached a climax of intensity when the Representative began to point and yell directly at the CEO's: "you created SIV's, you created CDO's, you created Credit Default Swaps, you created the mess we're in, and now you're saying you're sorry, trust us, we don't even want the money. Interesting, no one has ever come to me telling me I had to take billions of dollars." He then expressed his disappointment in the CEO's: "America doesn't trust you anymore...I don't have one single penny in any of your banks, not one, because I don't want my money going toward CDO's and Credit Default Swaps and making huge bonuses...start loaning the money that we gave you, get it on the street. And don't tell me we're not using that money for bonuses, come on!"

Circus animals may no longer be welcome in Somerville

By Tom Nash Following concerns about the treatment of circus animals raised by a constituent of Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche, circuses with wild animals as a part of their act may have to skip Somerville. In explaining why she joined Roche in asking the city solicitor to draft an ordinance to "ban wild animals from being displayed in circuses," Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz listed some of the abuses faced by circus elephants. "In Somerville, a place where we promote humanity and making sure we don't have abuse, I think we should act on this as soon as possible," Gewirtz said. The order was approved at the Feb. 12 Board of Alderman meeting. Revere, Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth and Provincetown have passed similar laws banning circus animals. The issue will be taken up by the Legislative Matters committee.