Is anyone reflecting on the recent primary here in the city? Did you yet realize what we lost? The defeat of incumbent Mike Capuano just might come back to haunt us here in Somerville. Mike Capuano is on the Transportation Committee in the house. If the Democrats take over the House, he would have become chairman of that powerful committee. Think about how many people in Somerville over the years worked hard to get the Green Line Extension through. Everyone worked hard but it was Mike who worked the hardest to get the necessary federal funding to start and complete the project. Now, because of ideology and the rush to just vote older political figures out of office and replace them, Ayanna Pressley will become our new congresswomen and she will go to the bottom of the ladder when it comes to appointments to various committees. We don’t think she will even be considered for such a juicy appointment as the Transportation Committee. Nope, that will go to the next guy or woman in line. I look out at the local political figures who endorsed her over our own congressman and I have to wonder, did they really want the Green Line? For that matter, did they consider how keeping Mike in office would ensure that those necessary funds will continue to flow for the Green Line Extension? We might not have always agreed with Mike Capuano, but you can’t say he doesn’t love Somerville, and if he was in the position next year we wouldn’t have to worry about the funds possibly being pulled away. Think about 52,000 registered voters in the city. 17,000 voted that leaves 35,000 thousand that stayed home, not caring and leaving the choice up to a minority of voters. We are just thinking out loud how anyone who bothers to register to vote doesn’t care enough to vote. Why? We realize that Mike lost throughout the district, but we will never know how those 35,000 registered voters would have voted, would we?

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Now, as for our Board of Aldermen, what a bunch of do nothings. They managed to divide the city over the transfer tax which everyone knew would never pass in the State House. They talk about banning t-shirts and plastic straws, and now they want to tell you how to prune or do whatever with your property and those trees on it. Meanwhile, two bridges are going to be closed, one them, the Ball Square bridge, will be closed for one year at least. Both bridges closed will have a severe impact on local businesses. Some will never survive. And don’t forget the neighborhoods. The severe impact on cars going up and down local streets. The Washington St. bridge will effectively cut off lower East Somerville where more businesses will be impacted. We have a Board of Aldermen who want you to think they are on your side, and having public hearings after the fact. Yes, the GLX has made decisions devoid of public input, and they were smart in some ways. By the political figures on the Board of Aldermen and our State House delegation not paying attention, we the residents and businesses will suffer. As one of the aldermen told one business owner in Ball Square, and I am paraphrasing, “Well, if you go out of business, that’s too bad, but another business will spring up.” How twisted is that, and more especially, how twisted are they who – along with City Hall – will regret leaving the decision up to the GLX. Next year is the city elections, and the bridges will still be closed. What will happen then?

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Alderman Mark Niedergang of Ward 5 was perfect on his picks during the recent primary. He endorsed five candidates and all five lost. He supported and voted for the transfer tax which lost in the State House. Now he wants to propose legislation on trees on private property and what you can and cannot do. He’s also calling for public hearings on the Green Line Extension, when the decisions have already been made and it appears that whatever the public has to say won’t matter. There will be a public hearing at St. Clements Hall on Warner Street this coming Monday night at 6:30 p.m. The other aldermen will be there, but notice what they are doing, sitting there along with the Alderman from Ward 5, Mark, and Ward 6’s Lance. They will once again let the city’s hired help (he keeps letting us know that he also has lived here now for 11 years) run the meeting so that the questions will be limited. You ever notice that non-elected people are running the show and the elected ones allow them to? It would be nice to see those two aldermen take charge of the meeting, along with the mayor himself, and get asked why we having public hearings after the fact? Maybe the State Delegation will show up, put them on the hot seat as well and find out why they were not our voice at the State House? Folks, the decision has been made. They won’t change it and all the promises they make will be forgotten (at least they will hope so) until election time next year.

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On  Sunday, September 30th, the very first “A Ball for Squares” block party in Ball Square. Join all the merchants of Ball Square in celebrating Somerville’s bounciest square for a beer garden from The Pub, food from all of Ball Square’s wonderful restaurants, crafts, activities, bands, and more. Sponsored by the Ball Square Business Association and Mayor Joe Curtatone. More information to come as time goes by. It’s going to be a great day here in the square and city.

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Public Installation of Officers for the local Masonic Lodge is this Saturday, September 22, at 4:00 p.m., 125 Highland Avenue (rear-building). Several locals are being installed for the new Masonic year which begins in September. King Solomon’s Lodge AF & AM is an active Masonic Lodge with over 200 local members. The public is invited to witness this special ceremony that goes back hundreds of years.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Mary Jo Rossetti, who is a lifelong resident and one of the most popular Alderman At-Large. We wish her a very happy birthday. Also this week, we wish another local person Conor Brennan, the owner of PJ Ryan’s in Teele Square, the very best on his birthday. Happy birthday to another popular local, Marsha Hamel-McGlashing. We wish her the very best as well. Happy birthday to a lady whose family has deep roots here in Somerville, Donna Prio-Andon, who grew up in Magoun Square, we wish Donna the very best. Happy birthday to Joe Bordonaro, who grew up in Winter Hill. A nice guy, we wish him a very good day. Happy birthday to Helen Yutkins Berry, who also is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Christopher Patti as well. Happy birthday this week to a good friend, Joan. We love to listen to her stories. We wish her the very best of birthdays. If we missed you here, we wish you a happy birthday as well.

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The city’s Health and Human Services Department in collaboration with the Somerville High School Gender and Sexuality Awareness Alliance, SpeakOUT, and the Human Rights Commission, will host a public conversation and learning session. Somerville community members will be offered an opportunity to gain a better understanding of gender identity and transgender lives and issues. the event will be held 6:30– 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 25, at the Argenziano School, 290 Washington St. SpeakOUT is a nonprofit community of speakers working to create a world free of homo-bi-transphobia and other forms of prejudice by telling the truths of their lives. For more information on the event, please contact LGBTQ Liaison Jessica Alter at 617-625-6600 x 2404 or jalter@somervillema.gov. For media queries, contact Denise Taylor at 617-625-6600 x2103 or media@somervillema.gov.

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The 4th Annual Evolution of Hip Hop Festival will take place on Saturday, September 29, (rain date Sept 30), from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Union Square Plaza. This free ArtsUnion festival is presented by the City of Somerville and Somerville Arts Council in partnership with The Somerville Line, Oompa, and Pretty Poison. The festival will feature rappers, singers, spoken word poets and dancers from the Somerville community and surrounding cities. Attendees can also see live street art and other visual arts presentations and visit information tables offered by local community groups. Musical performances by Oompa & The Chocolate Factory, Cliff Notez, Brandie Blaze, Billy Dean Thomas, Anson RAPS, Rex Mac, Luke Bars, Kofi Dadzie, DJ Bobby Bangers, Sondro Castro, Bean$tock, Papa Reliz, DroCasso and A.M.B (African Man Born). Dance performances by Trend N Motion and more. Visual artists curated by Baboon. More artists continue to be added to the line-up. To get up-to date information visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/141967103296389/. If you’re interested in being a vendor at this festival, please contact Yvette at thesomervilleline@gmail.com.

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Are you retired and looking for part time work, and you’re experienced in sales? Give us a call here at The Somerville Times at 617-666-4010. We are looking for advertising telemarketers.