By Keith Foster

Ward 7 took its turn at a Neighborhood Connect Meeting last Thursday, October 1, at West Somerville Neighborhood School near Teele Square for an update on the city, followed by a “walk and talk” with city organizations setting up tables in the cafeteria.

It kicked off with Councilor Emily Hardt thanking the city for the first responders and city staff after the Teele Square fire. There was a QR code displayed to support and donate to the fire victims.

Mayor Jake Wilson, now nine months into the job, met with all department heads on Monday morning to discuss how best to serve the residents of Somerville. He first provided an update on the Clarendon Hill Redevelopment Project, which will house 260 families in phases 1 and 2. There will be 214-216 new parking spaces. With three new streets and a new 16,000-square-foot park. Phase one is complete, while Phase two is in progress.

Next was the West Broadway Reconstruction to fix sidewalks and add a new floating bus stop at Weston Ave. The city anticipates completion in summer 2027.

All memorials in the Veterans Cemetery have been refinished. Concerning new solutions to the housing crisis, the Somerville immigrant services Viva table was there. Their tagline is We Speak Your Language. They connect immigrant and multilingual neighbors with the services they need. There were updates on projects such as Davis Square Glow Up, crime, and state elections.

Somerville’s FY27 budget will mark the largest School Budget increase in history.

Crime was also brought up; citywide, Part 1 crime decreased 5% over 1 year. Car breaks and commercial burglary increased while larceny and aggravated assault decreased. In Ward 4, Part 1 crime has increased 24% over 1 year. Car crashes have decreased in the last year. In the last year, to make the roads safer, Somerville built more than 70 traffic calming features.

Other issues included rodent prevention, food access in Somerville, and preparing for snow season. Parking on the even side during winter unless otherwise posted.

Upcoming city events for Halloween season include the SomerStreets Monster Mash on October 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Somerville Ave. between Church St. and Union Sq. Rain date is October 25, and the Truck O’Treat on October 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall concourse. Rain date: November 5.

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Upcoming 2026 Neighborhood Connect Meetings:

Meetings run from 6 to 8 p.m.:

• 6-6:30 p.m.: pizza and light refreshments
• 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Get a brief update from the Mayor and Ward Councilor followed by unstructured time to move about and speak with local elected officials, get updates from City staff, and meet neighbors.
• Unsure about which ward you live in? Find out with the MySomerville address lookup tool at somervillema.gov/mysomerville.

Ward 3 (N. Union Sq., Prospect Hill, Spring Hill, Central Hill, and more):

• Date: Wednesday, October 7
• Location: Somerville High School Cafeteria, 81 Highland Ave.

Ward 1 (East Somerville, Assembly Sq., and more):

• Date: Tuesday, October 13
• Location: East Somerville Community School Cafeteria, 50 Cross St.

Ward 6 (Greater Davis Sq. neighborhood and more):

• Date: Thursday, October 15
• Location: Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave.

Ward 2 (S. Union Sq., Perry and Lincoln Park neighborhoods, Beacon St. area, and more):

• Date: Wednesday, October 21
• Location: Argenziano School Cafeteria, 290 Washington