(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Dear Elected Officials,

We are Somerville voters and taxpayers writing to protest the June 4^th election held at St. Anthony’s School. The balloting on the Somernova CBA was run in a misleading manner, with highly irregular rules. We ask that you disregard its outcome and not allow it to influence your deliberations about changes to Somerville’s Zoning Ordinance.

We do not cast blame for this badly flawed voting process on members of the Union Square Neighborhood Council. We respect USNC’s hard work to achieve good outcomes for their neighborhood. On the contrary, we feel that USNC was put in a tough spot.

Who – and why – USNC asked to negotiate with Rafi Investments-Somerville, LLC?

Residents around Central Somerville Avenue did not request or elect USNC to negotiate with Rafi on our behalf. Did Rafi make that request, or was it the City of Somerville? It seems very odd that Somerville would delegate the tasks of negotiating a deal with a real estate firm and running an election to USNC, without giving its guidance and support.

The City of Somerville did not inform neighbors about the CBA process.

Until recently, few of us had heard of USNC or Rafi. Only those of us who attended earlier meetings knew about the city’s “Central Somerville Avenue” planning process or the “Somernova CBA.” The city did not explain the CBA’s connection to Rafi’s development plans and to its proposed changes to Somerville’s Zoning Ordinance.  

Unconventional eligibility rules distorted voter turnout and the election’s outcome.

In regular Somerville elections, residents register beforehand to get on the city’s voter list. Polling places are organized by ward and precinct. The Somerville Elections Department oversees the balloting process, and voters know what to expect.

Voting rights in the June 4th election were confined to an area mapped around Union Square. A small “expanded catchment area” was later added, but residents in this new area received little notice about voting. Other registered Somerville voters believed they were eligible to vote but were denied ballots when they went to the polls.

Meanwhile, Rafi’s social media urged “youth and community workers (ages 16+)” to vote. One of Rafi’s flyers said: “Anyone who lives, works, volunteers or owns property in the USNC catchment area” could vote: another Rafi flyer said eligibility extended to “Somerville’s Union Square, Inman Square, and Spring Hill.”

The loose end of these rules enfranchised non-resident workers and “volunteers” from Union Square, Boynton Yards, and Grand Junction. On the restrictive side, people living near the Somernova site but outside the map could not. We believe that these rules functioned as a kind of gerrymandering.

Rafi’s outreach to voters misrepresented the election’s consequences.

Details of the CBA were announced on May 21^st. Days before the June 4^th election, Rafi Investments distributed flyers equating a YES vote with good outcomes and a No vote with bad outcomes. Voters were not informed about the proposed zoning package; non-insiders were baffled about what the voting was for and why it was needed.

The June 4^th balloting had the markings of a City of Somerville election.

At the polling place, approved voters were given ballots to mark in privacy booths and directed to put them in a ballot box labeled CITY OF SOMERVILLE. Poll workers gave out the familiar “I Voted” stickers with American flags on them. These features confirmed the belief of many people that they were voting in a Somerville referendum or special election.

The City of Somerville has exerted improper influence on the June 4^th voting.

On June 3, the Somerville Arts Council sent an email saying: “YOUR VOTE MATTERS! A YES vote = more arts space in Somerville.” It displays Somerville’s city seal, and the logos of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Somerville Arts Council, a municipal agency of the City of Somerville. Finally, it bears the name of Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.  Was it proper for the City of Somerville to endorse a YES vote in this election?

The Somerville City Council should disregard the improper June 4^th CBA vote.

The Somernova CBA is conditioned on approval of zonings changes that benefit Rafi. While the CBA does not bind the council, it raises certain expectations. Please resist untoward pressures and base your Somernova zoning votes solely on good land use principles. 

Respectfully yours,

Jane Bestor, Ibbetson Street
Kirk Etherton, School Street                              
Paula Garbarino, Ivaloo Street
David Guss, Properzi Way                                  |
Lucile Holstedt, School Street
David Myers, School Street
Michael Raskin, Ivaloo Street                           
Kate Lila Weaver, Properzi Way                        
Patricia Wild, School Street
Victoria Wolfson, Elm Place
Stuart Dash                                  
Robin Dash