Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2026 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
(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)
Honorable councilors,
I am writing in opposition to DSNC’s request for formal recognition at this time.
Davis Square is an indivisible part of Somerville, not just a «neighborhood. »We are ALL stakeholders in Davis Square.
Unfortunately, DSNC doesn’t accept that reality.
DSNC’s bylaws grant membership and voting rights to residents who live in a small, arbitrarily selected number of street addresses.
Yet under these same bylaws, membership rights extend to residents of Medford, Arlington and Cambridge who live in DSNC-mapped areas of those communities.
The DSNC board, in its unfettered discretion, can also grant membership rights to any person they deem to have a genuine interest in the square.
This structural gerrymandering discriminates against the majority of Somerville residents. It excludes us from vital decisions about Davis Square’s future.
In our four square mile city, the future of any part of our city affects the future of the whole of Somerville.
There is no urgency in acting on DSNC’s request. In fact it would be premature to recognize DSNC, as Its bylaws are in a contentious state of flux.
Submission of neighborhood council bylaws is a necessary step for recognition, per city ordinance. DSNC’s current bylaws are in their present state in need of reformation, not recognition.
As long as the bylaws’ criteria for membership remain both definite and vague, unfairly exclusive and arbitrarily inclusive, the DSNC lacks legitimacy.
There are other significant problems with the DSNC. Some are occasioned by the ordinance itself, which has serious shortcomings.
But that broader discussion can be left for another day.
For now, I ask that you, as City Council members, take time to evaluate the DSNC. Look at its meeting minutes, the email discussions archived on its website.
Please take time for due diligence before conferring the authority of government on this new organization.
Respectfully submitted
Denise Provost
__________________
The Somerville Times note:
The Somerville City Council’s Legislative Matters Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 one item discussed:
Davis Square Neighborhood Council submitting comments re: formal recognition by this Council as a neighborhood council under Chapter 7, Article IX of the Code of Ordinances.
Public Communication
Six residents spoke in favor of recognizing the Davis Square Neighborhood Council, while five residents spoke in opposition. Those who spoke in opposition raised concerns about allowing individuals who do not reside in Somerville to become members and participate in decision-making on behalf of the community. Others noted that additional administrative matters and bylaw revisions should be addressed before the Neighborhood Council is formally recognized. Those in favor shared information about the community events sponsored by the Neighborhood Council and that they
have received a lot of interest and support from community members.
Councilor Scott shared that this item will be kept in committee and that a vote on recommendation will be made at the September 15th Legislative Matters Committee meeting
Public Communication
Six residents spoke in favor of recognizing the Davis Square Neighborhood Council, while five residents spoke in opposition. Those who spoke in opposition raised concerns about allowing individuals who do not reside in Somerville to become members and participate in decision-making on behalf of the community. Others noted that additional administrative matters and bylaw revisions should be addressed before the Neighborhood Council is formally recognized. Those in favor shared information about the community events sponsored by the Neighborhood Council and that they
have received a lot of interest and support from community members.
Councilor Scott shared that this item will be kept in committee and that a vote on recommendation will be made at the September 15th Legislative Matters Committee meeting
Comments on this matter can be sent to publiccomments@somervillema.gov by end of day Sept 11, 2026. To watch the meeting visit https://somervillema.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
If you found this article of interest, please consider sharing it.
