Dear Santa Claus (or God, Abraham, Mohammed, Allah – whomever will listen) –
thank you for 2007 – a year that seemed to start slow, but picked up the pace as the months passed by.

For us at The Somerville News, it started off with the “excommunication” of a certain self-destructive former editor and rolled right into the Barack Obama “ticket-gate.”

In the middle part of the year, there seemed to be a bit of a lull, with only the “will he get it or won’t he get it” Bradley magical mystery tour keeping us entertained.

Then there was the primary of all primaries – and the bizarre coupling of Lenny DiCicco and Rick Scirocco – who could forget the supposed threat, the ancient white limo, the megaphone pleas or the staggering voter interest? Oh, you forgot already? Exactly.

Personally, we will miss Tony Fedele, Joe Mackey, the Tir na nOg, Jimmy Tingle’s and the East Somerville Community School.

For 2008, we would love to see the complete “exorcism” of that certain former editor, fewer fires, lower crime and just one year without any incidents/scandals/illegal activities amongst the people we place our public trust (read that any way you like, it’s meant to make you wonder what we mean). This is a great city – with tremendous opportunities ahead of it – we aren’t going anywhere, and we hope you will take the journey with us.

We have never claimed to be the owners of a magical crystal ball. And some of our predictions from past years never did come true (No police officer was kicked off the force in 2007 much to our surprise). But next week brings a new year and who knows, maybe all eight of our predictions for 2008 will come true. Here they are:
1. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone will revive plans to bring a jail to the city. In August Curtatone seemed to back off earlier enthusiastic endorsements for a plan to build a Middlesex County Jail in East Somerville but we suspect with an election behind him he will once again explore ways to bring a jail to the city as a way to avoid a $40 million bill for a new police building. Speaking of the dilapidated public safety building…

2. The city will announce plans to shut down its infested and unhealthy public safety building as a way to avoid being on the receiving end of a huge legal bill. If Curtatone can navigate the issue successfully he would have solved many of the problems he inherited from previous administrations.

3. The Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) will slip further into irrelevance. After big wins from the likes of Carl Sciortino, Pat Jehlen and Rebekah Gewirtz PDS seemed to be the major political force in the city but after big losses from the likes of Marty Martinez and Rachel Heller in 2007 the group seemed to lose its grasp on city voters. Look for that trend to continue in 2008 as…

4. Carl Sciortino will have an opponent for his state representative seat. Sciortino may pull out a victory because of his incumbency status but look for his still unknown opponent to pull in some wide support, particularly in Medford and Winter Hill.

5. The editor of the city‚Äôs only neighborhood newsletter will self-destruct. We don‚Äôt know how or why but trust us on this one — it‚Äôs going to happen.

6. Chief Anthony Holloway will fit nicely into his role as chief of the Somerville Police Department. After spending six to eight months learning about the unique personalities and personality disorders in his department, Holloway will adjust to the city and do a fine job as top cop.

7. One of the mayor’s top aides will resign by March and continue the revolving door in and out of City Hall. We’re not ready to say who yet, but stay tuned. It’s going to happen.

8. Federal immigration authorities will come into the city and arrest suspected MS-13 members. Bleeding heart types will be long on complaints and rhetoric but short on actual instances of wrongdoing by the authorities.