SOMERVILLE –
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the Financial Advisory
Committee (FAC) convened in January has issued a series of
recommendations designed to ensure the City's long-term financial
sustainability. The FAC, made up of five representatives from the
business, nonprofit and financial sectors, made its recommendations
after a series of meetings with City officials and an extensive review
of information about the Somerville's finances and municipal
operations. The FAC's key recommendations span the areas of health
care; fees and fines; competitive sourcing; regionalization of
services; cost recovery; wages and salaries; capital assets; programs
and policies such as Pay-As-You-Throw trash disposal and the rezoning
of business districts.

"All of us were honored to assist the
Mayor and people of Somerville in responding to this historic
challenge," said Samuel Tyler, President of the Boston Municipal
Research Bureau.  "Our report is based on a wide-ranging review of
Somerville's operations, structure and policies. We were impressed by
the expertise of the current administration as well as its grasp of the
city's fiscal challenges and their potential solutions.  These
recommendations underscore our belief that this crisis demands more
than incremental change.  To preserve core public services, municipal
leaders will require, and should receive, greater flexibility so that
they can take decisive action in both the design and management of city
operations."

"I sincerely thank all of the members of the FAC
for volunteering their time and effort on this critical task," said
Mayor Curtatone. "I have been impressed by both the breadth and
thoughtfulness of the committee's discussions throughout this process
and I look forward to reviewing their recommendations. Given the fiscal
realities facing municipalities across the Commonwealth, we have
already begun working internally to identify opportunities for
cost-savings, increased efficiencies and new revenue options. This
committee has given us the opportunity to tap into the wealth of
knowledge and experience on these issues that exists in Somerville and
our surrounding communities.

I am eager to get to work on analyzing their suggested actions and implementing them wherever appropriate and feasible."

Mayor
Curtatone convened the FAC to provide expert financial advice designed
to help the City maintain its ability to provide core services while
facing both severe cuts in state and a deepening economic recession.
The FAC included Ronald Bonney, Jr., President of Bonney Automotive and
Executive Committee Member of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce;
Geoffrey Hargadon, Sr.Vice President for Investments, UBS Financial
Services; Professor Daniel Richards of the Tufts University Economics
Department Barry R. Sloane, President and Co-CEO of Century Bancorp;
and Samuel Tyler, President of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau.

Additionally,
Mayor Curtatone and City Finance staff presented to the Board of
Aldermen and the School Committee at a special meeting on Monday, May
4th, on the latest state and local factors affecting the City's Fiscal
Year 2010 budget. Curtatone presented a number of cost-savings and
revenue generating options and urged the Board of Aldermen to take
immediate and decisive action in order to bridge the budget gap.

The
recommendations will be reviewed internally and, where deemed
appropriate, implemented. For the complete recommendations and
accompanying report, as well as additional information on the City's
budget please visit: http://www.somervillema.gov/spotlight.cfm?id=73.

The
zoning adoption is critical during this time of revival as the city
awaits the arrival of the Green Line extension in Union Square, city
officials agree. Developers will be attracted to building opportunities
there, and passing the overlay protection will ensure that uses are set
aside for the artists.

"This is a very positive development
and the two-fold aspect is the most intriguing," said Richard Graf, the
real estate advisor to ArtistLink, an arm of the Massachusetts Cultural
Council that helps artists find work space. "This will help the
artists, and help the square. I'm glad it stayed in the
legislation…It will help solidify the character of the square for
creative businesses and help speed up the redevelopment."

Passed
at the city's Board of Alderman's meeting on April 23, the zoning
ordinance has been in the works for the past fours years, with the goal
to restore Union Square as the commercial center and better position it
for the Green Line extension that will be in place by 2014. City
officials have been saying that Union Square is a "hidden gem" that
needs more attention.

The zoning will create three new areas:
A commercial district spanning Washington Street and Somerville Avenue,
a transit district around the proposed T stop and the arts overlay
district that will encourage artists to take up residence.

The
arts overlay district was created to encourage the preservation and
enhancement of arts-related uses, particularly within Union Square,
according to the zoning ordinance posted at www.somervillema.gov/
(click on "city departments," then "planning and zoning" and "Union
Square rezoning proposal" and then "rezoning proposal 2008" and finally
onto "Zoning amendment – adopted and ordained April 23, 2009.")

The
district is also intended to preserve and enhance the area as a center
for a variety of retail, business services, housing and office uses, as
well as to promote a strong "pedestrian character and scale" throughout
the district.

Specifically, the new zoning clarifies the following:

•
The definition of artist live/work space as a building or any portion
containing units of at least 750 square feet used for both residential
and artist studio space. These households must include at least one
artist certified by the city. Retail sales of art produced on site will
not take place more than 12 hours per week.

• The definition of an artist studio space as space used for the creation, production, rehearsal or

teaching of any visual art or craft, "including but not limited to painting, drawing, graphic

design, photography, video, film, sculpture, and pottery; of written works of fiction or

nonfiction; or of any performing art, whether for live or recorded performance, including

music, dance, and theater, and accessory sales of such art."

•
Expanding the definition of an artists as a "visual artist,
craftsperson, musician or other performing artist, photographer or
writer" and the office of an architect or landscape architect.

Parking
requirements will also be relaxed within the overlay district. For
example, an applicant may make either a cash payment in lieu of
providing the required parking, or a partial cash payment, according to
the ordinance, although it didn't specify amounts. The minimum parking
requirements may also be reduced if applicants submit a plan
demonstrating that such reduction will not have adverse community
impacts.

The detailed, 50-page ordinance also outlines design
guidelines that encompass signage and awning design, locations of
entrances, building materials, pedestrian access, parking design, and
so on. The Planning Board will serve as the special permit granting
authority for arts-related uses. Variances would be granted separately
by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

City officials are relieved to
finally create clarity between what the arts community wants to do and
what the inspectional services department sees can actually happen,
said Greg Jenkins, executive director of the Somerville Arts Council.

Changing
the previous vague term "artist housing" to defining what is an artist
live/work space and what is an artist studio, with explicit parameters,
is important to the artist community, Jenkins said. The ordinance also
broadens the actual definition of art.

He added this is not
just related to Union Square. "If you want to put an artist studio on
Highland Avenue, there was never a defined use for one," he said.

For
developers, the ordinance provides incentives to build for artist use,
which is also good news for artists, Jenkins said. He added that the
ordinance does not call for more building, but creates incentive or
disincentive for certain kinds of development. "It creates a baseline
by which the city says this is the type of activity that you want
here," he said. "It's about relief for artists."

Will the new
zoning laws create more studio space? "We don't know yet," Jenkins
said. "It still takes money and a developer," he said. Once the economy
turns around, the city will see more of what is to come.

Developers
will be eyeballing Union Square as the Green Line project picks up, so
having the zoning in place will keep the attention on the arts and
provide a framework for developers to follow, said Beth Driscoll, a
longtime resident, artist and former Somerville Arts Council board
member, who worked closely with the city over the past four years.

It
means a lot for the future economy of Union Square, as artists are a
proven economic catalyst for underdeveloped areas, she said.

"The
decision to reward development for arts related uses will benefit
everyone in the city by making the Union Square district a more
desirable place to live and work, while also encouraging economic
growth," Driscoll said.

Dokens Joseph, age 21,
was arrested Friday in Somerville and charged with two counts of
perjury. He was arraigned in Woburn Superior Court and ordered held on
$100,000 cash bail.

Each perjury charge carries a maximum 10-year sentence upon conviction.

"We
allege that this defendant has useful information regarding our
investigation into the murder of Charline Rosemond, yet chose to
knowingly provide false information under oath," District Attorney
Leone said. "We will continue to prosecute those who willfully choose
to lie under oath or obstruct our investigation into this homicide."
According to authorities, on Wednesday, April 8, Rosemond, 23, of
Everett, was reported missing to Everett Police after failing to return
home from work. When she was last seen, she was believed to have been
driving her father's car, a gray Honda Civic.

On, Monday, April
13, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Somerville Police reported that they
had found the vehicle parked behind 10 Webster Avenue in Somerville. In
the car they found the victim and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and ruled the
death a homicide caused by a single gunshot wound to the head.

Massachusetts
State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office,
Everett Police and Somerville Police are conducting a homicide
investigation to determine the circumstances of the victim's death.

Joseph
is a significant witness in the case and it is alleged that he
knowingly provided false material information to a Grand Jury during
this investigation.

Members of the public with information that
they believe may be helpful to the investigation can call Everett
Police at 617-394-2462, Somerville Police at 617 625-1212, or
Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District
Attorney's Office 781-897-6650. These charges are allegations, and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is
being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Doug Cannon and Elisha
Willis. The investigation is being conducted by Somerville Police,
Everett Police, and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the
Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

The Shape Up
Somerville program, originating from a Tufts University research study
that targeted Somerville elementary school students, is run in
conjunction with the Somerville Health Department and a supporting
taskforce that has been responsible for numerous community health
initiatives in the area. Nicole Rioles, the Coordinator of the Shape Up
Somerville program, states, "the goal of the Shape Up Somerville
program is to help create an affordable environment where people can
eat smart and live healthy." SUS has supported a variety of health
related community programs that include the extension of the green
line, the creation of more bike lanes, the support of the local
farmer's markets, as well as establishing safe, walkable routes to area
schools.

Shape Up Somerville has also helped make advances in
the general nutrition of school lunches in an effort to fight childhood
obesity. Sunday's event was helped out by many of the organizations and
businesses that have integrated themselves into SUS's vision of a
healthier Somerville. Whole Foods, Farmer Dave's Market, the
Massachusetts WIC Nutrition Program, and the Green Streets Initiative
were all on hand to lend their support to SUS's motto of "Eat Smart,
Move More, Live Better."

The race itself was predicated by a
half-mile 12 and under children's "fun run," which, despite a wrong
turn or two by some of the kids, began a great day at Somerville High.
The road race began at 11am and was a 2.7-mile loop that started and
ended in the Somerville High School parking lot. Participants ranged in
experience levels from daily competitive runners to people who were out
to support a good cause and enjoy some family fun. "Runners varied in
age from a 3 1/2 year old to a man in his seventies–so we had the
whole community!" said Rioles. Several parents were running while
pushing their child in a stroller including Karen Friedman from Sharon
MA. Karen, who was running a race for the first time with her son
Aaron, described the day as a "terrific, family friendly event."

The
race was won by 23-year-old Somerville resident Matt Tobey, who
finished his second competitive run ever with an impressive time of
18:24. The women's champion was Meghan Thurlow, also of Somerville, who
finished the race soon behind Matt with a time of 20:43. With every
impressive run, was an equally intriguing back-story. "A runner told me
that he ran this road race over twenty years ago," said Rioles, "and he
dropped his hand below his shoulder to show his youth and height at the
time, with a laugh." The event brought back the old tradition of the
Somerville 5k road race while incorporating the new spirit of a
consciously healthy community. "This race was a nice homecoming for the
runner who participated decades ago," said Rioles, "and it was a fun
run for new comers as well. I registered couples, friends, siblings,
co-workers, and parents with their children. It included every dynamic
duo!"

At the conclusion of the race, the event coordinators put
on a free family barbeque and a Health and Wellness Fair, which
included educational and nutritional information from the
aforementioned partners of SUS. The BBQ and the implementation of the
race were helped extensively by Somerville High's athletic department.
Program Director George Scarpelli and student-athlete volunteers helped
map out the course for runners and had food and beverages ready for all
participants. Partial proceeds of the event will go to Somerville youth
athletics and should help fund the football teams' trip to an off
campus training camp.

Several local organizations
including Groundwork Somerville, Somerville Community Corporation,
STEP, and the Somerville Community Health Agenda have banded together
to create the Community Corridor Planning Project, a collaboration that
aims to work together in order to create an organized and collective
community voice that will impact the development process.

"We
want to amplify community input with an organized community process so
that when we give our input to the city, we have a stronger voice,"
said Meredith Levy from the Somerville Community Corporation. "It's
important for all of us to help plan for the future."

Once
completed, the Green line extension will provide a projected seven
stops beyond the current Lechmere Station location, including stops in
Union Square, Brickbottom, Gilman Square, Lowell Street, Ball Square,
College Street, and Mystic Valley.

Each of these locations were
represented at the meeting by concerned and interested residents during
small group activities in which neighbors discussed the positive and
negative attributes of their current neighborhoods and how the Green
line may affect those attributes. Ultimately, organizers were looking
to generate ideas from these discussions to present to city planners
that are designing the Green line corridor in hopes of creating a space
that is beneficial for the residents of the areas that will be affected.

The
city of Somerville sent two of it's senior planners, Keith Craig and
Brad Rossem, to present some of the statistics and data that has been
collected in order to aid in creating a Citywide Plan. According to
Craig, a citywide plan is essentially a comprehensive vision for the
future of Somerville, and includes the needs and wants of Somerville's
residents.. The Green Line corridor is a very large component of the
citywide plan and the planners made it very clear that community input
and opinion is integral to the process as it begins to get off the
ground.

According to the statistics presented at the meeting,
Somerville is a very transient immigrant city, with two-thirds of it's
population being renters and some sections of the city are as high as
80% renters. The installation of the Green Line throughout Somerville
will of course increase mobility throughout the city. Currently, 35% of
Somerville residents are within walking distance of the one train
station in Somerville. By December 31, 2014, it is estimated that 85%
of Somerville residents will be within a ten minute walk of a train
station.

The participant response to the meeting was
overwhelmingly positive. Most felt they had a stronger grasp on what to
expect over the next several months and years, and many felt they
learned something or were exposed to ideas they hadn't yet considered.
Some participants expressed concern for a loss of safety, which has
improved over the last five years, while others hoped that small ethnic
businesses would remain in tact with rising rents.

Victor
Oliveira, a young volunteer at the Somerville Boys and Girls Club and
high school student thought it was an eye-opening experience. "I've
always thought about the Green Line expansion as a good thing without
considering the negative. I never thought about safety issues or a loss
of diversity. This has been really interesting for me."

***************

Don't forget the SHS
Scholarship Foundation drawing this week on the 8th at the High School
at the Highland Café at 7 pm Р24 prizes and door prizes with a grand
prize of $10k.

***************

Well known and former
community activist Annette Wiswall was at the Brune breakfast last
Sunday and it was nice seeing her there even after all the hospital
stays and operations over the past several months, she is bouncing back
and looks very good. Annette and her husband Allan were very involved
in the community going back to the early 70's and she didn't need to
hang her hat on a label other then trying to make Somerville a better
place to live.

***************

Looks like at least one
PDSer will have competition for re-election this year, word about town
is well known Somerville pundit Jimmy Campano is seriously thinking of
making a run against Princess Rebekah of Ward 6. We also hear that at
least one and possible two of the PDSers on the School Committee will
be facing competition this year as well.

***************

Condolences
to the family and friends of Angelo Polito who sadly passed away last
week. Angelo was a nice person and he will be missed, he also is the
dad of Police Lt. Jim Polito.

***************

A get well
soon out to Joyce Murphy who is at home recovering after a brief stay
at Beth Israel Hospital. We hear that her husband Larry is a good cook,
so at least she on the mend and will be back to good health soon!

***************

Congratulations
to Somerville firefighter and Local 78 President Jay Corbett who was
elected last week to serve as legislative agent for the Professional
Firefighters of MA. Jay will join Boston Firefighters President Ed
Kelly as the two legislative agents, and will represent the statewide
union that includes 12,000 firefighters from across Massachusetts on
legislative issues.

***************

Speaking of the local
fire fighters we hear that a resolution was proposed and sponsored by
10 Aldermen to support our local fire firefighters, guess Rebekah from
Ward 6 didn't sign the resolution.

***************

Yellow
journalism is alive and well over at the PDS camp, we hear not only are
they calling themselves journalists but now they want to raise money to
pay someone to investigate the so called corrupt politicians here in
Somerville – whoever they are at the moment. Maybe they should spend
money more wisely on being more positive here in the community instead
of tearing everything apart!

***************

Congressman
Mike Capuano is having a local fundraiser this Friday night over at
Sagra in Davis Square – Mike has always been down to earth and we can
be lucky to have one of our own as our Congressman, he's a straight
shooter and never been bashful.

***************

There
will be a free parent workshop presented by Dr. Jill Kasper of the
Broadway Health Center on Physical Changes: Early childhood through
middle school including puberty. The workshop will be held in the
Winter Hill Community School library on May 19th from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Pizza will be served and a door prize will be given out at each
session. This workshop is open to all families in the Somerville Public
Schools. Free child care is available. RSVP is required – e-mail the
PTA at winterhillpta@yahoo.com or leave a message at 617-625-9310.

***************

The
2009 All City Elementary Spring Concert will be next Thursday, May 14th
at 7 pm in the Somerville High Auditorium (81 Highland Ave). This is
always a terrific show and we encourage everyone to try and make it –
tickets will be available at the door.

***************

The
Executive Office of Transportation, the City of Cambridge and City
Councilor and State Representative Tim Toomey are sponsoring a
community meeting to discuss the relocation of Lechmere Station and the
Green Line Extension Project. The meeting will feature presentations on
the overall Green Line Extension as well as specifics about the new
Lechmere Station and associated roadway changes including multiple new
pedestrian crossings of McGrath/O'Brien Highway. The meeting will be
held on, Wednesday May 20th from 6 – 8 PM at the Kennedy-Longfellow
School Auditorium, 158 Spring Street Cambridge.

***************

The
Annual Mystic River Herring Run (5K) and Paddle will be Sunday, May
17th at 9am at the DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive,
Somerville, MA. $20 for run or paddle race, $30 for both. T-shirt
included if pre-registered. Run, walk and/or paddle with the fish! Race
along a flat and fast (USATF certified) course on the
Medford/Somerville Mystic River bike path, dashing past thousands of
herring returning from the ocean back to the Mystic River. Or hop in
your canoe or kayak and paddle up the river following the herring up
toward the Mystic Lakes following a 3 mile or 12 mile course. Compete
in both races & be eligible for the coveted Iron Herring award for
the male and female with the fastest overall time in the 5K & the
12 mile paddle. This is a great opportunity for all ages to enjoy the
Mystic in one of its urban jewel settings. Register at mysticriver.org
or for more information, contact: Kim Provo of the Mystic River
Watershed Association – www.mysticriver.org – 781-316-3438

Earlier
that day, Gov. Deval Patrick announced state revenues in April fell
more than $450 million below what had been predicted – adding another
hurdle as some city officials continue to raise concerns about the data
the city is working from.

"We're trying to build a house on
shifting sands here," Ward 7 Aldermen Bob Trane said at an April 28
budget hearing held by both the Board of Aldermen and the School
Committee. "We need to get some clarification from our leaders on
Beacon Hill."

In January, the city was confronted with a $3
million shortfall when Patrick announced mid-year aid cuts to the
FY2009 budget. The FY2010 budget, which begins July 1, is also expected
to face mid-year cuts – with the exact amount of aid a constantly
changing number as the State Legislature moves toward finalizing a
budget.

The projected deficit for FY2010, according to the mayor's office, is between "$7 – $11+ million."

Among
the recommendations presented to the Board of Aldermen and School
Committee on May 4 were one week furloughs for police officers and
other city personnel, and increasing the premium city employees must
pay for their health insurance.

Curtatone said the plan calls
for $4.79 million in total cuts from payroll, health insurance
contributions, and pension plan adjustments.

In addition to
the cuts, the plan calls for an increase in parking fines and meter
fees, and for parking permits to be issued citywide. The revamped fees
will bring in an estimated $2.39 million in additional revenue.

Some
of the proposals echoed residents' suggestions given at the April 28
public forum, where ideas ranged from increasing parking ticket fees to
consolidating 911 call centers

At that meeting, Superintendent
Tony Pierantozzi noted that two thirds of students live at or below the
poverty line, and that among the suggested school budget cuts
introducing activities fees was among the worst options.

"A
longstanding tenet in the Somerville public schools is that fees do not
belong," he said. "What fees would do for us is create a bifurcated
system: those who can afford things and those who cannot."

Human
Rights Commission co-chair Cesar Urrunaga asked why Curtatone would
support a sales tax increase when "it hurts those who don't make a lot
of money more." Curtatone later said while he lacked faith in the
Legislature to provide long term solutions to the budget deficit, the
city should take what it offers.

"I'll be the first hypocrite in
line to take that money for our city," Curtatone said. "There are very
few people on Beacon Hill who have a clue what it takes to run a
municipality."

A report from a financial advisory committee
assembled by Curtatone to analyze the city's budget options was
expected Tuesday as the Somerville News went to press.

The recommendations for the FY2010 city budget can be found at www.somervillema.gov/spotlight.cfm?id=73.

But
there comes a "tipping point" where the rational opinion in this space
is in dire need of a "Reality Bites" type of infusion. And we resist
that, for the most part.

The problem is, that there is this
undercurrent of craziness flowing through this city – being propagated
by a certain group, okay, just a few members of that certain group. You
would like to assume that they act a little crazy with at least the
best of intentions – for example – the Mystic View Task Force. Think
they're a little "off the reservation"? Well we used to, but then it
sunk in – they did have good intentions, and in the end, it all worked
out.

It's hard for us to be able to stomach what's been
happening here in the 'ville recently by this small segment of this
little so-called "activist" group. Time goes by, and you want to
believe, Hell – we want to believe – that they have the best interests
of the community as a whole at heart, but they just disappoint every
time. It's a shame, because this very community over the past 40 to 50
years has grown in immeasurable ways as a result of organized activism.

History,
even local history, has shown that a few can ruin the reputation of
many. This is true today in this tiny little group of people – we dare
not even label them with a moniker – fearing it might give them any
remote sense of being.

Can't figure out who we are referring to? Oh come on – well, alright – we will give you a couple of hints.

They
get elected to office with a song and dance, chanting things like
"transparency" and "open government for all" and then hold "secret
meetings" and only invite a few select people.

They call
themselves journalists – which is insulting to those people who work in
that declining industry – and they have the audacity to call an email
interaction between a "nut" and an elected official an "interview."

They
call for the end of name calling – but then in seemingly the very next
breath – call those people names in an effort to gain some kind of
warped respectability.

They call themselves followers of faith,
but then suggest to eliminate one of the most important holy days in
the Christian faith from the public school calendar.

They call
themselves historians and want to profess their intimate knowledge of
all things Somerville – but they have no clue about history, tradition,
respect – when some of their own "kind" call such an important holiday
in our country's history an "annoying holiday."

Still can't
figure it out who "they" are yet? Good – then you are untainted by the
lunacy dear reader. For the rest of us who have lived here our whole
lives, and will live here the rest of our lives, we will be here long
after the nuts are gone. Thank God.

Curtatone reported that the city faces a 6 to 10
million dollar deficit this next fiscal year, which begins on June 1,
but maintained that Somerville is "in pretty decent shape," noting that
the prospective budget cuts are not going to be worse than they were
under Governor Romney.

Curtatone spoke of the need to diversify
Somerville's sources of revenue, and not to keep "all our eggs in one
basket". Currently, the city's main revenue sources are state aid,
taxes, and fines and fees.

There will also be reductions in
expenditures, he said. Since 78% of Somerville's $165M budget is spent
on personnel, savings may be obtained from increasing health care
contributions for state employees, wage freezes, furloughs, and
consolidation of employees, as well as hiring and overtime
restrictions, and restrictive purchasing policies. In line with this
statement, the city announced on Monday that Somerville officers
holding the rank of sergeant and higher have agreed to a three-year
contract with a zero percent pay increase, one week furlough, and 15%
increase in health care contributions.

The city is also looking
at opportunities to increase revenue, which the mayor said might come
from parking enforcement changes and selling or leasing city-owned
properties.

Curtatone emphasized that cuts will be in line
with the city's policy goals. So what won't be cut? According to
Curtatone, anti-gang programs, career initiatives, and library funding
will stay put. "The last thing we need is teens with nothing to do," he
said of his plans to maintain the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program, which
helps youths find summer employment in the community. He also noted the
importance of maintaining funding for education.

Some steps the
mayor hopes to complete will require the cooperation of external
agents, such as the regionalization of service delivery. Curtatone
mentioned that for such a large state, it is not yet taking advantage
of economies of scale.

The distribution of stimulus funds was
also addressed by the mayor, and brought up during the question and
answer period that followed the presentation.

"We need the go
ahead on the stimulus," the mayor said of the status of the Assembly
Square project, which both he and Senator Kerry called "shovel-ready"
back in February when they visited the site. A city-funded road needs
to be in place before the construction of the IKEA site can begin, he
said. The mayor, along with a couple audience members, expressed dismay
that stimulus funds seem to be going toward repaving projects over
"smart growth" projects such as that in Assembly Square, which will
have a lasting economic impact on the community in terms of revenue and
employment. Curtatone again praised Assembly Square as a model stimulus
project, saying that since there has been a 50% decline in economic
value of such development projects, augmenting private funding with
stimulus money can help keep beneficial smart growth projects on track.

One repaving project that was acknowledged to be badly needed,
however, is Washington Street. The bickering seems to continue over
whether Boston is going to pay to repave it, as it pledged to following
the installation of the I-93 off-ramp. The Charlestown portion of the
street was repaved in recent weeks, but stops just short of the Holiday
Inn, with significant potholes marking the beginning of Somerville.
Curtatone said that he is pushing for it to be put back into Boston's
budget, since it would free up Somerville funds to go toward other
important areas.

"Collaboration
is key to helping kids, families and schools be school ready," says
Davidson. Most of the funding for this event was given in the form of a
grant, the Quality Full-day Kindergarten Grant, given by the
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. The goal of this
meeting was to decide how to make the transition from preschool to
kindergarten easier for both kids and parents. Tony Pierantozzi,
Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools, gave a small speech. "Here
in Somerville, we're lucky because our legislative delegation has
always supported early childhood activities," Pierantozzi said to the
people gathered there. He reminded them to be proud of the city they
live in, and to get the word out about the good things in Somerville
"not only involving school-age children and young adults, but
throughout the city in general. It's a city that's coming; it's a city
that's changing dramatically."

Cory Mashburn, a presenter,
talked about his parent-navigator program. "We speak to the parents of
Somerville that are bilingual and we discuss mental health services
with them." These parents are encouraged to go through training in
order to make themselves better aware if their child is in need of
psychiatric help or drug rehabilitation. In the course of a few hours,
Mashburn, like all the other presenters, travels to several small
tables promoting his plan. "It's our version of speed dating," jokes
Pamela Holmes, one of the facilitators of the meeting.

Dr.
John Lippitt, who worked many years in the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health, spoke of his organization, Thrive in 5 Boston. This is
an organization whose primary objective is to make sure kids are ready,
able and willing to succeed in school and to change the perception in
society, so it is more accommodating to each child's success in school.
"The healthy development of all young children…benefits all of
society by providing a solid foundation for responsible citizens…"
Ensuring a child's success, says Lippitt, is done in open forums just
like this one the Dante Club where parents and educators and academics
can have a healthy discussion and, in time, try to make solutions for
the consistent problems of teaching bilingual children, children with
special needs or children who may have mental health issues. Standing
in the way of solving these problems is a lack of funding. "When we
invaded Iraq, the government didn't worry about money; when it bailed
out the financial industry, the same. So when they say we don't have
money, don't take no for an answer," says Lippitt to heavy applause.

Daniel
Dessin, a parent in Somerville in attendance at this meeting, says "I'm
just coming to learn how I can make it an easier transition for my
kids."