Spring
has arrived, and Somerville residents living near I-93, McGrath
Highway, and Mystic Avenue wake up each morning to hear the
birds…coughing. Our fair city is unusually burdened by the major
roadways that pass through it and their impacts on our health.

Many
observers have speculated that these impacts account for why we have
the highest rate per square mile of excessive heart disease and lung
cancer deaths among Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns. Yet, we smoke
less and have no industrial air pollution sources.

Now, a $2.5
million study called the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and
Health (CAFEH) will attempt to determine whether, and how much, roadway
pollution is affecting Somerville residents. Tufts University
researchers will collect air samples in neighborhoods near I-93. They
will randomly select neighborhood residents, extensively interview
them, collect blood samples to identify inflammatory markers, and
follow them for five years.

Concerns about highway pollution are
not new to Somervillians, nor have we been naïve. Almost 40 years ago,
East Somerville residents formed Somerville Citizens for Adequate
Transportation to oppose I-93 cutting through the heart of their
neighborhood, and then to persuade the Commonwealth to build below the
surrounding grade.

State officials refused on both counts.
They did promise to build a barrier between the expressway and the
neighborhood, and to plant trees along it. They did neither.

At
the time, Governor John Volpe's administration commissioned a study to
forecast I-93's air quality impacts in Somerville. Researchers found
that it would create air pollution as much as ten times higher than
federally allowable limits. The study was never made public.

What
the researchers did not know was that tiny particles produced by
vehicles are much deadlier and much more local in their impact than the
pollutants that were studied. There are as many as 1.6 million fine and
ultrafine particles in every cubic inch of vehicle exhaust. When
inhaled, most are retained deep in the lungs or passed into the
bloodstream and transmitted to the heart and brain.

In the years
since I-93's construction, over 2,000 scientific papers have studied
particles and their health impacts. Among their findings are that
people living within 100 meters (325 feet) of a major highway have a
death rate from lung cancer, heart attacks, and other cardiopulmonary
diseases that is 95% higher than that of the national population.

Because
younger kids have developing organs, a higher metabolism, and
proportionately more air sacs in their lungs, they absorb twice the
particles that adults do. Those who live near highways tend to develop
only 80% of their lung capacity or less.

The Mystic View Task
Force in the late 1990s took up the work begun by Somerville Citizens
for Adequate Transportation. They not only objected to squandering
substantial tax- and job-creation opportunities on the development of
big-box stores. They were also concerned about the impacts of the
enormous traffic increases created by those stores on neighbors' health
and wellbeing.

Instead of protecting citizens' interests, city
government violated its own laws to favor developers. Mystic View
brought a series of successful lawsuits. One outcome of the resulting
settlement agreement was a development plan that reduced projected
vehicle trips from 100,000 to 50,000 per day, a reduction equal to the
I-93 capacity increase created by the big dig.

Another of the
settlement's outcomes was Federal Real Estate Investment Trust's
commitment to fund a $50,000 study to measure the amount and location
in Somerville of the deadly particles produced by I-93. It found very
high levels of ultrafines close to the expressway and especially
downwind, which is usually on the Ten Hills side.

The Tufts
research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, will now study
what impacts those particle concentrations are having on neighbors'
health. The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP), along
with community groups from Chinatown and South Boston, collaborated in
writing and submitting the study's funding application, and they will
help to oversee its execution.

STEP President Ellin Reisner
explains that their intent is not just to measure the amount and kind
of pollutants in Somerville air, but to determine pollutants' impacts
on neighbors' health. Everyone on the eastern side of the city knows
someone who has suffered from asthma, emphysema, heart disease, or lung
cancer. But we need to know how common this is and whether it can be
explained by factors such as preexisting conditions and other sources
of exposure to pollutants.

The research team does not want to
alarm people about conditions that have already existed for decades.
Instead, they want to develop solid evidence that can be a basis for
policy makers' and ordinary citizens' efforts to improve health
conditions.

There is little point in worrying about what we
cannot control. But working together to identify and undertake actions
that can really make a difference will increase the wellbeing of us all.

Currently,
Grafton is involved in a project called Shift Across America. He
defines the purpose of his new project as, "A unique and exciting way
for the Local Movement to continue to grow." The "road trip will tell
the story of the Shift happening in communities around our country. It
will document the Local Independent Business, Music, and Art movement
across America."

The Weekly Dig, as well as Somerville Local
First, will sponsor the journey, which will commence on approximately
May 14 and will span an estimated two and 1/2 weeks.

However, additional finances are needed for Grafton to embark on his ambitious trek.

Therefore,
a fundraiser on May 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 242 East Berkeley Street
in Somerville will take place. It is not necessary to R. S. V.P. to
this event, and entry, food, and beer are free. The Board President of
SLF, the Publisher of the Dig, and Grafton will speak.

Individuals
will be encouraged to make a donation. Grafton estimates that the cost
of the trip will range from $3,500 and $4,500.

To round out the
evening, photography, which Grafton took himself will be available. He
foresees that it will be "a great conversation piece" will also be
sold. "Folks can see the artist installation for the month, at
www.space242.com."

Categorically, the photos deal with
landscape, still life, event photography and the Local Independent
Movement/10% Shift. Prints, custom matted, will be obtainable from
$100, according to him.

Would you like to discover more about
Shift Across America? When his journey begins, Grafton will jump into
his personal vehicle and spread the Shift's message to a handful of
cities, nationwide. Although he will be cruising in such a mode of
transportation, he "will be offsetting the environmental impact of the
trip." He is considering planting a tree in each city.

His trip
will commence in Somerville. Then, he will pay the following cities a
visit: Cambridge, Boston, and Worcester, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH,
Burlington VT, Portland ME, multiple towns in Blackstone Valley RI –
Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport, Albany NY, Buffalo NY, Grand Rapids
MI, Chicago IL, Denver CO, Salt Lake City UT, San Francisco, Oakland,
and Berkeley CA. Phoenix AZ, Santa Fe NM, Austin TX, Brewton AL,
Charleston SC, Baltimore MD, and Philadelphia PA will complete his
journey.

Further, "The purpose of this project is to help people
see that there is a tremendous amount of work and success happening to
revitalize our communities across America. Through work with SLF &
the 10% Shift, I have had the great fortune to connect with many of
these leaders. I want the readers to realize that we are at an apex of
social change, that we are not alone in our desire for a more
sustainable and equitable economy," said Grafton.

"This idea
started because of the National BALLE conference, which will take place
in Denver [from May 21 to May 23]." At that conference, he will be
presented with the opportunity to engage in conversation and swap
ideas, pertaining to the Shift, with other involved "Local
Independents."

There, he will meet and interview some of the
leading directors of Local Business Networks, Local Independent
Business owners, Alternative Media Publishers, High Performing
Musicians and Artists. After that stop, he will be able to recount
their stories in the remaining cities and hopes that others realize the
importance of the Shift, according to a press release.

Finally,
"creative arts have played a vital role in most recent social shifts.
Around the country artists and musicians are doing incredible work to
build sustainable and more connected communities," said Grafton.

Individuals
who are unable to attend this event but are interested in sending a
donation to the organization may to donate send a check to: Somerville
Local First c/o Shift Across America PO Box 402 Somerville, MA 02143.

This is the first – and so far, the only – case of H1N1 flu in Somerville.

The
patient experienced no complications and did not require
hospitalization. She is already fully recovered and has passed through
what is expected to be her contagious period.

She wisely
isolated herself as soon as her symptoms appeared, and she reported her
symptoms to her primary care provider, who alerted state officials and
ordered appropriate screening tests.

None of her reported contacts have been indentified as either probable or confirmed for H1N1 influenza at this time.

The
Massachusetts Department of Public Health is taking the lead in a full
and continuing investigation of the case but, at this time, we are not
aware of any institutional exposures – at schools, workplaces or other
locations – that would warrant any concern or follow-up.

It is
standard operating procedure for local and state public health
officials to collaborate and share information in the case of
communicable disease.

Somerville residents should rest assured
that the City's public health staff, including our public health and
school nurses – and our partners in the Cambridge Health Alliance
service network – will remain vigilant in identifying and investigating
all cases of flu or flu-like symptoms.

The public should also be
of aware that the City of Somerville has been, and will be, involved in
continued preparedness efforts and contingency planning should a wider
outbreak occur.

Residents should also be confident that we will
share all official information as soon as we have it – and that the
latest information about influenza is always available on our website, www.somervillema.gov, where you will also find links to updated information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC.

While past contests have been won
by groups who focused on maximizing the energy-efficiency of their
designs, Tufts and the BAC are taking a broader approach, explained
Bill Moomaw, professor of international environmental policy at Tufts
and one of the project's leaders.

"What we need to do is bring
solar panels to everybody. We don't want to just build a solar house.
We want to build an affordable house," he said at the groundbreaking
ceremony.

By integrating the environmental and economic sides of
sustainability, the project will emphasize that "everything is
connected," said Jeff Stein, Dean of the BAC. "Today, there is only one
ecology, one big system of which we are all a part," he explained.
Architects and builders, he implied, must consider the sustainability,
not just the affordability, of their buildings.

The house will
be small-only 800 square feet, as stipulated by the contest rules-but
will contain many innovative and affordable features, said Kevin Horne
in a presentation following the groundbreaking. Horne, a BAC graduate
student, is one of the project's student directors.

He explained
that the roof of the house will be covered not only with solar panels
but also with "solar collectors," which use the sun's energy to produce
hot water. Rainwater will be collected and used to flush the toilets,
and the interior layout of the house will be easily reconfigurable. The
entrance will even have an airlock to reduce the energy loss associated
with entering and exiting the structure.

"Our vision," Horne
explained, "is to empower people to live sustainably. We don't want to
just build a house, we want to help people to build and live
sustainably."

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn also attended the
ceremony, and emphasized Medford's longstanding commitment to
environmental education. In what appeared to be a surprise move, he
offered to provide space in Medford to permanently display the
completed Curio House. He expressed hope that by extending the
project's life beyond the end of the competition, the house might
spread public awareness of sustainability issues.

The project
will culminate in October with the exhibition of all 20 completed
structures in a "solar village" on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
The last competition, in 2007, drew over 1 million visitors to its
"solar village," and competition organizers are hoping for an even
higher turnout this year.

Fully funding the Curio house will
cost about $750,000, according to a press release. The project has
received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Energy, Horne said,
and organizers hope to raise the remaining amount through donations
from an array of local businesses and individuals.

More information about the project can be found on its website,

www.livecurio.us.

On
the one hand, I am grateful that the legislature has decided we can't
simply cut our way out of the fiscal crisis. If it ultimately becomes
law, Monday night's veto-proof vote in the House to boost the state
sales tax would mean less severe cuts in critical services at the state
and local level. New revenue must be part of a balanced solution to our
problems and – whatever their source – any and all new revenues will
help.

On the other hand, Governor Patrick was right when he
called the Legislature on its failure to focus on reform first. Reform
is what gives the public confidence that it's no longer business as
usual on Beacon Hill. Without reform, any revenue enhancements or
service cuts become much harder sells.

When you put aside all
the overheated talk-show rhetoric, it's pretty clear that the best
approach to ending this fiscal crisis is to come up with a balanced,
well-designed mix of structural reforms (including pension and benefit
reforms, agency consolidation, and greater managerial flexibility for
cities and towns), some targeted adjustments in revenue and some
difficult but inevitable budget-cutting. That's exactly what Governor
Patrick has proposed.

But what the Governor also understands is
that the various "reform" bills floating around Beacon Hill – on
transportation, ethics, and pensions – simply don't go far enough. He
also understands that his revenue proposals – such as his calls for an
increase in the gas tax, for closing the telecommunications tax
loophole, for local options meals and hotel taxes, and for ending the
sales tax exemptions for candy, soda, and alcohol – are more targeted
than a general hike in the sales tax. The revenues they would generate
would go straight to areas of greatest need; they would encourage
better public buying patterns while promoting healthier and more
energy-efficient lifestyles.

Don't get me wrong: Any new
revenues that allow the state to reduce its deep and painful cuts in
local aid will be very welcome, and we will accept them with thanks.
Under the circumstances, I think Representatives Provost and Sciortino
were right to support the sales tax increase and I appreciate their
continuing efforts on behalf of our community. I am also grateful to
Speaker DeLeo for his willingness to consider a wide range of revenue
options – and for his leadership in a difficult situation.

But
I also think this fiscal crisis should be seen as an opportunity to fix
long-standing structural problems in the way we collect and spend
public revenue – as well as an opportunity to push for much-needed
reforms in the ways that the legislature micromanages cities and towns,
and the way public retirement and benefit systems have fallen into
patterns of inefficiency and even abuse.

That is why I hope that
the Governor sticks to his guns, and that we will see reform come back
to the forefront in our budget discussion. That is why I look forward
to working with our delegation to pass legislation that gives cities
and towns the choice of imposing modest local-option hotel and meals
taxes in order to reduce our dependence on a regressive property tax
system. That is why I hope cities and towns will also receive greater
freedom to develop health-care plans that help manage costs while
maintaining quality of care. All of these changes are part of the
governor's reform agenda, and all of them will contribute to long-term,
structural change.

We need to understand, however, that these
changes – as welcome as they are – will still leave us with hard
choices in next year's budget. Even if we get the reform we need, and
even if we get some restoration of local revenue either through the
governor's package or the sales tax hike – we will still have to find
ways to save money in FY2010.

So please don't think that the
House vote to increase the sales tax means there will be less pressure
on cities and towns to achieve structural reforms of their own. We will
need to scrutinize every program, every service, every revenue source
in order to come up with a plan to manage our way through this fiscal
crisis.

And while we're on the subject of scrutinizing every
cost and making hard choices: I announced on April 22nd that Janice
Delory, who has been working as an Aide to the Mayor, is taking over as
Chief of Staff from Mike Lambert, who has taken on a new role as the
City's Director of Transportation & Infrastructure. (Mike is
filling an existing and critical slot in the Office of Strategic
Planning and Development.) In view of the current fiscal situation, I
will not be back-filling Janice's prior position. Reducing the size of
the Mayor's Office in this way will mean more work for fewer people,
but cost control has to start at the top. This is by no means the first
or the last step we will be taking to manage costs across the face of
city government. As I've said before – and will continue to say no
matter what happens on Beacon Hill – all options, layoffs included,
remain on the table.

But for some, it was a reminder of the constraints of urban life.

Peter
Narsesian, a Somerville resident, feels frustrated at the downsides of
urban construction and development. "I've contacted the city in the
past about it, but it's hard to find even one person who knows what's
going on," he said. "It doesn't seem like anyone is in charge."

"There's
no reason to cut down every 2-foot wide tree; Somerville Ave is bleak
enough," he went on. "I'm sure a lot of people are frustrated."

Many
trees have been removed on Somerville Ave to make the sidewalks comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. State projects are required
by law to take down trees in order to make sidewalks sufficiently wide.

It
is because of concerned citizens like Narsesian that the Massachusetts
Youthbuild Coalition (Youthbuild) and Eagle Eye Institute (EEI) were
founded. EEI is based in Somerville and dedicated to its primary goal
of combating global warming. Arbor Day, of course, is their biggest day
of the year.

"The Massachusetts Arbor Day Celebration brings
together local youth, professional arborists, and government and
community leaders and it will demonstrate how important trees are for
the overall health of our communities," said Eagle Eye Institute
Executive Director Renee Toll-DuBois. "As active participants in the
plantings, the local youth gain valuable experience and training,
bringing to life our slogan that we are 'planting roots for our
future.'"

And this year was no exception, as the global warming
movement has gained legitimacy over the past several years. This may be
its current high-point.

EEI and Youthbuild coordinated a
statewide celebration of Arbor Day, and since EEI is based in
Somerville, the city played its own special part, planting trees to
improve the community's health.

Across the state, the groups planted more than 200 trees.

Through
this and other programs, Somerville's own EEI increases awareness and
knowledge about the environment and the value of urban and community
forestry through learning, stewardship and career-bridging programs.

"We're
extremely excited to be partnering with the Massachusetts YouthBuild
Coalition to coordinate this tree planting effort on a statewide level
for this year's Arbor Day," said Toll-DuBois. "In addition to improving
the health of the Commonwealth's residents, the Arbor Day tree
plantings will demonstrate the benefits of organizational partnerships
and individual community efforts, resulting in a positive impact on
direct community service."

Perhaps if EEI continues its success
story, Narsesian and others may finally get some relief. "I'm not a
tree-hugger or anything," Narsesian said. "I just live in the
neighborhood. Maybe we can learn our lesson before it comes time for
the next construction project."

For more information on the
2007 Massachusetts Arbor Day celebration, including sponsorship
information, please contact Renée Toll-DuBois or Emma Lathan at Eagle
Eye Institute at (617) 666-5222 or elathan@eagleeyei.org or visit Eagle
Eye Institute's website at www.eagleeyeinstitute.org

Not to be outdone, however, the city has got involved in fighting global warming by planting trees.

In
response to complaints of those such as Narsesian, Somerville's
Executive Director of Communication, Tom Champion, underscores the
city's unflagging commitment to the environment. "The Mayor has
committed to increasing the total number of trees in the city by 20% in
the next few years. In order to do that we must start with an
inventory."

"We are bound by state laws, but under no other circumstances would we take down a tree in the city," he added.

Friday,
May 1st, the Mayor will celebrate Arbor Day from 9:30 am to 11 am at
the West Somerville Neighbor School, where he will plant trees with
participating schoolchildren, and Somerville will be named Tree City
USA by the Arbor Day Foundation.

"We really do have a very
strong commitment to enhancing and expanding the tree canopy over the
city. We have a strong record in this area," Mr. Champion said.

Taking place at the Elizabeth Peabody House,
located at 277 Broadway, the meeting space was filled with explanatory
pamphlets and alignment sheets conveying the street plans for the
construction. Ward Four Alderman Walter Pero opened the meeting by
stressing how important this project is for Somerville. "It is a very
big project that is coming right through Ward Four," Pero explained,
"but it is going to be a major upgrade for the city."

A
representative from Algonquin Gas Transmissions LLC, John Bonsol,
explained the development and the nature of the project itself. Waltham
based Algonquin Gas Transmissions LLC, a subsidiary of Spectra Energy,
filed an application for this project with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) in April of 2008. FERC is an independent
agency employed by the US Congress to regulate the interstate
transmission of natural gas. Throughout the United States, every
project of this nature must go through FERC before going ahead.

On
April 14th 2008, the first community meeting to discuss the project was
hosted by Algonquin. "We've tried to be very proactive in communicating
with the public throughout every step of this project," Bonsol said.
Since last April there have been numerous meetings for community
members to voice their concerns.

The J-2 pipeline will connect
with existing natural gas lines at two points, creating a loop of
natural gas pipes throughout Somerville. The benefits of such a loop
are many.

"This will be a more reliable supply of natural gas,"
explained David Neal, the project manager for the J-2 Loop. "It will
become a redundant pipeline which will increase capacity. We'll also be
able to do some integrity work on the existing line."

Currently
there is no simple way to perform integrity work on existing pipelines
without shutting off gas temporarily. With the J-2 Loop in place, the
older parts of the pipeline could be shut down for repairs while the
newer pipeline would continue the regular supply of gas to the
community.

The new pipeline will start in Medford and continue
down parts of Mystic Avenue, Temple Street, Broadway, School Street,
Medford Street and eventually end at the McGrath Bridge. Construction
will take place along sections of all these streets. But residents
should not worry – the entire construction process will be in the
streets and shoulders. "There will be no construction on anybody's
property," Neal reassured concerned citizens.

Construction of
the pipeline will follow "The Stovepipe Construction Technique," which
involves excavating 40 ft long trenches, lowering the pipe into the
trench, soldering the pipes, and then backfilling the trench. Neal
expects they will be able to install 40 ft of piping per day.

When
asked about the hours of construction, Neal explained that construction
will take place from 7am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 7pm on
Saturdays. "If you hear noise before 7 o clock, call your Alderman or
call City Hall," added Alderman Pero. If any resident has a question or
complaint about construction, they can call the IRC Landowner Hotline
at 1-800-470-9333.

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

The
Lions Breakfast last Sunday was a success with a large crowd turning
out as usual, the Lions members want to thank everyone for coming out.

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

Welcome
home to Marisa Tauro, wife of our own Billy Tauro, who spent some 45
days back home in Brazil visiting with her family while Billy was here
in the 'Ville going to all the political parties to eat – by the way,
they just celebrated their wedding anniversary quietly here in the
'Ville as well this past week, here's to many more years!

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

The
Somerville High School Art Fair – with musical performances by the
Somerville High Music Dept. – opening ceremony will be tonight,
Wednesday, April 29th from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Somerville High Atrium.
Other dates and times for the exhibit are: Thursday, April 30th from
8am to 2pm and Friday, May 1st from 8:30 am to Noon.

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

A
Happy Birthday to Ed Ciampa, former City Assessor and City Treasurer,
and all around popular man about town, who recently celebrated his 82nd
birthday, he still looks 39, best wishes to Eddie from us here at the
News!

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

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the
Somerville Chamber of Commerce, and GoGreen Somerville will host a
"B2Green" Exhibition and Networking event on Thursday, May 7th at the
Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., the event
features a 90-minute exhibition-style presentation from over 25 local
businesses, followed by a networking event hosted by the Chamber of
Commerce. All interested community members are invited to attend, and
to learn about ways the Somerville business community uses green
practices in their businesses, in addition to energy-saving
opportunities for residents and businesses.

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

Condolences
to Helen Connolly's family and friends on her recent passing, she was
the mother of Alderman Jack Connolly and was 86 years old, we send our
sympathies to her family. Also passing recently was Celia Femino who is
the mother of SPD Capt Charlie Femino, our condolences to both families
for their loss.

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

Sparks flew last
Thursday night at the Board of Aldermen meeting between Princess
Rebekah (with her version of transparency) and Alderman Bill Roche, who
was livid over the recent emails that Princess Rebekah released to her
special haters list of PDSers recently. She seemed very upset and
flustered to say the least when confronted on her version of
transparency compared to everyone else. Again, the PDSers want
transparency but only their version – never mind that Princess Rebekah
has called secret meetings herself and even the boss of the PDSers has
called secret meetings. Remember the old saying…"Don't throw rocks at
glass houses."

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

Speaking of PDSers…the
news received a mysterious hand written letter that was slid under the
door of the office one night last week from one of their spokesmen,
which appears to be a threatening type of letter. We handed it over to
our attorneys for further action, and to the person who sent it, thank
you for signing it, but you might want to seek council. Talk about a
group of haters, it's amazing how negative they can be.

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

A
community meeting on the Green Line extensions is being held on
Wednesday, April 29th at the Argenziano School from 6-8:30 PM. The
meeting is jointly sponsored by Groundwork Somerville GWS), the
Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP), Somerville
Community Corporation SCC) and the Somerville Health Agenda (SHA) who
are partners in the Community Corridor Planning (CCP). The meeting is
being held to provide an opportunity for Somerville residents and
business owners to share their ideas about how the Green Line will
affect their neighborhood, local businesses, transportation decisions,
rent and property taxes.

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

Som' Girls Move
– FREE health promotion afterschool program for 6th-8th grade girls
starts May 1st for 8 weeks – Fridays from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Family
Center in Union Square at 366 Somerville Avenue. Sponsored by Community
Affairs of Cambridge Health Alliance. There will be dance activity
(Hip-hop, Soca, Zumba, Latin) and Nutrition (cooking and healthy
eating). Registration is required, so contact Lisa at 617-591-6940, or
lbrukilacchio@challiance.org.

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

Last week
we told you about that Sovereign Bank employee that allegedly
threatened to release personal information on a bank customer and
well-known businessman here in Somerville? Well in court today there
was sufficient evidence to grant a trial, a date to be set up soon. The
bank employee allegedly threatened this customer with bodily harm and
to expose personal bank information if the customer didn't give him
tickets for the U2 concert last month. We'll keep an eye on this one.

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

We
heard through the grapevine that a certain elected official had his
utilities shut off for lack of payment recently. Now we could name the
person, but in these economic times everyone is having problems and so
aren't certain elected officials. We can only let you know that he's a
PDSer!

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

Happy Birthday to Mayor Joe and
Nancy Curtatone's son, Joe Jr., who turned 4 years old Saturday! We
hear Nana Mama Curtatone cooked up a huge feast to go along with the
birthday cake.

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

On Saturday, May 2nd from
9 am to Noon, the Somerville Community Growing Center – at 22 Vinal
Avenue – is having their Spring Garden Day. Free seeds, pots, plant
exchange – get your family growing healthy food! Get moving with hula
hooping for adults and kids till 11am, when the Morris Dancers and
Maypole Dance start. Contact, Lisa at 617-666-2969 or
info@thegrowingcenter.org or visit www.thegrowingcenter.org and click
on "calendar" for all their events.

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

Congratulations
to Ward 1 School Committee member (and Chairwoman) Maureen Bastardi –
whose daughter just completed her first parachute jump out of an
airplane. As a few of you may recall when Maureen made her first jump a
just a few years back on camera.

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

The Cambridge Health
Alliance's Somerville Hospital, in particular, cares for many needy
people, the homeless or about to become homeless. Since many of these
needy patients use Medicaid, the hospital has been steadily losing
money, asserting they are not getting accurate reimbursement for their
services from the federal government. So Somerville Hospital, along
with the rest of the CHA hospitals, will together cut their use of
Medicaid by $94 million in the coming fiscal year. "Even with these
changes, CHA is one of the largest psychiatric services providers,"
says Allison Bayer, Chief Operating Officer of CHA, at the start of the
public hearing. Faulkner Hospital and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center,
according to Dennis D. Keefe, the CEO of Cambridge Health Alliance, are
able to provide detox services for Somerville residents requiring it.
These hospitals, however, do not accept MassHealth, which many
Somerville Detox inpatients use. In all, 26 detox beds and 35
psychiatric beds are planned to be eliminated.

"Reducing
services is clearly the wrong way to go," says John Sharp of the
regional Cambridge/Middlesex National Alliance on Mental Illness
chapter. Sharp has personal experience with the effects of psychiatric
disease, his son is suffering from schizoaffective disorder. He holds
up a print-out of Governor Patrick's press release detailing the
administration's economic recovery plan for health care and safety net
services, allocating $14 million for mental health care in the
Commonwealth. "I thought we'd be okay," he says.

Other speakers
from social action organizations came to testify. Maryanne Frangules,
of Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, pressed the Mass
DPH to hold off on closing the detox unit in Somerville. "Physical
recovery is the first recovery – before psychological and spiritual –
and that needs to happen in a detox." Frangules also mentions that
eliminating and reducing services might save money now, but the cost,
she argues, will be duplicated or made greater by the added use of
emergency services, and will crowd emergency rooms, putting unnecessary
pressure on doctors and nurses. "We should be looking to make things
easier; not harder," says Lee Polk, a recovering alcoholic.

The
hearing became heated when Lawrence Paolella, a Somerville resident and
recovering addict, talked directly to the three person panel from the
Mass DPH, instead of, like others, who addressed the crowd in the
auditorium. He hotly asked the panel, "Are we just whistling in the
wind?" inquiring if all the testimonies the committee heard that day
would matter in the ultimate decision to reduce and/or eliminate care.
Paolella was able to get the committee's Chair, Paul Dryer, to respond.
"Our purpose here is to listen to you folks," Dryer commented, also
adding that neither he nor his committee has the authority to stop the
reconfiguration plans already put in process by CHA. That would take
persons above Dryer in the Mass DPH and ultimately the Governor
himself. Dryer did say, however, that Paolella was on a good start.

Many
people from Somerville will be without their supports. Stephanie Grace,
a young Somervillian with addiction problems, testified about her
positive experience with Somerville Detox. She comments that the detox
got her off the streets and cleaned up and helped her to get a steady
full time job where she proudly states, she does pays taxes. "And the
only reason I can do this today is because I got my start at Somerville
Detox. Please don't close it."

The issue began in March
when Roche proposed a resolution commending the Somerville Police
Department in response to accusations of police brutality that appeared
in the Somerville Journal.

Gewirtz, concerned about language in
the resolution that appeared to exclude non-citizens from police
protection, distributed it on her e-mail list. The strong reaction that
followed upset Roche, who earlier in April asked the city solicitor to
find out if resolutions and citations could be kept from public view
until they appear on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Anthony
Holloway investigated the incident reported in the Journal in March
that alleged Officer Michael Silva used excessive force when he stopped
six teenagers after a fistfight and accused them of being gang members.

Holloway,
presenting his findings at the April 23 meeting, said Silva used
appropriate force with the teens because he was alone and "had
knowledge of three subjects" related to the Latin Kings gang.

All
denied having gang activity or criminal pasts to the Journal, while
Holloway countered that one later admitted he had once been a member.
Given the nature of the department's gang intelligence file, Holloway
said Silva did not know of the status change.

Holloway said he
found allegations of inappropriate language sustained, and that he had
"verbally counseled" Silva. Department policy has also been changed so
that officers cannot refer to suspects as gang members without
verification.

Holloway stressed that in situations like the one Silva faced, he considered officers' safety a priority.

"I want these officers to go home every night safe," Holloway said.

Returning
to the resolution commending the police, Roche dismissed the situation
as having been provoked unnecessarily by the Journal.

"They were more interested in a fast story than a factual story," Roche said, "and I think they should be ashamed of themselves.

"It's
OK if a newspaper sensationalizes a story and spins it for conflict,
because that's how they sell papers," he added. "You don't expect it
from your colleagues on this board."

Thursday's exchange became
so heated that Alderman at Large Jack Connolly declared a recess,
although the fight loudly continued.

"You're trying to make it about me," Gewirtz told Roche.

Roche
later circulated a spreadsheet of legislative activity since 2008,
noting Gewirtz had submitted 19 resolutions as the sole sponsor in the
last 12 months – without sharing them before the meeting.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Roche said. "People should practice what they preach."

"If
ever I have passed out or sent out a resolution to other members of the
board or put it on the agenda, I would have every expectation that that
would be public," Gewirtz responded.

Ward 5 Alderman Sean
O'Donovan later joined the fray, sharply criticizing Gewirtz and
suggesting she should be left out of the loop on resolutions.

"The
collegiality that I experienced on this board as of late is now gone,"
O'Donovan said. "I think a new day is upon us, where we have to be
careful discussing issues that maybe haven't been finalized in a
member's mind."

"What you're going to have to do now is exclude certain members when you do that," he added.

Following
the fighting, the resolution wound up being sent to the Committee on
Public Health and Public Safety after Alderman at Large Bill White
expressed concern that it could open the city to civil rights lawsuits
if it were implied that complaints against the police would not be
investigated thoroughly.

The issue of whether e-mail
communications among board members can be kept secret will be addressed
at the May 18 Rules Committee meeting.