By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

Three weeks of budget hearings wrapped up last week after long nights, lots of numbers, and a diligent review by the Board of Aldermen. We now have a responsible budget for the coming year that meets our obligations while continuing to improve city services despite a tumultuous winter. In February, I said this would be the best budget year in our history. More than 110 inches of snow later, the most snowfall in one winter in our city’s history, we had to come up with a plan to pay for our extensive snow removal and subsequently hold off on some of the new programs we wanted to implement for the coming year. Yet we’re not going backwards or even holding still. We won’t stall the progress we’ve made.

The Fourth of July Independence Day celebration at Trum Field will begin with free entertainment at 6 p.m., concluding with a 30-minute fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m.

The following street closures and parking restrictions will be in effect on Thursday evening:

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

The 11th annual Family Fun Day at Trum Field took place on Saturday, June 27 and featured free, family-friendly programming including a community BBQ, pony rides, train rides, children’s activities, face painting, music, and more.

A Tufts University student reported yesterday that on Saturday, 06/27/15 at approximately 5:30 p.m. she was walking near campus on Teele Ave when an unknown college age male exposed himself to her.

A citation was issued by Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, Alderman at Large William A. White Jr., Ward 3 Alderman Robert J. McWatters, Alderman at Large Jack Connolly, and the entire Board of Aldermen and the Mayor commending Community Cooks, which is celebrating its 25th year of providing the neediest members of our community with home-cooked meals. The presentation was made at the Board’s regular meeting on June 25.

Although next fiscal year’s budget is finalized and approved, some are not entirely satisfied with the numbers, such as Board of Alderman President, Alderman at Large William White, who said he would like to change the process for next year’s budgeting.

By Oliver Bok

The Board of Aldermen approved the final 2016 budget at their regular meeting on June 25, but not all of the aldermen were pleased.

“Real families, working class families, Somervillians, are getting priced out of this city,” Ward 4 Alderman Tony Lafuente said. “And that’s just a fact. And we’re responsible for that because we keep approving these things.”

Union Square area residents joined city representatives and design consultants for a discussion about the future development of the region.

By Josie Grove

The old post office building near Union Square hosted a Somerville By Design meeting last Wednesday evening, showing one way old space can have a new use. But the emphasis at that neighborhood planning session was on creating new spaces where old ones no longer work. Over sixty Union Square residents heard presentations from the city and design consultants about the progress of the neighborhood plan.

The city’s Fireworks Celebration set for this Thursday, July 2 at Trum Field. As in the past, along with the mayor and city officials there is a great array of entertainment/music with various food vendors until dusk, then the fireworks begin. What a great job the city does, and it’s funded mostly by private businesses.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Alderman Bob McWatters. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton  

This past Monday night, Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters packed them in at his campaign kickoff celebration at Sally O’Briens on Somerville Avenue.

Here we go again. The city needs something done, and the next thing you know privately owned property is suddenly fair game for confiscation under eminent domain law.

One can find an argument in support of either side of the issue, but it’s just unfortunate that such measures are deemed necessary in order to ensure the public good. Could there be well-suited alternatives that have not yet been fully examined? One would think so.