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)

In September, I vetoed an ordinance that sought to set tough restrictions on campaign contributions from developers and others not because I disagreed with the intentions, but because I believed that as written the ordinance would be unenforceable. We should be grateful that Somerville has such a progressive Board of Aldermen that won’t wait for others to undertake the reforms that our state and nation so badly need. We share the same values: That elected officials should represent everyone, not only the biggest campaign contributors, and that even the appearance of influence can negatively impact our community.

Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin urged the Board to pass the proposal to support SOA’s recommendations for opiate addiction treatment and prevention.

By Jim Clark

A proposal sponsored by Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin and Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti that the Somerville Board of Alderman support the proposals of Somerville Overcoming Addiction regarding opiate abuse was approved at the last regular meeting of the Board on Dec. 11.

Residents and visitors to trolleys and bicycles this weekend to soak up the illuminated atmosphere of the city’s festively decorated neighborhoods this year’s Illuminations Tour kicked off. — Photo by Douglas Yu

By Douglas Yu

The houses in Somerville tried to out do each other as the 18th Illuminations Tour kicked off on Saturday night. Each house seemed brighter than the one before it. Six trollies lined up outside of City Hall, ready to entertain over a thousand participants with the festive lights and Christmas-themed features that decorate the houses in the neighborhoods and stories about the history of the city.

Open House! Visit the Pets In Need Animal Shelter this weekend at 2 Bradley Street, Somerville, MA 02145, from noon to two on Saturday and Sunday.

— Photos by Donald Norton

By Jim Clark

While on duty blocking traffic in support of the ‘Jungle Bell Run’ marathon race last Sunday, a Somerville police officer’s cruiser was smashed into by another vehicle while the race was underway.

Tufts students stood up for contracted service workers last week, and achieved their goal of stopping layoffs of janitorial staffers.

By Rebecca Danvers

Students at Tufts University staged a sit-in on their campus last week, in protest of the university administration’s move to ask their janitorial services contractor, DTZ, to lay off several part time janitors who have been working throughout the Tufts system.

It’s an issue that won’t go away – in spite of all the running that’s going on.

Many local residents have voiced extreme dissatisfaction with the number and frequency of road race events sanctioned by the city that result in the temporary closure of public streets.

Molly Lynn Watt, a longtime member of “The Bagel Bards”( a literary group in Somerville ) has released a lyrical memoir with Somerville’s Ibbetson Street Press. The book concerns her work in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement. Somerville resident Bert Stern has reviewed this book for ” Off the Shelf.”

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Jason Wright is the founder of the online literary magazine Oddball.

Due to pre-scheduled meetings, there will be no walk-in flu vaccination clinic at the City Hall Annex on Thursday, Dec. 18. A clinic will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Winter Hill Community School cafeteria (please use the Medford St. entrance) from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Clinics are open for residents and non-residents ages five years and older. While there is no charge for vaccinations, attendees are asked to bring an insurance card if available. Attendees requiring additional assistance or other accommodations should contact the Somerville Health Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 4300.