By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

In Somerville, and in Massachusetts, we believe in investing in our residents and our local economy. To see the stark contrast between this approach and the slash-and-burn approach elsewhere you need only compare the proposed cuts to the federal nutrition assistance program to a bill on Beacon Hill that would raise the minimum wage. The former stunts a still fragile economic recovery and hurts families and children, while the latter puts money back into the economy by putting in the pockets of those who need a little more.

City urges move to ‘grandfather’ previous food truck vendors. – Photo by Harry Kane.

By Jim Clark

At last week’s general meeting of The Board of Alderman, a proposal was made to have the City Solicitor draft language to amend Article XV of Chapter 8 of the city’s Code of Ordinances to grandfather vendors who operated as food truck vendors under hawker and peddler licenses prior to the effective date of the most recent changes of the ordinance.

The brainchild of Mayor Joe Curtatone, who played trumpet in the Somerville High School Jazz Band, Joe’s Jazz and Blues Festival is back this year.  Starting up the week, the festival make its way through local music venues. Check out the four dates and clubs below. Then on June 22 join us an all-day free concert at Powderhouse Park from noon to 6 p.m.

A graduating class of nine Full Circle High School students took the first step toward their next journey last week at the 2013 Full Circle Graduation Ceremony held at the Dante Club. Congratulations to the 2013 Full Circle Graduates: Delmy Chacon, Katelyn Egan, Nathalie Eloi, Melinda Haley, Katelyn Kenneally, Bridget Millikin, Conor Scarry, Micalo Simon, and Mark Vasconcelos.

– Photos by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

The streets of Somerville rang out in harmonious fashion as The Nave Gallery and the Somerville Arts Council presented the 2nd Somerville Squeezebox Slam on Saturday, June 15.

Cindy Hickey and Rob King were sworn in last week as new members of Commission for Persons with Disabilities. – Photo by Douglas Yu

By Douglas Yu

In Somerville, disabled people have a long history of fighting for full accessibility to the facilities, non-discriminatory treatments in all walks of life and equality of human rights.

Present Alderman for Ward 5, Courtney O’Keefe, is having a campaign rally/kickoff tonight, Wednesday, June 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (the time changed to earlier than the original schedule because of the Bruins Game) at the Olde Magoun’s Salon, right in Magoun Square next to CVS on Medford Street. Courtney has been working very hard since her appointment, meeting with many of the residents in Ward 5. For more information, and if you’d like to help Courtney, you can call 617-224-8328 or go to www.courtneyokeefe.com.

Giant puppets were recently seen in the vicinity of East Somerville Public Library, all a part of the Puppet Palooza series. – Photo by Reda Limantas

By Martynas Limantas

Puppet Palooza, a series of puppet shows hitting local parks, streets, and courtyards this summer, kicked off the season with A Giant Puppet Romp on June 12 at East Somerville Public Library.

Proposed Washington Street development falls short of community vision

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

The recent editorial written by Danny LeBlanc regarding the Somerville Community Corporation’s proposed development at 181 Washington Street describes the project as embodying a shared community vision.  Developed alongside Cathartes Private Investments who are proposing a building to replace the adjacent historic Cota Funeral Home at 197 Washington Street, they promise a “thriving neighborhood at the gateway of Union Square” that is a “mixed-income, mixed-use site with community amenities such as public green space and ground floor retail.”

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

I think it is vitally important to keep people who were born and raised in Somerville as members of this community.  Somerville has become a very desirable place to live and will become more so with the addition of the Green Line and the new housing and waterfront park at Assembly Row.  As our wonderful community attracts new residents, property values and rents are increasing. And this is making it harder for native Somervillians to continue to live in the city.  The number of students in Somerville schools is decreasing in spite of the fact that the quality of the schools has improved.  This is a direct result of residents moving further and further away to afford a place to live.