Sugar Law Center director Mark Stern says that an exclusive local hiring ordinance is possible. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Aldermen weigh local hiring ordinance

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville has long suffered under the disproportionate ratio of jobs to laborers; there are only 21,000 jobs for around 45,000 workers who live in the city. Proposed over the summer by the Somerville Community Corporation, a local jobs ordinance was introduced to the Board of Aldermen, which would require all developers in the city who receive more than $50,000 in public funds to hire 30 percent of their workforce from Somerville.

- Photos by Donald Norton

After years and years of being torn up, full of pot holes and bumps, Temple Street is finally being repaved.  The six block long street will soon be open for business. Residents of  Winter Hill can rejoice until NSTAR and National Grid decide they need to dig one more time.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police were dispatched to a residence on High Street in the early hours of Monday this week in response to reports of noise and a possible fight underway at this location.

– Photos by Michael Merline

Wig Zamore says that the MPO funding plan will not meet the legal obligations of the state. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Zamore: GLX still in limbo

By Andrew Firestone

The Green Line Extension (GLX) project was given a boon this last Thursday, September 20, in the form of $490 million worth of bonds being approved for Somerville road repaving and design of the project by the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The approval, following the abandonment of the Red Line-Blue Line connector and a decision by the MPO to buy 24 additional trains also comes with the expectation that there will be an additional $100 million provided by the federal New Starts program.

We hear from internal sources that were present at the fundraiser for Ward 4 candidate Christine Barber that she had about 25 people who showed up and again only a couple from Winter Hill. Guess she must have flown her contributors in from San Francisco, again? We also hear that Rep. Carl Sciortino endorsed her at the fundraiser. She’s a lucky lady to have his endorsement, isn’t she? Carl, as everyone knows, has two of the three precincts in Ward 4 he represents. Speaking of which, with all the celebrities up in Ten Hills we heard maybe he might have a strong opponent at next year’s state elections.

Mayor Curtatone advocating for GIC last August.

Employees, retirees to pay same rate upon entering

By Andrew Firestone

It seems the city’s health insurance crisis has finally subsided. Beginning January 1, 2012, all retirees and employees of Somerville will join the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), an act that the city says will save $9 million for that year alone. The GIC is a state program that provides coverage to more than 390,000 people.

State legislators are taking bold, and decidedly controversial steps in making the prospect of casino gambling in Massachusetts a reality. Many important factors have been examined and analyzed, and it looks like a solid majority of lawmakers and their constituents now stand in favor of the proposed measure.

A long time coming: Planners are actively seeking solutions to the redevelopment of the McGrath Highway corridor question.

Study to de-elevate highway in motion

By Andrew Firestone

Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation have begun in earnest their search for a solution to the McGrath Highway question. Noting poor quality of lighting, disrepair of infrastructure, and an ultimately untenable situation for pedestrians and bikers, the beginning of the end of the elevated highway seems to be nigh.

The Somerville High School Freshman Girls Volleyball team enjoyed another victory this week, this time against Malden.

The Highlanders won in two sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-18.