The winners of The Somerville Times Reader’s Choice results for

THE BEST OF SOMERVILLE 2024

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Readers choices for 2024

Best Idea in 2024:

Free Food Market for Somerville Public School families

Worst Idea in 2024:

Making Central St. (Summer St. to Highland Ave.) a one way and expanding the sidewalk

MAMAS 2024 Free Store event last November at East Somerville Community School.

By Jeffrey Shwom

From the “Newsletter: MAMAS 2024 Year End Review” email The Somerville Times obtained, Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS) impact continued to help those in need in 2024 and plans to do so in 2025.

Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville is a mutual aid organization that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest program that MAMAS coordinates by far is Grocery Pairs, where volunteers deliver groceries and grocery gift cards, and may help with other small errands like prescription pickup. In 2024, MAMAS reimbursed its deliverers $89,993 and supported 60 families, according to its website. Supermarket Sweep, a recurring program where direct grocery aid (i.e., dollars) is delivered with no means-testing or judgment, saw $30,900 distributed into the community.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

What do you think of them making Central St. a one way from Summer St. to Highland Ave.?

They widened the bike lane and the sidewalk. They left a small path for vehicles. This was the subject of my Facebook poll. All new readers comments are in quotes.

“They want everyone to be careless and bike or use the T. It is getting so dangerous”

Somerville School Committee Chair, Ilana Krepchin delivers her address at the 2025 Midterm Ceremonies on January 6, 2025.

City Council President, Judy Pineda Neufeld delivers her address at the 2025 Midterm Ceremonies on January 6, 2025.

Geothermal Energy, Free Public Housing Wi-Fi, Massive Sewer Overhaul, and Surpassing Affordable Housing Production Goals on Agenda 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne delivered her State of the City Midterm address Monday night, highlighting the city’s accomplishments in 2024 and outlining an ambitious agenda for the year ahead. 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne helped ring in the new year on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as they raised the Grand Union Flag on Prospect Hill to commemorate the 249th anniversary of the first flag rising. — Photos courtesy of Somerville GovTV

The city is considering steps to rectify issues cyclists have raised concerning the bike lane entry onto Washington St. — Photo by Roberto Fischer

By Harry Kane

Bicyclists say that the bike lane entry onto Washington Street feels unsafe, following a reconstruction project of sidewalks and repaving meant to make it safer for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists.

By Jeffrey Shwom

Further revelations include parcel counts remaining flat (especially multi-unit housing), high school bond servicing continuing, and a slow-down in new growth.

Another year, another expected increase in property taxes for thousands of properties within Somerville. 18,893 parcels have begun receiving the new FY2025 assessment and tax rates and a joint pamphlet mailed by the City of Somerville’s Board of Assessors and Mayor’s Office to property owners December 31, 2024.