"The City and school department have been working
diligently to secure the necessary funding and conduct selective
demolition over the last year, and now that the City has been awarded
$12 million by the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, I am eager to begin
working with the Advisory Group," said Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche.
"Though we've made a lot of progress, there is still much to do to
bring the entire ESCS community together again."

"We know that
parents, teachers, and students alike are eager to see this Group
formed and moving toward final design plans, and we all hope to do so
as soon as possible," said Ward 1 School Committee Representative
Maureen Bastardi, who also Chairs the Committee. "The ESCS community
has been strong, positive, and supportive through a very difficult
time, and I commend you all for your efforts, and promise we will bring
you back home soon."

"We can
almost pay the mortgage," one Somerville resident told The Somerville
News, speaking on condition of anonymity. She and her husband bought a
condominium in 2006, and although the interest rate on their mortgage
has not increased, they earn enough money that they do not qualify for
assistance from the government. "We work very hard in this family," she
explained. "My husband and I each have two jobs, but we can't always
pay."

It is difficult to assess the true impact of the
mortgage crisis in Somerville, in part because many hesitate to discuss
their financial situations, and also because of the absence of a clear,
quantitative assessment of its impact. It is clear that housing prices
are down and foreclosures up statewide-average home prices have
decreased by about 20% in the past year, according to the Warren Group,
a real estate news/information source, and the number of foreclosures
in 2008 increased 64% from 2007 to over 12,000-but the relationship
between those numbers, and how they compare to the situation in
Somerville itself, is more ambiguous.

By some measures,
Somerville certainly appears to be better-off than the state average.
Real estate prices in Somerville have decreased by about 13% over the
last year, the Warren Group reported, and officials with the city's
Assessor's Office explained that the average assessed property
values-the figures used to calculate property taxes by the city-have
only decreased by a few percent so far. It did note that assessed
values are determined from last year's sale prices, and may yet decline
more. "Somerville has fared fairly well. It's fairly stable, with low
vacancy rates," asserted Phil Ercolini, head of Somerville's Housing
Department.

But foreclosures and evictions are happening. "In
the last 12 months, there have been at least 48 evictions from
foreclosed-on units," said Melissa McWhinney, Director of Advocacy at
the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), an anti-poverty
nonprofit agency in Somerville. She said that the real number of
evictions in 2008 was almost certainly greater than 48, but that it is
difficult to obtain a reliable number, because not all foreclosure
proceedings lead to eviction, and because some foreclosures may result
in the eviction of multiple tenants.

Whatever the actual number
of evictions, one thing is for sure: there were many more in 2008 than
there were even a few years ago. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but
McWhinney said that a figure of three to four foreclosures per year was
typical in the years before the real estate market peaked in 2006. This
dramatic change is challenging even the banks behind the foreclosures.
"Banks used to try to sell the foreclosed property, to get as much of
the principle back as possible, McWhinney explained. "When there were
three to four foreclosures a year in Somerville, it was manageable.
Now, I have no idea what they do."

But the real measure of the
crisis, of course, must be taken at the level of the individuals whom
it affects. For the Somerville resident who spoke to with The
Somerville News, the crisis has meant stress and frustration.

"I
love this country, I am an American citizen, and many people who don't
have a job get help. I don't receive help because I work, and I'm
supposed to have enough money," she explained. "We try, we work very
hard, but it's not enough."

Asked whether she could renegotiate
the terms of her family's mortgage to reduce the monthly payments, she
explained that "we want to, but I have made some late payments, so they
won't renegotiate." And she and her family cannot sell their
condominium for ten years, she said, for legal reasons associated with
aid they received from the city to pay the closing costs when they
bought the condo. For these reasons, she said, "we can do nothing with
the banks."

There are programs in place to help those facing
mortgage-related financial difficulties. The first line of defense is
often counseling and financial advice offered to those worried about
foreclosure. Many nonprofit organizations, like the Cambridge-based
Homeowners Rehab, Inc. and the Homeownership Preservation Foundation,
offer professional counseling services for those whose homes are
threatened by foreclosure. While Somerville's city government does not
offer counseling itself, it recently added information about the
mortgage crisis, including links to organizations that do offer
counseling, to its online database of FAQs.

"Our hope is that
people who may be experiencing foreclosure will seek counseling,"
Ercolini said. "We like to get to folks before foreclosure becomes an
issue," he explained, because "once the situation gets to foreclosure,
it becomes that much more difficult to find a solution. The city does
not have resources to remedy those situations."

CAAS does try to
prevent evictions once a bank has initiated foreclosure proceedings.
"If your home is foreclosed on, we do eviction prevention. We try hard
to keep people in their homes," McWhinney explained, but acknowledged
that negotiating foreclosures is complex and difficult. If eviction
does occur, many of the programs that CAAS regularly offers can help
evicted residents or tenants.

But no amount of counseling or
assistance can take away the stress inherent in losing one's home-and
even living with the prospect of that eventuality may feel daunting.
The Somerville resident who spoke to The Somerville News has found
perhaps the best way to cope with the stress. When asked whether she
worries about what might happen if she falls too far behind on her
mortgage payments, she said simply, "I never think that if I don't pay,
we will lose our apartment. I don't think that way. This is my dream,
living with my family."

SCC
is currently redeveloping the area to create approximately 60
condominiums, some market-rate and some for lower income individuals,
some retail space and a building for the Just A Start Corporation, a
program for young mothers and their children.

The first phase
of construction, that of a four-story building for
neighborhood-oriented mixed-use and affordable rental housing, is
currently underway and the second building is set to begin this Spring.

An assembly of laid-off union workers have turned up with
picket signs in hand against what they consider unacceptable treatment
of workers by Miller and Son Painting. "We consider it a community
standards issue," said IUPAT Council 35 organizer Mark Lohan. "These
wages and working conditions are not compatible with community
standards."

Lohan, a painter by trade from Ireland, said that
despite rumors, the protests were not about their hiring of non-union
workers. "It's not an objection to the non-union workers, it's an
objection to their employer who is taking advantage of them," he said.

When
asked about these tactics, Lohan said, "Our union is diverse and broad:
immigrant and non-immigrant, Black, White, Latino, and we all believe
that just because an economy is bad doesn't mean people have to be
treated badly. We don't want to be part of a race to the bottom. Not
only in construction, but in any trade."

Project Manager Marc
Champagne indicated that his company's policies would not change,
quickly dismissing Lohan's allegations by saying, "We're not running an
unsafe job. He hasn't been in the building. I don't know where he's
getting his information. If he was in the building he would know."

For
the moment it is unclear how long the protests will go on. "We'll be
out here as long as we have to: until we get justice," Lohan said. For
the moment, no one can tell how long that will be.

***************

Congratulations
to Ward 1 Alderman "Grandpa" Bill Roche with the birth of his new
granddaughter – Savannah Jean Langkopf – who was born March 15th at
11:57am and was 20.5 inches long and 6 lbs 11 oz at birth. Proud
parents Kelly Roche Langkopf and Jonathon Langkopf welcomed their new
arrival along with proud grandparents Jean and Alderman Bill Roche and
Jon and Deborah Langkopf. Best of luck with the new arrival to a great
family.

***************

Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan
had his fundraiser last Friday night at the Dante Club – it was very
well attended by an overflowing crowd of Ward 5 residents. It was one
of the old fashioned get together that we haven't seen here in
Somerville in a long time – and it was nice to see so many old friends.

***************

Senator Anthony Gallucio is sponsoring
legislation to give City of Somerville some say in what and where the
MBTA billboards may or may not go, have you seen how big and ugly they
are? Nice to see we have a real State Senator again that listens to the
average person, just too bad he only serves a small part of Somerville
but at least he gets what it means to serve. Senator Jehlen must be out
of town on a walking tour – has anyone seen her in awhile? Oh that's
right its not election time of year yet!

***************

We
applaud and support the drive to support local businesses first when at
all possible. A couple of local organizations are doing just that!
Somerville Local First and the Somerville Chamber of Commerce are up
and running in high gear delivering that very message everyday. Many
other cities and towns are following suit and keeping their "business"
within their local neighborhoods first, so when you need to go
shopping, keep it in Somerville first!

***************

Colonel
Sanders and KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is picking four cities out of
a nation wide search to be the recipient of $5,000.00 of free asphalt
that will be stamped with a "KFC" advertising the fried chicken king's
name in a central location with white permanent chalk, word is that
Somerville is one of the four they're looking at.

***************

Congratulations
to Police Officer Scott Whalen upon his recent promotion to Sergeant
couple of weeks back, Scott works very hard.

****************

Condolences
to the Emery family here in Somerville, with the recent passing of
David Emery, he was known well here in Somerville in particular the
Ball Square area.

****************

Also condolences to
the family of Danny Escobar, owner of Danny's Diner on Beacon Street
who passed away this past weekend! Danny's Diner has been on Beacon
Street serving great meals and great conversation for as long as anyone
can remember, considered a landmark here in Somerville, sources told us
that the family is going to close the doors to the dinner for good this
week.

***************

Just a reminder that the
ever-popular The Somerville News blog is more popular then ever! So log
on to www.thesomervillenews.com and click onto "The Somerville News
blog line over at the top right hand corner of the online page.

*****************

We
hear rumblings out there about possible runs for office here in the
city, but not just from the PDSers – who by the way are trying
desperately to get people to run against some incumbents, but not
having much luck. We did hear that their President Marty might move
again (for the 9th time?) to Ward 3 – but interestingly enough, we hear
that maybe one or two of the PDSers might have a tough challenge
themselves this year. We also hear that the PDSers candidate classes
that were supposed to be held last Saturday had to be canceled, we're
wondering if it was because of lack of participation? They may boast of
an email list of about 100, but they can't manage to attack more then
15 to 20 to a meeting at any given time, wonder why?

***************

We
hear that there was a big meeting of the Farm Team owners down in
Florida recently (you know who we mean) and seems the economy is
hitting them as well, everyone has to tighten their belts, has anyone
been following the stock of the company?

****************

The
Somerville Recreation Commission will offer a five week course for
children ages eight and older with local artist Chris LeGare. The
program will be held on Thursdays from 3:30pm – 5:30pm beginning April
9th at the Recreation Building, 19 Walnut Street. The program will
focus on a different aspect of art each week including printmaking,
cartooning and painting. The cost for the program is $40 and covers all
materials. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. For
more information, please contact the Recreation Department at
617-625-6600 Ext. 2980.

***************

The Center for
Arts at the Armory hosts a building dedication ceremony celebrating the
opening of the newly renovated historic armory at 191 Highland Ave., on
Friday, April 3, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Somerville Mayor Joseph
Curtatone as well as Ward Five Alderman Sean O'Donovan and members of
the Somerville legislative delegation; Senator Patricia Jehlen and
Representatives Carl Sciortino and Denise Provost, will be on hand to
offer dedications and citations. The event also includes an interfaith
building blessing, a youth music performance from Somerville High
School students and a community reading.

***************

Celebrate
the vibrancy of design economy north of the Charles on Friday, April 3,
2009 in Union Square. The event combines an official welcome of three
design-oriented businesses to Union Square and the launch of Design
Annex, a co-working community for those in the creative economy.  At
374 Somerville Avenue, Somerville from 6 to 8 pm you are welcome to
visit Grand, Brian Healy Architects and Ground Inc. to be part of the
festivities. Refreshments will be served.

Some of the
industries that are being "stimulated" are in need some of serious
overhauling on a systemic level – the kind of changes that can't be
solved overnight by throwing money at them. On the other hand, for
communities and regions that have been fiscally responsible over the
last couple of years and have been bracing for the worst, like
Somerville has, every little bit will help.

There will be just
enough pain to realize that this is for real, but not so much that it
will be catastrophic to the local economy. Programs like Somerville
Local First are just what a city like Somerville needs – a way for
people here, today, to spend their very hard earned money here, today.

It
only makes sense – why drive over to Medford to go food shopping or to
go to dinner? Buy your groceries here – and there are certainly enough
restaurants around, aren't there?

We applaud organizations like
Somerville Local First and urge every local business owner to get on
board and listen to what they have to say – and to those people who
live here – please stay here, spend your money you are going to spend
elsewhere in a local business.

The policy has been in place for a year
and was unpopular with the Aldermen when it was announced, but
complaints from constituents have brought the issue back before the
board at its March 25 meeting.

"I understand that organizations
are having a hard time financially, but this gets on my last nerves,"
said Alderman at Large Bruce Desmond, who sponsored a resolution asking
CHA to stop charging for handicapped parking along with Ward 5 Alderman
Sean O'Donovan and at-large member Jack Connolly.

"(Disabled
persons and seniors) have no alternative. It's required by law. It's
reprehensible that (CHA) would charge to park there."

While the
Americans with Disabilities Act dictates the size, location and number
of accessible parking spaces, there is no law dictating that fees
cannot be charged.

Handicapped parking was free at Somerville
Hospital until February 2008. The current rate for seniors and disabled
persons to park at the lot on Tower Street is $5, which is required
upfront.

O'Donovan amended the resolution to request CEO Dennis
Keefe to appear and justify the practice. "I find it disgusting that
you'd have people come to your lot and charge," he said. "I'd like the
CEO to come to this podium and explain to the city what the policies
are. He should be ashamed of himself."

CHA Chief
Communications Officer Doug Bailey said the BOA had been informed of
the rate changes when they were made last year, and that the hospital's
parking fees remain among the lowest in Massachusetts.

The
initial decision to charge, Bailey said, stemmed from research that
showed every hospital in the country that charges for parking asked for
those using handicapped spots to pay as well.

"We're going to review some of the policies," Bailey said. "We have had some complaints."

"We
lose money on parking," he added. "We have discounted rates below that
of other hospitals around us. We're not doing anything that isn't the
norm of our industry."

The city solicitor has been asked to report to the board regarding the applicable laws on the issue.

"Balancing
our budget will require difficult choices," said Curtatone, "with this
contract, a municipal public safety union has stepped forward to say
'We'll help shoulder the burden of this fiscal crisis.'" The
negotiations in Somerville appear to have gone smoothly relative to
those currently taking place in Boston, where Mayor Menino has been
unable to reach an agreement with the Boston Police Patrolmens Union.
By agreeing to forego raises, an estimated $55 million would go towards
the city's $131 million budget gap and large-scale layoffs of up to 700
city employees could be avoided.

In Somerville, potential
layoffs were never threatened, but, said John W. Leuchter, President of
SPEA, a sense of duty to the community took precedence over personal
interests. "I never envisioned going to the union and having unanimous
support for a measure like this," Leuchter said. "These guys really
wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem."

As
compensation for their sacrifice, the Police Department will have
increased purview over when and where special police details will be
deployed. The agreement also includes a commitment by the City not to
cut police salaries should there be a reduction in state funding that
is currently guaranteed by the Quinn Bill. A measure to compensate
officers with advanced degrees in higher education programs, the Bill
could fall victim to the declining economy. This year alone, Somerville
has lost $3 million in state funding.

Mayor Curtatone recently
appointed a financial advisory committee to oversee the writing of the
next budget, the first draft of which should be ready by mid-June. To
date, no other unions have been called on to make sacrifices comparable
to those volunteered by SEPA. With $8 million to be accounted for,
however, Curtatone has informed city employees that "everything's on
the table," said Tom Champion, Executive Director of Communications.

"We've made a lot of progress," Leuchter said, "we just don't want to see the community move backward."

"The All-America City Award (AAC) is
like a civic 'Oscar' for communities of all sizes," said National Civic
League President Gloria Rubio-Cortés. "It's unique because it
recognizes the efforts of entire communities. AACs demonstrate
inclusiveness, collaboration, civic engagement, and innovation."

An
All-America City has a proven capacity for community-based problem
solving, grassroots civic engagement and cooperation between sectors
(public, private and nonprofit). To become a finalist, each participant
completed an application documenting three community projects that
address local challenges such as job creation/economic development,
environmental sustainability, neighborhood revitalization and disaster
recovery.

Listed alphabetically by state are the 2009 finalists:

Phoenix, Arizona Windsor Heights, Iowa Toledo, Ohio

Fort Smith, Arkansas Wichita, Kansas Wooster, Ohio

Inglewood, California Pocomoke City, Maryland Toledo, Oregon

Rancho Cordova, California Rockville, Maryland Erie, Pennsylvania

Windsor, Colorado Salisbury, Maryland Providence, Rhode Island

Tampa, Florida Somerville, Massachusetts Chattanooga, Tennessee

Bensenville, Illinois Belton, Missouri Rowlett, Texas

Carbondale, Illinois Albany, New York Caroline County, Virginia

Fort Wayne, Indiana Benson, North Carolina

Richmond, Indiana Kinston, North Carolina

South Bend, Indiana Clinton, North Carolina

Des Moines, Iowa Statesville, North Carolina

The
June 17-19 awards program will be an excellent opportunity for
journalists and broadcasters who cover government, business, schools,
crime, or neighborhood/community issues to catch up on the latest
strategies for local problem solving.

"This year is the 60th
Anniversary of the All-America City Awards. We are inviting all former
winners (more than 500 of them) to come to the event in Tampa to be
recognized, and to share their lessons learned and community stories
with their peers," noted Rubio-Cortés.

During the three-day
competition, a delegation from each community will present its
challenges and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the
United States. At least one community project must focus on the needs
of young people.

The 2009 awards program will feature Innovation
Forums to promote peer-to-peer dialogues among the finalist communities
and regional and national leaders. Topical dialogues and panel
discussions on "green" solutions, immigrant integration, race
relations, and economic recovery strategies will be featured, along
with a planning session for future AAC alumni activities.

The
All-America City Award is an honor achieved by more than 500
neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, and regions across
the country. Some have won the award multiple times.

This
year's AAC Awards are sponsored in part by Prudential, MWH Global,
Inc., Mile High United Way, Jones Day, Southern California Edison,
Southwest Airlines (The Official Airline of the AAC Awards), Tampa
Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina (The Sole Official Headquarters
Hotel of the AAC Awards) and Marriott International.

Headquartered
in Denver, Colorado, the National Civic League strengthens democracy by
increasing the capacity of our nation's people to fully participate in
and build healthy and prosperous communities across America. Founded in
1894 by Theodore Roosevelt and other government reformers, NCL is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that accomplishes its mission
through training, technical assistance, publishing, facilitating
community-wide strategic planning and awards programs. It publishes
research on government structures and reform and community building
innovation (The National Civic Review, Civic Index, and 8th Edition of
the Model City Charter). In addition to the All-America City Awards,
NCL conducts the MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Awards to
be announced in April.

For more information on NCL and its programs, visit www.ncl.org.

This year the National Veterans organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is celebrating 110 years of it's founding.

Started
as an organization of Spanish-American War veterans in 1898, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars is the world's largest Combat Veterans Service
organization with over 2.2 million men & women veterans and over
8,000 VFW Posts worldwide.

Since the organization's founding,
the VFW has provided services at no cost for Veterans and their family
such as disability claims service, education & community service
projects and legislative services which have resulted in concrete
results dealing with Agent Orange health claims as well as a brand new
21st Century Post 9/11 GI Bill to assists our returning Iraq &
Afghanistan Veterans achieve educational goals.

The days of the
VFW being a men's club and lounge mentality are long passed. The VFW
currently assists servicemen & servicewomen with Operation Uplink
phone cards while deployed overseas to maintain the contact with their
families as well as a Military Assistance Program that helps families
in need while military family members are deployed.

In addition,
VFW Posts and their members of the Ladies Auxiliary contribute over 13
million hours to Volunteerism and Hospital Service programs as well as
Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen essay programs which directly result
in Middle & High School students receiving awards which provide a
much needed boost in scholarship programs when planning their future
education.

New Veterans are always welcomed as well as veterans
of all eras. There is place for you, at your local Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post.

Timothy C. Smith

Massachusetts VFW Public Affairs Officer

(617) 727-2612