Trane threatens planning department with “butt chewing”
By George P. Hassett

An angry ward alderman unleashed his fury on the city’s planning department at last week’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
  ‚ÄúI have had enough, somebody up there [in the office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (SPCD)] better get their act together or I‚Äôm going to bring someone down here and give them a good butt chewing because they need it,‚Äù said Ward 7 Alderman Robert C. Trane.
  City officials failed to comment before The Somerville News presstime.

Non-union workers to see raises based on performance
By Andrea Gregory

City workers are anticipating hefty pay raises, following a six-year hiatus from any pay increase. Altogether the city planned to spend $579,909 to bump up the wages of non-union municipal employees. However, on Tuesday Nov. 21, the Board of Aldermen was expected to receive a new figure about 7 percent less than the first proposal brought to the aldermen after The Somerville News presstime.

Jack’s back

By Andrea Gregory

Former Ward 6 Alderman Jack Connolly is the first to publicly announce his plans to throw his hat in the running for the city’s vacant alderman-at-large seat. He said he expects competition, but he believes his history with the city and with the board can get him back into office.

Union Square revival could force out families
By George P. Hassett

Donna Quinn moved to Union Square with her two children in 1983. 23 years later, with city leaders proposing new zoning to attract developers to the Square and facing eviction from her home due to increasing rents, Quinn believes she should not be left out of the neighborhoods bright future.
   ‚ÄúWe don‚Äôt need to see more condos around every corner. The city‚Äôs trying to uplift Union Square, but we don‚Äôt need that. We need a place to live,‚Äù she said.

News Talk for the week of Nov. 22

According to sources, a few more Police-Fire picket protests are scheduled for later on this month and next – we also heard that it might be set to coincide with the ‚ÄúChristmas‚Äù (Holiday?) lighting ceremony‚Ķif that‚Äôs true, it could prove to be a very interesting event.  With the raid of the DPW workers at Engine 7 on Monday we wonder what they were looking for?  Are things getting worse here in the city?       

The big payback!
City removes personal items from fire house, union calls it “retaliation”
By George P. Hassett

The firefighters of Engine 7 came back from fighting a two alarm blaze Monday to learn many of the personal items they store in the station had been seized by the city. And the reason, according to one union official? Petty retaliation.

Right: Union President Jay Colbert said Department of Public Works employees went to Engine 7 on Highland Ave. and seized personal items from firefighters.

Building up the arts in Union Square

By Andrea Gregory

Proposed zoning changes for Union Square aimed at supporting the local arts community and revitalizing the area will be presented to the public Monday, Nov. 20. However, some community groups are already raising concerns about negative effects the zoning changes may impose.

Advisory group commends progress in police department
By George P. Hassett

A report by the Somerville Police Department Advisory Group said the department has made “significant progress” towards reforming police operations in Somerville, but a union leader said the report is merely an “essay pumping up the mayor’s position.”

Two wounded in shooting, two under arrest

Somerville Police have arrested a 31 year old Malden man and a 16 year old female in connection with a Wednesday evening Temple Street shooting in which two people were wounded.