Public hearing scheduled to discuss budget proposal

Alderman-at-Large and Chair of the FInance Committee William A. White has ordered a public hearing to be held on the proposed fiscal year 2007 budget June 20 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

News Talk for the week of May 31
     

For the dumbest mailing in a long time, take a look at the piece those idiots at the Small Property Owners Association sent out this week. Lies meant to scare the $hit out of everyone saying rent control is coming back to the city. You’d think spending all that money to mail everyone across the city and printing up that stuff they would have at least had a Somerville address or even better a Somerville PO Box, instead of a Cambridge PO box. Wonder which dumb large property owner thought of that? We’re against the mayor’s condo conversion ordinance, as it is currently written, but even we can’t support these jerks.

Satirical shirt no laughing matter for some cops
By George P. Hassett

   In addition to being overzealous Spring cleaners, Somerville police are showing they also have a sense of humor.
   This week a t-shirt lampooning the $31,535 of seized drug money accidentally thrown away, made its rounds in local law enforcement circles.
   The t-shirt features a graphic of a pile of $20 bills underneath a sign reading, ‚ÄúLOST: $31,000 Please Return to Somerville Police ASAP.‚Äù

Delegates support minimum wage increase
By George P. Hassett

Somerville’s five state delegates unanimously supported a measure passed in the Senate Thursday that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour, the highest in the country, and guarantee future increases tied to hikes in the cost of living.
   The minimum wage is currently $6.75 an hour in Massachusetts. The Legislature last approved an increase in the cost of living in 1999, voting to raise the hourly minimum wage from $5.25 to $6.00 starting in 2000, and from $6.00 to $6.75 in 2001.

Condominium conundrum concerns community
By George P. Hassett

     The city of Somerville is inviting a lawsuit it will lose if it accepts Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone‚Äôs proposal to amend the city‚Äôs existing laws governing condominium conversions, said Alderman-at-Large William A. White tonight.
     ‚ÄúWe are going down a dangerous path,‚Äù said White, prompting loud applause from a standing room only crowd of onlookers inside the Aldermanic Chambers. ‚ÄúI have disagreed with the city‚Äôs legal analysis before and I was vindicated. I have been a lawyer for 25 years. I have represented tenants and I have represented landowners and I know that what you are proposing tonight will be struck down in court.‚Äù

Aldermen discuss condo conversion ordinance tonight

The Board of Aldermen’s legislative matters committee will meet tonight at 7:30 p.m. to discuss Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s proposal to add regulations to the city’s existing laws governing the conversions of multiple family homes to condominiums. The meeting, which will take place in the aldermanic chambers, is not a public hearing but residents may be afforded the opportunity to speak, said Curtatone spokesperson Meghan Silverburg.

Proposed condominium conversion ordinance in full

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s proposal to add regulations to the city’s current condominium conversion laws has been, at times, controversial, and even distorted to serve certain interests. Here is the document in its raw form, free from any editorializing or journalistic interpretations:

The Somerville News at this year’s Memorial Day Parade

Once again, The Somerville News will have an entry in this year’s parade.  It is our pleasure to join in and show our support for our troops overseas and our living and deceased veterans.  There will be no impromptu signs posted on the float this year, but there will be a special guest appearance of a person or item that is of significant interest.

Rumors have been flying about Dr. Mrs. McCarthy being this year’s Miss Somerville News.  Make sure you check the weblog if you can’t see the parade for yourself for the real scoop.

The Publishers, their families, the Editorial Staff and our friends will be in front of 125 Highland Avenue enjoying the parade and saying hi to our friends.  If you’re nearby or in the parade, stop by and say hi.  All are welcomed, especially if you bring cold, frothy beverages (hint hint).

Source: Pero refused to honor hero

Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero refused to sign a citation honoring Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and this year’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall Thomas G. Kelley because of a past political dispute, said a source close to the Board of Aldermen today.