Local newspaper moves 1005 miles away
By George P. Hassett

    A $400 million deal between national media conglomerates has left one of the city‚Äôs two weekly newspapers under the ownership of a company 1,005 miles away from Somerville.
    Patrick Purcell reportedly plans to sell his approximately 100 weekly and daily suburban newspapers to Liberty Group Publishing of Northbrook, Illinois as part of a $400 million deal that includes Liberty’s acquisition of Enterprise NewsMedia LLC. Enterprise is the publisher of the Patriot Ledger of Quincy, the Enterprise of Brockton, and a number of South Shore weeklies.

Woman struck by bus

An elderly woman was struck by a bus today at approximately 11:30. The woman was crossing Elm St. in Davis Square when the accident occurred. Police said the victim was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital and sustained serious injuries.

Pictured, the victim’s belongings lie in the middle of the street.

The identity of the victim is not known to police.

The street has been closed since the accident.

Developing… 

News Talk for the week of May 10

Apparently the Water Department still can‚Äôt get their act together. Seems the Aldermen have requested Superintendent of Water Carol Antonelli to appear before the full Board of Aldermen this week to explain herself and her incompetent department. Apparently the Aldermen aren‚Äôt too happy about constantly hearing their constituents tell water bill horror stories and would like her to explain herself and the situation.  It will be an interesting meeting Thursday at City Hall, everybody should bring their water bills.
   
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Senator Pat Jehlen, along with other state delegates, recently sent a letter to the Massachusetts Highway Dept. asking the state to explain why there was going to be a curb cut on the Lowell Street Bridge. The cut, by the way, would allow developer KSS Development (who plan to build a 229 unit complex on the old factory site) access to the property located at the Max Pac site. Apparently a copy of the letter also went to the Secretary of Environmental Affairs for the state and the Secretary of Transportation.      

Jehlen delivers maiden speech

Senator Patricia D. Jehlen, D-Somerville,  delivered her maiden speech on the floor of the Senate May 4 in support of a bill that raised the annual minimum pension for longstanding pubic servants from $10,000 to $15,000.  The Massachusetts State Senate unanimously approved the legislation raising the minimum pension for approximately 2000 former state employees and teachers with at least 25 years of service.   
    ‚ÄúIncreasing the minimum pension from $10,000 to $15,000 annually will ensure that  2000 former public employees have just the minimal resources they need to live,‚Äù said Jehlen. ‚ÄúBy approving this bill, the Senate affirmed that longtime public servants deserve the chance to live a decent life throughout their retirement.‚Äù

Brazilian assassin nabbed in Somerville
By Benjamin Witte

     The Dept. of Homeland Security last week disclosed that in late April, special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a twice convicted Brazilian hit man believed to have been hiding out in Somerville for the past several years. ICE is the department‚Äôs largest investigative arm.
      On April 25, ICE operatives, working in collaboration with Brazilian authorities and the State Department‚Äôs Bureau of Diplomatic Security, arrested 40-year-old Jose Serafim Sales, ICE revealed in a May 2 press release. The arrest took place in Somerville, though ICE will not say specifically where at what time of day the operation was carried out.

Journal sells out

A $400 million dollar deal between two media conglomerates has left one of Somerville’s two weekly newspapers in the hands of an Illinois company.

Patrick Purcell plans to sell the Boston Herald and the over 100 community newspapers the Herald also owns to Liberty Publishing Group, which already owns 270 small dailies, weeklies and shoppers in 16 states, but none in New England.

Somerville’s other newspaper, The Somerville News, is independently owned by two Somerville businessmen.

Word is bond: Galluccio supporters stick with their man

By George P. Hassett

    Jarrett Barrios‚Äô decision to end his candidacy for Middlesex County District Attorney and seek re-election to the state Senate has created a reverse domino effect with many candidates, such as Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan, pulling out of the race.
    But one domino that has yet to fall is Cambridge City Councilor Anthony Galluccio. That could be the result of his original support holding him up and remaining with him despite Barrios‚Äô entry. Many of those supporters have even worked for or endorsed Barrios in the past.

Mayor gets what he wanted

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has struck a deal to secure a package of new communication services for the city for free until June 30th after funding for the project was defeated by the Board of Aldermen last week. 

The services have been described as "reverse 311" and would allow City Hall to contact every resident in the city by telephone or e-mail in under an hour about possible emergency situations.

Last week the Board of Aldermen cast a tie vote on a proposal to fund the service in May and June. Aldermen who voted against the proposal praised the technology but said they wanted to wait until they had a better idea of what next year’s budget would look like.

News Talk for the week of May 3rd

When the aldermen voted against Mayor Joe’s plan to institute a sort-of reverse 311 that would allow the city to quickly call residents, some of Mayor Joe’s top allies on the board voted against him. Most surprising was Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor’s vote. Taylor has been one of Mayor Joe’s most reliable lieutenants in the past and even used Joe’s old campaign sticks and signs (with Taylor logos taped over old Curtatone ones) in the last election. Taylor was also the swing vote Curtatone needed to win approval for his Assembly Square development plans. So why did Taylor vote against the mayor’s proposal? Maybe the crystal ballers on the web can clue us in.

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News Talk heard this week that a local challenger for a county wide seat once sued her 90 year old neighbor over a petty land dispute. Well, the 90 year old couldn’t handle the stress and strain of a law suit and died. Death by litigation. That’s a new one, even for local politics.