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Ikea and Federal Realty propose land swap at Assembly Square
By George P. Hassett
Two Assembly Square landowners are discussing swapping their land in order to bring more mixed-use to the development site, said a neighborhood activist this week.
Wig Zamore, of the Mystic View Task Force, confirmed that Ikea and Federal Realty Investment Trust were in talks to move the Swedish furniture chain away from the waterfront land it is currently slated to inhabit.
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Reality Bites for the week of Nov. 16 by James Norton
“Marge, it takes two to lie – one to lie and one to listen.” – Homer Simpson
As in life, there are many levels of humor – this is evident in the title of this column. Sure, Homer seems to hit the nail on the head when he said this, but the real humor is beneath the fluffy exterior of the statement itself. Underneath the instant laugh it generates, is the original quote from Thoreau, which is: “It takes two to speak the truth – one to speak and one to listen”. The twisted and sophomoric interpretation is where the gold is struck.
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What to do about Gentrification?
A commentary by William C. Shelton
Homicidal graffiti aimed at affluent newcomers recently prompted public discussion of “Gentrification.” This is a genteel term for the displacement of long-term Somerville residents by newcomers who bid up housing prices beyond many working families’ means.
In fact, this problem has been growing steadily for two decades. Housing advocates who argued for a focused public response were largely ignored until injunctions to “Kill a yuppie” began appearing on West Somerville walls.
From 1982 to 1996, average rent on a two-bedroom Somerville apartment increased from $301 to $821. In 1996, Massachusetts voters passed a ballot measure to abolish rent control.
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Request for toilet paper turns to prison break at Somerville jail
By George P. Hassett
An imprisoned woman briefly escaped her jail cell at dawn on Monday Nov. 14 when a prison matron brought her a sheet of toilet paper.
Jennifer Stacy, 21, of Cambridge, requested toilet paper then ran past the matron who had opened her cell to hand it to her. Stacy then opened the exterior sally port doors and ran to Washington St.
According to the police report, officers searched the area and found Stacy nearby on Rossmore Street.
“As I entered Rossmore Street, I saw a vehicle that was idling and behind the vehicle was the prisoner, Jennifer Stacy. After making eye contact with me, she realized she was caught and walked towards my cruiser. I placed her under arrest for escaping a municipal lock up,” said Officer Marcos Freitas in his report.
Stacy was in the Somerville lock up facility as the result of a June incident in which she allegedly stabbed a Bob’s Store security guard four times with a syringe. According to prosecutors, Stacy then turned to onlookers and asked, “Does anyone else want AIDS?”
Newstalk for November 16th 2005
A new item starting this week – we’re going to ask questions about what’s going on in the city and we’re going to ask you Рthe reader Рto go online to our weblog and tell us what you think of the question…please keep in mind that the “question” will be based hearsay/rumor only…of course no swearing or tearing someone a new one will be allowed, as it will be just speculation. We’re just going to ask a series of questions every week and the readers can tune in and give it your best shot for the answer.
First question for the readers/weblog visitors: There has been some talk lately regarding a City of Somerville Official who has been observed by a few people going in and out of eating establishments and bars without paying his/her bill. It kind of reminds us of “Wimpy” from the Popeye comics way back, who often said, “For a hamburger today I’d gladly pay you next Tuesday”. Our question is – who do YOU think it is?
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Neighborhood offers comments and criticism on new Magoun Square plan
By George P. Hassett
A new plan to revitalize Magoun Square was presented to neighborhood residents tonight by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O’Donovan and David Giangrande of Design Consultants. In March, Curtatone and O’Donovan said an existing plan did not meet the needs of the neighborhood and cancelled it.
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Mayor, police and citizens meet to discuss new plan for cops
By Arthur Dudney
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s new plan for the Somerville Police Department was debated last night in the aldermanic chambers at city hall.
Ward 3 Alderman Thomas F. Taylor presided over the public meeting that saw citizens and police officers passionately discuss the issue of removing the selection of the Police Chief’s position from a civil service process.
Curtatone spoke first and lauded his plan as the best way to ensure a high performance from the police chief.
“The Chief of Police must be accountable for the job he is doing. Mayors and aldermen can lose elections. Most people have to be held accountable at their jobs. Why should the police chief be any different?,” he said. ”There can be no change without a chief that’s accountable to the Mayor and the people.”
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And they’re off
the race for state representative is underway
By Andrea Gregory
As of Monday, three Somerville residents have pulled papers, vying for the vacant Somerville state representative seat.
Denise Provost, Elizabeth Moroney and John Roderick are the first to show interest in the in the state house position, but there is still time for others to pull papers. Candidates must turn in 150 signatures by Nov. 29 to officially enter the running On Jan.10 the primary election will take place. And on Feb.7, Somerville residents will elect their new state representative.
Here are your choices (at first glance):
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Police catch bank robber shortly after Davis Square heist
By George P. Hassett
Somerville police, with assistance from the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force, arrested Richard Lee Smart on Monday Nov. 14 for the robbery of the Wainwright Bank at 250 Elm Street in Davis Square.
At about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14, a man entered the Wainwright bank and passed a note demanding money. The teller gave the robber an undisclosed amount of cash with a dye pack included. The robber fled the bank on foot through Davis Square toward Grove Street where the dye pack exploded. The robber then ran through a playground and into a house located on Dresden Circle, adjacent to the park.
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