Dear Neighbors,

As you know, a 72-year-old Somerville resident was killed while biking in Teele Square in August. I am grieving this untimely loss, and I’m angry as we mourn a preventable death in Somerville. I ran for Mayor on a platform that included bold actions to keep our residents safe. Part of the reason that I am so upset is because we know how to prevent terrible crashes like this one.

City buildings will be closed Monday, September 5, for Labor Day.

Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day.

No street sweeping on Monday.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 1 City Councilor Matt McLaughlin, and City of Somerville staff invite you to a virtual public meeting about expanding the Glen Street Community Garden in East Somerville. The city is finalizing plans to expand the existing community garden into an adjacent vacant lot at 5 Palmer Avenue, more than doubling its current size and adding approximately 15 new, appropriately sized plots that will be manageable for gardeners of all skill levels. The expansion will also feature accessible garden beds, water hookups, a shed, and some shaded gathering areas. 

By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer traveling eastbound on Somerville Ave. last Sunday evening pulled behind a vehicle stopped at the traffic signal at the intersection of Somerville Ave. and Prospect St. in the left turn only lane with the left blinker on.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Maneuvering through the Powder House rotary took some time to figure out. I asked our readers to share their thoughts and opinions regarding the new traffic pattern. Wow! It’s sure different. No lights and one shop sign.

“The FTA report is an important wake-up call for our Commonwealth. Massachusetts needs a world-class public transit system. Good public transit is a benefit to everyone in the region because it has the potential to touch so many people in positive ways. It’s good for economic justice, environmental justice, and racial justice.

The Somerville City Council reviewed and discussed the recent ruling that a candidate for a public service job was wrongly denied at their latest regular meeting.

By Jim Clark

An Order was put forward by Ward 7 Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld at the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, August 25, that the City Solicitor update the City Council on the August 11 Civil Service Commission decision on the Matthew Fairchild v. City of Somerville matter, and its impact on the city’s confirmations process.