(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Matthew McLaughlin
City Council President

I received a lot of feedback on the proposed Public Safety Building (PSB) at 90 Washington Street. Here are a few quick points before I go into more detail:

• The design phase of the project is on hold to facilitate more community input
• That means any proposed designs or cost projections are speculative
• Any vote on the PSB may be years down the road
• All meetings are public and recorded and stored on the city’s website here

Fenway Health recently held a community meeting explaining the uses and benefits of a proposed supervised consumption site in Somerville.

By Luda Tang

The City of Somerville and Fenway Health held a community meeting concerning supervised consumption sites (SCSs) on Wednesday, June 1. Its aim was to inform Somerville residents on what a supervised consumption site is and how it could help with the fatal drug overdose situation in the community.

The latest developments concerning the Public Safety Building project were discussed at the latest meeting of the Building Project Committee.

By Luda Tang

On June 1, the Public Safety Building Project Committee meeting concerning the Public Safety Building project (PSB) was held, hosted by Committee Chair and Director of Capital Projects at the City of Somerville Melissa Woods.

Community fridges are helping people throughout the region in their struggles with food insecurity. — Photo courtesy of Eric Haines

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

The COVID pandemic exacerbated food insecurity across the United States, deeply affecting communities like Somerville. According to a report from the Greater Boston Food Bank, in 2020, one in eight people in the area were expected to experience food insecurity due to the COVID pandemic.

Tonight, June 8, at 6:00 p.m. the city will hold a FY23 Budget meeting to discuss Exec. Admin, SomerStat, Arts, Elections, Sustainability, Comms, 311, SomerViva, PEG, IT. Pursuant to Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. Copy and paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4684695113424439565. View agenda, video stream, and minutes at http://SomervilleCityMA.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=3572

Traffic safety issues, such as improvements to the Blakeley and McGrath intersection, were discussed during a recent meeting on this and other matters. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Gina Ingrando

This week a Zoom meeting discussing the construction of McGrath Highway (Route 28) at Mystic Avenue (Route 38) was held. This meeting covered two specific topics that Project Manager David Shedd announced at the beginning. The main topics of discussion were Targeted Safety Improvement Projects and a Federally Funded TIP Project.

You won’t get the day off from work or school or grocery shopping or … anything, really. There’ll be no three-day weekend or big picnic to mark the occasion. But for many, the significance of the day will ring loudly in their hearts and minds.

Flag Day is not an official federal or state holiday, but June 14 is the date designated by proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson back in 1916 as a day to officially honor the stars and stripes that we solemnly revere today.

Eagle Feathers #255 – Charlestown

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

She is 225 years old this year and the pride of Charlestown, the United States Navy and America. The USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides or the Eagle of the Sea, is one of New England’s main attractions.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne speaking at the Somerville Pride Flag Raising. — Photos by Mina Rose Morales

By Mina Rose Morales

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne raised the Pride Flag for the first time as mayor on Wednesday, June 1, at the City Hall Concourse. The mayor spoke about LGBTQ progress in Somerville. She reflected on how Somerville supports gender and sexuality alliance clubs in schools to create safe inclusive spaces. She also plans on expanding new existing programs and piloting new community-based initiatives. She plans on funding a full-time LGBQ coordinator for the city.

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I had the pleasure to speak with Rajiv Raman about his work, and his new children’s book Last Stop: A Story of Transit Equality.

Doug Holder: As a sculptor and a digital artist, how has the Somerville experience been for you?