Congratulations to the winners of the preliminary election. Once again, the people have spoken. Best of luck to all in the general election in November.

Thanks to the efforts of grassroots organizers, the City of Somerville now has the longest continuous municipal eviction moratorium in the state of Massachusetts. On September 9th, the Somerville Board of Health voted unanimously in favor of extending the moratorium until April 30, 2022, providing seven more months of residential protections from eviction and foreclosure, rather than the originally proposed two months.

(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 Kristen Strezo
Somerville City Councilor At-Large

My Dear Somerville,

I wouldn’t have envisioned myself taping a wire hanger to my front door a week ago.

Last week, the Supreme Court declined to stop a Texas law that bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy. The new law also implicates anyone in Texas who supports or assists a pregnant person pursuing an abortion – by driving them, providing financial assistance, counseling them, or staffing the procedure – and subjects them to a $10,000 fine.

A lot of public events used to come and go through the city over the course of each year: road races, music festivals, family events … you name it.

Then came the pandemic and we pretty much went without all of it for a while. But as we slowly make our way back to some degree of normalcy, a few of our favorite outdoor events are poised to make a comeback.

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I met Somerville artist Alexandria Rozenman, under the thick, tangle of vines, in the courtyard of the Neighborhood Restaurant in Union Square, Somerville. Trying to make small talk, I told her that I was of Russian Jewish heritage, like her. She looked at my bagel, dripping with onions and smoked fish and said, “Yes, I can smell it.”

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Pamela Gemme is a poet, artist, and a social justice advocate. Pamela is the co-editor of Essential Anthology forthcoming 2022, Borderless Books West Virginia University. She has recent or forthcoming publications in many journals and anthologies and is working on two poetry manuscripts and has work in or forthcoming in many journals and anthologies. Pamela’s artwork can be seen in commercial settings on magazine covers and in galleries. Pamela can be reached at ArtSense@yahoo.com.

A walk-in clinic for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be held Wednesday, September 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m at Somerville High School, 89 Highland Ave. No appointment is necessary, but pre-registration is highly encouraged. You can pre-register at somervillema.gov/vaccine. The clinic is free, and open to all people 12 years or older, regardless of immigration status or health insurance.

Former Congressman Mike Capuano with former Aldermen McWatters and Sullivan at Ward 5 polling place discussing today’s primary.

Tuesday, September 14, polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for Somerville voters to cast their ballots in the preliminary election. The preliminary election will narrow the field for Mayor, Ward 5 City Councilor, and Ward 7 City Councilor. The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 2.

Renters, homeowners, and landlords with financial hardships urged to contact the Office of Housing Stability

The Somerville Board of Health (BOH) voted to extend the city’s residential eviction moratorium to April 30, 2022, at its September 9 meeting.

“I want to thank the Board of Health for taking this important step to protect public health as this pandemic continues,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “We know about a third of renters who are evicted move in with friends or family, which can cause crowded conditions that help COVID-19 spread. Others go to shelters and similar congregate settings, or to tent encampments which also increase the likelihood of COVID transmission and lethality.  Keeping people in their homes is one of the many ways we are trying to limit the spread of this virus.”