Here We Go Again........

NOW EMERGENCY DECLARED AND SCHOOL CANCELED: Based on the forecast, Somerville has declared a snow emergency effective at 8 p.m., today, Tuesday, Feb. 4. Somerville Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Here are a few reminders about Somerville’s snow policies and links to important information. Please share widely so that we’re all ready for the snow.

1. PARKING BAN: During the snow emergency, parking is allowed only on the odd-numbered side of the road (unless otherwise posted). Cars not moved from the even-numbered side by midnight may be subject to ticketing and towing.
2. PARKING IN CITY LOTS: During the emergency, residents may park in any municipal lot or in designated school parking lots. Meters in these lots (and Citywide) will not be in effect during the emergency. Vehicles may remain in the lots until 2 hours after the emergency is lifted. For an interactive map of City and school lots, click here: http://bit.ly/1hg4Gw2.
3. METERS NOT IN EFFECT DURING EMERGENCY: During the emergency, meters do not need to be paid. But please note, parking at street meters is allowed only on the odd-numbered side of the street and meters are back in effect two hours after a snow emergency ends.
4. WHO TO CALL: Residents with non-emergency requests should call 311. For emergencies, please remember to call 911.
5. MORE INFO: More Somerville snow info can be found here:http://bit.ly/1bLe4np.

Change in Charlestown Meeting

Somerville Youth Girls Softball

Batting cages are OPEN Sunday!

5:30-8:30pm

These are open hours, no appointment or scheduling required.  Girls can stop by ANYTIME during the scheduled hours.  Stay for 20 minutes, stay for 3 hours.  This is a great opening to get instruction on hitting fundamentals and mechanics.  Other softball programs in the region would jump at the chance to get more batting cage time—take advantage of this FREE opportunity.  The batting cages are located in the Edgerly Education Center, corner of Otis & Cross Streets right here in Ward 1.

Somerville Youth Softball Organization

www.SomervilleSoftball.com

FACEBOOK - LIKE US!!!  Somerville Youth Softball

Food For Thought Regarding Proposed Casino in Everett

Our neighbors in Charlestown have welcomed our participation in these meetings and I know they have been working hard on their response to the Wynn DEIR.  Personally, I am against a casino in Everett for a lot of reasons but what is most disconcerting to me is the total lack of consideration and input from surrounding communities that will be affected greatly - Yes, SOMERVILLE.  It has been confirmed that the Charestown community meeting regarding the Wynn Casino will be on Tuesday, January 28th at 7:00 P.M. at the Knights of Columbus - 545 Medford Street.  Help spread the word.



RA/SS Advocacy Coalition Working Group Charlestown, Massachusetts

To: Elizabeth Dello Russo, Executive Director Anthony Gallagher Vineet Gupta

From: Evelyn Addante, Marc Older, Bill Lamb, Liz Levin, Ivey St John Working Group for the RA/SS Advocacy Coalition

Date: January 7th, 2013

Re: Wynn Casino DEIR Analysis and Questions

Introduction:
The City of Boston has been planning changes to Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square since the late 1990’s. During the course of the last four years and dozens of meetings Charlestown residents have developed the current plans for Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square. The community looks forward to the creation of a vibrant and livable community with safe access to the Sullivan Square T station, whether traveling on foot, by bicycle or car at all times of day in this currently underutilized area.

Wynn Everett now proposes to build a hotel/casino that will result in a large percentage increase in traffic through Boston (Charlestown) for its daily operations.

The narrative below addresses many questions developed by the RA/SS Advocacy Coalition Working Group, and are based on a review of Wynn’s DEIR Volume 1. 

ROADWAY MITIGATION – SULLIVAN SQUARE/RUTHERFORD AVE.
Mitigation Issues for 2017 Opening: 
To facilitate access to its hotel/casino Wynn Everett proposes to implement Sullivan Square Project Mitigation Off-Site Improvements (DEIR 4.5.1.6 pg 4-169) & (Table 18-1 Proposed Transportation Mitigation Measures). These measures are:

A coordinated traffic signal timing plan for Maffa Way/Cambridge Street, and adjacent signals, and installation of interconnected signals at the intersection of Rutherford Ave/Sullivan Square circle.

Widening of Main Street approach to the intersection with two approach lanes. Cambridge Street/I-93 off ramp (intersection 52 aka 53) improvements (DEIR Table 18-1) to include widening of the off-ramp approach. 

Commitment to fund planning and conceptual design of SS and RA. Note: we believe that funding is assured from government sources for the next phase, and is scheduled to start this month. 

Please show detailed plans (similar to casino entrance plan shown in Figure 2-5 pg 63) for resulting roadway design changes. Plan should indicate any proposed land takings as may be required to gain additional width.

Please demonstrate that if these improvements are completed, the LOS in Sullivan Square will be satisfactory at the time the casino opens in 2017 to accommodate the added casino traffic.

Please provide the anticipated interim plan (2017) LOS for each hour between 6:00 AM and 12:00 AM on a typical Friday at the Rutherford Avenue/Main Street intersection in 2017.

Those familiar with the Sullivan Square are very skeptical that changing signal timings and coordination will be sufficient to expedite casino impact, and are convinced the more comprehensive plan the city has proposed will be required.

Future impact at anticipated completion of roadway plans (2023): 
In order to understand the impact of the traffic increases on the community, the traffic information for the hours both preceding and following the peak hours must be known. Please provide a chart/graph showing the LOS delay and queue numbers for each hour between 6:00 AM and 12:00 AM on a typical Friday at Rutherford Avenue and Main Street (53d) in the No-Build and “Real” build 2023 scenarios.

Please show detailed 2023 roadway plans (in form as requested above) for any proposed changes to the current City of Boston Redesign Plan for Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square.

What are the daily & peak time vehicle trips through Charlestown? How many will be on each of Charlestown streets? Please identify each street by name.

Please identify percentage of total project traffic which will use Charlestown Streets.

Common sense and resident experience suggest traffic in summer months is significantly less, yet the DEIR states summer traffic is higher. What is the basis for this assumption?

Please explain exactly what BTD traffic numbers were used to calculate 2023 traffic numbers. BTD projected for 2030. Wynn projected for 2023. How was discrepancy accounted for?

Wynn Casino start up target is 2017 Yet all the trip generation data is for a redesigned Sullivan Square featuring the grid pattern & multiple streets to disperse traffic. BTD estimates the Redesigned SS will not be built by that target date. Does Wynn intend to finance earlier construction of the Redesign? If not, what is the work-around plan?

Alternative Transportation Services: 
Please explain in detail all public, shuttle, coach. & water transportation services to be offered to mitigate trip generation impact on surrounding & host communities, identifying how many passengers are expected to use each mode, and how many passenger cars those support services remove from community streets.

Alford Street Bridge: 
The bridge is a drawbridge, and must open for all boat traffic greater in height than the low bridge clearance from the river. What consideration has been given to traffic delays when the bridge is raised? Were delays factored into traffic estimates?

BACKGROUND QUESTIONS ON WYNN’S NUMBERS:
Market Segments, Access Modes, Parking: 

What is Wynn’s market? What are its segments & ages? From what locations will visitors originate? What will be their travel mode? How many will be day-trippers and overnighters?

What is the basis for Wynn’s customer parking spaces, and what will their turnover be? *

What are the locations of off-site employee parking lots?

What is Wynn’s plan for getting emergency services to and from the Monsanto site?

Is Wynn expecting any customers to come and go by helicopter?

How was water ferry service ridership of 1200 per hour calculated?

 *See parking analysis of three other casinos at end of document

Casinos chosen to characterize Wynn Trip Generation Values: 

Casinos selected to develop Wynn trip generation characteristics are too dissimilar to reflect accurately Wynn’s site conditions and requirements; DEIR suggests using land use codes (LUC) for a hotel compensates for this dissimilarity, a highly questionable premise.

LUC values do not recognize that the absence of hotels at the three other sites is mitigated by very robust public, coach, shuttle and subway service.Wynn must be challenged to develop serious traffic mitigation services.

Casino de Montreal:

• Casino bus #777 delivers clients directly from the metro station. Pick up & drop off are every 20 minutes from 5:30AM to 9:52 PM, and every 10 minutes from 10:12 PM to 1:15AM.
• Weekly shuttle service from out side Montreal is also provided.

Resorts World Casino, at Aqueduct Racecourse in Queens:

• A train subway from mid-town Manhattan, with free shuttle service from Aqueduct Station to casino.
• Q7 bus, connecting E & F Metro lines stops at the Casino.
• From LI RR, complimentary shuttle service every 20 minutes from two station stops, 8:00AM to 12:00AM.
• Two other buses offer direct service: Q11, Q 41
• A shuttle from Brooklyn pick ups at two points and delivers to casino, 10:00AM to midnight, 2:00AM on weekends.
• Three private coach services offered from mid-town, east and west side Of Manhattan.

Sugarhouse Casino, Philadelphia:

• Sugar Express, center city route, service every 1 ½ hours, with pick up/ drop off at nine locations
• Sugar Express, South Phily route: identical service

* Parking values for the three baseline Casinos as exhibited in the DEIR are incorrect, based on specific phone calls to each facility:

• Sugarhouse: Wynn: 1820, phone call: 1296
• Montreal: Wynn: 3000, phone call: 2000
• Queens Aqueduct Site: Wynn 6500, phone call: 10,000

(This may include the racetrack parking.)

Trip Generation Analysis:

Wynn DEIR rejects Sugarhouse Casino vehicle trip generation rates as unusual results, and instead uses the Casino de Montreal and Aqueduct vehicle trip rates. In fact, the higher Sugarhouse Casino rates are more in line with the results found in an ITE research paper from 2000 and another from 1998 (five separate casinos in total).

Please provide reasons why the research results by Trueblood and Gude are not relevant to the Wynn Everett development, and explain the rejection of the Sugarhouse Casino rates despite their similarity to trip generation rates found in previous research?

Wynn Resort -Everett
3,072 slots
900 tables

Peak Hour Vehicle Trips based on Wynn DEIR vehicle trip rates
Friday 1,152
Saturday 1,311

Peak Hour Vehicle Trips based on ITE reference (Trueblood and Gude)
Average Weekday 1,812
Average Weekend 1,966
  

Please note: the peak hour vehicle trip rates calculated in the Trueblood and Gude paper are average weekday and weekend rates which means that Friday and Saturday rates would be even higher.

Mode Share:
Table 2-20 on page 4-119 indicates that 62% of the patron market is within a 30 minutes travel time (including visitors arriving via Logan Airport).
What proportion of the 62% originates from Logan Airport?
What is the number of vehicle trips this represents?
What are the mode choices of patrons originating at Logan Airport?

What is the research justification for 10% of patrons will use the Orange Line, and what market segment will do so?

The DEIR states that “3% of patrons and employees will use water transportation to the Project Site." What is the research basis for this estimate?

SITE PREPARATION & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS:

Activities:
Site remediation of Tier 11 site
Dredging for Marina
Removal & replacement of unsuitable soil, sediment & structural material for oyster beds
Bulkhead Restoration
Construction of oyster bed
Garage Construction
Hotel Construction
Restaurant and retail store construction
Landscaping Construction of harbor walk and floating dock

Questions:
How many trucks/barges/ delivery/removal vehicles will be required for each activity listed above?
To what location will the remediated soil be delivered?
What route or routes will each take to enter and leave?
How many cubic yards or truck loads in each activity must be removed?
What will each activity’s duration be?
What train line is under consideration for removal or delivery of materials?

Mt. Vernon Street Fire

http://www.whdh.com/story/24530769/somerville-two-alarm-fire-displaces-seven

Fire misplaces seven on Mt. Vernon Street this morning.  Somerville firefighters work in freezing temperatures keeping the fire to 2 alarms.  Check out the link above.

East Broadway Construction Update 1/22

Dear East Broadway / East Somerville Community Member,

Happy New Year!


You are receiving this notification as part of the City of Somerville’s community notification process. You have signed up to receive alerts and information pertaining to ongoing construction on East Broadway, and as part of this process you will receive several emails per month with status updates and schedules for the project through its completion. Throughout the project, updates, schedules and other relevant information can be found at www.somervillema.gov/alerts/city-construction-updates.
For the period between Jan. 21 and Feb. 8, the construction schedule is as follows (please note that all dates are subject to change due to inclement weather):

• Weeks of Jan. 21, Jan. 27, and Feb. 3:
  • Sewer pipe installation. Autumn St. and Rush St. areas. For this work, both Autumn St. and  Rush St. will be closed to through traffic during work hours on these dates. Abutters will be allowed to access the street, and police details will assist with all detours during work hours.
• Tue., Jan. 21:
  • Pipe bursting at Autumn St. If your property is to be affected, you will be notified by work crews in advance.
• Tue., Jan. 21 and Wed., Jan. 22:
  • Sewer work at Cross St.
• Tue., Jan. 21 through Thurs., Jan. 23:
  • Sewer work at Autumn St.
  • Relocation of traffic signals at Cross St.
• Wed., Jan. 22:
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.
• Fri., Jan. 24:
  • Rodent abatement project-wide.
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.
• Week of Jan. 27:
  • Sewer work. Cross St. East to Minnesota Ave.
• Wed., Jan. 29:
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.
• Fri., Jan,. 31:
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.
• Week of Feb. 3:
  • Sewer work. Minnesota Ave.
• Wed., Feb. 5:
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.
• Fri., Feb. 7:
  • Patching trenches. Cross St. to Autumn St.

 The full three week look ahead is attached here, and available on the City’s construction updates website. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the project staff:

• The City of Somerville’s Constituent Service Center: 311 (617-666-3311 from outside the City), 311Updates@somervillema.gov
• City of Somerville, Deputy Director of Communications, Jackie Rossetti: 617-625-6600 ext 2614
• Massachusetts Department of Transportation Project Manager, George Kavalaris: (781) 853-8055

 Thank you!

No School Tomorrow

A message from the Somerville Public Schools

Due to projected weather conditions, all Somerville Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, January 22nd. In addition, all evening activities scheduled for 6pm or later tonight (1/21/2014) have been cancelled. Check back for updated information tomorrow. Stay safe, everyone! (Today's beautiful winter scene created by Ariyeh Weissman Bennett, third grade student in Ms. Hobbs' ESCS class).

It Is Expensive to Be Poor

I just finished reading the article j- It Is Expensive to Be Poor - and found it to be both interesting and thought provoking.  Unless you were born into wealth we have all struggled at some time or another.  Just click here to read the article.

Snow Emergency Declared

SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED: Based on predicted heavy snowfall this evening, Somerville has declared a snow emergency effective at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21 (today). Here are a few reminders about Somerville’s snow policies and links to important information. Please share widely so that we’re all ready for the snow.

1. PARKING BAN: During the snow emergency, parking is allowed only on the odd-numbered side of the road (unless otherwise posted). Cars not moved from the even-numbered side by 7 p.m. today may be subject to ticketing and towing. 

2. PARKING IN CITY LOTS: During the emergency, residents may park in any municipal lot or in designated school parking lots. Meters in these lots (and Citywide) will not be in effect during the emergency. Vehicles may remain in the lots until 2 hours after the emergency is lifted. For an interactive map of City and school lots, click here: http://bit.ly/1hg4Gw2. 

3. METERS NOT IN EFFECT DURING EMERGENCY: During the emergency, meters do not need to be paid. But please note, parking at street meters is allowed only on the odd-numbered side of the street.

4. TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP: Because of the Monday holiday, trash and recycling pickup is on a one-day delay this week. No additional weather-related delays are expected. 

5. WHO TO CALL: Residents with non-emergency requests should call 311 or 617-666-3311. For emergencies, please remember to call 911. 

6. MORE INFO: More Somerville snow info can be found here: http://bit.ly/1bLe4np.

Important Meetings

Check out two important meetings happening next week.  Follow this link.  One involving the proposed development where Patsy's Bakery is currently located and one regarding the proposed development at the end of Cross Street East (Stop & Shop.)  Both meetings are being sponsored by our Alderman Matt McLaughlin - representatives from the City's Planning Department as well as representatives from the developers and their attorney's will be present. 

Snow?

 A message from the City of Somerville

It's looking like the snow totals and timing COULD require a snow emergency later tomorrow (Tuesday). Whenever there's more than 4 inches of snow in the forecast and you think you may not be home to move your car when an emergency is called, it's a good idea to leave your car on the odd side (unless otherwise posted) to be safe. We'll update with news once we have it. But for now, please plan ahead if you can, and like and share this message so more will see it.

 A message from  me..............

I am glad I am not a meteorologist and I am glad I am not the one making the calls on snow emergencies.  Last forecast I saw predicted anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of snow.  That's a big difference........................  Whatever the snowfall total is remember to help out a neighbor and help shovel out the fire hydrants.  We're all in the same boat or in this case snow storm. 

E-Mail Update From Our New Alderman

Below is our first email update from our new Alderman Matt McLaughlin.  A link to Matt's website is to the right under helpful links.  Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Greetings all,

This is my first of many emails to come to keep the people of East Somerville informed on city matters.  I will try to make a monthly report, with additional emails in case something important comes up. If anyone does not wish to receive emails, please let me know and I will remove you.

Now on to the important issues.  The biggest issue coming up is the second meeting regarding the proposed Stop and Shop development.  This meeting will be Wednesday, January 29 at the Senior Center on 165 Broadway.  I encourage all interested parties to attend.  The previous meeting was quite contentious and I would like to ensure that all residents feel their voice is heard.

There will also be another meeting regarding the proposed development at Patsy's Pastries.  That meeting will be January 30 at 6pm, also at the Senior Center on 165 Broadway.

In other news, the bridge on Cross Street will finally be open Tuesday, January 21!  There will be a ceremony at 11:30am if people care to attend.  

The Connexion Church on 149 Broadway will be having an Art Night Friday, January 24 at 7pm.  

The city of Somerville, in conjunction with several non-profit organizations, will be hosting a series of community forums regarding gentrification and displacement. I encourage anyone interested to attend.  The first meeting will be Tuesday, February 4 at 6pm at the Argenizano School.

A major issue in the last board meeting was the increase in taxes for many homeowners and business owners in the community.  This is a very serious issue that everyone on the board is concerned with. The city of Somerville will be holding and information session Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m., at the East Somerville Community School cafeteria, 50 Cross St.

In other board news, I put in a multitude of orders to the city regarding potholes, low hanging electrical wires, notification of construction, rats, parking issues and other daily East Somerville issues.  If anyone has any issues that they feel are not being addressed, please contact me.

Thank you everyone for giving me the opportunity to represent our ward.  I am always accessible and willing to work with anyone to improve our quality of life.

Sincerely,

--

Matt McLaughlin

Ward 1 Alderman

Somerville, MA

Somerville - The Little City That Could

Check out this article in the Boston Globe.  Click here...........

WOOHOO

Great news according to the Somerville Journal the Cross Street bridge is scheduled to open up on Tuesday, January 21st.  You can click here to see the article. 

For updates on City Construction Updates & Detour information click here. 

Don't Forget

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Somerville Office of Commissions and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled, “The Dream: Equality for All,” to be held on Monday, January 20^th in accordance with national MLK Day remembrance.  The 2014 event will be held at the East Somerville Community School from 11am – 1pm, and will include featured speaker Professor Adenrele Awotona, UMass/Boston Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities After Disasters as well as live music, readings from Somerville student essays in response to the 2014 theme “Equality for All,” and an award presentation to community members who exemplify MLK’s legacy in the Somerville community.  The event is free and open to the public.

Additionally this year, the City of Somerville and MLK Jr. Day Committee are sponsoring a “Day of Service,” which will include a Red Cross Blood Drive and canned food drive.  The American Red Cross mobile unit will be stationed outside of the East Somerville Community School from 11:00am to 4:00pm.  To make an appointment, please call 1-800-733-RED-CROSS, or visit redcrossblood.org.  Donations of canned and non-perishable food will be accepted at the event, to support local food pantries.

The Mayor 2014 Inaugural Address

Congratulations Mayor Curtatone on your 6th term as Mayor of the City of Somerville.

Thank You & Congratulations

It has truly been an honor and a privilege to have served the residents of Ward One for this past decade - not only as School Committee Representative but also as your Alderman for this past year.

I love this City and I love Ward One!  I believe this Mayor, his administration, the School Committee and the Board of Aldermen have done some amazing things over this past decade that have put Somerville on the map and I am so happy to have been a part of it.

I'd like to thank everyone - absolutely everyone - with whom I have had the privilege of working with over the past 10 years - especially the residents of Ward One.

I'd like to congratulate our new Alderman - Matt McLaughlin and offer my assistance if there is any way I can help out.  I would also like to pass along Matt's information (which is below) should anyone need to contact him.  I would also like to give Matt the email addresses of the people who have been receiving updates from me this past year.  If I do not hear from you I will assume it is o.k. for me to pass along your email address so Matt can continue to keep everyone updated. 

Matt's website has been linked in the sidebar.

Once again - Thank you everyone!  And good luck Matt!

Matt McLaughlin
184 Broadway
Somerville, MA  02145
617-684-5475
MMcLaughlin@Somervillema.gov  **
mattforward1@gmail.com
Matt's web site - just click here
Matt's Facebook page - just click here
Matt's Twitter Feed - just click here

**  Currently the City is working out some kinks in Matt's City email address so he has asked me to include the additional one. 

Thank you!
Maureen Bastardi

Traffic Commission Agenda

Traffic Commission Agenda

January 16, 2014

Where:  Tufts Administrative Building, 167 Holland St, 2^nd floor

When:  Thursday January 16, 2014 at 6pm

Item #1 – Acceptance of Minutes from December 19, 2013 Traffic Commission Meeting

Item #2 – Request for Handicapped Parking

27 Berkeley St

11 Putnam St

Item #3 – Request for Drop Off/Pick Up, School Zone, 7am-8am and 2:30pm-3:00pm, Monday-Friday, September-June on Cross St at the Edgerly School replacing the existing restriction No Parking School, 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday, September-June.  Revert to Residential Permit Parking during non restrictive periods.

Item #4 – Request for Drop Off/Pick Up, School Zone, 7am-8am and 2:30pm-3:00pm, Monday-Friday, September-June on Morrison Av between Willow Av and Josephine Av currently restricted for Residential Permit Parking.  Revert back to Residential Permit Parking during non restrictive periods.

Item #5 – Request for No Parking along the south side of Medford St from Prospect Hill to Washington St beginning on 1/1/14 through 6/30/14 for the McCarthy Overpass Construction Project (previously approved through 12/31/13).

Item #6 – Request for No Parking Any Time on Medford St, left side, from Washington St to Somerville Av beginning on 1/1/14 through 6/30/14 for the McCarthy Overpass Construction Project (previously approved through 12-31-13)

Item #7 – Prior Business

1. 15 Minute Parking at 514 Medford St; approved for 90 day trial period in September 2013.
2. No Parking on Cedar St at Franey Rd, first two spaces, approved for a 90 day trial period in September 2013.

Item #8 – Informational Item regarding Kidder Ave

All future agenda's and meetings can be found just by clicking here.

PUBLIC INVITED TO HOUSING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION SERIES TO HELP SHAPE CITY’S HOUSING AGENDA

SOMERVILLE – As more families and individuals seek to remain in Somerville amid market forces that are creating a crunch of affordable and moderate-priced housing across the metro area and in Somerville, the City of Somerville, Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) invite the community to three public forums starting the first week of February to discuss housing issues in the city and to help inform and shape future housing policy.

The forums, titled Housing Roundtables: A Discussion Series on Housing for Families and Individuals in Somerville, will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4; Tuesday, Feb. 11; and Tuesday, March 4, with each forum starting with registration and refreshments at 5:30 and discussion running from 6 to 8:30 p.m. All meetings will be held at the Argenziano School, 290 Washington St. in Somerville, and will include childcare and interpretation services.

Community members are encouraged to attend any or all of these forums to contribute their thoughts and experiences around housing issues in Somerville and to share their goals for future City housing policy. Staff members from the City, SCC and MAPC will guide the strategy sessions, which will build upon the community’s vision for housing diversity as laid out in SomerVision, the city’s 20-year comprehensive plan.

“Housing costs are rising across the metro area, but in Somerville we will not stand by and let our lower-income families or our working middle class get pushed out. As Somerville’s appeal grows and more people seek to live or stay here, we must protect those who chose Somerville years ago while we also welcome new families who want to plant roots in our community—and to make that happen, we need forward-thinking housing policy,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

“We’ve been addressing the challenge of keeping housing affordable through a number of initiatives including passage of the Community Preservation Act, the establishment of our Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and by setting our affordable housing requirements far above the state’s benchmark. And currently, we are also working on new initiatives to expand our affordable housing program to working, middle-class families and to create artist and maker districts through zoning that will protect affordable live/work spaces. But we need to do more,” added Mayor Curtatone. “Through these forums, we will tap the wisdom of the community to ensure we continue to pursue bold, effective strategies for addressing the city’s housing needs. Somerville’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and we will ensure that we retain that diversity and that Somerville remains a home for all.”

The first meeting on Feb. 4 will feature special guest Rachel Bratt, Professor in the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University and Senior Fellow at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. At this forum, the community will discuss what exactly family friendly housing is; what kind of housing does the community need to be able to raise a family in Somerville; how the community can work together to meet those needs; and how to best ensure affordable options for a range of incomes.

The second meeting on Feb. 11 will feature special guest Tim Reardon, MAPC Assistant Director of Data Services and a newly released MAPC report “The Dimensions of Displacement,” developed in partnership with SCC and the City of Somerville over the past two years, which delves into gentrification and displacement in Somerville, particularly along the Green Line corridor. At this forum, the community will discuss what gentrification is and why it happens; how displacement resulting from gentrification has shaped Somerville’s history; and how the community can work together to ensure changes coming to Somerville benefit all segments of the city’s population.

At the third and final meeting on March 4, the analysis and discussion from the first two forums will be used by participants to develop concrete strategies and tools for moving forward with a strong and effective housing agenda for Somerville.

Funding for this project is provided in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Program.

Stay Alert

Over the past three months, there have been three assaults on women in Somerville in the Union and Porter Square areas after dark, in the evening and early nighttime hours. Most recently, indecent assaults were reported on Sunday, Jan. 12, in the vicinity of Hawkins St. in Union Sq., and on Thursday, Jan. 2, in the area of Porter and Summer Streets.

The Somerville Police Department is working to identify and apprehend the suspects as quickly as possible, and we wish to alert residents, especially women, to take safety precautions when walking at night. Do not wear ear buds while walking, avoid poorly lit areas, be aware of your surroundings. Keep your cell phone handy at all times, and if possible do not walk alone. If you are approached by a man you do not know, call 911 right away.

 For more information, including descriptions of the suspects, please call the Somerville Police Department or visit www.somervillema.gov.

 Anyone with information regarding any of these assaults is asked to contact the Somerville Police Department at 617.625.1600.

The Somerville Police Department Tuesday released the sketch of a suspect who may have committed sexual assaults in the areas around Union and Porter squares over the past three months.