Somerville Voices: Bicycle Crackdown, Charter Change, Save the Willow, Obama, and More

[Somerville Voices]

*New This Week on Somerville Voices
<http://www.somervillevoices.org/>* *November
17, 2008*Somerville Cracks Down on Sidewalk
Cyclists<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/15/transportation/somerville-cracks-down-on-sidewalk-cyclists/>
by Barry Rafkind
Two days ago, the City of Somerville announced it would start enforcing
regulations prohibiting the use of bicycles on sidewalks with fines between
$20 and $50… Given the city's budget problems, I wonder whether this policy
change is motivated more by a need to find new sources of revenue rather
than by public safety concerns.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/15/transportation/somerville-cracks-down-on-sidewalk-cyclists/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/15/transportation/somerville-cracks-down-on-sidewalk-cyclists/#comments>
Youth
Voices: What it feels like to play
soccer<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/14/schools-and-youth/youth-voices-what-it-feels-like-to-play-soccer/>
by pnm
When I play, I feel concentrated and sometimes nervous. I get motivated by
my team mates. When I step on the field, I feel like everything around me is
like a perfect dream. I can hear my heart beat.…
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/14/schools-and-youth/youth-voices-what-it-feels-like-to-play-soccer/>

 Testimony at the Charter Reform
Hearing<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/government-reform/testimony-at-the-charter-reform-hearing/>
   by fberman
This past Monday, the Charter Advisory Committee held a public hearing …
Perhaps the most frequent themes of testimony were · Opposition to the
appointment (instead of election) of School Committee members · Filling
Vacancies on the BOA / Instant Runoff Voting as the means of electing both
ward and citywide positions...
<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/government-reform/charter-advisory-committee-background-recommendations/>Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/government-reform/testimony-at-the-charter-reform-hearing/>

Charter Advisory Committee - Background & Recommendations   by fberman
In April 2008, Mayor Curtatone convened a Charter Advisory Committee "to
examine the City of Somerville's current municipal charter and make
recommendations aimed at modernizing city government." (snip) After a series
of meetings between June and early November, the Committee held a public
hearing on Monday, November 10 to present and receive comments about its
preliminary recommendations…
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/government-reform/charter-advisory-committee-background-recommendations/>

  JOE THE MAYOR'S IRRESOLUTE
PLEDGE<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/accessibility/joe-the-mayors-irresolute-pledge/>
by eila
On Martin Luther King day, January 15, 2006, during his introduction to
invited speaker (then-candidate) MA Governor Deval Patrick in front of a
full house at the East Somerville Community School, Mayor Joe Curtatone
pledged to search far and wide in order to hire the very best possible staff
leadership to implement the civil rights of constituents with disAbilities
in Somerville… But meaningful change and independent choice still seems out
of reach for some voters here in the 'Ville.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/accessibility/joe-the-mayors-irresolute-pledge/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/accessibility/joe-the-mayors-irresolute-pledge/#respond>
Somerville's
Grand Willow Saved from Destruction (for
Now).<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/environment-and-open-space/somervilles-grand-willow-saved-from-destruction-for-now/>
by Greg Nadeau
Friends, neighbors, tenants, and people passing by were aghast to see four
massive trucks from Cambridge Landscape setting up to take down one of
Somerville's grandest trees. Tenants complained that the landlords
representative had told them only that "tree work" would be done, not that a
tree which affects the entire neighborhood would come down.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/environment-and-open-space/somervilles-grand-willow-saved-from-destruction-for-now/>

 Immigrant City : Then and Now, Nov 1- Dec
31<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/uncategorized/immigrant-city-then-and-now-nov-1-dec-31/>
by Barry Rafkind
Nearly a third of Somerville residents were born outside of the United
States. Who are we in this immigrant city? What dreams and aspirations
brought us here? How did we cope in a new community and in a new country?
What brings us together - what pulls us apart - across generations of
immigrants?
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/uncategorized/immigrant-city-then-and-now-nov-1-dec-31/>

 Obama Silent on Corporate
Power<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/17/politics/obama-silent-on-corporate-power/>
by Dennis Fischman
Progressives in Somerville, as elsewhere, have invested a lot of hope in an
Obama presidency. After the Bush administration's systematic attack on
rights, liberties, and the common good, Obama can hardly help doing better!
Yet on some of the most basic issues, Obama has been silent.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/17/politics/obama-silent-on-corporate-power/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/17/politics/obama-silent-on-corporate-power/#comments>
Not
Far Enough on the Rule of
Law<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/14/politics/not-far-enough-on-the-rule-of-law/>
by Dennis K. Fischman
Somerville went heavily for Obama in the last election. Now we have to push
him to make good on some of his promises; where he doesn't go far enough, to
go further; where he is silent, to speak up and act; and where he is wrong,
to change.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/14/politics/not-far-enough-on-the-rule-of-law/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/14/politics/not-far-enough-on-the-rule-of-law/#respond>
*Obama's Promises Fall
Short<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/politics/obamas-promises-fall-short/>
*   by Dennis K. Fischman
On key issues, Obama either doesn't go far enough, or he hasn't said
anything at all… I could go on and on, but you probably have an example of
your own. What issues are most important to you, and how does Obama address
them but fall short? Along with pressing the new administration to keep its
promises, we have to make them exceed them. WE have to. They won't do it on
their own.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/politics/obamas-promises-fall-short/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/12/politics/obamas-promises-fall-short/#respond>
*Upcoming events on our calendar*:


   - November 19th:
   What's Next? The US + the World After Bush (6:30 pm)

   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/15/events/whats-next-the-us-the-world-after-bush/>
   Mystic View Task Force Annual Meeting (6:30
pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/15/events/mystic-view-task-force-annual-meeting/>

   From Wall St to Main St - A Community Speak-Out on the Economic Meltdown
   (7:30 pm)


   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/events/from-wall-st-to-main-st-a-community-speak-out-on-the-economic-meltdown/>
   - November 20th:
   Grimmons Park Community Meeting (7:00 pm)


   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/events/grimmons-park-community-meeting/>
   - November 22nd:
   United For Justice With Peace's "Post-Election Conference" (12:00
pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/events/united-for-justice-with-peaces-post-election-conference/>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.somervillevoices.org/pipermail/newsletter_somervillevoices.org/attachments/20081117/a99e8438/attachment.html>