Derrick Rice

@IKrepchin would like you to know that speaking up about human rights is not under the purview of the Somerville School Committee. Ilena should immediately apologize and step down as SC chair. This isn’t how we treat constituents who are speaking from their hearts.

If you use signal and appreciate how it’s free from any of the awfulness of most other contemporary messaging platforms (such as using your data to target you with ads), consider paying for it. signal.org/blog/signal-is…

Thrilled to be supporting Naima Sait (@NaimaforWard5) for the open Ward 5 City Council seat! I’ve known Naima for years as an community leader, high school teacher, and climate advocate (and a wonderful person!) and I’m proud to endorse her. naimaforsomerville.org

@somershade1 @Somernova02143 @AeronautBrewing Let’s also remember that Rafi properties owner Colin Yip had donated heavily to our mayors campaign war chest. So expect some “favors” to be owed, here.

The folks at @Somernova02143 are asking for significant zoning concessions to support a million-plus square foot expansion of their campus, which includes both @AeronautBrewing and the Bouldering Project. Information here: somernova.community/master-plan 1/4

new all-time record for most slow zones on the #MBTA Red Line set yesterday. it’s been 6 months and things have only gotten worse. does anyone care. could someone pretend this is a crisis

@inLIUofJOAN @SomervilleInfr1 @somershade1 @311Somerville That'd be doing them a favor, in this case. 🫠

Unless I'm missing something, 371 Beacon has never had a permit for the dumpster that's been in the intersection at Oxford and Beacon for freakin' ever. @311Somerville @SomervilleInfr1 - am I reading this wrong? If not, could we tow the damn thing away please?

I'm super excited for Naima's candidacy and looking forward to talking shop with folks at this fundraising event. Until then, you can find me out on the doors talking about why City Council needs Naima's perspective as a dedicated community member RSVP: naimaforsomerville.org/rsvp

@MikeConnollyMA @MassDCR I think the real thanks go to the many local organizers who put in the work to shine a light on DCR’s bad faith response on the first place. I don’t totally understand the tendency to “thank” systems of power when they get caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Thank you to @MassDCR for responding to our protests and committing to reengage the community on the desire to bring back Riverbend Park on Saturdays. It’s been a long road, but I’m confident we can do this while also addressing the concerns of abutters. bostonglobe.com/2023/08/17/met…

@somershade1 Oof. Split vote. I was undecided and didn’t vote 😬

Choose.

@AllIsFreeForMe @jarjoh @Booker1069 And, as others have already pointed out, there is at least 1 bill in the MA legislature which proposes to change the MGL banning rent control, state wide. MA voters are likely in favor of this, given the 51-49 result of the rent control ban in the 90s.

@AllIsFreeForMe @jarjoh @Booker1069 Somerville is considering a Home Rule Petition, similar to what Boston had already put forward for rent stabilization. A HRP is a mechanism by which a MA town can request, from MA state leg., an exemption to MA general law (MGL) such as the MGL that bans rent control.

Tonight the City of Somerville is having a Rent Stabilization Listening Session for "For landlords and their advocates". That includes me, technically. Here's the commentary I will be giving in favor of strong rent control. 1/2

Some of the anti-rent control comments at this evening’s listening session were saying that what we need was citywide up-zoning By Right, to increase housing density. I don’t see why that should be in conflict with rent control.

Link to a web version of the commentary: docs.google.com/document/d/e/2… 2/2

"You have the federal Department of Transportation, not a bunch of wild-eyed radicals, reviewing this data, and they’re saying ‘This increases safety, decreases injury and does not, in any way, put pedestrians at increased risk.’" bostonherald.com/2023/07/15/som…

@AuntyCourtney @MattForWard1 @MikeConnollyMA The organization hasn’t chosen anything, yet. A handful of resolution authors, only, thus far.

@MattForWard1 @MikeConnollyMA This organization would choose detrimental, long lasting impacts of the most critical issues plaguing our region right now - just for the election of their candidates 🙄

@geoffjentry @somershade1 @jimmydelpontesr @somervilletimes will print anything, it seems. Honestly I don’t blame them specifically. It’s a news desert out there and there’s no money to be made through journalistic integrity. Gotta get those clicks! BINJ is a touch better. Barely. I don’t know the way out of this.

@somershade1 @jimmydelpontesr I made it to the second sentence "We have a couple of blooming trees in our front yard did get more beautiful every year" Maybe Somerville Times could put as much effort into editing as the city does tree management.

It's frankly amazing to me that @jimmydelpontesr remains smugly ignorant of the amount of thought, time, and effort the city puts into managing trees. Standing invitation: Come to a meeting of the urban forestry committee, ask questions, learn facts. thesomervilletimes.com/archives/125391

@AuntyCourtney @aefrieden @bgm_ward5 @JTforWard2 Glad to hear it! Which union? How can we give our support? If I understand correctly there are many many positions in city hall that are non union. :(

@DerrickAndADog @aefrieden @bgm_ward5 @JTforWard2 It is a negotiation year for us, so I’m hoping the Mayor closes wage gaps like she promised.

Ever wonder who cleans our catch basins? On Thursday we learned of staffing shortages at Somerville Water and Sewer. Salary range in our city $50-60k, Cambridge $70-80k. Private sector $80-90k. To maintain our infrastructure we will need to invest in our workers!

@aefrieden @bgm_ward5 @JTforWard2 I do not understand how the city expects to succeed at the salary rates they offer. Pay the people more!

@bgm_ward5 Exactly the feedback I gave @JTforWard2, our problems aren't managerial, it's no front line support. One city staffer even joked to me don't waste your time putting in tree pruning requests, its going to take forever and you are better off doing it yourself.

This (that we ‘funded our shared values’) was not my takeaway from this year’s budget process at all. This take sweeps many deep, serious, valid disagreements about both what we should do and how we should do it under the rug. 1/3