These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Tree removal for accessible ramp
Urban Forestry Division, noon Thursday. The division hears comments about proposed removal of a public shade tree at 96 Cross St., East Somerville, to allow construction of an accessible curb ramp. The honey locust tree is 7 inches in diameter, is in fair condition and appears to be surrounded by two other trees on the block. Before the hearing, residents can object by writing to the tree warden at trees@somervilleMA.gov. Watchable via videoconferencing.
LGBTQ+ pride flag raising
Office of Health and Human Services, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. City officials raise the flag at an annual ceremony marking the start to Pride Month to bring awareness to services. City LGBTQ+ coordinator Izzy Starr, who organizes resources, information, referrals to local organizations and guidance speaks alongside mayor Katjana Ballantyne and community youth with ASL interpretation available. On the concourse at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Central Hill.
A new Woody’s Liquors
Planning Board, 6 p.m.Thursday. The plan is to turn a ramshackle, one-story building once housing a laundromat at 483 Broadway, Magoun Square – and crossing over into Medford – into a modern, two-story for a relocated Woody’s Liquors. This meeting is watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Bike advocacy on street projects
Bicycle Advisory Committee, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The committee reviews and comments on at least three city bicycling projects, including the Western Pearl Street reconstruction in Winter Hill, the lowering of parts of McGrath Boulevard and the Webster Avenue bridge project near Union Square. At City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave., Winter Hill, and watchable via videoconferencing.
Quick-build on Somerville Ave.
Mobility Division, 6 p.m. Monday. City officials invite discussion of changes to roads and rights-of-way along Somerville Avenue between Elm and Bow streets. Designers would like to create protected bike lanes in both directions, install measures to make it safer for sidewalk users to see around corners and evaluate bus movement and current stop locations. This project is being evaluated separately from the Elm-Beacon Connector project, though they would be connected at Elm Street and Somerville Avenue. The city focuses on this stretch as part of continued efforts to implement its bicycle network plan. Watchable via videoconferencing with registration.
Empty buildings and ever pesky rats
Public Health and Public Safety Committee, 6 p.m. Monday. The committee talks to the inspectional services director about risk categorization on business permits and enforcement of a vacant property ordinance. After a February roof cave-in at 316 Somerville Ave., in Ward 2 near Union Square, councilor J.T. Scott questioned enforcement of a vacant property ordinance at a City Council meeting and said “vacant properties are inherently more dangerous and provide harborage for rats.” Speaking of rodents, councilor Matt McLaughlin asks the director to explain the process of evaluating business permits based on the risk of rats. McLaughlin heard some business owners in his ward have received fines, citations and scrutiny on applications as an “unintended consequence” of changes made to the risk category. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Antidisplacement film and panel
Antidisplacement Task Force, 6 p.m. June 12. Three committees look at why and how residents, small business, nonprofits and creatives are being displaced. The group presents takeaways from its reports, screens a film called “Displacement Stories” commissioned by the city to shares how residents are affected and holds a panel discussion. The committees published task force reports in February after the mayor called for an evaluation into a local rental crisis for renters and businesses and challenges to nonprofits, artists and cultural organizations. Free dinner is served at an in-person at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.