Somerville for Palestine hosts council candidate forum
Activist group Somerville for Palestine hosts five candidates for City Council in a candidate forum Tuesday. The forum includes candidates who expressed support for a ballot measure proposed by the group to have the city end contracts with vendors that “engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine,” according to the proposed text. The candidates signaled support in responses to a questionnaire shared by the group online.
Councilor at-large candidates Ben Wheeler, Jon Link, Ari Iaccarino and Tuesday N. Thomas and Ward 7 candidate Michael Murray expressed support and will be at the forum. Ward 3 councilor and candidate for reelection Ben Ewen-Campen also expressed support for the measure but will be unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.
The event comes after Somerville for Palestine issued an endorsement last week for mayoral candidate Willie Burnley Jr., now a councilor at large. The endorsement follows a mayoral forum series in which contention arose with the Ballantyne campaign over security.
The forum is in-person at 7:15 p.m. at a location shared with people who ask via direct message on Instagram, explained as a security measure.
Somerville Yimby endorses
The Somerville Yimby group (or “Yes In My Backyard”) issued 12 endorsements for City Council and mayor this week. The group is “part of a nationwide movement to create abundant housing” through increasing density, its website says.
The group endorses Willie Burnley Jr. for mayor and Scott Istvan, Ben Wheeler, Jon Link and incumbent Will Mbah for councilor at-large. It also endorsed incumbent councilor Ben Ewen-Campen in Ward 3; councilor Naima Sait in Ward 5; and Emily Hardt in Ward 7.
Also endorsed are Ward 1 councilor Matthew McLaughlin; Ward 2 councilor JT Scott; Ward 4 councilor Jesse Clingan; and Ward 6 councilor Lance Davis, though the four incumbents are running unopposed.
Endorsements were made based on candidate responses to a questionnaire shared by Somerville Yimby on its website.
Burnley plans ice cream social, picnic campaign events
Councilor at-large and mayoral candidate Willie Burnley Jr. plans events for the next two Sundays, according a campaign Instagram account.
The first event, “Ice Cream Social-ism,” is at 3 p.m. Sunday at 238 Cedar St., Ball Square. The second, a potluck picnic hosted by Somerville Families for Willie, is at Conway Park, 550 Somerville Ave., Ward 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 24.
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.
Leave a comment