#Somerville #SomerPoli First City Council meeting of the year is tomorrow (though tonight's charter review is a committee of the whole)
https://somervillema.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1058943&GUID=0C931A09-5282-4E77-BF44-66956B3626D0&Options=info|&Search=
It's a busy agenda, a decent chunk annual business, a decent chunk new.
Heyyyy, Ben Ewen-Campen (new City Council Prez) proposes to remove the local law that prohibits 5 unrelated ppl from living together. Entire council wants to co-sign on this item. This is related to the ZBA mtg I live-tooted last week: https://mas.wrong.tools/@crystalvisits/109633446537240661 #SomervilleMA #Somerville #SomerPoli
Meeting adjourned at 2203.
I think most business was covered by the agenda, but there are some points (and maybe quotes) I think need surfacing from the meeting.
Rest of this thread will be unlisted [mastodon thing]
Captioning for public meetings: city is working on transitioning to zoom enterprise, which has the transcription feature (bye by goto), and is working on a contract with a vendor to do cc in 4 languages for the livestream/television feeds (hopefully by February).
From Councilor Scott, "Change has to start in our own home"
The law that prohibits more than 4 unrelated persons living together is going to committee, as there's technical details to work out.
Leaving this in the books would be a legal liability for the city, after the MBTA communities act.
Councilor Ewan-Campen gave a 3 prong argument for removing it, noting that it's discriminatory, and the city should not define what a family or what related is.
The council gave firm and impassioned opposition to the city's plan to evict Somerville Media Center and the Mass Alliance of Portuguese Speakers.
From what I understand, it sounds very much like negligent landlord practices by the City
The whole council signed on, and most of the council also spoke on it. Should the city evict SMC and MAPS, several Councilors will oppose approving anything the city proposes to do with the space.
Some quotes from that to underline the sentiment:
"the nuclear option"
"Call my bluff on that, please."
"If that doesn't make you furious, I don't know what to say. It is unjust."
"I hold out hope."
A couple of rat related orders
* Neighborhood specific funding
* Data collection on direct impacts on residents (e.g. chewed wires)
* Rat birth control
In my notes, the Rodent Issues is written "referred to rats", so I think we need some rat representatives
There's a discussion on Cedar St issues that will be at Traffic and Parking
(I'm highlighting this because I have beef with Cedar St)
Side note: "beef" was used twice during my notes
Regarding Eradicating Medical Dept, per Councilor Kelly (approximate quote) "admin could pick this up tomorrow and cancel 5 million in medical debt", and it would only take $200k.
That $200k to come from ARPA funds, which we need to use this month
CHA opened a Behavioral Health Urgent Care at the Cambridge Hospital.
24 hour phone line 833-222-2030
During the discussion on that, "I'm not wearing my mask right now"
I don't believe the council is requesting BOH instate a mask mandate, the order is to share plans, but it's ...odd to hear that in a discussion about surges and RSV.
And that's the end of my notes.
8843 words.
Other good quotes:
"This one's a little long, sorry"
"Please read. If you'd like. No pressure"
"Who would dare object to that"
"In classic me fashion"
G'night!
Max 🌆🏳️🌈
⛵️