OPINION: STATE BOARD RAISES MCAS PASSING SCORE DESPITE 1/2 LEGISLATORS’ OPPOSITION
In August, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to raise the minimum score that this year’s freshman class, and classes following, will have to attain on the MCAS test in order to graduate. And against Commissioner Riley’s recommendation, they voted to increase the passing score further for classes starting in 2030. They […]
BACKYARD COTTAGES NOW ALLOWED ‘BY RIGHT’
Council makes it easier to create accessory dwelling units (Somerville Wire) – Carriage houses, backyard cottages, “tiny houses,” and other accessory dwelling units can now be created “by right” anywhere in a Neighborhood Residence district in Somerville. The City Council voted unanimously at their Sept. 8 meeting to enact amendments to the City’s zoning code […]
OPINION: TROUBLE WITH A CAPITAL T
People are furious at the state of the MBTA: the fatality, the fire, the explosion, the derailments, the injuries, the delays, the actual and proposed cuts in service, the month-long closure of the Orange and Green Line. In 2009, two reports looked at Gov. Cellucci’s 1999 Forward Funding plan, which was developed with his Administration and Finance […]
LETTER: ARTICLE ON COUNCIL DEBATE OVER SHANNON GRANT ‘HEAVILY FAVORS SUPPORTERS’
Hi there, My name is Alessandra Seiter, and I’m a Somerville resident, a librarian, and a monthly supporter of BINJ. I’m incredibly grateful for the work y’all do in providing local news coverage (so we don’t have to rely on Twitter), and in empowering residents to report on their own municipalities. I think it’s absolutely […]
SUMMER VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM APPROVED
With shootings on the rise, councilors debate funding for annual regional policing initiative A state-funded grant that has been used for many years by the Somerville Police to combat youth violence was subjected to two heated discussions last week, before being approved by the City Council. The question was whether to accept a $22,692 grant […]
COUNCIL WANTS COPS OFF CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Final decision on using civilian flaggers to be made by Mayor Ballantyne and City staff (Somerville Wire) – The City Council has approved a resolution in favor of civilians taking control over traffic details at construction sites. “I have never really understood why traffic details are exclusively worked by police officers,” Ward 3 Councilor Ben […]
OPINION: R.I.P. ROE?
Freedom is a constant struggle When my family moved to Massachusetts, my mother couldn’t legally get birth control or even learn about it. By the time I was in college, the Supreme Court had ensured that married women could get birth control, though unmarried women couldn’t. By the time our daughter was born, the Supreme Court had made birth control and abortion (within […]
SOMERVILLE WIRE: MAY 3, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Proakis Seeking Job in Watertown, Youth March for Peace, and More Articles ANOTHER SEASON OF OUTDOOR DINING BEGINS City still working to help restaurants survive ICYMI: DONATE TO THE SOMERVILLE MEDIA FUND! Somerville Media Center and BINJ join forces to create municipal foundation to support nonprofit community journalism Shorts Proakis Seeking Job in Watertown Watertown […]
OPINION: TYING UP SOME LOOSE ENDS
Reflecting on the “Curtatone era” and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s time, so far While I realize that it’s possible that no one thought twice about something I wrote about Joe Curtatone in my last column, I regretted it immediately after seeing it in print on December 22. And I am not referring to an overly harsh […]
SOMERVILLE WIRE: MARCH 1, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP
James Beard Awards, a town hall with A.G. Maura Healey, and a Western Washington Street mobility improvements meeting Articles ARTIST PROFILE: SAKURAKO KANEMITSU How the musician brings a joy and love of piano to East Somerville PARENTS CALL FOR SWIFT ACTION ON BROWN SCHOOL PLAY YARD The deterioration of the grounds has caused injuries among […]
