As a 24-year Somerville resident, I'm glad that Question 4 passed.

Remember the good old days when there were actually people from Somerville, living in Somerville.
When there was a clear divide between US and the moonbats in Cambridge!
You people collectively voted to RAISE my taxes!
Thanks, honestly from the bottom of my heart!
As if my family isn’t already struggling to make ends meet in this economy.
If you want to protect green space, feel wet lands should be preserved, want to save an old house, go for it! Good for you!
But donate to a charity, a historical society, Greenpeace, anything!
But don’t force your values on me and my family who are struggling!
Thank for raising my taxes to put curtains on a historical house down the street when I struggle to food on my table for my family!

Thought I was done, but still need to vent!
Haven’t YOU people learned, the more money you give these politicians (these fat cat - pigs with a spending addiction) the more they will piss through it and waste it away.

Congratulations on raising my taxes! Congratulations on electing the first female native American Senator from Massachusetts! Congratulations, claim you have a headache, roll a fatty and celebrate!

Unfortunately my grandmother rotting away dying of Alzheimer’s and my buddy dying from Lou Gehrig cant share in your euphoria, and hitting the peace pipe with YOU and Chief Warren will do little to ease their suffering!

As a 30 year old property owner I am disappointed that Question 4 passed.

Only people who own homes in Somerville should have been allowed to vote for question 4. Its silly that people can vote, many of whom are temporary residents, for other people's taxes to go up. We struggled to afford a home, and like many, struggle to make ends meet, now to have to support a tax increase that many people- not affected by this- made carelessly.

Mike: It doesn't matter where they are from. It matters where they live now.

As a 42 year old property owner I am glad Question 4 passed. I am proud that we are capable of collective action to improve Somerville. The country may be dysfunctional, but perhaps Somerville is not.

I agree w/ Mike & ...belfanti. Somerville has a high percentage of tenants living in houses where they themselves are not responsible for the property taxes. Therefore, they shouldn't have been allowed to vote on the question as the increase didn't impact their pockets. Also the increase might be even more for any resident who owns a multi family property. To add salt to the wound the low income property owners are exempt from the tax yet the money can be used to build more low income affordable housing. Why am I going out & working hard every day to independently support my property? I guess to be hit with an extra "fee" on my property tax. How do you like them apples?????

I am not impressed at all that the CPA passed by such a large margin. The way the administration and their promotors sold it, packaged it and wrapped it up with a bow to a city made up of mostly renters! It was a question put on the ballot at the last minute and not even discussed in a public forum and no opportunity to form opposition. I could say more but I am so disgusted it's beyond words. As most homeowners say, thank you residents for raising my taxes. Now you can feel free to pack your bags and move on.

Correction Mr. or Mrs. Somerville home owner,
It does matter where you are from!
While many are here for two years perusing their degree, post graduate degree, working for a two year stint at Genzyme, they come and go and have for years; however their ideologies and the impacts of their opinions are lasting and linger long after they set sail. If they were voting on legislation that affected their mothers, grandmothers, etc often struggling to make ends meet on a Social Security or another form of retirement fixed income, I’d imagine their opinions would be vastly different! As what has become all too common place with today’s legislation, when those in power want to promote their own agenda they do it in the same manner this particular piece of legislation was passed, without public debate and in an all too hasty manner. In most cities in the commonwealth, the wording of the bill is up for debate as well as the topic, none of which occurred in this instance! Our disgrace of a mayor can send out pamphlets championing his idealistic view for the bill while not allowing for public debate and doing all that is possible to bury the fact that this will be paid for by the property owners in Somerville! Renters, students, those not impacted should not be allowed to vote to raise MY taxes!

Play devil’s advocate, I propose a 1.5% tax on student’s tuition to pay for green space in Somerville. I propose a 1.5% tax increase on Genzyme monthly parking rates and their T passes. I’d get laughed at! Ever see the news coverage when the “T” rate hikes are proposed? How about we license and register all bike commuters? I have to pay for the reconfiguration of roads and sidewalks to accommodate for bike lanes when they request.

The city has legislation on books for trash enforcement, ever see a ticket handed out to that rental property eye sore on the street, negligent with trash collection that ultimately blows everywhere and causes the need for street sweeping? Again, No; renters free pass, the HOME OWNER suffers. Look at the rate of which the resident parking pass and visitor pass rates have increased; Parking tickets increase, this city is gouging us for money and continues with their unconscionable spending, microcosm for the country as a whole!

Lucas Roger, if you want to build a park, a jungle gym, add a fresh coat of paint to an old building feel free! Join a historical society, call Greenpeace, frolic in some wetlands, use you expendable income however you see fit! Do not raise my taxes to promote your agenda!

I voted against the tax not because there was no commitment from city leadership around how they would spend the money. I would gladly vote yes pay the tax if it were dedicated to parks and recreation or if the city had said they will direct 80% of money to parks and rec. but I had no assurance - now the city may direct 80% to so-called affordable housing.

That said I firmly believe EVERYONE who lives here should be able to vote on this, anyone suggesting that only home owners or long term residents should be able to vote is crazy and insult the idea of american democracy. People who rent will have the cost passed on to them, people who cannot pass the tax off to others (like me) will bear it themselves.

I understand all are able to vote and should be able to vote.
I am not trying to subvert democracy Matt C.
I was on a roll, for example think along the lines "was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor".
My basic premise was don’t raise my taxes, for any reasons! Especially based on another’s ideological view with a non-binding spending initiative. And yes, I’m not ashamed to say it, I am tired of these short termers “N.I.M.B.Y.’s” influencing what occurs here, when their Aunt May isn’t affected back in Indiana.
Go the established route of which is already on the books in MA and NH, make it voluntary, buy a license plate where the proceeds go to the cause of your choosing. Make it voluntary, not mandated!

Mike, you have two options, first to accept that you live in a vibrant though relatively transient community and work to help people understand and possibly agree with your position or call anyone you disagree with moonbats while desperately clinging to the past glory of slummerville in the 70 and early 80s.

As I said earlier, I disagreed with the ballot question, but I understand why people would vote for it. Now it is up to you, me and anyone else who cares about the way this money is spent to reach out to the city leadership to determine how this money is spent.

Ah yes, a Tale of Two Cities.
Thank you kind sir, feel free to embrace your first option,
I will gladly select your second!
Where right minded residents of “Slummerville” could identify:
Elizabeth Warren as a joke moonbat candidate, John Tierney as a crook and Ballot Question #4 as monstrosity!
I encourage all to stay abreast of local topics especially school committee (while they enroll their children in private school) a personal favorite of mine!
Enjoy your day! Be safe while riding your bike to yoga class!
I’ll be at the pub watching football (woot, woot!)

We're talking about $100 a year in "raised taxes" for community improvements that will raise property values for all of us. Those oh-so-awful awful students & tech & pharma workers are making Somerville a desirable, valuable destination. The same people that are posting all the negative comments here have been the primary beneficiaries of that value. They all bought homes forever ago for $100k (or inherited them) and now they're worth 5-10 times that. We live in a world of trade-offs. You just earned half a million off those yoga-loving liberals. Enjoy.

I'm with ya, ballsquare. You whiny landlords will just pass the increase on to those tenants you hate so much. Or, sell your property and benefit from the appreciation that you've done nothing to encourage.

Anyone ever wonder where all that money is now? Or what's been done about it?

The tax does not go into effect til July and spending against revenue til '14