Aldermen Lambaste Holiday Inn After December Fight, Public Hearing Scheduled

Several members of the Somerville Board of Aldermen had strong words for the Holiday Inn after a December fight outside the hotel that caused police to disperse a large crowd and led to a nearby shooting.

"We're not going to tolerate this behavior; we're not going to tolerate this lack of respect," said Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi, who represents the East Somerville district that's home to the Holiday Inn.

According to Bastardi and other aldermen, who spoke about the matter on Jan. 10, the Dec. 28 incident was not the first time functions at the hotel have caused problems in the neighborhood.

Bastarti complained about a September Brazilian music festival held at the Holiday Inn that "resulted in so much noise calls came all the way from Pearl Street."

"Customers were urinating in resident's front yards," she said. .

Alderman At-Large Dennis Sullivan, speaking about the September festival, emphasized the neighborhood's problems had nothing to do with the festival's Brazilian theme. "I don't care if it was an Italian concert [or] an Irish concert. It was an outdoor concert that was out of control," he said.

As for the December fight, which led to a shooting at a gas station in Charlestown, a few blocks away from the hotel," I wish I could say I was surprised by what happened," Sullivan said.

He said his brother and mother live in the neighborhood, and "they say it"—the commotion on the street—"was worse than anything you ever read."

Alderman At-Large John Connolly said the the December event at the Holiday Inn's "Night Games" lounge was a hip-hop event in which promoters advertised that no "heaters" or "hoodies" were allowed. "Heaters," Connolly explained, refer to handguns.

When police ultimately shut down the event, "We avoided a major, major problem," he said.

The city is holding a public hearing about the December incident, Sullivan said. He said it's scheduled for Jan. 23 at  6 p.m. at the Tufts Administration Building.

More

Police Reports: Shots Fired During Fight

City Closes Holiday Inn's 'Night Games' Lounge In Response to Fight

Holiday Inn's 'Night Games' Club Temporarily Closed After Fight

Police Disperse Crowd After Fight at Holiday Inn