Thursday, May 16, 2013
Ward 5 Alderman Courtney O'Keefe said she heard about the comments through friends.
After allegedly being targeted by anti-lesbian comments, newly appointed Ward 5 Alderman Courtney O'Keefe, who is openly gay, wants to move on. "I'm done with this being a focus. My focus is Ward 5," O'Keefe told Somerville Patch Wednesday afternoon. The comments, which O'Keefe said she heard about through friends, prompted Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone to issue an open letter Tuesday denouncing "all anti-gay slurs and insults." (You can read the letter by clicking PDFs under the photo of O'Keefe.) The mayor's letter led Boston.com and the Boston Metro to publish stories about the situation. O'Keefe said she heard of two comments made about her with anti-lesbian insults. The first happened on April 11, the night former Ward 5 Alderman …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
O'Keefe has been nominated to replace former Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan. The Board of Aldermen was scheduled to consider her appointment Wednesday.
The Somerville Board of Aldermen was scheduled to hold two meetings Wednesday night about the nomination of Courtney O'Keefe, who would become alderman of Ward 5 if her nomination is approved. O'Keefe, known for running the Ward5Online website, was nominated to replace former Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan when O'Donovan stepped down on April 11. The Board of Aldermen were first scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. as part of the Committee of Confirmations of Appointments. They were then scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. to vote on O'Keefe's appointment. Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan Steps Down
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Friday, April 12, 2013
Courtney O'Keefe was nominated to replace the Ward 5 alderman, the process for appointing her led to a long debate.
Sean O'Donovan, who served as alderman in Somerville's Ward 5 since 2000 and, before that, was the ward's School Committee representative between 1995 and 1999, resigned from the Somerville Board of Aldermen Thursday night. Citing the time commitment it takes to be an alderman, O'Donavan said he was stepping down due to family obligations and because his law practice—in Ball Square—needs more of his attention. "It's a huge sacrifice on your family … it takes a lot of time," he said about the commitment it takes to serve on the Board of Aldermen. In stepping down, O'Donavan said, "I've truly treasured representing Ward 5," and he pointed to a number of local accomplishments, including building new schools, fighting to keep the Brown School …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Ward 5 Online's Courtney O'Keefe says, "All of us ‘gouners want our sign that tells everyone that they are entering our beloved Magoun Square."
The following is a letter from Courtney O'Keefe, the woman behind Ward 5 Online, about her neighborhood's desire to have a sign that says "Magoun Square." It's the only major square in Somerville not to have one. Here's what she writes: Sign of the Times They direct us, inform us, and identify places we are looking for. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles, but collectively, they are a significant part of our daily lives. One never really thinks of how important signs are, unless of course, we’re desperately looking for the one we need. There is a group of residents, business owners and patrons looking for a particular sign here in Somerville. A sign that has been repeatedly replaced after being damaged and finally removed …
Patricia Davis
7:09 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Go Courtney! We think you are great! And thank you Mayor Curtatone for taking a stand, quickly. The way to stop this kind of idiotic, bigoted behavior is for people who see or hear of it to speak up. more ›