Thursday, May 23, 2013
Recent turmoil over alleged homophobic slurs has roots in neighborhood politics in Ward 5.
In the past two weeks, Somerville has seen allegations of homophobic slurs, accusations and denials of mayoral favoritism, boosterism for gay marriage and condemnations of intolerance. Heady stuff, and much of the turmoil has to do with neighborhood politics in Ward 5. The commotion started on May 14 when Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone sent an open letter condemning "anti-gay slurs and insults." In his letter, the mayor wrote, "It has come to my attention that offensive, homophobic slurs have been publicly spoken about a Somerville elected official, and a friend of mine. In light of this information, let me renew my stance on this and any other derogatory remarks against human beings in ours and any other community: This kind of abusive…
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Somerville congressman has indicated he's not happy with the political culture in Washington.
Rep. Michael Capuano, formerly mayor of Somerville, is getting closer to making a decision about whether or not to run for governor in 2014, according to the State House News Service. "The clock is running, so I’m closer," Capuano told reporters Monday, according to the news service. The State House News Service said the congressman has been frustrated with gridlock in the House of Representatives. "We’ve been doing almost nothing but pontificating and posturing for almost this entire year," he said. In February, Capuano told WBUR, "Part of me thinks that some of the more interesting, more important fights over the next several years might be conducted at statehouses around the country and not necessarily on Capitol Hill." He said at the …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
"People aren't moving to Somerville because they have more parking," the mayor said at the annual Business Town Meeting.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone defended his administration's push to create more biking and walking infrastructure in the city, even when those plans come at the expense of parking. What's more, he said embracing multiple modes of transportation is good for local businesses and the local economy. The mayor spoke about the matter Wednesday after addressing members of the local business community at the annual Business Town Meeting hosted by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce. During a question and answer session, an audience member asked the mayor to talk about the city's efforts to build cycling infrastructure and reconstruct streetscapes and complaints from some about lack of parking. "I argue that people aren't moving to Somerville …
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone painted a bright picture of the city in his address to the Somerville Chamber of Commerce.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, in an address delivered Wednesday to members of the city's business community, said, "We have created something special in Somerville." But he added, in what became a refrain in his speech, "We're just getting started." The mayor, speaking at the eighth annual Business Town Meeting, organized by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, spoke about a broad range of topics affecting the Somerville business community and city at large, but his overall message was that Somerville has achieved many successes over the past decade. "We have here in Somerville a community all pulling in the same direction," he said. The mayor was upbeat about the character of Somerville. "Somerville has an irrepressible and infections…
42.393766
-71.111206
Somerville Chamber of Commerce
2 Alpine St, Somerville, MA
/articles/mayor-tells-business-community-we-ve-created-something-special-in-somerville
1463572
/locations/9063078
42.395459
-71.121935
Davis Square Theatre
255 Elm St, Somerville, MA
/articles/mayor-tells-business-community-we-ve-created-something-special-in-somerville
2051143
/locations/9063079
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Business Town Meeting will feature a discussion about the mayor's business and economic agenda.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone will address members of the Somerville business community Wednesday at the eight annual Business Town Meeting, hosted by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce. The mayor will speak about the city's business and economic agenda, and there will be a question and answer session after the talk, according to the Chamber of Commerce's website. Afterword there will be networking event at Saloon. The talk starts at 5:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at Davis Square Theatre. Read about Curtatone's 2012 address to the Somerville Chamber of Commerce.
42.395459
-71.121935
Davis Square Theatre
255 Elm St, Somerville, MA
/articles/mayor-addresses-somerville-business-community-wednesday
2051143
/locations/9053256
Monday, March 4, 2013
"People are right to be afraid of sequestration," Warren said during a tour of Union Square led by Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren toured Somerville's Union Square Monday morning, and she spoke briefly about the "sequestration" deadlock in Washington, saying there's "a minority of the minority that says no way" to compromise, making progress on ending the deadlock difficult. "People are right to be afraid of sequestration," Warren said. "It's a real problem because it's so mindless." "There are many things we can do to get our house in order financially, and the president has put a very balanced approach on the table," the senator said. Warren said, "What you've really got is a core group on the other side [of the political aisle] saying, 'none.' No matter what, we're not closing any corporate loopholes, we're not bringing another dollar into the…
Monday, February 11, 2013
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said crews worked all weekend to clear snow, but streets are still unsafe.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said it was a concern for pubic safely, particularly at intersections near schools, that prompted city officials to prolong a snow emergency that was originally supposed to end Monday at 6 p.m. Asked if clearing snow off city streets was taking longer than expected, Curtatone said, "It's a lot of snow." The mayor, speaking on the phone Monday afternoon, made reference to the large mounds of snow lining the city's roadways, often forcing residents to walk in the streets because sidewalks aren't clear. The situation, he said, is a "treacherous public safety challenge." The mayor commended the "hard work" of Department of Public Works employees and independent contractors who have been working to clear snow…
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Somerville congressman told WBUR he'll take several months to make a decision.
Rep. Michael Capuano is giving some thought to running for governor in 2014. The Somerville congressman told WBUR he's considering a run and that he will take months to make a final decision. Capuano told the radio station, "Part of me thinks that some of the more interesting, more important fights over the next several years might be conducted at statehouses around the country and not necessarily on Capitol Hill." He also told WBUR he thinks the Tea Party will continue to have "Capitol Hill under siege" in the near future. Capuano's decision may further speculation about the political future of Somerville's mayor, Joseph Curtatone, who some have pegged as a possible gubernatorial candidate himself. Others have suggested Curtatone might be…
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Since the Newtown school tragedy, 14 Massachusetts mayors have joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone Thursday joined Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and other members of the Massachusetts delegation of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition in an effort to pressure Congress to enact national legislation that would decrease gun violence. “Earlier this week, I asked the City of Boston to stand with us on guns and say enough is enough,” said Menino at the Parkman House on Beacon Street in Boston. “As Mayors, we have a responsibility to our residents to do all we can to make our neighborhoods safer. Today, we’re calling on every community in Massachusetts to stand with us. We must keep the pressure on Congress to take swift action.” Menino praised the Massachusetts federal delegation for signing onto the Fix …
Somerville's mayor says he's focused on seeking a sixth term in 2013, and at the moment he's not endorsing any candidates in the upcoming special election for Senate.
With a special election planned in June to fill soon-to-be Secretary of State John Kerry's seat in the United States Senate and with an election to replace Gov. Deval Patrick set for next year, political watchers have been speculating about who will run not just for Kerry's seat, but for other high public offices in Massachusetts that could soon be up for grabs. Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone's name has been suggested as a possible candidate for higher office—governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. representative—but Curtatone, at least now, said he's focused on running again for mayor. "I haven't considered running for anything other than mayor," Curtatone said in a phone conversation Wednesday. "I have a love and a passion to do this job…
AHM
7:08 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
If Joe was a "friend" of the mayor he could have had a letter written for him too. more ›