Paula Woolley
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On the article Replace Elevated McGrath Highway with a Boulevard, Says MassDOT Study
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On the article Taylor Won't Seek Reelection in Somerville's Ward 3
Paula Woolley
9:40 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
ReplyMy best wishes for better health, and my thanks to Alderman Tom Taylor for all he's done for our city!
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On the article What Developers Want to Build at the Powder House School
Paula Woolley
8:59 am on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
ReplySince the community has consistently wanted some kind of community center or youth center at that location, and "market rate" housing has become out of the price range of most Somerville residents, I'd prefer to see the SCC's affordable housing mixed with the community elements of the Peter Lee proposal for "a civic space with an auditorium, classrooms, meeting rooms and an art gallery" (and a bakery!).
I'm also wondering about the huge difference between the 30-40 units proposed in most of the proposals vs. Peter Lee's proposal for 110 apartments -- would these be "micro" units?
I hope the city will look at what residents' needs are, rather than the pricetags on these projects, and that the SCC can incorporate some aspects of the community center idea into their project.
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On the Blog Post Somerville Needs a Clear Process for Replacing Resigning Aldermen
Paula Woolley
8:32 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
ReplySince writing this, I found the text of the proposal that was made at the January 10, 2013, meeting of the Somerville Board of Alderman, to end this ongoing tradition. Here is the text:
"That this board consider a rules change to make the replacement of members of the Board of Aldermen subject to a time-limited community review process when a vacancy occurs mid-term." --However, it seems the discussion didn't get very far before Alderman Sean O'Donovan resigned. Hopefully the issue will be raised again at tonight's meeting.
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On the article Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan Steps Down
Paula Woolley
10:54 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Excuse me, Patch Reader, but I was asking the BOA to postpone their meeting because everyone, myself included, was too caught up in the tragedy of the Marathon bombing for us to feel like dealing with this issue last week. (It is now April 23.) I didn't think it would have hurt ward 5 to wait one week to discuss the transfer of power.
Also, FYI, I've been asking the Board of Aldermen AND the School Committee to hold a more open process for selecting replacements for resigning politicians since this winter when Bill Roche resigned. (See my email copied below.) I did NOT get involved in this out of any effort to promote any candidate, then or now, although obviously as an active voter, I do have opinions on who I would support and vote for.
I am extremely upset at both resigning aldermen. I feel they abused the traditional system with full knowledge that they could resign within a year of an election and recommend their own successor. But Mr. O'Donovan also resigned knowing that there was an effort underway by the BOA to tighten the Charter so that this unfortunate tradition wouldn't continue. As I stated in January (see below), I believe an interim replacement should be appointed (without the resigning alderman's input) who cannot run for election.
A person who doesn't fulfill their promise to the voters should not be rewarded by giving them their choice of a successor.
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On the article Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan Steps Down
Paula Woolley
10:31 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
ReplyFYI, Patch Reader, I have been against the traditional process for replacing aldermen who resign when it's too late to hold a special election since Bill Roche resigned. On January 10, 2013, I sent the following email to Sean O'Donovan and all the aldermen-at-large about a proposal by R Gewirtz:
"Hi Sean and Aldermen-at-Large,
I heard that there will be a proposal for the BOA to decide upon a more open procedure for replacing aldermen who resign with less than a year left to serve of their term, and I wanted to voice my support for a more open process, as is being done by the School Committee in filling the ward 1 seat.I understand that the resigning alderman or SC member has always had the right to nominate a replacement, but I think Somerville will be the better for having a specific and fair process in place for such situations that allows for more community input while avoiding the cost of a special election. Perhaps, as in the Senate race, an interim candidate could be installed who won't be able to run for election for that position, to do away with the advantage that an interim sitting candidate would have. Even in that situation, however, I'd like to see community input and the public consideration of various candidates rather than someone installed by the outgoing aldermen. The current procedure could allow abuses, such as an Alderman resigning with less than a year to election purely in order to appoint the successor he or she wants to take that office."
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On the article He Is In Custody!
Paula Woolley
1:44 am on Friday, April 19, 2013
I also heard 2 booms after going to bed after hearing about the MIT police officer who was shot. These were probably the explosions the police and TV mentioned, rather than gun shots that I was hearing over here in the middle of Somerville. The local news stations have live reports now (1:43 am).
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On the article Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan Steps Down
Paula Woolley
9:56 am on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
ReplyIn light of the tragedy yesterday, and the fact that this whole situation occurred right before a 3-day weekend and school vacation week, I feel that the BOA should delay their consideration of what to do about the vacant seat until late next week, to get time to receive public feedback. OR (Ideally), they could have a public meeting about the situation and allow ward 5 residents to have their say on what to do.
We don't need a behind-closed doors choice of our political representative, nor do we need a special election. We could have a process like the one that was held on the School Committee for ward 1. However, most likely the BOA members will vote out of loyalty to Sean for his replacement, without looking at the merits of any other candidates. So why not leave the seat vacant until the election? We ward 5 residents have aldermen-at-large we can call -- or one of them (who doesn't live in ward 5 and thus couldn't run for the seat) could serve as our interim alderman.
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On the article 20 People Who Will Sway Somerville Zoning Overhaul
Paula Woolley
10:20 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
ReplyI'd like to know how the people on the committee were chosen? As well as the people on the committee to look into what to do about the high school? I ask because these committees get appointed and we don't hear about them until after the fact. At least we're being told publicly who's on the committee; I'm happy about that. But I attended Somerville by Design sessions and we were never told about the chance to be on such a committee. I'm also concerned about the number of developers on the list.
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On the article You Ask, Patch Answers: When's the Last Day of School?
Paula Woolley
12:03 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
ReplyIsn't cancelling the school holiday on Bunker Hill Day (Monday, March 18) on the table? In fact, Bunker Hill Day is on March 17th, so I don't know why we're even having a Monday observation of this "holiday." There's also no school on Good Friday, March 29th. I'd much rather use these 2 days toward the snow days than have school on June 26 and 27th, because there's no air conditioning in my child's school (or at Somerville High), and the month of June is usually full of field trips and end-of-the-year activities, whereas in March, students are preparing for MCAS exams (and taking some) and AP exams, which both have predetermined dates.
My family DOES observe Good Friday, but we go to the evening service because our employers don't close for the day, and I would send my kids to school if it were open. I think Good Friday should be treated like the holy days of other religions, with the chance for children and teachers to stay home to observe it.
Paula Woolley
3:33 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Studies have shown over and over that the more lanes a new highway has, the more traffic it will attract. Maybe the opposite is true too? Maybe cutting back to 4 lanes and lowering the speed limit, and adding more pedestrian crosswalks would all reduce traffic on the road.
By the time this project is done, or soon afterward, won't the Green Line be going to Union Sq and beyond? Won't the new Orange Line station at Assembly Sq be done? Couldn't these stations possibly reduce the need for a 6-lane highway through Somerville?
The plan should definitely have not only sidewalks but bike lanes and other pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly features. This plan is NOT a "boulevard"; it's a highway. ... And while they're working on the plan, can they please make the few pedestrian crossings on rte 28 more user-friendly for walkers?