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Somerville’s Eviction Moratorium Remains in Effect

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 The City of Somerville’s moratorium on residential and commercial evictions is still in place and will remain in effect until the City’s state of emergency is lifted. The State’s moratorium on residential and small-business evictions will expire on Tuesday, August 18, unless Gov. Charlie Baker extends it.

Somerville Public Library to Offer Contactless Pickup Starting July 6

Tuesday, June 30, 2020 The Somerville Public Library will be offering contactless pickup for library patrons starting Monday, July 6. Patrons can request Somerville library materials online using their Minuteman account. Library staff will then notify patrons by either email or phone when their items are ready to be picked up.

Somerville to Host Town Hall Discussion and Small Group Listening Sessions as Part of Ongoing Conversations on Systemic Racism

Thursday, June 25, 2020 As part of a continuing conversation on systemic racism in Somerville, the City of Somerville is holding a virtual Town Hall Discussion on Race and Equity in Policing and launching a series of small group listening sessions for residents. Tackling systemic racism in Somerville requires input from diverse voices in our community, and both the Town Hall and listening sessions are meant to be ways for the City to get feedback, ideas, and suggestions from the community on how we move forward as well as to answer related questions.

Applications Available for Fiscal Year 2021 Community Preservation Act Funding

Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Applications for this coming fiscal year’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and the fiscal year 2021 Community Preservation Plan, which sets the funding allocations and priorities for the year, are now available. An estimated $630,000 is available for projects that preserve Somerville’s historic resources and/or expand and improve our parks and recreation land.

Mayor Curtatone Submits FY21 Budget with Belt-Tightening, But No Cuts to Services & No Layoffs

Tuesday, June 23, 2020 On Friday, June 19, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone submitted a proposed $262.7 million fiscal year 2021 budget to Somerville’s City Council that avoids the austerity measures being seen in cities and towns throughout the region. The FY21 budget preserves all City services and contains no layoffs or furloughs to City or School employees, while also making new racial and social justice investments.

City of Somerville FY21 Budget Public Hearing, Wed. 6/24, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 22, 2020 All interested community members are invited to attend and speak at the Budget Public Hearing before the City Council’s Committee on Finance on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at 6 p.m., for public input on the proposed FY 2021 municipal budget. Written testimony will also be accepted (see below). Because of Governor Baker’s and Mayor Curtatone’s recent orders limiting the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation, online in a webinar hosted on the GoToWebinar platform.

Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund Loan Recipients Announced

Friday, June 19, 2020 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced that $1 million in Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief funds will be awarded to 123 local, small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by federal Community Development Block Grant monies, the Fund will issue forgivable loans to businesses in the city that collectively employ about 600 people.  

Somerville’s Second Shared Streets Route to Open in West Somerville

Friday, June 19, 2020 Somerville’s second Shared Streets route, which connects West Somerville and Davis Square, is set to open Tuesday, June 23. The Shared Streets initiative opens up low-volume or residential side-streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicle access for residents who live on the street or who need to use the street to get to their homes, first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers.

Somerville Summer Updates: Pool, Splash Pad, and Playground Openings; New Summer Face Covering Guidelines; Heat Safety Tips

Thursday, June 18, 2020 Pools, playgrounds, and splash pads will be opening in Somerville soon with new safety protocols in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The City is also putting summer face covering guidelines into effect. Effective immediately, face coverings are still required for people ages 2 and up at all times when in public both indoors and outdoors, with the exception that during the hot weather season masks may be removed temporarily when outdoors if a distance of at least six feet from others can be maintained. Medical and disability exceptions continue to apply.

Somerville Launches Mobile COVID-19 Testing Unit

Monday, June 15, 2020 The City of Somerville, Cataldo Ambulance, and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) formally launch their mobile COVID-19 testing unit in Somerville this week. The mobile unit, designed to lower barriers to testing and offer equitable access, is the next phase of the City’s COVID Action Plan to control the spread of the virus via testing, contact tracing, and safe isolation. The mobile testing unit will accept patients by appointment at roaming locations, as well as hold designated testing days for residents of senior housing buildings.

Rethinking Flag Day as We Grieve Those Lost

Friday, June 12, 2020 On Sunday, June 14, the City of Somerville will recognize Flag Day as a day of remembrance and reflection to honor those lost to the COVID-19 virus and those who have been victims of systematic racism. The Mayor and City Council ask that everyone take time on this day to personally acknowledge and reflect on the gravity of these events and to mourn the loss of life associated with them. Residents are encouraged to reclaim our nation's flag as a symbol of hope, welcome, comfort, and progress during these trying times.

Somerville School Committee, STA Paraprofessionals Reach Tentative 3-Year Agreement

Thursday, June 11, 2020 The Somerville School Committee and the Somerville Teachers Association (STA) Paraprofessionals Unit C reached a tentative agreement yesterday on a 3-year contract that reflects the City’s and District’s commitment to equity and the important role that Paraprofessionals play in our schools supporting and working with classroom teachers. The tentative agreement reached requires ratification by the Union membership and the School Committee. The final offer came after months of negotiation to reach a fiscally responsible and sustainable agreement acceptable to all parties.

Somerville Hosting Two Virtual Pride Events on June 7

Wednesday, June 3, 2020 The City of Somerville is taking its celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month virtual this year. Mayor Joe Curtatone will lead a virtual Pride Flag raising ceremony on Sunday, June 7. Visit the City’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SomervilleCity) at 10:30 a.m. to watch a livestream of the short, socially distanced ceremony. At 11 a.m., hop over to the Somerville Arts Council Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SomervilleArts) for the Big Gay Dance Party Virtual Dance Brunch.

Information Session and Public Hearing on FY2021 Water and Sewer Rates, June 11

Tuesday, June 2, 2020 The City of Somerville will hold a virtual information session and public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 water and sewer rates on Thursday, June 11. The information session will start at 6 p.m. and the public hearing will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to testify is welcome to attend. Written testimony will also be accepted until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16.

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