Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced an additional $1.5 million in rental assistance for Somerville residents experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, which is provided by the federal CARES Act, will be distributed to local nonprofits to support rental assistance for low- and moderate-income households.
The City of Somerville’s newly formed Memorialization Committee, which will name public assets like buildings, streets, and parks, is accepting applications for two resident positions. The Committee will also develop policies and procedures to follow when choosing names. The committee will meet when needed to name a public asset and meetings could begin as early as this summer. Appointees will serve a two-year term and must be confirmed by the City Council.
Below is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System. Sign up to receive these updates by email, text, or phone.
Dear Community Members,
Here is a COVID-19 update for Saturday, May 23.
Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/covid19 for information and resources that are updated frequently.
In late May, the City of Somerville will begin a Shared Streets pilot program in an effort to provide more walking and biking routes that allow for social distancing. Routes will connect residents to essential services like food distribution sites, medical facilities, and grocery stores. 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 of the street, first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers.
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the citywide state of emergency due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus will continue beyond Monday, May 18. Currently closed or restricted businesses and activities will remain suspended until restarting according to existing or forthcoming City-issued reopening schedules. The City’s suspension of all City-sponsored or -permitted events is now also officially extended through the end of the year.
City buildings will remain closed to the public until at least Monday, June 1. Further delays are possible, and we will share updates as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 crisis.
Join us for a series of virtual town hall meetings with Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone where you can learn about local COVID-19 impacts and the City's response. Five meetings are planned - one geared toward a general audience and four tailored to specific communities.
Residents can participate and watch in a range of ways:
Starting this week, the City of Somerville will be distributing 100,000 civilian three-ply masks with a focus on getting masks to people most vulnerable to COVID-19. Because these masks can only be reused a limited number of times, the City is also putting out a call for donated cloth masks that can also be distributed to residents.
In anticipation of the easing of statewide stay-at-home restrictions on May 18, the City is preparing for a phased resumption of construction under strict COVID-prevention protocols. In preparation for May 18, the State has also eased some restrictions on non-essential businesses and is seeking feedback on how to safely reopen the economy.
The Somerville Arts Council wasn’t going to let spring go by without PorchFest, but to keep everyone healthy and safe this year, it will be CouchFest! On Saturday, May 9, from noon to 6 p.m., you can tune in to live and pre-recorded performances from local musicians right from your couch. To find out who is performing and when, visit this year’s CouchFest map at somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest/2020.
Below is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System. Sign up to receive these updates by email, text, or phone.
Dear Community Members,
Here is a COVID-19 update for Tuesday, April 28.
Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/coronavirus for information and resources that are updated frequently.
Applications for support are now being accepted for the donation-funded Somerville Cares Fund jointly launched by Mayor Joe Curtatone, the United Way, and the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS). The Somerville Cares Fund will provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and families during the COVID-19 public health crisis to meet needs such as food, housing, medicine, funeral costs, and other essential expenses.
“These first 3,500 tests are a good start, but you can be sure we will be advocating for more. No matter who you are or whether you have health coverage, you should have access to this kind of free testing.” –Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone
A new community-wide COVID-19 mitigation program for testing, tracking, contact tracing, and safe social isolation for Somerville residents was announced today by Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) CEO Assaad Sayah, MD, and Doug Kress, of the Somerville Board of Health.
Below is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System. Sign up to receive these updates by email, text, or phone.
Dear Community Members,
Here is a COVID-19 update for Saturday, April 25.
Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/coronavirus for information and resources that are updated frequently.
Today Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Health issued an order requiring senior housing facilities to share existing COVID-19 safety plans or formally create plans and policies aimed at increasing the safety of and maximizing the protection of their residents, who may be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, as well as building staff. Building management must submit these plans within 48 hours of receiving the order.
Below is a message from the Somerville, MA Community Alert System. Sign up to receive these updates by email, text, or phone.
Dear Community Members,
Here is a COVID-19 update for Tuesday, April 21.
Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/coronavirus for information and resources that are updated frequently.
"We know this isn't easy for anyone, but it is what we must do to protect the health of the entire society around us."
I fully support Governor Baker's decision to keep Massachusetts schools closed for the remainder of the school year. It is the only sensible decision as we find ourselves in the surge phase of this pandemic. We simply cannot secure public health at this time by sending thousands of students, teachers, and staff back to school in our community.
Residents of the Mt. Pleasant senior apartment building in Somerville have been placed under a mandatory minimum 14-day quarantine after eight cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at the residence. The quarantine order, issued Saturday, April 18, by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Board of Health, goes into effect immediately. The 65-unit building houses seniors aged 62 and older and persons under age 62 with disabilities who are income-eligible.
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced the launch of a $1 million Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide financial support of up to $10,000 to Somerville small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by existing and pending federal Community Development Block Grant monies, support will be available to food establishments and other small, independent, locally-owned businesses impacted by forced closures during the crisis.
Dear Community Members,
Here is a COVID-19 update for Saturday, April 18.
Please also be sure to check somervillema.gov/coronavirus for information and resources that are updated frequently.
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