You can help. On Sunday, August 10, 18 Somerville residents including three children, as well as pets, were displaced by a fire on Powderhouse Boulevard that left nine apartments at Clarendon Hill Housing uninhabitable. Water damage impacted additional neighboring units as well. Fortunately, after multiple rescues, everyone got out safely, but significant challenges remain for our neighbors who now face replacing their ruined belongings from prescriptions and personal products, to beds, food in their pantries, and school clothes and supplies.  

The City of Somerville’s Department of Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) is sharing updates to its Tree Preservation Ordinance, reinforcing the City’s commitment to protecting trees on both public and private land.

By unanimous vote, the Somerville Planning Board at their July meeting adopted the Ballantyne Administration’s Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan, marking a significant milestone in the City's efforts to guide sustainable development in one of its most rapidly evolving neighborhoods. Once fully implemented, the neighborhood plan offers the potential of up to 2,900 to 5,700 new residential units -- including roughly 580 to 1,100 affordable units -- and an estimated up to $17 million in annual tax revenues among other community benefits.  

The City of Somerville is planning to build a new PK-8 public school building, and the Construction Advisory Group (CAG), Mayor Ballantyne, and Somerville Public Schools want to hear from you.  

To inform their recommendation to the Mayor on the location and scope of the project, members of the CAG worked with an urban planning firm and City staff to develop a 10-minute survey to gather perspective from across the Somerville community. This outreach is part of the Mayor’s commitment to ensure community voices are heard on this important decision.   

The City of Somerville is seeking polling place workers and standby poll workers for the upcoming Preliminary Election on Tuesday, September 16. Many poll workers are needed to support operations and conduct a successful election. 
 

General Duties  

Poll worker must be ready to step in as needed on Election Day: Tuesday, September 16, 2025. The workday starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends after the polls close at 8 p.m., with a two-hour break. Poll workers would serve in the following role: