Rebekah Gewirtz

To recieve my newsletter by email please enter you address below.

Winter . . . but heading into Spring 2009

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a great holiday season and that you're managing through this cold, snowy winter. If you are having problems with walks in your neighborhood that aren't shovelled, please contact 311 or me at rebekah@rcn.com. But as we look out past winter and start thinking about spring, I wanted to tell you about some things going on around Ward 6 and throughout the city that might interest you.

I've also added a new section to my newsletter called the "Constituent Corner". In this section I'll ask a couple of questions about pressing issues and I'm looking for your feedback. Part of how I effectively do my job representing you is when I hear from you.. so please don't be shy and let me know what you think!

And as always, if you have information you'd like me to share with others through my e-newsletter, send me an email to rebekah@rcn.com.

Best wishes,
Rebekah

Ward 6 Fun Fact!

Somerville Local First

Did you know that there are approximately 130 locally owned independent businesses in Davis and Ball Square combined, according to Somerville Local First? Local First is launching a new campaign to encourage people to shift 10% of their shopping dollars to locally-owned retailers, which will help keep millions of dollars in the local economy. I'm happy to let you know that recently I became the first elected official in New England to sign the 10% Shift pledge. I hope additional support for the campaign will raise awareness about why it's so important to support locally owned and operated businesses. For more information on Somerville Local First or to get involved, check out Somerville Local First or click on the icon above. Or contact Executive Director Joe Grafton at somervillelocalfirst@gmail.co m.

I encourage YOU to sign on to the 10% shift pledge as well!

Constituent Corner

In this brand new section of my e-newsletter, I'm looking to hear from you on important issues facing the city. Click on the link at the end of each question and let me know what you think! Getting your feedback on these issues is very important to me, and I hope this new feature of my newsletter will encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. As always, feel free to contact me via email at rebekah@rcn.com or 617-718-0792.

Surveillance Cameras...What's your take?
In August 2008, the city installed several video surveillance cameras at undisclosed locations throughout the city, with funds from the Department of Homeland Security.

These cameras started taping activity in October 2008 and it is unclear what's happening to this information or who is watching it. What do you think about these cameras? Are you concerned about your civil liberties or do you feel they keep us safe? Click here to send me your response.

Golden Light and Extended Hours in the City...What time is reasonable?
Recently there has been controversy on the Board of Aldermen around the Golden Light restaurant's operating hours. The restaurant has been in business for 28 years and has just recently been told they must comply with city laws limiting their hours.

Any establishment serving only food must go to the Board of Aldermen to extend their hours beyond 12am. The Licenses and Permits committee is working on a feasible city wide policy. What do you think the hours for food restaurants should be in a Central Business District like Davis Square? Click here to send me your response.

Mass Phone Book Distribution...Wasteful or Useful?
At the last Board of Aldermen meeting, Alderman Desmond and I put in a resolution requesting the city solicitor advise us on how to curtail blanket phone book distribution throughout the city. We're concerned about the environmental impact. I'm curious what you think. Should the phone companies distribute phone books thoughout the city or should they be distributed upon request? Click here to send me your response.

Neighborhood Meetings of Interest

Davis Area Resident Business Initiative (DARBI) meeting, first Wednesdays of the month. Next meeting: February 4, 2009 at 7pm at The Green Tomato II
This group provides a great opportunity for residents and business people in Davis Square to come together to talk about what's happening in the square and issues that are important to you. The owner of Green Tomato will graciously serve complimentary food for the meeting. For more information, contact Dan O'Sullivan at medfield99@hotmail.com or Thalia Tringo at tctringo@rcn.com.

Davis Square Task Force meeting, February 23, 2009 7-9pm 167 Holland St, Tufts Administration Building
The Davis Square Task Force has been meeting for more than 25 years to discuss development initiatives in Davis Square and to talk about general community issues. The group is open to the public - all are welcome to attend. If you have an item you would like to put on the agenda for this meeting, please send it to me rebekah@rcn.com or to Monica Lamboy at mlamboy@somervillema.gov.

Upcoming Alderman Meetings and Public Hearings

Housing and Community Development Meeting about Maintenance Facility, Green Line Extension, and other issues, Tuesday February 10, 2009 at City Hall
We will continue to explore the issue of the green line extension and the location of the maintenance facility at this meeting. Expected at this meeting are representatives from the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and other interested members of the public. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting and I'd encourage you to come if you'd like to learn more. For more information contact me rebekah@rcn.com.

Alderman meeting where we will take up the issue of extension of Golden Light's hours, Thursday February 12, 2009 @ 7pm at City Hall
At the last meeting of the Licenses and Permits Committee, the committee determined Golden Light's hours should be returned to 1am Sunday-Thurs and 2am on Fri and Sat. I supported this and advocated for it. I've heard from many constituents in favor of the restaurant including more than 30 residents of Ciampa Manor who signed a petition supporting these hours. At the meeting of the Board of Aldermen on Feb 12th the board will vote on whether to accept the committee's recommendation. All are welcome to attend Board of Aldermen meetings so feel free to come to city hall for this. For more information, let me know.

Tree Preservation Ordinance will be taken up before the Board of Alderman Legislative Matters Committee on Tuesday, Febraury 24, 2009 at 7pm at City Hall, 2nd Floor committee room
Last year, I proposed a Tree Preservation Ordinance that would protect healthy street trees throughout the city. This ordinance has been debated in the Legislative Matters committee of the Board of Aldermen for many months and the situation involving an old Willow tree on Thorndike St has gotten many neighbors excited about the ordinance. The proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance would require more adequate notice to neighbors and a replacement tree planted when a healthy tree is removed. Another key provision is that a tree preservation committee would be created to advise the city on the trees that make the most sense to plant in our urban environment and to provide guidance on how to preserve already existing trees. There will be a neighborhood meeting about the ordinance on Monday night 2/2 at 7pm and the next meeting before the Legislative Matters Committee about the ordinance will be on February 24th at city hall. If you're interested, I encourage you to come. To learn all of the specifics of the legislation or if you want to attend the neighborhood meeting (though I realize it's short notice for those just learning about it!) send me an email.

Condo Conversion Ordinance Public Hearing, March 3, 2009 at 7pm at City Hall
The Legislative Matters committee of the Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing about this proposed ordinance. The new, improved ordinance is the product of more than 16 months of work by a task force that I chaired at the request of the mayor. The task force included two representatives of the real estate community and two representatives from the tenant advocacy community as well as a city attorney, the Housing Department, and a staff person from the Mayor's office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. I would urge anyone interested to come to the public hearing. The mayor's office has also held a series of briefings on the ordinance over the past several months. For more information on the ordinance, go to the front page of the city website or just click here.

Surveillance Cameras Public Hearing before the Board of Aldermen committee on Public Health and Public Safety, March 31, 2009 7pm at City Hall
I'm curious to hear your thoughts about surveillance cameras throughout Somerville and I'm very glad the Public Health and Public Safety committee, chaired by Alderman White, will hold a hearing on this issue. At the hearing I hope to learn more about the benefits and consequences of these devices. If you have an opinion about the cameras, this hearing is a great chance for you to have your voice heard. For information about some of my concerns, check out the Somerville Journal article by clicking here.

Also, go to the Constituent Corner and let me know what you think!

Democratic Caucuses!

Thursday February 5, 2009 @ 7pm

The Democratic Caucuses to elect delegates to the state convention is coming up! All wards will hold their caucuses at the Argenziano School.

All wards will have their caucus at 7pm, with the exception of Ward 5, which will hold their caucus at 8pm. The state convention will be in Springfield in June this year. For more information on the Somerville Democratic City Committee or the caucuses, check out www.somdems.org.

Announcements

SOMERTIME IN FEBRUARY

Come join the Somerville Recreation Department in bringing our very popular Somertime Program indoors at the West Somerville Neighborhood School
8:30am-4:00pm
February 17th-20th (Tuesday through Friday)
Cost: $80.00 for the week (Breakfast included)
Board games, Movies, Dodge ball, Pizza, DJ, Field trip, Arts & Crafts, and much more!!!

Please call Somerville Recreation for more information at 617-625-6600 ext. 2980

Charles River Alleycats will hold a low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic in Somerville
Saturday February 14, 2009. As a Valentine's Day Special, cost is $65 and includes spay/neuter surgery and rabies shot. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Call 617-244-0200 and leave a message including your name, address, telephone and the sex of your cat (male or female). Or send an email to charlesriveralleycat s_general@yahoo.com. Your call will be returned within 2-3 days with more information and the location of the clinic.