#somervillema — Public Fediverse posts

Chance of showers, they said. Bit of rain, they said.

#Boston #CambridgeMA #SomervilleMA

The group that I've been organizing with on police body cameras in Somerville just put out an update on where things sit, including the call-to-action with regard to Tuesday's hearing.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQrFlvLo_07XvQRMCu7cOk8Y2xXDWDTEXvS6MEKHFp1iub7uPiMq2JUOxqonE2jXmyvLdKmr1ign-Qg/pub

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #BodyCameras #MAPol

If you are unable to comment on body cameras over Zoom, it is still valuable to send your thoughts to City Council via email.

You can email the City Clerk at
[email protected], and CC the City Council ([email protected]).

#SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #CallToAction #MAPol

Somerville residents concerned about deployment of police body cameras without civilian oversight, please consider giving public comment at Legislative Matters meeting at 6pm on September 8th:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WRdRHrGRTFC7GZuN1__1VA

To provide comment, register for the Zoom meeting, join the call at 6pm, and when the body cameras hearing begins, raises your hand to request to speak.

#SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #CallToAction #MAPol

The good news for Somerville is that although council has approved the purchase and deployment of police #BodyCameras, the cameras will only be worn by superior officers at this time. The patrol officers, who come into highest contact with the public, must agree to the same terms before they will begin wearing cameras.

The program is still very expensive, but this does mean that there's still time to insist that civilian oversight must come *first*.

#MAPol #surveillance #SomervilleMA

Mayor Wilson would like to believe that Somerville residents are enthusiastically supportive of putting body cameras on police regardless of the policy surrounding use of the cameras.

This is why it is important not to let the September 8th hearing pass without significant public turnout, emphasizing that policy matters and that we insist on a civilian oversight body with real authority over the police department.

#SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #MAPol

It's very frustrating that Somerville is moving forward with an expensive (estimaed $400,000 per year) body cameras program without waiting for the hearing that residents have requested and have a right to.

As a reminder, Mayor Wilson's justification for urgency was that he didn't want to miss out on a quarter million dollar grant to cover the initial purchase, a sum that will be quickly outpaced by the ongoing costs of the program.

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #MAPol

It should be noted that the comments at the July 27th meeting against deployment of police body cameras included several activists who have been advocating for police oversight since 2020. Meanwhile, a large fraction of the comments in favor of cameras were members of the city's own past task forces on policing.

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #MAPol

At the Special Meeting on body cameras that Mayor Wilson called on July 27th, about two thirds of the public comments were in opposition to approval of the policy documents and/or in opposition to initiating an expensive body cameras program at this time.

Nevertheless, the Council voted to approve the policy and to accept the small federal grant for purchase of the cameras (which required that the cameras be purchased by the end of August).

#SomervilleMA #MAPol #surveillance #policing

To give comments on police body cameras in Somerville, please use this link to sign up for the Zoom meeting, and raise your hand to request a chance to speak:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WRdRHrGRTFC7GZuN1__1VA

In particular, it's important to emphasize that a civilian oversight body should exist *before* police body cameras are deployed.

#SomervilleMA #MAPol #policing

There are some important updates on the #SomervilleMA police body cameras situation.

On Tuesday September 8th, the Legislative Matters Committee will be holding the public hearing on body-worn cameras that 89 residents requested by petition. If you're concerned about the issue, it'd be great if you can sign up to give comment.

#surveillance #MAPol #policing

We also ran into a ton of neighbors last night who were also celebrating #AllstonChristmas. One was wearing a very nice Cotopaxi backpack that had been an Allston Christmas gift in a previous year, and she said she always wore it to celebrate and take home her presents. As is traditional, we wished everyone good hunting.

#somervilleMA #cambridgeMA #boston

Last-minute #SomervilleMA #Voting "guide":

* "MA State Senate Debate for 2nd Middlesex District, Aug 1, 2026" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdvMymbXoqE
* https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/elections/sample-ballots

"A Rebuttal To My Opponent In The 26th Middlesex District Race: 'My housing policy vision is clear: guaranteed #HousingForAll,'" an op-ed from State Rep Mike Connolly. https://binj.news/2026/08/31/opinion-a-rebuttal-to-my-opponent-in-the-26th-middlesex-district-race/ #opinion #politics #election #housing #CambridgeMA #SomervilleMA

#mawx you are probably not sick - the #ragweed #pollen is bad today #somervillema #boston #massachusetts #allergies #MaskUp https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/02143

Meet Your Neighbor Month

Potentially fun community-building events in #CambridgeMA.

(I don't know what to make of the gamifying "passport" stamps/checklist, and the small bits of commercial intersection, but there are some good ideas and icebreakers.)

https://www.cambridgema.gov/departments/peacecommission/meetyourneighborday

#SomervilleMA

#BostonWeekend Sun UHHH #TherapyGecko live at the armory in #SomervilleMA fielding audience life and relationship questions from polycule city usa... https://artsatthearmory.org/events/therapy-gecko-live/ #Boston #podcast

#BostonWeekend Fri-Sun FILM #CatherineOHara Tribute weekend at the Somerville Theatre & Crystal Ballroom
Friday, August 21: #BEETLEJUICE - 35mm print, (plus bonus #SCTV greatest hit sketches!)

Saturday, August 22: double-feature Christopher Guest’s #WaitingForGuffman and Martin Scorsese’s #AfterHours

Sunday, August 23: double-feature #BestInShow and #AMightyWind

Plus a CO'H costumes/drag show party?

https://www.crystalballroomboston.com/events/catherine-ohara-tribute-home-for-the-holidays-all-of-them/

#BostonFIlm #Boston #Somerville #SomervilleMA #movies

#BostonWeekend Sat & Sun MUSIC Rat Music Fest in #SomervilleMA - #LadyLamb headlines (love her!) - $35 but NOTAFLOF
https://yardworkproductions.com/lineup/
#bostonMusic #boston #Somerville

#BostonWeekend Sat MUTUALAID Free Store run by MAMAS at East Somerville Community School - volunteers welcomed - https://www.instagram.com/p/Da_uBtwDDql/?img_index=1 #Boston #SomervilleMA #MedfordMA #MAMAS #MutualAid #Medford and #Somerville

After mentioning #CambridgeMA wild bunny proliferation, I went on a short walk, and spotted two more, a block apart.

One ran under a parked car before I could photo, but this one went chameleon, to blend in with a flowerbed at Cambridge Hospital as I passed.

For those of us on Mastodon who don't have cats to post, so we don't feel left out, this is the innaugural post for tag #BostonBuns (before the tag is used for some less-kid-friendly purpose).

#SomervilleMA #Boston #HarvardBuns

Saw a fox during my morning walk through the Tufts campus!

#MedfordMA #SomervilleMA #UrbanWildlife #fox #Tufts

«I am sure that when the mayor lies awake at night, she sees a sunny day in Mission Hill. She sees her friend riding down the street. The mayor wonders, did she look over her shoulder? Was she afraid? When her spirit left her body, did it split the sky? I think in those dark hours, she must ask herself what ocean will wash this blood clean from her hand and finds no answer. I think this is true.

I also think that the mayor is full of shit.»

https://csindie.com/does-mayor-wu-actually-feel-sorry-about-her-dead-co-worker/

#Boston #Cycling #BikeTooter #CambridgeMA #SomervilleMA

#BostonWeekend Sat GARDENING til 4pm, multiple #MutualAid #MedfordMA and #SomervilleMA #gardens open house - stop by and support #MAMAS! https://mas.wrong.tools/@crystalvisits/117106205373891789 #Boston #solarpunk #communityGarden #community

#BostonWeekend Sat BIKES 32 miles rt #RiverToTheSea bike ride starting in #SomervilleMA literally going from the charles river to the ocean - 10am start (oops it already started sorry) https://www.instagram.com/p/DbvoTNTScsY/ #BikeTooter #BostonBikes #Palestine #Boston #CambridgeMA

warms the cackles: https://csindie.com/somervilles-bicycle-riding-school-isnt-slowing-down/ #BikeTooter #SomervilleMA #Boston #BostonBikes

> "This Thursday, July 30, or soon after, the City of Somerville's contractors will begin implementation of preliminary Elm-Beacon Connector work"

Yaay!

https://voice.somervillema.gov/elm-beacon-connector

#somervilleMA #somervillebike #bikeSafety #mapoli

#BostonWeekend Sun BIKES Try out a cargo bike in #SomervilleMA https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:me62ooizqs7niahrnn6basyk/post/3mr6zruinh22i #bikeTooter #BostonBikes #BostonBike #CargoBike

#Movie #Recommendations: I picked up #DustBunny (2025) from our #SomervilleMA library - it was a romp!
American #Independent #fantasy/#Weird #horror film, #BryanFuller's directoral debut, hitman #MadsMikkelsen enlisted to eliminate the monster that live under the bed of the 10yo next door. Kind of a Monsters Inc meets Twin Peaks in a lush Wes Anderson setting.

Sumptuous visuals, Sigourney Weaver, never knew where the plot was going to go, hadn't seen anything about it before we hit play. Not for kids, extended fight scenes with lots of flashing, lots of kid-dream-logic, 84/82% 🍅 .
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dust_bunny #film #WatchThis #Hannibal #PushingDaisies #DeadLikeMe #Wonderfalls #movies

#BostonWeekend whenever MOVIES its hot go see the new #BootsRiley (#SorryToBotherYou #ImAVirgo #TheCoup) flick #ILoveBoosters https://www.somervilletheatre.com/production/i-love-boosters/ #SomervilleTheatre #SomervilleMA

#BostonWeekend Sun BIKES The annual #SomervilleBikeKitchen #BikePageant returns! "The Somerville Bike Kitchen Bike Pageant is a celebration of unique, fun, creative, colorful and/or otherwise one-of-a-kind bikes. We will have a handful of prize categories, ranging from self-explanatory to entirely unserious." https://somervillebikekitchen.org/event/2026-sbk-bike-pageant/ #SomervilleMA #BikeTooter #BostonBikes

#BostonWeekend Sat BIKES Support local/indie businesses and cleanse our metroplex: #Sage the city on this bike ride https://www.instagram.com/p/DWHLi-XDul3/ #boston #JamaicaPlain #SomervilleMA #CambridgeMA #BostonBikes #BikeTooter

#Rumeysa left. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/17/metro/rumeysa-ozturk-returns-turkey/ #Boston #SomervilleMA #Tufts #FuckIce #RumeysaOzturk #USPol

#BostonWeekend 13/x Fri DRAWING - its a meet cute with sketching? Get paired up and draw a picture of that stranger. #SomervilleMA https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/lego-maritime-festival-competition--2 #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 13/x Fri DRAWING - its a meet cute with sketching? Get paired up and draw a picture of that stranger. #SomervilleMA https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/lego-maritime-festival-competition--2 #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 13/x Fri DRAWING - its a meet cute with sketching? Get paired up and draw a picture of that stranger. #SomervilleMA https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/lego-maritime-festival-competition--2 #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 13/x Fri DRAWING - its a meet cute with sketching? Get paired up and draw a picture of that stranger. #SomervilleMA https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/lego-maritime-festival-competition--2 #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 13/x Fri DRAWING - its a meet cute with sketching? Get paired up and draw a picture of that stranger. #SomervilleMA https://www.thebostoncalendar.com/events/lego-maritime-festival-competition--2 #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 2/x Not your usual #BurnsNight in #SomervilleMA - “Come out and experience “Not Your Usual Burns #Ceilidh,” a modern take on a #Scottish tradition! Raise your glass and join us as we celebrate #Scotland’s National Bard, #RobertBurns” @ Crystal Ballroom https://nhscot.org/events/burns-night-2026/ #scots #Burns #DavisSquare

#BostonWeekend 26x Fri-Sat-Sun TREES If a decorated tree or #wreath is part of your winter tradition, consider buying one as part of the Summer Street Preschool fundraiser. They might be doing bike delivery again this year? https://summerstreetpreschool.org #SomervilleMA #ChristmasTree

#BostonWeekend 7x Sat PLANTS #Herbstalk is back at the #SomervilleArmory - #Herbalism and #PlantSwap and more - "Our lively marketplace features handmade herbal products and botanical goods created by New England crafters. Come support local herbalists, farmers, medicine makers, teachers and artists while you shop our fabulous marketplace. You’ll find handmade crafts, natural body care products, teas, soaps, candles, botanically-dyed fibers, mushrooms, herbal remedies and more!…

The event will also host an array of free educational talks related to herbalism and holistic well-being, as well as a BIPOC led art and healing space.

Join our gathering of plant-loving people who celebrate the joy of community!" https://artsatthearmory.org/events/herbstalk-wintergreen-market/ #Plants #Plantstodon #ThisIsFine #gardening #SomervilleMA

#BostonWeekend 17x Sun CELTIC Scottish Country Dance with Canadian flair in #SomervilleMA 29$, cheaper for students, free for years 5 and under. https://artsatthearmory.org/events/rscds-boston-presents-celebrating-our-celtic-connections/ #BostonDancing #BostonKids #Celtic #Pipes #ceilidh #Gaelic #Boston

Saturday #Horror / #Drag:
GASH: Haunted Sausage Factory @ Crystal Ballroom
"What do you get when you combine the legendary horror magazine #FANGORIA with Boston’s resident #cryptid and #Dragula superstar THROB ZOMBIE? You get GASH! #GASH is the all-in-one horror convention, haunted house, dark marketplace, drag show, and film screening that has to be seen to be believed! The cast of our April show features all #dragkings, serving as a meaty appetizer for the drag king convention #THRUST, coming this July!

Your ticket includes the live GASH performance in the ballroom plus admission to a screening of RE-ANIMATOR at the Somerville Theatre next door after the performance!"

630 doors, GA 18+, $35 day of show
#SomervilleMA #boston #bostonFilm #bostonDrag #reanimator
#BostonWeekend 31/x

"By most accounts, Ozturk was not a prominent activist on campus, which has prompted questions as to why she was arrested. Her most significant foray into politics appears to be a jointly written March 2024 op-ed in the student newspaper that urged the university to engage with a student-led push for Tufts to divest from Israel. But the editorial was enough for Ozturk to be highlighted by Canary Mission [...]"

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/rumeysa-ozturk-tufts-canary-mission.html

#Rümeysa #SomervilleMA #FreeSpeech

Folks in Somerville, MA. I hope to see you at City Hall soon.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/03/27/protests-are-planned-in-cambridge-and-somerville-for-a-second-day-after-taking-of-tufts-grad-student/

#SomervilleMA #Somerville #Rümeysa #mahmoudkhalil #Rumeysa #firstamendment

Friday @ 8pm - #Eivor (female vocalist, Faroese art pop/ nordic electro folk) in #SomervilleMA at the Theatre, $42+, decent seats still available. Synths and guitars, man, always a good combo. With #Sylvaine https://www.somervilletheatre.com/production/eivor/
https://www.youtube.com/@eivormusic/videos
#BostonWeekend 10/x

#BostonWeekend 3/x
Fri-Sat @7 #Fuzztival in #SomervilleMA at the #SomervilleArmory - local&regional annual festival since 2013, 25$ featuring:
Friday:
#SweepingPromises
#BabyBaby_Explores
#YHWHNailgun
#BongWish
#Balaclava
#Mingko
#NurseJoy
#LupoCitta
#TheSpatulas
#PlantFight
and Saturday:
#DougTuttle
#GregFreeman
#LatrellJames
#FrancieMedosch (of #Florry)
#PaperLady
#Prewn
#Clifford
#Warmachine
#Corporeal
#PewPew

#BostonMusic

Lots of #BostonDance this weekend in #SomervilleMA - "Feet Keep the Beat" - a dance premiere at #SomervilleArmory Friday and related workshops Sunday, plus Saturday has Boston Tap Party https://artsatthearmory.org/events/feet-keep-the-beat-world-premiere/
#BostonWeekend (5/x)

#BostonDance and #BostonMusic - Free #Bollywood Fusion dance class, Sunday, Noon, #AssemblyRow #SomervilleMA #orangeline https://assemblyrow.com/event/bollywood-fusion-outdoor-workshop/
#BostonWeekend 🧵 8/x

#BostonMusic Shows (what did I miss?):
Thursday: #ChaseAndStatus - British electronic duo (#Jungle/#DnB, usually with a live drummer), @ Roadrunner
#LanaDelRey @ Fenway

Friday: #ThisWillDestroyYou, Texan instrumental rock, Crystal Ballroom
#PVRIS, from #LowellMA (!), pop/electronic rock, HoB
“Underground” (#HipHop_ music party by #VertuOuVice at #TheArmory, featuring #Cakeswagg (#RoxburyMA) and a bunch of other #GreaterBoston area Hip Hop artists
#HootieAndTheBlowfish @ Fenway
#Shrek #Rave, yes, its a Shrek themed dance party, Don't worry about it, @ Big Night Live

Saturday:
#TedLeo and the Pharmacists, American rock, @ the 'dise
#RaviColtrane (John and Alice's kid!), gifted #MBase saxophonist, #TheArmory in #SomervilleMA

Sunday:
#SilversunPickups, American rock/#DreamPop, @ the HoB
#MdouMoctar, guitarist blending rock/#blues/#tuareg people styles, @ the 'dise

Fri-Sun: #GreenRiver festival, headliners include #Cake and #FleetFoxes and a ton of really cool up and coming acts, relatively reasonable ticket prices, #WesternMass

(#BostonWeekend 4/x)