#somervillema — Public Fediverse posts

#BostoNWeekeND Sat ARTS #SomervilleMA hosts the #GilmanSquare arts festival put on by the #SomervilleArtsCouncil. Located just north of the central library branch. Free. Live music pumpkin painting, food, esh and Cate the Great circus performances. noon to 5 https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/gilman-sq-fest/ #boston #BostonKids #BostonFree #bostonCircus #BostonMusic #EmperorNortonStationaryMarchingBand #ENSMB

#BostonWeekend Sat STUFF Riverfest in #SomervilleMA. free. fireworks at 830. on teh mystic. https://assemblyrow.com/event/riverfest-2026/ #boston #fireworks #bostonFree

#BostonWeekend Sat STUFF Riverfest in #SomervilleMA. free. fireworks at 830. on teh mystic. https://assemblyrow.com/event/riverfest-2026/ #boston #fireworks #bostonFree

#BostonWeekend Sat STUFF Riverfest in #SomervilleMA. free. fireworks at 830. on teh mystic. https://assemblyrow.com/event/riverfest-2026/ #boston #fireworks #bostonFree

#BostonWeekend Sat STUFF Riverfest in #SomervilleMA. free. fireworks at 830. on teh mystic. https://assemblyrow.com/event/riverfest-2026/ #boston #fireworks #bostonFree

#BostonWeekend Sat STUFF Riverfest in #SomervilleMA. free. fireworks at 830. on teh mystic. https://assemblyrow.com/event/riverfest-2026/ #boston #fireworks #bostonFree

#BostonWeekend Fri-Sun FOOD Dormiton (Greek) Church in #SomervilleMA - annual fundraiser with live music and tonsa food https://www.dormitionchurch.org/festival #Greek #Boston #Gyros #greekFood #GreekChurch

I legitimately do not understand what these markings are attempting to communicate.

(This is where Tufts St in Somerville makes a T onto Cross St. We're looking south on Cross and Tufts St is to the left.)

EDIT: See thread for more context on intersection. Also some good ideas in the replies!

#SomervilleMA #bicycling

Reminder that the #SomervilleMA hearing on police #BodyCameras is *tonight* (September 8, 2026) at 6pm.

To testify at the hearing, sign up for the Zoom meeting using the link below, and then after you join the meeting, raise your hand when the hearing begins.
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WRdRHrGRTFC7GZuN1__1VA#/registration

#policing #surveillance #MAPol

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

Ok one more for my hi viz hotties

I have three of these bags, if they sell I’ll make more for Fluff

Hudson St behind the Armory, 12-6p, Saturday August 8

#handmade #trans #transDayOfRizzability #SomervilleMA #hiviz

Ok but seriously, check this shit out. Rep your town and your favorite sandwich topping at the same time WHILE ALSO BEING HI-VIZ and carrying a ton of stuff. I have six of the Marshmallow Fluff bags and three of the Somerville bags; I'll have more at Fluff Festival in September but you can beat the rush :)

#hiviz #HiRizGear #marshmallowFluff #flufffestival #yartSale #somervilleMA

Commentary on the #SomervilleMA police #bodyCameras situation, and what the Mayor might be trying to do, from Chris Dwan:
https://csindie.com/somervilles-mayor-is-forcing-a-special-council-meeting-to-vote-on-body-worn-cameras/

#surveillance #policing #MAPol #legislativeProcess

Here is a generic-language version of the email I just sent to #Somerville Council about police #bodycameras for the 12pm deadline.
https://sandstorm.appux.com/shared/lGlNKXBAaxeBW0-1FUCMihCp9r-K3h6HryHO2vNa4oa

If you are delivering public comment tonight, feel free to adapt ideas in there. It's a complicated issue, and I know that concerns differ.

#SomervilleMA #MAPol #surveillance #policing #privacy

Some folks from the #Somerville DSA group put together these slides with tips on how to prepare public comment for the Special Meeting on #bodycameras tomorrow.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xmdAuHLzOOFhmdxZE3nWoZ7SveOiNW2mstvn7xPvr6Q/edit?usp=sharing

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #policing #MAPol

Update: On July 23rd, the Mayor introduced a new version of the STIR and TSSUP for police #bodycameras in #Somerville. The new documents clarify a number of policy points, but don't substantively address the concerns we've highlighted in our toolkit above.

#surveillance #policing #MAPol #SomervilleMA #privacy

Here is the latest update from the Somerville ad hoc group working on the body cameras issue: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiU1P7QeQoR9Tbx-xr1wzevoa7D5UnRo8kRdEws6CFHLEgDCU7EzDkR60PAv4Rk0FByuZemkjya95c/pub

The very short version is that the Mayor is still trying to rush this specific body cameras policy through without proper deliberation and that #Somerville is holding a special meeting on July 27th for public comment *and* a vote.

This is *not* the public comment session that was requested by petition.

#bodycameras #SomervilleMA #policing #surveillance #privacy #MAPol

So uh this is totally happening

#somervilleMA #yartSale #marshmallowFluff #hiviz #hiRizGear

An OCR'd version of the current Somerville Memorandum of Understanding on body camera use is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wyNH99s9MREk18L44uK7HRb5Khv-bUX5/view

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras

There's another update on #Somerville #BodyCameras posted here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6Lvi0cNzhztgzCyB-Ie28CSLJi1xzYOg6mEpNvXN_SJO4Dhyy2F6ZZJk-lBwd3zCissDDkIUXCu86/pub

We finally have the memorandum of understanding on body cameras, and unfortunately it still says the data will be controlled by the police, with civilians only able to access the footage through public records requests.

#MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

From one of our #Somerville City Councilors:
https://jonforsomerville.beehiiv.com/p/on-body-worn-cameras

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras #citybudgets

For anyone interested in a more complete update on the #Somerville #bodycameras deliberations, one of my collaborators put together this document summarizing ways to support our organizing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSLHo6CD3P8L-EGbsr7pqxXf0CaU1A-XhsXV95ES43uPehjHgTpnwEORUTq_H_87V3nw2cEwSTgSMnY/pub

#surveillance #SomervilleMA #MAPol #MAPoli

Last night the #Somerville Legislative Matters Committee decided to hold the #bodycameras proposal in committee rather than voting to approve it.

It's not clear what the next steps will be (stay tuned), but for now they are not moving forward on the proposal for body cameras without civilian oversight.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote or called in to council to express concern about the city's proposal!

#MAPol #SomervilleMA #surveillance

This little video gives some of the background on how body cameras have been previously discussed in #Somerville, including clips illustrating the broad consensus to reject body cameras in 2022 unless there is civilian oversight (which wasn't on the table then and at this point appears still not to be on the table).

#SomervilleMA #bodycameras #surveillance

If you'd like to stay informed of community organizing efforts regarding the City of Somerville's pursuit of Body Worn Cameras for Police, please fill out this form:
https://cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/form/view/VzpeBEc1duRVTYgevX3BuF4CcDWxqAmS6J+YP9zykh8/

#SomervilleMA #surveillance #bodycameras #MAPol #MAPoli

#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 Sat (sold out) WEIRD Thotbot Implantation Center in #SomervilleMA Through, maybe, March?https://thotbot.me #BostonMusic #BostonArt #BostonTheatre #Thotbot

#BostonWeekend Through, maybe, March? WEIRD Thotbot Implantation Center in #SomervilleMA 6/x https://thotbot.me #BostonArt #BostonTheatre #BostonMusic #weird #Boston #thotbot

#BostonWeekend 21x Sun MARKET noon-6 @ 438 Somerville Ave Artist Studios hosts 30+ local artisans - including @downstairs in the music studio (have you seen the new bag designs she's been posting to the fediverse?) - stop by while you're in #UnionSquare #SomervilleMA for the Jingle Mingle maybe? But also a pleasant walk from #PorterSquare #HarvardSquare or #DavisSquare - and its right by #MarketBasket and #BowMarket so you can get a bunch of shopping done :) IDK but I'll be there, come! https://www.instagram.com/p/DRH9WgZjgAo/ #ShopLocal #Artist #Art #shopping #handmade #Somerville #CambridgeMA #Boston #BostonArt

#BostonWeekend 5/x Fri CERAMICS - Nonprofit clay Studio in #EastSomerville - Mudflat hosts an opening reception for their annual Holiday Open Studio & Pottery Sale tonight, which runs at various times through the 14th. Easy walk from the Green and Orange Lines (#SullivanSquare) - its right on Broadway.

https://www.mudflat.org/open-studio-pottery-sales
#SomervilleMA #BostonArt #Ceramics #Pottery #clay #Boston #art

#BostonWeekend 3/x Through Dec(?) - ART - #ThotBot Implantation Center live experience - take it all in at #BowMarket - 2 tickets for Fri 12/5 (tonight!) still available but many nights sold out - support weird and local art in #SomervilleMA

"Is your ThotBot Glitched? Do you need an operating system Reboot? Are you ready to be Implanted for the first time? Protect your Value. Optimize your Redemption. Visit the ThotBot Implantation Center for all your brain implant needs." #Boston #BostonArt #BostonMusic https://thotbot.me

#BostonWeekend 13x Sat WEIRD Walter Sickert at the Crystal Ballroom for a "A Live Music & Burlesque Tribute to The #NightmareBeforeChristmas "tribute show $30 https://www.crystalballroomboston.com/events/something-strange-a-nightmare-before-christmas-tribute/ #SomervilleMA #CrystalBallroom #TNBC #Boston #BostonBurlesque #BostonMusic

#BostonWeekend 12x Sat&Sun ART Open Studios Brickbottom and Joy Street in #SomervilleMA https://brickbottom.org/events/bbos-2025 #BostonArt #Art #Boston #openStudios

#BostonWeekend 17x Sat GODZILLA 2pm-2am 12 hours of Godzilla movies for ~30$ in #SomervilleMA for #GODZILLATHON https://www.somervilletheatre.com/production/godzillathon/ #BostonFIlm #BostonGeek #Boston #Monsterdon

#BostonWeekend 8x Through October, THOTBOT - Friend, is your #THOTBOT glitched? Get thee to the implantation center. https://thotbot.me/index.html #SomervilleMA #BostonArt #Boston

#BostonWeekend 20x Sat noon-6p SYNTHS “Synth-tember 2025 Community Day” - Pet-a-Synthesizer! #Theremin building workshop is sold out. New Alliance Gallery #SomervilleMA https://www.newalliancegallery.com/events/synth-tember-2025-community-day
#bostonMusic #synths #synthesizer #synth #BostonArt #BostonScience

#BostonWeekend 9/x Thu FILM The Outsiders in #SomervilleMA (Lincoln Park) - Free, outside https://www.somervillema.gov/events/2025/07/17/outsiders-free-outdoor-screening-somermovie-fest
#Boston #BostonFilm #TheOutsiders #Coppola #SEHinton

#BostonWeekend 25/x
Sat #books Somerville Community Growing Center #BookSwap, free, rain might reschedule https://www.thegrowingcenter.org/calendar
#BostonBooks #SomervilleMA

Friday - #GrassIsGreen with #SpeedyOrtiz and #Pile in #SomervilleMA at the #SomervilleArmory - ~$22 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
https://artsatthearmory.org/events/get-to-the-gig-presents-grass-is-green/
#BostonWeekend 7/x
#Boston #BostonMusic #PostPunk #ExperimentalRock

From just my couple weeks of using it, being able to turn onto or cross College Ave. farther from the center of Davis (where drivers are more focused on beating the light than looking for cyclists) has felt so much safer! Thank you to everyone else who supported this change at the January Davis Square meeting or emailed the city about it, and of course to the Mobility and Engineering departments for implementing it! (2/2)

#BikeInfrastructure #BikeSafety #SomervilleMA