Fill the Teele Square Hole

Now that Teele Square has a smaller version of the Downtown Crossing Crater, what would you like to see built on that spot (yeah, I know it's not up to us)?

I'll vote for a sports bar.

Sidewalks, ISD and Traffic & Parking

So, here we are - we've had our usual 'warning shot' snowstorm (and what a warning with tree damage and power outages); nearly all the leaves are down ("leaves are down and the sky is gray..." - sorry, that damn Pandora won't leave me alone); and we're just a few weeks away from walking in a winter wonderland (no, not the T stop) and that's what I want to talk about: walking.

Walking is a significant part of why I live in this city. I like to walk (especially when my walks are 'backed up' by a good public transportation system) and so I chose to live in a city to have sidewalks and useful places (stores, restaurants, bars, parks etc.) worth walking to. I would walk even if it were possible to be convicted for drunk driving in Massachusetts (and I'd like to thank the man who drunkenly staggered from Davis Sq. to Teele Sq., and ultimately into Theo's Pizza, on Sunday night for providing some great entertainment).

What's my point?

My point is this - the snow is coming and soon many of the sidewalks will be virtually impassable because many of my neighbors and fellow-Somervilliens do not (seem) to share my enthusiasm for walking. The signs are already visible with some sidewalks less-passable due to the leaves (check the sidewalk opposite Hodgkins-Curtin park, for instance - the leaves have been ground into tiny slippery leaf-nuggets by all the feet that have trod over them or notice the residents who seem to think that storing a new mondo recycling bin on the sidewalk ALL WEEK LONG is a good idea). Already I'm dreading the pedestrian-packed-ice-sheet that we can expect in front of the fire-ravaged block of Teele Sq. (many of the active Teele Sq. businesses fail to shovel properly - will we be surprised when the owner of a crater fails to clear the sidewalk?) and the extra time required to carefully pick one's way down Holland Ave. towards Davis Sq. through the slush-filled handicap ramps and the narrow paths created by other pedestrians.

What can be done about this?

Fines for sidewalk blocking fall under the Inspectional Services Dept. (ISD) which sounds reasonable until one considers that ISD personnel are traveling around in their cars and only issue a sidewalk-blockage ticket in response to a complaint. Meanwhile, we have a small army of Traffic & Parking personnel walking the very same sidewalks that are blocked as they do their daily rounds. Would it not make sense to put 'sidewalk enforcement' into the hands of the city personnel who are most often using those sidewalks?

Recently, Mayor Curtatone called on citizens to call 311Somerville whenever they hear the sound of aircraft. I'd like to call on other citizens to join me in calling on the city to write more sidewalk-blockage citations so that we can enjoy our city's walkability throughout the winter.

Who's with me?

Poll Results

There were 13 responses to the poll. Respondents were not required to answer each question so do not be surprised when the number of replies to a question is fewer
than 13.

Replies in the order in which the questions were asked.

Visitation Frequency
occasionally	3
frequently	4
daily	1
when I saw a tweet referencing it	4

enjoyment
not at all	1
somewhat	4
quite a bit	8

I learned of this blog from
A tweet from Ward7Somerville	6
Andy Metzger's article	6

This blog inflenced my vote
not at all	2
somewhat	6
quite a bit	1

Other sources of influence
Somerville Journal	9
Ward5Online	9
Somerville News	7
Somerville Patch	6
Greater Somerville	2
Candidate Literature	3
Somerville Journal Blog	1

I believe this blog
was generally fair	7
was biased for or against a candidate	6

I hope this blog
continues	12
ceases	1

Comments

great job!

Enjoyed the candid remarks about each candidate, keep up the good work.

weird connection between ward 5 online and greater somerville

You & Ward 5 Online are two of the best blogs online.

I was/am a
A voter from Ward 7	5
A voter from another Ward	8
(Other) A blogger	1

age
36 to 45 y.o.	6
26 to 35 y.o.	4
> 55 y.o.	1
46 to 55 y.o.	1
< 25 y.o.	1

My particpation included
Voted	13
Door-knocked in Ward 7	1
Door-knocked in another Ward	1
Held a sign for a Ward 7 candidate	1
Held a sign for a non-Ward7 candidate	1
(Other) blog reader	1

A poll about this blog...

With the election is over, I thought I would ask for some reader feedback regarding this blog. Like an election, if you don't vote (respond) you cede the right to complain. Answer any or all of the questions below. Include comments if you like.

Next Friday (11/18), I will publish the results. If there are a very small number of responses then I won't publish any of the 'Reader Information'; if possible, however, I will publish that information disassociated from the 'Reader Experience' data.

If the poll makes a reference to something that you do not recognize, take a look at the bottom of the page for an explanation or a link.

Thank you for participating and for reading this blog.



Explanations:
Andy Metzger's article refers to: http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/somerville/2011/08/30/who-is-behind-the-ward7somerville-blog/
Ward5Online refers to: Ward 5 Online
Greater Somerville refers to the TV show described here: http://greatersomerville.wordpress.com/
Candidate Literature includes any information provided by a candidate including mailings, web-sites, speeches, tweets, etc.

Any questions

41 votes

Apparently, the preliminary election outcome wasn't a 'mandate for change'.

Ward 7 Prediction

Due to my poor prediction in the preliminary race (http://ward7somerville.blogspot.com/2011/09/wag-wild-ass-guess-about-result.html) I was feeling a little sheepish about issuing a prediction for tomorrow's Main Event.

However, emboldened by the fact that the Stars & Stripes are flying at 49 Russell Rd. today (and will surely be waving tomorrow as predicted here: http://ward7somerville.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-ward-7-somerville-journal-endorses.html), I'm going to go ahead...

It's a shame that the folks at The Somerville Journal (esp. those who compiled the endorsements: http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1379037300/Endorsements-Top-picks-for-Somerville-Board-of-Aldermen) aren't tasked with printing the ballots - I can't help but wonder if they would have gone this route:

In Ward 7, The Somerville Journal endorses...

...neither candidate.

Although both candidates have expressed a dedication to Ward 7 neighbors, we do not feel strongly enough to put full support behind either one. Incumbent Bob Trane has an important bond with many of his dedicated constituents, but he seems more skeptical of the mayor’s critics than of the mayor himself. Challenger Katjana Ballantyne wants to give the residents more of a voice and is a big advocate for mixed-use development, but her obliqueness on many of the issues does not give voters, or us, a real sense of how she will represent the ward.

While The Journal is unwilling to put their full support behind either candidate, the highlighted quotes above suggest, to me, which candidate they prefer. As a voter who is largely supportive of the mayor, I am glad to hear that The Journal finds Trane to be supportive of him as well.

Perhaps full support from The Journal would have been forthcoming if Bob Trane had not asked for his money back (from recent campaign finance report):

(That's a joke - I'm not seriously suggesting that The Journal's endorsement could be bought or that the candidate would be interested in buying it.)

It seems that The Journal is as puzzled as I have been at Ballantyne's failure to be forthcoming and clear about her plans. In any endeavor, the burden is on the challenger to show why he is the better choice. As I said back in July, Ballantyne has dealt only in "fluff" (obliqueness):

Speaking of that July post, at the time I received an e-mail taking me to task for suggesting that Ballantyne's new flagpole and her (then) recent expressions of allegiance to the Boston Bruins were simply pandering to popular symbols. For that commenter, I would suggest that you take a few trips down Russell Road to see how frequently the flag is raised these days. I can't recall the last time that I saw that flag proudly waving.

I'll predict that it is up on Tuesday, November 8.

Ward 7 "Election" today on Ward5Online

Vote

The 'ballot' is on the right-hand side of the page.

Trane for Ward 7 - Somerville News Endorsement

Somerville News Endorsement

He knows his constituents. He is out there every day in Ward 7, and not just at election time either.

We know that Bob Trane is the best candidate for the job because we think he is the people’s Alderman. We are proud to endorse him and urge every registered voter in Ward 7 to vote to re-elect Alderman Bob Trane on Tuesday, November 8.

At Least Someone Still Cares...

I was under the impression that both candidates had joined me in becoming disinterested in the Ward 7 race.

Then, I saw that Bob Trane attended the First Church of Somerville panel discussion on October 25.
http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/20087#more-20087

For the past couple weeks I have felt like I was watching the last couple rounds of a boxing match in which the two combatants were sure that they had amassed enough points to ensure victory and wanted to avoid being struck by a knock-out blow - ho hum.

Trane TV appearance ; Ballantyne Sign Sighting

Bob Trane to appear on 'Greater Somerville' tonight and Jillian Fennimore asks whether Trane will comment on skipping the pre-preliminary race debate (I sould still like to hear what he has to say).

Andy Metzger wrote recently about seeing only Trane signs on the businesses in Teele Square. I'm not sure which road he used to enter Teele but if he had chosen Broadway he would, I'm sure, have noticed this prominent Ballantyne sign at the corner of Packard Ave:

New 'Crackpot Comment' Contender

Back on September 15, I pondered whether a crackpot comment from the Somerville News website could be topped:
Ballantyne financing coming from Cuba, Iran, or Venezuela?

I think we may have a contender:
Ballantyne should promise wealth redistribution (for drunken atheists)

Only a few more weeks in which to submit your entries!

Holy Cow - Bob Trane has a web site

http://www.bobtrane.org

I feel like I am 3 weeks behind (mostly because I am). Fortunately, the late-comer to the online world manages to provide some usual information.

More dog space need in Ward 7 - how about North St.?

Jillian Fennimore comments on the availability of dog parks in Somerville and mentions that Cambridge is seeking to improve in this regard.

http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/somerville/2011/10/04/cambridge-wants-our-dog-parks/

I would like to see more such spaces here in Ward 7 and I will happily nominate the soon-to-be-renovated North St. playground for this purpose.

North Street Playground - Worth Renovating?

Correspondent X and I were sitting around after some good-time family fun at Fluff Fest and the topic of the North St. Playground renovation came up. We're all about publicly funded recreation opportunities and recognize the importance of parks and playgrounds in a city in which the average backyard is (a) paved and (b) smaller than the average suburban driveway. That said, in difficult economic times we think it is important to make good choices and spend wisely etc. blah blah blah.

Let's start with the map. The map below includes most of Ward 7 (no offense to people living within the part that is not shown - hopefully, you have some playgrounds up there) and all of the parts that are relevant to a discussion of whether renovating the North St. Playground is worthwhile.

The green dots are the playgrounds/parks that I remembered off the top of my head (and that Correspondent X kindly verified during his bike ride today).

1) North St. Playground
2) Playground within the adjacent (to North St.) housing project.
3) Playground on Rt. 16 (DCR control but the city is trying to take over).
4) Woodstock St. Playground
5) Hodgkins-Curtin Park & Playground
6) Tufts Playground
7) Church at Curtis Ave and Powder House

Is this area (meaning the border between precincts 7-2 and 7-3) UNDER-served by playgrounds? You might dismiss numbers 2, 6, 7 above as they are likely meant to be restricted to their specific communities (residents or 'clients' of the church or Tufts day-care) and #6 is just over the border into Ward 6. Even if we eliminate those it is clear to me that anyone who might use North St. could easily be served by Woodstock, Hodgkins-Curtin, or the playground on Rt. 16. (and, before anyone argues that crossing Rt. 16 is too dangerous - the playground is right near a controlled crosswalk and we all know that in this 'Amber Alert' day and age no playground equipment using children are walking to a playground without an adult).

Furthermore, it seems to me from passing by the North St. playground that the most frequent users of that area are the young (mid-teen to mid-20s) men (primarily) and women who hang out at the picnic tables. If that is the case then perhaps the best use of this area would be to retain the basketball hoops and increase the number of picnic tables while removing the swing-sets etc. I had hoped to include a photo of the 'hanging-out' use but Correspondent X did not see anyone there around 12:30 this afternoon.

I hope that the idea of NOT renovating this playground will be a part of tomorrow night's discussion and, as she lives so close, I look forward to hearing what candidate (and mother of a young child) Ballantyne has to say about whether and how well this playground serves her own family's recreation needs.

-------------

Knowing that Correspondent X was going to try to get a photo of the North St. playground being used merely as a smoking lounge, I was glad to receive an e-mail from X along with a couple attachments (see photos below). The body of the e-mail included only a single question: What are the differences between these two photos?

Somerville Man

Cambridge Man

I started listing the obvious differences: vertical vs. horizontal stripes on the shirt, long pants vs. shorts (with snowflake pattern - it must still be 'Fashion Week'), shoes vs. swim-slippers etc. Then, it dawned on me that Correspondent X's mile-wide "green stripe" was focusing on the bags - the Somerville man is carrying plastic bags and the Cambridge man is using re-usable environmentally sound bags (made from recycled milk bottles it seems).

But, I hadn't guessed the 'punch line' so Correspondent X sent me the original 'Somerville Man' picture (with face unobscured) which revealed him to be the husband of the candidate who is promising:

I'm seriously concerned with Correspondent X's obsession with the personal "green habits" of the candidate and suggest that she keep her recycling bin in the house until just before the Russell truck arrives lest Correspondent X go digging through it. ;)

Support Home Rule Petition

Mayor Curtatone's Statement on Liquor License Home Rule Petition

I hope the Board of Aldermen will support this proposal.

Limits on licenses raises the prices of those licenses which compels the owners to maximize profits by selling $13 apple-tinis and such (see recently opened Five Horses Tavern and Foundry on Elm). I would hate to see the small gritty places like Sligo, P.A.'s Lounge (and the now defunct Razzy's) disappear due to financial pressure to sell a license.

North Street Playground Meeting

North Street Playground Meeting Announcement

While there are many 'bigger' issues that our Alderman is involved with (GIC, Green Line, Assembly Square etc.), proposed changes to a playground is, in my opinion, the sort of 'nuts and bolts' matter that embodies the nature of local politics.

I would expect this to be a great chance for Katjana Ballantyne to express herself (in specifics) as she has a daughter at an age which likely will allow her to enjoy this playground for a few years. If the child herself were to speak on the matter would she tell us which playground equipment she favors or would she only speak to the importance of open and accessible teeter-totters, affordable swings, and jobs for local equipment-installers?

Hope to see you there.

Momentum for Re-Debate Builds...

Well, okay, it's a 'slow build.'

Re-Debate?

One of the most disappointing aspects of the preliminary election 'season' was the debate that never was. The disappointment was two-fold: that the voters would not have the opportunity to hear, simultaneously, from all of the candidates and that Trane and Ballantyne were willing to renege on their prior agreement to appear.

In hindsight (based on the lopsided preliminary election results) we can see some justification for the arrogant way in which Trane and Ballantyne chose to dismiss the upstart from Powderhouse Boulevard. After all (I suppose the thinking goes), why risk embarrassing one's self to debate a candidate who is not going to be a factor in the race?

I hope that in the weeks to come before the November 8th election there will be a debate between the two surviving candidates. Further, I hope that the host (Joe Lynch) and moderators (Jillian Fennimore and Danielle Dreilinger) will serve in those capacities again. I would also like to see one addition to the debate board: spurned candidate Joan Whitney Puglia.

Can This Crackpot Comment Be Topped?

I have seen a number of 'crackpot comments' made during this election season (and I'm sure others would say that I have _made_ some too). I don't think this one, from a Somerville News commenter, can be topped:

I don't know what Harry means by 'GOTV' but if the Cubans, Iranians, or Venezuelans are behind it then I am certain that we don't want it in Ward 7!

Harry, I've looked at Ballantyne's financial report - it seems that the "foreign" money is coming from the Nelson family of Vermont (a suburb of Havana, perhaps). Perhaps Harry has a juicy theory on why Ballantyne's husband changed his name from Nelson to Nilsson (on orders from Tehran?)...

Were Parking Meter Fees Waived on Election Day?

When I looped past the three polling places yesterday morning I was impressed by the number of Trane supporters holding signs and the number of vehicles that I saw with Trane signs in the windows or taped to the fender.

The vehicle below was parked in front the Episcopal Church (2nd meter from the corner of Clarendon and Broadway) in the morning and then again (or still) at around 6:00 p.m. At both times the meter was showing 0:00 (semi-visible in the expanded portion of the photo). Was this vehicle simply lucky, were meter fees waived yesterday, or does Bob Trane have friends in Traffic & Parking?

Mandate?

Results article @ Somervile Journal

“I’m totally thrilled,” said Ballantyne from her victory party at Sabur in Teele Square. “This is a mandate. They wanted a new alderman… I’m delighted to be that person.”

Three Candidates Trane 538 42.8% Ballantyne 531 42.2% Puglia 187 14.8%

Two "Candidates" New Alderman 718 57.2% Incumbent 538 42.8%

I don't think I would call the result a mandate for change (but kudos to Ballantyne for the very politician-sounding spin).

We won't know, until November 8, how many Trane supporters stayed away from the polls yesterday safe in the knowledge that their candidate would advance. And, of course, there's no guarantee that those who voted for Puglia will cast another ballot for "new Alderman."

A WAG (wild-ass guess) About the Result

I'll guess:

Trane: 58%
Ballantyne: 29%
Puglia: 13%

Feel free to post yours below. Winner gets labeled as having a 'real bead' on the race.

"Green Room" for Ballantyne? Really?

Excerpted from The Somerville News:

Speaking of PJ Ryan’s, we heard that candidate Katjana Ballantyne approached the owner and asked about having her fundraiser there. But when she asked for valet parking they told her “no.” We then heard from another source that she asked for a makeup room or “green room” – but alas, although Ryan’s is a very nice establishment it doesn’t have either one.

Anyone have confirmation on this one?

Volunteer Counts Portend Outcome?

I drove by all 3 polling places earlier and saw: strong volunteer representation from Trane supporters; medium participation from Ballantyne supporters; and one lone Puglia sign holder in Teele square.

Also spotted was Bob Trane himself on Holland Ave.

If you're around the polling places during the day please post what you see below. Thanks.

Looking Ahead to Tuesday

If it rains like this on Tuesday will the polling places be empty?

Anyone have an idea of what the expected turn-out for a preliminary election is?

Would it be more interesting if, in such a three-candidate race, we were permitted to vote AGAINST one candidate?

Trane signs have sprung up around the ward, he held his fund-raiser on Tuesday, and he has been more out-spoken about some of the issues. My earlier concerns were that he was disinterested in keeping the office. Perhaps, I was mistaken and Trane was merely pacing himself in contrast to the challengers who needed to become known to the voters.

Ballantyne still seems to speak only in generalities. Additionally, there is the issue of her voting record. Frankly, with only 16 people in the ward pulling a Republican nomination I find it hard to believe that, coincidentally, an error was made in the recording of Ballantyne's selection. Furthermore, I have to wonder why someone who touts her long-time commitment to 'Democrat issues' is not a registered Democrat.

With regards to both Trane and Ballantyne, it was very disappointing that they chose not to appear on the SCAT debate show. According to Joe Lynch, both had agreed to come on the show and then later reneged on that commitment.

Puglia has, in my opinion, done the best job of telling us where she stands on the issues and I applaud her for that. I am a bit worried about her response to Andy Metzger regarding her husband's past. Additionally, her "I probably won't be liked" comment in the 'one-candidate debate' concerns me - I appreciate her point that she does not intend to 'rubber-stamp' the mayor's agenda but I would not like to see my alderman labeled as the 'angry alderman that cannot work with others.'

Hope to see you at the polls on Tuesday...

Somerville Patch Candidate Profiles

The Somerville Patch seems to be posting one profile per day (rather than the Journal's posting of all 3 yesterday). Here are the links to the Trane and Puglia articles along with a guess at what the URL will be for the Ballantyne article.

Trane

Puglia

Ballantyne

Somerville Journal Profiles of Candidates

The Somerville Journal has posted profiles of the three candidates.

Trane

Puglia

Ballantyne

I was glad to learn that Bob Trane had filed his campaign finance report; interested to learn that Puglia and Ballantyne had discussed challenging Trane before election season had begun (also mentioned by Puglia in the 'one candidate debate'); and, disappointed to hear Puglia avoid what seemed like a relevant question regarding her husband's legal troubles.

On that last point, I don't see how a candidate can discuss her family's legacy in politics as part of her reason for running and then refuse to discuss her husband's disbarment. I'm not suggesting that Puglia should be held responsible for those acts but I also don't think she should try to sweep them under the rug. It wasn't sexist when Hillary Clinton's role in 'Whitewater' was questioned and it's not sexist to ask about Andy Puglia's legal issues especially as he continues to be involved in city matters.

Apparently the Journal's caption writer believes that Bob Trane will prevail in the preliminary election...

Update: the caption has been edited.

Let's Talk (Quietly) About Noise

Two of the three Ward 7 candidates recently made statements regarding noise.

Bob Trane's comments and proposed solution (legislation) can be found in this Somerville Journal article and Katjana Ballantyne's mention can be found on her web site.

Although Joan Whitney Puglia has not, to my knowledge, mentioned noise in any of her campaign literature, I would assume that she's not taking a 'pro-loud-party' stance (as always, the candidate is welcome to comment below as to her stance). I mention this only because I doubt that noise and how noise complaints are handled is not likely to be an issue that provides voters with a way to differentiate between the candidates.

Both the Trane and Ballantyne comments make reference to noise from students. I agree that being awakened by a party of students is annoying but so is being awakened by a number of other noise sources e.g., horn-honking, parties of non-students, anyone holding a loud conversation, crying/tantrum-ing children, loud vehicles etc. I'm sure that in some neighborhoods it is the students who make up the bulk of the noise; however, it seems to me that focusing only on a single noise source is misguided. The noisy party or fighting, under-aged drinking, or public urination (other issues mentioned by Trane) are, in my experience, easier problems to deal with as police response (especially to a fight) is quicker.

I see that a number of other communities have enacted legislation that puts pressure on landlords so perhaps there is merit to it. My first response, however, was how fair such pressure is when (if) the landlords do not have a legal means to pass such fines along to the tenants or to evict, quickly, the noisy tenant.

As an issue pertaining to the upcoming election, I am glad to hear comments from the mostly-silent Trane and I am glad to hear a comment from Ballantyne that goes beyond (slightly) the usual three themes ("open, inclusive government, affordability and local jobs").

Blog interrupted...

Wow, a little bit of 'real life' gets in the way for a week and all kinds of things happen:

• Joan Whitney Puglia "debates" herself after her opponents decline the opportunity to give the voters of Ward 7 a chance to see all of the candidates together in the same forum (and, bizarrely, Katjana Ballantyne chastises Bob Trane for backing-out before doing the same thing).
  
• Bob Trane proposes legislation to deal with noise problems.
• Katjana Ballantye posts 4 photos from her door-knocking and updates her campaign web site providing more details about her plans.
• Katjana Ballantyne disputes her voting record.
• Andy Metzger seeks helps in determining who I am.
  
• Masala reportedly opens.

Ballantyne Denounces PDS

“I’m really happy to have gotten their endorsement,” said Ballantyne. “I’m not fully aware of what their process is because I’m not a PDS member.”

Unfortunately, that quote sounds less like a denouncement than it sounds like a wishy-washy non-apology apology.

Full Story:
Somerville Journal

Meaning of "Soon"

How about a break from all this election talk? Sound good?
Great, let's get some lunch at that new Indian & Nepali restaurant in Teele Square...

Oh wait - it's not open yet. Damn. It seems like forever since Top Top Thai shut down and it seems like forever since work started and the sign went up on Masala.

In late March I bumped into the owner of Masala as he and a contractor were leaving the restaurant. I asked when we could expect the place to be open for business and he told me, "April 15" - I guess I should have asked which year.

Countdown to Preliminary Election

The Preliminary Election is fast-approaching below is a reminder of the key deadlines remaining:

Event	Date
Registration or Change of Address for Voting in Preliminary Election (last day)	Aug. 24 8:00 p.m.
Preliminary Election	Sep. 13
Registration or Change of Address for Voting in City Election (last day)	Oct. 19 8:00 p.m.
City Election	Nov. 8

Also, note that the polling place for Ward 7 Precinct 3 has been moved to The Visiting Nurse's Association Assisted Living Facility located at 405 Alewife Brook Parkway (Map). Formerly, Precinct 3 voters used the West Somerville Neighborhood School on Powderhouse Blvd.

Election Department Links:
Calendar
Polling Places
Preliminary Election Sample Ballot (PDF)
General

Incumbent Spotted at SomerStreets

Bob Trane himself was out greeting the citizenry at today's SomerStreets and he also had a table setup for distributing cold refreshments (no proof of Ward 7 residence required).

Not seen (at Going Green on Rt. 16) during my short stay were the two challengers including the one who is, according to her web site, currently working to start in a new company in the green economy.

Follow-Up On PDS Endorsement

Reading through the comments regarding Barry Rafkin's post I find myself wondering...

a) Why the PDS members who are commenting do not mention the obvious bias that was shown by the organization in sharing, on its web site, ONLY Katjana Ballantyne's announcement?

b) If, as it seems to me, the PDS members are so set against the re-election of Bob Trane, why they aren't expressing, specifically, how Trane has failed them. I admit to some guilt at how rarely I mention Trane on this blog. But, as he continues to be a 'stealth candidate' I find it increasingly difficult to find him on the 'election radar.'

From the comments of the PDS members it seems that they would rank the candidates thusly:

1) Katjana Ballantyne
2) Joan Whitney Puglia
3) Rick Perry
4) Bob Trane

If that is how they feel then I would like to see them expend some effort explaining why Trane is last on the list so that the voters of Ward 7 will find themselves faced with a Ballantyne-Puglia choice in November. Please, put aside your silly spat and works towards improved representation as the principal goal.

Candidates and New Media

I mentioned yesterday that Katjana Ballantyne 'blocks' me on Twitter which I take a sign that she struggles with listening to those who say things that she finds unpleasant (it's also a little silly because I CAN still read her Tweets).

Can we learn anything about the candidate from the people & organizations that she listens to ('Follows' in Twitter-speak)?

Who Katjana Ballantyne follows

Hmm, Ballantyne doesn't follow anyone. How is she going to represent the citizens of Ward 7 if she doesn't listen to them and to others who may have something to say about the issues?

Who Joan Puglia Follows

Puglia follows a mix of politicians, media sources, arts groups, community activists etc. It's good to know that Puglia is paying attention to the diverse constituencies that make up our ward and Somerville in general.

For comparison, let's include Ward 4 candidate Christine Barber
Who Christine Barber follows

Well, it looks like Barber pays attention to the same type of information as Puglia.

Now, I'm not such a 'New Media' junkie as to believe that it is the one true path to knowledge and understanding. However, in the spring when Puglia and Ballantyne announced their candidacies and setup their web-sites and twitter-feeds I thought Ward 7 might benefit from an increase in information from them. So far, I've seen web-site updates from Puglia and none from Ballantyne and as mentioned above it seems that Puglia, alone, is using Twitter to listen and to share her positions.

Is This An Example of 'Open and Inclusive'?

Do we want an Alderman who "sticks her fingers in her ears" when she doesn't like what is being said?

Boston Globe Catches-Up on Story of PDS Chicanery

I'm glad to see The Boston Globe has picked-up on the story of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville's endorsement chicanery and have pinned-down Chairman Marty Martinez on the matter of Joan Whitney Puglia's questionnaire:

The full Globe story is here:
Whitney Puglia calls out Somerville Progressive Democrats

Also this morning, the Somerville News alleges that Katjana Ballantyne lied to her PDS cronies about voting Republican in 2006:
Newstalk – August 17

A Closer Look at Puglia's Responses

As mentioned earlier, Joan Whitney Puglia did respond to the Progressive Democrats questionnaire (despite what the PDS web site says and despite what was, according to Puglia, told to a Boston Globe correspondent). While the PDS site does not display Puglia's responses, they can be found here on Puglia's web site. Let's take a look at some of those responses...

1. 'Adjustment of education records' has me confused right off the bat. Puglia may have wanted to explain this reply more thoroughly as I simply do not understand what adjustments might be required for members of the GLBT community (unless, like me, those members earned a 'C' in a summer class because sailing in the harbor seemed more attractive than studying).

2. Excellent response. Puglia actually lists three things that should would work to accomplish rather than simply spouting three vague themes (like, for instance, "open, inclusive government, affordability and local jobs").

3. Here again, I think we see a 'more concrete' reply from Puglia than we saw from the other challenger. I will admit - and this probably prevents me from ever earning a 'progressive' endorsement - that this is a hot-button issue for me. In my opinion, when government seeks to keep privately-owned housing affordable, the landlords/property owners are left holding the bag or are more inclined to allow the property to decay thus harming the neighborhood.

4. Once again Puglia shows 'real world' wisdom rather than engaging in the type of 'politician-speak' of Ms. Ballantyne.

5. As I mentioned in the look at Ballantyne's responses, I think Somerville would be better off with a Wal*Mart than it is with an empty space.

6. Another point for Puglia as she points out, in my opinion, how silly the question is.

7. Puglia points out her experience in supporting candidates.

8. An easy issue for all candidates to support.

9. Hold on, Joan -- we need you take a stance on plastic bags! ;)

Having read the responses of the two challengers and the pages of the Progressive Democrats web site, I have cocluded that I am not qualified to make the determination regarding which of these candidates should win the title of Ms. Progressive. It is, however, clear to me which of these two challengers knows how to give a straight-forward answer to the question that is asked.

I believe that Puglia did the right thing by choosing not to seek the endorsement of the PDS. Further, the PDS should be grateful that she did so as they would have looked even sillier and more disingenuous had they endorsed Ballantyne after giving consideration to both sets of responses.

Lie Down with Dogs - Wake Up with Fleas

I've given more thought to the endorsement of Katjana Ballantyne by the Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) and exchanged e-mails with Marty Martinez, chair of PDS, and with Barry Rafkind of Joan Puglia's campaign.

I asked Rafkind why Puglia had not sent responses to the PDS's questionnaire. Rafkind responded that Puglia had sent responses but had then informed PDS that Puglia would not be seeking their endorsement due to the appearance of bias towards Ballantyne by PDS. The bias that Rafkind refers to is that PDS had included, on their website, Ballantyne's campaign announcement (and no such announcements by other candidates):

Martinez confirms that responses were submitted by Puglia and that, through an unnamed PDS member, Puglia informed PDS that she was not seeking their endorsement.

By my system, these events result in a score of -2 for PDS (-1 each for displaying Ballantyne's announcement exclusively and for failing to display Puglia's responses) and a score of +1 for Puglia for refusing to associate herself with, by seeking the endorsement of, PDS.

Given the shameful behavior of PDS, I call on At-Large candidates Bill White and Dennis Sullivan, Ward 4 candidate Christine Barber, and Ward 7 candidate Katjana Ballantyne to renounce the endorsement of PDS lest they be considered tainted by the 'fleas' of the biased PDS 'dogs.'

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When I wrote the above, I had not realized that Puglia had posted her PDS responses and her own telling of the bias-story.

As I did with Ballantyne's responses, I will be taking a closer look and posting about Puglia's.

More on Ballantyne PDS-Response #9

I will work to make Ward 7 more bicycle-friendly, to discourage the use of plastic bags and plastic water bottles

Ms. Ballantyne, you may want to have a word with your husband who was just spotted (thanks, Correspondent X) leaving Johnnie's Foodmaster with a plastic/paper combo bag. Or, is he a Trane or Puglia supporter?

Puglia Supports Zoning Reform

Puglia Supports Zoning Reform

Now, there's an actual POSITION being taken by a candidate. Good for you, Joan.

Small Number of People Choose Ballantyne

As expected, the Progressive Democrats of Somerville have endorsed Katjana Ballantyne in the Ward 7 race. Based on the Boston.com story, we can conclude that a small number of people, when given no other choice, support Ballantyne's candidacy.

The group did not receive responses to questionnaires sent to incumbents Bruce Desmond (at-large) and Bob Trane (Ward 7), or challengers Joan Whitney Puglia (Ward 7) and Tony Lafuente, said PDS chair Marty Martinez.

...

Endorsements require a two-thirds vote of the active members in attendance. About 25 of the group's approximately 75 active members showed up, said Martinez, plus some observers. The listserv has just over 250 subscribers.

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Progressive Democrats to Issue Endorsements Tonight

The Progressive Democrats of Somerville are holding their endorsement meeting tonight at 6:30 at the VNA on Lowell St.

It seems pretty likely that Katjana Ballantyne will receive the 'nod' for Ward 7 Alderman as she appears to be the only candidate seeking the endorsement. Ballantyne's responses are here. The short version goes like this: blah blah blah open, inclusive government; accessibility; jobs blah blah blah.

I'm not sure if the other candidates see no value in the endorsement or whether they just failed to get their 'homework' in on time. Perhaps they simply expect the PDS to put their stamp of approval on the insider and thus did not bother to reply.

My thoughts on Ballantyne's responses...

Question #1: 'Worked on initiatives...' sounds like the resume' bullet in which one vaguely attempts to take credit for the accomplishments of others ('Was part of the team that...').

Question #2: You listed 3 themes rather than 3 agenda items. Tell us what your goals are.

Question #3: How are you going to actively seek-out complimentary [sic] businesses...? Are you going to cold call manufacturers and ask them to relocate their plants to Somerville? Have you got any leads?

Question #4: Aah, the return of Dilbert's 'best practices.'

Question #5: Is the empty (former Circuit City) space better than a Wal-Mart?

Question #6: I would like to hear more about these accomplishments (perhaps they would have made a better reply to Question #1).

Question #9: As in Question #3, I think you meant 'complementary.' As for the Dilboy Stadium and surrounding green-space, Alderman Trane seems to have already worked, successfully, towards that goal (as he mentioned at the Hodgkins-Curtin opening).

Ballantyne appearance on 'Greater Somerville'

As with Joan Whitney Puglia's visit, we learned quite a bit about how Joe Lynch feels on the issues (suggestion for you, Joe: ask the question and let the guest speak - start at 14:30 for a lengthy Joe-speech).

As the Green Line Extension (GLX) has been in the news lately, it was no surprise that this topic was first. Ballantyne seem unsure whether Ward 7 residents are going to be discussing this with her or whether they already had done so.

The most interesting part of the program, for me, was when Lynch asked Ballantyne about the Powder House Community School and what the city should do with that site (approx. 7:15 mark).
Ballantyne used this question to talk about her main themes: Open & Accessible Government, Affordability, and Jobs. Fluff, fluff, fluff in stead of an answer to a specific question.
Later, Joe brings her back to the specific issue and she answered by merely discussing what ideas had been discussed at community meetings and focus groups.

As a resident of Ward 7, I certainly want to have my voice heard on this and all other topics. However, as a voter trying to make a choice between 3 candidates, I'd like to hear, specifically, how the candidate stands on the matter.

Other moments of note:

a) Reminiscent of Sarah Palin and 'Joe Six-Pack', Ballantyne relayed her meeting, that very day, of a mother from Charlestown who is attracted to Somerville but concerned about the schools (start at 4:30 mark).

b) When discussing Teele Square businesses and vacancy rates, Ballantyne seemed proud to be able to enumerate the vacancies (i.e., she seems to have studied for the exam) but didn't offer any plans to help the businesses in Teele. Let's hear some ideas for raising foot traffic in the square or increasing public (non-resident) parking opportunities to bring in customers, from outside the immediate neighborhood, to those small businesses.

How excited should we really be about the I-Phone accessory store?!? And, for amusement, I would have liked to hear some discussion about the closure of Lavender Massage Therapy.

c) Regarding relations between residents and Tufts students, Ballantyne suggests learning what other communities do and determining 'best practices.' Wow -- straight from the Dilbert playbook.

At this point, we've heard from both challengers. But, what have we really heard?

Greater Somerville Site

Ballantyne on 'Greater Somerville'

Did she appear? Puglia's appearance was on the 'Greater Somerville' blog the next day....

Puglia Campaign Literature #2

First, a bone to pick: Joan, your literature lists Somerville web sites of interest and this blog isn't listed!?! ;) Okay, you're forgiven.

I'm glad to see that Joan has branched-out from parking (though parking issues clearly still weigh heavily on her mind). I'm glad to see Puglia pushing for more information on zoning & development and for stricter code enforcement. A 'development mistake' can have a negative effect for many, many years.

I would like to see Puglia expand (on her web site, for instance) on her ideas particularly with regards to Code Enforcement, plans for the Powder House school (Puglia wants Ward 7 voters to have their say via referendum - I think all of Somerville deserves that chance, and placing limits on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

This second piece of literature is on glossy stock and was mailed rather than hand-delivered by the candidate. Should we take that to mean that her campaign is attracting donations?

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Must-See TV alert: Candidate Katjana Ballantyne appears on 'Greater Somerville' tonight (Aug 2) at 7:30 p.m.

Trane (and Curtatone) re-open Hodgkins-Curtin Park

In a moment that makes me proud to live in this city, Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane and Mayor Curtatone re-opened the ball field at Hodgkins-Curtin park. Trane called the renovation his greatest achievement as alderman.

I'm proud to see Somerville spend money on parks and recreation in difficult economic times. It would far too easy to sacrifice 'quality-of-life' spending these days. Furthermore, skimping on such spending is, in my experience, never 'made up' when economic prosperity returns.

I didn't see the other candidates at the ceremony; however, my active imagination "added" them.

Mayor Driving Agenda (Puglia)

During her appearance on 'Greater Somerville,' Joan Whitney Puglia mentioned that she felt that the mayor was "driving the agenda" in our fair city and that the Alderman were merely reacting to that agenda.

Reading Alderman Gewirtz' comments here: http://dlvr.it/cx5Pv makes me wonder if this is what Puglia was referring to. Whether the mayor is right or wrong on this matter I am glad to hear that the Aldermen will look upon the deal with a critical eye.

I welcome the thoughts of our Ward 7 candidates on this matter.

Candidates to Appear on Greater Somerville

Joan Whitney Puglia was first on July 19.

Door to door campaigning

I saw one of the candidates (plus a volunteer) heading out for what looked like some door-to-door campaigning today. I won't mention which one as it's not relevant (and I assume they will all do such campaigning at some point).

Has your doorbell been rung by Trane, Puglia, or Ballantyne? If so, what was the "pitch"?

Joan Whitney Puglia's opening salvo

I was inclined to like Joan Whitney Puglia from the outset. Maybe I'm just a sucker for "pull oneself up the by the bootstraps" sort of story.

Joan's early use of social media (Twitter and Facebook) has been similar to Katjana Ballantyne's i.e., mostly a re-hash of a community calendar with no commentary that would hint at the candidate's position on matters. As I mentioned previously, I find this disappointing.

In mid-June, Joan's campaign released its first piece of literature. Sadly, the topic was parking fees and fines - a topic worthy, in my opinion, of a rant to 'Speak Out' but not one on which I will base my vote. One a positive note, it was Joan herself who dropped the flyer at my door -- I like a candidate who gets her hands dirty with the grunt work.

Joan - I still like your story and I'm still rooting for you but over the couple months I need to heard some 'big picture' ideas/positions from you. I need the 'vision thing' more than I need to save $10/year on my parking permit.

Curiosity about the Kat

Katjana Ballantyne's announcement back in March was the first one that I saw for Ward 7.  She seemed to hit the ground running with a campaign web site, a Facebook page, and a Twitter feed.  Her web site hints at a history of community involvement and a Google search appears to confirm it.

Due to her involvement with the Progressive Democrats of Somerville, I expected Katjana to have a slick, well-oiled campaign in place from the outset.  Instead, it seems like she's struggling through a number of missteps...

In late April Katjana held a campaign kick-off event at Orleans which seemed, from the photos on her Facebook page, to have been well attended.  But, isn't Orleans in Ward 6?  Am I being too picky to think that a Ward 7 candidate should hold her events, especially the first one, in her own ward?  (I will admit, though, that holding this event a few steps from Ward 7 isn't as bad as the Bush family raising money from Saudi oil interests.)

Next up, Katjana showed her support for local artists by attending Somerville Open Studios with her younger daughter (~ age 3).  She posted, on Facebook, some photos of herself and her daughter along with Ward 7 artist Sydney Hardin.  Those photos were pulled down quickly, however, when a commenter pointed out that Hardin's work might not be considered suitable for such a young child.  Hardin has done some work (at left) depicting another female politician so perhaps that was part of the draw to her studio.

Throughout May, Katjana used her Twitter feed to keep her prospective constituents aware of the various community events and projects e.g., the call for comments on the Green Line expansion, the mayor's meeting about the North St. playground etc.  None of these posts gave us any indication, however, of her position on the projects or whether she had similar projects in mind for our ward or city.  Perhaps, she was trying to make sure that we knew she was reading the Somerville Journal.

In late May, Katjana took a bold step by aligning herself with the Boston Bruins just before they earned their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals (so, I suppose it could have been a worse case of pandering had she waited until that berth had been secured).

In June, I expected Katjana to take the difficult stances of being "pro Mothers" and "pro Apple Pie" but, apparently she was too busy gathering signatures.

Just when my cynical heart was giving up hope, July rolled around and Katjana saw the opportunity to wrap herself in the flag - the one that suddenly was flying outside of her house.  Kudos to her for taking it in at night per the Uniform Flag Code.

Where does that leave the voters of Ward 7?

So far, Katjana Ballantyne has regurgitated the committee calendar, aligned herself with popular symbols (the flag and the Bruins) and shown, albeit briefly, that she attends local events (Open Studios).

Will she show us where she stands on any of the issues facing Somerville?  Or, can we expect more fluff (like, perhaps, campaign literature with photos of her and her daughters wearing matching clothing or maybe a photo of her petting a cute dog from Ward 7)?

[Addendum: I just noticed that The Sunsetters are performing in Ward 7 tonight - will we see a Katjana Facebook post about it?]

What about Bob?

It was April or perhaps May when Katjana Ballantyne and Joan Whitney Puglia announced their interest in running against incumbent Bob Trane.  The challengers seemed to acquire the requisite number of signatures without issue and earned their spots on the ballot.

Throughout that time, I (and probably a few others from Ward 7) have been left to wonder: "What about Bob?"

I've seen him around the neighborhood a few times this spring and the Somerville Journal reports that he is running so it seems as if we have a three-way race...  However, has he issued any evidence of a campaign or does he feel that these challengers don't merit any attention?

I can't help but wonder how he's coming with that missing paperwork.  Should a candidate be ineligible with such an outstanding obligation?

Getting started...

I created the Ward7Somerville Twitter account when Alderman candidates Ballantyne and Puglia first announced their intentions to stand for election (against incumbent Trane) in 2011.

I've followed their nascent campaigns for the past couple months with some frustration (more to come on that).  While wondering about the direction of this campaign - the only alderman race in Somerville requiring a preliminary ballot - I thought I would go ahead and create a blog as a "holding pen" for my thoughts.

This race may not hold my attention for very long, however.  Furthermore, it comes with a built-in deadline anyway so there's a chance that my thoughts will escape the holding pen and this blog will just become a place for random thoughts about my neighborhood.