The City of Somerville is convening a Participatory Budgeting Working Group to help plan what participatory budgeting will look like in Somerville, and all residents are invited to apply. “Participatory budgeting” means members of the public decide how to spend money in a public budget. Earlier this year, for the first time in Somerville, Mayor Ballantyne earmarked $1 million in the City’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget for participatory budgeting.

The following is an update from the MBTA:

We suspended Orange Line service from August 19 through September 18, 2022. This shutdown gave crews full, uninterrupted access to the tracks, allowing them to complete multiple projects more than five years faster than originally planned. 

Open Positions: Five
Term: Three years 

The City of Somerville seeks five members for the Mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee (AAC), and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. Boards and commissions offer an opportunity for residents with a range of experience, skills, expertise, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community.

The Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) seeks four new members, and Somerville residents are encouraged to apply. Three of the openings must be filled by people who identify as having a disability, and one must be filled by a Somerville resident who is a family member of a person with a disability.

                    Open Positions: One
                    Term: Three years 

The City of Somerville seeks one registered Democrat to serve on the Board of Elections Commissioners. The Board consists of four people who represent each of the two leading political parties (Democratic and Republican), as defined in Chapter 50, Section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws. 

On Friday, August 12, a 72-year-old Somerville man was fatally injured in a collision while cycling near 1055 Broadway just outside of Teele Square. Somerville Police officers responded to the report of the crash at 11:20 a.m. The operator of the vehicle involved remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The cyclist was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Housing Division are pleased to announce a rental lottery for 66 income-restricted units at Alta Revolution in Assembly Row (290 Revolution Drive), available through the City’s Inclusionary Housing Program. Units are available to households making at or below 50%, 80%, and 110% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units are available. The first apartments will be ready for occupancy this December.