Chris Dwan (he/him)
@somershade.bsky.social
Hyper local in Somerville, MA. FOIA requests & long threads live-tweeting city meetings. Also @fdmts
I got this fancy pumpkin at the Union Square farmer’s market a few weeks ago, and last night I finally cooked it into this delightful pie.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
November 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I got this fancy pumpkin at the Union Square farmer’s market a few weeks ago, and last night I finally cooked it into this delightful pie.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
This one is important. Here are the ways that people can reduce their tax burden. We've got exemptions for seniors, veterans, and blind folks.
29/?
29/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:28 AM
This one is important. Here are the ways that people can reduce their tax burden. We've got exemptions for seniors, veterans, and blind folks.
29/?
29/?
Here's what the high school costs us in terms of property taxes, broken down by building type.
28/?
28/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Here's what the high school costs us in terms of property taxes, broken down by building type.
28/?
28/?
Here's the big picture of what will bind the city's budget next year.
26/?
26/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Here's the big picture of what will bind the city's budget next year.
26/?
26/?
Here is how catastrophically bad the life science scene is right now.
25/?
25/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Here is how catastrophically bad the life science scene is right now.
25/?
25/?
Here are the big drivers of increased valuation.
24/?
24/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Here are the big drivers of increased valuation.
24/?
24/?
Here's a dense slide with a ton of numbers - mostly all of them going up.
Commercial is basically unmoved - which is the life science deflation.
22/?
Commercial is basically unmoved - which is the life science deflation.
22/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Here's a dense slide with a ton of numbers - mostly all of them going up.
Commercial is basically unmoved - which is the life science deflation.
22/?
Commercial is basically unmoved - which is the life science deflation.
22/?
The city assessor's recommendations are the legal limit for what the city can do to reduce the tax burden on residential properties.
That's the whole story, folks. We're burdening commercial and easing residential.
21/?
That's the whole story, folks. We're burdening commercial and easing residential.
21/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
The city assessor's recommendations are the legal limit for what the city can do to reduce the tax burden on residential properties.
That's the whole story, folks. We're burdening commercial and easing residential.
21/?
That's the whole story, folks. We're burdening commercial and easing residential.
21/?
On to item 7.16: "Requesting approval to accept and expend a $304,954.10 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to the Health and Human Services department for the 2025-2026 Winter Warming Center."
See how the chamber empties out?
19/?
See how the chamber empties out?
19/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:06 AM
On to item 7.16: "Requesting approval to accept and expend a $304,954.10 grant with no new match required, from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to the Health and Human Services department for the 2025-2026 Winter Warming Center."
See how the chamber empties out?
19/?
See how the chamber empties out?
19/?
Council President Davis tries to yell over what seems to be a mad scene in the room, and finally offers a three minute recess while the room is cleared.
17/?
17/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Council President Davis tries to yell over what seems to be a mad scene in the room, and finally offers a three minute recess while the room is cleared.
17/?
17/?
Councilor @wilfredmbah.bsky.social sponsors yet another speaker, who is joined at the lectern by people who hold up the flag of Israel in front of the signs behind them.
I am having trouble keeping my policy of not quoting these people right now.
12/?
I am having trouble keeping my policy of not quoting these people right now.
12/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Councilor @wilfredmbah.bsky.social sponsors yet another speaker, who is joined at the lectern by people who hold up the flag of Israel in front of the signs behind them.
I am having trouble keeping my policy of not quoting these people right now.
12/?
I am having trouble keeping my policy of not quoting these people right now.
12/?
Item 5.1, which is @willieburnleyjr.bsky.social's resolution that was tabled two weeks ago because it was not submitted in time to be on the regular agenda.
Item 5.1: "In support of democratic divestment action regarding Ballot Question 3."
5/?
Item 5.1: "In support of democratic divestment action regarding Ballot Question 3."
5/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Item 5.1, which is @willieburnleyjr.bsky.social's resolution that was tabled two weeks ago because it was not submitted in time to be on the regular agenda.
Item 5.1: "In support of democratic divestment action regarding Ballot Question 3."
5/?
Item 5.1: "In support of democratic divestment action regarding Ballot Question 3."
5/?
There are several (usually non-contentious) grants of location which are always taken up first. Here's @crystalvisits.mas.wrong.tools.ap.brid.gy in front of a packed room of protesters expressing concerns about the particulars of utility service delivery.
4/?
4/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:06 AM
There are several (usually non-contentious) grants of location which are always taken up first. Here's @crystalvisits.mas.wrong.tools.ap.brid.gy in front of a packed room of protesters expressing concerns about the particulars of utility service delivery.
4/?
4/?
I was going to go up to City Hall tonight for the pre-Thanksgiving Council meeting … but apparently the guy who shot a protester last September is at city hall with a big crew and I’m just not convinced it’s a good idea to be present tonight.
1/?
1/?
November 25, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I was going to go up to City Hall tonight for the pre-Thanksgiving Council meeting … but apparently the guy who shot a protester last September is at city hall with a big crew and I’m just not convinced it’s a good idea to be present tonight.
1/?
1/?
It's mostly on entirely separated trails.
MCRT: Mass Central Rail Trail
BFRT: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Minuteman: Minuteman Bikeway
Bullshit: Lowell to Billerica
MCRT: Mass Central Rail Trail
BFRT: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Minuteman: Minuteman Bikeway
Bullshit: Lowell to Billerica
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 AM
It's mostly on entirely separated trails.
MCRT: Mass Central Rail Trail
BFRT: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Minuteman: Minuteman Bikeway
Bullshit: Lowell to Billerica
MCRT: Mass Central Rail Trail
BFRT: Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Minuteman: Minuteman Bikeway
Bullshit: Lowell to Billerica
What a great day to put some miles on it.
November 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
What a great day to put some miles on it.
We’ve got such great rail to trail infrastructure around here.
November 23, 2025 at 4:15 PM
We’ve got such great rail to trail infrastructure around here.
This rock and roll part of my life was completely unexpected, and I love it.
November 19, 2025 at 1:21 AM
This rock and roll part of my life was completely unexpected, and I love it.
I have no problem at all with companies occasionally raising prices on their services. Costs are, indeed, rising. But also ... hear me out ... maybe they could also slow the rate at which they are shoveling money into the Torment Nexus that is AI.
Also, the typo on the year is *chef's kiss*.
Also, the typo on the year is *chef's kiss*.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I have no problem at all with companies occasionally raising prices on their services. Costs are, indeed, rising. But also ... hear me out ... maybe they could also slow the rate at which they are shoveling money into the Torment Nexus that is AI.
Also, the typo on the year is *chef's kiss*.
Also, the typo on the year is *chef's kiss*.
Here’s a picture of the plaque out front of the building:
“Sometimes taking a stand for something undeniably right means taking a seat.
10/10
“Sometimes taking a stand for something undeniably right means taking a seat.
10/10
November 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Here’s a picture of the plaque out front of the building:
“Sometimes taking a stand for something undeniably right means taking a seat.
10/10
“Sometimes taking a stand for something undeniably right means taking a seat.
10/10
I saw a two-faced coke machine designed to be installed in a wall, with one side for the whites and the other for the "colored."
The guide deadpanned that you won't find the Cavalier-102 in the Coca-Cola museum.
3/?
The guide deadpanned that you won't find the Cavalier-102 in the Coca-Cola museum.
3/?
November 16, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I saw a two-faced coke machine designed to be installed in a wall, with one side for the whites and the other for the "colored."
The guide deadpanned that you won't find the Cavalier-102 in the Coca-Cola museum.
3/?
The guide deadpanned that you won't find the Cavalier-102 in the Coca-Cola museum.
3/?
The tour starts at a window showing the preamble to the constitution, in front of a US flag:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Then the lights shift to show artifacts of slavery and segregation through the glass.
2/?
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Then the lights shift to show artifacts of slavery and segregation through the glass.
2/?
November 16, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The tour starts at a window showing the preamble to the constitution, in front of a US flag:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Then the lights shift to show artifacts of slavery and segregation through the glass.
2/?
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
Then the lights shift to show artifacts of slavery and segregation through the glass.
2/?
This rang true for me this morning.
November 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This rang true for me this morning.
The @binjreports.bsky.social AKA @binjdotnews.bsky.social 10th anniversary celebration is a lot of fun.
Here’s Chris Farone putting the whole entire establishment media on blast and obviously having a great time doing it.
Here’s Chris Farone putting the whole entire establishment media on blast and obviously having a great time doing it.
November 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The @binjreports.bsky.social AKA @binjdotnews.bsky.social 10th anniversary celebration is a lot of fun.
Here’s Chris Farone putting the whole entire establishment media on blast and obviously having a great time doing it.
Here’s Chris Farone putting the whole entire establishment media on blast and obviously having a great time doing it.