Chris Dwan (he/him)
@somershade.bsky.social
Hyper local in Somerville, MA. FOIA requests & long threads live-tweeting city meetings. Also @fdmts
So much of what takes cooking from good to great is allowing things to burn just a tiny bit.
November 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
So much of what takes cooking from good to great is allowing things to burn just a tiny bit.
Strezo made a good point on Thursday: we cannot make a rule that excludes - in words or practically - based on ethnic and cultural identity.
We have to get specific about -behaviors- now or else we’ll just wind up implementing bigotry.
We have to get specific about -behaviors- now or else we’ll just wind up implementing bigotry.
November 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Strezo made a good point on Thursday: we cannot make a rule that excludes - in words or practically - based on ethnic and cultural identity.
We have to get specific about -behaviors- now or else we’ll just wind up implementing bigotry.
We have to get specific about -behaviors- now or else we’ll just wind up implementing bigotry.
That’s basically what I said in my blog post.
The fossil fuel thing required a statewide measure authorizing cities to divest from specific companies. I suspect we would need something similar here.
The fossil fuel thing required a statewide measure authorizing cities to divest from specific companies. I suspect we would need something similar here.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
That’s basically what I said in my blog post.
The fossil fuel thing required a statewide measure authorizing cities to divest from specific companies. I suspect we would need something similar here.
The fossil fuel thing required a statewide measure authorizing cities to divest from specific companies. I suspect we would need something similar here.
And with that, the council will discuss a couple other things and head to executive session to talk about the open meeting law complaint generated by the -last- meeting.
And so I'm out.
G'night.
34/34
And so I'm out.
G'night.
34/34
November 26, 2025 at 2:25 AM
And with that, the council will discuss a couple other things and head to executive session to talk about the open meeting law complaint generated by the -last- meeting.
And so I'm out.
G'night.
34/34
And so I'm out.
G'night.
34/34
My "what the actual" was asking how two people burned half an hour of full council meeting time on a grant of location.
Like, the details are -also- interesting to me, but that's just wild.
Like, the details are -also- interesting to me, but that's just wild.
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 AM
My "what the actual" was asking how two people burned half an hour of full council meeting time on a grant of location.
Like, the details are -also- interesting to me, but that's just wild.
Like, the details are -also- interesting to me, but that's just wild.
Item 10.1: "Requesting the appropriation of $2,400,000 from the Receipts Reserved for Appropriation, Parking Meter Receipts Account to reduce the FY 2026 Tax Rate."
We do this -every- year.
33/?
We do this -every- year.
33/?
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Item 10.1: "Requesting the appropriation of $2,400,000 from the Receipts Reserved for Appropriation, Parking Meter Receipts Account to reduce the FY 2026 Tax Rate."
We do this -every- year.
33/?
We do this -every- year.
33/?
It is one half hour later, and the two members of the public are still doing a freeform back and forth with the council.
What the actual?
32/?
What the actual?
32/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 AM
It is one half hour later, and the two members of the public are still doing a freeform back and forth with the council.
What the actual?
32/?
What the actual?
32/?
Two people are here to speak about the grants of location. They are upset that they wanted to speak, but couldn't get in because of the crowd for the non-binding resolution on the non-binding ballot question.
President Davis promises them that they will be heard.
31/?
President Davis promises them that they will be heard.
31/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Two people are here to speak about the grants of location. They are upset that they wanted to speak, but couldn't get in because of the crowd for the non-binding resolution on the non-binding ballot question.
President Davis promises them that they will be heard.
31/?
President Davis promises them that they will be heard.
31/?
There is a public hearing on our actual tax rate for next year.
Anybody? Anybody?
Not even one member of the public chooses to rise to speak about our property tax rates.
Just saying.
30/?
Anybody? Anybody?
Not even one member of the public chooses to rise to speak about our property tax rates.
Just saying.
30/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
There is a public hearing on our actual tax rate for next year.
Anybody? Anybody?
Not even one member of the public chooses to rise to speak about our property tax rates.
Just saying.
30/?
Anybody? Anybody?
Not even one member of the public chooses to rise to speak about our property tax rates.
Just saying.
30/?
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/?
I remember it took me a while to stuff this particular bit of math into my head. Today it feels really simple and obvious to me, but it didn't back then.
I encourage everybody who tracks this stuff seriously to sit with these numbers until you see the underlying simplicity.
27/?
I encourage everybody who tracks this stuff seriously to sit with these numbers until you see the underlying simplicity.
27/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I remember it took me a while to stuff this particular bit of math into my head. Today it feels really simple and obvious to me, but it didn't back then.
I encourage everybody who tracks this stuff seriously to sit with these numbers until you see the underlying simplicity.
27/?
I encourage everybody who tracks this stuff seriously to sit with these numbers until you see the underlying simplicity.
27/?
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 me two years ago, quoting the then-speaker on how we do this every year.
bsky.app/profile/some...
23/?
bsky.app/profile/some...
23/?
"The important thing to understand here are that if you accept this proposal it will mark 17 years of accepting the minimum residential factor and the and the 10th year of accepting the maximum exemption of 35%"
I am behind on the slides. It's hard on the laptop.
7/?
I am behind on the slides. It's hard on the laptop.
7/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Here's me two years ago, quoting the then-speaker on how we do this every year.
bsky.app/profile/some...
23/?
bsky.app/profile/some...
23/?
"The important thing to understand here are that if you accept this proposal it will mark 17 years of accepting the minimum residential factor and the and the 10th year of accepting the maximum exemption of 35%"
I am behind on the slides. It's hard on the laptop.
7/?
I am behind on the slides. It's hard on the laptop.
7/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 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/?
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/?
Item 3.9: "... presenting proposed FY 2026 Tax Classifications and requesting the adoption of a minimum residential factor for FY 2026 and acceptance of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59 Section 5C, a residential exemption of 35% of average assessed value for owner-occupied properties."
20/?
20/?
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Item 3.9: "... presenting proposed FY 2026 Tax Classifications and requesting the adoption of a minimum residential factor for FY 2026 and acceptance of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 59 Section 5C, a residential exemption of 35% of average assessed value for owner-occupied properties."
20/?
20/?
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/?
A hot mic captures people yelling at each other.
The podium mic is -always- on, folks. Always on.
18/?
The podium mic is -always- on, folks. Always on.
18/?
November 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
A hot mic captures people yelling at each other.
The podium mic is -always- on, folks. Always on.
18/?
The podium mic is -always- on, folks. Always on.
18/?
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/?