What is Somerville
@whatissomerville.bsky.social
What's happening and what's interesting in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Reposted by What is Somerville
Since 1995, Madrid's Metro has added 107mi (172km)
Since 1987, Boston's MBTA has added 4.3mi (6.9km)
Boston's system has 39.5mi of heavy rail and 26.7mi of light rail. Madrid has 184.3mi of heavy rail and 17.3mi of light rail - 3x more!
I wonder what it's like living in a functional society 🤔
Since 1987, Boston's MBTA has added 4.3mi (6.9km)
Boston's system has 39.5mi of heavy rail and 26.7mi of light rail. Madrid has 184.3mi of heavy rail and 17.3mi of light rail - 3x more!
I wonder what it's like living in a functional society 🤔
It would take 2 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. at this speed.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
December 6, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Since 1995, Madrid's Metro has added 107mi (172km)
Since 1987, Boston's MBTA has added 4.3mi (6.9km)
Boston's system has 39.5mi of heavy rail and 26.7mi of light rail. Madrid has 184.3mi of heavy rail and 17.3mi of light rail - 3x more!
I wonder what it's like living in a functional society 🤔
Since 1987, Boston's MBTA has added 4.3mi (6.9km)
Boston's system has 39.5mi of heavy rail and 26.7mi of light rail. Madrid has 184.3mi of heavy rail and 17.3mi of light rail - 3x more!
I wonder what it's like living in a functional society 🤔
Reposted by What is Somerville
how did we left sf beat us
Big housing news in San Francisco today: the Board of Supervisors (their equivalent of City Council) votes to upzone the entire western half of the city. Currently much of the westside is houses. Commercial streets get a height boost.
Diagrams & maps below from sfplanning.org/sites/defaul...
Diagrams & maps below from sfplanning.org/sites/defaul...
December 4, 2025 at 2:57 AM
how did we left sf beat us
Reposted by What is Somerville
Reposted by What is Somerville
🐓New Union Square restaurant alert🍗
The wonderful family who run Reliable Market is JUST about to open K-BOK, Korean Fried Chicken, in the space that was once La Cantina. STAY TUNED!
The wonderful family who run Reliable Market is JUST about to open K-BOK, Korean Fried Chicken, in the space that was once La Cantina. STAY TUNED!
November 24, 2025 at 9:23 PM
🐓New Union Square restaurant alert🍗
The wonderful family who run Reliable Market is JUST about to open K-BOK, Korean Fried Chicken, in the space that was once La Cantina. STAY TUNED!
The wonderful family who run Reliable Market is JUST about to open K-BOK, Korean Fried Chicken, in the space that was once La Cantina. STAY TUNED!
Reposted by What is Somerville
Reposted by What is Somerville
Here are the latest incomplete initial results of tonight's election. 3 precincts are still outstanding and delayed- full results to come as soon as available.
November 5, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Here are the latest incomplete initial results of tonight's election. 3 precincts are still outstanding and delayed- full results to come as soon as available.
Reposted by What is Somerville
Here’s great tool that brings together all the Somerville PTA fundraisers to raise money to make sure no one in Somerville goes hungry: www.bowmarketsomerville.com/wefeedus
October 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Here’s great tool that brings together all the Somerville PTA fundraisers to raise money to make sure no one in Somerville goes hungry: www.bowmarketsomerville.com/wefeedus
Between the Somerville Media Center and the Somerville Beacon, HOW could they not have someone to make this flyer without AI lol
October 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Between the Somerville Media Center and the Somerville Beacon, HOW could they not have someone to make this flyer without AI lol
No love for the middle on this issue, eh?
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
October 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
No love for the middle on this issue, eh?
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
Native pollinator garden?
September 17, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Native pollinator garden?
Reposted by What is Somerville
Unofficial results in Somerville suggest mayor Katjana Ballantyne has been outvoted by her two challengers in a preliminary election – and the November race may well be among two councilors. #Somerville
September 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Unofficial results in Somerville suggest mayor Katjana Ballantyne has been outvoted by her two challengers in a preliminary election – and the November race may well be among two councilors. #Somerville
Don’t look now but they took down the Nov 24 election results from the elections page
September 17, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Don’t look now but they took down the Nov 24 election results from the elections page
Reposted by What is Somerville
Today, September 16, is Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be placed in a dropbox before 6 p.m. or hand-delivered to Elections at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) before 8 p.m.
Learn more and check your polling location at somervillema.gov/elections.
Learn more and check your polling location at somervillema.gov/elections.
September 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Today, September 16, is Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vote-by-mail ballots must be placed in a dropbox before 6 p.m. or hand-delivered to Elections at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) before 8 p.m.
Learn more and check your polling location at somervillema.gov/elections.
Learn more and check your polling location at somervillema.gov/elections.
Reposted by What is Somerville
Councilor McLaughlin says that Somerville's new charter passed the Massachusetts Senate today, is before the governor for signature, and could well be on the ballot in five weeks.
He would like to not put that at risk with a last minute change to the rules.
16/?
He would like to not put that at risk with a last minute change to the rules.
16/?
September 11, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Councilor McLaughlin says that Somerville's new charter passed the Massachusetts Senate today, is before the governor for signature, and could well be on the ballot in five weeks.
He would like to not put that at risk with a last minute change to the rules.
16/?
He would like to not put that at risk with a last minute change to the rules.
16/?
Reposted by What is Somerville
Here is a brief history of why I am so frustrated with the lack of progress on a Highland Ave redesign.
(If you enjoy municipal rants, this post is for you.)
youtu.be/lP0zGdQSXIk?...
(If you enjoy municipal rants, this post is for you.)
youtu.be/lP0zGdQSXIk?...
September 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Here is a brief history of why I am so frustrated with the lack of progress on a Highland Ave redesign.
(If you enjoy municipal rants, this post is for you.)
youtu.be/lP0zGdQSXIk?...
(If you enjoy municipal rants, this post is for you.)
youtu.be/lP0zGdQSXIk?...
Pretty safe to say that nobody is imagining this. The City is absolutely changing the way it issues press releases. Pretty transparently so, in fact.
Seems like @mayorkatjana.bsky.social has instructed City staff to basically spam press releases with her name.
Seems like @mayorkatjana.bsky.social has instructed City staff to basically spam press releases with her name.
But keep an eye on the city press releases. See if this trend continues.
I'm definitely jumping to conclusions, although I've struggled to find even a single example of a group of this many press releases situating "Mayor Ballantyne" as the subject in the title in the past few years.
I'm definitely jumping to conclusions, although I've struggled to find even a single example of a group of this many press releases situating "Mayor Ballantyne" as the subject in the title in the past few years.
August 21, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Pretty safe to say that nobody is imagining this. The City is absolutely changing the way it issues press releases. Pretty transparently so, in fact.
Seems like @mayorkatjana.bsky.social has instructed City staff to basically spam press releases with her name.
Seems like @mayorkatjana.bsky.social has instructed City staff to basically spam press releases with her name.
Reposted by What is Somerville
Reposted by What is Somerville
FYI the residence boundary is MUCH bigger than you might think; I'm easily included and I live past Teele, and friends in medford and porter have also been eligible
August 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
FYI the residence boundary is MUCH bigger than you might think; I'm easily included and I live past Teele, and friends in medford and porter have also been eligible
Somerville YIMBY announced their endorsements for the upcoming election. Firstly, kudos to this group, and others, who are doing such in-depth work to collect perspectives from up and down the ballot 👍
But when I began reading about the endorsement process, something stood out to me as odd:
1/?
But when I began reading about the endorsement process, something stood out to me as odd:
1/?
Somerville YIMBY’s 2025 election endorsements are here! We’re pleased to endorse these candidates:
@willieburnleyjr.bsky.social
@scottistvan.com
@benjiwheeler.bsky.social
@wilfredmbah.bsky.social
Jon Link
@benforward3.bsky.social
Naima Sait
Emily Hardt
Read on: somervilleyimby.org/elections/20...
@willieburnleyjr.bsky.social
@scottistvan.com
@benjiwheeler.bsky.social
@wilfredmbah.bsky.social
Jon Link
@benforward3.bsky.social
Naima Sait
Emily Hardt
Read on: somervilleyimby.org/elections/20...
Somerville YIMBY 2025 Election Endorsements and Voter Guide
Somerville YIMBY endorses Willie Burnley Jr. for Mayor, emphasizing his leadership and housing initiatives. Other endorsements include Scott Istvan, Ben Wheeler, Will Mbah, and Jonathan Link for Ci…
somervilleyimby.org
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Somerville YIMBY announced their endorsements for the upcoming election. Firstly, kudos to this group, and others, who are doing such in-depth work to collect perspectives from up and down the ballot 👍
But when I began reading about the endorsement process, something stood out to me as odd:
1/?
But when I began reading about the endorsement process, something stood out to me as odd:
1/?
Reposted by What is Somerville
SASS put out a questionnaire to our candidates to see where they stood on safe streets. I wanted to add my own personal commentary. These views are mine alone, not SASS. I like a candidate who evolves their views based on data and learning.
I'll start with mayor: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1/
I'll start with mayor: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1/
SASS Candidate Questionnaire: Mayoral Responses
docs.google.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:32 AM
SASS put out a questionnaire to our candidates to see where they stood on safe streets. I wanted to add my own personal commentary. These views are mine alone, not SASS. I like a candidate who evolves their views based on data and learning.
I'll start with mayor: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1/
I'll start with mayor: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
1/
This is some bang on polling
I can believe 6% of britons have a nemesis — not too many, not too few
I can believe 6% of britons have a nemesis — not too many, not too few
August 13, 2025 at 10:48 PM
This is some bang on polling
I can believe 6% of britons have a nemesis — not too many, not too few
I can believe 6% of britons have a nemesis — not too many, not too few
Reposted by What is Somerville
Reposted by What is Somerville
not so much time spent on history, but a lot of time spent on trying to stop any building from getting bigger
the purpose of a system is what it does
the purpose of a system is what it does
I'm remote attending to the Cambridge Historical Commission meeting today, as the A.J. Spears Funeral Home (124 &132 Western Ave) is up for demo review.
These two properties will be sold to developer DND Homes to become a 6 story bldg w/50-60 homes, 20% affordable, contingent on demo permits.
These two properties will be sold to developer DND Homes to become a 6 story bldg w/50-60 homes, 20% affordable, contingent on demo permits.
A.J. Spears Funeral Home plans to close in 2026, six stories of homes possible under new zoning - Cambridge Day
A.J. Spears Funeral Home is expected to close operations at 124 Western Ave., Riverside, starting next year, 62 years after its founding in 1964.
www.cambridgeday.com
August 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
not so much time spent on history, but a lot of time spent on trying to stop any building from getting bigger
the purpose of a system is what it does
the purpose of a system is what it does
Taking notes on Cambridge’s LED park installments
August 9, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Taking notes on Cambridge’s LED park installments
Having a good time on the community path tonight
July 31, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Having a good time on the community path tonight