Order: an official call-to-action submitted by a Councilor to a committee.
Resolution: an official statement submitted by a Councilor in support of (or against) a cause.
Since stepping into my role as City Councilor-at-Large,
I’ve accomplished a lot– and I’m proud of my hard work.
The Board Orders, Resolutions and Ordinances I’ve put forward
align with my values and are evidence that I don’t just talk.
I act.
Orders & Resolutions I’ve Put Forward
2025 (some highlighted on my work this year, so far…)
ORDER: that the School Buildings Committee and the relevant City departments discuss which school buildings have free menstrual product dispensers, how many dispensers are in each building and how frequently they are restocked.
COMMUNICATION conveying that the Tufts Shuttle, including the Saturday Grocery Store Shuttle Bus, is free for any Somerville resident to ride.
ORDER: that the School Buildings committee and the relevant City Departments discuss the barriers to placing menstrual product dispensers in each school and what the projected date is for each school building to have free menstrual product dispensers in buildings.
RESOLUTION: supporting our Transgender and Gender Diverse Community Members
ORDER: That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Director of Veterans Services install signage at the previous locations of Veteran Memorial landmarks, acknowledging the missing Veterans Memorials and conveying to the public a timeline and/or plan for their re-installation.
RESOLUTION: That the Administration create a full time staff position within the Executive office, known as a Senior Liaison, who will work to prevent potential barriers within Somerville to growing older in place.
ORDER: That the Director of Finance discuss the path for City Councilors to receive administrative support staff to assist with City Council work and communication with constituents.
ORDER: That the Director of Finance discuss the path for City Councilors to receive administrative support staff in the form of paid internships to assist City Councilors with City Council work and communication with constituents.
ORDER: That the Director of Health and Human Services provide an update on the availability and accessibility of free menstrual products in all city-owned bathrooms, including realistic sizes.
ORDER: That the Director of the Council on Aging discuss how the Council on Aging can help support seniors dealing with grocery store inflation and how the city can help support their transportation to regional discount grocery stores.
ORDER: That the Commissioner of Public Works and the Director of Veterans Services provide an estimated timeline as to when the removed Veteran’s memorial monuments on the City Hall concourse will be re-installed.
ORDER: That the Chief of Police, the Director of Parking and the Director of Mobility discuss the previous and ongoing strategy for implementation and public education of drivers violating the NO LEFT TURN signage at the Somerville High School exit on Highland Avenue and Vinal Avenue.
ORDER: That the Director of Inspectional Services and the Commissioner of Public Works discuss how uncleared and/or unsalted sidewalks and driveways are addressed and fined after it snows, including how much staff it takes to address community reports of uncleared private property.
ORDER: That the Chief of Police, the Director of Parking and the Director of Mobility discuss the consistent running of red lights during the weekday rush hour and repeated driver misuse of the Broadway bus lanes, including
RESOLUTION in support of opening the HIGHLANDER CAFE inside of the Somerville High School to the public for regular lunch hours while school is in session and asking that the Administration and the proper city departments address any barriers to its reopening.
ORDER: that all relevant departments including the Parks and Recreation Department discuss in the Equity Committee the introduction of an ongoing girl’s middle school intramural hockey program.
ORDER: That the Director of Health and Human Services discuss with this Council the findings from the recent U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents and its recommendations to better support parents and caregivers.
2024 (just some highlights…)
ORDER: that the parking meters in front of the TAB building are reserved for TAB building visitors with ADA placards Monday through Friday from 9am-2pm to assist in ADA accessibility.
ORDER: that the bench that was previously donated and installed in honor of Marilyn Haggerty, longstanding Brown School principal for over 15 years is re-installed on the Brown School grounds.
RESOLUTION that the Administration and the Water and Sewer Department and all relevant departments update the Council in writing and in committee on the plan to help support residents who cannot afford the recent water bill increases.
ORDER: That the Director of Parks and Recreation discuss how inclusive playground accessibility is being considered in future playground plans and redesign projects
RESOLUTION that the Administration and the School Department prioritize fully meeting Somerville Public Schools demands for after school and vacation programming in the 2023/24 and 2045/25 school years, including expanding the offerings of low cost or free afterschool enrichment programs.
ORDER: That the Director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning discuss the potential for density bonus incentives, such as $150,000 for homeowners to build affordable housing for rent or homeownership
ORDER that all relevant departments discuss in HCD committee the communication efforts and sharing of the winter plan and role out of the Warming Center including the plan to inform the Somerville Armory tenants and the plan for security and client assistance.
ORDER that the Administration work with the Director of Housing and Director of Water and Sewer to provide optional affordable, benevolent landlord and subsidized landlord housing water utility assessment in low-income housing units where residents pay their own water and sewer bills.
ORDER: That the Administration provide an update on plans for Universal Basic Income/Guaranteed Basic Income implementation and roll out.
ORDER: That the Committee on Housing and Community Development discuss the 2021 Housing Needs Assessment and compare it to the current observed needs in 2024.
ORDER: That the Director of Office of Housing Stability appear before the Housing and Community Development Committee to discuss the current status of Somerville residents facing displacement and the number of households seeking rental assistance.
ORDER that the relevant departments discuss in the HCD Committee the maintenance plan for the Armory building.
RESOLUTION: A resolution calling for the City of Somerville to declare a state of emergency for women, drawing attention to how women, parents, guardians and caregivers were particularly hit hard by the pandemic, and introducing a plan for economic recovery, small business support, and childcare expansion.
RESOLUTION: That the Director of Constituent Services discuss with this Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development options for residents to report hate crimes to 311 and the 311 mobile app.
RESOLUTION: That the Chief of Police request an update from the Housing Authority on the 2020-discussed reforms such as marked vehicles, uniformed officers, body cameras, and updated policies and procedures for officer accountability and discipline.
RESOLUTION: That the City Solicitor advise in writing and appear before the Committee on Housing and Community Development to discuss how extensively the Encore Casino has been in compliance with its Surrounding Community Agreement.
RESOLUTION: That the Administration consider a partnership with community partners to implement a science-based presentation and dialogue about the COVID vaccine’s availability and effectiveness, and to address any concerns residents and city employees may have about it.
RESOLUTION: That the Administration commits to setting goals for the city contracting with minority and women-owned businesses.
RESOLUTION: Supporting passage of the ROE Act (S. 1209/H. 3320) and committing to the protection of abortion rights, access to reproductive health care, and an individual’s right to make reproductive decisions about one’s own body.
RESOLUTION: Supporting the I AM bill (H2354 and S1445), to increase access to disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters and public schools.
RESOLUTION: That the Somerville City Council opposes the planned reduction and/or elimination of MBTA bus routes in Somerville, as it could damage the residents most in need of public transportation, and orders the City Clerk to forward this Resolution to the Governor and the General Manager of the MBTA.
ORDER: That the SPD report the number of rape kits administered in the past 5 years in writing and how many of these rape kits were included in cases that went to court in these past 5 years.
ORDER: That this Council discuss the need for Rent Control measures in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as illustrated by certain dramatic rent increases currently displacing Somerville residents.
ORDER: That representatives of the Community Land Trust discuss with this Council’s Housing and Community Development Committee how the Council can help implement the Trust’s goals.
ORDER: That the Director of Inspectional Services communicate with the community via mail, email and/or other means, its 2020 plan for combating rat infestations, including monthly updates during peak infestation periods and quarterly updates otherwise.
ORDER: That this Council undergo diversity, gender, racial and cultural sensitivities training, once per term, beginning in January 2021, which may be administered by the Personnel Department or a consultant.
ORDER: That the Director of Parks and Recreation appear before the Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development to discuss installing playground communication boards in all parks to expand park accessibility for children who are nonverbal or have other communication challenges.
ORDER: That the Director of Health and Human Services advise this Council as to what services are made available when responding to requests to reach out to our neighbors experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and addiction and, further, where additional funding could make those services more effective or enable new services not currently available.
ORDER: That the Director of SPCD update this Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development on the Encore Casino’s efforts to support Somerville small businesses per their Community Agreement.
ORDER: That the Directors of the Arts Council and Economic Development meet to discuss in Committee a plan to adapt how the city celebrates and connects with the community this winter 2020 holiday season, with the goal on neighborhood connection and community, and emphasis on boosting morale while supporting local Somerville businesses.
Orders & Resolutions I’ve Co-sponsored
That the Directors of Health and Human Services and Infrastructure and Asset Management advise this Council whether gender neutral bathrooms are available in all public K-8 schools, as requested by middle schoolers.
Calling on the federal government to cancel student debt.
That the Director of SPCD consider with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund the advisability of combining anticipated affordable housing linkage payments for commercial development and seeking an affordable housing developer to leverage additional funding to maximize the number of affordable units that can be built.
Standing in solidarity with the MA Nurses Association nurses campaigning for fair contract negotiations with the Cambridge Health Alliance.
That the Mayor direct department heads to prioritize the rapid construction of physical infrastructure to slow traffic, protect our most vulnerable residents, and bring our streets into compliance with the ADA, to address the killing of four pedestrians by motor vehicles in the last two years and prevent further traffic fatalities.
That the Spring Hill Streetscapes design team continue to work closely with the Somerville Bicycle Committee and Somerville Bicycle Safety to propose improved bicycle safety infrastructure on and near the redesigned Highland Avenue, balanced with pedestrian safety, MBTA bus improvements, and ADA infrastructure.
That the Director of SPCD discuss with the Land Use Committee the fair housing amendment recently passed in Boston that requires new developments to be reviewed for impacts on displacement and housing discrimination.
That the Director of SPCD add text “prohibiting any recipient businesses from interfering with their employees seeking to form a union.”
RESOLUTION: That this Council supports the Just Us Somerville organization of local residents of color and considers their demands regarding policing.
RESOLUTION: (sign on) Supporting the Guaranteed Housing Stability Act (H.4878/S.2831), to prevent a wave of evictions in Massachusetts in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
RESOLUTION: That the Administration work collaboratively with this Council on substantial reforms to law enforcement including a Civilian Review Board and an approach to policing that involves civilian responses to matters that are currently addressed by the Police.
RESOLUTION (sign on): Calling on Governor Baker to implement a streamlined process for MassHealth applicants to simultaneously file for SNAP benefits.
RESOLUTION: Supporting Somerville restaurants by capping fees charged by third party delivery services during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
RESOLUTION (sign on): Supporting Tufts University students and Tufts Labor Coalition (TLC) in their advocacy efforts promoting a healthy and supportive working environment for Tufts Dining workers during COVID19 Pandemic.
ORDER (co-sponsor): That the City Solicitor draft language to prohibit the use of prison labor of any kind for city projects, including the Middlesex Sheriff’s Community Work Program.
Somerville City Councilor-at-Large 