Somerville will form Multicultural Commission to improve race
The Somerville Board of Aldermen approved city Mayor Joseph Curtatone's proposed establishment of a Multicultural Commission. The Commission seeks to "promote better relations between different ethnic and racial groups in the city," according to the Somerville Journal.
Fourteen community members will be appointed by Curtatone, and two Aldermen and a representative from Curtatone's office will join them in forming the commission.
"This is an important step forward for improving relations between and among the various ethnic and cultural groups in our city and in strengthening the connection between the city government and immigrant populations," Curtatone said in a press conference, adding that Somerville is one of the most diverse cities in Massachusetts.
The commission will reach out to the Jewish, Muslim and Christian populations, the gay and lesbian community, and "coordinat[e] activities among the city's different racial and ethnic groups," according to the Journal.
New development in Medford calls attention to strained, overburdened public safety departments
Medford officials expressed concern that fire crews in the city may be "overburdened" given the large amount of new development, especially in the Wellington area, according to the Medford Transcript.
Additional residents and property may add to the strain that firefighters are already feeling, according to Medford Councilor Breanna Lungo.
"I'm very excited to see the developments taking off. With that comes great benefit, but it also brings some concerns," she told the Transcript.
The City Council voted to send a motion to Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, asking him to develop a plan detailing how the fire department will cope with the additional population.
Medford Fire Chief Frank A. Giliberti Jr. said that the department will adjust to the influx of development in any way needed to ensure safety.
"I can't predict the future. If it does become a problem we'll adjust to that, I promise you," Giliberti told the Transcript.
The developments are expected to bring in a lot of tax revenue for Medford, and one suggestion is to channel some of this revenue towards public safety.
Federal funds go to Somerville organizations dedicated to helping the homeless
According to the Somerville Journal, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will give $1,360,511 to the Somerville Homeless Coalition (SHC), a group devoted to helping the needy in the city, and trying to find permanent housing.
"Shelters are not the answer to homelessness. We are trying to make a shift away from these Band-Aid solutions," said Mark Alston-Follansbee, executive director for SHC.
According to the Journal, the SHC has 25 apartments that it leases to the homeless. This year's record amount of funds will go toward coordinating efforts with other organizations that work with the homeless, vocational training programs, and alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Employment programs receive funding so that they can help give people "marketable skills," according to Gail Enman, the executive director of the Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation.
Somerville also received funds to help convert buildings into homeless shelters.
-- Compiled by Bruce Hamilton from the Medford Transcript and Somerville Journal.
