Dane Street, Somerville, MA Pedestrian Hazards

The following images were captured along Dane Street in Somerville, MA on Friday June 17, 2016 at about 7:15 PM. The sidewalk hazards are on both sides of the street between Washington Street and Somerville Avenue. These hazards were reported to the Somerville Aldermen in 2014, and to the Somerville Commission on Persons With Disabilities in March 2016.  Some of the sidewalk is under MBTA jurisdiction. They made some asphalt fixes but only for part of the broken sidewalks. 


This image of a hazard is on the west side of Dane Street on the side of The Training Room, an exercise and fitness club, near Washington Street.  


Close-up of the hazard on the west side of Dane Street on the side of The Training Room, an exercise and fitness club, near Washington Street. 


Broken sidewalk at 67 Dane Street. 


Broken raised sidewalk at 64 Dane Street.


Broken raised sidewalk at 38 Dane Street.


Beginning of overpass of MBTA commuter rail tracks, east side of Dane street looking toward Somerville Avenue.


Middle of overpass of MBTA commuter rail tracks, east side of Dane Street looking toward Somerville Avenue.


Beginning of overpass of MBTA commuter rail tracks, west side of Dane street looking toward Somerville Avenue.


Middle of overpass of MBTA commuter rail tracks, west side of Dane Street looking toward Somerville Avenue.


Beginning of overpass of MBTA commuter rail tracks, west side of Dane street looking toward Washington Street. Asphalt fix can be seen in this image.


Dane Street sidewalk east side looking toward Somerville Avenue. You can see a large gap between parts of the sidewalk. This crevice continues for about 25 feet. 


Dane Street sidewalk east side looking toward Somerville Avenue. You can see a large gap between parts of the sidewalk. There is another gap horizontal in this image. The vertical crevice continues for about 25 feet. 


This portion of the Dane Street sidewalk was recently repaired by the Somerville Public Works Department. They did an excellent job making a smooth sidewalk. But the slope is very dangerous in winter when there is snow or ice covering the sidewalk. That section just north of 24 Dane Street needs less of a slope, where it meets the driveway going toward The Market Basket grocery.  


This broken sidewalk hazard is on the west side of Dane Street, just south of Tyler Street. 


This sidewalk hazard is on the west side of Dane Street just north of Village Street.

Updated: One Injured in East Somerville, MA Fire

Posted May 6, 2016 2:51 AM ET; Last updated May 10, 2016 9:18 PM ET


Fire officials are investigating at 20-24 Rush St. Friday morning after a late night fire. 

Staff Photo by Mark Garfinkel

Updated May 10, 2016 9:18 PM ET
[From article]

"The roof is on the first floor, so it's hard to even get inside night now," Chief Inspector Girard Gover said.
From the front of the building on Rush Street, it's possible to look through the windows and see clear through to the sky where the flames appear to have shot through the roof.
A total of 35 people have been displaced by the fire, broken up into a 11 families, according to Red Cross spokesman Jeff Hall. A total of 10 of the people impacted are children under the age of 18, Hall said.
The Red Cross has set up a case file for each of the families and provided financial assistance to allow them to get into a hotel and get some food and other basic necessities, Hall said.
“We will track them for several weeks, make sure they are finding a new place to live,” Hall said. “We will also work with area landlords to help these people in finding a new home.”
The fire started around 9 p.m. last night inside the multi-unit building and neighbors said the building was engulfed within minutes.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/05/35_displaced_in_somerville_fire

35 displaced in Somerville fire
Boston Herald
Chris Villani

Friday, May 06, 2016

* * *



Posted May 6, 2016 2:51 AM ET
[From article]
Somerville fire crews battled a raging, three-alarm fire last night that sent flames shooting through the roof of an apartment building and forced firefighters to scramble out to safety, officials said.
The fire broke out about 9 p.m. on Rush Street inside a three-story, multi-unit apartment building, fire officials said. The roaring blaze consumed much of the third floor of the building and sent a plume of smoke billowing high above the structure.
A deputy fire chief on the scene said the building has nine units. Officials said all occupants were accounted for late last night.
Though they initially stormed into the building, firefighters were ordered to retreat due to heavy smoke and flames and attacked the fast-moving conflagration from the outside.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/05/blaze_rages_in_somerville

Blaze rages in Somerville
Residents flee inferno in apartments
O’Ryan Johnson

Friday, May 06, 2016
Boston Herald

Updated: Mass Transit Advocate Encourages Development of Green Line Extension

Posted April 18, 2016 10:39 PM ET; Last Updated May 10, 2016 8:57 PM ET



Welcome to the Big Green Dig. Original Big Dig, original estimate, $2 billion. Latest cost $14 billion. Original Big Green Dig estimate, $2 billion. Don't kill the job. 

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20160509/glx-gets-crucial-go-ahead-vote-but-with-strict-conditions

GLX gets crucial go-ahead vote, but with strict conditions
By Dan Atkinson
Somerville Journal
By Danielle McLean
@DMcLeanWL Follow
Posted May 9, 2016 at 6:42 PM
Updated at 6:51 PM
SOMERVILLE

Cambridge Chronicle

* * *



Editorial and comment from US Rep. Capuano indicate a lack of patience. This is government in action. It took New York City over 85 years after first proposed in 1929, to build the Second Avenue subway in Manhattan. It will open soon, they say.

[From article]

1929: NYC Board of Transportation budgets $86 million for its newly proposed Second Avenue T line, predicted to open between 1938 and 1941.
New York Magazine
July 24, 2009 5:00 p.m.
The Long, Tortured History of the Second Avenue Subway
By Sam Jewler

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20160506/NEWS/160507269

EDITORIAL: Don't stop the GLX in its tracks
Posted May. 6, 2016 at 12:57 PM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle

* * *

Posted April 18, 2016 10:39 PM ET



MacDougall says, "There are serious public health problems in East Somerville because of major highways in the area, and building GLX will significantly reduce traffic on those highways." He does not mention the money pledged to upgrade that area by Steve Wynn for his casino one mile from Sullivan Station. He adds, "For all of these projects we absolutely need major revenue increases. [. . .] New revenue must come from major increases in taxes and/or fees, with the revenue dedicated to sustainable transportation.” Spending other people's money is great fun. Ask any politician. Why not provide free food kiosks at every Green Line station so non taxpaying riders will enjoy sustenance while they travel. Foot massages for the feet weary will improve emotional health.

[From letter]
There are serious public health problems in East Somerville because of major highways in the area, and building GLX will significantly reduce traffic on those highways.
Let’s not lose sight of the big picture, and of unmet long-term needs. For instance, on the Green Line, we should upgrade electric power supply so we can run three-car trains; we need major expansion of some MBTA bus routes; and we need major improvements on other subway lines.
For all of these projects we absolutely need major revenue increases. Good transportation should be seen as an essential public good. New revenue must come from major increases in taxes and/or fees, with the revenue dedicated to sustainable transportation.”

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20160418/letter-build-green-line-extension-and-community-path

LETTER: Build the Green Line Extension and community path
Posted Apr. 18, 2016 at 12:30 PM
To the editor:
Cambridge Chronicle
— John MacDougall, Richdale Avenue

Somerville, MA Mayor Defies Casino Developer Steve Wynn

[From article]
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone lashed out at Wynn Resorts and Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, saying they are trying to bully his city into getting out of the casino fight as the first official hearing on his appeal is set to be heard today.
“This is not going to intimidate us. This is not going to make us give up our rights or to run away from this,” Curtatone told the Herald yesterday. “We have deep convictions and we are going to protect our environment and our public welfare. We want to create jobs, but no city should have to suffer from any one development because another is benefitting.”
The Wynn team announced on Tuesday that it was delaying the cleanup of the contaminated Everett site where the $1.7 billion casino is slated to be built. Wynn Resorts, which has finished the first phase of cleanup on the former Monsanto Chemical land, said it can’t start the second phase because Somerville has appealed a key environmental permit for the project.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/03/curtatone_somerville_s_being_bullied

Curtatone: Somerville’s being bullied
Slams Wynn, DeMaria
Bob McGovern

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Hit And Run Driver Charged After Striking Woman in Wheelchair, in Cambridge, MA

If half as much energy spent on avoiding hurting the feelings of privileged Harvard Law School students, and promoting same sex marriage, was spent making streets and sidewalks accessible to persons with mobility impairments, this woman would have been able to use sidewalks instead of the streets. Charming uneven brick sidewalks and their missing bricks force many people, including parents with strollers into the streets. Where is the MA Attorney General and US Department of Justice on this event? Silent as usual?

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20160304/da-62-year-old-somerville-man-cited-in-cambridge-hit-and-run-of-woman-in-wheelchair

DA: 62-year-old Somerville man cited in Cambridge hit and run of woman in wheelchair
A 62-year-old Somerville man has been cited for leaving the scene of an accident after reportedly hitting an elderly woman in a wheelchair and driving away Feb. 28
By Staff Reports
Posted Mar. 4, 2016 at 4:13 PM
Updated at 4:17 PM
Cambridge Chronicle

Somerville, MA Pedestrian Injured By Stolen Car Driver

[From article]

State police said the vehicle was stolen from a home in Melrose, and around 3:30 p.m. it was located traveling on Melrose Avenue. When other local and state police responded to the area, the vehicle fled the scene, officials said.
While police followed, the Jeep turned onto Lombardi Way, part of the ramp complex between Route 38 and Mystic Avenue, under Interstate 93. The investigation showed the Jeep went off the road, into the median and hit the 26-year-old man.
The two people inside the Jeep, who were identified as Arthur L. Woods IV, 18, of Arlington, and Elvira C. Sanchez, 19, of Malden, ran from the vehicle but were arrested a short time later.
State police said Woods was in possession of narcotics at the time of his arrest.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/man-hit-by-stolen-jeep-in-somerville/37035656

Man hit by stolen Jeep in Somerville
Two suspects face numerous charges
UPDATED 9:28 PM EST Dec 18, 2015

WCVB-TV Boston MA

Three Injured In Fiery Multi Car Crash in Somerville, MA

McGrath Highway at Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA

Broadcast story showed man rescuing woman injured in burning car that was hit by the woman who had a medical emergency. No negligence involved. Rescuer was a brave man who saved a life.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/fiery-crash-closes-mcgrath-hwy-in-somerville/31912200

3 hurt, including teen pedestrian, in fiery 5-car crash in Somerville
State police: Driver's medical incident triggers multicar crash
UPDATED 5:27 PM EDT Mar 20, 2015

Somerville Murder Remains Unsolved

Deanna Cremin (1978-1995)
deannacremin.org


Deanna Cremin (1978-1995)
deannacremin.org

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/peter_gelzinis/2013/03/no_closure

`No closure'
Time hasn’t dulled the pain for friends of Somerville teen slain 18 years ago
Boston Herald
Saturday, March 30, 2013
By: Peter Gelzinis

Man Shot In Somerville MA

Suspect is in custody. Victim remains unidentified, hospitalized.

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12009041167699/man-shot-several-times-in-somerville-on-broadway/

Man shot several times in Somerville on Broadway
WHDH-TV Boston MA

Somerville Police Action

Marsha Coakley:"In Massachusetts, technically it is not illegal to be illegal."

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1293068

SWAT team helps in Somerville standoff
By Laura Crimaldi
Boston Herald
Monday, November 1, 2010

Ignoring Persons with Disabilities

Ignoring Persons with Disabilities

[Published in print and online editions February 14, 2008]

Letter: Journal ignores those with disabilities
Somerville Journal
By Roy Bercaw
Mon Feb 11, 2008, 01:43 PM EST

[Published in print and online editions February 21, 2008]
Letter: Disabled people ignored in civic sphere
Cambridge Chronicle
Mon Feb. 18, 2008


Somerville - Somerville School Superintendent Tony "Pierantozzi said
that schools must reflect society in order to lead society. [. . .] My
wish for you and for all of us… Good relationships with people who are
very dissimilar." (Auditi Guha, "Cambridge schools affirmative action
chief talks about race," Cambridge Chronicle, Somerville Journal,
February 8, 2008) Under current state, city, and US laws the
affirmative action laws apply equally to persons with disabilities.
Both Cambridge affirmative action officers and both Cambridge and
Somerville governments omit persons with disabilities in their
affirmative action efforts.
The comments by Somerville's superintendent apply to persons with
disabilities as well as to persons of color. But as usual local
governments in Massachusetts ignore the laws they don't like. My
repeated complaints to city government officials and to local
journalists are, as usual, ignored.
Journalists join politicians excluding persons with disabilities from
equal participation in civic affairs and jobs. Good work. If persons
with disabilities are not mentioned perhaps they will go away?
Roy Bercaw
Cambridge