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10 July 2008 @ 10:27 am
Mayor's Office Hours Redux anyone?  
Hey! Did anyone get a chance to make it to Mayor Curtatone's office hours at Diesel last night? What did you talk about? What did he have to say? If you're willing to share, I'm sure lots of the rest of us would love a re-cap.
 
 
23 June 2008 @ 05:58 pm
PDS monthly meeting tomorrow, 6/24, 7:30 pm  
The Progressive Democrats of Somerville are holding our monthly general meeting tomorrow, June 24, at 7:30 pm at the College Avenue United Methodist Church on Chapel Street.

As always, all are welcome! This meeting will feature our endorsement process for State Representative candidates in the 34th and 35th Middlesex Districts. You can check out the candidates' questionnaires in advance on the PDS website.

Timing note: We moved our meeting to start a little later than usual so interested people can attend the Union Square Zoning Meeting that starts at 6pm.

Erica
PDS membership chair

PS - After the meeting, we're planning to head down to JP Licks for ice cream, and maybe a few of us will even head over to trivia night at PJ Ryan's in Teele.
 
 
27 May 2008 @ 01:33 pm
Tonight - PDS monthly meeting, 7pm  
The Progressive Democrats of Somerville monthly meeting is tonight, and all are welcome. We'll be meeting at 7pm at the VNA (Visiting Nurses Association), 259 Lowell St., in the 3rd floor community room. The VNA is easily reachable from Davis via bus (88 or 90; get off at Lowell and walk towards Broadway and the Lowell St. Bridge).

This month, we have a full agenda that includes a guest speaker: State Representative Denise Provost. Come and learn about her work on behalf of Somerville up on Beacon Hill.
 
 
14 May 2008 @ 11:03 am
Budget Priorities Meeting Notes  
Thanks to all who came out to Monday's Davis Square Neighborhood budget priorities meeting!  The notes from that meeting - including the results of the priority voting activity - are behind the LJ cut.  A pdf version of the notes and the meeting presentation, are available online.

If you missed this meeting, there is one more such neighborhood priorities meeting next Wednesday in Magoun Square.

 
 
12 May 2008 @ 08:48 am
Davis Square Priorities Meeting Tonight  
One last reminder about the budget priorities meeting tonight.  Here's a sneak preview of the presentation -- you'll get to add your priorities to the list and then vote on them!


Davis Square Neighborhood Budget Priorities Meeting
Monday, May 12 at 7:00 PM
Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.
Senior Center, 2nd Floor

 
 
25 April 2008 @ 06:44 pm
Davis Square ResiStat Meeting! (and others)  



Davis
Square Neighborhood Budget Priorities Meeting
Monday, May 12 at 7:00 PM
Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.
Senior Center, 2nd Floor

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25 April 2008 @ 08:48 am
Annual Somerville Cleanup next Saturday 3 May  
Seems like once May rolls around everything starts happening at once around here. The annual Somerville Cleanup is next Saturday 3 May (in the morning, before Open Studios starts). You can look here for many worthy projects, including my fav, the Community Path:

http://www.somervillema.gov/spotlight.cfm?id=57
 
 
07 April 2008 @ 09:47 am
Reminder: Young Somerville Goes Green!  
Just a reminder to all you young adults (age 21-35) out there about tonight's "Young Somerville Goes Green" event: 6-8PM at the Burren Back room in Davis Square.  See the original post for details and Facebook RSVP.
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25 March 2008 @ 04:23 pm
Young Somerville Goes Green!  
Young Somerville Goes Green!
Monday, April 7, 6PM - 8PM
The Burren (Back Room)  247 Elm Street, Davis Square
Focus: Somerville's Environment and Sustainability Initiatives


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24 December 2007 @ 10:11 am
Celebrate New Year's Day on Prospect Hill  
On New Year's Day each year, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission celebrates the raising of the first American flag to feature thirteen red and white horizontal stripes. Know as “the Flag of Grand Union,” it was first raised by George Washington over the Continental Army’s encampment on Prospect Hill during the siege of Boston in 1776.



The event begins at 11:30 am at the City Hall parking lot, where re-enactors, fife and drum players, and local elected officials assemble for a short procession. The parade reaches Prospect Hill Park at noon, where there will be a ceremony that includes raising a replica of the First Flag onto the top of Prospect Hill Tower. Coffee, hot cider, and other refreshments will be available. In past years, people have been allowed to climb to the top of the tower, but I can't guarantee you'll be able to do it this year.

I've been going to this event for a few years and have always enjoyed it. To get there from Davis Square, take the #88 or #90 bus from Davis Square at 11:31 am, and get off either at City Hall (if you want to join the parade) or at the first bus stop on McGrath Highway (if you just want to walk up the hill yourself to the ceremony). Sometimes the bus ends up driving behind the parade.

Here's a flyer for the event, and the official press release.
 
 
20 November 2007 @ 11:21 pm
Davis Square Task Force meets Monday 12/3, 7 pm  

The Davis Square Task Force will meet on Monday, December 3 at 7 pm at the Senior Center, 167 Holland Street (Tufts Administration Building). Here's the agenda:

7:00-7:10 - Introductions

7:10-7:45 - Neighborhood Groups Update:

  • Willow Ave. traffic study group (Mark Chase, Brian Postelwaite, Ethan Gilsdorf)
  • Davis Area Resident Business Initiative (Thalia Tringo)
  • Crime Watch
  • Go Green Davis Square
  • Local First Initiative (Joe Grafton)

7:45-7:55 - Joshua Tree request for 2am license

7:55-8:20 - Davis Square Updates:

  • One Davis Square – Davis Square sign island
  • When Pigs Fly (Andrew)
  • Sacco’s Bowl Haven (Trish)
  • Other developments

8:20-8:45 - City Updates

  • Hotel RFP for Davis Square (Mayor’s office)
  • Green Line extension update
  • Shape Up Somerville and Map (Nicole)

8:45-9:00 - Miscellaneous items and next meeting date

 
 
20 November 2007 @ 09:36 am
Somerville Anti-Theft program  

I just saw a notice about this last night at the library. The City of Somerville has an electronics registry to deter theft, especially from vehicle break-ins. Has anyone given this a try? Does it apply to electronics in the home as well? (I recognize that those are less portable, but I'm wondering if the Somerville system permits usage of their registry if it's not related to vehicle break-ins.)

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06 November 2007 @ 09:50 pm
All incumbents staying put except one  
The Journal and the News are both reporting on their websites that Mayor Curtatone and all the incumbent aldermen were re-elected today. All the (unopposed) school committee candidates were elected/re-elected as well, except for the Ward 4 incumbent, Charlene Harris, who didn't get on the ballot and ran a contested write-in campaign. The new Ward 4 school committee rep is James Norton.

Word also is that Tony Lafuente, who narrowly came in 5th in the alderman-at-large race, is asking for a recount. Depending on the source Tony was either 12 or 21 votes behind Bruce Desmond, who took the 4th place in at-large (the top 4 at-large vote-getters are elected).
 
 
06 November 2007 @ 06:20 am
Vote Today!  
Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm.
Click on the local politics tag for more information on today's Somerville election.
If you live in Cambridge, visit Robert Winters' excellent election website instead.
 
 
02 November 2007 @ 01:50 pm
Election in Somerville next Tuesday, November 6  
Next Tuesday, November 6, Somerville will hold an election for all city offices - Mayor, Alderman-at-Large, Ward Alderman, and School Committee member. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. This page will tell you where to vote, and what ward you live in.

For mayor, incumbent Joe Curtatone is being challenged by Suzanne Bremer.

Six candidates (four incumbents, two challengers) are running for the four alderman-at-large seats.

In wards 5, 6, and 7 (the wards closest to Davis Square), the current ward alderman is running for re-election against a challenger.

In wards 1, 2, 3, and 4, the current ward alderman is unopposed for re-election.

All School Committee seats are unopposed; in ward 4, nobody is on the ballot at all because the incumbent failed to return sufficient petition signatures on time.

Mayoral candidates )
Alderman-at-Large candidates )
Ward 5 alderman )
Ward 6 alderman )
Ward 7 alderman )

Somerville Journal article: Candidates for alderman at large have varied backgrounds to choose from - also links to videos of each candidate answering two questions from the Journal
Somerville News article: Candidates tell you where they stand

Candidates' responses to questionnaires from various organizations )

My earlier LJ post about this election
And an even earlier LJ post

For my own preferences, see the comments.
 
 
21 October 2007 @ 08:28 pm
Affordable Housing candidates' forum 10/24  
The Somerville Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC) is holding a forum on affordable housing for alderman candidates to discuss their visions for addressing critical affordable housing needs in the city.

Candidates' Forum on Affordable Housing
Wednesday, October 24, 7 - 9 PM
The VNA, 259 Lowell St., 3rd floor
(some parking available; also walkable from Davis and on the 88 bus)

Candidates expected to attend include:

At large candidates: Fred Berman, Jack Connolly, Bruce Desmond, Tony Lafuente, Dennis Sullivan, Bill White
Ward candidates: Joe Lynch (5), Rebekah Gewirtz (6), Rachel Heller (7)

Language interpretation and childcare available, but must be arranged beforehand. Call 617-776-5931, Ext. 230.

(I don't have more details on this; just passing the info along.)
 
 
11 October 2007 @ 10:47 am
UPDATE - State of Young Somerville 10/15 6pm  
Due to overwhelming response regarding the Red Sox game, the State of Young Somerville event will be shifted up one hour – to 6:00 pm. If you are in Davis Square to watch the game, please stop by the Somerville Theatre for food and drinks and bring your questions for Department Heads & project managers at 6:00pm. Stay for the Mayor's address at 7:00 pm.

We are working on how to broadcast the game or at least provide updates throughout. We all love the Red Sox and hope fans will show they love the city too and take part in what we hope will be an annual event.
More information: State of Young Somerville Event 10/15/07 )
 
 
09 October 2007 @ 01:34 pm
State of Young Somerville Address 10/15/07 Somerville Theater  
Hello Davis Square! Did you know that over 40% of Somerville residents are between the ages of 21-35? I am a member of the City's Young Somerville Advisory Group and would like to invite you to participate in an upcoming forum on the State of Young Somerville. Please join us for food, drinks, and a lively discourse at the Somerville Theater on Monday, October 15th at 7:00 pm.


Monday, October 15th

7:00 pm at the Somerville Theater

Food! Drinks! Meet your neighbors!

Monday, October 15, Mayor Curtatone and the Young Somerville Advisory Group will be hosting the first-ever State of Young Somerville Address – an event focused on key issues identified by city residents aged 21-35.

The Address will feature – among other topics – an overview of the City’s transportation and development projects, affordable housing opportunities, and quality of life initiatives, as well as an introduction to the local school system.

In addition to a presentation by the Mayor, attendees will be able to ask questions, register portable electronics with the Somerville Police, and meet City department heads and project managers. Come hear about the Mayor’s vision and provide feedback on how Somerville can continue to be a great place for young people to live, work, and play!

Ample time will be provided for networking and partaking of food and drink offered by the Somerville Theatre. For more information, please contact the City’s Constituent Service hotline at 311 or (617) 666-3311 from outside of Somerville. Somerville Rocks!

If you can not attend the event, but would like to receive updates on cultural, civic, or social events related to Young Somerville, sign-up here to receive mailings: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/young-somerville/
 
 
03 October 2007 @ 03:27 pm
Tufts Community Forum tonight 10/3  
From the West Somerville Neighborhood Association:

... I wanted to remind everybody about the Community Forum that is being held [to]night at Tufts. The idea for this event came out of a meeting with the Tufts Student Senate leadership I had about two weeks ago. I'm pretty impressed by the efforts the Tufts Senate President Neil DiBiase and the Senate Vice President Bruni Hirsch are making to improve the situation. The idea is to get neighbors and students together to discuss ways to improve community relations, including going over the problems we as neighbors have, and some possible solutions -- so far I think the idea of posting signs near the perimeter of campus reminding those leaving that they are entering a residential area with its noise restrictions is one that a lot of neighbors I've talked to seem to like, along with some kind of Tufts-mandated training for students who are living off-campus for the first time -- I also know that some people feel these measures wouldn't solve the problems, and to them I say come to the meeting and speak your mind!

The Community Forum will be held [tonight], Wednesday October 3, at 7:30 pm in Sophia Gordon Hall, 15 Talbot Avenue (near the Oval and Aidekman Arts Center), and refreshments will be served. Here's a link to a map.

I hope to see you there!

Where the "I" in this email is Edward Beuchert who's on the Board of Directors of the The West Somerville Neighborhood Association. I'm just passing along the info...
 
 
02 October 2007 @ 10:34 pm
Notes on 10/1 Davis Square Task Force meeting  
As usual, I didn't take extensive notes, but here's what I remember. (Agenda here.)

DARBI (Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative) )

The traffic study group is focusing on Willow Avenue, between Elm St. and Highland Avenue. You can read more about their work at http://willave.blogspot.com .

One Davis Square, with CVS and Boston Sports Club, should be open by November.

Nobody quite knows what's going to happen to the former Enterprise rent-a-car site at Summer St. and Cutter Ave.

135 Willow Ave (corner of Willow and Morrison) )

Carli Fence )

Summer Street Shaft Site (343-349 Summer St) )

Airplane noise )

Sacco's Bowl-Haven )

Burren's 2 am license )

The Y-Not Variety store, at Willow and Morrison, has applied for a license to sell beer and wine. They have 130 signatures of support from customers. The store will continue to close at 8:30 each night.

The Buena Vista garage repair is nearly complete. The garage will close one more day, Friday October 12, to finish the work.

Next meeting will probably be Monday, December 3.
 
 
27 September 2007 @ 07:34 am
Davis Square Task Force meeting, Monday 10/1  
The Davis Square Task Force will met next Monday, October 1 at the Senior Center, 167 Holland Street. Here's the agenda:

7:00-7:10 - Introductions

7:10-7:20 - Group updates around Davis Square
* DARBI
* Traffic Study Group
* Davis Square Business Interest Group
* Crime Watch Group update

7:20-7:35 - Development Updates in Davis Square
* One Davis Square
* Sacco's Bowl-Haven
* Summer and Cutter
* Willow and Morrison
* CARLI fence site

7:35-8:00 - Update on Summer Street Shaft Site (343-349 Summer Street)

8:00-8:10 - Burren 2am Update

8:10-8:20 - Upgrades around Davis Square including Buena Vista Parking Lot

8:20-8:30 - Miscellaneous comments and next meeting
 
 
 
 
25 September 2007 @ 10:09 pm
Preliminary election results  
Via the Somerville Journal and Somerville News, results of the preliminary election today:

Mayor: Joe Curtatone and Suzanne Bremer (with Rick Scirocco eliminated)

Ward 6 alderman: Rebekah Gewirtz and Charlie Chisholm (with Robert Adams eliminated)

Also, the Somerville News says turnout was higher than expected, which is always nice. The Journal hasBoth websites have a bunch of pictures of the scene at various polling places.
 
 
25 September 2007 @ 06:28 am
Vote today!  
If you live in Somerville, there's a preliminary election today. See my earlier post for more info. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm.
 
 
19 September 2007 @ 11:40 pm
Election in Somerville next Tuesday  
Next Tuesday, September 25, Somerville will hold a preliminary election. Voters citywide will choose a candidate for Mayor. Residents of Ward 6 (the area around Davis Square) will also choose a candidate for ward alderman. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. This page will tell you where to vote, and what ward you live in.

Three candidates are running for each of these offices. The top two finishers next week will move on to the general election on November 6.

Websites for mayoral candidates )

Websites for Ward 6 alderman candidates )

Links to Somerville Journal coverage )

Candidates' responses to questionnaires from various organizations )

My earlier LJ post about this election
 
 
12 September 2007 @ 07:24 am
Meeting Friday night on North Cambridge crime  

The Cambridge Police Department will hold a community meeting on Friday evening, 6-8 pm, at the Peabody School, 70 Rindge Avenue. The meeting will discuss recent shootings and other crimes in the North Cambridge neighborhood. This may interest Davis-area folk who live in Cambridge, especially on the other side of Mass. Ave.

Here's the e-mail I got from Craig Kelley, via the Porter Square Neighbors mailing list: Click for full meeting announcement )

 
 
10 September 2007 @ 04:45 pm
9/11 Memorial March and Vigil WEDNESDAY evening  
EDIT: The city website now says that this event is POSTPONED to Wednesday evening, September 12 due to inclement weather.

From the city website:

All members of the Somerville community are invited to participate in the event, beginning with a march down the Community Path, with a short ceremony at its conclusion in Davis Square. Participants are asked to gather at the Cedar Street entrance of the path at 6:45 p.m., on Tuesday, September 11th Wednesday, September 12, where candles will be provided to all participants. The march will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.
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09 September 2007 @ 08:09 pm
block parties  
Earlier this evening I went to a block party on Boston Ave, and had a great time. I'm curious if any of the new folks I met there are also LJ users/[info]davis_square-ers....

Also, I'm curious what other streets/neighborhoods do block parties. I'm really liking this whole "actually getting to meet your neighbors" concept. If I had a few co-conspirators, I'd like to try planning one for the Willow/Mallet/Lowden area sometime (probably late Spring).

I hope to be at the RedBones block party tomorrow evening (6-8 pm), maybe see some of you all there?
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21 August 2007 @ 09:55 am
Honk to Impeach?  
Did anyone else find the "HONK TO IMPEACH" plackard-carriers in the Square yesterday afternoon irritating?

I'm all for freedom of speech, I'm all for expressing your opinion in public space, and believe me, I loathe the current administration. But can't you express your opinion without all the noise pollution within earshot of my house?

Maybe I'm just a grumpy old man, but in my day, we walked uphill both ways in the snow to impeach somebody! There was none of this hoity-toity honk-your-horn-inside-your-fancy-automobile nonsense!

and a response from the city! )
 
 
Current Music: Storm the Dub Mix // Storm the Studio R.M.X.S. by Meat Beat Manifesto
 
 
17 July 2007 @ 04:14 pm
Davis Square Task Force meets Mon 7/23, 7pm  
The Davis Square Task Force meets this Monday, July 23 at 7 pm in the Cafeteria at 167 Holland Street (Tufts Administration Building).

I will not be able to attend this meeting, so I hope someone else can be there and post some notes afterwards. Here is the agenda:

7:00-7:15: Intros

7:15-7:45 Group Updates in Davis Square
  • DARBI update
  • Davis Square Business Interest Group (BIG) trash pick up initiative
  • Crime Watch group and Resistat
  • Traffic group forming in Davis Square
7:45-8:00 - Burren Update on 2am License

8:00-8:10 - Introduce new Director of Strategic Planning and Community Development, Monica Lamboy

8:10-8:20 - Update on Bike Path renovations behind Brooks to the MBTA head house on College Ave

8:20-8:30 - Buena Vista lot construction - Jerry Boyle.

8:30-8:55 - Davis Square renovations and new businesses, Davis Square T Station art project

8:55-9:00 - Next Meeting

If you have any questions about the above items, please contact Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz or Chris Daveta or Alice Martin in the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 617-625-6600
 
 
16 July 2007 @ 09:05 pm
Anti-war, pro-impeachment demo, Monday 7/23, 5-7 pm  
I received this notice with a request to "circulate widely", so here it is:

Sick and tired of the war, the White House war-mongers, and fed up with a Congressional "opposition" that refuses to take these war-criminals down (via impeachment), even when a majority of Americans want them to?!

Please join the Davis Square End the War Committee in Somerville, in the heart of Davis Square, Monday July 23rd for a rush-hour rally /"Honk-Out" as we demand that Congress:

"Impeach the War Criminals and End the War, Now!"

Monday, July 23rd.
approximately 5-7pm (or until the end of rush-hour)
in the heart of Davis Square, accross from the Somerville Theatre

more details behind the cut )
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15 May 2007 @ 09:37 pm
Connolly Wins Alderman at Large Special Election  
According to the Somerville News and Somerville Journal Connolly won by about 400 votes.
 
 
14 May 2007 @ 12:09 pm
election tomorrow  
Tomorrow, Tuesday May 15th, is the general election for the open seat on the Somerville Board of Aldermen. The two top candidates from last month's primary, Marty Martinez and Jack Connolly will be on the ballot.

Polls are open 7am - 8pm, and you can find your polling place at WhereDoIVoteMA.com. All Somerville voters can vote in this election (election info from the city).

Many people who voted in the primary will forget to vote again tomorrow, so both candidates need some new voters as well as many of their supporters from April as they can get. If you're supporting Jack, this is your chance to make a comeback; if you're supporting Marty, don't assume he'll win. Vote!
 
 
11 May 2007 @ 06:21 am
Somerville front page story in the Wall Street Journal  
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal (5/10/07) had an interesting front-page article about "Shape-Up Somerville", an innovative program to fight childhood obesity.

Some excerpts are here... )
 
 
08 May 2007 @ 11:07 am
DARBI Meeting Tonight  
DARBI (Davis Area Resident Business Initiative) is a relatively new non-profit group (about a year old) and they meet once once a month. This month's meeting is tonight so I thought I'd help spread the word in case anyone is interested.

WHEN: 5/8/07, 7:00 pm
WHERE: Orthodontics at Davis Square, 30 College Ave.

AGENDA:
- The DARBI sub-teams (events, membership, green, beautification, davis donates, website, map/brochure, merchandising).
- The Local First initiative.
- The residential/business membership drive.
- The neighborhood crime situation.

From the DARBI website http://www.yourdavissquare.com
"About DARBI

The Davis Square Area Resident-Business Initiative (DARBI), a registered 501(c)4 nonprofit association of volunteers who live and/or work in the area, aims to:

* Promote Davis Square as an attractive place in which to live, visit, shop and conduct business.
* Propose and carry out solutions to the issues that matter most to residents and businesses."
 
 
29 April 2007 @ 11:16 am
Neighborhood Watch forming - Wed, May 2  
[forwarded from Thalia Tringo of DARBI]

Over the last month, there have been several incidents of theft (most car break-ins to steal Ipods, GPS systems, and other items of value), and more recently, several sexual assaults in the Davis Sq. area. Many of us are tired of waiting for the next wave of thefts or assaults. Let's take charge and meet to form a neighborhood crime watch group. Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz has set up an official meeting for us with a Police Dept. representative on
Wed., May 2nd, at 6:30 PM at the home of Paul Bockelman and Cathy Barber,
64 Wallace St.. Please join us if you can.

Forming a neighborhood watch group involves monthly meetings and some commitment on the residents' part. Please help make our neighborhood safer.
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25 April 2007 @ 01:40 am
Spring Clean Up in Davis Square  
THIS Saturday, April 28th, meet at Statue Park in Davis Square between 10am and 12 noon to help with the City's annual spring clean up! From Davis Square, we will be spreading out to other parts of Ward 6, including the Brown School, the bike path, Powderhouse Park and other places along the way.

We will have some tools, lots of trash bags, gloves, t-shirts, and coffee, etc. If you have a rake, broom or gloves, bring them. But it's okay if you don't.

Last year, over 100 people joined in, including entire families. Everyone can help, even if it is just for 30 minutes. Stop by any time between 10 and noon THIS SATURDAY.

See you then! 

Rebekah Gewirtz          Paul Bockelman
Board of Aldermen       School Committee
Ward 6                         Ward 6

P.S. If the weather is iffy, call 311 to make sure we are still on.
 
 
24 April 2007 @ 10:35 am
Davis Square Task Force meets Mon 4/30, 7 pm  
The Davis Square Task Force meets next Monday, April 30, at 7 pm at the Senior Center, 167 Holland Street. Here's the agenda:

7:00-7:10 - Intros

7:10-7:25 - Mayor Curtatone and the Hotel study

7:25-7:40 - Update on Buena Vista garage construction from Gerald Boyle, Dire