PDS Platform
Platform Contents:
- Civil & Human Rights
- Children & Families
- Economic & Workforce Development
- Affordable Housing
- Transit & Transportation
- The Environment
- Good Government
Civil & Human Rights
Protect and promote the civil and human rights of Somerville residents by (a) implementing policies that discourage discriminatory and prejudice-based practices like racial profiling, and by providing the training and support that municipal employees need to understand and adhere to those policies; (b) further training municipal employees to recognize and appropriately respond to violations of residents’ civil and human rights, including hate crimes, domestic violence or threats of such violence, discriminatory hiring practices, etc.; (c) implementing community policing utilizing officers who are familiar with and accepted by the people of the neighborhoods that they are patrolling; (d) providing equal opportunities and equitable compensation for comparably qualified municipal employees, and promoting equal access to municipal programs and services, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference, etc.; (e) promptly implementing the SJC’s mandate regarding the right of same-sex partners to marry; (f) providing translations of public information and otherwise promoting inclusion of residents from varying linguistic communities; and (g) opposing the Patriot Act’s intrusions on residents’ civil liberties.
Children & Families
Strengthen public education and child/family support systems by (a) enhancing pre-school, in-school, and after-school access to programs and supports that promote healthy development and academic achievement; (b) providing diverse and engaging programming, offering individualized counseling and academic support, and otherwise proactively addressing the needs of children and youth at risk of self-destructive behavior (e.g., substance abuse, smoking, gang involvement or other violence, unhealthy relationships, etc.), under-achievement, dropping out, and/or criminal involvement; (c) supporting efforts to minimize public health hazards, including violence, second-hand smoke, lead poisoning, vehicle emissions, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, etc.; and (d) protecting and enhancing parks, playfields, playgrounds, and other recreational open space where families and children can exercise and play.
Economic & Workforce Development
Promote economic and workforce development that strengthens the fabric of our community by (a) maximizing municipal revenue from commercial development; (b) creating good jobs with benefits for Somerville residents; (c) enhancing the ability of Somerville residents to compete for and hold employment that will enable them to afford to stay in Somerville; (d) promoting public transit-oriented urban development that will qualify Somerville for State and federal funding of an Orange Line T stop at Assembly Square, extension of the Green Line through Union Square, and other needed transportation improvements; and (d) minimizing and mitigating adverse environmental impacts.
Negotiate with large companies seeking to enter Somerville to leverage (a) “first source agreements” calling for hiring priority for qualified Somerville residents, (b) employer-sponsored training to prepare Somerville residents for jobs with the employer, (c) incumbent worker training to enhance literacy or job skills, (d) agreement to pay living wages, and (e) participation in summer youth employment programs.
Expand access to education and training opportunities that offer adults and vocationally oriented high school students the chance to gain the literacy, English literacy, knowledge, skills, and credentials they need in order to successfully compete for jobs that pay the kind of wages and benefits that they will need, given the cost of living in Somerville.
Affordable Housing
Increase and protect access to affordable housing, especially housing for low income families, and support and strengthen efforts to prevent and address homelessness by (a) actively supporting the development of new units of affordable housing, and giving preference to Somerville residents seeking to rent or purchase those units, wherever possible, (b) increasing and more broadly applying the linkage fee charged to developers of large commercial properties, (c) increasing the inclusionary zoning requirement, (d) tightening the City’s Condo Conversion Ordinance to the full extent allowed by State law, more strictly enforcing tenant notification requirements, (e) tightening enforcement of rental housing codes, (f) securing the long-term affordability of greater numbers of rental units by enhancing access to municipal home repair resources, (g) protecting the long term affordability of so-called “expiring use” apartment buildings , (h) aggressively pursuing resources and other support from local Universities to mitigate the pressure placed on the local housing market and infrastructure by their students and employees, and (i) working collaboratively with community partners and the State to help preserve at-risk tenancies, to find replacement affordable housing for households that are unable to maintain their at-risk tenancy, and to help homeless and at-risk households develop the income, skills, and community supports they need to sustain stable permanent housing.
Transit & Transportation
Aggressively support transit and pedestrian enhancements in Somerville to mitigate the traffic and environmental impact of increased car and truck traffic by advocating for (a) extension of the Green Line through Union Square; (b) an Orange Line T stop at Assembly Square (and make sure that any development proposed for Assembly Square meets the State’s and federal guidelines for transit-oriented development); (c) improvements to Route 28; (d) improved MBTA bus service in under-served neighborhoods; (e) use of LNG or other low-emission buses to reduce already-high pollution levels; use of low emission vehicles by privately funded locally chartered paratransit programs (e.g., Tufts and Cambridge Health Alliance programs); (f) restoration of the Senior Shuttle; and (g) expansion of the Community Path.
The Environment
Promote and implement environmentally sound policies and practices including (a) protection of the Mystic River and its coastline, (b) protection and preservation of existing greenspaces, parks, playfields, and playgrounds; (c) implementation of the City’s Climate Protection Plan, calling for policies and practices that reduce municipal energy utilization and greenhouse gas emissions, and that promote private and municipal development that minimize energy use and greenhouse gas emissions; (d) reduction and mitigation of storm water runoff; and (e) expansion of the Community Path to the Amelia Earhart Dam.
Good Government
Enhance the inclusiveness and accountability of local government and promote civic engagement by (a) implementing transparent policy development, decision making, and budgeting practices; (b) keeping the public informed about upcoming hearings and decision-making processes; (c) involving activist organizations and individuals in summits, partnerships, and committees that bring interested parties together to address important development, transportation, affordable housing, and public safety issues; (d) involving community-based organizations in your efforts to define the measures by which CitiStat tracks the performance of municipal government; (e) facilitating parent/caregiver involvement in their children’s education; (f) creating a youth council that allows youth to advise and provide feedback about youth programming, and (g) conducting open and inclusive recruitment of residents to fill open positions on municipal commissions and boards.
Build a competent and representative municipal workforce by (a) basing appointments and hiring processes primarily on skills and qualifications, rather than patronage, and (b) using every opportunity to increase the diversity of City government and the municipal workforce.
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