crystalvisits

crystalvisits , 4 months ago

@gbhnews
I'm of the opinion that there's an evergreen reason: We deserve more time off from the Pit of Despair that is capitalism. Basically, as much time off as possible. Really, we should abolish the whole capitalism thing. Doesn't seem to be working out very well.

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Commentary from @somershade[email protected] last month really reads as apt: https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3luzmslwpoc2b

Burnley talked inspiringly about his plans and how he would implement them. I feel like he was making commitments toward a vision & building on prior work he's done in this area.
Wilson talked about his intentions but didn't say much about implementation and didn't have the arts cred Burnley did.

Tbh, some folks told me that Burnley won this forum. I was skeptical, but it is 100% true.

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

The Somerville Stands Together mayoral forum is also now up on YT, in English and Spanish!

En inglés: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAZ22AEFX5s&t=3s

Ver en español aqui: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jabQ6c5nRbU

#SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Friday night's mayoral forum on the schools and libraries is now out! I will be watching this for a bit, since I missed a good chunk of the beginning (lost my original ride to the event).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arz630n-YP4

#SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Oh, also! Fascinating written words.

Mayor Ballantyne said some spicy stuff in this Globe newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/bostonglobe.com/mayorsrace?e=752e1477ac

Jake's official campaign response was honestly worse than what she'd said, though: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BACLGNWhN/

I don't get why he would respond, tbh. She seemed petty but now he's defending his executive experience... via youth soccer leadership, a soccer award named after him, and managing a $200k budget? O.o

The city budget is $380M.

#SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

As soon as I'm done with classes and reading for today (which will prob be many hours), I'm gonna watch this city council candidate forum!! I hear it got spicy, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9eGEkLZ5hg

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Boston DSA has also released a voter guide (which I helped with), and that's here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H5jK78Q0IkKdAB_PAfsVwc26-urWBoDXZ4gCh1V1Wlk/edit?usp=sharing

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Ari Iaccarino is not listed on this guide and is, uh, angrily posting about it on Instagram. I think if I were in Ari's shoes, I would not be yelling about it in public. The Streisand effect is a thing.

I said before that I would not be voting for Ari. Even more true now. Goodness. I agree with him on some positions, but there are big issues I have with his judgment and his decisions.

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Also, Somerville YIMBY has posted a newsletter about supporting and endorsing Willie Burnley Jr for mayor.

https://somervilleyimby.org/2025/09/09/early-voting-starts-today-why-we-support-willie-burnley-jr/

#MAPoli #SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #politics #housing

crystalvisits OP , 5 months ago

Okay, just fyi, I think @scottsthoughts is the only local politician I've seen this year actually behave as though he cared about medically-vulnerable community members. He went to this candidate forum wearing a mask, and it's far from the first time I've seen him wearing one.

I want a city councilor who actively prioritizes protecting the lives of vulnerable residents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9eGEkLZ5hg

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli #Accessibility #maskUp

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

The Somerville community path cat mayoral race has been decided! This Tiktok video is how I discovered that I know Minerva's family! LOLLLLL

https://www.tiktok.com/@bostonglobe/video/7550359460489792823?_r=1&_t=ZP-8zl1PBEyULn

(For those who don't do TikTok, Minerva won!)

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #catsofmastodon #cats

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

We did have a primary election on Sept 16th! For those not yet aware, results are here:
https://www.somervillema.gov/votesomerville

Mayoral race is now between Willie Burnley Jr and Jake Wilson.

The At-Large City Council candidates are now (in order of my current pref):
Jon Link
Scott Istvan
WIll Mbah
Marianne Walles
Ben Wheeler
Holly Simione
Jack Perenick
Strezo

I've been working on a voter guide for a while & it's not done yet. Quite a ride, watching this election closely. #SomerPoli #SomervilleMA #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Also, in terms of the ward 2 school committee race, this Tufts Daily coverage is illuminating (imo):
https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2025/10/somerville-school-committee-candidate-profiles

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

This Cambridge Day article on the unofficial event last weekend about Davis Square and unhoused neighbors and the horrendous pro-sweeps-of-homeless-people positions that some of these candidates hold ... This is something I highly recommend reading for any #SomervilleMA voter.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/09/28/some-somerville-candidates-are-invited-to-address-homelessness-in-davis-square-by-upset-residents/

#SomerPoli #MAPoli #USPol #homeless #policing

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Jon Link has posted something good about it, though:
https://jonforsomerville.substack.com/p/on-homelessness-and-substance-abuse

#SomerPoli #SomervilleMA

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

In terms of other stuff on the Somerville ballot on Nov 4th, by the way, we are also going to have some municipal ballot questions.

The new city charter proposal has made it through the state level process, so we vote on whether or not to approve it next month. Check out the Charter Review Committee page for a pdf near the top: https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/charter-review-committee

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Separately, there's a ballot question to extend the mayoral term to 4 years (but keep the city council term at 2 years).

I think this is horrendous and I hope that people don't vote for it. I'm lukewarm on the charter proposal overall, but the mayoral term extension is gross, and it would make city council elections on the "off" terms uniquely horrendous.

Yay, democracy?
#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

I am a very slow canvasser, but I went out today to canvass for Jon Link. Had some really great conversations on the doors. Definitely felt like I was having an Overton Window discussion with a couple of folks. 😅

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

The Somerville Stands Together (SST) labor forum with at-large candidates is now up on YouTube!

https://youtu.be/wx9IykmVOfs?si=01aOab1Ehth-rRuD

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Hey, here's something I wish more candidates were doing: Somerville At-Large Councilor Will Mbah is hosting a zoom civics forum on Sunday night at 8 pm to answer questions about how local gov't works, how to register to vote, etc.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/EgLP-mBgRVOyoyf1FVAhow#/registration

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

So, Somerville has 3 ballot measures on the Nov 4th ballot this year.

Measure 1 is whether or not to accept the current city charter proposal. (I'm leaning yes even though it's far from perfect -- the 1899 version is way worse.)

Measure 2 is whether or not to have 4 year mayoral terms (but keep city council terms at 2 years -- I'm a BIG NO on this one).

Measure 3, though? ... That's where a lot of the activity is, this year. A LOT.

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Measure 3 is whether the city admin should be instructed to divest, boycott, and sanction the machinery of war in Gaza. Stop investing city retirement funds in companies that are making the bombs and guns killing residents in Gaza.

Even taking aside the complexity of Gaza, there are Somerville residents now trying to sue the city IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE THIS FROM THE BALLOT. God forbid, we let residents vote on a NON-BINDING measure???

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Lawsuit 2581CV02529 in MA Superior Court, Middlesex Division - Somerville United Against Discrimination et al vs. City of Somerville, Massachusetts et al

They're suing not only election dept head but also his staff & the city clerk in this. Like, they're suing my neighbor who volunteers for the elections dept to make our polling locations more accessible.

In an attempt to remove this question from the November election ballot.

WTAF.

https://www.masscourts.org/eservices/searchresults.page?x=sI6p6iOvib9ulJ4zrJ-eFSWS1ncryL9tEWfGC14rvG2l25QkaNp8hNZRuW7zHjFrkOKdhE3p6as9vYnc8IIw

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

(If the prior link doesn't go directly to it b/c you have to authenticate or something, go to www.masscourts.org and select "search public records" and then "the superior court" for court department, then "Middlesex" for court division, then click on the case number tab, enter "2581CV02529" and then click on the case that comes up from that search.)

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

The ADL has apparently spent over $100k already on opposition to this ballot measure.

A non-binding ballot measure.

Which this group is now using the ADL's money to try to keep off the ballot next month.

The ballot that has to be prepped and printed really damn soon in order to be ready for the election on Nov 4th.

It really makes me wonder why opposing a non-binding measure even being on the ballot is worth so much $$$ and countless hours of effort???

#SomerPoli #MAPoli #SomervilleMA

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Re Somerville Against Discrimination people suing to prevent Ballot Q3:
Turns out, one of the named targets of the suit, Doug Bosley, died last month of cancer.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/douglas-bosley-obituary?id=59664915
Another election commissioners was just diagnosed with cancer this summer.

The elections commissioners are paid less than $4k a YEAR to do election work. Now they're being sued for it by people who have $100k from the ADL to spend on lawyers. WTF.

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli #election

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

For the first time in approximately forever, I've posted to my old blog. It's about Somerville voting history, turnout, and Ballot Question 2 this year. It's dorky and not polished enough, but I'm starting midterms and want to put this out there so I can go back to schoolwork and stop fussing over it. 😅

https://crystalhuff.com/2025/10/21/somervilles-question-2-and-voting-analysis/

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MApoli #statistics #elections

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

The Monday night Somerville Media Center candidate forum videos are up! It was as banana-pants as I remember it!

Mayoral: https://youtu.be/5jMVMRmQ0n0?si=ZsCM7BFhX20zgDIa

City Council: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0cEO8L3cks

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli #election

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

60s to answer:

“Let’s talk permits & predictability. Permit shot clock. Clear numbers, delivery. Permit delays hit homeowners, small biz, big projects. Give exact numbers you’d look for. Days to 1st plan review, small resi versus lg commercial, reinspection? How many biz days & which minor jobs get over-counter approval? How could you deliver on targets? Add staff? Fee changes? 3rd party peer review? Longer inspection hrs? Tech upgrades to permit portal? Pick 3 stats you’d publish every month.”

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

This compound question, by itself, took over 40 seconds to ask. The moderator gave the candidates 60 seconds apiece to answer.

I've heard of artificial scarcity and boxing someone in, but that doesn't seem like the right tactic when you're trying to get candidates to talk enough to differentiate themselves from the rest! O.o

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

This opinion letter in the Somerville Times (by Nate Clauser, who I know slightly through Somerville DSA) is very good, actually:
https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/143515

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

The two mayoral candidates also differ on whether they support ballot question 2 (whether to have longer mayoral terms).

Burnley Jr has wholeheartedly spoken out against longer mayoral terms in charter meetings. Wilson quietly supported it, and Monday publicly said he supports a 4 year term. Kinda striking, since both candidates (prior to running for mayor this year) previously have railed against the strong mayoral governance we already have in this city.

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #MAPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Oooh, speaking of DSA, the BDSA voter guide is out! Covering Boston, Somerville, and Cambridge!

http://bdsa.us/2025guide

#BostonMA #SomervilleMA #CambridgeMA #SomerPoli #elections

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

The questionnaire from SEPAC and responses are also now out! No reply from Burnley Jr, Walles, or Mbah yet, though. I plan to check back here later on, in case there's an update.

https://somervillesepac.wixsite.com/sepac/municipal-candidate-questionaire

#SomervilleMA #MAPoli #SomerPoli #Accessibility #education

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

In terms of the Somerville ballot Q1, re the proposed city charter, here's a website made by my friend Bev (who was also on the resident charter committee).

https://yes-on-charter.info/

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

I'm a YES on the charter proposed (even though I have quibbles with it). It'd be better than what we have now on several fronts (particularly audits for the city budget and periodic review of the charter and multi-member bodies). It'd also be way easier to submit further charter updates, going forward.

I'm a NO on ballot question 2, which is asking if we want the mayor to have a 4 year term (but keeping city councilors to 2 year terms).
http://crystalhuff.com/2025/10/21/somervilles-question-2-and-voting-analysis/

#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

We've got that "fall elections" feel in the air, which means it's time to play the song Kate Klim wrote about how Harriotte and I spent half of Election Day trying to get the Braille voter guide.

https://kateklim.com/the-first-ever-braille-edition

#music #art #USpol #SomervilleMA #MAPoli #accessibility #braille

crystalvisits OP , 3 months ago

Welp. I thought I knew what to expect re funding sources for the "No on 3" campaign, but this legit astonished me.

$20k of donations from one wealthy Somerville family, another $19k from 69 other donors in Somerville ... and that makes up less than 20% of the total funding that's paid for all these "No on 3" and "Focus on Somerville" ads????

$204k has gone into opposing a non-binding measure to try to divest from killing babies in Gaza. WOW.
#SomervilleMA #SomerPoli #Gaza #MAPoli #USPol

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Today I learned about Maria Ressa's work to combat misinformation and attacks on journalism in the Philippines under Duterte. She's a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Jon Stewart had a great interview with her tonight on The Daily Show.

https://youtu.be/Tsb1I7hqaJ4?si=7c1amIC1a2_6tbkk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Ressa

#TIL #USPol #politics

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Reading The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander for class, I was honestly shocked to realize that people are not only disenfranchised when in jail (disturbing once I think about it, but I hadn't thought about it before) ... but in many states, people can't vote ever again if they've been convicted of a crime.

Approx 30% of Black American men have served time in jail. Many are coerced into accepting plea deals for which they get jail time.

https://www.britannica.com/procon/felon-voting-debate/Con-Quotes
#TIL #vote #racism

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Today I learned that glaciers used to advance and retreat, not just seasonally, but sometimes over the course of years or decades. (I hadn't previously known about the Little Ice Age.)

The glaciers don't advance lately, though. Just retreat.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce32ezzq6zlo

(I'm glad the BBC is reporting on it, though.)
#TIL #globalwarming #climatechange #glaciers #bbc

crystalvisits OP , 4 months ago

Today I learned about Kalief Browder, a Black kid from The Bronx who was imprisoned for 3 years, mostly in solitary, for allegedly stealing a backpack. THREE YEARS waiting for a trial before the city dismissed the case due to lack of evidence and loss of prosecution's sole witness.

Kalief Browder committed suicide after his release, during the ensuing court case against the city. His mother also died of cardiac complications during the lawsuit.💔

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalief_Browder
#TIL #BLM #abolition

crystalvisits OP , 2 months ago

Today I learned that South Boston has or had a proposal for air trams/gondolas that has been kicking around since 2017-2018.

https://handelarchitects.com/project/south-boston-cableway?pagi=boston

Anyone else wanna know if that could still happen? I do! #transit #Boston #MApoli #TIL