Speculators are driving up prices, blocking new home-buyers, and promoting destabilization of neighborhoods, displacement of long-time residents, and gentrification.

Is this inevitable?

When I moved to Somerville, 3-deckers were the way many working families were able to buy their homes, with multiple generations in the apartments or tenants helping pay off the mortgage. (On left, 3-deckers on Marion Street in my neighborhood.)

On Labor Day we celebrate working people, and the achievements of the union movement which make our families more secure and make our society and economy stronger. Among them: unemployment insurance, minimum wage, and workplace safety regulations.

The experience of the pandemic has underscored the vital role of all those protections, and shows we need to act to strengthen them.

Almost everyone recognizes that making people homeless during a pandemic is dangerous to their health and a threat to public health.

Local, state and federal governments have declared multiple (overlapping, confusing and limited) moratoria and created funds with billions of dollars in potential aid to keep people in their homes.

This newsletter is about a candidates' forum in Somerville focused on senior issues AND about the new rest home in Somerville.

Here are some news items you may find useful, or want to pass on to others.

Many people wrote and called in opposition to Governor Baker’s poorly-thought-out solution to the tragic epidemic of drowning deaths this summer. These terrible losses should make us look urgently for solutions, but not every idea is a good one.

Somerville residents and leaders have been very active recently in demanding action from the Department of Transportation to save lives by improving pedestrian safety. There's also been a decades-long effort to save lives by providing barriers along I-93 that would block both noise and pollution.

At Medford's Memorial Day observance, Veterans Service Officer Michael L. Durham gave us some sobering information; the first part of this newsletter contains excerpts of his remarks. He told us that many service members survive injuries that would have been fatal in previous wars, But many of those who survive carry visible and unseen injuries that require care. This makes it even more important to consider the changing needs of veterans as we plan to replace the Holyoke Soldiers' Home.

Before the news, a question: What lessons have we learned during the pandemic? What should we change in a "new normal?" The Senate listening sessions, along with many other people are asking these questions. I'd like to hear your answers. What changes in education, health care, work.... that have happened during COVID should we keep or adapt? Are there other changes based on our experiences? The answers aren't all obvious. Let me know yours.

Today, Thursday, is the first of several Senate briefings on "Re-imagining Massachusetts Post-Pandemic Resiliency." This one will focus on childcare, K-12 education, higher education, and regional issues in northeastern Massachusetts. Testimony is by invitation only and will be streamed live and available later at www.malegislature.gov. Here's the schedule:

Last week, Joe Lynch and I hosted three Somerville High students on our cable show at the Somerville Media Center.
Jace Connolly is a freshman who works with Teen Empowerment. Joao DeOliveira is a senior who works with LIPS (Liaison Interpreter Program of Somerville, part of the Welcome Project). Kate Johnson is a junior who works with Somerville Positive Forces (part of Somerville Cares About Prevention).