Public hearing about surveillance cameras, Tuesday 3/31

[ron_newman]

I got this e-mail from the ACLU today. One of the surveillance cameras described here is next to the traffic light in Davis Square. Another is on the SCAT building in Union Square. (Anyone know of others?)
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In Somerville on Tuesday, March 31, there will be a hearing before the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety about the issue of Department of Homeland Security-funded surveillance cameras. Somerville is part of a nine-city network that got the cameras through a DHS grant, details of which have been kept secret.

Somerville Meeting on Homeland Security Cameras
Committee on Public Health and Public Safety
Somerville City Hall
Aldermen's Chamber (2nd floor)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 - Starts at 7:00 pm

In two other communities in the network, residents have organized against the cameras. In Cambridge, the cameras were unanimously rejected by the City Councilors in early February. In Brookline, after the Selectmen voted 3-2 to give them a year’s trial, residents are organizing to take the issue to the Town Meeting in May.

The Somerville hearing will give you an opportunity to get information about the cameras and give testimony.

To testify, you do NOT have to sign up in advance. If anyone wants talking points for their testimony, please contact nancy@aclum.org. We hope you can be there -- please spread the word!

Come listen to the MBTA's Chief Financial Officer - Monday 3/30

[golux-org.livejournal.com]

The MBTA's expenses substantially exceed revenue, with a projected annual deficit of $160 million. In large part, this is due to debt resulting from the $2 billion system expansion ordered by the state to improve regional air quality and get cars off the road. No amount of service cutbacks, government reform, or operational savings can reduce the MBTA's $145 million annual expense for servicing this debt. To stay afloat, the T has been spending its rainy day fund. If nothing is done soon, they will simply run out of money.

Therefore, if new funding is not identified by the end of June, we can expect an across the board fare increase of 25 to 30 percent, and service cuts of about 30 percent, taking effect on September 1 or October 1 of this year. The details of these cuts are still being worked out, but the fiscal reality makes these kind of deep cuts absolutely necessary if there is no new funding.

The Governor's proposed transportation finance reform is designed to bring the MBTA sufficient revenue to maintain existing service at existing fares. The key element of this plan is an increase in the gasoline tax (intended to fund both highway maintenance and public transit), but the legislature will probably scale this back, leaving the MBTA on course for financial disaster.

To learn more, please come to the MBTA's Rider Oversight Committee meeting on Monday, March 30. Jonathan Davis, the MBTA's Chief Financial Officer, will provide an overview of the financial situation, and discuss the MBTA's current plan for implementing emergency fare increases and service cuts.

This meeting will be from 5-7 pm, on the second floor of the State Transportation Building. This is near Boston Common, on the northeast corner of Stuart & Charles, close to the Boylston or Chinatown subway stations.

Contact me for more information. Here is the official notice of the meeting:

http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=16777

Survivors Group

[richips.livejournal.com]

I saw this posting in my office, and wanted to pass it along, as there are often groups for female survivors, but seem to rarely be any for males. (Other genders are rare too).

( Group for Male Survivors of Childhood Abuse )

Also, other services -

( The Victims of Violence Program of the Cambridge Health Alliance )

I hope someone will benefit from this information.
Thank you.

x-posted

SFD Robo-call

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I found a Somerville Fire Department robo-call in my voicemail alerting me to a multi-alarm fire in Somerville. But my voicemail doesn't time-stamp and I don't recognize any local numbers among the telemarketers in my call history, so I don't know when it came in or where the fire is/was. Anyone else get this call?

Fine for unlicensed dog

[kalimba21.livejournal.com]

This is new to me, thought I'd share it.

Last week, I got a letter saying that my dog was unlicensed and if I didn't license the dog by a certain date (about one week from the arrival of the letter) that I would be fined.

I sent the letter back, explaining that my dog had died.

Yesterday I got a $50 ticket in the mail for an unlicensed dog.
Yesterday I also got a voicemail from animal control, saying that the ticket was a mistake and was taken off the books - I guess they noticed my letter.

Anyway, over the years we've gone back and forth on dog licensing, but this was the first time a ticket was ever threatened.

Since it costs $6 to license a neutered dog, this fine is quite high.

Looking for a roomate ($675, heat and hot water is included!)

[mrpet.livejournal.com]

$675 Queer-Friendly Housing in Davis Square (available April)

We're looking for one more housemate for our 4BR apartment to enter a May 2009 to April/May 2010 lease. Moving in in April is a possibility. The heat and water are included in rent! Two cats, tons of common space, 1-3/4 baths, a dining room, living room, and big kitchen.

We are looking for a poly/gay/bi/pagan/trans/etc-friendly, non-smoker who likes sharing a house with others. Crafty or geeky a plus. :) Sorry, no kids or pets ("cage pets" negotiable though). We like to be friendly with our roommates and like occasional shared eals (omnivorous), movie nights, and hanging out, but you don't have to if that's not your thing. :) We also host parties of various sizes.

Please send inquiries to jim AT acuriousproduction DOT com

( Click for the details... )

Please feel free to repost this ad or share it with anyone you think might be interested as well.

Congressman Capuano telephone community meeting March 31st

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

If you missed the first one, here are details for the 2nd:

On Tuesday March 24th from 6:40 – 7:40 PM, I am hosting a telephone community meeting. Anyone interested in participating may dial 1-877-229-8493 and use pin 13034 at the scheduled time to listen in. This is my first telephone community meeting of the year and I am interested in hearing what’s on your mind. If you cannot call in on the 24th, I am hosting another meeting on the 31st at the same time, with the same call-in number and pin. We will also post an audio file of the meetings on our website.

ref:  http://www.house.gov/capuano/e-updates/eu2009-03-20.shtml