New year, new progress

YIMBY in 2020

2019 was a big year for Somerville, with new zoning and tenant protections passed that should help increase the size of the housing pie and make it more equitable for all our neighbors.

The first two items up for the new year are traffic safety and the long-term plan of SomerVision 2040.

Vision Zero: How We Stop Traffic Deaths

The past year has seen some pretty horrific deaths in traffic, and the city is increasing its commitment to make it safe to get around on foot or by bike. The traffic safety task force is called Vision Zero, and it includes information about crashes and ways to submit concerns. They've also issued a new draft action plan and invite you to read it.

You can submit comments online or talk to city staff at open houses on January 21, January 30, and February 5.

Long-Range Plan: SomerVision 2040

We've mentioned this one before, but it bears repeating: SomerVision 2040 is the long-range plan for where we want the city to be 20 years from now. Somerville YIMBY steering committee member Jeff Byrnes has been part of the group drafting the current plan, and he's proud of the work they've done.

Give it a read and submit your comments to help make it better.

New Statement from Abundant Housing MA

Abundant Housing MA is a newly formed advocacy group dedicated to coordinating statewide housing policy. Their mission statement: Abundant housing for all is an urgent moral imperative throughout Massachusetts.

They've issued a statement on some of the housing policy proposals that are circulating on Beacon Hill - and why they think it's so important to get them right. Read more about 

these new laws and AHMA's take on them here.