Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne Delivers State Of The City

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne delivered her State of the City address Tuesday, where she reflected on her first year in office, talked about initiatives impacting the community and offered plans for the coming year.

The speech was part of the city's Mid-Term Ceremonies and Addresses at the City Council Chambers.

"Exactly one year ago, I stood right here and shared my vision for how we'd work together to translate our progressive values into progress for all," Ballantyne said.

The mayor added: "Whether (by) building systems, building relationships, or building capacity to address both our immediate needs and the global challenges that affect us here at home, we have been steadily taking action to move our city forward."

Here are some of the highlights:

Equity-Driven Response to the Pandemic

Ballantyne pointed out that she took office during the peak of the pandemic's Omicron surge. But her administration launched weekly vaccination clinics, acquired 260,000 high-quality masks and distributed more than 50,000 test kits.

The administration also dispersed more than $2 million in funds to help small businesses.

With COVID cases rising again, the mayor said: "as always, we search for gaps, asking who are we missing? Who is most in need?"

ARPA Funding

The city received $77 million in funds to distribute thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

With that money, the city contributed $7 million to local childcare programs, the mayor said. In late 2022, Ballantyne committed $2 million to fund local nonprofit projects focused on closing the wage gap for women.

This year, the city will use ARPA funding to pilot universal basic income for the first time in Somerville.

"There was a headline in The Washington Post last month that read, 'Universal Basic Income Has Been Tested Repeatedly. It Works. Will America Ever Embrace It?'" Ballantyne said.

"Well, I can tell you, Somerville is embracing universal basic income. We're going to learn what works with this pilot, and we will chart a longer-term path from there," Ballantyne said.

Commitment to Inclusive Government Participatory Budgeting

Ballantyne said her administration is committed to a transparent government where residents are included in decision-making.

The participatory budgeting initiative, a first for the city, will let residents decide how to spend $1 million in city funds.

Racial and Social Justice

Ballantyne said the city has taken several steps to dismantle systemic racism — in public safety — and work toward creating public safety for all.

The mayor said the city has gathered feedback from more than 1,000 community members for the Public Safety For All Survey, met with more than 50 local businesses, and hosted hundreds of hours of Community Visioning Focus Group Sessions. Somerville officials also have consulted with other cities and towns about their approach to making public safety more equitable.

This month, the Public Safety Task Force, after receiving feedback from thousands of community members, will work to re-imagine policing and public safety in Somerville and generate policy recommendations.

"We won't fix centuries of oppression overnight," Ballantyne said. "It takes time to build inroads, to build trust, and to make a difference. But Somerville is staying the course. We are making sustainable progress. We are meeting people where they are, and together we will shape policies that promote widespread public safety, equity, and accessibility for all across Somerville."

Investing in Core Services

The mayor said her administration continues to make sure the city has a strong financial foundation so basic services like road paving, park maintenance and sewer service continue to help improve the lives of people in town.

Ballantyne said the city's bond rating remains the highest in Somerville's history.

The Green Line Extension

As she did during the grand opening in December, Ballantyne once again celebrated a fully operational Green Line Extension.

"I remember going to meetings long ago as advocates strategized on how to get the Green Line here," Ballantyne said. "Those were the seeds. Those small conversations ultimately grew into a giant $2.3 billion investment in our community and region. And the new Green Line branch is now putting us on a solid path to a more equitable, prosperous and sustainable future."

The Green Line Extension gives the city an unprecedented opportunity for transit-oriented development. But Ballantyne said it's important that the development truly benefits the people and the local economy.

Expanding Affordable Housing

Ballantyne said there currently are 500 units of permanently affordable housing actively in the pipeline. She also said that last year the city allocated $8.3 million to the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which already has celebrated its first land acquisition.

Identifying Innovative Housing Stability Programs

The mayor said that even though the pandemic-inspired local eviction moratorium wound down, research showed that Somerville eviction rates have remained far below the regional average and far below that of its neighbors.

Ballantyne then called on residents to do their part in the solution to housing instability. She said homeowners could consider sales to nonprofit affordable housing developers, while landlords could look for voucher holders or reach out to the city before considering eviction.

Artist and Cultural Space

The mayor said that over the next four years, the city will develop nearly 300,000 square feet of arts and creative enterprise space.

Ballantyne also urged residents to get involved city's first Cultural Capacity Plan, designed to make the community's creative portfolio stronger, more accessible, more sustainable, and more diverse.

Small Businesses and Nonprofits

According to Ballantyne, $9.5 million in COVID relief has been dispersed to the city's small, independent local businesses and nonprofits. But rising rents continue to put them in peril.

That's why the mayor said the city will be reviving and expanding the Fair Housing Task Force to serve as an anti-displacement task force for residents, businesses, nonprofits, and artists.

Engagement Center for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Ballantyne announced that this winter, the city, in partnership with the Somerville Homeless Coalition, is opening up an engagement center to support unhoused residents. The facility will be open during the day, when most shelters are not, helping to fill an important gap.

A Supervised Consumption Site

The city will be working to open a supervised drug consumption site, which Ballantyne said is potentially the first in Massachusetts. The city has set aside $500,000 for the project.

"We typically lose at least 15 people annually to overdoses," Ballantyne said. "Year after year, this heartbreaking loss grows larger. Haven't we had enough? When there are tools available to save lives, we need to use them."

Targeting Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Ballantyne said she was proud to sign legislation passed by the council that targeted deceptive "so-called pregnancy" centers and reaffirmed abortions as healthcare.

Protecting Access to Trans-Affirming Health Care

The mayor also recognized the council for passing an ordinance — which Ballantyne said she proudly signed — that protected the rights of individuals seeking gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare.

Traffic Safety

The mayor also highlighted some of the street safety programs that have taken place or are in the works.

"Our overall (vehicle) crash numbers are down, but there's only one acceptable number: zero. And tragically, we're not there yet," Ballantyne said.

Long-awaited safety improvements have taken place to College Avenue and Holland Street, Ballantyne said.

Work already is set to begin this year to rebuild Pearl Street, prioritizing pedestrian safety at intersections in East Somerville and Winter Hill around schools, daycares, parks, and senior housing, according to the mayor.

Ballantyne said the city also will work to strengthen safe routes to school near Healey School, Brown School, Argenziano School and Somerville High School.

Sustainability

During her first week in office, Ballantyne said the city would be carbon-negative — not just carbon-neutral — by 2050.

In the year ahead, Ballantyne said, the city will update the Somerville Climate Forward plan, break ground on the long-awaited Poplar Street Pump Station, which will reduce flooding citywide, launch the Clean Green program, which will make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable for eligible low-and moderate-income households, and take steps to protect urban pollinators.

Investment in Youth

Ballantyne said the 10 percent increase in the budget for Somerville Public Schools was "the (largest increase) in history and the largest in the state last year."

These funds support core learning, pay paraprofessionals a living wage, expand special education services and add more counselors and social workers, the mayor said.

Teen Centers and Senior Programming

Ballantyne highlighted the opening of the Healey play areas in 2022 and said the field will open this year. There also are plans to rebuild schoolyards at Brown School and West Somerville Neighborhood School.

The city also set up interim teen centers at Edgerly Education Center and Powderhouse Park.

The mayor said her administration also is focused on helping seniors.

"We've been listening to seniors looking to expand our services to better meet different phases of senior life," Ballantyne said. " This year, we'll be looking into new approaches to senior wellness, learning, and connection."