Hyper local in Somerville, MA. FOIA requests & long threads live-tweeting city meetings. Also @fdmtshttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvfnnrjank2vI got a good price on tomatoes at the farmer’s market, and the temperature is reasonable for having boiling water on the stove for a few hours, so let’s can some tomatoes! Also, welcome new followers from @weatherishappening.com! This is usually a Somerville politics feed, but … 1/?13 Sep 2026 13:00 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfnnrjank2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvfhvbnnxk2vOccasional reminder that social media is super bad for mental health and we should all limit our exposure.13 Sep 2026 11:17 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvfhvbnnxk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvdb366o4k2xHey folks, while you’re out visiting farmer’s markets, art and craft fairs, and similar this weekend … also take a moment to connect face to face with trusted neighbors and discuss how best to support each other as we fight the rising tide of fascism worldwide. Be smart, be safe, resist.12 Sep 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvdb366o4k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvd7dd2rgc2xThe public records unit at the state police HQ has identified at least 48 videos surveilling protests in Boston since 2020. They’re putting them on a hard disk and sending them to me! But first they have to watch them all to redact anything sensitive … so … (looks pointedly at watch).12 Sep 2026 13:38 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvd7dd2rgc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvd2zgq2xc2xLooks like a glorious day to festival hop. I’m planning to hit the Union Square farmer’s market, Gilman Arts Festival, then maybe Riverfest at Assembly. There’s also the Boston Fiber Fest at the Cyclorama if you’re into that sort of thing (which I kinda am). Enjoy the day, everybody!12 Sep 2026 12:21 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvd2zgq2xc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvd2ghfydc2xI sometimes stop and speak with people when they give me shit for being on a bicycle. My opening move is usually ‘I’m just trying to get to work and home safely, I’m not bothering anybody.’ It’s horrifying when they wave off the idea of me being safe as though I was selling religion or something. [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Sep 2026 12:11 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvd2ghfydc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvb7rxjr3c2lAI might kill off humanity in the same sense that a gun might kill a person. While technically true, it’s more useful, actionable, and correct to talk about the people who loaded the gun, pointed it at us, and are smirking with their finger on the trigger.11 Sep 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvb7rxjr3c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mvatntmvlk25For reasons known only to myself, I have created a single web page with links to privately hosted copies of a whole bunch of documents related to police oversight and reform in Somerville. https://dwan.org/index.php/police-oversight-in-somerville/ 1/?11 Sep 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvatntmvlk25https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv77nh5m3s2aHello, hello, hello. I am LIVE AND IN THE CHAMBERS for tonight's meeting of the City Council in Somerville, MA. I was late because I was at the annual gala / fundraiser for the Somerville Museum which was ALSO AWESOME. Let's get to it. https://somervillema.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1428400&GUID=F7F38A04-553B-48D5-A4ED-DE843BE77F26&Options=info|&Search= 1/?10 Sep 2026 23:33 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv77nh5m3s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv6c2x33vs2lI wrote this about Elon Musk (whose only legacy should be the millions of preventable deaths that he caused by tearing down USAID) and his public offer to pay people to vote for Trump, but it also applies to Donald Trump and his public offer to pay people to vote Republican. Lock them up. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Sep 2026 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6c2x33vs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv5xwifz522sFor what it’s worth, I did stick around and listen to most of of the public comment about the ‘ethical purchasing’ ordinance Tuesday. I just don’t know how to even approach commenting on it. As I said about the ceasefire resolution, any words from me are more likely to do harm than to help. 1/?10 Sep 2026 11:43 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5xwifz522shttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv4w2cskas2aI attended my traditional one (1) game per year at Fenway this evening, and had an absolutely lovely ride home at about 9pm in the stern fog / minor drizzle. Some thoughts on that ride. 1/?10 Sep 2026 01:36 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4w2cskas2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv4gdtwjp226Looks like Somerville is going with a MegaSchool just down the hill from the High School in Gilman. My understanding is that this is (a) the simplest and (b) the cheapest but also (c) it's the option that parents hated because it's huge, impersonal, and on average the farthest from where they live.09 Sep 2026 20:55 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4gdtwjp226https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv3j3xuvyc2kNo one is coming to save you. However, someone is parking a u-haul on your narrow street and waiting for their friends to show up to help them carry the furniture. [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Sep 2026 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3j3xuvyc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mv22ocznxc22Here's my comment from this evening's public hearing on body worn cameras: Honorable councilors Welcome back! I hope that you had a restful summer recess. 1/?08 Sep 2026 22:21 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv22ocznxc22https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muzbgbpu4k23We've got three public hearings at legislative matters tonight: 1) Body-worn cameras on the police 2) The Davis Square neighborhood council 3) "Ethical procurement" which is either boycotting companies complicit in genocide or else thinly veiled antisemitism - depending on who you ask. 1/?08 Sep 2026 14:49 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzbgbpu4k23https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muyz2yqpy223Meanwhile, the President is still a confused, malevolent, increasingly unhinged troll. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/07/us/politics/trump-rename-new-mexico.html?unlocked_article_code=1._lA.Dpyy.rIlmpUf4wj_t&smid=nytcore-ios-share08 Sep 2026 12:20 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muyz2yqpy223https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muyysvd2ns23This is one of the several correct takes about #AI [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Sep 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muyysvd2ns23https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muxps4qqdk2fThese folks seem nice. Maybe buy a shirt from them or something. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Sep 2026 00:01 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muxps4qqdk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muuidjdje22hMy ‘Protect Trans Futures’ shirt gets more compliments than any other piece of clothing I own.06 Sep 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muuidjdje22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muu4wq4djc2vIt’s a beautiful Sunday in early fall, and I’m going to ride up to Salem by way of Wakefield and start gearing up for spooky season. I hope something good happens to you today.06 Sep 2026 13:46 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muu4wq4djc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muremquqm22eWhile reviewing the results of some old public records requests this morning (as one does), I found a violation notice from Somerville's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) that seems relevant to a number of ongoing situations around the city. 1/?05 Sep 2026 11:25 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muremquqm22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3munlvauvjc2lWard 2 Councilor @jtforward2.bsky.social is resigning from city council effective Dec 31. There will be a special election for both Ward 2 and Ward 3 to elect people to serve out his and @benforward3.bsky.social’s terms. https://jtforward2.com/announcing-my-resignation-as-ward-2-councilor/03 Sep 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3munlvauvjc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mumyxwj5ns2lThis is an important point, and part of why it’s such a mistake to roll back into casually using racial and other epithets in our day to day conversation. No matter how nuanced your personal take, the people who look up to you - particularly kids - will take the words at face value. [contains quote post or other embedded content]03 Sep 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumyxwj5ns2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mulbohhlpc26A friend refers to the "a pedestrian was struck by a car" construction as the "exonerative" tense, and that shall be its name henceforth and hereafter.03 Sep 2026 01:17 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mulbohhlpc26https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mulba5imps26I was at an event this evening on the top floor of 10 Prospect (AKA the Darth Vader building). As we were leaving, one of the participants was looking at the pictures on the walls and asked if they were real. I was like "Fake. You can tell by the tenants."03 Sep 2026 01:09 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mulba5imps26https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mulaoogids26A rare, red instance of the genre.03 Sep 2026 00:59 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mulaoogids26https://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3mukvi5huq22pBiotech apocalypse, view from the inside.02 Sep 2026 21:38 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukvi5huq22phttps://bsky.app/profile/somershade.bsky.social/post/3muihav73f222Wow, traffic in Teele square at rush hour is fucking garbage, right?01 Sep 2026 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:xkngkuljerb2mnflvfdolyro/app.bsky.feed.post/3muihav73f222