Derrick Rice

Just some guy and his dog, looking for practical solutions to nuanced problems. Advocate for civic engagement in #SomervilleMA & live tweeting. he/him.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@IKrepchin would like you to know that speaking up about human rights is not under the purview of the Somerville School Committee.

Ilena should immediately apologize and step down as SC chair. This isn’t how we treat constituents who are speaking from their hearts.

[Erika Uyterhoeven @electerika]

I’ve never witnessed an elected official interrupt & cut off the mic within seconds of a public testimony until a Palestinian American father, educator, & longtime Somerville resident testified to urge SPS to break their silence on the genocide in Gaza https://t.co/j1RMTnGMeF

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

If you use signal and appreciate how it’s free from any of the awfulness of most other contemporary messaging platforms (such as using your data to target you with ads), consider paying for it.

https://t.co/mS6DX0qf5k

[Ben Ewen-Campen @BenForWard3]

Thrilled to be supporting Naima Sait (@NaimaforWard5) for the open Ward 5 City Council seat! I’ve known Naima for years as an community leader, high school teacher, and climate advocate (and a wonderful person!) and I’m proud to endorse her. https://t.co/ME1oImoUTV

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@somershade1 @Somernova02143 @AeronautBrewing Let’s also remember that Rafi properties owner Colin Yip had donated heavily to our mayors campaign war chest.

So expect some “favors” to be owed, here.

[Chris Friend @friendchristoph]

new all-time record for most slow zones on the #MBTA Red Line set yesterday.

it’s been 6 months and things have only gotten worse. does anyone care. could someone pretend this is a crisis

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@inLIUofJOAN @SomervilleInfr1 @somershade1 @311Somerville That'd be doing them a favor, in this case. 🫠

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

I'm super excited for Naima's candidacy and looking forward to talking shop with folks at this fundraising event.

Until then, you can find me out on the doors talking about why City Council needs Naima's perspective as a dedicated community member

RSVP: https://t.co/GUnENipO3X

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@MikeConnollyMA @MassDCR I think the real thanks go to the many local organizers who put in the work to shine a light on DCR’s bad faith response on the first place.

I don’t totally understand the tendency to “thank” systems of power when they get caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@somershade1 Oof. Split vote. I was undecided and didn’t vote 😬

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@AllIsFreeForMe @jarjoh @Booker1069 And, as others have already pointed out, there is at least 1 bill in the MA legislature which proposes to change the MGL banning rent control, state wide.

MA voters are likely in favor of this, given the 51-49 result of the rent control ban in the 90s.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

Tonight the City of Somerville is having a Rent Stabilization Listening Session for "For landlords and their advocates". That includes me, technically. Here's the commentary I will be giving in favor of strong rent control.

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[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@AllIsFreeForMe @jarjoh @Booker1069 Somerville is considering a Home Rule Petition, similar to what Boston had already put forward for rent stabilization. A HRP is a mechanism by which a MA town can request, from MA state leg., an exemption to MA general law (MGL) such as the MGL that bans rent control.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

Some of the anti-rent control comments at this evening’s listening session were saying that what we need was citywide up-zoning By Right, to increase housing density. I don’t see why that should be in conflict with rent control.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

Link to a web version of the commentary: https://t.co/CmUavFS3oF

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[Ben Ewen-Campen @BenForWard3]

"You have the federal Department of Transportation, not a bunch of wild-eyed radicals, reviewing this data, and they’re saying ‘This increases safety, decreases injury and does not, in any way, put pedestrians at increased risk.’" https://t.co/5Vk1W36xsJ

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@AuntyCourtney @MattForWard1 @MikeConnollyMA The organization hasn’t chosen anything, yet. A handful of resolution authors, only, thus far.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@geoffjentry @somershade1 @jimmydelpontesr @somervilletimes will print anything, it seems. Honestly I don’t blame them specifically. It’s a news desert out there and there’s no money to be made through journalistic integrity. Gotta get those clicks!

BINJ is a touch better. Barely.

I don’t know the way out of this.

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@AuntyCourtney @aefrieden @bgm_ward5 @JTforWard2 Glad to hear it! Which union? How can we give our support?

If I understand correctly there are many many positions in city hall that are non union. :(

[Derrick Rice @DerrickAndADog]

@aefrieden @bgm_ward5 @JTforWard2 I do not understand how the city expects to succeed at the salary rates they offer. Pay the people more!

[Chris Dwan (he/him) @somershade1]

This (that we ‘funded our shared values’) was not my takeaway from this year’s budget process at all.

This take sweeps many deep, serious, valid disagreements about both what we should do and how we should do it under the rug.

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