Your Personal Connection
Somerville is fortunate to have a rich cultural community. Please tell us about two instances in which you have had personally significant experiences with the arts and/or culture in Somerville.
It is difficult for me to limit my instances to two. I was an elected official during the first Somerville Open Studios. It is hard for me to describe how impressed I was with the eclectic talent that I observed as I tried to visit as many spaces as possible during that first weekend. Likewise, going to the first Porch Fest or the first Honk Fest were also very important to me. I always try to attend as many events as possible to show my support to the community, but also to have a good time and experience so much creativity.
City Investment in the Arts
How would you ensure government continues to support the creative community? As an elected official how would you ensure the Somerville cultural community receives the funding it needs to be a driving force in the city and region? At what financial level should the city invest in the creative sector? Do you support incremental increases, and if so, at what percent? How might this relate to the Arts Council and staffing? Do you believe that investment in infrastructure for the arts in Somerville will prove valuable in sustaining and growing our creative ecosystem and cultural economy?
Under state law, the Board of Aldermen cannot add funds to the budget of any department. We can only cut from the budget that is presented to us by the Mayor. Therefore, we do not make determinations with regard to percentage increases, etc. I have always supported any increases in the City’s budget related to the arts as I believe it is an important contributing factor to Somerville’s reputation and growth.
Cultural Infrastructure and ArtFarm
Three years ago, Somerville started the planning process to redevelop the former waste transfer site into a site that would support the physical infrastructure needs of both the arts and urban agricultural community. Do you, as a candidate, support this effort? At this site? And if so, what can you do to ensure it becomes a reality? Considering that the City views itself innovative, which aspects of ArtFarm do you find innovative in a way that would reinforce the culturally progressive nature of our changing City? ArtFarm has received 1.4 million in outside investment — do you support further City investment to make Artfarm a permanent cultural resource for Somerville? In addition to ArtFarm, what are other strategies and means can you imagine that would further develop and support the cultural infrastructure of the City?
When the request was made to the Board of Aldermen to accept the grant for the ArtFarm, I voted to accept the grant and was in favor of the program. Outside of approving funding requests, it is difficult to see how the Board of Aldermen could take any measures to insure it becomes a reality. I am certainly open to suggestions on how to help. To be honest, no one has contacted me about this issue and I would certainly welcome the opportunity to discuss it in detail and ways in which I might be of assistance.
Supporting a Diverse and Inclusive City
Somerville is a diverse and thriving community. How would you support creative community to build connections that maintain and support the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity that makes this City thrive? How would you ensure that immigrants play pivotal roles in shaping our cultural infrastructure? Do you see immigrants getting priced out of Somerville as a problem — and what are your ideas to retain our immigrant communities, and thus sustain our diverse culture?
This is an excellent question. I certainly would participate in any bridge building activities that could promote connections between the arts community and our diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. In Somerville’s current governmental operating structure, however, I can think of no greater organization to undertake this important role than the Somerville Arts Council. In fact, during the next budget process, I will inquire of the Arts Council the measures that it has undertaken to make these important connections and its long term plans in that regard. As demonstrated by my vote to increase the affordable housing inclusionary zoning requirement to 20%, I am quite concerned about people being priced out of Somerville. I will also support an increase in the affordable housing linkage fee to bring additional funds into the affordable housing trust fund to be used to help finance the creation of affordable housing units and the purchase of existing 2 and 3 family homes. One of the ways of sustaining our diverse culture was my vote in favor of the Trust Act. I also introduced resolutions before the Board of Aldermen to support the extension of the Temporary Protective Status program and in support of the Dream Act.
Public Art and Creative Placemaking
Somerville does a wonderful job of supporting art and artists in public spaces through its many festivals and civic events; how will you ensure this continues and reflects the diverse community? How would you expand upon the “temporary” events and create more permanent works embedded in the Somerville landscape? Would this look like a traditional percent-for-permanent-art program, tied to development, similar to Cambridge? How could you leverage the expansive private development occurring in the City to invest in sustaining arts and culture? Space to Rehearse, Create and Live The lack of affordable studio space and housing makes it hard for artists—not to mention working class families and immigrants— to stay in Somerville. How would you keep artists of all backgrounds in the city and provide the infrastructure necessary for them to thrive? What specifically can the City accomplish and how can it leverage private development to provide more live and work spaces for artists? Do you support current initiatives including work/live housing for artists and fabrication zoning to retain creative spaces?
As I discussed above, any City funding of festivals, events, etc. is done through the budget, largely through the Arts Council. I would certainly be open to examining methods to fund additional programs. During this election campaign, I was really struck by the number of groups who have been impacted by increasing rents. In additional to those in the traditional low income category, we have also heard from municipal employees who are unable to afford housing in Somerville, people of moderate income who have lived here and are being forced out by increasing rents but do not qualify for any governmental programs, folks being displaced in areas under development, seniors and members of the arts community. The Somerville Community Corp. also has engaged on the 100 Homes Initiative to purchase 2 and 3 family homes in existing neighborhoods to provide affordable housing there. The City’s affordable housing trust fund should be receiving a substantial infusion of funds as a result of the new commercial buildings that are being proposed. Certainly, the fund should look at ways to fund appropriate affordability programs for all of these groups.
One way to leverage development for live and work spaces would be through incentive zoning in certain areas. I do support zoning that would include work/live housing and fabrication zoning.
Youth Engagement
Engaging students with the arts in school and out of school is essential to educating the whole child. While the Somerville school curricula provide access to many, we need more participation in arts education. Somerville’s out of school youth arts organizations continue to service thousands of kids, yet struggle to raise the resources needed to meet student demand. How would you invest in arts education for students of all ages, both inside and outside of school to ensure all youth in Somerville have a connection to the arts?
To the extent that funding for arts programs would be handled through the schools, then the School Committee would play the dominant role by funding those items in its budget that would be submitted to the Board of Aldermen as part of the City’s overall budget. In all of my years, the Board of Aldermen has never cut the School Department budget. With regard to funding outside of the School Department budget, then I believe the Arts Council would serve as the mechanism. I would certainly be amenable to discussing any funding requests in that budget that was designed to increase arts education for our children. To be honest, one of my greatest regrets as a student in the Somerville School system many decades ago was my lack of any real experience in any of the arts. I especially regret the lack of ever learning to play any musical instrument. I think that is one reason why I am so happy to see the El Sistema program in the Somerville Schools and would welcome similar programs in other areas of the arts.
