Beatriz Gómez-Mouakad Somerville Ward 5 City Councilor

To all those folks who think migrants drain our tax dollars, think twice. In 2022 migrants contributed $ 96.7 million in US Taxes including Social Security. And yes this also pays for ICE agents and the Department of Homeland Security….sigh!

Friends did you know the Somerville Community is organizing a toy drive for those in need? Last day to buy gifts online via Amazon is TODAY!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2A0OGJCXLKU3G?ref_=wl_share

Would you consider a $$$ donation to the Somerville Toy Drive? Today is the last day
Please donate via GoFundMe or Venmo (-Aldana).

Are you interested in volunteering? Fill out this Google Form. They need drivers to deliver toys to families on December 21 from 10am-12PM

Questions? [email protected]

Please help spread the word!

Check out my list on Amazon

Did you know the Somerville Community is organizing a Toy Drive? Today is the last day to make donations via Amazon.

Check out my list on Amazon

There is a certain joy and serenity when you are sitting on the T headed home and you are able to admire the sunset and be thankful you are avoiding the traffic jams below. So grateful to live in a city with public transportation. ❤️.

On this post Election Day when spirits are down for some this OPEd I wrote about our school buildings was published. Let’s take the time to focus on our local issues and figure out how to move the much needed renovation or construction of a school here in Somerville. After all we need education to protect our democracy.

Future Perspectives on K-8 School Building Needs in Somerville: The Intersection of Equity Goals, and City Funding and Time Constraints

Future Perspectives on K-8 School Building Needs in Somerville: The Intersection of Equity Goals, and City Funding and Time Constraints (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Mi familia votó y la tuya? Vota es tu derecho. Piensa en tus padres y abuelos que no pudieron votar por el Presidente de los EUA porque no eran ciudadanos o eran residentes de un territorio de EUA. Piensa en las abuelas que no votaron porque las mujeres no tenían el derecho de votar.

Cuando votas le das un mensaje a los EUA que el latino si es parte de este país. Y no te olvides votar es solo el principio, aboga por tus derechos y por que te respeten tu dignidad como latino.

My family voted, did yours? Vote it is your right. Think of your parents and grand parents who could not vote because they were not US citizens or were residents of a US territory that did not have the right to vote for President. Think of your grandmothers who could not vote because women did not have the right to vote.

When you vote you give a message to the US that the Latino is part of the US. And remember voting is just the start, advocate for your rights and for respecting your dignity as a Latino!

Vote-vota hoy!!!!

It is not surprising to see a guest speaker at a presidential rally call PR an island of trash. Past presidents have called us barbarians. What is truly damaging is the continued denigration of the Puerto Rican people. We are more than a tourist destination!

To our Puerto Rican children be proud and do not let the trash talk stop you! Remember Puerto Rico lo hace mejor 💪🏽

How are affordable housing and reducing carbon emissions tied together? Here is a story. Somerville family displaced due to increased rents moves to Malden. Mother now commutes by car 40 minutes to get to her job in Arlington.

Thanks to Ward 5 Resident Jeff Shwom for this great article on Padres Latinos. Also thanks to Padres Latinos who has been bridging the gap between the Latino community and our city for more than 4 years!

Padres Latinos bridges gaps, lifts up Latino youth and moms, and advocates Padres Latinos is providing support systems for Portuguese and Spanish-speaking Somerville parents in Somerville. ~Photo courtesy of Padres Latinos

Embarrassing to admit but cruiser stopped me today for failing to stop for a pedestrian. I am grateful for this as I was definitely tired this am and know I spaced out. Glad no one was hurt, but want the community to know is looking after road safety🙏🏽

Friends due to construction to remove the slip lane,Neighborhood Produce will be closed tomorrow and Thursday - Yes, it’s unavoidable with construction there is disruption! It’s impossible to pour concrete and maintain access. Medford Street will still be open 😍.

With regards to library closings I believe the statement below misses one broader issue: The systemic abandonment of youth, particularly those who are at greater risk of resorting or being victims of violence. They fall through the cracks in our school system. Why?

How many of the youth in question never had access to after school programs in elementary school? Where they not performing at their full potential in elementary school? What did the schools do to address these issues? Did they have exposure to early childhood education?

Yes we are upset about the library closing, but is this just an issue of community public safety? I am not comfortable saying unruly youth are a community safety issue. Let’s ask how the community has failed them.