The City funded and operated a well-run Warming Center this past winter, but it was not permanent and was not used as a Cooling Center.   W ill you commit to creating and financing a permanent, year-round Center?   If so, what steps will you take first?  In Davis Square, I spoke with Health and Human Services outreach who told me the mobile showers unit is not servicing and the Somerville Homeless Coalition bathroom is no longer public.   I am sick at heart that these operational shortfalls go unnoticed. This questionnaire makes my heart happy. Sincerely, if interest I've shown to support unhoused through the Poor People's Campaign and the Somerville Human Rights Commission has limited impact or efficacy, this is why I am in the race for Councilor At-large. Since the 'Eviction' exhibit at the Armory where the warming center was and then Cummings School building site hosting winter warming center. I will research this proactively. While some w...

 Several questions began with a case in Ball Square where it took two years to open the coffee shop.     I received a gorgeous tote bag at the pre-opening of #Pound and spoke to the owner who described the investment of $150,000+ in opening the store.  The owner described commuting from Malden but opening in Ball Square despite the difficulty because "We believe in Somerville." Several years ago, as I joined the Human Rights Commission, we launched a project to recruit immigrant-owned businesses to send in a commercial for their store--an initiative that may have new life thanks to the quorum of 11-members now reached. With that in the back of my mind, and to answer this questionnaire, I spoke with an immigrant/woman-owned business owner, whose account follows. "Empecamos en Junio, abrir en Enero. Siete meses. Nos consequimos muy rapido porque fue Covid." The immigrant-owned cafe owner explained that during the Pandemic City Hall was closed. In their case, openi...

    August 15 7:30am--ICE Burlington HQ   2025 Progressive Mass Municipal Candidate Questionnaire       Name: Christopher Ryan Spicer Office Sought: Somerville City Councilor At-Large Website: www.ElectSpicer.com BlueSky: h ttps://bsky.app/profile/crspicer.bsky.social   (A) Your Candidacy   1.  What would be your top three priorities if elected to serve? I prioritize a human rights approach and direct access to city services for all residents but especially those most vulnerable persons, combating discrimination. I would advocate for not only affordable housing but improved affordability to age in place, and for young families, greater rent stabilization, approving expenditures for wrap-around supports for students facing food and housing insecurity. We need to keep talking about race, implement policy with our collective equity-lens, and enact affirmative value of black and brown neighbors facing displacement. I will move the agenda for l...

After solicitations to upcoming candidate forums I wondered about who would be in the room and language justice. I had reached out to the new Executive Director Sara Kirubi to take temperature about plans to promote civic participation and solicit a questionnaire. The history below was added in lieu of no questionnaire to keep myself centered and rooted and to show appreciation to the Project's long history in supporting direct access and advocacy for human rights. Director Kirubi replied that the translators program was available to give assistance to upcoming candidate forums. Below excerpted from email to The Welcome Project: My understanding is that fear of reprisal is rampant in the nonprofit community,not simply for being suspect of violating Internal Revenue Service rules that limit political activities. Yet an event was announced for October by a coalition a candidate forum after the prelims. I don't see collaborative governance happening to achieve greater diversity of...

 Responses by Christopher Ryan Spicer This is an excerpt from the SASS questionnaire: Do you support the SomerVision 2040 goal of reducing vehicular traffic so that 75% of work commutes are made via non-car mode by 2040? Please explain your answer. * Yes, I do support the SomerVision 2040 goal. My Nigerian neighbor grew up taking out lifestock, goats, sheep, into the pasture, now is a renter and a devoted driver, attached to his car to the point he says it's his favorite thing about living in America--but then, months later--he's completely flipped--I see him coming off of the MBTA line--he loves it. His whole world has changed. About these goals--some say that "micromobility facilities" are just a white issue--and that bears out in my experience. That is the challenge to this movement, to widen our circles and find intersectional points--which brings me to why I support the goal. I am concerned about the fact black and brown families are most impacted by pollution an...