October is Canvassing Time

Do you like talking with people? Even if you don’t, would you be willing to have a few short conversations anyway? Somerville YIMBY is knocking on doors and making calls for our endorsed candidates, and we need your help. Wear your Somerville YIMBY shirt if you’ve got one, and join us for canvassing for:

• Willie Burnley, Jr.

• Scott Istvan

• Ben Wheeler

• Jon Link: Email Jon’s campaign to learn about volunteering.

• Will Mbah

• Emily Hardt

• Naima Sait

Visit somervilleyimby.org/elections/2025-election for our voter guide, and be sure to vote! The Somerville general election is on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and the last day to register to vote in it is October 24.

Join us at SomerStreets Monster Mash

Do you love monsters? Do you love housing? Let's do some tabling at the Somerville Monster Mash event! We’ll be on Somerville Ave near School Street on Sunday, October 19, from 2:00–6:00, handing out candy and talking about housing. Learn more and sign up to help.

Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Measure

We often hear that Somerville can’t solve a regional housing shortage alone, and that’s where campaigns like Legalize Starter Homes come in. It’s a statewide ballot initiative to reduce lot-size requirements that prevent construction of moderate-size “starter” homes. If you haven’t yet signed their petition, let us know.

Upcoming Events

• October 1: Zoning Board of Appeals — A building on Broadway needs permission for windows and mechanical placement changes. 6:00 pm, online via Zoom.

• October 2: Planning Board — Reviewing changes to a proposal for an apartment building on Somerville Avenue.

• October 2: Land Use Committee — Agenda TBA. 6:30 pm, online via Zoom.

• October 3: Beyond Renting — A presentation on co-housing from Restored Living. 2:00-4:00 pm, in person at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St, Cambridge.

• October 3: Somerville YIMBY Monthly Social — 6:00 pm at Remnant Brewing, Bow Market.

• October 4: Western Pearl Street Reconstruction Open House — Review the latest updates to the city’s plan for Pearl Street near Gilman Square. Drop in between noon and 2:00 pm, Ed Leathers Park, 98 Walnut Street.

• October 6: Davis Square Public Safety Meeting — Updates and discussion on disorder and safety in the square. 6:00 pm, in person at Somerville Community Baptist Church and streamed online via YouTube.

• October 8: Somerville YIMBY General Meeting — 6:00 pm, online via Zoom.

• October 8: Housing Policy Panel Discussion — Join Somerville YIMBY and A Better Cambridge for a discussion with Vincent Rollet (MIT), Amy Dain (Boston Indicators), John Infranca (Suffolk Law), and Jake Gilbert (National Zoning Atlas). In person, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, details TBA.

As always, you can find our Google calendar at somervilleyimby.org/calendar. If you notice we’ve missed an event, feel free to reply to this message and let us know!

Recommended

Do apartment buildings really need two stairwells? The Globe explores reforms to building code which could make it easier to build housing without compromising safety. This policy update is one that our endorsed candidate Scott Istvan has been vocal about supporting.

Housing Shortage Map — A map of the locations where the housing shortage is most dire.

Fewer Students Means Higher Apartment Rental Vacancies in Boston: This is the wrong way to balance supply and demand.

‘It was too effing complicated:’ A pro-housing reckoning over MBTA Communities law: Commonwealth Beacon discusses lessons learned from the current state legislature push for housing creation.

In Chinatown, a new library branch will include more than 100 affordable homes: We should do the same for every library and train station, and mix in market-rate housing to pay for it.