my view on "old" somerville

I am tired of people liking John Shea pimping off someone elses ideas. Can someone tell Mr. Shea that he probably watched to many Spike Lee movies or Soprano specials? I find it particularly insulting that someone needs to resort to using cheap and demeaning steroptypes that are demeaning to the long time residents (current and past) of Somerville..
To minimize and insult "old" Somerville in any way... is no less insulting than it is to minimize the American-Italian culture as "mafia", the American-Irish as "drinkers", or the African-Amercians as "lazy".

I lived in Somerville from 1967 to 1994, and have remained active in the City my entire adult life. I knew all of the Mayors on a first name basis back to Jim Brennan (circa 1965). I own property in Somerville- and now and my wife and I are likely to move back there. Whether I live in Somerville or not- I have always been proud to say that I am from Somerville- because of the content of the people I knew and grew up with.

I lived through the years that people from the outside called Somerville.. Slumerville... in large part - because as Mr. Shea inacurately depicts - they had no clue as to what was going on in the old Somerville. There was a perception by couch potatoes and people afraid of urban life that the sensationlism depicted on an occassional news show was reality. The fact is the "old" Somerville has a lot I hope it will pass along to the "new" Somerville.

The old Somerville took care of its family and friends when no one else would. The Somerville I grew up in was not afraid of newcomers- the reason most of us where Irish and Italian was not one else wanted to live in Somerville. People from Somerville then as they do now went to work every day, took care of their families, restored property, where spiritual, and had a great sense of community. Most of us welcomed newcomers... Please tell Mr. Shea the "old" Somerville was not like one of those Spike Lee movies... we never vandalized or burnt down any restaraunts... we just ate at them... We never had a Mayor who set up an immigrant... we had Mayors who looked out for their friends and families when no one else would...The "old" Somerville I knew did not consist of newcomers getting a beatdown. The rough and tumple that existed was applied to everyone- and it made most of us smarter and stronger. Please tell Mr. Shea he needs to do some homework.... however I am sure he is welcome to stay in Somerville whether he is right or wrong... because thats the way it has always been.

Finally... I really like Davis Square area... but I am a little tired of people wanting to make Somerville the next Cambridge.. I believed then as I do now that the character of Somerville was a unique and wonderful... and we should pass it along... not crap on it ... or try to make it into something it is not.

Sincerly



Bud (O'Brien) Melaragni