Leiran Biton

It’s 🍕o’clock in Ward 7! Drop in on your Ward 7 elected representatives for office hours and grab a slice on Sat Oct 18 from 11am-1pm at Angelina’s, featuring Rep. Christine Barber, Sen. Pat Jehlen, and me!

It seems like you want to figure out how to achieve peace in Israel and Palestine. We’re probably not going to do it on Bluesky. Coffee? (We probably won’t do it over coffee either, but at least it’s more pleasant.)

Yes, I do believe Palestinians have a right to self-determination.

That’s not at all what I am saying. That’s not what I have ever said or what I believe.

I would point you to the statement I made in April 2024. (Correcting my earlier misstatement.) The phrase “From the River to the Sea” is heard by many Jews, myself included, to be a call for violence and forceful removal of Jews from their indigenous homeland.

It’s a privilege to be in conversation with you. Maybe we can let tempers cool and unfreeze some of those blocks you just put on?

I object to hate speech being used in our schools, which is what I spoke out about in May 2024. And I listened attentively to feedback from you and others, including recitations of that same hate speech. I listen. I’m listening now. Try it, too.

You and I may disagree about whether Jewish people have a right to self-determination. But at least when I disagree with someone, I’m not too cowardly to hear a different perspective.

Breaking News: Politician who brought Somerville into Middle East politics complains about Middle East politics being injected into Somerville

Our local Council shouldn’t be tasked with perfecting the subtleties of how we condemn terrorist groups, let’s leave that to people qualified and tasked with doing that. It causes needless division in our community, that I think we are likely to get wrong. We have important work to focus on here.

I couldn't be more excited to endorse Emily Hardt for Somerville Ward 7 City Councilor, because now more than ever, we need leaders at the local level who know how to work in partnership to achieve results for our neighbors right here in West Somerville.

Sorry for the late-night update. Musk’s staffers are reaching out to leaders of nonprofit organizations, demanding to assign DOGE team members to any institute or agency receiving federal funds.

Harvard can fight back, or Harvard can capitulate. Don’t let fascists use the prestige of the nation’s most prestigious university to promote their hateful agenda.

STAND UP FIGHT BACK

Pretty sure the “.” in “al.” is to avoid this confusion specifically

I’m not giving up on us yet, despite the overwhelming pressure of the moment.

Now, EPA employees are being interrogated like criminals simply for doing their jobs.

Any one of these actions would be a massive scandal in a traditional presidency. Don’t look away.

Christiano offers a couple of words, thanking the city for "everything - the field, the schools, everything."

Yeah. We don't have to do schools and fields. We don't -have- to educate everybody ... but we -DO- and that's -IMPORTANT-.

10/?

Just closed my X account. F&%# that a$$hole. From deep, deep in my heart.

Since Trump is busy unilaterally renaming bodies of water down south, thought we’d get started up in New England.

How’s this?

Open message to Elon Musk:

Rumors are swirling that you’re spending $40 million on Super Bowl ads targeting USAID. If there were truly fraud, wouldn’t you not need to spend millions trying to convince people?

USAID begins sending administrative leave notices ahead of expected shutdown The agency also reportedly has ordered overseas missions to shut down by the end of the week.

And just like that, USAID is gone. Enjoying your cheaper eggs?

It's time again for office hours! Is there an issue you'd like to discuss with your local elected representatives? Come by and chat: Sat Feb 8 at 12:30-2pm, Angelina's Pizza.

I know the education EO is scary to read. But EOs do NOT create law. The way to fight back right now is to not over-comply. If your schools start following this, push back.

Trump Administration Fires Prosecutors Who Aided Jack Smith Investigations: Live Updates (Gift Article)

Can we call this #bloodyjanuary? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...

Our Statement on Recent Threats to Our Communities — Massachusetts Advocates for Children The events of the past week have left families and youth across Massachusetts and the United States reeling. This is by design. There have been real actions and blatant threats made on the federal lev...

I applaud @massadvocates.bsky.social and second their statement. We are in this together. www.massadvocates.org/news/january...

What: Policy-focused office hours (delicious, light snacks provided)
When: Sunday, January 26 from 1-2pm
Where: Basma Cafe, 198 Holland St

Go to leiran4somerville.com/links to access the policies.

It’s not chump change either. A little sunshine would have been nice, because, as you said, it’s cold out there.

Proud to be serving alongside @judypneufeld.bsky.social to represent Ward 7. Judy and I meet regularly and share information about schools/city government, & how best to respond to constituents. I am so humbled by her leadership and I am SO EXCITED that she is now President of the City Council.

It’s got early Twitter vibes. Awaiting billionaire takeover and evisceration but it’s fun for now.