Alderman candidate looks to give back

By Amanda Patterson

Steve Glines, a Somerville attorney, is campaigning for one of the four Alderman At-Large seats on the city council. He said he is interested in the “global” perspective of Somerville; he now lives in Ward 6 but is moving to Ward 4 this fall. He spoke at the Somerville News contributor’s meeting at Diesel café Friday Sept. 30.
Glines is carving time out of his busy schedule to campaign for the Nov. 8 election. In addition to running a successful law practice, he volunteers for Harvard Legal Aid Services, which provides legal advice to low and middle income people. He is the former Director of Veterans Legal Services, and he still donates his time to them. 

“I do a lot of family law. I’m always the bad guy in that situation,” said Glines.
Glines said he is most concerned about public safety issues. He is in favor of the proposed restructuring of the police system, which would hold the police chief accountable to the mayor and reintroduce community policing; this means officers would be assigned to an area rather than being allowed to bid daily for location, said Glines.
“This plan also allows more police on the street,” said Glines. “It would increase the number form eight to ten police on the street at a time. It would also add a cop on duty between 6:00 pm and 2:00 am.”
“We used to have 130 officers, and now we have 83. I’m not delusional [about funding], but we need to get more,” he said.
The new plan is likely to cost the city $200,000 more per year. Glines believes that the police should have a grant writer, to help fund the force in addition to securing more funds from the State Assembly.
Glines sees grant writers as a possible solution for budget shortfalls in the school system as well.
“Education is a problem,” said Glines. “The number of teachers is down, the administration has been cut, classroom aides have been cut and it would be good to get a grant writer for the school. These positions pay for themselves.”
Glines said he is concerned with the rising costs of housing and the possibility that such increases will force out Somerville’s long time residents. 
“Affordable housing is not even just a low income issue anymore,” said Glines. Moderate income people are struggling as well, he said. He emphasized development as a central issue for the future of housing in the city.
But the biggest reason why Glines is eyeing a seat on the Board of Aldermen is so he can have an opportunity to help others.
“I am fortunate to be where I am, we built a good practice and now I can take the time to run for alderman. To give back makes me feel good,” he said.