About a dozen activists demanding Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone pass a local hiring ordinance packed his office yesterday, delivering Valentine's Day missives demanding action.
"All you need is love? All we need is jobs," was a refrain by the group, which delivered close to 200 messages to the mayor, according to Jobs for Somerville, which organized the action.
"I went today because I want to tell the mayor to sign the damn piece of paper to put Somerville people to work," said Frank Gargano, 46, in a statement.
The ordinance, proposed last year, would give local workers preference in the hiring process on projects that receive city subsidies.
But similar ordinances in other Massachusetts towns have faced legal challenges. The measure has languished in the Legislative Matters Committee since it was proposed last year.
If passed as currently drafted, the bylaw would give local people first look at 30 percent of jobs on projects that use city money.
The mayor did not meet with the group, Jobs for Somerville said.
