If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.2021 CCJ Notes - September through December
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Sept 19, 2021 - The following message was sent on September 7 (12 days ago) to the Community Development Department. There has been no acknowledgement of receipt of the message by anyone at CDD. It is interesting that the City provides no mechanism for members of the public to contact the respective Chairs of these citizen boards, so unless you know the members personally (and I do, but I am trying to do things properly here), all communications apparently have to be sent to City staff before anyone on the committee will see it. That should change. All City boards should have a simple mechanism via which members of the public can communicate without having to contact individual members. - RW
To: Transit Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Community Development Department
I would like to formally request that the Transit Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and any other relevant entity in the Community Development Department issue a policy statement that simply states that seating specifically designated for a bus stop be available for the use of bus passengers.
This may seem obvious enough, but there has been an ongoing problem in Central Square where the #1 Bus stops – primarily inbound, but also outbound – have been occupied all day by people who are not bus passengers, who spend the entire day there, and who often engage in intimidating behavior. There are plenty of alternatives in Central Square for people to congregate and sit. Bus stops have a designated use that other seating areas do not, and that designated use needs to be respected. At almost any hour of the day you will find people waiting for the #1 Bus at a distance from the bus stop because of the lack of access at the bus shelters.
Robert Winters
366 BroadwayPS - I was unable to find any email contact information for the respective Chairs of the Transit Advisory Committee and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, so I would appreciate it if this request could also be forwarded to them for their consideration.
Message received on Sept 21 from Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning, CDD:
I have received your email requesting a policy statement stating that bus stop seating be designated for the use of bus passengers. Benches at bus stops are available to be used by both bus passengers and people in general – they are not designated for the sole use of transit riders. Multiple city agencies have programs and staffing in place to respond if there are concerns about behavior that affects the ability of people to use transit and public streets and plazas in general.
With respect to reaching members of the city’s transportation advisory committees, we don’t provide personal information for advisory committee members but City staff contacts for each committee are listed on our website. The relevant staff persons for the committees you asked about have relayed your communication.
And my response (Sept 21):
With all due respect, I consider this statement to be nonresponsive. I was asking that bus stop seating be given a special use designation. Law enforcement personnel are hesitant to do anything without such a designation, and I believe this to be an entirely reasonable request. I am also not aware of any regulation that would prevent such a designation.
Robert Winters
PS (Dec 23) - There has been no indication of any response or action by either the Transit Advisory Committee or the Pedestrian Committee on this matter. Indeed, there has been no indication that City staff ever forwarded my concerns to either of these committees. - RW
If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.
Cambridge councillors take up campaign finance (Dec 30, 2021)
88-year-old woman dies in Cambridge fire (Dec 29, 2021, updated Dec 30)
Massachusetts housing market forecast 2022: Price increases slow, inventory still too low (Dec 30, 2021, subscribers only)
Massachusetts law going in effect Jan. 1 targets surprise medical bills (Dec 28, 2021, updated Jan 3, 2022))
COVID testing line stretches around Cambridgeside Galleria before of Christmas holiday (Dec 22, 2021)
Councillors want city manager to do more as COVID sweeps across Cambridge (Dec 21, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: The week of Dec. 20 - 26, 2021 (Dec 20, 2021)
Councillors discuss Cambridge's guaranteed-income pilot (Dec 20, 2021)
Cambridge distributing over 21K COVID-19 at-home tests (Dec 20, 2021)
Why do people love Cambridge so much? Here’s one woman’s answer. (Dec 17, 2021)
Cambridge councillors-elect talk goals before 2022 session convenes (Dec 16, 2021)
Cambridge reports 143 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the most on a single day ever (Dec 16, 2021)
Edwards bests D'Ambrosio in special state Senate primary, earns 95% of Cambridge vote (Dec 15, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Dec. 12 - 18, 2021 (Dec 13, 2021)
Should Cambridge have mandatory vaccination for city employees? (Dec 13, 2021, updated Dec 14)
A sliver of Cambridge to vote in Dec. 14 state primary (Dec 8, 2021)
Cambridge City Council denounces alleged bike lane violence (Dec 7, 2021)
Protesters in Cambridge demand Moderna share vaccine formula (Dec 7, 2021)
With winter looming, Cambridge restaurants face closures (Dec 7, 2021)
Cambridge reports highest single-day COVID-case count since April (Dec 6, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Dec. 6-11, 2021 (Dec 5, 2021)
Cambridge police recruiting new officers, to host Dec. 13 info session (Dec 3, 2021)
As shortages continue to strain nation's workforce, New England police struggle to hire (Dec 3, 2021)
Cambridge expands COVID-19 testing to five times a week (Dec 3, 2021)
Cambridge extends meal program with restaurants, homeless shelters (Dec 2, 2021)
Officials differ on using Cambridge schools as polling places (Nov 30, 2021)
'Cambridge 400' aims to widen the city's historical lens (Nov 30, 2021)
OPINION: A case for fixing 'Entering Cambridge' signs (Nov 30, 2021 by Leslie Oliver)
On Dec. 7, Cambridge launches curbside textile collection program (Nov 29, 2021)
Voting in Cambridge participatory budgeting process runs Dec 3-12 (Nov 28, 2021)
Derrick Neal named Cambridge chief public health officer (Nov 28, 2021)
Members sought to fill Cambridge Public Library trustee vacancies (Nov 28, 2021)
Cambridge Police Department welcomes new cadets (Nov 28, 2021)
Animal control officer: Cambridge wild turkeys are alive and well (Nov 24, 2021)
PHOTO GALLERY: The wild turkeys of Cambridge, Mass. (Nov 24, 2021)
FAITH IN ACTION: Celebrating Thanksgiving’s 400th anniversary of revisionist history (Nov 23, 2021 by Irene Monroe)
Rodents revisited: City manager fills Cambridge councilors in on rat program, efforts (Nov 23, 2021)
Cambridge nonprofit helping young adults, changing lives turns 20 (Nov 23, 2021)
Cambridge councillors support bill to give tenants right of first refusal (Nov 18, 2021)
Note: Because the right of first refusal is transferable, the likely outcome of this legislation would be the transfer of privately-owned buildings to entities like the Cambridge Housing Authority and Just-A-Start, i.e. not tenant ownership at all.
Meet The Cambridge Chronicle's new editor and reporter, Will Dowd (Nov 17, 2021)
‘Save Mass Ave’ group pushes back on bike lanes planned for Cambridge’s largest thoroughfare (Nov 17, 2021)
Cambridge celebrates Danehy Park's new universal-design playground (Nov 16, 2021)
OPINION: Former editor Amy Saltzman on her departure – 'Support local journalism' (Nov 12, 2021 by Amy Saltzman)
Here’s why more vets are contacting Cambridge’s Veterans Services Office (Nov 12, 2021)
Food for Free is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Somerville, Cambridge (Nov 9, 2021)
We took a deep look at public housing in Massachusetts. What you need to know (Nov 8, 2021)
Billion-dollar backlogs and aging properties: Inside Mass public housing (Nov 8, 2021, subscribers only)
Preliminary election results: Incumbents reelected, two new councilors in (Nov 3, 2021)
Cambridge election 2021: Residents reveal who got their No. 1 vote and why (Nov 3, 2021)
Cambridge considers winter youth work program (Nov 2, 2021)
To create pathways for trades work, Cambridge offers paid intro program (Nov 2, 2021)
First Miyawaki Forest planted in the Northeast in Massachusetts (Nov 2, 2021)
The Cambridge Public Health Department and city partners are hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for the Cambridge community on Wed, Jan 5 from 3:30pm to 7:30pm in the Field House at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS), 459 Broadway.
The clinic will offer free Pfizer pediatric and adult COVID-19 vaccines:
In South Africa, overall case counts have been falling for two weeks, plummeting 30 percent in the last week to an average of less than 11,500 a day.
The City of Cambridge today announced that, beginning Mon, Jan 3, 2022, it will expand its free COVID-19 testing program to seven days per week during the month of January through its partnership with CIC Health. People who live or work in Cambridge can now book an appointment and be tested for free at CIC Health’s 295 Third Street location in Cambridge any day of the week.
In addition, walk-in testing will continue to be offered at the City’s other testing sites on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. No appointment, identification, or Social Security number is required at these sites. LEARN MORE
The City of Cambridge offers free COVID-19 testing 5 days per week for people who live or work in Cambridge. Walk-in testing is offered 4 days per week and a 5th day of testing, by appointment only, is available on Saturdays.
Walk-in testing without appointments:
Saturday testing by appointment only:
Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.
Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Learn more.
The City of Cambridge is offering COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics by appointment only for eligible people aged 18 and older who live or work in Cambridge on the following dates and times:
• Monday, January 3 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
• Thursday, January 6 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
These clinics will take place on the third floor inside the CambridgeSide mall at 100 CambridgeSide Place in East Cambridge and will offer only the Moderna vaccine.
First and second doses of the Moderna vaccine will also be available. Learn more.
Today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a review of breakthrough COVID-19 cases in vaccinated Massachusetts residents and found nearly 97% of all breakthrough cases in the Commonwealth have not resulted in hospitalization or death. Additionally, the review found unvaccinated residents are five times more likely to become infected than fully vaccinated residents (two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson) and unvaccinated residents are 31 times more likely to become infected than fully vaccinated residents who have received a booster.
The review also found that 99.9% of breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated people under the age of 60 did not result in death. Among the breakthrough cases for residents over the age of 60, 97% did not result in death. No deaths have been reported in breakthrough cases among those under age 30.
Residents under age 40 accounted for 84% of new confirmed cases in the past week: children 0-19 (19% of cases); adults 20-29 (45% of cases); and adults 30-39 (20% of cases). CPHD is aware of several small clusters, but no single large cluster that is driving this increase. The department is monitoring the situation closely. Once CPHD receives sequencing data for the most recent week, the department may be better able to determine if the omicron variant is playing a role in the current trends.
Of the Cambridge cases reported in the last two days, 53% occurred in people in their 20s and 16% occurred in people age 0-19. The steep increase in Cambridge cases since Thanksgiving mirrors statewide trends. Once CPHD receives sequencing data for the most recent week, the department may be better able to determine if the omicron variant is playing a role in the current trends.
Given the rising number of infections, CPHD reminds residents to:
If you believe you were exposed to someone with COVID-19, the health department recommends that you:
The City of Cambridge currently provides free COVID-19 PCR testing 5 days per week. Rapid tests for at-home use are available at many local pharmacies.
Mameve Medwed, novelist with an ‘irrepressible sense of humor,’ dies at 79 (Boston Globe, Dec 28, 2021)
“When I set out to write, I’m very serious, not planning on being funny, and it just comes out that way,” she said in an interview with Deborah Kalb that was posted online in January. “And we all need some humor, especially now. It’s just the way I write.”
Updated: Mameve Medwed, who filled her novels with humor and heartbreak, dies at 79 (Dec 29, 2021)
Dec 14, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill vacancies for members and alternate members on the following Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) Commissions: Mid Cambridge, Avon Hill, and Half Crown-Marsh.
Neighborhood Conservation Districts were established by city ordinance in 1983. Conservation district designation recognizes a distinctive physical environment that reflects the architectural, cultural, political, economic, or social history of the city. NCDs foster wider public knowledge and appreciation of such neighborhoods. Designation encourages the conservation and maintenance of these areas so that the city may be a more attractive and desirable place in which to live and work.
Each NCD commission includes five members and three alternates. Most members must reside in the respective district. More information and maps of each NCD are available through the following links:
The volunteer commissions meet monthly and are supported by the professional staff of the Cambridge Historical Commission. Applicants should have an interest in architecture and local history and be committed to conserving and enhancing the characteristic built environment of the neighborhood. Minority candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
Experience in the fields of real estate, architecture, or historic preservation is desirable. Appointments to these Commissions are made by the City Manager, with regard for a diversity of viewpoints and experience.
Individuals interested in being considered should apply through the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and select the respective commission. A cover letter and résumé or summary of applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are also available through the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Application deadline extended to Jan 3, 2022.
Dec 14, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission.
The Commission’s mission is to advocate for a culture of respect and to monitor progress toward equality of all persons with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The Commission also promotes policies and practices that have a positive effect on the health, welfare, and safety of persons who live, visit, or work in the City of Cambridge with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
The Commission holds a public meeting on the 4th Thursday of each month (3rd Thursday in November, and no meeting in December or August). Though scheduled meetings are required, much of the work done by Commissioners is often outside of scheduled meetings through working groups. Commissioners work together and with city staff to achieve the goals and objectives of the LGBTQ+ Commission Ordinance.
The LGBTQ+ Commission consists of 20 members appointed by the City Manager to serve three-year terms. Individuals who live or work in Cambridge are eligible to apply. We are seeking members of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and abilities to join the Commission. It is desirable for this Commission to be fully representative of the diverse Cambridge community; and it is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
Applications to serve on the Commission can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience may be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
To learn more about the Commission please visit Cambridgema.gov/lgbtqplus. Application deadline extended to Jan 3, 2022.
Dec 14, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking a Cambridge resident to fill a vacancy on the Cambridge Water Board.
The Cambridge Water Board is a five-member board appointed by the City Manager that acts in an advisory role to the Managing Director of the Cambridge Water Department. Members typically assist in developing, modifying, and approving policy related to Water Department owned land and land use. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
The board generally meets on the second Tuesday of the month, from 5:00-6:30pm, at the Walter J. Sullivan Water Purification Facility, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway.
Applications to serve on this committee can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience should be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Application deadline extended to Jan 3, 2022.
Dec 14, 2021 – The City of Cambridge today announced the results for the eighth Participatory Budget (PB) Process. From December 3-12, 7,441 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted to decide how to spend $1 million on capital projects to improve the community.
The goal of PB is intended to directly involve residents in city budgeting, encourage civic engagement, foster community spirit, and help ensure that the city’s Capital Plan reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents. The winning projects were announced during a virtual results event.
The following 7 projects won $1,140,000 in FY23 Capital Funding:
“This year’s strong turnout is a testament to the passion our residents have for their community,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale, adding that it was the second highest voter participation rate in Cambridge's PB history. “I am extremely proud that we continue to engage the public with the City’s budgeting process. Thanks to Participatory Budgeting, Cambridge residents become true stakeholders in deciding community-driven capital projects. I am thrilled to be able to add an additional $140,000 to this year’s cycle to fully fund electric vehicle charging stations as a seventh winning project.”
Residents submitted more than 1,070 ideas for consideration online, by email, by mail, and over the phone. More than 50 volunteer Budget Delegates then researched and developed the submitted ideas into formal project proposals. During this time, budget delegates met virtually with city staff to better understand cost estimates and project feasibility, and then consolidated the list and came up with the final proposals that were on the December PB ballot for a public vote. Residents were able to vote online in English and 7 foreign languages, over the telephone, and at in-person voting locations at the Main Library, and the Cambridge Community Center.
“We were able to conduct another successful PB campaign thanks to the hard work of our dedicated PB Budget Delegates and other volunteers, as well as our staff, and, of course, the continued participation of our residents," said Cambridge Budget Director Taha Jennings.
To learn more about PB and the winning projects, please visit pb.cambridgema.gov.
Dec 3, 2021 – The City of Cambridge today announced that, beginning this Saturday, December 4, it is expanding its free COVID-19 testing program to five days per week. Through a new partnership with CIC Health, the City will launch a pilot appointment-only testing site by offering 300 appointments on Saturdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm at CIC Health’s 295 Third Street location in Cambridge. In the coming weeks, the number of appointments at this pilot testing site will be expanded.
“In an effort to provide more testing opportunities for those who live or work in Cambridge, we’re proud to offer this new Saturday testing pilot,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale in a joint statement. “As we enter the winter months and more people gather inside around the holidays, it’s important that people who feel sick stay home and get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms. We want to thank the members of the Cambridge Pandemic Collaborative for their continued work and CIC Health for their partnership as we expand our testing program.”
To schedule a Saturday appointment, please visit https://www.cic-health.com/cambridge. You will need to create a new account and select one of the 300 available appointment slots through CIC’s system. Walk-ins will not be accepted at this site and testing on December 4 is limited to 300 appointments. Residents will receive test results administered at this site through the CIC’s system. Questions related to creating an account, booking an appointment or accessing test results at the Saturday testing site should be directed to CIC’s Customer Service Team at support@cic-health.com or 877-280-2937.
Walk-in testing will continue to be offered at the City’s other testing sites on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. No appointment, identification, or Social Security number is required. All sites are wheelchair accessible.
Hours and locations for the City’s walk-in COVID-19 testing sites are:
Please note that the City of Cambridge testing program provides PCR test results only and is unable to provide individualized documentation for travel purposes (e.g., entering passport information into a patient record). For travel documentation, please seek testing through another location.
The City of Cambridge continues to monitor COVID-19 data closely and will make adjustments to COVID-19 testing and mitigation strategies as needed.
To find other testing options, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-testing. This site lets you search for testing by zip code. The site also provides information about home COVID-19 tests that can be ordered online.
All residents 5 years of age and older are encouraged to get vaccinated and get a booster dose, when eligible. To find a vaccine location near you, visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov.
For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 to sign up for daily City of Cambridge email updates.
Dec 3, 2021 – As part of its 8th Participatory Budgeting (PB) Cycle, the City of Cambridge invites residents age 12 and older (including all 6th graders) to vote on projects to improve the City from December 3-12, 2021. This process is open to everyone in the Cambridge community, including non-U.S. citizens and university students.
Cambridge residents can vote online at pb.cambridgema.gov. Online voting will be text message or email authenticated; voters will enter their cell phone number or email on the PB website, a code will be sent to them, and then they will enter that code online for one-time access to the ballot. The online ballot will be available in English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, Amharic, Arabic, and Bengali.
Residents can also vote over the phone by calling the Budget Office at 617-349-4270 during regular business hours: Friday, Dec 3 from 8:30am-12:00pm; Monday, Dec 6 from 8:30am-8:00pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Dec 7- 9, from 8:30am-5:00pm; Friday, Dec 10, from 8:30am-12:00pm.
Paper ballots are also available through the Budget Office during regular business hours.
Help spread the word, and make your voice heard today! For more information about each project or how you can vote, please visit pb.cambridgema.gov or contact the City of Cambridge Budget Office at pb@cambridgema.gov or (617) 349-4270.
Dec 3, 2021 – The deadline to apply for the next Civil Service exam to become a Cambridge Police Officer has been announced. The written examination is scheduled to take place in March 2022. The deadline to apply for the exam is Jan 18, 2022. Late applications will be accepted until Feb 1, 2022. All interested Cambridge residents are encouraged to apply by visiting www.cambridgepolice.org/joinCPD.
In advance of the application deadline, the Cambridge Police will host the first of a series of virtual information sessions on Mon, Dec 13 at 7:00pm. During this session, residents can get more information on the application, hiring and selection process, learn about key timelines, and meet virtually with officers to ask questions and learn more about policing in Cambridge. To register for the Dec 13th session, please visit: https://camb.ma/CPDInfoSession.
“Cambridge residents have a unique opportunity to join a nationally recognized 21st-century police department,” said City Manager Louis DePasquale. “A career with the Cambridge Police Department means you are joining a progressive team dedicated to making a genuine difference in the community. I strongly encourage anyone interested in public service to apply for the next police exam today.”
“Working at CPD represents an opportunity to serve a larger purpose,” said Acting Police Commissioner Christine Elow. “Residents can be part of a change in policing that will make the Department, the City of Cambridge and the profession better. We encourage all residents – especially those who may have never considered a career in policing—to highly consider attending our upcoming information session and applying today.”
A dedicated website that contains important dates, FAQs, a breakdown of the examination and selection processes, information on benefits and incentives, videos, training insights and more is available at www.cambridgepolice.org/joinCPD. Residents can also access the recruiting website by texting the message JoinCPD (note: no spaces) to 72345.
Residents should contact CPD’s Office of Planning Budget and Personnel at Personnel@CambridgePolice.Org with any questions or for further information.
Nov 29, 2021 – The City of Cambridge announced today that it will be launching free curbside collection of clothing and textiles for reuse and recycling beginning December 7, 2021. Residents can schedule their free curbside collection through the Zero Waste Cambridge app or the Get Rid of It Right tool beginning today. Curbside collection of textiles is free and will take place at least once per week in Cambridge.
The city has partnered with HELPSY, a textiles recovery company, to collect from Cambridge on a weekly basis. Collected items are sorted into textiles that are suitable for the secondhand market, textiles that can be repaired, and textiles to remanufactured into new items (e.g., industrial rags, insulation, or padding).
“This new curbside textile recovery program will make disposing of textiles easier for residents while helping the city reach our goals to reduce trash and greenhouse gas emissions in Cambridge,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.
All clean and dry textiles, regardless of stains or tears, can be recycled or repurposed in this program. “Textiles” refers to all clothing, footwear, bedding, and other fabrics. While it’s estimated that 95% of all textiles could be given a second life, only 15% are diverted from the landfill or incinerator. In Cambridge, textiles make up 7% of our trash. By recovering textiles from the trash, we can reduce our climate emissions, water consumption, and our waste in landfills.
Organizations, such as schools and nonprofits, can also partner with HELPSY to host a textiles drop-off bin or textile drive, and in turn, will receive funds based on pounds collected. Those interested should contact the Public Works Recycling Division by emailing recycle@cambridgema.gov.
In addition to scheduling curbside collection of textiles online, residents will be able to use drop-off bins placed at select City parks and buildings, including schools. To schedule a curbside collection or find the nearest drop-off bin, visit www.CambridgeMA.Gov/Textiles or use the Zero Waste Cambridge app.
Free curbside collection of clothing and textiles for reuse and recycling beginning December 7. Residents can schedule their free curbside collection through the Zero Waste Cambridge app or the Get Rid of It Right tool beginning today. Curbside collection of textiles is free and occurs at least once per week. Drop-off bins are also available at select locations.
The City has partnered with HELPSY, a textiles recovery company, to collect from Cambridge. Collected items are sorted into textiles that are suitable for reuse in the secondhand market, textiles that can be repaired, and textiles to remanufactured into new items (e.g., industrial rags, insulation, or padding).
Visit CambridgeMA.Gov/Textiles for more info.
Learn about the importance of diverting textiles from the trash in a webinar with our textiles recovery contractor, HELPSY. Register for the December 14th webinar here.
All clean and dry textiles, regardless of stains or tears, can be recycled or repurposed in this program. “Textiles” refers to all clothing, footwear, bedding, and other fabrics. While it’s estimated that 95% of all textiles could be given a second life, only 15% are diverted from the landfill or incinerator. In Cambridge, textiles make up 7% of our trash. By recovering textiles from the trash, we can reduce our climate emissions, water consumption, and our waste in landfills. Join the webinar to learn how you can help reduce your environmental impact by diverting textiles.
The December Rehash It, Don't Trash It newsletter has info on potatoes, beans, corn, and squash.
The Cambridge Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC), a volunteer group of citizens, writes this section each month.
We still need your help collecting leaves from streets and sidewalks for yard waste collection. The last week of yard waste collection is December 27-31.
Christmas Tree collection will take place January 3-14, 2022. Simply place the bare trees at the curb on your collection day.
REMEMBER: No tree stands, lights, tinsel, or other decorations on trees will be accepted. Bare trees only.
Tip #1: How to manage packaging waste.
Help our collection crews by sorting your waste properly (and educating your friends and neighbors!). Cardboard should be broken down as much as possible. If you have excess cardboard, break it down and nest them inside each other.
Here's more helpful info on how to sort waste from shipments.
Envelopes:
Inside cardboard boxes you may find:
Use the Get Rid of It Right tool on our website for other answers to how to sort waste.
BONUS: Consider offering packaging for reuse on Buy Nothing Cambridge on Facebook, NextDoor.com, or Facebook Marketplace.
Tip #2 : Avoid Supply Chain Headaches; give experiences.
Supply chain issues are unlike ever before. But, that doesn't mean you have to forgo giving great gifts. Tickets to shows, movies, plays, or workout classes (i.e. yoga, spinning, etc) make terrific waste-free gifts. Gift cards to favorite local restaurants are also easy and great ideas.
Email us to share other waste-related events!
Your Clothes Create More Plastic Waste than Plates or Straws (Newsweek)
Inside the World of Buy Nothing, Where Dryer Lint Is a Hot Commodity (NY Times - subscription required)
Craft beer has a plastic problem. Some local breweries are finding solutions (WBUR)
Built Not to Last: How to Overcome Planned Obsolescence (Sierra Club)
Nov 23, 2021 – This year marks a special milestone for the Cambridge Police Department’s Secret Santa for Seniors program. Now in its 15th year, the “Secret Santa for Seniors” gift drive will once again bring much-needed cheer and items for seniors during the holiday season.
This program relies solely on generous donations from Cambridge businesses, residents, community members, and CPD employees. Their support and generosity brings great joy to seniors who may not have any remaining family members or loved ones nearby. Gift bags are organized and distributed to seniors throughout the City on the days leading up to Christmas.
“We are so proud of this program and the impact it has had on so many seniors throughout the City of Cambridge,” said Acting Police Commissioner Christine Elow. “The holiday season can be a lonely time and this program helps remind our seniors that they are not forgotten. With the community’s help, we are looking forward to the 15th year being the biggest and best year yet.”
The following suggested items – unwrapped – would be greatly appreciated:
Donations will be accepted now through Fri, Dec 17, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s gift drive will primarily be online to make it easier and safer for people seeking to purchase gifts for seniors. Residents are encouraged to support local businesses by purchasing gifts online through the various Cambridge business associations. A Secret Santa for Seniors “Wish List” has also been created on Amazon.
Gifts can be dropped off 24/7 at drop boxes in the first-floor main lobby of the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility at 125 Sixth Street. They can also be shipped to Sgt. Susan Kale, Cambridge Police Department, 125 6th Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.
This year’s Secret Santa for Seniors partners includes the Office of Mayor Siddiqui, the Cambridge City Manager’s Office, the Cambridge Housing Authority, East Cambridge Savings Bank, Mount Auburn Hospital, CambridgeSide, Reservoir Church, MIT, Whole Foods, Phil’s Towing, Foundation Medicine, the Peretti Family, Gentle Giant Moving, U-Haul Central Square, Trader Joe’s and Pro EMS.
For more information, please contact Sgt. Susan Kale at (617) 349-3210 or email communityrelations@cambridgepolice.org.
Nov 22, 2021 – The Cambridge Police Department was proud to welcome four new Cadets to the agency after a special ceremony was held on Friday, November 19 at the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility. The new Cadets make up the second class to join the department after the City reinstated the Cadet Program in 2019.
The Cadet Program is designed for Cambridge residents between the ages of 18-23 years old who are interested in pursuing a career in policing. The program offers on-the-job and classroom training. Cadets are required to make a two-year commitment and they receive a salary, benefits and vacation time.
All four Police Cadets are Cambridge residents and graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) in 2020:
“The Cadet Program is a critical initiative for the City of Cambridge and the Police Department,” said City Manager Louis DePasquale. “It provides a pathway for Cambridge residents to become Cambridge Police officers and work in the city where they grew up. Policing in Cambridge is not about arrests, but about helping people and getting them the assistance they need. Our four newest Cadets have a unique opportunity to experience and learn what it means to be a part of a nationally recognized 21st-century police department.”
Acting Police Commissioner Christine Elow said, “Through the Cadet Program, we are able to create new opportunities for our young Cambridge residents and, in turn, diversify our department. We look forward to working with these talented Cadets and helping them become as successful as they aspire to be.”
The City Manager and former Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr. relaunched the Cambridge Police Cadet Program in 2019 after a more than 30-year hiatus. Two Cadets – Autumn Harrison and Carlos Aquino-Navarro – became the first from the new Cadet Program to graduate from the Cambridge-Northeastern Police Academy and join the Cambridge Police Department as patrol officers. The four remaining Cadets all registered to take the Municipal Police Officer Exam.
Any Cambridge residents who are interested in participating in future Cadet classes, should contact the Cambridge Police Department’s Office of Planning Budget and Personnel at Personnel@CambridgePolice.Org for further information or visit cambridgema.gov/iwantto/becomeacambridgepolicecadet.
To watch a replay of Friday’s ceremony, please visit www.facebook.com/CambridgePolice.
Nov 18, 2021 – The Cambridge Police Department, Department of Human Services and the Iota Chi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity are once again teaming up and offering a monthly mentoring program that empowers and engages Cambridge teens between 13-19 years old. Brunch & Ball – Cambridge introduces teens to various speakers from all walks of life, provides free brunch, and friendly competitive basketball games for local teens against police officers, leaders in the community and members from the fraternity. Now in its second year, Brunch & Ball will return Sat, Nov 20 at 1:00pm at the Moses Youth Center (243 Harvard Street in Cambridge). The program will meet on the third Saturday of every month from Nov 20, 2021 - June 19, 2022. To sign up for the program, residents can visit https://camb.ma/2021BrunchBall.
Nov 16, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill two vacancies on the Board of Trustees for the Cambridge Public Library.
Library trustees are volunteer community representatives, library advocates, and leaders in the establishment of goals and policies for the Cambridge Public Library system. Trustees are a vital link between the library staff and the community and work to ensure the quality of library services, collections, and programs, and to make certain that the library reflects and is relevant to the community.
Trustees serve a 3-year term and are expected to attend monthly board meetings, committee and community meetings, appropriate continuing education workshops or conferences, and library programs as their schedules allow.
Ideal candidates will have an interest in and passion for public libraries and an understanding of the importance of the public library as a center of information, culture, recreation, and life-long learning in the community. Candidates should also have knowledge of the community, including an awareness of diverse social and economic conditions, needs and interests of all groups. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking skills are required. Trustees work productively as a team. It is also important for candidates to understand how the role of the public library is evolving and how information technology and societal changes inform the library’s future. Additionally, it is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
The deadline for submitting applications is Mon, Dec 13, 2021. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. For more information about the role of Library Trustees, contact Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries at 617-349-4032.
Nov 16, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill vacancies on Cambridge’s Open Data Review Board and is looking for representatives from public, private, academic, or nonprofit sectors with expertise in or relevant experience with Open Data.
The City’s Open Data Program makes government data easily available in useful formats, and is intended to increase transparency, foster engagement among residents, and create new opportunities for collaboration between Cambridge and the public.
The Review Board, comprised of at least three residents and four or more city employees, will meet quarterly to help ensure that the program balances its goals of transparency and accessibility with the city’s obligation to protect private, confidential, and sensitive information. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
The Board will make recommendations to the City Manager and Data Analytics & Open Data Program Manager on policies, rules, and standards related to Cambridge’s Open Data Program, including methods for determining the appropriate level of accessibility for new datasets and timelines for making new datasets available. Specifically, the Review Board will help answer the following questions:
The deadline for submitting applications is Mon, Dec 13, 2021. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information about this board, contact Josh Wolff, Data Analytics & Open Data Program Manager, jwolff@cambridgema.gov.
The City of Cambridge and Cambridge Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) invite the public to attend its annual Veterans’ Day Observance on Thurs, Nov 11, 2021, at 11:00am, at the Veterans’ World War I Monument near the main gate of the Cambridge Cemetery, 76 Coolidge Avenue. Veterans, Police, and Fire departments’ Color Guards will muster at the World War I monument.
Cambridge DVS Deputy Director/Veterans' Service Officer Cynthia Shelton Harris will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui will give the city’s greetings, Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon will read the City Council’s Veterans’ Day Resolution, and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale will deliver opening remarks. Veteran Advocate Benedict Niuatoa will read the Governor’s Proclamation and Acting Police Commissioner Christine Elow, a U.S. Navy veteran, will deliver the keynote address.
During the ceremony, Cambridge Police Deputy Superintendent Pauline M. Carter-Wells will sing the National Anthem and lead the audience in the singing of God Bless America.
In honor of all Cambridge veterans who have served our nation, two veterans will place a memorial wreath at the Veterans’ WWI monument. The ceremony will include a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace and conclude with the blowing of TAPS. Cambridge DVS Director Neil MacInnes-Barker will give closing remarks.
In observance of the Veterans’ Day holiday on Thurs, Nov 11, City of Cambridge offices, libraries, and senior centers will be closed and payments will not be required at City of Cambridge parking meters and parking meter pay stations. Additionally, the offices at Cambridge Cemetery, 76 Coolidge Avenue, will be closed on the holiday, though the gates will be open from 7am-5pm.
Curbside collection of trash, recycling, compost, and yard waste will be suspended on the holiday and one day behind schedule for the rest of that week. Regularly scheduled street cleaning routes for Thurs, Nov 11 were swept on Fri, Oct 29.
The city's COVID-19 testing site at CambridgeSide mall, 100 Cambridgeside Place, will be open on Thurs, Nov 11. Please note that beginning Monday, November 1, this testing site will transition from drive-through only to walk-in testing inside the mall on the 3rd level on Mondays from 4pm-8pm and Thursdays from 11am-3pm. For more information about COVID-19 testing, visit Cambridgema.gov/testing.
Nov 9, 2021 – The City of Cambridge today announced updates to its Outdoor Dining Policy that extends expanded outdoor dining in Cambridge once the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Relief Measures expire.
After months of planning and working with stakeholders, the city has issued a new policy expanding its outdoor dining program that existed prior to the pandemic to include certain popular relief measures that were implemented during the pandemic.
Highlights of this new policy include the use of public streets for outdoor dining, the continued use of the sidewalk and the ability to extend continuously beyond the footprint of the brick and mortar, and the expansion of the patio heater program citywide.
“Throughout the pandemic, outdoor dining has been a lifesaver for many of our restaurants, and a great opportunity for our community to come together safely,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Creating this new city policy that allows for the continuation of these expanded relief measures is another important step as our small business community continues to work their way back from the impacts of this pandemic.”
Earlier this fall, the City of Cambridge announced it would be extending the temporary outdoor dining licenses through April 1, 2022, which is in line with the state’s expiration date of COVID-19 relief measures for outdoor dining. Since June 2020, over 250 establishments in Cambridge have expanded their outdoor dining with over 100 expanding into the roadway or into an adjacent parking lot.
The Cambridge Public Works and Traffic, Parking and Transportation departments will be releasing a new combined outdoor dining application for the use of the public way. A fact sheet with more information about the city’s Outdoor Dining Policy is available here. If restaurants have any questions or concerns, they can contact the Cambridge License Commission at license@cambridgema.gov.
The proportional representation (PR) elections we use in Cambridge are governed by the grandfathered Chapter 54A of the Mass. General Laws (repealed in 1972). One provision is the requirement that there be cyclic rotation of the order of the candidate names on ballots so that, at least in theory, each candidate will appear at the top of approximately the same number of ballots as every other candidate. We have long referred to this as “the barrel roll”. Here's the relevant section of Chapter 54A:
§ 5. Printing of ballots; arrangement of names; number of ballots. Ballots used in elections to such a body or office by proportional representation or preferential voting shall be printed in as many lots as there are candidates for election thereto. In the first lot the names of the candidates shall appear in the alphabetical order of their surnames. In the second lot the names shall appear in the same order except that the first name in the first lot shall be placed last. In each succeeding lot the order shall be the same as that of the lot preceding, except that the first name in that preceding lot shall be placed last. Sets of ballots to be used at the several polling places shall be made up by combining ballots from the different lots in regular rotation, so that no two successive voters shall receive ballots from the same lot, and so that each candidate's name shall appear first and in each other position substantially the same number of times on the ballots used. The number of ballots provided for each polling place shall exceed by twenty per cent the number of voters entitled to vote thereat. [Added St.1938, c. 341, § 1.]
The standard practice for absentee ballots has been to list candidates strictly alphabetically. Previously this was a relatively small fraction of all ballots cast, but that changed significantly with the introduction of “No Excuse Absentee Voting” a.k.a. Mail-In Voting. Here are the “top of ballot” rotation totals for each of the candidates (along with the #1 Vote totals):
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The average for all City Council candidates except the first was 637, so Burhan Azeem was listed at the top of approximately 9,978 additional ballots thanks to Mail-In Voting. Similarly for the School Committee, except for the first the average was 1343, so Akriti Bhambi appeared at the top of approximately 9,752 additional ballots thanks to Mail-In Voting. How much of an effect did this lack of ballot rotation have on the results of the election? We can only speculate. Notably, Ayesha Wilson (who appears last on the strictly alphabetical ballots) did spectacularly better than all other candidates.
I think there's a good case to be made for ballot rotation on ALL ballots in future elections, including all absentee and mail-in ballots. - RW
There were 67,699 registered voters for the 2021 Cambridge Municipal Election (48,896 listed as "active" voters) and the total voter turnout was 32.6% of all registered voters (45.2% of all "active" voters). Here are some charts showing turnout from 1951 through 2021.
3-year age ranges:18-20, 21-23, 24-26, etc.
17800 total ballots cast (2013)
17885 total ballots cast (2015)
22407 total ballots cast (2017)
21329 total ballots cast (2019)
22097 total ballots cast (2021)
Final Official City Council Results (Nov 12) 2021 Official City Council Full Results Distribution of #1 Votes by ward & precinct City Council 2021 - #2 Vote Distributions Alternate Measures of Popularity
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Final Official School Committee Results (Nov 12) 2021 Official School Committee Full Results Distribution of #1 Votes by ward & precinct School Committee 2021 - #2 Vote Distributions Alternate Measures of Popularity
All three ballot questions passed. |
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| City Council - Most #1 Votes Crane, Edward A.: 6032 in 1951 [1.675 x Quota, 4th] Sullivan, Walter J.: 5184 in 1963 [1.622 x Quota, 6th] Sullivan, Walter J.: 5137 in 1959 [1.539 x Quota, 7th] Sullivan, Walter J.: 4836 in 1971 [1.631 x Quota, 5th] Sullivan, Edward J.: 4833 in 1955 Sullivan, Walter J.: 4754 in 1961 Crane, Edward A.: 4465 in 1949 Sullivan, Edward J.: 4452 in 1957 Wolf, Alice K.: 4131 in 1991 [1.798 x Quota, 3rd] Siddiqui, Sumbul: 4124 in 2021 [1.890 x Quota, 1st] Crane, Edward A.: 4109 in 1961 Sullivan, Walter J.: 4103 in 1967 Sullivan, Walter J.: 4096 in 1965 Crane, Edward A.: 4071 in 1963 Sennott, Francis L: 4049 in 1941 … Galluccio, Anthony: 3230 in 2001 [1.886 x Quota, 2nd] |
School Committee - Most #1 Votes Dewey, Bradley: 5979 in 1947 Wise, Pearl K.: 5720 in 1951 Wolf, Alice K.: 5490 in 1979 [1.495 x Quota, 2nd] Wise, Pearl K.: 5357 in 1953 Barnes, William S.: 5171 in 1959 Shaplin, Judson T.: 5146 in 1957 Vellucci, Alfred E.: 4761 in 1953 Amory, Robert Jr.: 4756 in 1959 Fitzgerald, James F.: 4709 in 1963 Conant, Cora Butler: 4708 in 1945 Fitzgerald, James F.: 4622 in 1961 Shaplin, Judson T.: 4502 in 1955 Cooper, Frances M.: 4451 in 1983 Cooper, Frances M.: 4449 in 1989 Cassidy, James J. "Doc": 4334 in 1949 Cooper, Frances M.: 4307 in 1985 [1.331 x Quota, 5th] Duehay, Francis H.: 4257 in 1963 Wilson, Ayesha: 4184 in 2021 [1.463 x Quota, 3rd] … Nolan, Patricia M.: 3921 in 2013 [1.654 x Quota, 1st] … Walser, Nancy: 3842 in 2003 [1.438 x Quota, 4th] |
| Candidate | From | To | Start | Receipts | Expend | Balance |
| Bhambi, Akriti | 7/1/21 | 10/19/21 | 0.00 | 65832.00 | 32337.97 | 33494.03 |
| Fantini, Fred | 1/1/20 | 10/25/21 | 5041.23 | 6886.00 | 4223.86 | 7703.37 |
| Hunter, Caroline | 1/1/21 | 10/15/21 | 0.00 | 5066.89 | 1458.24 | 3608.65 |
| Johnson, Daria | 1/1/21 | 10/15/21 | 0.00 | 4650.00 | 939.50 | 3710.50 |
| Lim, Christopher | 1/1/20 | 10/25/21 | 252.02 | 2489.00 | 2014.00 | 727.02 |
| Rojas Villarreal, Jose Luis | 1/1/20 | 10/15/21 | 516.81 | 3000.00 | 1349.88 | 2166.93 |
| Weinstein, David | 1/1/20 | 10/15/21 | 4090.77 | 12719.85 | 9448.90 | 7361.72 |
| Weinstein, Rachel | 1/1/20 | 10/15/21 | 5791.68 | 23873.00 | 21569.96 | 8094.72 |
| Wilson, Ayesha | 1/1/20 | 10/15/21 | 2089.36 | 17322.49 | 8955.96 | 10455.89 |
“Welcome to politics in Newton, known as the Garden City – an increasingly appropriate moniker, considering all the manure in its recent elections.” — If you really want to see dirty tricks, apparently Newton City Councilor (and Charles River Watershed Association Executive Director) Emily Norton will be more than happy to show you by example.
Nov 4, 2021 – The City of Cambridge invites the community to attend the opening celebration ceremony for the new Universal Design Playground at Danehy Park on Saturday, November 13, at 11:00am, at 75 Field Street. The ceremony will include a speaking program, followed by refreshments. Rain date is November 14.
The 30,000 square foot play area is the first playground in Cambridge to fully incorporate Universal Design (UD) - the concept that all parts should be as usable as possible, without changes, by everyone. In addition to physical accessibility, UD takes sensory, cognitive, and emotional abilities into consideration to create an environment that is welcoming to all people to the greatest extent possible.
“Cambridge is known for the healthy, safe, and innovative designs of our parks and playgrounds, and many of our playgrounds incorporate elements of Universal Design,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “By constructing a playground that demonstrates UD principles in every feature, we are taking the city’s commitment to inclusivity further and reimagining how we think about built spaces.”
The UD Playground has several areas that encourage visitors to interact with each other, including the Swing Zone, Spin Zone, and Climbing Slope. The Junior Play Area features a train-shaped play structure with various climbing features and a double slide. The Senior Play Area includes a tower, climbing ladder and wall, sliding bars and slide, and a talk-tube network that communicates messages to different parts of the structure. Both play areas accommodate people of all ages who use mobility devices, and both reflect details of Danehy Park’s history as the former site of the New England Brick Company.
The Sensory Walk Zone features a pathway designed with bands of crushed stone, concrete, and granite pavers. Whether or not someone uses a mobility device, they will experience tactile and auditory responses from the changing textures. There is also a music area that produces rain and chime sounds. Plantings on either side of the pathway engage the senses of smell, sight, and touch.
The playground’s “Sensory Hilltop” is reached through an accessible, labyrinth-style pathway. The Hilltop’s wooden features, designed by Cambridge artist Mitch Ryerson, are constructed from Black Locust wood, which is resistant to rot and splintering. These include log steppers, a log climber, and a central wooden structure. A wooden marimba invites visitors to experiment with sound, and animal-shaped engravings invite tactile exploration. A “Scentsation” vine provides shade and the smell of honeysuckle.
For more information about the Universal Design Playground, visit Cambridgema.gov/UDPlayground.
Nov 3, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents interested in serving on the Cambridge Peace Commission.
Commission members are volunteers appointed by the City Manager who work with the staff in accomplishing the goals and work of the Cambridge Peace Commission. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
Composed of members who serve three-year terms and represent the socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic diversity of the city, the Peace Commission meets on the third Wednesday of most months at 6:00pm. Currently, the Commission is meeting virtually.
Members are expected to participate in regular meetings and help in organizing the Commission’s programs and events, including the annual commemorations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Holocaust, and Meet Your Neighbor Day in September. Additionally, members are encouraged to learn about the day-to-day work and projects of the staff, and offer advice and viewpoints that reflect the Commission’s purpose and role within city government.
As a City department, the Peace Commission works with other municipal agencies, communities of faith, nonprofit organizations, and the community as a whole to build connections, strengthen relationships, and promote understanding. It responds to traumatic events and violence affecting Cambridge and its residents, and coordinates and supports compassionate community responses to support recovery and healing. The Commission builds trust and relationships by enhancing dialogue and connection between diverse groups through community conversations, vigils, and other activities that promote a strong and resilient community. The Commission also raises awareness about local and global peace and social justice issues through educational forums, discussions, and presentations.
The Peace Commission fosters a community where differences and diversity are understood and celebrated, so that all residents can contribute to making Cambridge an equitable and peaceful community. The Commission works to increase awareness, mobilize communities, and activate residents to create a safe, healthy, connected, and supportive city.
For more information about the Commission, visit Cambridgema.gov/peace.
Applications to serve on this commission can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience should be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The application deadline is Mon, Nov 29, 2021.
Nov 2, 2021 – Arthur was also my friend since 1978 and, once upon a time, a hiking partner on trips to the White Mountains. We would often run into each other at MIT concerts. Farewell, my friend. - RW
Unofficial City Council Results (Nov 4) |
Unofficial School Committee Results (Nov 4) 2021 Unofficial School Committee Full Results
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Preliminary City Council Results (Nov 2) |
Preliminary School Committee Results (Nov 2) 2021 Preliminary School Committee Full Results |
| Special thanks to John Hawkinson for providing #1 totals as they arrived on Election Night (Nov 2). | |
| Unique Visitors and Pages Viewed: Cambridge Candidate Pages (recent) |
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| Date | Unique Visitors | Pages |
| Oct 24 | 736 | 4650 |
| Oct 25 | 860 | 5025 |
| Oct 26 | 779 | 4949 |
| Oct 27 | 833 | 4328 |
| Oct 28 | 677 | 3917 |
| Oct 29 | 709 | 4006 |
| Oct 30 | 735 | 5508 |
| Oct 31 | 1096 | 7729 |
| Nov 1 | 3124 | 42629 |
| Nov 2 | 6566 | 41174 |
Please be advised that on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2, 2021 beginning at 9:30pm the Municipal Election tabulation process will be held at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue. After consultation with the Cambridge Public Health Department, the number of observers, including candidates, will be limited due to space constraints and COVID-19 public health guidance. The Election Commission will limit the number of in-person observers to three (3) persons at a time.
Members of the public will be able to observe the Election Night tabulation process and the Board of Election Commissioners meeting via ZOOM. To sign up please click here. The Board of Election Commissioners meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30pm. The unofficial preliminary results will be posted on the City of Cambridge homepage at www.cambridgema.gov once the computerized tabulation is complete on Election Night.
If anyone is interested in receiving the results by email at the end of the tabulation process on Election Night please email elections@cambridgema.gov by 12 noon on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. If you would like to observe the tabulation process and/or the Board of Election Commissioners meeting in-person, please email your contact information and a request to attend in-person to elections@cambridgema.gov.
All requests will be reviewed in the order in which they are received and approved based on the availability of space.
The Board of Election Commissioners will hold a meeting on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 beginning at 9:30am at the Citywide Senior Center to continue the Municipal Election tabulation. To sign up please click here.
On November 8, DPW crews began collecting food scraps from 63 businesses that registered for the City's new Small Business Compost Pilot.
RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts, a free technical assistance program for businesses funded by the MassDEP, provided education and training to businesses to maximize waste diversion. With the assistance of RecyclingWorks, the pilot project will help reduce our impact on climate change and reduce disposal costs for small businesses.
More than 60% of the participating businesses are new to composting. As a result, more than 1 million pounds of food waste that had previously been sent to landfills and incinerators will be diverted annually.
Since April 2018, the City has partnered with Waste Management and Greater Lawrence Sanitary District (GLSD) to convert food waste into clean energy. On November 17, join DPW, Waste Management and GLSD for a virtual conversation about the food waste process. Register here.
More than 5,000 tons of food waste from the City's curbside compost program have been sent through this innovative food waste diversion process. Furthermore, food waste from the Small Business Compost Pilot will be added into the program.
Get ready to compost this holiday season AND celebrate America Recycles Day (Nov 15) with a week of DPW compost bag and kitchen bin giveaways. Stop by your local library to pick up a roll of compost bags or a bin for curbside or drop-off composting. Meet us in front of the library or inside if it’s raining, dark, or cold.
Mon. 11/15: O'Neill Branch, 70 Rindge Ave, 3-5pm
Tues. 11/16: Valente Branch, 826 Cambridge St, 3-5pm
Wed. 11/17: Main Library, 449 Broadway, 3-5pm
Thurs. 11/18: O'Connell Branch, 48 Sixth St, 10am-12pm
Fri. 11/19: Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St, 12-2pm
The November Rehash It, Don't Trash It newsletter has info on potatoes, beans, corn, and squash.
The Cambridge Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC), a volunteer group of citizens, writes this section each month.
We need your help collecting leaves from streets and sidewalks. Every year, tons of organic material (leaves and twigs) don't get collected. This organic material get into storm drains. Once in the drainage system, phosphorus is released, which pollutes the Charles River and Alewife Brook.
While street sweeping protects our waterways by removing the organic material that releases pollutants, the street sweeping leaves must be landfilled because litter is mixed in. When landfilled, methane is released into the atmosphere. By collecting leaves for yard waste, you're mitigating our impact on climate change and helping to grow trees and vegetation. Visit our Yard Waste page for more info.
In honor of America Recycles Day, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is excited to bring you a new batch of informative content we think you’ll enjoy.
From the story behind what happens to your plastic bags and wrap after they are collected at the grocery store (or DPW's Recycle Center), to local recycling volunteers who can’t help but inspire, this year's presentations will not disappoint. In addition, we will offer two “Ask Me Anything About Recycling in MA” webinars to answer questions about proper recycling. To view or attend any of these info sessions visit here.
Tip: Having Guests Over for Holiday Dinner? Plan Ahead.
Share your tips & best practices with us!
Wed, Nov 17, 9:00am: Take a virtual tour of the Cambridge curbside compost program
Mon, Dec 27: Last week for Yard Waste Collection until Apr 1, 2022
Statewide events with MassDEP:
• Wed. 11/10: Talking Trash & Recycling with MassDEP
• Mon. 11/15: Ask Me Anything about Recycling in MA
• Tues. 11/16: Be Inspired! Volunteers Leading the Way in Waste Reduction
• Wed. 11/17: Ask Me Anything about Recycling in MA
• Thurs. 11/18: Mystery Revealed: The Story of Plastic Bag Recycling
• Mon. 11/22: MassDEP webinar on the Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan
Email us to share other waste-related events!
The Quest to Make Composting as Simple as Trash Collection (Bloomberg)
Coffee shop trashes store for environmental campaign (KentOnline)
Finding Memories, and Mom’s Sewing Stuff, in a Reused Cookie Tin (NYTimes)
Here’s what Goodwill really does with the stuff you donate (The Seattle Times)
BONUS: What we’re reading on Legislation from the Boston Globe:
Time to upgrade our successful bottle law
Massachusetts Legislature should pass ‘right to repair’ bill
With the Zero Waste Cambridge App you can:
Download the app for iOS or Android or find it online here.
A message about the Cambridge Candidate Pages was sent out on Sat, October 23 to everyone on the CCJ mailing list. If you believe that you should have received this message but did not get it, let me know. There were quite a few that bounced back as undeliverable - some due to email addresses that are no longer active, but some because of problematic policies of a some email service providers - most notably AOL. In the meantime, I will search around for updated email addresses. - RW
Oct 20, 2021 – The Cambridge Community Learning Center (CLC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The CLC offers a variety of free classes and programs that empower adult learners to transform their lives and realize their potential through education, skills development, and community participation. Over the past five decades, the CLC has supported thousands of adult learners, including residents who were born and raised in Cambridge, people who moved to Cambridge from other countries, and refugees who relocated to the city.
“We are very proud to celebrate 50 years of service in the Cambridge community,” said Maria Kefallinou, Director of the Community Learning Center." Over the years, thousands of adult learners – Cambridge residents and people new to the city – have participated in our classes and programs. Our teachers, advisors, and volunteers get to know our students beyond the classroom to make sure the CLC provides the support our students need to thrive and become active members of our community.”
The CLC began in 1971 as a small neighborhood organization and became a division of the City of Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs in 1981. Today, the CLC offers six levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes; Adult Basic Education (HiSET/GED preparation); the Bridge to College Program; and job training programs, including the Certified Nursing Assistant Program and the Information Technology Careers Training Program, which is offered in collaboration with Just-A-Start. CLC students can also participate in Citizenship classes, which prepare adult learners to take the U.S. Citizenship exam. Since 2000, more than 200 CLC students have become US citizens.
The CLC’s students, who range in age from 18 to 80, have access to a variety of supports and services, including education and career advising, family literacy, classes for seniors, free tutoring, computer classes, job training workshops, leadership opportunities, and referrals to local organizations.
The Community Engagement Team (CET), based at the CLC and the Cambridge Center for Families, reaches out to underserved Cambridge families and connects them to community events and resources, develops community leaders, and supports agencies in working more effectively with members of Cambridge's diverse community. The CET includes Outreach Workers from the American-born Black, Bangladeshi, Ethiopian, Haitian, Spanish-speaking, and Arabic-speaking communities, who ensure that these communities have access to services and resources across Cambridge.
“The Community Learning Center has been central to the Cambridge community for half a century. The impact of the range of programs offered to support and empower adult learners cannot be understated,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “I want to give a big congratulations and a thank you to the Community Learning Center for their work over the last 50 years. I have no doubt they will continue providing services for the next 50 as well.”
“Cambridge is a welcoming and diverse community, and the Community Learning Center plays a foundational role in upholding these values in our city,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “I am proud of and appreciate the CLC staff, teachers, and volunteers for their amazing work over the past five decades. The CLC will continue to have a lifelong impact on its students and makes Cambridge a more vibrant place to live and work.”
The CLC is offering in-person, online, and hybrid learning options to students enrolled in its programs. Information sessions will be held throughout the fall for ESOL/English classes and the Adult Basic Education program. The CLC is currently recruiting for the Spring 2022 cycle of the Certified Nursing Assistant Program.
For more information about the Community Learning Center, visit www.cambridgema.gov/CLC.
If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.
Cambridge council seeks to share bike and pedestrian accident data with public (Oct 26, 2021)
Cambridge archivist Alyssa Pacy fills void of historically marginalized voices (Oct 20, 2021)
ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements (Oct 21, 2021)
ELECTION 2021: Cambridge School Committee candidate statements (Oct 21, 2021)
What you need to know for Cambridge's upcoming election (Oct 20, 2021)
Had your bike stolen in Cambridge? You're not alone. Here's how to avoid it. (Oct 19, 2021)
Cambridge’s ballot questions explained: Here’s what you need to know (Oct 14, 2021, updated Oct 20)
Can't afford pet food? Cambridge's pet pantry supports creature comfort (Oct 12, 2021)
Supreme Court wades into divisive death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber (Oct 12, 2021, subscribers only)
Cambridge among 14 districts sued over legality of school mask mandates (Oct 11, 2021)
Families of slain men, Justin Cosby and Kenneth Rackley, inspire healing for others (Oct 6, 2021)
Thousands of fish died in the Mystic River last month. Experts are asking why. (Oct 6, 2021)
OP-ED: Tim Toomey presented consistent voice East Cambridge could trust (Oct 4, 2021 by Anthony Galluccio)
OP-ED: Conservation district ordinance hinders Cambridge from meeting its housing needs (Oct 11, 2021 by ABC's Dan Eisner)
Note: This is a fact-challenged propaganda piece supporting ABC's philosophy of densification over historic preservation.
Doctors urge state to take first step on drug consumption sites (Sept 28, 2021, updated Sept 29)
Civil Rights activist Bob Moses honored in Cambridge (Sept 27, 2021)
PHOTOS – Jazz band parade honors Cambridge legend Bob Moses (Sept 25, 2021)
Cambridge is banking on $1M in cannabis tax revenue, so why the delay in opening up shop? (Sept 27, 2021, updated Oct 6)
State law says Cambridge can't require masks at polls during upcoming election (Sept 23, 2021)
Cambridge councilors want plan for LGBTQ-friendly housing; say long overdue (Sept 22, 2021)
When will Cambridge's indoor mask mandate end? Officials want better defined metrics. (Sept 21, 2021)
Omo Moses wants to activate Cambridge's public spaces; plans for mile-long ‘math trail’ (Sept 16, 2021)
Rats running rampant: Cambridge looks to appoint rodent liaison to address long-standing issue (Sept 15, 2021)
OP-ED: Cambridge restaurants are in shambles; public push needed for relief refunding (Sept 14, 2021 by Jason Alves, Patrick Magee)
OP-ED: ABC’s housing vision for the next City Council: Growth, affordability, stability (Sept 13, 2021 by Allan Sadun, Becca Schofield)
Note: This is a promotional piece written by and for A Bigger Cambridge.
End of Afghanistan war, 9/11 anniversary expected to trigger Cambridge veterans (Sept 8, 2021)
OP-ED: After 80 years, a change is needed (Sept 7, 2021 by Patricia Nolan and Sumbul Siddiqui)
Note: The central theme of the proposed changes is a transfer of power to the City Council. It would turn all appointments to City boards and commissions into political appointments.
Cambridge on track to having second-largest compost program on East Coast (Sept 2, 2021)
Cambridge to offer free composting to 100 restaurants
Labor shortage limits Cambridge businesses' ability to bounce back after COVID restrictions (Sept 2, 2021)
| Final List of Candidates for the Nov 2, 2021 Cambridge Municipal Election - 19 for CC, 9 for SC | ||||
| City Council Candidates | Address | Born | Occupation | Notes |
| Burhan Azeem | 35 Speridakis Terr., 02139 | 1997 | Data Engineer | ran in 2019 |
| Dana Bullister | 155 5th Street #1, 02141 | 1990 | Entrepreneur | |
| Dennis J. Carlone | 9 Washington Ave. #6, 02140 | 1947 | Architect | incumbent |
| Robert Eckstut | 251 Western Ave. #1, 02139 | 1985 | ||
| Tonia D. Hicks | 337 Pearl Street, 02139 | 1970 | ||
| Ilan Levy | 148 Spring St., 02141 | 1967 | Software engineer | |
| Alanna M. Mallon | 3 Maple Ave., 02139 | 1970 | City Councillor | incumbent |
| Marc C. McGovern | 17 Pleasant St., 02139 | 1968 | Social Worker | incumbent |
| Joe McGuirk | 314 Columbia St. #1, 02141 | 1965 | Bartender | |
| Gregg J. Moree | 25 Fairfield St. #4, 02140 | 1957 | perennial candidate | |
| Patricia M. Nolan | 184 Huron Ave., 02138 | 1957 | City Councillor | incumbent |
| Frantz Pierre | 22 Water Street, Unit 808, 02141 | 1982 | ||
| Sumbul Siddiqui | 283 Sidney St. #3, 02139 | 1988 | Attorney | incumbent |
| E. Denise Simmons | 188 Harvard St. #4B, 02139 | 1951 | City Councillor | incumbent |
| Theodora Theo Skeadas | 988 Memorial Drive #185, 02138 | 1990 | Consultant | |
| Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler | 187 Brookline St. #3, 02139 | 1992 | City Councillor | incumbent |
| Paul F. Toner | 24 Newman St., 02140 | 1966 | Teacher, Lawyer | ran in 2017 |
| Nicola A. Williams | 8 Brewer St. #5, 02138 | 1963 | Self-Employed | ran in 2019 |
| Quinton Y. Zondervan | 235 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., 02141 | 1970 | Politician | incumbent |
| School Committee Candidates | Address | Born | Occupation | Notes |
| Akriti Bhambi | 311 Cardinal Medeiros Ave. #1, 02141 | 1988 | ||
| Alfred B. Fantini | 4 Canal Park #203, 02141 | 1949 | School Committee | incumbent |
| Caroline M. Hunter | 23 Rockwell St., 02139 | 1946 | ||
| Daria A. Johnson | 2 Leighton St. #413, 02141 | 1976 | ||
| Christopher Lim | 48 Pleasant St., 02139 | 1975 | Engineer | ran in 2019 |
| José Luis Rojas Villarreal | 19 Cornelius Way, 02141 | 1971 | Loan Officer | incumbent |
| David J. Weinstein | 45 S. Normandy Ave., 02138 | 1972 | Writer/Communications | incumbent |
| Rachel B. Weinstein | 60 Standish St. #1, 02138 | 1974 | incumbent | |
| Ayesha Wilson | 15 Concord Ave., 02138 | 1982 | Education | incumbent |
2021 Cambridge Candidate Pages
Calendar of Cambridge Candidate Forums and Events - 2021
City Council Campaign Receipts and Monthly Bank Reports – 2021
Sept 29 - Cambridge has a growing presence of Political Action Committees each trying to influence how you vote. What each of them stands for is a bit muddy in spite of their various pronouncements and what will surely soon be slick mailings to Cambridge voters. At least two of these entities have migrated to the “Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee” mode in order to be able to accept (and spend) more money under the debatable theory that they are operating independently of any of the campaigns of specific candidates.
Interestingly, all but one have so far ignored the School Committee unlike in years past when an actual civic organization like the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) put at least as much effort into its School Committee endorsements as it did into its City Council endorsements.
Anyway, the current scorecard is below. Note the crossover of candidates who appear on multiple slates and, perhaps just as significantly, the exclusion of some candidates from particular slates that actually align with in terms of policy positions. Make no mistake about it – the primary role of most candidate slates is incumbency protection and the last thing a PAC want is to have one of their challengers bump off one of their incumbents. The remaining candidates are a mix of candidates who might add to the PAC's elected ranks as well as some “feeders” whose role is to draw in votes to the slate that will be transferred to other slate candidates upon defeat. Needless to say, nobody will ever openly tell a candidate that they are primarily a “feeder”. RW
| PAC | A Better Cambridge (ABC) |
Cambridge Citizens Coalition (CCC) |
Cambridge Residents Alliance (CResA) |
Our Revolution Cambridge (ORC) |
| Endorsed Candidates |
Burhan Azeem Tonia Hicks Alanna Mallon Marc McGovern Joe McGuirk Sumbul Siddiqui Denise Simmons Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Paul Toner |
Dana Bullister Dennis Carlone Patricia Nolan Nicola Williams |
Dennis Carlone Tonia Hicks Patricia Nolan Theodora Skeadas Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Nicola Williams Quinton Zondervan |
Dennis Carlone Tonia Hicks Theodora Skeadas Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Nicola Williams Quinton Zondervan School Committee: Daria Johnson José Luis Rojas Villarreal David Weinstein Rachel Weinstein Ayesha Wilson |
Sept 28 - Political campaign organizations love to do “opposition research” on other candidates. One of the things they often inquire about is voting history. Fortunately, I have all that data on hand, so allow me to save you the trouble. Bear in mind that younger candidates, recently naturalized citizens, and candidates who only recently moved to Cambridge (or moved back to Cambridge) are at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of the totals. Though I have all the voter histories for 45 city-wide elections going back to 1997, here are the voting records for just the November elections (24 of them). [Note: It's possible that some records were corrected in the intervening years, but the table below comes from the original voter history files with some updates I made over the years as better information became available.] - Robert Winters
| Candidate | reg_date | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | Total |
| Fantini, Alfred B. | 7/9/1982 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 24 |
| Nolan, Patricia M. | 10/5/1992 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 24 |
| Simmons, E. Denise | 6/1/1987 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 24 |
| Toner, Paul F. | 8/18/1984 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 24 |
| Carlone, Dennis J. | 10/4/1980 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n06 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 22 | ||
| McGovern, Marc C. | 9/30/1994 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 22 | ||
| Moree, Gregg J. | 4/18/1984 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n20 | 21 | |||
| Weinstein, David J. | 8/28/2002 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 19 | |||||
| Zondervan, Quinton Y. | 6/4/2004 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 17 | |||||||
| Mallon, Alanna M. | 9/27/2004 | n04 | n06 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 15 | |||||||||
| Williams, Nicola A. | 8/30/2006 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 15 | |||||||||
| Hunter, Caroline M. | 7/19/2021 | n97 | n98 | n99 | n00 | n01 | n02 | n03 | n04 | n05 | n06 | n07 | n08 | n09 | n10 | 14 | ||||||||||
| Johnson, Daria A. | 6/24/1996 | n00 | n03 | n04 | n07 | n08 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n16 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Weinstein, Rachel B. | 7/28/2009 | n09 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Lim, Christopher | 7/18/2006 | n06 | n08 | n10 | n12 | n14 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| McGuirk, Joe | 3/5/2010 | n10 | n12 | n13 | n14 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Siddiqui, Sumbul | 6/6/2006 | n14 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Levy, Ilan | 7/13/2015 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pierre, Frantz | 6/21/2003 | n05 | n08 | n10 | n11 | n12 | n15 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rojas Villarreal, José Luis | 9/19/2015 | n15 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bullister, Dana | 6/4/2016 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Skeadas, Theodora Theo | 6/10/2016 | n16 | n17 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Azeem, Burhan | 10/14/2015 | n16 | n17 | n19 | n20 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bhambi, Akriti | 8/6/2018 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hicks, Tonia D. | 8/15/2018 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan | 3/28/2018 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Wilson, Ayesha | 11/14/2017 | n18 | n19 | n20 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Eckstut, Robert | 8/8/2019 | n19 | n20 | 2 |
Early voting is available to all voters for the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 2nd. Early voting is available by mail and in-person to all registered voters in Cambridge. However, you choose to vote, please be advised that once a voter casts an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls.
Voter Registration
For anyone wanting to vote early in-person, by mail, or by drop box, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check your voter registration status and to find information on how to register to vote, please go to www.registertovotema.com. You will need a license, or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, you must register to vote or make changes to your voter registration by Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The office will be open until 8:00pm on October 13, 2021.
Early Voting by Mail
To vote by mail:
Send your signed application by email, fax or mail:
• Email: elections@cambridgema.gov
• Fax: 617-349-4366
• Mail: Cambridge Election Commission 51 Inman Street Cambridge, MA 02139
You can check the status of your ballot at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com.
The deadline to return a vote by mail ballot is November 2, 2021 at 8:00pm to be counted.
The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail Application for a mailed ballot for the election is Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 5:00pm. The Cambridge Election Commission recommends submitting this application no later than October 19th to ensure the timely delivery of your ballot.
The Election Commission is open to the public by walk-in or appointment. If you would like to schedule an appointment at, please go to https://calendly.com/cambridge-election-commission.
Early Voting In-Person
To vote in person, visit any one of the three (3) early voting locations offered in Cambridge during the period from Saturday, October 23, 2021 to Friday, October 29, 2021 for the Municipal Election. You must be a registered voter in Cambridge to vote at the early voting locations. Please refer to the City’s designated early voting schedule below. The deadline to vote early in person is Friday, October 29, 2021 at 5:00pm.
DESIGNATED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, HOURS AND DAYS
Cambridge Water Department - 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge
Main Library – 449 Broadway, Cambridge
Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street, Cambridge
| Saturday | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| October 23 | October 24 | October 25 | October 26 | October 27 | October 28 | October 29 |
| 10am – 3pm | ALL SITES CLOSED |
11am – 7pm | 10am – 5pm | 11am – 7pm | 10am - 5pm | 10am -5pm |
The Election Commission office located 51 Inman Street will NOT be an early voting location for the Municipal Election, November 2, 2021. Voters must go to one of the designated early voting locations listed above.
Official Ballot Drop Box Locations
Official ballot drop boxes will be available at the following six (6) locations for Cambridge voters beginning Friday, October 9, 2021 through Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 8:00pm. The drop boxes will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Sunday.
Note: Location #6 located in the front of the Coffon Building is already open for use.
Relocation of Some Polling Sites & Voting on Election Day
Voting on Election Day will still be available for those who want to vote at the polls. Some polling sites were relocated for the upcoming Municipal Election on November 2, 2021. Your polling site location will be in the same ward and precinct or near your regular polling site for voter convenience and to minimize voter confusion. In the next few weeks, voters will receive an Early Voting Guide and a Voter Notification Card in the mail that will have information pertaining to where you vote, any relocated polling sites and other important election related information. Please refer to the voter information which will be mailed to you over the next few weeks. A list of wards/precincts and polling sites are available below, so you know where to go if you choose to vote on Election Day. The highlighted locations were relocated for the 2021 Municipal Election.
2021 Polling Sites
| Precinct | Location |
| Ward 1 | |
| 1-1 | COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL OF CAMBRIDGE, 245 Bent Street, Main Entrance |
| 1-2 | COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL OF CAMBRIDGE, 245 Bent Street, Main Entrance |
| 1-3 | MILLER RIVER APARTMENTS, 15 Lambert Street, Cambridge Street entrance |
| Ward 2 | |
| 2-1 | PISANI CENTER, 131 Washington Street |
| 2-2 | M.I.T., Kresge Auditorium, behind Stratton Center, 70 Mass. Avenue |
| 2-3 | M.I.T., Kresge Auditorium, behind Stratton Center, 70 Mass. Avenue |
| Ward 3 | |
| 3-1 | VALENTE BRANCH LIBRARY, 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street |
| 3-2 | MOSES YOUTH CENTER, 243 Harvard Street, Lower Level, Rear Entrance |
| 3-2A | MOSES YOUTH CENTER, 243 Harvard Street, Lower Level, Rear Entrance |
| 3-3 | SALVATION ARMY HEADQUARTERS, 402 Massachusetts Avenue |
| Ward 4 | |
| 4-1 | CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER, 5 Callender Street, Howard Street Entrance |
| 4-2 | CITY HALL, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Driveway Entrance |
| 4-3 | MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOOL, 102 Putnam Avenue, Playground Gym Entrance |
| Ward 5 | |
| 5-1 | LBJ APARTMENTS, 150 Erie Street, Community Room (Parking Lot Entrance) |
| 5-2 | MORSE SCHOOL, 40 Granite Street, Main Entrance |
| 5-3 | MORSE SCHOOL, 40 Granite Street, Main Entrance |
| Ward 6 | |
| 6-1 | CITY HALL ANNEX, 344 Broadway Conference Room, Second Floor |
| 6-2 | CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN SCHOOL, 459 Broadway, Media Cafeteria, Cambridge Street Entrance |
| 6-3 | CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN SCHOOL, 459 Broadway, Media Cafeteria, Cambridge Street Entrance |
| Ward 7 | |
| 7-1 | BALDWIN SCHOOL, Community Floor, 28 Sacramento Street entrance |
| 7-2 | BALDWIN SCHOOL, Community Floor, 28 Sacramento Street entrance |
| 7-3 | GUND HALL, 48 Quincy Street, Cambridge Street Entrance |
| Ward 8 | |
| 8-1 | GRAHAM AND PARKS SCHOOL, 44 Linnaean St., playground entrance |
| 8-2 | FRIENDS CENTER, 5 Longfellow Park, Community Room |
| 8-3 | MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOOL, 102 Putnam Avenue, Playground Gym Entrance |
| Ward 9 | |
| 9-1 | HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN CHURCH, 145 Brattle Street, Parking Lot Entrance on Sparks Street |
| 9-2 | CAMBRIDGE WATER DEPARTMENT, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway |
| 9-3 | RUSSELL YOUTH CENTER, 680 Huron Avenue, Second Floor |
| Ward 10 | |
| 10-1 | PEABODY SCHOOL GYM, 70 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance |
| 10-2 | GRAHAM AND PARKS SCHOOL, 44 Linnaean Street., Playground Entrance |
| 10-3 | CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL, 5 Cadbury Road, Front Entrance |
| Ward 11 | |
| 11-1 | RESERVOIR CHURCH, 170 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance |
| 11-2 | PEABODY SCHOOL GYM, 70 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance |
| 11-3 | BURNS APARTMENTS, 50 Churchill Avenue, Community Room |
Voters are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering in the early voting locations and on Election Day at polling sites to help mitigate public health risks associated with COVID-19.
Thurs, Sept 23 – I'll soon be sending out requests to City Council and School Committee candidates to submit content for their Candidate Pages. Some candidates have already sent me a fair amount without being asked. Though I have some ideas about what this year's relevant topics should be (based on years past, current events, and ears to the ground), I welcome suggestions. It gets a bit tiresome doing this all by myself. - Robert Winters
PS - I generally prefer topic areas rather than pointed questions. This has always been meant as a way for candidates to express themselves freely rather than respond to either my or anyone else's personal agenda.
| City Council Candidates | School Committee Candidates |
Suggested topics for this year: 1) Background [biographical, etc.] 2) Top Priorities [List about three and elaborate below] 3) Land Use, Planning, Zoning, Density 4) Energy, Environment, Infrastructure 5) Traffic, Parking, and Transportation 6) Public Health 7) Public Safety and Intervention 8) Human Services Programs 9) Government and Elections 10) Civic Participation and Inclusion 11) Municipal Finance 12) Everything Else, including |
Suggested topics for this year: 1) Background [biographical, etc.] 2) Top Priorities [List about three, then elaborate below] 3) Top Challenges Facing CPS today, including 4) School Department Administration 5) School Department Budget and Capital Needs 6) Controlled Choice, Student Assignment Policies 7) Curriculum and Programs, especially 8) Everything Else, including: |
Ballot Question Information (includes arguments for and against)
Cambridge’s ballot questions explained: Here’s what you need to know (Oct 14, 2021, Cambridge Chronicle)
As long as people are opining on the three ballot questions, I just want to say that I will be voting NO on all three questions.
Regarding Question #1, it might have been helpful if the sponsors had actually asked some members of City boards & commissions how they felt about the proposed change. They didn't.
I think you can make a reasonable case for Council review of appointees in a system where the City Council has no say in the selection of the appointing authority, e.g. in a city with a directly elected mayor. In Cambridge the appointing authority is the City Manager who is hired by the City Council and who serves "at the pleasure of the City Council."
I have serious concerns that members of some boards will now have to toe the party line of a bare majority of city councillors. For example, I would not be at all surprised if an appointee to the Historical Commission is rejected for supporting historic preservation in an environment where five councillors want to clear out historically significant buildings in order to facilitate densification.
I will add that the proponents failed to determine or specify which boards/commissions might be subject to this change. For example, is the License Commission (Police Commissioner, Fire Chief, and Exec. Director) now subject to City Council approval? (I don't think so.) What about the Election Commission which was established via a 1921 Special Act of the Mass. Legislature? Would the membership of a topic-specific Task Force appointed by the City Manager be viewed as a "Board" that would now be subject to City Council review?
Regarding Question #2, the City Council has always had the ability to require an annual review of their city manager - no charter revision required. So is the real point that there has been intramural fighting among councillors with the Chair of their Government Operations Committee failing to recommend or schedule a review?
Regarding Question #3, I have no problem with there being a periodic review of the City Charter. I do, however, take issue with the proposal that every member of the proposed Charter Review Committee would be appointed by the City Council. Ordinary citizens need not apply. An independent Charter Review Commission - possibly even an elected commission - would be the better way to proceed.
Robert Winters
Sunday, October 17, 2021 – Middlesex Canal Fall Walk (Winchester - Medford). Meet 1:30pm at Sandy Beach parking lot (a.k.a. Shannon Beach), 4 Mystic Valley Parkway, Winchester 01890. This is a round trip walk of 4 miles on pavement. Leader: Robert Winters
https://www.meetup.com/Middlesex-Canal-Association-Spring-Fall-Walk/
10:00am Dedication Ceremony – Opening of Timothy J. Toomey Jr. Park (71 Rogers St - between Second and Third Streets)
More info can be found at: www.cambridgema.gov/toomeypark. The new park has been open to the public since Fri, Sept 17. The design of the park (formerly known as Rogers Street Park) was informed by the Eastern Cambridge/Kendall Open Space Study and Connect Kendall Square Open Space Competition, which resulted in a framework plan that will guide the development of three new parks in eastern Cambridge.
New Two-Acre Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park Opens in East Cambridge
Sept 20, 2021 – The City of Cambridge today announced the opening of the new Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park in East Cambridge, located on Rogers Street between Second Street and Third Street. The opening of the park is a milestone in the City’s efforts to simultaneously design and construct three new parks in the East Cambridge neighborhood. The dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 2 at 10:00am. Through a unanimous vote of the City Council, this new two-acre park is named for City Councillor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., a lifelong resident of the East Cambridge neighborhood. Councillor Toomey has served in public office for over 35 years as a member of the Cambridge School Committee, a Cambridge City Councillor, and a State Representative. “I'm very humbled and honored for the recognition of service and the opportunity I've had to serve the Cambridge community,” said Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. “The opening of this beautiful park is the culmination of neighborhood residents' advocacy for open space, the hard work of my fellow City Councillors and City officials, and the donation of this land from Alexandria Real Estate. This is a grand achievement for East Cambridge and our community as a whole.” “The City has a longstanding commitment to ensuring access to high-quality open space throughout the city,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “This stunning new park, which was once home to low-rise manufacturing buildings, is the result of the years of planning and community input. Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park is an amazing amenity for the East Cambridge community and the city, and it will serve as a vital neighborhood and civic gathering space. This park is a fitting tribute to Councillor Toomey for his decades of public service and lifelong commitment to East Cambridge.” The new park features a play area designed for children of all ages, including a tot area with animal play sculptures and water and sand play areas near the Rogers Street edge of the park. A gradually sloping paved pathway winds up the constructed hill on the eastern portion of the park, where children and caretakers will find a variety of play features: basket swings, a wooden climbing structure, and slides embedded in the hillside beneath a shade structure. The top of the hill features a whimsical playhouse modeled after a piping plover designed by the playground equipment creator MONSTRUM, which specializes in artistic playground designs. The park also includes a newly constructed dog run, replacing a temporary facility that operated on the site prior to park construction. A large open-air green is located at the center of the park, consisting of a flat area for field sports and a sloped lawn that can serve passive uses, or double as a sledding hill in the winter. There are three picnic areas located off of the park pathways and benches throughout the park. The park is extensively planted, with over 150 new trees as a part of this project, and planting areas are lined with boulders donated to the project by DivcoWest. The park project also includes notable infrastructure features that will provide benefits to the wider community. One such feature is a charging and storage area for electric park maintenance equipment that made creative use of the newly-constructed hill. “The Department of Public Works is committed to deploying efforts to reduce the city’s environmental footprint in our park maintenance—not just for Toomey Park, but in other parks in the eastern part of the city as well,” said Public Works Commissioner Owen O’Riordan. “Having the necessary infrastructure to support green initiatives built into the project from the beginning will facilitate our crews' abilities to conduct park maintenance while reducing our carbon footprint.” The park also features an extensive subsurface stormwater infiltration system. During large storm events, stormwater from the park and surrounding streets are diverted to this system, which is designed to capture and infiltrate over 76,000 gallons of water, helping to improve water quality by reducing runoff during storms. “It’s not often that we are able to build a new park from the ground up in Cambridge, and the team and community embraced the opportunity to make Toomey Park a space that both supports our work on resilience and sustainability and emphasizes creating spaces for neighbors to play together and connect with each other,” said Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq. “This is truly a community effort. We’re excited to celebrate the new Toomey Park with neighbors and community members.” Publicly accessible restrooms are available at the 75 Binney Street building across Rogers Street from the park. Metered parking is available on Second Street or Rogers Street. The park is open from dawn to dusk. The design of the park was led by landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. For more information on Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park, visit, www.cambridgema.gov/toomeypark. |
2021 PROPOSED REPRECINCTING PLAN
Request for Public Feedback
Sept 30, 2021 – The Election Commission is seeking feedback from the public regarding its proposed reprecincting plan. Members of the public are invited to join the Board of Election Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 5:30pm via Zoom. The Current Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2010 census), Proposed Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2020 census), Proposed Map with Current Precinct Boundary Overlay, and the 2020 Population by Census Block Map can be viewed at https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/ElectionCommission/Reprecincting
Current Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2010 census)
Proposed Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2020 census)
Written comments, questions, or suggestions can be sent by email to elections@cambridgema.gov or by mail to 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. Written comments should be submitted by Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 5:00pm to be considered at the 5:30pm meeting.
2021 Cambridge Reprecincting Proposal
The population of Cambridge increased from 105,162 in 2010 to 118,403 in the 2020 US Census, however, the changes were not evenly distributed throughout the city. Some precincts increased dramatically in population, while others stayed the same or decreased. With 33 precincts, each precinct must have a population within 5% of 3,588. Any change that is made in one precinct has a cascading effect on the entire map as other precincts will need to be adjusted to keep the population of every precinct within that range.
The Board of Election Commissioners took a number of factors into consideration in creating this proposal, such as minimizing the number of voters who need to cross major thoroughfares in order to vote and keeping most voters in the same precincts whenever possible. It should be noted that reprecincting changes will not take effect until the 2022 elections. Some of the current polling locations may be changed in 2022 in order to better accommodate voters under the new map.
What is Reprecincting?
Every ten years after the Federal Census is complete, new ward and precinct boundary lines are drawn to reflect changes in the City’s population and to anticipate the needs of the City’s election system for the next decade.
Voting precincts established by a city or town must meet the following requirements:
Sept 13, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking volunteers to serve on the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC).
The Commission consists of 11 members, who are appointed by the City Manager, following an application and interview process. The term of the appointment is three years. Meetings are typically held on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:00pm.
Cambridge welcomes immigrants and wants to encourage their success and access to opportunity and advancement in this country. It is a goal of this Commission to get the message of welcome out, through collaboration with organizations that already provide services and outreach to our immigrant communities. The Commission acts as a centralizing organization in Cambridge, to address immigrant rights and citizenship issues through providing information, referral, guidance, coordination and technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to support immigrant rights and citizenship.
Commissioners are expected to work with other members of the Commission and CIRC staff to fulfill the goals and objectives of the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.123).
Commissioners should be knowledgeable about immigrant rights and citizenship, preferably with lived experience as an immigrant to the United States, and must be Cambridge residents. It is desirable for this Commission to be fully representative of the diverse Cambridge community; and it is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions, and to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, October 15, 2021. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications can also be obtained at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information, contact Jennifer Mathews at 617-349-4396 or jmathews@cambridgema.gov.
Sept 13, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking volunteers to serve on the Cambridge Human Rights Commission (CHRC).
The Human Rights Commission is made up of 11 members, appointed by the City Manager following an application and interview process. Commissioners serve three-year terms. Meetings are typically held on the first Thursday of every month at 6:00pm.
The Human Rights Commission protects the civil rights of residents and visitors to Cambridge and works with Commission staff on the investigation, mediation, and resolution of complaints of discrimination in housing, public accommodations, employment, or education based upon race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, family status, military status, or source of income. The Commission enforces two Ordinances: the Cambridge Human Rights Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.76) and the Cambridge Fair Housing Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 14.04). Commissioners are expected to attend monthly meetings, participate in subcommittees on outreach and public education, review and approve the outcome of CHRC investigations as needed, and work with CHRC staff.
Additionally, it is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions, and to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, October 15, 2021. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications can also be obtained at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information, contact Jennifer Mathews at 617-349-4396 or jmathews@cambridgema.gov.
Sept 19 - The following message was sent on September 7 (12 days ago) to the Community Development Department. There has been no acknowledgement of receipt of the message by anyone at CDD. It is interesting that the City provides no mechanism for members of the public to contact the respective Chairs of these citizen boards, so unless you know the members personally (and I do, but I am trying to do things properly here), all communications apparently have to be sent to City staff before anyone on the committee will see it. That should change. All City boards should have a simple mechanism via which members of the public can communicate without having to contact individual members. - RW
To: Transit Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Community Development Department
I would like to formally request that the Transit Advisory Committee, Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and any other relevant entity in the Community Development Department issue a policy statement that simply states that seating specifically designated for a bus stop be available for the use of bus passengers.
This may seem obvious enough, but there has been an ongoing problem in Central Square where the #1 Bus stops – primarily inbound, but also outbound – have been occupied all day by people who are not bus passengers, who spend the entire day there, and who often engage in intimidating behavior. There are plenty of alternatives in Central Square for people to congregate and sit. Bus stops have a designated use that other seating areas do not, and that designated use needs to be respected. At almost any hour of the day you will find people waiting for the #1 Bus at a distance from the bus stop because of the lack of access at the bus shelters.
Robert Winters
366 BroadwayPS - I was unable to find any email contact information for the respective Chairs of the Transit Advisory Committee and the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, so I would appreciate it if this request could also be forwarded to them for their consideration.
Meanwhile, on a stroll through Central Square last night I encountered a guy in the process of shooting up at the Starlight Square end of Graffiti Alley. I contacted a police officer but all he could do was move him along. Meanwhile, on Green Street there were 10 people gathered trading drugs and needles in front of 359 Green Street and alongside the building on the edge of the municipal parking lot - which stinks of urine. Recently I encountered another guy with a needle in his arm on the steps of the YWCA on Bishop Allen Drive.
In most ways, Central Square is now thriving in spite of the pandemic realities that shuttered some businesses and put many others on the brink. - RW
On the other hand, there's this. I'm getting a bit tired of “Graffiti Alley”.
Sept 13 – Lately the mayoral elections in Boston and Somerville and the associated rhetoric have drawn my attention far more than anything I've been hearing from this year's crop of Cambridge candidates.
To the north, the Somerville election is a contest between two left-leaning councilors (Will Mbah and Katjana Ballantyne) who are seeking to “move up”; left-leaning Mary Cassesso, who most recently worked as chief community officer at Cambridge Health Alliance; and a certifiable grifter named Billy “If Only Signs Could Vote” Tauro. Because Tuesday is a preliminary election with four candidates after which the Top Two will continue to the November municipal election, it's not impossible that the outcome will be a Lefty vs. a Grifter in which case the next Somerville Mayor will almost certainly be the Lefty. (I guess that result would align with the general Somerville Revolution trend - further left than our sleepy Peoples Republic of Cambridge.) That said, it seems more likely that Somerville's preliminary election will ditch the grifter and confer the blessing on two of the three Lefties. If that happens, my guess is that the towniest of the two will likely prevail unless self-loathing dictates otherwise.
Unofficial Somerville Results: Will Mbah 4,498 (30.0%), Katjana Ballantyne 4,162 (27.8%), Mary Cassesso 4,083 (27.3%), Billy Tauro 2,215 (14.8%), Write-Ins 18 (0.1%), Blank 58. Will Mbah and Katjana Ballantyne advance to the Nov 2 Final.
To the south, Boston is seeing its most contested election in decades with five mayoral candidates and criss-crossing battle lines that make prediction difficult but at the same time provide some insight into the changing (and perhaps unchanging) nature of Boston voters. All five candidates identify as persons of color which, in and of itself, marks a significant departure from every past mayoral election. Self-identifying progressives likely find themselves torn between voting for Chicago-born and Asian-American Michelle Wu while having to reconcile their not voting for an identifiable Black candidate such as Andrea Campbell, Kim Janey, or John Barros. This conflict apparently led one JP progressive group to punt on endorsing any candidate. The Gentrys (not to be confused with The Gentrys) most likely will lean toward Wu which likely won't play so well in Roxbury. Just like in this year's New York City mayoral primary, the Boston election may also serve as a bit of a referendum on the confused “defund the police” movement – especially with recent Boston Police Commissioner William Gross emphatically endorsing the “moderate” Annissa Essaibi George. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that message resonates in some Boston neighborhoods that have seen a disproportionate share of crime and violence. It's a real possibility that the Black vote will split in such a way that none of the identifiably Black candidates will advance to the November election - and that will be be a news story in itself. If that happens, the final election and the rhetoric will likely be Lefty vs. Moderate. I personally think there are a lot of sentiments – spoken and unspoken – that have not been reflected in the recent polls attempting to predict the outcome of this Tuesday's Boston Preliminary Election.
Unofficial Boston Results: Michelle Wu 35,888 (33.4%), Annissa Essaibi George 24,186 (22.5%), Andrea Campbell 21,221 (19.7%), Kim Janey 20,946 (19.5%), John Barros 3,436 (3.2%), Robert Capucci 1,175 (1.1%), Jon Santiago 364 (0.3%), Richard Spagnuolo 282 (0.3%), Write-Ins 94 (0.1%). Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George advance to the Nov 2 Final.
One thing that continues to intrigue me is how different the rhetoric in Boston is from what we typically hear in Cambridge. On housing, in Boston much of the emphasis is on ownership, opportunity, empowerment, and even wealth creation. The Boston candidates seem to understand that “working class” actually means something. In Cambridge it's more like noblesse oblige. In Boston they're focusing on jobs and economic security and public safety while on this side of the river all the rage is about trees, bike lanes, green roofs, dining options, and competing theories on housing density and the history of zoning. Cambridge candidates eagerly sign bike lane pledges that confirm their inclination to never consider any differing points of view. The politics and rhetoric of housing affordability in Cambridge is primarily about “social housing” obtained via government application while the reality for most renters is that they're simply looking for an apartment with a reasonable rent. It's a stunning disconnection between rhetoric and reality. – Robert Winters
Sept 9 – Included in the City Council materials for the upcoming Sept 13 City Council meeting is the following note:
September 2, 2021
Dear City Council,
My current three-year term as City Clerk will expire on May 31, 2022 and I will not be seeking another term. As City Clerk I am proud to have helped citizens and legislators with such varied tasks as starting a business, acquiring vital records, and enacting local legislation. I have spent a combined six years in the role of City Clerk for the 3rd and 4th largest cities in Massachusetts and I believe it is time to return to the practice of law.
It has been a pleasure to work with the staff in my office, the City Manager’s Office, and other City departments. They have always proven to be hardworking, collaborative, and thoughtful. I have enjoyed my time with the Council as well. I have been able to work with each Councillor as you have worked passionately for your constituents and the betterment of the City as a whole.
With your help and that of many others, the City Clerk’s office remained open and operational throughout the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. We have improved office functions through the use of customer kiosks, digital applications and simplified record keeping. There remain several projects in progress, like digitizing historical records and new agenda software. I believe that we can make substantial progress on these projects during the remainder of my term.
I hope that by giving you this information now, you will have sufficient time to find the next City Clerk to serve this wonderful City.
Anthony Ivan Wilson, Esq.
City Clerk
City of Cambridge
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Sept 7 - Due to holidays, birthdays, and a general need to just recharge our batteries, we'll be skipping doing our Cambridge InsideOut shows today. We'll be back in a couple of weeks (Sept 21). In the meantime, I may prerecord a couple of shows on some of the technical aspects of our proportional representation elections – including a demonstration of our PR election tabulation software. - RW
Sept 7, 2021 – The Cambridge Council on Aging (COA) is seeking interested individuals to serve on its board and help advocate for important senior issues.
The purpose of the board is to promote and encourage existing and new services and activities intended to enhance and improve the quality of life of older persons in the city; advise the City Manager on all matters pertaining to the welfare of elderly Cambridge residents; and advocate for Cambridge elderly residents. Board members also support Council on Aging and Cambridge Senior Center staff with community outreach about services, benefits, activities, and programs available to seniors. Applicants must be age 60 or older and a Cambridge resident.
Additionally, it is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions, and to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.
For more information about the Council on Aging, please contact Susan Pacheco, Executive Director of the Council on Aging, at 617-349-6220 or at spacheco@cambridgema.gov.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, October 1, 2021. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can also be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are also available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.
Sept 6 - Once upon a time the Cambridge municipal election season really got started after Labor Day - even though the candidates on the ballot had already been settled a month earlier. In spite of all the tweets and palm cards distributed up to this point, and in spite of the efforts of those people and organizations who want to be kingmakers, everything up to now has been foreplay. - RW
Sept 2, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the city’s Bicycle, Pedestrian or Transit Advisory Committees. The application deadline for these committees is Friday, September 24, 2021.
The committees give advice and input to the city on how to improve our streets for transportation and mobility, and also promote sustainable transportation. Applications are sought from a diverse group of dedicated individuals who are representatives of people who live and/or work in Cambridge. Meetings are currently being held remotely via Zoom, but will eventually return to in-person in the future. Members are expected to attend monthly meetings, review materials, and engage in projects outside of regular meetings. Appointments are made by the City Manager and are for two years of service. Learn more about the three committees and how to apply below.
Bicycle Committee
The Bicycle Committee works to improve conditions for people who bicycle or who are interested in bicycling in the City of Cambridge and promote bicycling as a means of transportation. Activities include organizing and participating in public events such as biannual community bike rides; reviewing plans for street construction; commenting on proposed development projects; creating promotional materials to encourage bicycling in the city; and working with city departments on network planning. Committee members must be prepared to work on projects outside of standing meeting times. This committee generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:30pm. For more information about the Cambridge Bicycle Program, visit: Cambridgema.gov/bikes. For questions about the committee, contact Cara Seiderman, cseiderman@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4629.
Pedestrian Committee
The Pedestrian Committee works to promote walking and to help create a more comfortable, safe, and pleasant environment for walking in Cambridge. It advises on the design of roadway projects and policies related to traffic calming, traffic signals, and sidewalk design. It also identifies intersections and other locations where it is difficult to walk, makes suggestions about proposed development projects as they affect people on foot, and undertakes other activities to promote walking. Committee members must be prepared to work on projects outside of standing meeting times. This committee generally meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00-8:00pm. (November and December meetings are on the third Thursday.) For more information about walking resources in Cambridge, visit: Cambridgema.gov/citysmart. For questions about the committee, contact Cara Seiderman, cseiderman@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4629.
Transit Advisory Committee
The Transit Advisory Committee advances an agenda for a robust public transit system for all who live, work, and visit Cambridge, including the transit services provided by the MBTA and EZRide, among others. The committee membership represents of a cross-section of stakeholders: businesses and large institutions; commuters; persons with disabilities; neighborhood residents with low income, elderly, youth, and students, and transit advocates. The committee advises on city positions and policies on transit service planning, scheduling, infrastructure modernization, expansion and long-term sustainable funding for transit by the Commonwealth. This committee generally meets on the first Wednesday evening of each month from 5:30-7:30pm. If you have questions or require more information, please call Andrew Reker at 617-349-6959 or email areker@cambridgema.gov. For more information, visit: Cambridgema.gov/transitadvisorycommittee.
How to apply
Interested individuals may apply for these committees through the city’s online portal at Cambridgema.gov/apply. The application deadline is Friday, September 24, 2021. When applying, first select the committee or committees you want to apply for, and then select the “Apply Now” button at the top of the page to open the application. During the application process, you can provide your statement of interest and relevant personal background. You have the option to attach a cover letter or résumé, though it is not required. You may also obtain paper applications at the City Manager's Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please contact the City Manager's Office at 617-349-4300 or citymanager@cambridgema.gov.
