2024 CCJ Notes - September through December

2024 Senior Citizens Town Hall Meeting - Wed, Sept 25, noon

City Seal This Senior Citizens Town Hall is part of the ongoing commitment of the Mayor, the City Manager, and the Council on Aging to address the needs and concerns of Cambridge’s senior residents. Brief remarks will be provided by city leaders on key topics such as affordable housing, public safety, public works, and aging in place. However, this is truly *your* opportunity to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns directly with City leadership! Seniors are encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue, ask questions, and share their insights, as this meeting is designed to empower the senior community and ensure their voices are heard in shaping the policies and services that affect their lives. Light refreshments shall be served.

All members of the public are welcome to attend – Wed, Sept 25 at 12:00pm
Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.
For more information, contact Mayor E. Denise Simmons: 617-349-4205, dsimmons@cambridgema.gov.

Preview of the Vacancy Recount (Cathie Zusy was elected Sept 19 and sworn in Sept 23.)
Actual Vacancy Recount (Sept 19)

Alternate Method for Filling Vacancy - Re-run election using original ballot data with candidate(s) excluded
Note: This is NOT how we do it!

Official Count - November 2023 (PDF)

History of City Council and School Committee Vacancies under Plan E Charter (posted Sept 3, 2024)

1941 Council
Ed Crane entered armed forces and was succeeded by Francis Scully as “acting member” under Special Act.

1941 School Committee
William Brooks entered armed forces and was succeeded by Frank Duddy as “acting member” under Special Act.
Ralph Robart entered armed forces and was succeeded by Margaret Kelliher as “acting member” under Special Act.

1947 Council
Michael A. Sullivan died in January 1949 and was succeeded by Thomas McNamara.

1947 School Committee
Robert Reardon died in July 1949 and was succeeded by Francis “Cheese” McGreahan.

1951 Council
Francis Sennott died in October 1952 and was succeeded by Thomas McNamara.

1961 Council
Guy D. Belin resigned to work in the Kennedy Administration and was succeeded by Cornelia “Connie” Wheeler.

1965 School Committee
Ed McMahon resigned to join the priesthood and was replaced by John A.P. Good. [monotonicity violation]

1983 Council
Leonard “Lenny” Russell died on June 16, 1985 and was replaced by Alfred LaRosa

1985, 1987 School Committee
Joseph Maynard died Nov 26, 1985 after being reelected. The vacancy was not filled for the remaining month of the term, and Maynard was replaced by Tim Toomey for the 1988-89 term.

1993 Council
William Walsh was sentenced to prison on Nov 15, 1994 which vacated his seat. He was replaced by Anthony Galluccio. [monotonicity violation, vacancy recount unsuccessfully challenged to Supreme Judicial Court by Jim McSweeney]

2005 Council
Michael Sullivan resigned and was replaced by David Maher on Sept 5, 2007.

2007 Council
Brian Murphy resigned to accept job with the Commonwealth and was replaced by Larry Ward on Feb 24, 2009.

2019 School Committee
Emily Dexter was elected but resigned under duress prior to Inauguration. She was replaced by David Weinstein on Jan 16, 2020.

2021 School Committee
Akriti Bhambi resigned to accept a job in New York City. She was replaced by Caroline Hunter on Dec 1, 2022.

2023 Council
Joan Pickett died on Aug 30, 2024. She will be replaced by Cathie Zusy soon when a vacancy recount is scheduled (Sept 19). Zusy will be sworn at the start of the next regular City Council meeting after the vacancy recount (Sept 23).

Members Sought for Cambridge’s Transit Advisory Committee

Sept 17, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking volunteers to serve on the Transit Advisory Committee, which provides advice to staff on projects related to transit and also gives advice and input on how to improve and promote public transportation. Additionally, the committee meets to discuss transit service scheduling, infrastructure modernization, expansion and long-term sustainable transit funding. Committee members also advocate for a robust public transit system in Cambridge. This includes the transit services of the MBTA, EZRide, and other shuttles in the City of Cambridge. City Seal

The recent work of the advisory committee includes:

Writing letters of support for public transit expansion projects;
Brainstorming ideas to change or add new bus routes;
Reviewing street designs for city and state projects;
Providing feedback on service reliability and improvements;
Identifying new funding opportunities.

The Transit Advisory Committee is made up of residents and representatives of institutions and organizations with a home in Cambridge. Residents include commuters, people with disabilities, parents, seniors, youth, students, and low-income neighborhood residents. Committee members serve for a term of two years.

Committee members should have an interest in how buses, trains, and subways operate in the city, street design, and infrastructure; professional knowledge is not necessary. Committee members should also have some experience in engaging their community and working effectively on a team with diverse perspectives and interacting effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The Transit Advisory Committee generally meets for 1.5 to 2 hours on the first Thursday of every month. Most meetings are hybrid and can be joined remotely or in-person at the City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway. Some meetings include walking tours of transit facilities in the city or site visits to areas with future or active projects. The Transit Advisory Committee has optional subcommittees that meet occasionally to discuss specific state or city projects.

Committee leadership requires some additional time each month for developing the agenda and inviting guest speakers. This may require an additional 30 to 60 minutes a month.

Interested individuals may apply for this Committee through the City of Cambridge’s online portal at Cambridgema.gov/apply. The application deadline is Tuesday, October 15, 2024. A cover letter and resume may be submitted during the online application process. Once your application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you have questions or require more information, please contact Andrew Reker at 617-349-6959 or areker@cambridgema.gov. For more information, visit: Cambridgema.gov/transitadvisorycommittee.

Landslide Marj

Sept 12 - The Recount is now complete and Marjorie Decker’s margin of victory remains 41 votes.
Marjorie Decker 3,471 - 50.3%
Evan MacKay 3,430 - 49.7%
Write-In 3
Blank 130
Total Votes Cast 7034

Sept 4, 2024 - In a dramatic turn of events, the additional ballots that were counted today reversed the results in the 25th Middlesex Democratic Primary with Marjorie Decker going from being down by 40 votes to now apparently being reelected by 41 votes over challenger Evan MacKay.

2024 Mass. 25th Middlesex Dem primary - Unofficial Results (updated Sep 4, 2024, 5:00pm)
Marjorie Decker 3,472 - 50.3%
Evan MacKay 3,431 - 49.7%
Write-In 3
Blank 131
Total Votes Cast 7037

Sept 6, 2024 - Evan MacKay files for recount in close Mass. House race against Marjorie Decker (Boston Globe)
“If MacKay’s campaign filed enough signatures from registered voters, the City would then have to complete a recount by Sept 14.”

Thurs, Sept 12

9:00am The Cambridge Election Commission will conduct a Recount for the office of Representative in General Court, 25th Middlesex District, in the Democratic Primary held on September 3, 2024, for the following precincts: Ward 3, Precinct 3A; Ward 4, Precincts 2, 2A, 3; Ward 6, Precincts 2 & 3; Ward 7; Ward 8; Ward 10, Precincts 1A & 2 (Russell Youth Center, 680 Huron Avenue, 2nd Floor)

Preliminary Votes from Tues, Sept 3
2024 Mass. 25th Middlesex Dem primary (AP estimates) - 99% of votes counted (updated Sep 4, 2024, 1:17am)
Evan MacKay 3,354 - 50.3%
Marjorie Decker 3,314 - 49.7%

More results here (Boston Globe) Cambridge Election Commission Unofficial Results

Joan Pickett (1955-2024)

Aug 31, 2024 – City Councillor Joan Pickett passed away last night. I will post information from her family as it becomes available. Joan was a good friend and neighbor and I will miss her greatly. - RW

Mayor Simmons’ Statement on Passing of Councillor Joan Pickett

Aug 31, 2024
Dear Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that City Councillor Joan Pickett passed away late last night following a brief illness. The family appreciates everyone’s thoughts and well-wishes at this difficult time, and news of a memorial service shall be made available to the public in the days to come.

I have alerted our City Manager, our Deputy City Manager, and the Chair of the Election Commission about Councillor Pickett’s passing. When there is news as to the mechanics of determining who shall fill this vacancy on the Council, and as to a timeline of that process, we shall work to get this information to the public as quickly and as thoughtfully as possible. We thank you for your patience and your grace as we process the loss of our friend and colleague, and as we work to continue onward with the business of governing.

Mayor E. Denise Simmons

R-6 Sept 9, 2024
MAYOR SIMMONS
VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI

WHEREAS: It is with profound sorrow that the City Council learned of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend, City Councillor Joan Pickett, on August 31, 2024 at the age of 69; and

WHEREAS: City Councillor Joan Pickett was a dedicated public servant and a resident of Mid-Cambridge for the past 26 years, bringing a strong background in planning, municipal finance, and community leadership to the City Council during her tenure; and

WHEREAS: Prior to joining the City Council, Joan Pickett’s distinguished career included significant contributions in commercial lending, municipal bond finance, and strategic planning at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she worked closely with both academic and community physicians and staff; and

WHEREAS: Joan Pickett’s commitment to community service was demonstrated through her leadership roles in organizations such as the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Association, Cambridge Streets for All, the Charles River Conservancy, and Caring Canines Pet Therapy, where she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Cambridge residents and beyond; and

WHEREAS: Joan Pickett’s dedication to ensuring that the City’s policies reflect the broad sentiment of the community, her desire to ensure that all community voices were given ample consideration in creating City policies, and her focus on maintaining the City’s strong financial position were hallmarks of her service on the City Council; and

WHEREAS: Joan Pickett earned the respect, admiration, and affection of her colleagues and people throughout the Cambridge community for her warmth, her thoughtfulness, her desire to serve, and her willingness to engage with every person she came across with a sense of true decency; and

WHEREAS: The Cambridge community will greatly miss Joan Pickett’s thoughtful approach to governance, her commitment to transparency and accountability, and her unwavering dedication to making Cambridge a safe, vibrant, and inclusive city for all, and her Council colleagues shall surely miss her warmth, knowledge, and amiability; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record expressing its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of City Councillor Joan Pickett for their tremendous loss; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to Adane Dessie, husband of City Councillor Joan Pickett, on behalf of the entire City Council.

Note: The Vacancy Recount is now scheduled for Thursday, September 19 at 5:00pm. Though the result is known – Cathie Zusy will be elected to replace Joan) – but the law requires that all eligible candidates must be notified prior to the Vacancy Recount.
[Preview of the Vacancy Recount]
Cathie Zusy will be sworn in at the start of the next regular meeting of the Cambridge City Council (Sept 23).

City of Cambridge Free Document Shredding Event September 21

Information Security! Aug 27, 2024 – The Cambridge Consumers’ Council will be helping residents safely dispose of unwanted records at a free document shredding event on Saturday, September 21, from 9:30am-1:00pm, in front of the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue. This event, for Cambridge residents only, will be held rain or shine.

Reserved parking is available on Bigelow Street adjacent to City Hall. Any meter that has a Reserved parking sign can be used temporarily for this event and includes the following meters: BIG-0001, BIG-0002, BIG-0003, BIG-0004, BIG-0005, BIG0006, BIG-0007, BIG-0008, BIG-0010, BIG-0012, BIG-0014, BIG-0016.

Documents will be destroyed on the spot in a highly advanced technical mobile shredding truck and sent for recycling. Please note that this is a free event based on first come, first served, or until the truck is full to capacity. Limit 5 paper size boxes per household or equivalent. The Cambridge Consumers’ Council works in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Information on consumer rights and safety will also be available at this event.

For more information, or to request a reasonable accommodation, please call the Consumers’ Council at 617-349-6150 or e-mail consumer@cambridgema.gov.

Catching Up on the (Official) Cambridge News