2020 City Council Agenda Notes
(transferred from main Council Notes page)
Here’s my rundown of the interesting stuff this week:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-44, regarding a Vaccine Task Force.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)
Order #2. Policy Order re Covid-19 Vaccines. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon
Charter Right - Zondervan
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City personnel to establish a waiver for low-income individuals utilizing the Covid-19 vaccine if the vaccine would otherwise cost money to access. Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
The Beat Goes On. I would just like a better sense of what the principal causes are for the latest wave of Covid-19 positive tests. The fact that there were several new fatalities recorded this past week after many weeks without any new fatalities is, to say the least, alarming. Privacy concerns notwithstanding, a little explanation and reassurance right now will go a long way - even as the vaccine wagon rolls into town.
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to Policy Order No. O-8 of July 27, 2020, regarding a review of the proposed amendments to Chapter 2.119 of the Municipal Code - the Domestic Partnership Ordinance.
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
Unfinished Business #2. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City of Cambridge Law Department to review the above changes to the language of the Domestic Partnerships Ordinance and report back to the Council. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER SEPT 14, 2020] See Mgr #2
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Planning Board to adopt with modifications, the MXD Amendments Zoning Petition.
Referred to MXD Petition 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adoption the Cannabis Delivery Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0 (Petition to be Re-Filed in January due to changes in State Law)
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with modifications, the Canal District Kendall (PUD-CDK) Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to memo from the development economics consultant team led by Karl F. Seidman regarding a financial assessment of the Canal District Kendall (PUD-CDK) Zoning Petition submitted by BioMed Realty.
Referred to Petition 9-0
Unfinished Business #3. A Zoning Petition has been received from BMR–Third LLC c/o BioMed Realty, L.P. regarding a Zoning Amendment Petition for a new Planned Unit Development PUD District CDK. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING AS AMENDED ON NOV 30, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER DEC 21, 2020.] See Mgr #10, #11
Ordained 9-0 as Amended; Letter of Commitment incorporated
Communications #6. A communication was received from Salvatore Zinno Vice President, Development, BMR-Third LLC, regarding commitment letter to accompany zoning amendment petition.
Letter of Commitment incorporated into Zoning Amendment
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the following requests relative to the eminent domain taking of 185 Larch Road: 1. Appropriate $7,702,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Department Travel & Training (Damages) Account to cover the pro tanto payment toward the expenses of acquisition as required by the above referenced Sections of Chapters 40 and 43 of the General Laws for the property located at 185 Larch Road owned by BB&N; 2. Approve an Order to take by eminent domain a 185 Larch Road; and 3. Appropriate $10,798,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Department Travel & Training (Damages) Account to fund the settlement of BB&N’s remaining eminent domain damages claim.
Order Adopted 8-1 (Toomey - NO)
Lest you think otherwise, note that the City Manager’s message says: “For several decades the City Council has been asking City Managers to actively pursue opportunities to acquire and increase access to open space for all residents. Unfortunately, this goal has been very difficult to achieve due to the lack of availability of land suitable for open space use in Cambridge. Due to this, when BB&N expressed interest in selling Buckingham Field, we aggressively pursued this opportunity to acquire additional open space in Cambridge.”
About 20 years ago I served on the City’s Green Ribbon Open Space Committee whose charge was to develop priorities and strategies to acquire additional open space in Cambridge. Since then there have been some opportunities seized by the City to achieve these goals – notably the purchase and street closure that led to Greene-Rose Park in The Port neighborhood, movement on the Grand Junction corridor, and some parcels that came to us as a result of various upzonings. This is a densely-developed city with very few opportunities available for adding to our very small inventory of open space.
It is noteworthy that on the night when the City Council voted on a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the eminent domain taking of the BB&N land on Larch Road for open space, many city councillors chose to focus primarily on how they could turn around and build on this newly-acquired open space. In short, many/most councillors were essentially saying that we should tear up the Report of the Green Ribbon Open Space Committee of March 2000.
There are certainly lots of worthwhile priorities such as housing, schools, and additional space for Public Works, but it’s simply shameful that this particular group of councillors would choose to disregard long-standing calls for open space acquisition in such a dismissive way. Suffice to say that housing, including subsidized housing, can be built almost anywhere in the city. Few, if any, would advocate for demolishing residential buildings in order to create open space, but they seem very comfortable and even eager to eliminate open space at the very moment they are acquiring it.
I really hope there are some big changes on the City Council in November 2021.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request to move to Executive Session in order to discuss possible settlement and pending litigation.
Late Order Adopted 6-2-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui - NO; Nolan - PRESENT) after Executive Session for appropriation of $1.4 million for unspecified purposes (see below)
Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,400,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account to cover current and future disbursements that must be paid from this account.
Late Order Adopted 6-2-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui - NO; Nolan - PRESENT)
I completely respect the idea of Executive Session “to discuss possible settlement and pending litigation” and for various other reasons, but I have never understood why this has to be such a McGuffin (as Alfred Hitchcock would say) where even the general topic of the Executive Session remains a suspenseful mystery. Would it compromise the City’s position to just add a clarifying phrase such as “regarding an open space purchase” or “for the acquisition of residential units” or “in regard to the ongoing Vail Court litigation”? In the absence of such, my suspicious mind and desire for drama always drifts toward “for the purchase of the silence of Madame Bouvier regarding the scandal in the City Hall clock tower.”
Resolution #7. Thanking Rep. Robert A. DeLeo for his many years of dedicated service. Councillor Toomey
Failed of Adoption 3-3-0-3 (Mallon, McGovern, Toomey - YES; Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Siddiqui - NO; Carlone, Nolan, Simmons - PRESENT)
Order #1. That the Cambridge City Council calls upon the Animal Legal Defense Fund management to respect the democratic choice of its workers by, without delay, voluntarily recognizing ALDF United and bargaining a contract with ALDF United that reflects the core values of ALDF – compassion, innovation, balance, justice, commitment, and integrity – and that seeks to create a workplace that is anti-racist, cooperative, equitable, inclusive, just, respectful, and transparent. Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
Nothing says “municipal election year coming” like a ghost-written order in search of a candidate endorsement.
Order #4. That the City Manager and DCR explore the feasibility of keeping Riverbend Park open beyond Dec 27, 2020. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0
This may be a Very Good Thing, but let’s please stop the pretense that this has anything to do with the pandemic and the need for social distancing.
Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Oct 21, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the Harvard Square Conservation District Study Committee Report.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Order Adopted 9-0; proposed amendments to Chapter 2.78, Article III, Section 2.78.150 of the Cambridge Municipal Code, entitled “Definitions for Article III” Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
I always love reading reports from the Cambridge Historical Commission and its related study committees. In addition to being extremely well-written and documented, they serve as a reminder that Cambridge does indeed have many buildings and settings that are absolutely worth preserving and enhancing. This truth is often lost on the latest wave of activists in the Robert Moses tradition of tearing all things down in the name of density without vision or any sense of history. Transit-oriented development and other smart projects notwithstanding, A Bigger Cambridge is not necessarily a better Cambridge.
Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Nolan, Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on Oct 14, 2020 to discuss the process for conducting the feasibility study for municipal broadband and the Request for Proposal.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
I’m glad that there’s some movement on this regardless whether it leads anywhere - either at the speed of light or more slowly. I do find it interesting (and perhaps it’s a generational thing) that there was not a single mention of Cable TV in the report. Some of us bundle our phone, TV, and Internet together and, even if most of us have a less-than-stellar view of the Comcast Evil Empire, we don’t see broadband access as completely separate from our ability to get really crappy TV programming at an unreasonably high cost. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here you go my fellow Cantabrigians:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #2. The City Manager will work with the COVID-19 advisory board to help the city identify the parameters upon which each strategy and technology reduces the risk to public health and the control of the spread of SARS CoV-2. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
The vaccine may now be in distribution, but we still have a long way to go, and that includes finding practical ways to help businesses get through this.
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the transfer of $15,000 from the General Fund Reserves Other Ordinary Maintenance account to the General Fund Women’s Commission Other Ordinary Maintenance account to pay for costs associated with expanded efforts on the Mapping Feminist Cambridge: Inman Square and the Mapping Feminist Cambridge: Central Square projects.
Order Adopted 9-0
I have gone on some of their history walks and they are great: [Inman Square] [Area IV] [Cambridgeport] [Riverside and Cambridgeport] [Mid-Cambridge]
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-74 and 19-45, regarding reviewing public monuments, memorials and markers and streets, schools and public buildings.
Placed on File 9-0
I just hope that this doesn’t translate simply into cancellation and eradication of history. Some of us prefer our history murky and honest rather than sanitized or obliterated.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-62, regarding providing interpreters at polling locations.
Placed on File 9-0
As always, our Election Commission demonstrates practicality and good sense.
Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-54, regarding a report on drafting an ordinance requiring the city to only purchase goods that are made in full compliance with USA environmental and labor standards.
Placed on File 9-0
The zealots aren’t going to like this response - even though it makes total sense.
Charter Right #1. Initiate a community process to develop the property at 105 Windsor Street as a community space that will create economic opportunity in the neighborhood, as part of an overall neighborhood plan that includes looking for ways to create affordable housing, open space and urban agriculture opportunities. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL DEC 7, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Just as was the case with the Foundry, the politicians line up for pet projects and recognition. I really wish we had a dependable method for actually getting honest and representative feedback from “the community” regarding their priorities for how to get the best use from public assets.
Charter Right #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-12, regarding the feasibility of adding bike parking rings to parking meters. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN IN COUNCIL DEC 7, 2020]
Placed on File 9-0
Charter Right #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Home Rule Petition seeking special legislation from the Legislature which would authorize the City of Cambridge to provide police, fire and other emergency services (“Emergency Services”) to portions of the Cambridge Crossing project that are partially located in the cities of Boston and Somerville, with one such property wholly located within Somerville. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER IN COUNCIL DEC 7, 2020]
Order Adopted 9-0
These are just leftovers from last week. The reports were as clear as an unmuuddied lake or the azure skies of deepest summer - so of course our councillors needed more time to understand them.
Resolution #2. Congratulating Sean Effel As He Begins His Next Chapter. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Resolution Adopted as Amended 9-0
I feel like we need to redo that closing scene from the film “Shane”.
Resolution #5. Support for a Guaranteed Income. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan
Resolution Adopted 9-0
What could possibly go wrong? I’ll take mine in Green Stamps.
Order #1. Elimination of Single Family Zoning. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
There’s a big difference between a situation where a city is predominantly or exclusively single-family zoning vs. a city like Cambridge which is predominantly multi-family with some single-family districts. It’s a good bet that any discussion of this will include bucketfuls of agenda-driven revisionist history.
While I think anyone should have flexibility in how they operate their home - especially those who have more home than they really need - I consider the diversity of housing types in Cambridge to be a good thing - A Very Good Thing - and that includes those parts of Cambridge where single-family homes are the dominant housing type. Something for everybody. I live in a triple-decker and I have friends who live in large apartment buildings, but that’s not for everyone. It’s worth noting that among cities across the USA with a population of 100,000 or more, Cambridge rings in with the 4th highest population density. Are we striving to be #1? - Robert Winters
Comments?
Covid is still the center of attention and, yes, some of the numbers of late have been on the scary side. I have no idea what that should translate into when it comes to public policy, but I really do hope that the principal causes can be addressed so that I don’t have to just crawl into a little ball for the coming winter. This year simply sucks in every way, and even though the vaccine is coming it still feels like chasing rainbows.
By the way, the word just came down on the Cambridge Public Schools: “Because COVID-19 cases in Cambridge have increased, and the Cambridge Public Schools have surpassed the thresholds set in partnership with its scientific advisors, CPS will make a temporary shift to remote learning for all students beginning on Thursday, December 10. The shift to all remote learning will continue for at least 1 week at least through December 16. In-person learning will resume when two or more metrics remain below threshold for 7 consecutive days. Reopening decisions based on the metrics will be made in consultation with the Cambridge Public Health Department.”
Here are a few items of interest on this week’s Day of Infamy agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Federal CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,256,118 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to assist residents and small business owners who are impacted by the virus, and to support emergency housing assistance efforts.
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of new Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the amount of $2,268.869 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Salary and Wages account ($106,013) and to the Grant Fund Department of Human Services Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($2,162,856) and will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic among individuals and families who are homeless and will support shelter operating costs and provision of essential services to homeless persons outside of a shelter setting.
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #2. Policy Order re Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund. Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #3. Supporting Food Pantries & Closing the SNAP Gap PO. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
These are all related either directly or indirectly to the pandemic. Needless to say, these are extraordinary times that require extraordinary effort and policies to get through this. It also needs to be pointed out that even if Cambridge has “an embarassment of riches,” there are still legal limitations to what we can do, and creative solutions (like contracting with local restaurants to provide food for relief efforts) are often the best available options. But seriously, the damn federal government should be providing loan guarantees across the board so that costs can be deferred until better times.
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Home Rule Petition seeking special legislation from the Legislature which would authorize the City of Cambridge to provide police, fire and other emergency services (“Emergency Services”) to portions of the Cambridge Crossing project that are partially located in the cities of Boston and Somerville, with one such property wholly located within Somerville.
Charter Right - Sobrinho-Wheeler
Annexation of our lesser neighbors is another option, but Mayors Curtatone and Walsh might raise unreasonable objections to this modest proposal or demand that we give them Harvard and MIT as compensation.
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-12, regarding the feasibility of adding bike parking rings to parking meters.
Charter Right - Nolan
This has been suggested in the past via policy orders, and the response now is the same, i.e. nope - except for posts that have lost their heads due to either Cool Hand Luke or removal of parking spaces.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-134, regarding increasing funding to the City’s HomeBridge program.
Placed on File 9-0
It’s expensive, and qualified potential homeowners will not really own their home in the sense that they cannot do with it as they see fit. As the communication states, “Homes purchased with HomeBridge funding become part of the City’s stock of deed-restricted affordable housing.”
Applications & Petitions #2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Amy Oliver, regarding that the City require the installation of GREEN ROOFS vegetated or BioSolar on future construction and significant rehab of buildings that are 20,000 square feet and larger.
Referred to Planning Board & Ordinance Committee
There are some really great benefits associated with this proposal, but it also serves to highlight the fact that Cambridge advocates and policy-makers generally can rarely find a happy medium between issuing mandates and doing nothing at all. Installing a green roof can provide great benefit for both property owners and climate, but there are good reasons why a property owner might still choose not to go this route - most notably cost and eternal maintenance (though the proposal really tries to wish this concern away). This won’t affect owners of small properties (at least not in this initial incarnation), and owners of some larger properties are already proposing treatments like this, so perhaps this will all work out. That said, I really wish this City would shift its inclinations from mandates to incentives - even if the zealots howl in protest.
Resolution #1. Resolution Wishing Swift Recovery to Dennis Benzan. Councillor Simmons
This is the first I’ve heard of this, but absolutely Get Well Dennis.
Order #1. Initiate a community process to develop the property at 105 Windsor Street as a community space that will create economic opportunity in the neighborhood, as part of an overall neighborhood plan that includes looking for ways to create affordable housing, open space and urban agriculture opportunities. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Charter Right - Zondervan
I like what is suggested in this Order, but I continue to be amazed at the lethargy of the City of Cambridge in putting some of their own properties into productive use. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are the items of interest this week:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Covid-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #1. That City Manager be and hereby is requested to implement a program similar to the patio heater reimbursement program for purchasing air sanitizers that meet or exceed the above specifications for Cambridge businesses. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #3. Expanding Testing in Nursing Homes PO. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Withdrawn 9-0
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to present the City Council with a comprehensive data report on a weekly basis, for the duration of the pandemic emergency, including (but not limited to) regional and Cambridge-specific trends. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to implement comprehensive contact tracing in Cambridge including the ability to conduct backwards contact tracing facilitated with technology such as the use of QR codes, and to report back to the City Council on this matter as soon as possible. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #6. That the City Manager confer with the Cambridge Department of Public Health on the feasibility of launching mobile COVID-19 testing vans in December and report back to the City Council as soon as possible. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
I suppose all these ideas are great, but it sometimes feels as though everyone is just drafting Policy Orders as soon as they hear something they don’t understand. It’s interesting that we actually have a City Council subcommittee called the “Health & Environment Committee” (emphasis on “Health”) that has met a total of four times this Council term on the topics of “Net Zero Action Plan” (once) and the “Tree Protection Ordinance” (thrice). That committee has never met on the topic of the pandemic and currently has no meetings scheduled. I guess it’s Trees > NetZero > Covid as the pecking order of priorities.
Meanwhile, businesses are closing for good and our “Economic Development and University Relations Committee” has met on the topics of “MWBEs and other historically disadvantaged businesses and non-profits”, a “vacant storefront registration policy”, a “Retail Land Use Initiative and Retail Table of Land Use update”, and “updating the commercial land use classification system”, and they have an upcoming meeting on “Vacant Storefront Policy.” To their credit, they also met recently on the topic of “Cambridge higher learning institutions’ return to campus plans, policies, and health guidance”. How reassuring to know that we may soon have a vacant storefront policy rather than concrete steps to prevent those vacancies.
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to two appropriations totaling $9,500,000 related to the Foundry as follows: $6 million from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account; and $3.5 million from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account.
Order Adopted 9-0
I sincerely hope the Foundry project works out for the best, but perhaps we should rename “The Gift that Keeps on Taking” as simply “The Money Pit.”
Charter Right #3. Policy Order to strengthen community bonds and ensure equitable access to neighborhood organizations. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN IN COUNCIL NOV 23, 2020] [Original Order #4 of Nov 23, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0; Late Order Adopted 9-0
I have been largely staying out of the back-and-forth over this questionable policy order, so I’ll just make a few points that you can feel free to salute or ignore:
1) Neighborhood groups have no “official” standing or “privilege” in spite of what some well-orchestrated public commenters have suggested. They are just collections of individuals who offer points of view. The notion that the Cambridge City Council or any other government entity should have any dominion over them is simply absurd.
2) Neighborhood associations and other civic organizations are only as valuable or respected as the credibility that they either gain or squander. I have seen some of them manage to greatly grow their credibility, and I have also seen some that have squandered it. No need to name them here.
3) The problem of “lack of diversity” in neighborhood associations and other civic groups is really rooted more in the fact that most people really don’t want to be involved in civic affairs (which I think is a shame), and it always seems as though getting a representative cross-section of members is difficult if not impossible. If the interest is not there, that’s no reason to fold nor should it be the basis for criticism.
4) I have a particular disgust for the whole idea of “taking over a neighborhood association” in order to push any agenda. Forming a civic group (as opposed to a neighborhood association) is the better choice. Civic/political groups can and do maintain distinctive points of view - and people can feel free to join them or do battle with them. Neighborhood associations really should be different - and should be more like a forum for different points of view. I also think that those associations that provide resources and services are generally the better for it.
5) If a neighborhood association or civic organization wants to be taken seriously these days, they really do have to maintain some kind of web presence that not only keeps people informed about current matters but also historical matters. We are rapidly losing institutional memory in Cambridge and keeping good archives can help - a lot. Having regular public meetings is also pretty important, though obviously a lot of that is currently on hold now due to the pandemic.
6) Email listservs can often lead to squabbles that can quickly get out of hand. One way to handle this, though not ideal, is to have trustworthy moderation. Really personal squabbles (like serious insults or just getting really ticked off) should be taken offline. Everyone is capable of getting ticked off and that should not be disqualifying. Better to settle things over a game of pool or a few beers or just agree to disagree.
7) Don’t pour gasoline on fires.
Unfinished Business #6. That the enclosed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance be adopted to extend the temporary prohibition on tree cutting permits until Feb 28, 2021. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL NOV 16, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER NOV 30, 2020] [Order #5 of Nov 16, 2020]
Ordained 7-1-0-1 (Toomey - NO; Simmons - PRESENT)
Please stay out of my yard. I’ve been here over four decades and the last thing I need is to have uninformed Cambridge city councillors overruling necessary decisions I have to make about managing the trees on my property.
Order #2. Council Opposition to Comcast Data Cap. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
I’m also wary of Comcast instituting data caps, but even though we have a lot of web traffic in and out of my house we’re still nowhere near the proposed data cap. I’m more concerned that there’s 957 Channels and There’s Nothing On. That and the fact that my two-year “introductory rate” is about to run out and I may have to play hardball with The Evil Empire.
Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Nov 12, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the PUD-CDK District Zoning Amendment.
Report Amended to Include Revised Language 9-0; Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
Just build something really great, will ya? - Robert Winters
Comments?
Seriously, I think the Cambridge City Council has now lost its collective mind. More on that later. [Please note that the regular 5:30pm meeting will be preceded by a 3:00pm Special Meeting to discuss the COVID 19 trajectory with health and science experts.]
Here are some agenda items sure to draw the maximum of 120 seconds per person public comment (especially Charter Right #3 and Order #4):
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Covid-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $9,277,190 from Free Cash to the General Fund School Department Salaries and Wages account ($7,446,360), General Fund School Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($1,781,455), and General Fund School Department Travel and Training account ($49,375), to fund additional costs associated with the reopening of schools with health and safety mitigations related to COVID-19.
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request to move to Executive Session to discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.
Placed on File 9-0
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to explore the feasibility of keeping Riverbend Park open beyond Nov 29. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TOOMEY IN COUNCIL NOV 16, 2020] [Order #8 from Nov 16, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 7-2 (Simmons, Toomey - NO)
Charter Right #3. That the City Manager confer with the Metro Mayor’s Association to close indoor dining, gyms, casinos and other non-essential indoor activities as soon as possible and That the City Manager, Community Development Department, the Economic Development Division, the Assessing Department and other relevant City Departments organize a small business and restaurant relief program that will assist during this second shutdown and our efforts to stop community spread of COVID-19 and keep schools open. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TOOMEY IN COUNCIL NOV 16, 2020] [Order #10 from Nov 16, 2020]
Substitute Order [Order Adopted as Amended 7-1-1 (Toomey - NO; Simmons- ABSENT)]
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
WHEREAS: Citywide, Cambridge businesses, the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Public Schools have implemented protective measures and strategies to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 throughout the community; and
WHEREAS: Though these protective measures have kept Cambridge COVID-19 positivity rates lower than neighboring cities, Cambridge’s positive cases do continue to increase daily; and
WHEREAS: Epidemiologists recommend targeted interventions to stop the spread of COVID-19 to keep schools open; and
WHEREAS: Research suggests a strong correlation between indoor activities and the rise of COVID-19 community spread; and
WHEREAS: Indoor activities are contributing to the rise in cases in Cambridge, getting our metrics dangerously close to closing schools and resuming remote only learning again; and
WHEREAS: We must take action to stop the spread of COVID-19 in order to keep our schools open and prioritize our scholars and their educations as we navigate through the next phase of the public health crisis; and
WHEREAS: Our efforts must be part of a regional response in order to not unfairly penalize Cambridge restaurants and small businesses; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager confer with the Metro Mayors’ Association to temporarily restrict high risk indoor activities, such as indoor dining and gyms, and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager, Community Development Department, the Economic Development Division, the Assessing Department and other relevant City Departments organize a relief program to assist and financially support businesses affected by these temporary closures.
ORDERED: That the City Manager and all relative Departments, begin meeting immediately with the business community and the Covid-19 Expert Advisory Panel to discuss what interventions can be universally implemented to make indoor business activities safer.
Resolution #6. Resolution on the death of Francis H. Duehay. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to explore the feasibility of hiring a consultant to perform an Equity Audit on the Cambridge Arts Council, and to report back to the City Council by Jan 4th, 2021. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #2. That the City Council formally go on record in asking the City Manager to work with the appropriate City Staff in formulating an RFP for a public arts project that will acknowledge the unfinished work of the 19th Amendment, the importance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and how the two pieces of legislation ultimately complemented one another in helping to shape a more perfect union, and that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
Amended; Charter Right - Nolan
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Community Development Department and other pertinent City staff to establish a Black and Brown-Owned Business Taskforce, to be focused upon strengthening the City’s outreach efforts, information-sharing, assistance mechanisms, and overall relationship with local Black and Brown-owned businesses, and to establish a rolling set of recommendations designed to ensure the City spares no effort in assisting these businesses. Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #4. Policy Order to strengthen community bonds and ensure equitable access to neighborhood organizations. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Charter Right - Nolan
This is actually nuts.
Order #5. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to appropriate the funds necessary to procure the work of the Collins Center as outlined in their submitted proposal. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0
My guess is that “charter change” simply translates into “more Council authority and privilege” regardless whether that leads to anything better. - Robert Winters
Comments?
It’s a bit more substantial this week at the City Council meeting. Here’s my first pass at some of the interesting stuff:
Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $850,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures account, for a 30-Year Post Closure Evaluation and Report of Danehy Park.
Order Adopted 9-0
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since the old landfill was transformed into Danehy Park. I remember when we operated a volunteer recycling dropoff on Sherman Street back then (1989-1991) and the capped landfill was like a barren moonscape.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for acceptance of G.L. Chapter 39, Section 23D to allow members of adjudicatory boards and commissions to vote on a matter before the adjudicatory body of which they are a member if the board member has missed one of the sessions regarding the matter at issue.
Charter Right - Zondervan
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-10, regarding renaming the Agassiz neighborhood.
Placed on File 9-0
I guess there are some advantages to living in the Mid-Cambridge neighborhood, including the likelihood that the name will not be cancelled. Perhaps we should just use the neighborhood numbers. “You are Number 6”... “I am not a number! I am a free man!”
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $310,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used for consultant services to conduct a study that will evaluate resident experiences in affordable housing in Cambridge.
Order Adopted 9-0
Separate but equal?
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request that the City Council extend its prior authorization for the City Manager or his designee to grant street obstruction approvals, along with any other necessary approvals for temporary street obstructions, from this date until sixty (60) days past the end of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State of Emergency.
Order Adopted 9-0
It’s great that we’ll likely be extending the outdoor dining, but it’s hard to imagine this being a viable alternative during most of the winter. Then again, perhaps we can convince Moderna to make the vaccine available early to its home community.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Green Energy Analysis Zoning Petition Substitute Zoning Text received from the Community Development Department and the Law Department.
Petition removed from Table, Amended with substitute language, and Placed on Table 9-0
This zoning amendment will most likely be ordained next week, and having more energy efficient buildings is unquestionably a good thing. I continue to have concerns about carrots vs. sticks. The inclination of this City Council - whether it has to do with energy efficiency, the management of trees on private property, or other matters - is primarily based on mandates rather than incentives. I hear that a new proposal is coming that would mandate “green roofs” on all new buildings above 20,000 sq. ft. as well as for major renovations. Such a mandate would also require a maintenance plan. I can see the value in green roofs, but I can also understand the desire for ease of maintenance. I doubt whether any of the current city councillors has ever had to make roof repairs.
Order #2. Update on City-Owned Vacant Properties Inventory. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #3. Resolution in Support of Harvard Janitors. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #4. Interpreters at Polling Locations. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Is the idea here to have multiple interpreters all day long for 34 different precincts? Considering the fact that the only things needing interpretation are ballot questions, wouldn’t a few brochures and a Hot Line suffice? Oh year, I forgot that Cambridge is a wealthy city, so we should just spend money regardless of actual need - especially if it lets us feel all woke ‘n stuff.
Order #5. That the enclosed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance be adopted to extend the temporary prohibition on tree cutting permits until Feb 28, 2021. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Passed to 2nd Reading 7-1-0-1 (Toomey - NO; Simmons - PRESENT)
This ordinance and temporary moratorium appear to allow some discretion for property owners to manage the trees on their property as long as the plans are beneficial, but my trust for City mandates and micromanagement by city councillors is fading fast.
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project which appears counter to the City’s zoning code and confer with the relevant departments on how many projects that had a permit prior to these changes could request an extension. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
IANAL (I am not a lawyer), but it seems to me that if a property owner was granted a building permit when certain rules and regulations were in place, then if any construction was delayed due to nondiscretionary circumstances (such as lawsuits, pandemics, etc.) the owner should not be subject to rules enacted after the granting of the permit. This question has come up before, e.g. in the emerging NorthPoint (Cambridge Crossing) area, and in other long-term Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). On the other hand, if someone simply chooses to delay construction beyond the time frame specified in the initial permit, then a reasonable case can be made to require the developer to seek a new permit subject to current rules and regulations. [some background]
Order #7. That the City Council go on record in opposition to the Fiscal Control Management Board plans to replace existing zero-emissions electric bus routes in Cambridge. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #8. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to explore the feasibility of keeping Riverbend Park open beyond November 29. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Charter Right - Zondervan
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Patricia Nolan, Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on Oct 7, 2020 on the reappointment of Christopher Bator to the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of five years and to discuss the Envision Cambridge citywide plan, and review how to set priorities and goals.
Envision Cambridge should be viewed only as a starting point for an ongoing conversation. It’s really more of a staff-dominated laundry list of suggestions. Will city councillors improve on those suggestions and knit together the better ideas into something cohesive or will there just be committee hearings dominated by rhetorical competition? The paradigms were subverted some time ago - and simply replaced by other stale paradigms. - Robert Winters
Postscript – At the end of the meeting there was a Late Order from Vice Mayor Mallon and Mayor Siddiqui asking the City Manager to consult with regional mayors and to impose much stricter coronavirus restrictions on restaurants and other businesses. Councillor Zondervan suggested closing everything down. Councillor Toomey exercised his Charter Right to delay this to the next meeting. Mayor Siddiqui insisted that the closing/restricting of businesses was necessary in order that the public schools could be open for in-person learning but provided no evidence to support this. - RW
O-10 Nov 16, 2020 Charter Right - Toomey
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
VICE MAYOR MALLON
WHEREAS: Citywide, Cambridge businesses, the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Public Schools have implemented several protective measures and strategies to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 throughout the community; and
WHEREAS: Though these protective measures have kept Cambridge COVID-19 positivity rates lower than neighboring cities, Cambridge’s positive cases do continue to increase daily; and
WHEREAS: The Cambridge Public Health Department reported 44 new cases in Cambridge today, the highest number of new cases since the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS: Epidemiologists recommend closing bars, casinos and gyms, and other non-essential business activities to stop the spread of COVID-19 as a way to keep schools open; and
WHEREAS: Research suggests a strong correlation between indoor activities and the rise of COVID-19 community spread; and
WHEREAS: Indoor activities are contributing to the rise in cases in Cambridge, getting our metrics dangerously close to closing schools and resuming remote only learning again; and
WHEREAS: We must take action to restrict the activities of non-essential businesses and gatherings in order to keep our schools open; and
WHEREAS: We must prioritize our scholars and their education as we navigate through the next phase of the public health crisis; and
WHEREAS: Our efforts must be part of a regional response in order to not unfairly penalize Cambridge restaurants and small businesses; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager confer with the Metro Mayor’s Association to close indoor dining, gyms, casinos and other non-essential indoor activities as soon as possible; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager, Community Development Department, the Economic Development Division, the Assessing Department and other relevant City Departments organize a small business and restaurant relief program that will assist during this second shutdown and our efforts to stop community spread of COVID-19 and keep schools open.
Comments?
Now that the honking of horns has subsided and the delayed gratification of a Trumpian concession speech is in effect, our City Council is back again this week with the lightest of agendas.
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Comments and additional details and ramblings to follow. Perhaps I’ll just wait until after the meeting. Honestly, the only thing I want to find out about is why the COVID numbers in Cambridge have been worse lately. It’s not all Harvard and MIT students. - RW
I can’t imagine that there are too many people focusing right now of what’s happening in the Sullivan Chamber. For the handful who are, here are a few things of some possible interest:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $100,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Executive Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the City’s Patio Heater Reimbursement Program.
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #7. That a Joint Roundtable for members of the City Council and School Committee be held on Tues, Nov 10, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for the purpose of discussing the impact of COVID-19 on Cambridge Public Schools. Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Life in The Age of Covid continues. Though the numbers have been relatively contained here in Cambridge, the number of new infections has been going up a bit lately even though there have been no Trump rallies here. Mask up and take care.
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative draft alternative language to the Green Energy Analysis Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0
On the Table #3. Green Energy Analysis Zoning Amendment. [TABLED ON MOTION OF COUNCILLOR CARLONE IN COUNCIL OCT 5, 2020]
Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 9-0
I expect this will move forward this Monday.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for approval to increase of the fee for a Resident Parking Permit/Pass, which is currently $25, to $40, by amending the provisions of Chapter 10, Section 10.17.070 of the Municipal Code.
Failed of Adoption 4-5 (DC,DS,JSW,QZ - YES; AM,MM,PN,TT,SS - NO)
The extra $15 won’t break anyone, but there are probably three or four councillors who would gladly increase it ten-fold or more if they had the votes to do it (I’m glad they don’t). If the City Manager is coming forward with this now based on his concern for more revenue, my guess is that next year’s budget and property taxes will probably also jump.
Charter Right #1. That the City Council adopt a municipal ordinance to reduce or limit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL OCT 26, 2020] [Text of Order #4 of Oct 26, 2020]
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
Late Order #9. The Cambridge City Council direct the City Manager to work with the City Solicitor’s Office to draft a Home Rule Petition that would cap campaign contributions to any City Council candidate to $200 per person, per year, per candidate and limit candidate loans to $3,000 per election cycle.
Referred to Ordinance Committee 8-1 (Carlone - NO)
The Charter Right delayed the rhetorical doublespeak exercises last week. Now that there’s been a week to practice their speeches, let the games begin! Personally, I think many people who make political contribution have conflicts of interest and not just “evil developers.”
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Solicitor to draft Ordinance language to prohibit the use of tear gas in Cambridge. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL OCT 26, 2020] [Text of Order #5 of Oct 26, 2020]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Tear gas is not used in Cambridge, so why the need for an ordinance?
On the Table #4. An application was received from Charles Doty, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 810 Main Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association. [TABLED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL OCT 26, 2020]
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Simmons - PRESENT)
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting a memorandum regarding Cambridge Brands Curb Cut.
Placed on File 9-0
It’s the Great Candy Kerfuffle of 2020. Cambridge Brands is simply trying to do a significant electrical upgrade and along with that some modest changes to their loading operations and waste management. They’ll also be doing everything in a way that respects the existing architecture. I read some of the “evidence” from Councillor Simmons about this and found it to be insignificant and petty. Candy manufacturing at this site has been a fixture in Central Square for over a century, and Cambridge Brands has maintained that tradition and been a good neighbor for the last quarter century.
Businesses should not have to kiss the asses of either city councillors or anyone else every time they ask for approval for a completely reasonable purpose. Cambridge Brands is not planning a gigantic expansion or anything else that might trigger the usual shakedown process for “community benefits.” There should be no controversy here.
Communications #1. A communication was received from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Micheal K. Owu, MIT Volpe PUD-7 Special Permit Pre-Application Conference with the City Council.
Placed on File 9-0
I’m glad to see some movement on the plans for the Volpe site. I still feel that miniature golf has a important role to play in the site plans. And maybe a batting cage.
Resolution #2. Resolution on the death of Rick Jarvis. Councillor Simmons
Resolution Adopted 9-0
Resolution #3. Resolution on the death of Richard McKinnon. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern
Resolution Adopted as Amended 9-0
Both of these deaths caused me to shudder. I have known and respected Rich McKinnon for as long as I have been going up to City Hall - and that’s been nearly 35 years. I knew Rick Jarvis when he worked for ComElectric. I planned a whole infrastructure display at an Earth Day event nearly 30 years ago featuring water, sewer, electric, and waste management, and Rick was kind enough to put together a lot of great information on the region’s electrical infrastructure and be there for the event. We stayed in touch after that but not for a while. His death comes as quite a shock.
Resolution #4. Congratulations to Fred Fantini. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Resolution Adopted 9-0
As the Resolution says, “Fred Fantini is the longest serving elected School Committee member in the history of Cambridge.” He shall henceforth be known and “The Award-Winning Dean of the Cambridge School Committee.” (It doesn’t say that in the Resolution.)
Order #4. That the Executive Assistant to the City Council confer with the Dedication Committee to consider the request for a suitable dedication in the vicinity of CCTV’s office located at 438 Massachusetts Avenue in honor of retiring CCTV Executive Director Susan Fleischmann. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Accolades aside, Susan Fleischmann has been perhaps the most staunch supporter of free speech I have known in Cambridge, and CCTV has benefited greatly from Susan’s leadership for many years.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department to commence the public process with the Port neighborhood and surrounding communities to determine the future use of the 35 Cherry Street parcel for affordable housing, and in conjunction with the community, determine the type of housing that would meet the most pressing needs in the area. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right - Zondervan
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Information Office, the Housing Liaison, the Multi-Service Center, the School Department, and other relevant City departments to create a comprehensive digital, postal, and traditional media outreach campaign educating residents on the Cambridge eviction moratorium, tenants’ rights, and resources available to at-risk tenants. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department about analyzing eviction data from 2018 through 2021 and come back with a plan on how to use this data to inform our next action steps. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to consult with the relevant departments about the feasibility of posting all applications for building permits online as soon as available. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
There have been lots of suggestions along these lines for some time and lots of promises unfulfilled. A related proposal a few years back called for indexing all building permits, special permits, variances, and covenants associated with any given property in a manner that’s easy to access. It’s remarkable to me how many times good ideas have been proposed (sometimes by me) that cause many a head to nod in agreement and which are then completely forgotten or not acted upon. For example, don’t you think every City Council committee should have its own web page where anyone can track the work of the committee and make comments and suggestions? I made that suggestion more than once at Government Operations Committee meetings. Nothing but the sound of crickets. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are my picks for this week:
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department and other relevant City personnel to establish a plan that will allow for greater outreach to women-and-minority-owned businesses, technical assistance to these businesses in applying for financial relief, and a clear plan to ensure that those small businesses that have not yet received financial assistance be granted every opportunity to access any future City funding should it be made available, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
Approved 9-0 without discussion
There should be no argument about the ideal of broad outreach and, if necessary, even targeted outreach to ensure that available resources are equitably provided. There does come a point, however, when this crosses the line into political patronage and favoritism. During the cannabis brouhaha last year over how City ordinances could be crafted to provide advantages to social equity and economic empowerment applicants one couldn’t help but notice how many former elected officials were lining up to cash in on these advantages. Inequities in financial assistance necessitated by closures due to the pandemic are likely due to some potential recipients being less savvy about how to access benefits, but suggesting that outreach should be targeted only to women-and-minority-owned businesses seems more like favoritism than anything else. Shouldn’t outreach be to any and all businesses who may be unfamiliar with how to access benefits?
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to raise this issue with the appropriate representatives of the Cambridge Crossing buildings, and with the appropriate representatives of the Governor’s Office, to ensure that these businesses are not in violation of any current statewide Covid-19 protocols. Councillor Simmons
Approved 9-0 without discussion
Apparently there have been “party buses” full of unmasked party animals seen driving in and out of the emerging Cambridge Crossing area, a.k.a. North Point. Perhaps the party animals could be quarantined in the buses for a couple of weeks rather than release them into the general population. Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth.
Order #4. That the City Council adopt a municipal ordinance to reduce or prohibit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Charter Right - Simmons
This is really the centerpiece of this week’s agenda. It’s not the first time such a proposal has been floated in the City Council, and it always provides a wonderful opportunity for councillor doublespeak. While my personal preference is to simply require fully transparent disclosure of political donations from anyone, including those with potential business before the City, the simple truth is that it’s ethically questionable to receive such donations. If you dig into the contributions made during the 2019 municipal election season there was a lot of money coming from people affiliated with real estate development (including labor unions whose members would stand to get additional work) and cannabis. There were also significant contributions from those in the nonprofit housing world who wanted the City to amend zoning to deliver more projects to them.
Some incumbents and challengers have outright refused donations from anyone involved in real estate. I personally think that’s excessive and maybe even a bit snobby. Some people who deal in real estate are friends and neighbors who are very charitable with their time and talent (and money) in civic affairs. On the other hand, there are some councillors who take in tons of money from those with business before the City, and their votes generally do align with those interests. We all know that correlation does not imply causation, but it certainly does raise an eyebrow or two - and it should. The fact that some councillors wait until just after the election to receive such large donations seems even more problematic - at least to me - because it evades any disclosure that might have influenced voters.
The 2019 election featured a new twist - questioning the propriety of residents who own homes making political donations. The suggestion was that their favored councillors might vote in such a way that might cause their property to rise in value. Earth to Cambridge – those values have been rising primarily due to factors that have little to do with City Council actions. That fact, of course, will never stand in the way of political rhetoric by those who like to point fingers. Let’s also acknowledge that during the rent control era nobody suggested a conflict of interest in councillors receiving financial and political support from those whose primary motivation was keeping their rent controlled. Is there anyone who doesn’t have at least some sort of financial interest in election outcomes and political actions?
Order #5. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Solicitor to draft Ordinance language to prohibit the use of tear gas in Cambridge. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right - Simmons
I believe the Police Department has said they don’t use tear gas, and I can’t imagine that policy changing. So what exactly is the reason for making this an ordinance other than just political showmanship?
Order #6. That the City must work with all major housing providers to eliminate or reduce the filing of evictions during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Referred to Housing Committee 9-0
Unlike the alarmist rhetoric coming from my State Misrepresentative (Connolly), this order is all about negotiation and facilitation for better outcomes. Who can argue with that? - Robert Winters
Comments?
There are 13 Communications, 13 Resolutions, and 13 Orders on this week’s agenda. Good thing there were 14 items on the City Manager’s Agenda or I would have on the Last Train to Clarksville. Here’s the pick of the litter:
[Note: This is the first time I’m writing these comments post-meeting. Given the choice between civic/political commentary and finishing grading a large stack of mathematics exams, the grading won out.]
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-32, regarding the feasibility of identifying one evening or day per week that the Fresh Pond Golf Course can be open to the public for general use.
The very predictable rhetoric centered on “equity” and the unspeakable horror that not every square foot of land is open to anyone at any hour of any day for any reason. The City Manager assured the verklempt councillors that people could frolic on the golf course after the golf season was over.
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $175,000, from Free Cash to the Public Investment Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account to launch a COVID-19 sewer testing program.
City Engineer Kathy Watkins reported that samples will be drawn weekly from three representative sites East Cambridge/Inman Sq., N. Cambridge, and the Port to detect viral load in wastewater, and that results should start pouring in this November.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 received from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Innovate Energy Efficiency Grant Program, to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to support the Cambridge Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program, which aims to increase the energy efficiency of multifamily buildings with 5-49 units by offering technical, solar, and financing support.
I’ll again take this opportunity to express how thrilled I am with another program (carried out thanks to a partnership between the City of Cambridgeand the nonprofit All In Energy) that will soon be blowing insulation into all the walls of my triple-decker plus additional energy-saving measures at zero cost to me. Carrots work better than sticks.
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-21, regarding a report on developing a Vacant Storefront Registry.
CDD Asst. City Manager Iram Farooq reported that CDD has been keeping such a registry for some time. She also explained to the “fine ‘em ‘til it hurts” councillors that fines for extended vacancies usually can be shucked off by the big guys and might only hurt the little guys. Better to just work with those property owners for better outcomes - what a concept!
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Executive Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the City’s third annual contribution to the MBTA Green Line Extension project.
The councillors didn’t pull this item, but it’s really exciting to see the progress that’s being made on the GLX and the associated bike/ped corridor and RR crossings. Check out some of the pictures.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-49, regarding a report on the feasibility of closing several blocks of streets in Harvard Square to vehicular traffic, with the exception of deliveries.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to Policy Order O-13 of Oct 5, 2020, regarding a draft Truck Safety Ordinance.
DPW Commissioner Owen O’Riordan cautioned that imposing broad requirements on all City contractors could negatively impact necessities such as street paving since these contractors operate throughout the state/region and the City would have limited leverage. It’s also a fact that idealist restrictions on City-funded services and initiatives can significantly increase costs in exchange for limited benefit.
Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-50, regarding a report on publicizing and enforcing and publicizing the eviction moratorium.
Order #10. That the City Manager confer with the Legal Department on the feasibility of making Cambridge’s Eviction Moratorium stronger to protect our tenants from displacement. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
It has been interesting watching the alarmist and opportunistic rhetoric propagate on this issue. Suffice to say that the Governor recently approved a $171 million “eviction diversion initiative” to assist both tenants and landlords, the City has an open-ended eviction moratorium still in place, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) still has a national ban on evictions of tenants with verifiable pandemic-related hardships.
Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Zoning Recommendations for Retail Uses and Home Occupations.
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Mallon, Chair of the Economic Development and University Relations Committee, for a public hearing held on Sept 30, 2020 the purpose of receiving final recommendations from the Community Development Department on updating the commercial land use classification system within the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Mallon, Chair of the Economic Development and University Relations Committee, for a public hearing held on July 30, 2020 to discuss to receive an update on the Retail Land Use Initiative and Retail Table of Land Use Update.
It’s great to see some progress finally being made on this. I haven’t yet bothered to read all the fine details, so I’ll simply express my view that Cambridge has long been overly prescriptive in its allowed uses, and that’s likely to still be the case even with these proposed changes. It’s one thing to have regulations in place to prevent noxious uses, but it’s another thing to be prescribing things to the point that jelly donuts can be sold but cream-filled donuts cannot. [I’m joking, of course, but I hope you get the idea.] Both of the proposed zoning changes (Retail Uses and Home Occupations) were referred to the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee where we’ll have some time to look at the details. It is perhaps worth mentioning that, because of the pandemic, most Cambridge residences have now become workplaces.
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City Departments to ensure that any report or recommendation for a new Neighborhood Conservation District in Cambridge presented to the City Council include an analysis of the potential effects on City housing affordability based on current research, as well as any mitigations that the Cambridge Historical Commission recommends, so that the City Council may holistically evaluate the matter. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR CARLONE IN COUNCIL OCT 5, 2020]
This entire matter has become a case of competing narratives between political partisans - with the ABC crowd identifying anyone who would stand in the way of their Jerome Rappaportization of Cambridge. In their grand vision for East Cambridge and elsewhere, we may soon be seeing signs saying “If you lived here you’d be home now” where the densely-packed homes of immigrants once stood.
Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Arvind Srinivasan regarding zoning language relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay.
This makes the 4th installment of proposed zoning in the NW part of Alewife Quadrangle starting last September.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Solicitor’s Office and other relevant departments to determine what impact the Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping may have on the City of Cambridge and its community partners, what options the City may have to work around this order, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City Solicitor on an ordinance requiring the city to only purchase goods that are made in full compliance with USA environmental and labor standards. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
While I’m sure we can all appreciate the intent, my instincts tell me that the City may soon be exclusively using triple-priced eco-pencils, dirty-grey eco-paper, driving double-priced vehicles (or organically-grown bikes) while feasting on nothing other than organic not-burgers washed down with fair trade coffee.
Order #6. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with staff and Eversource representatives to set up a public meeting with residents. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan
Could someone contact Eversource and tell them that it’s been 6 years since they did a temporary electrical hookup to my building and never returned to finish the job? Believe me, I have tried my best to no avail to get Eversource to finish what they started.
Order #7. That the City of Cambridge stands in solidarity with the Armenian people in Cambridge, throughout the Commonwealth and world, and the Republic of Artsakh. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Order #9. That the City of Cambridge call upon Senator Warren and Senator Markey to call for an end to immigration detention in the United States, the immediate reunification of immigrant families and the release of migrant children and parents from detention, and also to afford these families due process by allowing them the full and fair opportunity to seek protection from the United States. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
It’s so nice to see Cambridge returning to normal, especially in the field of international relations. I really miss the days of City Council orders seeking to depose leaders like Muammar Gaddafi. Clearly this is what made all the difference in Libya. By the way, Public Comment on Order #7 primarily was phoned in from New Jersey and led to a more Turk-friendly substitute version of this most important piece of Cambridge Intentional Legislation.
Order #11. That the City Manager is hereby requested to instruct the Commissioner of Public Works to utilize continuous planting strips along bike lanes and at all reduced roadway areas in Harvard Square rather than painted buffer zones in Harvard Square to fully address bike and pedestrian safety in Harvard Square. Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan
Perhaps we should ask the DPW Commissioner about the realities of maintaining “planting strips” in the middle of roadways. Sustainability isn’t just about climate change. How long do trees and plantings in narrow strips in roadways actually survive? How will these structures impact snow removal operations?
Order #12. That the City Manager is hereby requested to instruct the Finance Department to provide a dollar amount and percentage of money used by every department to address racial and economic equity in the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget, highlighting additional areas to be considered and that the City Manager present plans for implementation in the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons
Order #13. Policy Order calling for Judge Roanne Sragow to be reinstated to her position and remain in Cambridge. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
I learned last week of the retirement of Judge Sragow who has for some time been convening the very innovative and helpful “Homeless Court” in Central Square and Harvard Square. Apparently this was a mandatory age-based retirement even though other judges continue beyond the mandatory age. There is now an outcry from many quarters requesting that Judge Sragow be called upon to reconvene the “Homeless Court” initiative in Cambridge. That would be a Very Good Thing. - Robert “better late than never” Winters
Comments?
Here’s my grab bag of agenda items that will see some action or which seem either interesting or ridiculous or otherwise noteworthy.
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to votes necessary to seek approval from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue of the tax rate for FY2021. [Manager’s Letter]
13 Orders Adopted 9-0
There are so many statistics you could look at when comparing things over the years, but here are a few:
| Year |
Property Tax Levy |
Annual
Increase |
Residential
Tax Rate
(per $1000) |
Commercial
Tax Rate
(per $1000) |
Ratio
(Comm/Res) |
Median
Tax
(single) |
Median
Tax
(condo) |
Median
Tax
(2-fam) |
Median
Tax
(3-fam) |
| FY2021 |
$472,520,148 |
7.85% |
$5.85 |
$11.85 |
2.03 |
$5,761 |
$1,608 |
$5,471 |
$6,711 |
| FY2020 |
$438,128,694 |
6.91% |
$5.75 |
$12.68 |
2.21 |
$5,515 |
$1,605 |
$5,340 |
$6,493 |
| FY2019 |
$409,809,861 |
5.33% |
$5.94 |
$13.71 |
2.31 |
$5,066 |
$1,562 |
$4,974 |
$6,124 |
| FY2018 |
$389,080,359 |
4.40% |
$6.29 |
$14.81 |
2.35 |
$4,942 |
$1,541 |
$4,682 |
$5,655 |
| FY2017 |
$372,674,087 |
5.15% |
$6.49 |
$16.12 |
2.48 |
$4,806 |
$1,465 |
$4,649 |
$5,594 |
| FY2016 |
$354,430,753 |
3.80% |
$6.99 |
$17.71 |
2.53 |
$4,482 |
$1,454 |
$4,412 |
$5,258 |
| FY2015 |
$341,445,455 |
3.93% |
$7.82 |
$19.29 |
2.47 |
$4,418 |
$1,472 |
$4,310 |
$5,040 |
| FY2014 |
$328,544,945 |
3.66% |
$8.38 |
$20.44 |
2.44 |
$4,407 |
$1,457 |
$3,976 |
$4,787 |
| FY2013 |
$316,947,770 |
5.97% |
$8.66 |
$21.50 |
2.48 |
$4,298 |
$1,495 |
$3,866 |
$4,586 |
| FY2012 |
$299,090,641 |
5.33% |
$8.48 |
$20.76 |
2.45 |
$4,139 |
$1,430 |
$3,786 |
$4,501 |
| FY2011 |
$283,961,699 |
5.69% |
$8.16 |
$19.90 |
2.44 |
$3,870 |
$1,370 |
$3,609 |
$4,286 |
| FY2010 |
$268,662,984 |
5.38% |
$7.72 |
$18.75 |
2.43 |
$3,564 |
$1,293 |
$3,477 |
$4,132 |
| FY2009 |
$254,945,578 |
5.20% |
$7.56 |
$17.97 |
2.38 |
$3,445 |
$1,224 |
$3,430 |
$4,091 |
While it’s noteworthy that the 7.85% increase in the property tax levy is very high, it needs to be emphasized that this is only after leaving 125 positions vacant (which allows for an FY21 budget rescission of $5 million), the allocation of $24.5 million from reserve accounts to reduce the levy, and other measures.
It’s also worth emphasizing that property taxes this fiscal year are based on assessed property values as of Jan 1, 2020 - before the pandemic rolled into town. Many commercial properties are now generating considerably less income and that may be reflected in lower assessed property values come Jan 1, 2020. We have for a long time been taking full advantage of the property tax classification and the ability to set different tax rates for commercial vs. residential properties (within legal limits). This has allowed Cambridge to keep residential property taxes in check. If commercial values slip, it is quite likely that a considerable amount of the tax burden will shift to residential properties. The Manager’s message alludes to this: “It is also important to recognize that a healthy balance of development between residential and commercial be continued to ensure homeowner’s real estate taxes remain affordable.”
I strongly recommend that you read the entire Tax Rate letter from the City Manager and think about what next year’s letter may say if the pandemic continues to takes its economic toll.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the Net Zero Action Plan Task Force for a term of nine-months.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #12. That the Council go on record supporting the passage of S.2500 and H.4933 and to support the inclusion of the following in the final bill: 1) The development of a net zero stretch code by DOER (S.2500, § 30-31, 54) 2) The consideration of geographically diverse communities, including low-income communities, in the development of a net zero stretch code (S.2500, § 54) 3) The increase in membership and the establishment of term limits for the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (H.4933, § 15A-F). Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1
Committee Report #1. A report of the Ordinance Committee Meeting held on Aug 26, 2020 regarding Green Energy Analysis Zoning Amendments. [minutes have not yet been posted]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Rah, Rah, Rah for environmental initiatives! It’s worth noting, however, that energy efficiency usually translates into cost savings in the long run - and many homeowners and developers will incorporate energy efficiency into their homes and projects regardless of any mandates from state and local government. Carrots work better than sticks.
I’ll be soon taking advantage of a free (or at least reduced cost) insulation program in my house, but not because a few city councillors are twisting my arm to do it. I have some serious concerns about layering one mandate on top of another so that at some point a homeowner may simply delay repairs and renovations because of the added costs and restrictions. But I’m sure the councillors will feel perfectly righteous.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-26, regarding a report on placing four little free libraries.
Placed on File 9-0
“Liberation Libraries” – Perhaps this will start a trend of topic-specific “little free libraries” around the city. I could start a “little free math library” or maybe a “cosmology corner”. It would help me reduce the weight of books in my house. Now that would be another kind of liberation.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-47, regarding a report on heat lamps and outdoor dining during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to City Council request at the Special Meeting relative to COVID-19 Update of Sept 29, 2020, to provide opinions on the question of eviction moratoria applicability.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #5. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Public Health Department and the Law Department to amend Cambridge’s Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement to make clear that it remains in effect after October 17 and until at least the end of the state of emergency is declared. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 8-0-1
Leave it to the good folks of the Central Square Business Improvement District to lead the charge in arranging for heat lamps to give local restaurants an extra tool to help them survive the Covid assault on businesses further into the colder weather months. Big thanks to some particular heros in the City administration (you know who you are) for helping to ease the bureaucratic burdens.
Regarding the matter of moratoriums on evictions and the relationship between commercial and residential landlords and their tenants, there is so much that has gone on out of the public eye in terms of rent forgiveness, renegotiated leases, and deferred rent that the politicians either fail to see or refuse to recognize. To them, it’s like that Rahm Emanuel quote: “Never allow a good crisis go to waste. It’s an opportunity to do the things you once thought were impossible.” Whether it’s using a shared street to execute mode shifts or fast-track your bicycle plans; or using the threat of a “tsunami of evictions” to attempt to reinstitute rent controls; or perhaps even using economic hardship to pursue your anti-capitalist agenda, there’s nothing like a good crisis to grease your political axles.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-41, regarding a report on the feasibility of an alternative Public Safety Crisis Response System.
Placed on File 9-0
Given the choice between listening to a bunch of sheeplike “Defund the Police” activists or reading a well-reasoned response from Police Commissioner Bard and other expert City staff, I’ll choose the latter any day of the week.
Unfinished Business #3. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL SEPT 14, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER OCT 5, 2020] [Final Amended Text of Ordinance]
Ordained as Amended 7-1-0-1 (Toomey - NO, Simmons - PRESENT)
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, regarding the Cycling Safety Ordinance.
Placed on File 9-0
I am convinced that the mandatory aspects of this Ordinance are not legally enforceable - though I’m sure that the City administration will carry out most of it nonetheless. It’s one thing to lay out your vision for reconfiguring roads for better safety, but micromanaging the City Manager and City departments is another thing altogether. Then again, I suppose if there were 5 city councillors who wanted to pass a municipal ordinance requiring candy-striped streets, they could pass the ordinance and then screech at the Manager and threaten to not renew his contract for having used less-distracting road materials.
Unfinished Business #4. 100% Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Petition 2020. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL SEPT 14, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER OCT 5, 2020] [Final Text of Ordinance]
Ordained 7-2 (Carlone, Nolan - NO)
This will be ordained, of course, but that doesn’t make it any less of an offensive cross between an eminent-domain taking and an ideological agenda to relentlessly shift residential properties from private ownership toward public and quasi-public ownership that will forevermore rely on taxpayer support for maintaining these properties in perpetuity.
Order #3. That the Council go on record requesting the Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack consider an I-90 lane reduction and at-grade design during the final decision-making process. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 8-0-1
A viaduct or an at-grade multi-lane highway are both barriers. I’m far more interested in the peripheral aspects of this project (like a better-connected road and path network and better) than about the number of lanes or whether a portion remains elevated.
Order #4. That the Cambridge City Council adopt the following amendments to Chapter 5.50 of the Municipal Ordinances of the City of Cambridge entitled “CANNABIS BUSINESS PERMITTING”. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Referred to Ordinance Committee 8-0-1
Order #8. Cannabis Delivery-Only Zoning Ordinance. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 8-0-1
Doesn’t it seem like this City Council and the previous City Council care more about cannabis than just about anything else? Perhaps they need an intervention.
Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City Departments to ensure that any report or recommendation for a new Neighborhood Conservation District in Cambridge presented to the City Council include an analysis of the potential effects on City housing affordability based on current research, as well as any mitigations that the Cambridge Historical Commission recommends, so that the City Council may holistically evaluate the matter. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right - Carlone
One of the more bizarre aspects of this City Council is their tendency to simply absorb the rhetoric of their activist handlers without questioning the validity of their gripes. The latest talking point among the YIMBY crowd is that historic presevation is fundamentally racist or elitist or profit-driven and that any effort to preserve some of the more endearing qualities of your neighborhood makes you evil incarnate.
The current case involves some East Cambridge residents who would prefer to not see their particular brand of very dense neighborhood wiped clean in favor of large ugly boxes. Given the choice between closely-spaced two-family homes with grape arbors and tomato plants versus a boring box of a building with a concierge, I’ll choose the former. In terms of affordability, those old Italian ladies and gentlemen of East Cambridge have done more to provide housing at affordable rents for generations than any of the vultures now circling.
Order #10. That the City Council go on record supporting the Roe Act and restate its commitment to the protection of abortion rights, reproductive health care rights, and individuals’ rights to make reproductive decisions about their own bodies. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 8-0-1
I try to pay as little attention as possible to what goes on in Washington, DC. I do, however, understand that if family planning access becomes no longer guaranteed across the country, it will be very important for individual states to provide such guarantees in whatever manner is consistent with the needs and wishes of its residents.
Order #13. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Transportation Department and Solicitor to provide the City with an update on the progress toward a draft [Truck Safety] Ordinance as soon as possible and with the draft of an Ordinance by Oct 19, 2020. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted 7-0-2
One of the things I remember from decades ago is that federal jurisdiction in interstate commerce is pretty serious business and that regulating truck traffic is not easy. You can put restrictions and make safety improvements on your own vehicles and perhaps those of companies with whom you have contracts, but just about everything else will require endless studies and viable alternatives that won’t be challenged in court. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are a few items of note up for consideration (or reconsideration) at this week’s meeting:
Reconsideration #1. That the city council extend the current contract with city manager Louis DePasquale for a period of 18 months.
Reconsideration Failed 3-6 (Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan - YES)
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Nolan, transmitting a memorandum on Filing for Reconsideration.
Placed on File 9-0
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a communication from the City Solicitor with a red-lined corrected version and a clean corrected version of the proposed contract that was before the City Council at its meeting of Monday, September 14, 2020.
Contract Approved 6-3 (Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan - NO); Reconsideration Fails 9-0
Reconsideration of a hasty vote is entirely proper. However, regarding taking a raise during a pandemic, there’s this (as of July 1, 2020 - during pandemic - according to Open Data Portal):
Councillor salary increased by $2,253 to $85,844 (2.7% increase)
Mayor’s salary increased by $3,365 to $128,194 (2.7% increase)
Council Aide increased by $14,890 to $67,831 (28.1% increase) - partially deferred due to COVID
plus benefits for all.
The rhetoric from Councillor Nolan and some activists suggests that there was great confusion associated with the final contract proposal introduced only very late and approved during last Monday’s meeting. It’s true that those details should have been available long before that - maybe even weeks before - but almost all of the proposed contract is the same as the previous contract, including the annual 2.5% raises on July 1 of each year - the same as other City employees, including city councillors (see above). The only deviations are (a) that there should be a 2.5% increase at the signing of the contract; (b) the end date of the contract is July 5, 2022 (just 5 days after the final 2.5% raise); and (c) the removal of the provision for annual evaluations - which is not surprising given the fact that all indications are that this is a terminal contract extension.
My sense, and I have not spoken with anyone about this, is that the additional increases are more like consolation for an incredibly qualified city manager who is receiving a terminal contract extension for the most superficial of political reasons. There will be another municipal election a year from now and we can only hope that (a) some better candidates emerge who are more than just single-issue revolutionaries; and (b) that Cambridge voters somehow come to realize that City government is about more than just a few predictable hot-button issues. Maybe a big jump in residential property taxes will wake some voters from their slumber, but that likely won’t raise even an eyebrow among other voters not actually writing the check to the City - even if the increases are factored into their rent.
Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-39 and 20-40, regarding contacting the new owners of Jerry’s Pond and discussing next steps in the potential restoration and improvements to Jerry’s Pond and its surrounding areas. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY MAYOR SIDDIQUI IN COUNCIL SEPT 14, 2020]
Referred to NLTP Committee 9-0
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Economic Development Department, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Harvard Square Neighborhood Association and Harvard University on the implementation of closing several blocks of streets in Harvard Square as soon as possible to vehicular traffic, with the exception of deliveries, using the attached map as one possible vision. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL SEPT 14, 2020]
Adopted as Amended 8-0-0-1 (Toomey - PRESENT)
By the time any such changes might be implemented it will be late Fall or early Winter and any advantages for Harvard Square businesses will be moot. Maybe these might make sense in the Spring, but hopefully things will be better by then on the COVID front. Also, the particular plan proposed leaves a lot to be desired.
Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Cambridge Redevelopment Authority regarding a Zoning Ordinance to reflect the proposed changes to the KSURP.
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0
The proposed changes are related to the alternate site within the MXD District for the electrical substation that was the subject of much controversy over the last couple of years. In addition to the siting of the substation, the proposal also adjusts the timing for when previously planned housing will be delivered, increases permissible heights to 250 feet throughout the MXD District with the allowance of up to 400 feet for one residential building, plus other changes.
Order #2. Support for Extended Outdoor Dining PO. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
This Order is about easing the permitting process for the use of outdoor heat lamps in order to allow restaurants to maintain their outdoor operations later into the season.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with Claude Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer, as to the feasibility of creating such a program [antibody testing for COVID-19] and report back to the City Council on this matter by Oct 12, 2020. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
I’m not so sure what the added value of extensive COVID-related antibody testing will be at this point, but I look forward to the response from Claude Jacob. Information is great, but primarily if it can be used for a good purpose.
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to notify all tenants of abutting properties whenever property owners are notified, addressing them by name if known or as “RESIDENT” if not. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
I’m sure my tenants will be absolutely captivated by this information judging from all those copies of glossy City publications that go sight unseen into the recycling bin.
Order #7. That the City Council go on record in support for requiring large sources of stormwater pollution to obtain permits under the Clean Water Act. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0
Good idea, but I think the main sources of pollutants that lead to cyanobacteria blooms are most likely upstream from Cambridge.
And then there’s this:
A Special City Council meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, September 23 at 5:30pm “to discuss a charter review with representatives of the Collins Center.” A number of Cambridge listservs are now actively commenting on the notion of possibly changing the city’s Plan E Charter. I have no idea if there are five votes on the City Council to pursue such a thing, but it does strike me as a strange pursuit based primarily on some city councillors simply not getting their way on every little thing.
I have some questions currently about whether our Proportional Representation election system is actually now producing a representative City Council and School Committee, but I lay the blame for that primarily on the laziness of voters rather than on the election system itself. It’s also a big problem that we typically get candidates for City Council and School committee who are more interested in inflammatory single issues or ideology than they are in helping to effectively guide city government or the public schools. This, of course, has become a problem here and elsewhere regardless of the election system.
Regarding the matter of having professionally managed government with the City Council setting general policies versus a “strong mayor” system, I will simply suggest that you should be careful what you wish for. Strong mayor systems, like Boston, inevitably mean even weaker city councils and if a mayor owes his or her election to a slim majority in a popular election it’s not at all uncommon that those who didn’t vote for the mayor may be entirely shut out. It’s also quite common that once elected, a mayor becomes “mayor for life” - in contrast with our tradition of having the Chair of the City Council and the School Committee turn over with some frequency.
In short, I think it’s good to have an occasional review of the pros and cons of our Plan E Charter, but I wouldn’t trust this current City Council, or the advocacy groups to whom some of them seem to be accountable, to decide on what, if anything, might preferably be changed. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The Second String Debate Club returns this week from its summer vacation. Here are a few items of note:
COVID and COVID-related:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $52,158.29 received from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Shared Streets and Spaces Program Grant, to the Grant Fund Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used for expenses associated with the Starlight Square temporary place-keeping intervention in Municipal Parking Lot 5 in Central Square.
Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a proposed restatement of an amendment to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account, entitled “The City of Cambridge Restated and Amended Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account” (“Account”). [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020]
Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department and any other appropriate City personnel to establish a means of providing technical support to marginalized, underrepresented business owners and non-profit arts organizations in applying for and obtaining the critical funds from the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund Grant and Loan program, and/or from other similar State and Federal assistance programs, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
Many of us have heard plaintive cries regarding this matter due to the precarious position many arts organizations are now in due to shutdowns and diminished capacity caused by the pandemic. This fund has already been re-purposed to provide loans/grants to small businesses severely impacted by the pandemic. However, it is a legitimate question to ask just how broadly available a fund initially created to assist residents affected by a major fire or similar disaster should be. It’s not at all clear if Councillor Simmons new Order adds anything to this discussion.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Economic Development Department, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Harvard Square Neighborhood Association and Harvard University on the implementation of closing several blocks of streets in Harvard Square as soon as possible to vehicular traffic, with the exception of deliveries, using the attached map as one possible vision. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
The basic criteria so far regarding street closures/restrictions to help businesses and residents during this pandemic has been feasibility and a reasonable chance of positive impact. The proposal in the attached map doesn’t seem to work for the #1 Bus and may result in traffic woes, and the fact that this is being proposed in September seems a bit late in the game. That said, shared street and slow streets are going to continue to be a topic of discussion and planning in the future. You can count on it.
Order #6. The City Manager is requested to work with Claude Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer of the Cambridge Public Health Department to appoint a Vaccine Task Force to develop a plan that keeps equity at the forefront. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Frankly, I’m pretty sure that equity is already being discussed as a priority in future vaccine distribution. The greater challenge may be getting people to trust in the safety of the various vaccine candidates - even after extensive clinical trials have been completed.
Order #9. That the City Manager confer with the Department of Public Works, the Cambridge Water Department and other relevant partners to create a pilot program for wastewater testing for evidence of COVID-19. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toomey
This is a pretty good idea. I would be surprised if this is not already being done in at least some limited way in Cambridge considering the wealth of research capacity in our local universities and biotech firms.
The Police:
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-35, regarding an update on the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers’ Association union contract negotiations.
Charter Right #2. The City Manager look into transferring primary traffic enforcement responsibilities from the Cambridge Police Department to unarmed, trained enforcement personnel in the Traffic & Parking Department, Department of Public Works, Health & Human Services, or another suitable department. [CHARTER EXERCISED BY VICE MAYOR MALLON IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020]
My favorite City Manager response is a terse one that states, as this communication does, that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do be doing and we’re doing it well, and it’s not the role of the City Council to intervene in matters such as municipal contract negotiations. There are currently 56 items on Awaiting Report with only 4 of them addressed this week. Most of the remaining items could be dispensed with via a brief paragraph each.
Water:
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-38, regarding a report on lessons learned from 2016 and on plans in place to institute water savings measures and to inform the public as soon as practicable about the possibility of dry and drought conditions.
Housing (not including AHO):
Manager’s Agenda #20. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to additional amendments to the draft amendment to the Municipal Code introducing a new ordinance entitled Chapter 8.71 - Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification.
Unfinished Business #7. That the Cambridge City Council amend the Municipal Ordinances of the City of Cambridge to insert a new Chapter 8.71, entitled Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER SEPT 14, 2020.]
Order #12. That the Cambridge City Council go on record in strong support of H.4878, and in urging the legislature to pass it immediately. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
While having a “Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification” policy in place as a municipal ordinance seems like a good move, there is something about the possibility of a $300/day fine that seems excessive, and I’d hate to see this applied retroactively in the event that relations between a landlord and tenant break down. Well-intentioned initiatives can sometimes have the perverse effect of creating a chasm between a landlord and tenants that can do more harm than good.
Jerry’s Pond:
Manager’s Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-39 and 20-40, regarding contacting the new owners of Jerry’s Pond and discussing next steps in the potential restoration and improvements to Jerry’s Pond and its surrounding areas.
I’m glad to see that there’s the potential of some cooperation between the new owners, the MBTA, DCR, and the City. The real challenge will come when the new owners come forward with development plans. That’s usually when there’s sufficient leverage available to realize objectives that might not be possible simply by good will.
Fossil Fuel Zoning:
Manager’s Agenda #22. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt, following further study and refinement, the Fossil Fuel Zoning Petition (Amendments to Article 22.000 of the Zoning Ordinance).
On the Table #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor, Community Development, Public Works, Inspectional Services and any other related departments to review the proposed amendments regarding the prohibition of Natural Gas Infrastructure in New Buildings. [TABLED ON JAN 27, 2020]
The proposal is sensible in that it encourages good outcomes recognizing the feasibility and cost of installing systems not dependent on fossil fuels. In light of recent legal opinions regarding proposals for outright bans, this seems like a good path to follow even if the zealots are disappointed. But they’re always disappointed anyway.
Affordable Housing Overlay:
Manager’s Agenda #23. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) Zoning Petition.
Manager’s Agenda #24. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Petition CDD staff follow-up on items requested by the Ordinance Committee at its hearing on Aug 19, 2020. [attached petition text]
Committee Report #3. A report of the Ordinance Committee Meeting held on July 8, 2020 regarding the Affordable Housing Overlay.
Committee Report #7. A report of the Ordinance Committee Meeting held on Aug 19, 2020 regarding the Affordable Housing Overlay.
Suffice to say that I continue to see this as a dreadful proposal that is based on a philosophy of transferring as much private residential property as possible into the hands of government and/or its taxpayer-funded partners. Inclusionary Zoning is founded on a philosophy of maintaining a balance between market housing and subsidized housing in new construction. This proposal does the opposite. It also establishes greatly different development standards in terms of height, density, and setbacks and, perhaps worst of all, it effectively eliminates the ability of an abutter to object. This is in many ways Eminent Domain Lite.
Because these different rules for different owners are being baked into zoning, once established it will take a two-thirds Council majority to change back to equitable standards, and that’s a virtual political impossibility. The entire zoning proposal was effectively written by those entities that stand to benefit by it.
Community Preservation Act (CPA):
Manager’s Agenda #25. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the recommendations of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for FY2021. [FY21 CPA Vote_Chair Letter to City Manager] [FY21 Project Recommendations Book]
[09142020 CPA orders] [CPA appropriation orders]
80-10-10 as always and non-debatable. I stopped going to the hearings (actual and virtual) years ago once it became clear that the fix was in.
Elections and Voting:
Charter Right #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to look into suspending street cleaning on Sept 1, 2020 and Nov 3, 2020; that he work with the Elections Commission to order 8 additional drop boxes and to inquire whether CHA will have additional locations for drop boxes. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TOOMEY IN COUNCIL AUG 3, 2020]
I honestly have no idea why Councillor Toomey exercised his Charter Right on this matter. The feasibility of having additional mail-in voting drop boxes is really dependent on the ability to guarantee security of the ballots and to retrieve them in a timely manner. Hopefully the recent Primary Election provided good lessons on best practices for the November election.
Canal District Zoning Petition:
Applications & Petitions #3. A Zoning Petition has been received from BMR–Third LLC c/o BioMed Realty, L.P. regarding a Zoning Amendment Petition for a new Planned Unit Development PUD District CDK. [Petition w/o images] [images from petition]
Meet the new petition, same as the old petition.
Bicycles:
Committee Report #2. A report of the Ordinance Committee Meeting held on July 7, 2020 regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance.
Same old, same old. Politically motivated lobby wants stuff and the councillors will provide with little or no critical analysis.
City Manager’s Contract Extension:
Committee Report #4. A report of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting held on July 20, 2020 regarding an extension of the current City Manager’s Contract.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons the City Manager’s Contract extension. Councillor Simmons
The latest proposal is for an 18-month contract extension after which the future Council will likely seek a new city manager with no ties to Cambridge or the current administration. Personally, I think Louis DePasquale has done a great job under difficult circumstances. My only criticism has to do with (a) some of his appointments to certain City Boards, and (b) his limited pushback to some City Council requests - even though I am very aware that some residents would prefer that he simply roll over and comply whenever 5 city councillors float a notion.
City Council Rules:
Committee Report #6. A report of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting held on July 22, 2020 regarding amending the rules of the Cambridge City Council.
A great man - a former City Councillor and former Mayor - once said to me that the most sure sign of a dysfunctional organization is the degree to which its members focus on their by-laws rather than on their mission. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The summer meeting is often the time when battle lines are drawn and City Council business becomes Publick Theatre. Perhaps that’s what Monday will bring, but that’s pretty much what we’ve been seeing for months, and the theatrics are getting really old. This week’s skirmishes are likely to be the culmination of kerfuffles past, e.g. what constitutes “military” equipment in the Police Department inventory, and the next chapter in the Overlay Express to move as much of the housing stock into “social ownership” as our revolutionary misrepresentatives can manage. This is also the Penultimate Meeting on the City Manager’s contract extension - a matter of considerable importance and something of a litmus test of just how much some councillors misunderstand the Plan E Charter and the whole idea of a city manager form of government. There are also some practical suggestions, e.g. using the recent sale of the Grace properties at Alewife as a possible opportunity to make something better of the Jerry’s Pond area. In any case, here are a few things that for one reason or another seem to stand out among the others:
Resolution #3. Resolution on the death of Barbara Ackermann. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Suffice to say that former Mayor Barbara Ackermann was a class act in every way.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $10,489,930 received through the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the Federal Cares Act, to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account which will support expenditures related to core municipal services; public health; and services and supports to residents.
Manager’s Agenda #30. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a proposed restatement of and amendment to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account, entitled “The City of Cambridge Restated and Amended Mayor’s Disaster Relief Account” (“Account”).
Charter Right - Simmons
Order #2. The Mayor be and hereby is requested to schedule a Roundtable/Working Meeting for members of the City Council and School Committee for Tues, Aug 11 at 5:30pm at City Hall, in the Sullivan Chambers, 795 Massachusetts Ave, to discuss CPSD reopening school plans. Mayor Siddiqui
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee’s summer meetings.
No comment here other than to say that years from now we’ll look back at 2020 (and perhaps beyond) as the year defined by the virus and how it reshaped so many things - some temporarily and some permanently. It is worth noting that while the councillors debate revolution and trivia, the School Committee and the Mayor are in the unenviable position of making extremely consequential decisions on how our public schools will operate come this fall.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-16, regarding feasibility of eliminating Library late fines.
In some colleges/universities where I have worked, the policy was that there was no time limit on how long a faculty member could keep a library book. Some of the books I took out just stayed on my bookshelf forever.
Manager’s Agenda #27-28. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-33, regarding implementing a Tenants’ Rights and Resources Notification Act that would require owners and management companies to include tenants’ rights and resources information when issuing eviction notifications including at the initial Notice to Quit stage.
Passed to a 2nd Reading 9-0
In principle, having complete information is a good thing. I have been a landlord for 35 years and never had to give anyone the boot, but if I ever did I guess it’s not so much to ask that I give an informational pamphlet along with the eviction notice. Anything beyond that is someone else’s job.
Manager’s Agenda #29. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an updated response to Calendar Item #9, regarding Gas Infrastructure Ban.
Referred to Health & Environment Committee
It should surprise no one but the zealots that the MA Attorney General is of the opinion that a comparable ban in the Town of Brookline violates state law and the Constitution of the Commonwealth. “The Attorney General agrees with the policy goals behind the Town’s attempt to reduce the use of fossil fuels within the Town. However, the Legislature (and the courts) have made plain that the Town cannot utilize the method it selected to achieve those goals.” My guess is that unless an adult intervenes, the Cambridge City Council will pursue it anyway - because that’s what zealots do.
Manager’s Agenda #31. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-34, regarding a report on an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned by the Cambridge Police Department.
Referred to Public Safety Committee (there was also a late communication from Police Commissioner Bard)
Late Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Police Commissioner, Dr. Branville G. Bard, Jr., transmitting a memorandum regarding some semblance of understanding as to how and why municipal police departments, like here in Cambridge, came to require the type of weaponry listed in the inventory contained in response to Council Order O-9.
This will likely be the main attraction at the meeting - debating ad nauseum whether this or that type of weapon or apparatus is or is not “military.” I imagine it will also be prime time for the Zondervan/Sobrinho-Wheeler vs. Commissioner Bard sideshow in which the “abolish the police” gang explains in great detail all that they will never understand about law enforcement and public safety.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Personnel Department and provide an update on the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers’ Association union contract negotiation at the City Council’s regular meeting on Sept 14th, 2020. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #5. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Personnel Department and City Solicitor to generate a report detailing the Sole Assessment Process, the Civil Service HRD process, the reason for choosing the Sole Assessment Process over the Civil Service HRD process, and the projected costs associated with both processes. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to present this report at the Sept 14th regular City Council meeting. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #14. The City Manager look into transferring primary traffic enforcement responsibilities from the Cambridge Police Department to unarmed, trained enforcement personnel in the Traffic & Parking Department, Department of Public Works, Health & Human Services, or another suitable department. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Charter Right - Mallon
The first two Orders seem to indicate the desire of the current City Council to blur those inconvenient boundaries established by the Plan E Charter regarding the role of the City Manager in managing the City and, in particular, in handling matters involving appointments and personnel. I suppose it’s possible that they’ll confine their remarks to matters of policy, but micromanagement is so much fun. Then again, some of them seem so ripe for charter change and the desire for greater control that I’m sure they won’t be able to contain themselves.
The third Order (Order #14) seems like just the next chapter in the “Defund the Police” playbook. This is not to say that asking Traffic & Parking or DPW or Human Services to take on additional enforcement roles is unthinkable. I just think that when a parking control officer or rubbish collector or social worker pulls over a car for running a red light it will be quickly followed by hysterical laughter emanating from the offending vehicle. Then again, if the offender is a serious bad guy it won’t be so funny.
Applications & Petitions #1. A Re-Submission of a Rezoning Petition has been received from Salvatori Zimno, Vice President, Development, BMR-THIRD LLC., regarding rezoning petition for a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge which upon adoption, would result in a new Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) District CDK. [Petition w/o images] [images from petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition has been received from Arvind Srinivasau regarding zoning language for the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay district. [text of petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Applications & Petitions #6. A Zoning Petition has been received from Francis E. Donovan regarding new zoning amendments to increase Affordable Housing. [text of petition]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board
Zoning, zoning, and more zoning returns. The first of these (Canal District PUD) offers a vision of what might finally happen in and around the Constellation Center site in Kendall Square that never materialized. The second is the next iteration of a recurring petition for the northwestern end of the Alewife Quadrangle area between Fresh Pond and the RR tracks. [As with the previous versions, this proposed zoning comes with a proposed pedestrian bridge over the RR tracks.]
The third petition has some interesting ideas and alternatives to the current “Affordable Housing Overlay” petition that is currently going through the process. Of course that also means that the AHO Express advocates will likely be dismissive of it. The interesting contrast between this new petition and the AHO is that the new petition (a) emphasizes the relaxation of single-family zoning rules in favor of multi-family housing, and (b) has an emphasis on having more ownership units. Simplistically, it’s a contrast between the “social ownership” emphasis in the AHO that would put an ever-higher percentage of housing into the hands of government and their non-profit partners, versus making somewhat more intensive use of existing properties and promoting home-ownership. Unfortunately, the two viewpoints are intertwined with political organizations and their affiliated elected officials.
People can talk all day and night about charter change, but the more fundamental problem is that we have only the most imperfect ways of assessing what the voters of this city actually might favor (hint - municipal elections do a lousy job of measuring public opinion). When it comes to “abolishing the police” or making consequential decisions about housing policy and weighing tenant needs vs. property rights, a coin flip or a Ouija Board would probably do as good a job or better than the people who supposedly represent us.
Order #8. The Mayor be and hereby is requested to call a Special Meeting of the City Council and invite a representative from the Collins Center to present on the process and benefits of Charter Review and Reform. Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
And so it begins. The rhetoric surrounding the possible extension of City Manager Louis DePasquale’s contract has been accompanied by hints of charter change because, after all, why did Louis wait so long to allow us to use our reusable shopping bags? Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to think about our form of government every decade or so, but when I listen to the current rhetoric from the current councillors I really just want to take a rain check until the ideologues and the zealots and the power-hungry have gone to pasture.
Order #10. That the Cambridge City Council pass the attached Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
I suppose I shouldn’t really care about proposals like this because my building is unlikely to be transfered to anyone else in my lifetime, but I remain eternally suspicious of this City Council’s endless quest to curtail the rights of property owners and to extract as much money out of every source possible to fund their eternal campaign to move residential property into “social ownership.” At least this proposal puts the hit on those buying and/or selling property. Councillor Carlone, on the other hand, has now loudly proclaimed his wish that residential property taxes be jacked up to near the maximum possible even if that means shocking homeowners with a 50% increase in their residential property tax bills. The City Manager, in contrast, seems to be dedicated to maintaining a much slower rise in residential property taxes (thanks, Louis).
Order #11. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to Contact IQHQ and engage the relevant city departments regarding next steps for restoration, health and environmental protection, improvement, beautification, and making the surrounding areas of Jerry’s Pond publicly accessible and incorporating Jerry’s Pond into the adjacent public parklands, with pedestrian and bicycle connections to the MBTA Station, the Alewife Reservation, Minuteman Bikeway, and the Linear Park. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #12. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to take steps to improve the surrounding landscape for residents who live in the neighboring community and the many individuals who commute through the area via the Alewife Red Line, the Minuteman Bikeway, Rindge Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0
These are both very forward-looking Orders that (I believe) have the intention of getting ahead of the curve regarding future plans by the new owners of the former WR Grace properties in the Alewife area. Those properties recently sold for $125 million and it’s unlikely that they’ll sit idle forever. Like it or not, with significant investment comes significant opportunities for improvement, and boy does that area need some improvement.
Order #15. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to conduct street cleaning without towing for the remainder of the 2020 season, and to employ other methods including (but not limited to) an escalating ticketing schedule that would continue to incentive compliance. Councillor Zondervan
Failed of Adoption 4-4-1 (Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Zondervan - YES; Mallon, McGovern, Simmons, Toomey - NO; Carlone - ABSENT)
Councillor Kelley once suggested this and it’s not such a crazy idea. On the other hand, I was pretty happy to recently have my neighborhood streets finally swept clear of debris, and I doubt that would have happened as effectively if vehicles were just tagged and not towed.
Order #16. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City of Cambridge Law Department to review the above changes to the language of the Domestic Partnerships Ordinance and report back to the Council. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
I have no idea why this proposal has come up now, but I do remember that some aspects of the Domestic Partnership Ordinance lost their impact with the legalization of same-sex marriages. Basically, once marriage was an available option to all it invalidated some of the benefits for unmarried partners. I am curious about the possible unintended consequences of the proposal in that “‘Domestic partnership’ means the entity formed by two or more persons who meet the following criteria......” Hmm...., does that means I could form a tribe of unrelated persons who “are in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment” and declare my tribe to be a domestic partnership so that we could obtain a range of legal benefits? This could get really interesting.
Committee Report #1. A report of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting on Feb 19, 2020 to discuss amendments of the City Council’s Rules.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. A report Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee Meeting on Mar 12, 2020 to discuss the City Manager’s request to extend his contract.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
I don’t know when they’ll vote on a contract extension or what the term of that extension will be. The proposal initially floated was for a two year extension (which seems reasonable), but the revolutionaries seem to want to make it shorter so that they can get started right away on their interplanetary search for somebody as unaffiliated with Cambridge as possible and who will allow them to check all the necessary boxes. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are the things that might be interesting on this week’s agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Always interesting. Things may be getting worse elsewhere in the USA, but we’ve had a few days now with no new reported cases and no new deaths from the virus. It’s now even OK to remove the masks outside if you can keep your distance. Meanwhile, the three new “shared streets” are now in place - and largely vacant so far.
Charter Right #1. That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of including a two-track Grand Junction railway crossing in MassDOT’s Allston Multimodal Improvement Project plans and urges the FMCB to vote in favor of this inclusion. [Order #7 of June 22; Charter Right - Toomey]
Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit only, please.
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to obtain an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned by the Cambridge Police Department. [Order #9 of June 22; Charter Right - Simmons]
In addition to a complete accounting of all stationary supplies and toilet paper, I demand to know if the Cambridge Police Department possesses any specialized secret agent equipment from MI6.
Charter Right #4. Alternative Policing PO. [Order #12 of June 22; Charter Right - Zondervan]
In a nutshell, this Order asks that various unarmed alternative emergency response programs be considered in addition to whatever CPD is already doing in this regard.
Order #1. That the City Council go on record in full support of the state legislation “An Act relative to saving black lives and transforming public safety” as a first step in changing law enforcement standards, use of force, and reporting in Massachusetts. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
This Order recommends that the State legislature endorse the same law enforcement standards that Cambridge now uses. I can’t argue with that.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City personnel to establish a plan designed to provide a thorough, system-wide review of the entire municipal government to identify and remove any vestiges of systemic racism and/or racial bias in any and all City departments, to establish clear, transparent metrics that will help further this critical endeavor, and to report back to the City Council on this matter no later than Sept 14, 2020. Councillor Simmons
Charter Right #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is directed to provide the City Council with an update on the formal Anti-bias / Cultural Competency Strategic Plan. [Order #14 of June 22; Charter Right - Zondervan]
Order #4. That the Chair of the Civic Unity Committee schedule hearings to discuss how to best incorporate language into the City Council’s rules that will call for anti-bias, anti-racist, and cultural sensitivity trainings to be held on a yearly basis. Councillor Simmons
For a long time and especially during recent “Defund the Police” and “Abolish the Police” campaigns I have heard it stated how ineffective such trainings are. I’m inclined to agree, but it does create jobs for those people doing the trainings.
Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant City Manager of Community Development to determine how to best protect and preserve our commercial spaces that support our small business operators and maintain continuity in our commercial districts, and report back to the City Council with recommendations at the September 14th City Council meeting. Councillor Toomey
This is one of the Orders I find most interesting and important. A lot of retail in Cambridge has been dying on the vine even before the coronavirus came to town. Montessori schools, Rock & Roll Daycare and similar facilities and, more recently, cannabis-related operations have rushed in to fill the void. With the constraints imposed by public health standards it’s not at all clear what can survive to next year. Some residential conversions may follow, but I suspect the only real solution will be a lot of renegotiation of leases and finding a new equilibrium between what rents can be afforded and the sustainability of many Cambridge businesses at least in the near term.
Charter Right #7. That the City Manager confer with the City’s Housing Liaison and Multi Service Center to discuss a variety of long-term housing solutions and tenant protections and report back to the City Council on July 27, 2020. [Order #15 of June 22; Charter Right - Zondervan]
I suspect any discussion of this will dovetail into the discussion of Order #6 below.
Order #6. That the City Council go on record in support of H.3924, An Act Enabling Local Options for Tenant Protections, which is currently under consideration before the Massachusetts State Legislature. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
One point is clear: Any city councillor who votes to support this Order is voting in support of bringing back full throttle rent control to Cambridge. The referenced bill is interesting in that it would allow any city or town in the Commonwealth to create its own version of rent regulation ranging from benign to draconian (and you know full well that Cambridge would eventually go full draconian). It is my understanding that even though there may currently be some greater degree of support for such regulation due to the pandemic, this is not a bill that will likely make it through the legislative process, and it’s even less likely that Governor Baker would ever sign it. There have been bills proposed that might actually have sufficient support (one proposal would simply put a cap on exhorbitant - and I do mean exhorbitant - rent increases for continuing tenants), but this is not such a bill. This bill is primarily about control - and only to a lesser degree about rent.
Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the City Manager’s Housing Liaison and Multi Service Center on implementing a Tenants Rights and Resource Notification Act that would require owners and management companies to include tenant rights and resource information when issuing eviction notifications including at the initial Notice to Quit stage and report back to the City Council on July 27, 2020. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern
This is a far more tame Order than the above referenced Order #6.
Order #7. That the City Manager work with the Department of Human Services Recreation Division and other relevant departments to determine the feasibility of identifying one evening or day per week that the Fresh Pond Golf Course can be open to the public for general use. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
The western parts of Cambridge are not lacking in open space assets. In truth, I have yet to see any open space in Cambridge so crowded that one might mistake it for Coney Island. I’m not so sure that there really is any demand for hanging out on the golf course grass, but it is worth mentioning that there are golf courses in the Boston metropolitan area where people do walk across parts of the golf course and have to be mindful of flying golf balls, e.g. Ponkapoag Pond in Canton and Mt. Hood Municipal Golf Course in Melrose. Even the Granite Links golf course in Quincy is supposedly open to hikers passing through, though the golfers do often object.
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor Simmons, Chair of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee, for a public hearing held on Feb 19, 2020.
Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor Simmons, Chair of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee, for a public hearing held on Mar 12, 2020.
I have no idea what the Feb 19 hearing was about, but I do know that the Mar 12 meeting had to do with possible renewal of the City Manager’s contract. No details are provided in either report other than to state that these meetings took place on those dates. Perhaps we need a new Agenda section entitled “Committee Non-Reports”.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting considerations about reopening schools this fall.
Will they re-open? Will half the students be required to stay home on any given day? Will Zoom get tenure? - Robert Winters
Comments?
These are the items that drew my interest:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Though this item seems to have become a semi-permanent fixture on the City Manager’s Agenda, I continue to appreciate all the information that it brings forward. It helps to arrest my fears. (I can still use the word “arrest,” right?)
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,641,000 from Free Cash, to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the first year of a two-year lease of operating and office space for the Department of Public Works on Mooney Street.
Here’s a little historical tidbit for you: The impetus for starting recycling in Cambridge was the plan from the Commonwealth to locate approximately 13 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) throughout Massachusetts with one of them at “the Mabardy site” on Mooney Street which back in 1989 was a waste transfer facility. The idea was to get an all-volunteer “interim recycling drop-off” system up and running. The first planning meeting was in April 1989 and we had two sites up and running in June 1989. Only one state-operated MRF was ever built (in Springfield). The plans were eventually dropped to 5 MRFS, but as curbside recycling programs were established the waste industry responded by establishing their own MRFs. For the time being at least, Cambridge appears to be keeping its Recycling Drop-off Center (which supplements the curbside collection) at the DPW Yard on Norfolk St., but some of the Public Works operations will relocate to Mooney Street where 31 years earlier our regional MRF was once slated to be built.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,300,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Human Services Extraordinary Expenditures Account to construct a new Universal Design Playground.
This is kind of a big deal, especially if you live anywhere within marching distance of Danehy Park. We clearly intend to continue with capital projects like this even with the uncertainties visited on us by that godawful virus.
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for an allocation of $1,000,000 from the CPA Fund Balance to the Community Preservation Act Fund COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program.
While this is a perfectly great expenditure, it does show how the Community Preservation Act (CPA) has morphed into yet another add-on to the general fund with fewer restrictions than what was approved by voters nearly two decades ago.
Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Federal CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,529,834 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to assist residents and small business owners who are impacted by the virus.
Manager’s Agenda #12. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $120,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Executive (Cambridge Office of Tourism) Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will directly support a city-wide campaign, “Hello Again” in collaboration with the City and the business community - to welcome businesses, customers, and the surrounding neighborhoods back by promoting health safety and positivity following the COVID-19 shut down.
Charter Right #1. Policy Order (June 10) Re Addressing Systemic Racism in Cambridge. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS]
Pardon me while I shift paradigms. The Babson Boulders of Dogtown are my source of inspiration.
Communications #2. A communication was received from Kevin P. Crane, 27 Norris Street, regarding Shared Streets.
Short, sweet, and to the point. I will, however, observe the fundamentally militaristic inclinations of today’s Cambridge activists. It’s all about establishing a beachhead and defending it even as the circumstances change. I personally like the idea of “shared streets” and I feel that a two-way, low-speed, shared-street approach would have been the better way to accommodate cyclists on Brattle Street from Brattle Square to Mason Street. Unfortunately, that beachhead has already been established and its defenders will never give an inch. At this point, my presumption is that Harvard, Garden, and Magazine Streets will forevermore be shared streets even after the virus subsides, and my only concern is that our two-wheeled soldiers will eventually want to stop sharing.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the appropriate city departments to place all collective bargaining agreements between the City and unions on the city website, in an easily accessible location, to increase transparency for the public. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to provide a report by the end of summer for discussion at a September Council meeting on the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with Civil Service, and the process by which Cambridge could exit Civil Service. Councillor Nolan
I’m curious what the motivation of Councillor Nolan is in forwarding this Order right now.
No longer under civil service: Acton, Adams, Burlington, Easthampton, Franklin, Grafton, Lee, Lexington, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marlborough, Maynard, Milford, Millis, North Adams, North Attleboro, North Reading, Norwood, Orange, Provincetown, Reading, Sharon, Sudbury, Uxbridge, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Westwood, Williamstown.
From a Town of Wellesley document (2018): “The primary purpose of civil service when the Massachusetts legislature enacted the civil service, ‘Merit System’, in 1884 was to protect hiring and discipline from patronage and political interference. ... Today we have comprehensive policies and collective bargaining that afford these protections.” ... “The civil service system in Massachusetts is no longer up to the important task of helping government recruit and hire the most talented Personnel.”
It’s interesting that one of the arguments in support of leaving Civil Service is the existence of collective bargaining agreements and a police union. Meanwhile, others are arguing for the prohibition of unions for police and other public safety employees.
I’m of the school that says that all options should be on the table - including the staffing of construction and other details by civilians rather than exclusively by uniformed officers. I’m also of the school that says that free speech should be nearly absolute (except for the usual “yelling fire in a crowded theater” type of prohibitions). I’m not so sure how many people would agree with me these days on either of these counts.
So where is all this headed? I listened to a primarily millennial-and-younger throng (“hundreds” - NBC-Boston, “over a thousand” - Boston Globe, or “some 2000” on a local politics/news/advocacy blog) on Saturday chant “No Justice, No Peace. Abolish the Police” as they strolled through Central Square. I also noted how they had the crowd do a prolonged “repeat after me” session in front of City Hall reminiscent of the “Occupy” days of yore (hard to call this “free” speech when you being asked to repeat somebody else’s speech). In any case, they were not debating whether police unions were OK or whether the Civil Service system is advantageous. I took note of the fact that the Cambridge Police Department provided public safety protection for the throng, especially extensive traffic control, in order to protect the speech of those who would choose to abolish them.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to work with the Central Square Business Association in developing a pilot program that will allow Central Square to close to vehicular traffic on Sundays and allow restaurants to fully embrace the concept of outdoor dining for the summer months of 2020, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
Great idea - really. Bring your masks. Don’t forget to remove while eating.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to identify an air-conditioned space for a Cambridge Day Services Center for unhoused people. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons
Even without the air conditioning, there really is a need for some of the “street residents” to have some safe place to go that has some constructive things to do during daytime hours, especially with the libraries still closed. That said, there are a lot of people who will still prefer to be outdoors.
Order #4. Anti-Racist Free Little Libraries. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Education is good. I guess what concerns me here is the notion that our local government wants to dictate which books are to be permitted in a “little free library.” It’s one thing for a property owner to exercise discretion in curating what’s on the shelves of the little library on their own property, but think for a minute where this road leads when the local legislature does the curation. Will I be fined for placing a few of my old Calculus books on the shelf? Will DPW be contacted via SeeClickFix to yank out any books that fail the litmus test? Will Zondervan/Nolan have an Order next week for “Little Free Climate Change Libraries”? By the way, I’m really overdue in building a Not-So-Little Free Math Library in front of my house to pass along some of my stash.
Order #7. That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of including a two-track Grand Junction railway crossing in MassDOT’s Allston Multimodal Improvement Project plans, and urges the FMCB to vote in favor of this inclusion. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
This volleyball seems to be going back and forth right now among some people on the Cambridgeport listserv (in addition to the proposal that all people posting on the listserv racially identify themselves prior to expressing themselves - I kid you not). I believe that the current position of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association is that they support a two-track RR bridge for the Grand Junction corridor in the belief that a light rail option (i.e. trolleys) will one day operate along that corridor in addition to the always popular bicycle and pedestrian amenities (which would require additional accommodation on the bridge). It was not so long ago that Lt. Gov. Tim “100mph Rollover Crash” Murray was strongly advocating heavy rail along the Grand Junction corridor. I personally like the idea of a ped/bike/trolley corridor, but I think heavy rail would be a horrorshow of grade crossings, traffic congestion, or - at best - extremely expensive elimination of the grade crossings.
This City Council Order states: “One opportunity is to expand the Grand Junction Railway bridge from a one-track to a two-track crossing, which would realize the potential to connect the commercial hub of Kendall Square to Boston and MetroWest municipalities such as Framingham and Worcester via high-speed regional rail.” Be careful what you wish for.
Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to obtain an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned by the Cambridge Police Department. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I suppose these intrepid councillors are trying to get at the question of whether or not Cambridge Police have any equipment that might be characterized as “military” in nature, e.g. an armored vehicle. We should ask Brinks the same question as they patrol our streets picking up and dropping off sacks of money from various banking institutions. Personally, I just want to know if the CPD still has a supply of “billy clubs” and “nightsticks” and, of course, keys to open those vanishingly few police callboxes.
By the way, since both of these councillors were at the Saturday rally, did they join in the chants and in the “repeat after me” robotic chants? Inquiring minds want to know. You know... in the spirit of transparency.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee’s Special Meeting and Regular Meeting.
I continue to appreciate these reports but I remain very concerned that public education is not being equitably distributed in this virtual environment and that it will remain very difficult to correct this regardless what steps are taken.
Comments?
Here a few agenda items of note:
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the Council on how some, or all, of the $4.1 million dollar increase in the Police Department budget between FY20 and FY21 may be redirected towards measures that promote public health and safety in other departments. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER IN COUNCIL JUNE 10, 2020]
Communications #2. A communication was received from Jae Storozum, 16 Whittier Street, regarding a response to Police Commissioner Bard’s statement.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting Amendments to Policy Order 2020 #133 (a.k.a. Order #7 from June 8 / Charter Right #1 on current agenda).
The June 8-10 City Council meeting provided an interesting study in Retail vs. Wholesale Politics. Most local candidates are familiar with retail politics - the kind of person-to person politics that involves lots of questions, conversations, coffee, shoe leather, and door-knocking. In contrast, there’s wholesale politics which many of us still associate with TV commercials, billboards, and mass mailings. The fact is that wholesale politics is now more likely to take the form of social media campaigns, ginormous email lists culled from various sources within your tribe, and devices like the “political action network” or something similar that can engineer a mass email campaign or drive people to a website or (in the pandemic world we now find ourselves) to a public meeting hosted in Zoom. There is a fundamental asymmetry between how activists at either end of the political spectrum democratically participate versus how moderates participate. Suffice to say that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever see a flood of moderates inundating a public meeting or laying down in the middle of a highway - even if theirs is the more common point of view. They do, however, vote.
Whether you believe Cambridge Police are wonderful, are already making needed reforms, are in need of restructuring, or whether they should be outright abolished (a non-starter), it’s interesting to see how different people attempt to make their case. I won’t pretend to know where most people really stand on some of these policing issues - locally or elsewhere, but I do think it’s pretty clear that public opinion has been growing more firm in the belief that police departments everywhere need to be more accountable when it comes to the use of deadly force. The salient question in Cambridge is whether the Cambridge Police Department has been moving in a good direction and whether that should be supported. I believe that Police Commissioner Branville Bard and his department have been clearly moving in a good direction for some time now and that they should be supported. I would love to see a more broad discussion over this coming year on what other steps might be taken, including looking at overtime pay and the costs associated with police details, and not just on which functions might be outsourced. Commissioner Bard’s focus on “procedural justice” should absolutely be supported. I really would rather not see our elected officials carry out a “vote of no confidence” via a symbolic and purely political act of “defunding.” If you want to cut budgets, look at the whole FY2021 Budget and don’t just single out the Police Department budget in the spirit of “Give us Barabbas” in order to placate the crowd.
Then there’s the matter of councillors continuing to engage in one-upmanship, but there’s not a hell of a lot we can do about that.
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Here’s one question that I hope someone will address: Now that the number of new cases of coronavirus per day has dropped considerably, is there any indication of how these new infections are most likely occurring? There recently was a chart circulating indicating relative risk of various activities. That was helpful in demystifying the threat. We could really use more information like that.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to the City Council forwarding the ITD budget with an unfavorable recommendation.
Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the Grant Fund Executive Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to support the City’s digital equity efforts to support qualifying families during the COVID19 pandemic who do not have Internet access at home.
This is progress. I’m not convinced either way what the best course of action will be regarding municipal broadband vs. making the best of available resources, but maybe this analysis (and the counter-analysis) will convince me one way or the other.
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on May 26, 2020, June 2, 2020 and on June 3, 2020 to discuss the General Fund Budget.
Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Dennis Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on June 2, 2020 to discuss the Water Fund.
Committee Report #3. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons and Councillor Dennis Carlone, Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee, for a public hearing held on June 2, 2020 to discuss the Public Investment Fund.
Unfinished Business #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $6,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of various water pollution abatement projects, including but not limited to Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
Unfinished Business #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to electrical service, roof replacement, chiller replacement, floor replacement and replacement of bi-directional amplifier and antenna in various school buildings.
Unfinished Business #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
Unfinished Business #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $16,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan which will support improvements at the Department of Public works Complex including the Ryan Garage, Lafayette Square Firehouse structural repair, and other municipal buildings.
Unfinished Business #9. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $9,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements of the Lexington Avenue and River Street Firehouses.
Unfinished Business #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $237,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School.
I suppose the only real questions re: the FY2021 Budget vote are (1) whether there will be a symbolic “defund the police” rescission; (2) whether the Council will “send a message” on the municipal broadband question; and (3) whether there will be any further gazing into the crystal ball about the continued impact of Covid-19 on residents, property values, rents, sustainability of businesses, tax revenue, and funding priorities. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are the handful of items from the City Manager plus some Orders that leapt out like a clenched fist from the make-believe proletariat:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to efforts to respond to the restaurant community’s need to expand outdoor dining services in response to Governor Baker’s announcement that restaurants will be permitted to provide outdoor dining services at the commencement of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Plan...
I’m very curious to see how this slow and cautious “reopening” works out. I don’t think things will really be anywhere close to the way they were pre-corona for a long time. I still find it surreal to see everyone (or nearly everyone) wearing masks (including me). How this will work out with restaurants is largely unknown. It would be a lot simpler if they all had parking lots that could be reallocated for outdoor seating, but much of Cambridge is nothing like some suburban shopping center with those options available and plentiful. All we have are the sidewalks, maybe some portions of streets - and those really only work for restaurants adjacent to or very close to those spaces.
Then again, I suppose if you just advertise your business as a protest march many of the restrictions and health & safety guidance will be waived.
Order #1. That the Cambridge City Council schedule a hearing to discuss the possible use of body cameras by the Cambridge Police Department. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons
Order #7. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to report back to the Council on how some, or all, of the $4.1 million dollar increase in the Police Department budget between FY20 and FY21 may be redirected towards measures that promote public health and safety in other departments. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, regarding Funding our Community, Transforming our Policing.
Order #8. That the Cambridge City Council declare racism as a public health crisis. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon
So much of this is based on an interesting metaphysical principle apparently accepted by a number of city councillors, namely that action at a distance works with political reform in much the same way as gravitational attraction. If you are horrified by abusive and even deadly behavior by law enforcement in a place like Minneapolis (as well you should be), then cutting funds to your local police department will address that horror. I have seen published a list of great ideas that should be the standard for law enforcement - and basically all of them are already established policy for Cambridge Police. So much for recognizing and rewarding positive initiatives.
For what it’s worth, I have no particular love for mass movements - including pro-Trump rallies, Our Revolution gatherings, “Defund the Police” actions, or even celebrations after your favorite team just won the World Championship. That said, I’m glad to see that at least the violence seems to be lessening - “flattening the curve” seems to be understood across lots of categories. I saw some bits and pieces from the Sunday rally on the Cambridge Common and was encouraged by some of the sense expressed by participants and organizers. Parenthetically, I got an enormous kick out of hearing one of the main organizers note that in Cambridge the disproportionate emphasis on “trees, bikes, and noise pollution” comes from a place of privilege (and this received a huge cheer). Now I don’t buy into all this confession-based privilege BS, but I think the implicit point was that these niceties may actually come at the expense of other things such as economic empowerment and creating pathways for people to move from poverty and government assistance toward economic security and having a personal stake in their city of birth (or choice). That’s a lot different than acting out of noblesse oblige.
I’ll simply note that we have appointed committees such as the “Climate Action Task Force”, a “Climate Protection Action Committee”, the “Leaf Blower Use Review Group”, the “Advisory Committee on Climate Resiliency Zoning”, various arts-related boards and commissions, numerous neighborhood conservation district commissions, a Bicycle Committee, a Pedestrian Committee, a Transit Advisory Board, a “Future of Mobility Implementation Blueprint Technical Advisory Group”, various other advisory committees (including some on which I have served and continue to serve), a Women’s Commission, an “LGBTQ+ Commission”, a “Harvard Square Kiosk Working Group”, a “Public Planting Committee”, a “Vision Zero Advisory Committee”, and then some. These are all wonderful, but where is the “Jobs for Cambridge Youth Commission?” How about simply a “Recreational Opportunities for Young People Advisory Committee?” I do realize that there are nonprofits who actually do promote such things, but I wonder how this whole array of citizen initiatives on various environmental, transportation, and quality of life matters resonates with a kid growing up in Cambridge who is just looking for some hope and opportunity or simply something to do. I often think that what we really ought to be doing is letting local entrepreneurs run wild with their ideas and reward them handsomely for matching jobs to local people who want those jobs. I also think that making ground-level retail space at cost should be mandatory in any new mixed use building. Where are the apprenticeships for electricians and plumbers and carpenters? It’s not like Cambridge people aren’t doing work on their gazillion dollar houses and condos.
Getting back to the City Council orders, I really see them primarily as political theatrics, and my perception of our elected councillors as bleating sheep grows by the week.
Order #3. 100% Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Petition 2020. Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
I frequently find myself applying Occam’s Razor when trying to understand things in mathematics, in physics, and also in public policy. This latest submission of the so-called “Affordable Housing Overlay” probably establishes a new municipal record for overly prescriptive and convoluted policy. The driving principle continues to be the transfer of as much private property to public and quasi-public ownership with the Housing Division within the Community Development Department as landlord/gatekeeper. This comes at a time when we are likely to see significant shifts in housing demand and property valuation due to the pandemic. Rather than see how the rental and real estate markets might shift in response, this Council understands only command and control. I’ll have a lot more to say about this misguided policy and its backers as it snakes its way through the weeds.
OK, that’s enough for this week. - Robert Winters
PS - The June 8 meeting was all Public Comment and was recessed. The meeting will reconvene on Wed, June 10 at 5:30pm w/o any additional public comment. The agenda has been augmented with several additional items.
Comments?
As The World Burns, the City Council is now meeting to premier their new Zoom shows and characters - Councillor Nolan will host “Science Says” while Councillor Zondervan continues to perfect his “Mumbles” character while the City Clerk repeatedly asks, “What was that you said, Councillor?” There will also be a prolonged discussion on the difference between a million dollars and a billion dollars.
As for the agenda items to be acted out by these memorable characters and others, there are these special scenes:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $677,300 from Free Cash, to the General Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($125,000); to the General Fund Fire Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($125,000); to the General Fund Police Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($208,300); General Fund Executive Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($200,000) and to the General Fund Emergency Communications Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($19,000) which will cover projected costs of materials and supplies related to the COVID-19 crisis for City departments through the end of the fiscal year. Funds will be used to purchase masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning materials and spray sanitizer, as well as communication costs.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $60,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account for continued support of Homeless Shelter / Local Restaurant Community meals program through the end of the fiscal year.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $2,175,000, from Free Cash, to the General Fund Public Works Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($944,000); to the General Fund Human Services Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($770,000); to the General Fund Police Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($245,000); and to the General Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account ($216,000); to cover costs associated with the War Memorial Temporary Emergency Shelter at 1640 Cambridge Street.
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of appropriation of $150,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance Account, for COVID-19 testing kits.
Most of these agenda items involving expenditures were signaled at last week’s first Budget hearing. Good thing we kept that Free Cash piggy-bank intact rather than raid it to exhaustion for pet projects. It was never just about keeping a AAA bond rating. The Budget Hearings continue this week.
Communication #9. A communication was received from Saul Tannenbaum, 16 Cottage Street, regarding correcting the record on Municipal Broadband costs.
This communication provides a preliminary version of a feasibility study of municipal broadband that has already been done (true), and the City Manager indicated at the Budget Hearing that the City’s consultant has plenty more information to provide at a future committee hearing (if they ever get around to holding such a meeting). The manager’s off-the-cuff remark was that he didn’t want to commit to “a million dollar study for a billion dollar program.” I definitely want to hear more because the last thing I’ll do is accept the supposed expertise of these councillors. If the City Administration believes that an acceptable level of Internet access is available via other means, I would like to hear about that. Above all, if a credible argument can be made that a City investment in municipal broadband will put the City at great financial risk, I would like to hear about it and better understand why this might be the case. Elected officials like to score points on how much they can spend, but city managers earn their keep by finding ways to spend what is necessary to efficiently deliver services - or at least that’s how it’s supposed to work.
Order #3. Governor Baker’s Emergency Order on March 25, 2020 included a ban on reusable bags and lifted all municipal bans and fees on plastic bags. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
I hope that reusable bags will again be permitted but that fees on plastic bags will not be imposed until the coast really is clear.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee’s Regular Meeting and Subcommittee meetings.
I appreciate these reports but I remain very concerned that public education is not being equitably distributed in this virtual environment and that it will remain very difficult to correct this regardless what steps are taken.
PS - I haven’t felt this nervous about the state of my country since 1968. I have yet to see anyone emerge as the kind of leader who can rally people toward peace and justice rather than vengeance and defense. Maybe if Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all did a joint message that might be a start, but there are many people acting out right now on both extremes of the political spectrum who would likely be unmoved. Anarchy and Twitter stardom apparently remain more attractive to some characters than civilization. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The boys and girls will again have a virtual shindig this week in and out of the Sullivan Chamber. I’m still counting on an innovative Kendall Square startup to develop special glasses that can filter out the glare of virtue signaling, but until then there’s this:
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from the Massachusetts. Department of Environmental Protection to the Grant Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account which will be supplemented with $379,000 in City funds to purchase three plug-in hybrid rubbish packers that will replace three diesel powered rubbish packers.
“And we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage.....” - Stockbridge, MA
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $6,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of various water pollution abatement projects, including but not limited to Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $16,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan which will support improvements at the Department of Public works Complex including the Ryan Garage, Lafayette Square Firehouse structural repair, and other municipal buildings.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $9,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements of the Lexington Avenue and River Street Firehouses.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $237,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School.
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to electrical service, roof replacement, chiller replacement, floor replacement and replacement of bi-directional amplifier and antenna in various school buildings.
These are the annual Loan Authorization orders that accompany the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Note the big fish in there - $237 million to borrow for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School. Last year’s loan authorizations totaled $74.3 million and $88.15 million the year before that. I suppose we’ll be seeing a tidy little jump in debt service next year even with our AAA bond rating. I hope one of the city councillors at least asks what the projections for residential real estate taxes might be for the next cycle. It’s not like other budgets are being slashed. Once again, here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes to department budgets as well as the 16-year changes.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Expect more grandstanding from the usual suspects as soon as the City staff have completed their reports. There’s nothing like a good crisis to practice your political speech-making. Frankly, I just want to hear what the Cambridge response might be to Governor Baker’s cautious “phase one re-opening plan.” I expect some councillors will continue to harp on street closures as the One Big Answer to All Things.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident.
I really wish some councillors understood the City Charter and actually listened last week to what the City Solicitor (correctly) had to say. The last thing we need are politically driven councillors micromanaging City employees. By the way, if a City Council aide calls for the firing of a City employee, is that a violation of Chapter 43, Section 107?: “Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with that portion of the service of the city as aforesaid solely through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager either publicly or privately. Any member of the city council who violates, or participates in the violation of, any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, and upon final conviction thereof his office in the city council shall thereby be vacated and he shall never again be eligible for any office or position, elective or otherwise, in the service of the city.”
Order #2. Creating an Arts Recovery Advisory Committee. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Order #3. That the City Council go on record in strong support of Bill HD. 5054 relative to restaurant delivery commissions during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to provide an immediate update to the Council on the digital equity research initiative and advisory board, and on efforts to ensure reliable access to the Internet citywide. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan
Regardless how one feels about municipal broadband, I think we do need some answers about how some version of universal Internet access can be achieved if only for the purpose of educational access in a school year conducted via Zoom and similar platforms.
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Election Commission and Board of Election Commissioners to determine the feasibility of universal vote-by-mail for the City of Cambridge. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
I’ll take this one. If you boys and girls were paying attention when there was the previous debate about “early voting” for municipal elections, it was explained to you at that time that such authority lies with the State and not with the City - hence the Home Rule Petition that is now collecting dust in the foyer of the State House and which is dutifully included in every City Council agenda packet by our City Clerk. The City cannot simply enact universal vote-by-mail via a Council vote or by a vote of the Election Commission. That authority resides with State government - and I expect that universal vote-by-mail may well be forthcoming from our glacial legislature. That said, if they were to simply permit “no excuse absentee voting” which everyone seems to understand is both feasible and politically acceptable, that would likely address most of the concerns about safety in voting. Time’s a wastin’, legislators.
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to amend the Cambridge emergency advisory on face coverings/masks to require face coverings be worn inside common areas of multi-unit buildings with the exception of 2-and 3- family buildings and in all workplaces where more than one person is present at all times. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Good idea. Even in my triple-decker, the tenants and I maintain social distancing in a way that might make you think we don’t get along. (We do.)
Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to develop and present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy for how we are going to reopen the city. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
By “present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy”, the authors of the Order no doubt mean “present to the City Council a plan to carry out the specific strategies that we hereby propose”. This seems to be a recurring theme of these councillors.
Order #9. That Chapter 2.108 be amended by inserting a new section 2.108.140. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Some of you may recognize this as just a reformulation of the eminent-domain-like proposals from these same socialist councillors from a few weeks ago. When nobody salutes your flag, just sew the threads into another flag. There are better ways to handle an emergency than confiscating whatever property suits you.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee’s Special Meetings held on May 7, 2020.
Are we actually still providing public education in Cambridge or are school staff just lending a few suggestions to those students who are now being effectively home-schooled by their parents - while a lot of other students are enjoying an early summer vacation?
Comments?
Here’s my take on this week’s agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2021 submitted budget appropriation orders.
I like to track how the budgets of the various City departments change from year to year and in the long term. Here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes as well as the 16-year changes.
The big jumps upward this year are for Public Celebrations (up 31.8% in one year and 45.7% for two years), Public Investment (up 38% in one year and 114% for two years), and the Library (up 26.3% and 38.9%). Curiously, Employee Benefits dropped 16.4% from the FY20 Budget, but the change from the Adopted Budget or actual expenditures could possibly be different.
I am trying to read between the lines about how the Covid-19 pandemic will express itself in the FY21 Budget, but perhaps those effects may primarily be felt in terms of a long string of supplemental expenditures and dipping into “free cash”.
The City Council apparently continues to treat itself with its political appointees (a.k.a. aides) with an 11% one-year jump. The City Manager’s Office (Executive) also increased its budget by nearly 13% in one year and 24.4% over two years. The overall FY21 Proposed Budget is 5.5% more than last year’s Proposed Budget.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED IN COUNCIL MAY 4, 2020]
Everyone has opinions. Everyone has agendas. Some people say they have God on their side. Others claim they have Science on their side or that Climate Change is their Righteous Cause and that everyone should comply with their agenda or else. Everyone has opinions, and bullshit is currency in Cambridge. The streets and sidewalks are not crowded - not even Memorial Drive, so they vote to close down streets to curry favor with their preferred constituents. Walking, coughing, maskless disease vectors congregate on benches and in doorways in Central Square, but the City Council will debate for hours whether it’s OK for someone to doff their mask in the park without penalty. I am often reminded of the secret of performing magic - distraction.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to order the Department of Public Works and any other relevant departments to consider implementing Simple Recycling’s curbside textile recycling program and report back to the Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Toomey
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to reopen the Recycling Center for a limited time and to place recycling bins strategically across the City for residents who are unable to access the Recycling Center to allow for residents to recycle plastic items such as bags. Councillor Toomey
One thing I have known for 30 years is that Councillor Toomey has been one of the most stalwart supporters of recycling in Cambridge, so it’s no surprise that these Orders are coming from Councillor Toomey. Regarding the Recycling Center, many of us are clearing out and organizing our living spaces while staying at home, and it sure would be great if we could recycle some of our scrap metal and more. I have a defunct old TV taking up space that won’t be picked up with the rubbish and the City has suspended all other alternatives. We have brought tons of stuff to various Red Cross donation bins and elsewhere, but there’s a lot more where that came from. Remember the old “Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance?” Well, they won’t even let you in the store with that now and you will likely exit with a bunch more plastic bags, and it might be good if there was a place to lose them.
Order #2. That the City Manager report to the Council with an update on recommendations being discussed by the Small Business Advisory Group so the Council may be prepared for quick action on items that may properly come before the body. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I have no doubt that this will soon become one of the hottest topics at City Council meetings.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
The “Shoe On The Other Foot Test” should be applied here. Imagine that someone in the Police Department inadvertently used the wrong account to tweet something like “More insane crap from that f--- (expletive redacted) Orange Menace in the White House. Sad for us.” Do you think there would even be a story let alone demands for disciplinary action? By the way, the person who erred here has been one of the most solid, courteous, and well-respected members of the Police Department for a very long time, and most of the present and former city councillors know it. I will be interested to see which councillors want to throw him under the bus for not complying with Cambridge political orthodoxy.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record in solidarity with all Lesley University workers and in support of the demands of the community petition. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I am in general agreement with all of the intentions of this Order, but I would like to inform those who don’t understand the concept of infinity that not even our local elite universities have infinite financial resources. Even Harvard and MIT are having to make some difficult choices. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Murder Hornets, Plague, Charles River Turns to Blood, and the ordinary business of the May 4, 2020 City Council meeting
There’s one mask I’m still waiting to see out there, and I don’t know if I’ll find it terrifying, reassuring, or just clever or funny.
I heard there has been one arrest of a man who pulled a knife on someone not disguised as either Batman or Zorro. There’s also a pointless “Next Door Cambridge” rhetorical war being waged on whether the cops should have been called on a maskless group in the Library park on Broadway. I personally just amuse myself by pretending that every day is now Halloween, though all those new souls and saints tend to dampen the frivolity.
Meanwhile at Virtual City Hall there’s another virtual meeting taking place this Monday covering virtually nothing other than Covid-19 matters (which is as it should be when the fat’s in the fire or the shite’s in the fan). Here are a few items that tweaked my beak:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Larry Ward as an Election Commissioner for a term of 4 years, effective April 1, 2020.
Larry has been a good friend and neighbor for decades. I have to wonder what elections in Cambridge (and elsewhere) will be like during this plague. At the very least, if the State Legislature has not yet passed no-fault absentee voting, then they haven’t been paying attention. On the other hand, maybe they’ll just approve a mail-in option and call it a day. Then again, maybe if we’re lucky the coast will be sufficiently clear in November to actually go to the polls (if we dare).
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review the recommendations listed above with the appropriate City personnel with a view toward establishing clear guidelines that will allow for the re-opening of construction projects across the City, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. [EXERCISED CHARTER RIGHT IN COUNCIL APR 27, 2020]
We clearly have allowed some “essential businesses” to operate during this ordeal - with the understanding that safety protocols must be respected. There are plenty of other things that could potentially be restarted with that same understanding, and that includes some construction activities.
Resolution #2. Resolution on the death of Wayne Travers. Councillor Toomey, Councillor McGovern
Wayne was at one time the monitor at the Recycling Center in the DPW Yard. We spent many hours there together in days of yore. Though we haven’t been in touch for quite a few years, I have very fond memories of Wayne, his motorcycle, and his sense of humor. Farewell, friend.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department to create a plan for how the City will support small, local businesses in recovering from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including use of existing city resources and CARES Act funding to provide additional support, such as individual coaching to support businesses as they are allowed to return to work. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
This will likely be one of the most difficult tasks for which the City can provide only partial solutions. One option that I hope is considered is to allow many/most Cambridge businesses great freedom to adapt their businesses creatively without unnecessary bureaucratic interference.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Cambridge Public Libraries to explore ways in which physical library materials can be made available to Cambridge Public Schools students and other Cambridge residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order #3. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Arts Council and other relevant departments to determine an appropriate public memorial for members of the Cambridge community who have been lost as a result of this COVID-19 virus. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone
I’ll do my best at optimism here and look forward to the day when we can commemorate not only those lost in the pandemic but also the scientists who developed the therapies and/or vaccines that helped to bring it under control.
Order #4. That the City of Cambridge declares May 4, 2020, “Kent State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and declares May 15, 2020, “Jackson State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and invite all Cambridge residents to learn about and reflect on the tragic events that occurred on those days. Councillor Zondervan
While I completely agree with recognizing the anniversaries of both of these tragic events, I really dislike the use of the word “martyrs” here just as I dislike when the word “heroes” is used to characterize victims of senseless or religious violence.
Order #5. That the City Manager enhance the data center to include information which the City Council deems essential to facilitating our collective response to the COVID-19 crisis. Councillor Zondervan
Order #6. That the City Manager restart Planning Board meetings virtually and prioritize the completion of any special permits that are in process. Councillor Zondervan
The wording of this Order makes clear that this is about jump-starting marijuana sales opportunities, unless there are other “Economic Empowerment applicants” of which I am unaware. I guess we all have our priorities.
Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City personnel to devise a plan that will place Cambridge on a path to offer free covid-19 tests to all Cambridge residents, similar to that recently enacted by the City of Somerville, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
I suspect this may already be planned - depending on availability of dependable testing materials and staffing levels. It does, however, remind me of an old rule we had about mathematics diagnostic testing, namely that you only do it when you have an idea of what you’re going to do with the results. I’m sure we’d all like to have a better sense of the true infection rates, but what then will be done with the results? Will this trigger extensive “contact tracing?” Will it be a precondition for returning to work or moving into an apartment? Will housing developments be partitioned into “tested positive” and “tested negative” sections? In some societies these would not be considered unusual steps, but I doubt whether that could happen in Cambridge. Maybe we’ll just make better graphs.
Order #8. That the City Manager work with the IT Department to design a system for video conferencing and public comment during the City Council and other official meetings that allows the administrator of the meeting to prevent, eject, and recover from any bad actors attempting to disrupt the meeting. Councillor Zondervan
We love our technology, but we never seem to establish safeguards and protocols until we’re busy reacting to abuses. I personally wish there was a mechanism for tracking down and prosecuting these “bad actors” even if that meant compromising their precious anonymity. I wonder if this sort of thing came up in the “surveillance ordinance” discussion last year when they were worrying about laryngoscopes.
Order #9. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
The difficulty is that the phrase “required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible” will be often be a matter of opinion, and I think we all know what the opinion of that unmasked person running or riding past you will likely be - regardless of race, age, or gender. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Elected, Injected, Inspected, Detected, Infected, Neglected and Selected Highlights on the April 27, 2020 City Council Agenda
Another week of Covid-19 updates and policy proposals. Here are a few things that struck me as more interesting than drinking Clorox or having miniaturized Fantasic Voyage actors in the USS Proteus injected into my arteries equipped with tiny little ultraviolet ray guns.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 donated to the City by Harvard University ($250,000) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($250,000), to the Grant Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the construction and operation of the War Memorial Temporary Emergency Shelter at 1640 Cambridge Street.
While I can’t speak to what else Harvard has done in the midst of this pandemic, it’s worth highlighting that in addition to these donated funds, MIT has also transformed its Johnson Skating Rink into the fully licensed 75-bed “Sean Collier Care Center” that will serve members of the MIT community and residents who are referred from the Cambridge Health Alliance and Mt. Auburn Hospital who need medical care for Covid-19. The center is staffed, operated, and funded by MIT.
MIT also suspended rent for all of its retail tenants in Central Square, Kendall Square, and on campus - including 27 small businesses. There have been plenty of additional initiatives taken by MIT to address this crisis. Perhaps most significantly, many of the research scientists here and around the world now working on therapies and vaccines have roots at MIT.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
This has become the primary agenda item for City Council meetings. I look forward to the day when this need no longer be the case.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to repurpose the War Memorial facility into only a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site for unhoused individuals awaiting their test results.
Last week’s Special Meeting was very informative and highlighted the extraordinary efforts of a wide range of City staff and partners who are diligently providing solutions even as the circumstances change from day to day. While thoughtful questions and suggestions from elected representatives are appreciated, the wise choice remains to let the professionals do their job and make the best use of their experience and judgment. Reaching quota in a Cambridge PR election does not miraculous confer expertise in either medicine, public saftety, or epidemiology. Also, this is not the time for coronagendas to transform society according to your own personal politics.
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to restrict third party delivery services fees to restaurants and disclose to customers of how delivery charges are allocated. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Delivery services right now are in great demand, but the costs should be commensurate with the service, and the primary beneficiaries of any additional cost should be our struggling retailers. I hope this Order can help to shape the fee structures for the better while still providing incentives for these services. In the meantime, if anyone wants to drop off some lettuce, canned tuna, and a quart of light cream for my morning coffee I’ll be your best friend and maybe even throw a few bucks your way. We’re also running low on cheese and crackers.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to issue an emergency order to make wearing a cloth face covering in public mandatory for all persons in the City of Cambridge, and that such a covering must be worn outdoors, inside essential businesses, and when entering and exiting residential buildings. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
People can argue about just how much freedom can or should be compromised in an actual emergency, but to me the most important fact is that the greatest potential for reduction in the transmission of the coronavirus is a mask worn by a carrier - even if that person is not symptomatic or even aware that he/she is a carrier. So I’ll go with making the masks mandatory for at least the short term. Walking along Memorial Drive the other day was like seeing Idiots on Parade - almost nobody wearing a mask as they were biking and running past leaving their vapors in their wake.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to establish what specific steps will be made to ensure the safety of the workforce upon the re-opening of City offices, and what specific options will be made available to those City workers who are more susceptible to severe covid-19 infections and may require the ability to work remotely until such time as this crisis passes. Councillor Simmons
I have no suggestions at all about next steps, but I do find something promising in the fact that people are at least thinking about how we can get back to “normal” even if it proves to be a very different kind of “new normal.” Even Boo Radley had to emerge eventually. - Robert Winters
Comments?
While we all strive to “level the curve” and hope for the best, City Council business continues even as most other businesses do not (at least for now). Springtime is usually the season of hope and renewal and that’s rarely been more relevant than this year - at least for those of us who have not lived through World Wars or civil wars (which always struck me as a oxymoron).
Here are the items on this week’s agenda that I found most noteworthy:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $215,450 from Free Cash to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the Homeless Shelter / Local Restaurant Community Meals Program.
While people can debate whether every action has been the right choice, there is no question that the City Manager and City departments have really been responsive in dealing with this horrible crisis. I’m looking forward to how we go about the transition from crisis to manageable threat. In any case, a lot of practices adopted during this crisis will persist for a very long time. Don’t go expecting a handshake from anyone any time soon, and I expect that masks and gloves may become a regular practice on all public transportation for the foreseeable future.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City departments to give the Council a financial impact summary on how the local Covid-19 response will be impacting the City’s free cash and ability to budget looking into July 1, 2021, and to report back to the City Council in a timely manner. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS ON APR 6, 2020]
Communications & Reports #5. A communication was received from Anthony Ivan Wilson, City Clerk, responding to a question regarding parliamentary procedure.
Pointless kerfuffle. The issue is whether the latter (Apr 6 Order #1 which asks about the effect on next year’s budget and free cash) duplicates the former (Mar 30 Order #5 which asks about current year’s/next year’s budget and free cash). The City Clerk is correct, but the City Council has filed repeated orders on various topics in the past regardless of what the rules may say.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint and convene a Small Business Recovery Advisory Committee. Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint and convene a COVID-19 Advisory Committee to review the impact of the pandemic on local communities of color, to propose ways to better disseminate information on Impact to Communities of Color. Councillor Simmons
I think the real distinction here has more to do with income levels and job categories than anything else. Some people can avoid public transportation and work from home and maybe have a good health plan and enough savings to ride things out. Others don’t have such luxuries.
Order #3. That in absence of revised City Council goals for the new term, the most recent approved goals are used in all Council business, particularly the budgetary process. Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
One would hope that they would at least pencil in the one additional goal of providing sufficient resources to continue to deal with the Covid-19 crisis and its effects on residents and businesses. I really don’t want to see a lot of resources dedicated to things that are fundamentally optional when there are necessities that have to be addressed right now.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Health Department to develop and implement stricter public health regulations to protect our grocery store workers. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Absolutely, but not just because of an anecdote or two. Sometimes I think Twitter and neighborhood listservs are the primary source of Cambridge public policy.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record in full support of this petition and of Harvard graduate students as they courageously stand up for their needs in a time of crisis. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan
Order #7. That the City Manager examine expanding the City’s jobs programs for those unemployed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to repurpose the War Memorial facility into only a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site for unhoused individuals awaiting their test results. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
One week the War Memorial facility is set aside as an emergency shelter primarily to prevent infection, and now this Order calls for it to be used only as a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site. It will be interesting to hear from City Management on this, but it sure seems like a couple of city councillors are making a career out of second-guessing city management and those in charge of public health and public safety.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, transmitting the 2019 Annual Report.
Communications & Reports #6. A communication was received from Councillor Quinton Zondervan, transmitting thoughts on planning for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I won’t comment on the particulars, but I do appreciate that we are at least beginning to think of next phases to this thing. Unlike some of the foolishness I hear from Washington, D.C. about “reopening the country” as though it was some kind of on-off switch, any rational person needs to understand that this will have to be an extended transition during which some aspects of normalcy will take longer than others and some things will likely change permanently. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The address of Queen Elizabeth to the people of England today is still resonating with me, especially the subtle reference to the Vera Lynn song from the days of World War II. It really choked me up listing to the old gal weave together past, present, and future. If only we had that kind of moral leadership at the top of our political heap. Perhaps we will again some sunny day.
Meanwhile, back in our Cambridge, here are a few agenda items this week that I found interesting:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for the City Council to adopt a statutory small business exemption for personal property accounts equal to or less than $10,000 in assessed value, and if approved as a special act by the Legislature and Governor of the Commonwealth, for personal property accounts equal to or less than $20,000 in assessed value.
This is a relatively modest assist to small businesses, but it’s also a sign that maybe there’s a realization that small businesses are deserving of benefits now reserved entirely for resident homeowners. There’s also the added benefit of bureaucratic simplification.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
We’ve all come to appreciate the daily updates from the City administration, but perhaps this will be an opportunity to get some insight into the larger picture of how the City is responding and will continue to respond to this public health nightmare.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City departments to give the Council a financial impact summary on how the local Covid-19 response will be impacting the City’s free cash and ability to budget looking into July 1, 2021, and to report back to the City Council in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone
I can’t help but be reminded of how often some councillors would view the City’s fund balance as some kind of untapped piggy bank just waiting to be broken open for pet projects and populist initiatives. I guess it takes an actual rainy day to fully understand the value of maintaining a “rainy day fund.”
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the relevant City departments to report back to the Council on what efforts have been made to work with other municipalities on this issue and to work with Cambridge’s State Delegation and the Governor’s office for a comprehensive regional housing plan to be put in place to house the homeless during the COVID-19 emergency. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern
ALL housing solutions have to be understood regionally. Unilateral solutions are not solutions. They never were and they never will be.
Order #4. That the City Manager expand tax-filing and stimulus benefit assistance to low-income and unhoused residents. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
With so many banks in every city square and elsewhere, one might think that these could provide the financial infrastructure for stimulus benefit assistance through coordination between the federal government and all of these banks. The same goes for providing low-interest or zero-interest short-term, government-insured business loans and mortgage assistance. Waiting several months for an across-the-board $1200 check to every resident seems like the least effective way to get through these difficult months of temporary unemployment and loss of income. As for those who lack a bank account or a home address, how to receive the federal benefit seems like just one more problem heaped on top of a host of other problems. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The City of Cambridge and its residents continue to act affirmatively to address the needs of our neighbors and struggling businesses as the local count of COVID-19 confirmed infections continues to rise (70 in Cambridge as of Mar 29 including one fatality). The Cambridge City Council has, for the most part, focused on the current crisis rather than engaging too much in other agendas. However, that apparently doesn’t stop some councillors from overreaching. See Resolution #2 below (which isn’t really a resolution so much as an overly broad declaration). Here are the agenda items I found most noteworthy this week:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the recommended reappointment of Christopher Bator as a member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of 5-years.
The reconfiguration of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority starting with the appointments by former City Manager Robert Healy on April 9, 2012 has worked out remarkably well with those inspired appointments. All five Board members continue to serve today: D. Margaret Drury, Chris Bator, Conrad Crawford, Kathleen Born, and Barry Zevin (Governor’s appointee).
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the use of the War Memorial Recreation Center and Field House on Cambridge Street, which is adjacent to and part of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School campus, for an emergency shelter for the homeless due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
This was a late addition to the Manager’s agenda. A lot more people will be aware of the need for emergency management when this crisis wanes - hopefully sooner than later - and the City has definitely been looking out for everyone, including people currently without a home or adequate shelter.
I hope that people also develop a renewed interest in broader planning goals, e.g. the importance of having essential needs like basic food and household goods at affordable prices available in all neighborhoods. Perhaps we’ll also better appreciate the importance of ensuring that deliveries to homes and businesses is not prevented by other priorities. Internet access has also been elevated to the category of an essential need - regardless whether it’s provided via an existing company or municipal broadband.
Resolution #2. Moratorium on rent payments, mortgage payments, evictions and foreclosures. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
While we can all appreciate the goal of having everyone consider renegotiating existing contracts, including rental agreements, this resolution makes no reference to the ability or inability of a tenant or owner of a property with a mortgage to pay their rent or mortgage. It’s just a flat out call for a moratorium on payments. Perhaps the authors of the resolution believe that all landlords are billionaires who charge excessive rents. I would love to see the current scale of rents and home prices change to more rational levels, and maybe that will happen to some degree when the dust settles and that all parties - lenders, property owners, and tenants - find ways to be kind to one another during this challenging period. This resolution has more to do with politics than kindness or reasonableness. The details in Order #1 below are by far the more reasonable things to ask.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Cambridge Housing Authority and other appropriate personnel to enforce compliance with this order in publicly owned housing, publicly subsidized housing, and federally assisted housing. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation on streets in each neighborhood that could be closed to all non-essential traffic for the duration of the Health Emergency and report back to the council as soon as possible. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with DCR to explore closing Memorial Drive for the duration of the Stay at Home order to give people in Cambridge a safe space to exercise and be outside without violating social distancing practices. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order #4. That the City Manager explore short-term solutions to expand essential Internet access to Cambridge residents who lack it during the pandemic until such time that a municipal broadband network can be implemented. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Once again, the focus of the Council orders is on getting through the current crisis, and that’s appreciated. I do, however, detect more than a hint of a separate agenda in at least one the above orders. - Robert Winters
Comments?
As I said last week, the only things they should be focusing on now are matters relating to the current emergency and basic maintenance of the city. For the most part this seems to be the case. This is not the time for separate policy agendas.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to recommendations for the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning Apr 1, 2020 and ending Mar 31, 2021. [Manager’s Letter]
Same basic story as last year: 0% increase in the water consumption block rate and an 6.3% increase in the sewer use block rate, resulting in a 4.8% increase in the combined rate for the period beginning April 1, 2020 and ending March 31 , 2021. Last year it was 0%, 7.0%, and 5.2%, respectively.
Charter Right #1. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER ON MAR 16, 2020.]
This is not the time for separate agendas. This matter should be tabled for the time being. Besides, if you read the details of the proposal it’s the single worst example of micromanagement by councillors I’ve seen in 35 years.
Resolution #1. That a suitable resolution be prepared on the death of Sal DiDomenico Sr. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons
Resolution #4. Resolution on the death of Jimmy Albert Smith. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern
Two very large trees have fallen in our Cambridge forest. My heart goes out especially to my friend and State Senator Sal DiDomenico whose dad has been a fixture in his East Cambridge neighborhood for many decades. I look forward to the day when a celebration of his life can be held during better times.
Order #1. City Council support of Senator Ron Wyden’s forthcoming legislation calling for the delay of federal REAL ID requirements until September 2021. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Order #2. That the Cambridge City Council requests that brokers, landlords, and real estate agents not to show housing units with current occupants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of using vacant properties and hotels as emergency shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to present emergency appropriations to the City Council in order to provide appropriate financial relief to businesses and organizations in the city, especially those which are not receiving sufficient state or federal assistance. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City personnel to develop and implement an online portal designed to allow senior citizens who are house-bound due to the coronavirus outbreak to sign up and notify the City that they require assistance with receiving grocery deliveries, other services delivered, and/or wellness checks throughout this crisis. Councillor Simmons
It’s good to see that this week all of the City Council orders are responsive to the current emergency.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting a letter from New England Development regarding a Pre-Application Conference with the City Council for a CambridgeSide 2.0 PUD-8 Special Permit.
Some planning does have to carry on in spite of the current difficulties. I continue to appreciate initiatives like this one that have the possibility of making our streets and neighborhoods more interesting and inviting even as they deliver greater financial stability to the property owners carrying out these developments.
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting COVID-19 Ideas and Suggestions.
Good suggestions all. - Robert Winters
Comments?
I will not be attending this meeting even if it goes forward on schedule. Whether or not the City comes up with some mechanism for public input relating to what would otherwise be public meetings, the simple truth is that it will be inadequate; and any city councillor who chooses to push any significant public policy agenda unrelated to the current emergency or basic maintenance of city affairs should reconsider his or her priorities/ethics. Now if this meeting actually does go forward as scheduled, here are some of the agenda items of significance:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-20, regarding a response on coronavirus preparedness.
Order #1. Coronavirus mitigation. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor E. Denise Simmons transmitting Coronavirus Preparation.
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to take all necessary actions to protect the population, including, but not limited to, cancelling all non-essential events and gatherings, allowing staff to work from home when possible, providing visitor screening at senior living facilities, and preparing emergency medical facilities for treating respiratory infections. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui regarding COVID-19 Student Supports and Resources List.
These are the only agenda items that should even be addressed at this meeting.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,000,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account to support the Complete Streets Reconstruction Program and for repaving portions of streets that are part of the separated bicycle network.
Order #2. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, transmitting comments on the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance.
Other than the expenditure for street repaving, none of these significant matters should be forwarded at this time. Many of the people who could be adversely impacted will simply not be willing to come to a public meeting at this time. In addition, any gathering of 25 or more people is prohibited under the current state of emergency.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $7,250,000 for the reconstruction of Glacken Field and playground with an update on lighting. This is also in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-17.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-66, regarding establishing a Young Adult Civic Unity Committee.
Glad to hear it.
Unfinished Business #3. That section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000, entitled SPECIAL REGULATIONS, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge, be amended the table as follows: Jan 28, 2020 (Annual Adjustment) $19.10 per square foot (amended to $20.10) [Passed to a 2nd Reading on Feb 24, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Mar 8, 2020.]
If the inclination is to ordain this now, just do it and adjourn.
Applications & Petitions #2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Salvatore Zinno Vice President, BMR-Third LLC, to Amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by adding section 13.200 Planned Unit Development at Canal District Kendall PUD-CDK Amendment.
Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Tom Hartingson, requesting that the City Council Ordain the Zoning language set forth relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District.
I personally welcome both of these zoning petitions (though I have yet not reviewed all the details), but they can be referred and action delayed for the time being.
Order #3. That the City Council approve a Real Estate Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition. Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
There are competing bills in the state legislature. There are significant details yet to be worked out.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Inspectional Service Department to increase the fines for absentee property owners who continue to have violations stemming for rodent infestations. Councillor Toomey
I’m still interested in the previous Council order that called for negligent property owners to cover some of the costs of neighbors impacted by rodent infestations.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record stating its intent to have Cambridge be one of the pilot communities if Senate Bill 2553 passes. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
This is a pilot program of automated traffic enforcement, i.e. cameras catching drivers running red lights and committing other infractions. I’m just curious how this will fit into the current campaign against surveillance technologies. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are the things I found interesting and/or horrifying:
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Harvard Square Conservation District Study Committee report.
Unfinished Business #4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Suzanne P. Blier regarding Harvard Square Zoning Petition. [Passed to a Second Reading on Feb 18, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Mar 2, 2020 (deadline is Mar 10, 2020)]
It seems likely that this thoughtful zoning petition will be ordained this week - perhaps even unanimously. Councillor Carlone offered a few amendments and there may be others, but the core ideas in the petition are sound and the objections appear to be few.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $15,000,000 from Free Cash to the Affordable Housing Trust to assist in preserving affordability of units at Fresh Pond Apartments at 362 and 364 Rindge Avenue.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding preserving the affordability of the Fresh Pond Apartments. Mayor Siddiqui
The primary goal of the Affordable Housing Trust in recent years has been the preservation of existing affordable housing. This additional $15 million from Free Cash will be part of approx. $40 million to guarantee the long-term affordability of 504 apartments. That’s under $80,000 per apartment - a fraction of what it typically costs to create new housing units.
From the City Manager’s letter: “In 2009, the City identified 1,094 units at 10 privately-owned properties where affordability commitments were set to expire by 2021. Affordability has been successfully preserved at nine of these properties, including buildings that for decades have offered affordable housing options for residents in Harvard Square, Inman Square, the Port, Riverside, and West Cambridge. Reaching an agreement to preserve affordability of Fresh Pond Apartments caps our successful efforts to preserve every one of these affordable homes for current and future residents.”
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation’s three major credit rating agencies.
This has become almost routine for Cambridge, and it says a lot about the steady hands on the tiller of municipal finance. That hand may have to be especially steady with the current membership of the City Council who have repeatedly shown their eagerness to spend without bound and tax to high heaven.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on the proposed Eversource substation on Fulkerson Street.
Unfinished Business #5. A re-filed Zoning Petition has been received from Joseph T. Maguire of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. transmitting a proposed revised amendment to the zoning ordinance by creating the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District. [Passed to a Second Reading on Feb 10, 2020, to be Ordained on or after Feb 24, 2020 (deadline is Mar 9, 2020)]
The alternate site proposed for the Eversource substation has now been revealed - a portion of the Blue Garage of Boston Properties between Broadway and Binney. The garage will need to be demolished to allow for the construction of the substation and replacement parking, and zoning relief will be needed to offset these costs by adding two new 400,000 square foot commercial buildings that will have to be approved under an amended Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan (KSURP) and the MXD zoning district. In short, it’s not quite as simple as tossing up a few big transformers on a vacant piece of land.
The relocation of the electrical substation was the primary stumbling block for the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District Petition, so if all goes well that will likely also be ordained at this meeting.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to confer with the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department to prepare a report on any steps it has taken to work towards developing a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
I don’t see any real down side to having a Vacant Storefront Registration Policy. In fact, it could provide a relative accurate inventory from which thoughtful people may be able to marry potential retailers to available sites. [This is one of the multiple roles that the recently established Central Square Business Improvement District (BID) plays.]
I do, however, worry that the City may find a way to lay a heavy hand on property owners who may have perfectly understandable reasons for having a vacancy. Gentle persuasion is better than the heavy hand. I still remember the asinine proposal from the City Council not long ago that vacant properties should be subjected to an onerous tax equivalent to the entire assessed value of the property over the course of two years. That would never have passed legal muster, but it serves as a reminder of the confiscatory mindset of some councillors.
Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct staff to begin including a “Racial Equity Impact Statement” on all relevant agenda items including, but not limited to, appointments, appropriations, ordinances, legal opinions, policies, procedures and regulations, beginning on Mar 9, 2020. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
This is pure insanity. While we can all agree that it is a laudable goal to seek racial and socioeconomic equity in many ways, this absurd proposal would require virtually every action undertaken by the City to be evaluated based on “racial equity impact.” Apparently Councillors Zondervan, Simmons, and Sobrinho-Wheeler feel that the paving of roads, the purchasing of stationary supplies, decisions of what is or is not legal, where parking meters should or should not be located, what days street cleaning occurs, and pretty much everything else should all be evaluated based on racial criteria. Quite simply, it’s great to have equity-conscious goals, but requiring everything from the construction of a school building to the enforcement of traffic laws to the purchase of pencils to be judged based on race is ridiculous.
Order #6. City Council support for legislation that would allow for the adoption of fees on the transfer of real estate for use in creating new funding for affordable housing trusts, including H.2457, H.2552, and the consensus bill. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
I am trying to imagine the cumulative impact of all the proposed zoning changes, earmarked revenue streams, and more that this City Council seems intent on permanently establishing. My sense is that all property taxes will grow faster, commercial development will have to accelerate to cover the costs of government largess, and we’ll drive out what is left of middle-income residents other than those who apply to City agencies for their housing.
Bringing in some additional revenue to supplement CPA funds for housing programs seems perfectly reasonable, but I have never been a fan of permanently earmarking funds for any one purpose. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The Big Item is the Return of the Subsidized Housing Overlay, that proposed borderline regulatory taking that caused so much stink and posturing last year. Here are the items that seem to rise from the swamp more than others:
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-14, requesting an update on the Lechmere Station closure, the replacement bus service, and the community outreach that is planned.
Within a few years the entire Lechmere area will be transformed - the Green Line viaduct will no longer cross the highway, and the McGrath O’Brien Highway itself may be reconfigured into an “urban boulevard”. First Street will connect directly to the reconfigured boulevard and beyond, and Lechmere Station will be on the north side of the thoroughfare and be just another stop on the Green Line to/from either Union Square or West Medford.
People working in Cambridge may find Somerville and Medford to be very desirable housing options and the entire NorthPoint (Cambridge Crossing) area will be fully built out. While our local City Council fiddles and diddles about flexiposts, the color of sidewalks, whether homeowners should be allowed to have gas stoves or manage the trees on their own property, far more interesting developments are taking shape. Traffic may really suck in that area in the short term, but as long as they create greater connectivity in the end, the short-term hassle will be worth it.
Now if they can somehow get the area around the Museum of Science to feel less like a highway rest stop and more like a part of the Charles River Reservation (which it is), then I’ll really pop the champagne corks when all is said and done.
Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt the Incentive Zoning Contribution Rate Zoning Petition.
Committee Report #2. Report of the Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Feb 12, 2020 5:30pm regarding a hearing on an amendment to the Incentive Zoning Ordinance.
I don’t believe the proposed increases in Incentive Zoning required payments will make or break many proposed projects, but I am always entertained at how spending other people’s money is almost a competition among elected officials and apparently now even among some Planning Board members. That said, the Planning Board’s positive recommendation is quite schizophrenic. On the one hand they suggest that the Council jack up the rate even higher, yet they follow that with: “Board members also urged consideration of how substantially raising the fee could discourage development, cause increases in commercial rents, or otherwise affect Cambridge’s overall economic balance and competitiveness in a regional market.”
Unfinished Business #3. A re-filed Zoning Petition has been received from Joseph T. Maguire of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. transmitting a proposed revised amendment to the zoning ordinance by creating the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING ON FEB 10, 2020, TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER FEB 24, 2020. (Deadline is Mar 9, 2020.)]
This could be ordained either this week or next, but I suspect only if and when a firm commitment is made for the relocation of the Eversource electrical substation that had been planned for Fulkerson Street. Otherwise, expect another can to be kicked down the road.
Unfinished Business #4. A Zoning Petition Has been received from Suzanne P. Blier regarding Harvard Square Zoning Petition. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING ON FEB 18, 2020, TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER MAR 2, 2020. (Deadline is Mar 10, 2020.)]
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Dennis Carlone, transmitting Proposed Amendments to the Harvard Square Overlay District Zoning Petition.
This petition was the subject of the February 18 Special City Council meeting where it was passed to a 2nd Reading and put in the queue for possible ordination at the March 2 meeting - the last before the deadline. That was an absurd meeting in many ways in that the language of the petition with the proposed amendments from the Ordinance Committee had already been shipped out for publication so that it could meet the legal requirements. The Council could talk and talk but not actually change anything lest it require re-advertisement with the amended language which would run afoul of the deadline for ordination. The Council will be able to propose amendments on Feb 24 or on the night of likely ordination on March 2.
I don’t think this zoning proposal has anything earth-shattering in it despite the ravings of our local goose guy. It will, hopefully, make it easier to do reasonable things in reasonable ways while still keeping the earth’s magnetic field safe and keeping enough of the historic fabric of Harvard Square intact for a few more generations.
Order #1. 100% Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Petition 2020. Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor McGovern, transmitting a memorandum with comments on refilling the 100% Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Petition 2020.
The creep of government control continues, and another round of civic discord is again on the horizon. We will once again get to hear about why there should be significantly different zoning rules depending on who owns the property, and why greater and greater percentages of the Cambridge housing stock should be transferred from private ownership into the hands of government and quasi-government control. There’s also that little matter of abutting neighbors having no real ability to respond to what could well be a radical departure from what might otherwise be expected with equitable zoning laws.
Anyone who really understands how the affordability of housing works understands that this can only be addressed with adequate regional housing growth at all economic levels coupled with improved transportation. Instead, the City Council will apparently opt for subsidized housing built at great public expense that will not have any effect on general affordability of housing. Indeed, you should have heard Councillor Carlone at the recent Government Operation Committee meeting on the City Manager’s possible contract renewal where he bemoaned the fact that “we’ve left a billion dollars on the table” that we could have extracted from residential and commercial property owners to pay for more and more projects. So by the time this City Council term is done we may have a new city manager, dramatically increased budgets and tax rates, and a housing policy that makes housing cheaper for those who seek it from the government and even more expensive for everyone else.
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to confer with Director of Cambridge Public Libraries to determine the feasibility of eliminating late fines. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
This probably makes sense but I am curious about what will be done if someone loses a book or other material or simply chooses to never return it. Do we just keep sending nagging letters and email messages?
Order #5. That the Department of Conservation and Recreation reconsider a road diet and protected bike lane for Gerrys Landing Road. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan
Order #6. That the City Manager is hereby requested to confer with relevant City departments and the MBTA on the feasibility of implementing additional dedicated bus lanes, as well as fully separate protected bicycle lanes. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
I agree that separated paths for bicycles are warranted on roads where the difference in speeds between bicycles and motor vehicles is significant and where slower-speed alternatives are either difficult or nonexistent. This includes DCR roads like Gerry’s Landing Road as well as the McGrath/O’Brien Highway. I also agree that dedicated bus lanes make sense in some places where the frequency of buses warrants it, but there’s nothing more aggravating than being stuck in traffic while significant road space lies empty 99% of the time.
Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to produce a Request For Proposal for the municipal broadband feasibility study that was called for by the City’s Broadband Task Force in August 2016. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern
Look for this to be a Big Ask during the discussion on a possible contract extension for the City Manager. I’m still not convinced that the financial exposure associated with a municipal investment in a technology that might become obsolete soon after it’s built is worth the risk. I’m still willing to be convinced and maybe that’s why a feasibility study (as opposed to a commitment to fund the build-out) is warranted.
Committee Report #3. Report of the Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee - Committee Meeting - Feb 4, 2020 10:00am regarding a meeting to review the City Council’s Rules for the 2020-2021 Legislative year.
I was hoping that they might take a look at restructuring some of the Council subcommittees, e.g. splitting Arts & Celebrations out from Long-Term Planning, but I didn’t see it in the verbose meeting minutes. Ironically, they spent a very long time talking about whether to further limit public comment. - Robert Winters
Comments?
The petition expires March 10, 2020. I suppose they could let it expire and go through the process again, but it seems like the inclination is to get some amended version of this petition ordained earlier than later. The March 9 City Council meeting has been cancelled, and the petition must be passed to a 2nd Reading at this Special Meeting in order to allow time (14 days) for the legally required advertisement of the petition prior to a vote on ordination. [Zoning FAQ] Assuming the advertisement appears on Thurs, Feb 20 this means that the earliest date the petition could be voted would be Thurs, March 5 (certainly not before March 3), so this petition could not be ordained at the March 2 meeting, and another Special Meeting would have to be scheduled prior to the March 10 expiration date. Hence this Special City Council Meeting and possibly another. - RW
Update - The CDD page on zoning was incorrect - it’s a 10 day advertising window. The City Clerk also shipped the advertisement off to the papers prior to the matter being passed to a 2nd Reading at this Feb 18 Special Meeting so that it could be in the queue for possible ordination at the March 2 City Council meeting. This caused some awkwardness at the meeting since the language couldn’t be amended in any substantive way without being re-advertised. I guess whatever gets you in before the deadline...... RW
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Report of the Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Dec 11, 2019 5:30pm
Regarding the Harvard Square Zoning Petition
Present: Carlone, Devereux, Kelley, Mallon, McGovern, Simmons, Siddiqui, Zondervan
2. Report of the Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Jan 30, 2020 5:30pm
Regarding the reconvened hearing regarding the Harvard Square Zoning Petition
Present: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Simmons (late), Toomey (late)
3. Motion to amend the petition by the substitution with the language as recommended by the Ordinance Committee on January 30, 2020.
4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Suzanne P. Blier regarding Harvard Square Zoning Petition.
• Petition Text
• CDD Memo - November 14, 2019
• Planning Board Presentation - November 19, 2019
• Planning Board Recommendation
• Supplemental Information from CDD Staff
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,200,000 from Free Cash, to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for expanded tree planting and continued implementation of the Urban Forestry Master Plan recommendations.
Unfinished Business #3. TPO (Tree Protection Ordinance) Extension PO [Passed to a Second Reading on Jan 27, 2020. To Be Ordained on or after Feb 10, 2020]
It seems likely that the Tree Removal Moratorium extension will breeze through. Ideally, the Council would at least amend it to allow for some additional flexibility, especially for long-term residents who are simply maintaining their property rather than redeveloping it. Hope springs eternal, but I don’t have much faith that reason will prevail here or when they finally get around to implementing any master plan recommendations.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to amending the Cambridge Municipal Code to insure a Welcoming Community Ordinance. [Red-Lined version][Clean version]
Unfinished Business #4. That the Cambridge City Council amend the Municipal Ordinances of the City of Cambridge to insert a new Chapter 2.129, entitled “WELCOMING COMMUNITY ORDINANCE” [Passed to a Second Reading on Jan 27, 2020. To Be Ordained on or after Feb 10, 2020.]
I expect this too will breeze through ordination either this week or very soon, but the rhetoric over restrictions on police activities should prove interesting, especially the clarifications from the City Solicitor in the section on the “Role of Police Department in immigration enforcement” to make it consistent with federal statutes.
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to work with the residents of the Agassiz neighborhood in furthering this important neighborhood conversation and in helping make a determination as to how to arrive at an appropriate, official name change for this neighborhood. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Cambridge neighborhood names have no real legal standing. Some of them, like Mid-Cambridge, were invented by what was once called the Planning Department back when they were making maps for federal grant programs. So in some sense this is just feel-good stuff. Maybe we should just use Zip Codes to avoid any future historical crisis.
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to rename the maintenance area within the Ryan Garage at 147 Hampshire Street in honor of Sydney Cox, with this becoming known as the “Sydney James Cox Maintenance Facility”. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
This continues what has become a DPW tradition of naming its buildings and facilities for some of our great long-time dedicated DPW employees.
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City departments on the feasibility of instituting a program to install rings on parking meters to expand bicycle parking options. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui
This has been suggested in the past by me and by others, and the stock answer at the time was that locking bikes to parking meters somehow obstructed access to motor vehicles. Geometry and reality contradict this. The only exception would be bikes with trailers. Maybe we’ll get a different answer this time around.
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Department of Human Services and other relevant departments to determine the feasibility of both expanding the Head Start program hours and adding additional scholarships to improve access to high-quality, early childhood educational resources. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern
The single most important thing we can do to lessen inequality is to support programs like Head Start that help to level the playing field so that residents can one day succeed on their own terms. If somebody wants education we should provide it one way or another.
Order #7. That the City Council go on record calling for the Parliament of India to uphold the Indian constitution by repealing the Citizenship Amendment Act, stopping the National Register of Citizens, and taking steps towards helping refugees by ratifying various UN treaties on refugees. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
We’re barely one month into this Council term and it’s already looking like we need a change in the City Council Rules to establish a standing Foreign Policy Committee.
Committee Report #2. Report of the Ordinance Committee - Committee Meeting - Feb 5, 2020 5:30 PM [PDF][HTML]
This concerns the Alexandria zoning petition to establish a Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District. It is noteworthy in that the petition was likely to die a lonely death unless an alternative site for the proposed Eversource electrical substation on Fulkerson Street could be found. Thanks to the intervention of City Manager Louis DePasquale and others, an alternate site seems to have been identified but not yet revealed. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here are the little nuggets that I found comment-worthy this week:
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a home rule petition to the state legislature that would lower the voting age to sixteen (16) in municipal elections.
As I said last April when this idea had its day in committee: “As for lowering the voting age for municipal elections to 16 years old, my belief is that the minimum voting age should be the same across the entire Commonwealth and not vary from town to town. If you want to make the case for this, try to convince the state legislature to do it statewide or pursue other matters.” As the City Solicitor notes in her message, the City Council submitted home rule petitions in 2002 and 2006 to be permitted to lower the municipal voting age to 17, and neither of those petitions was approved. The current petition asks to drop the voting age even lower.
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, recommending the appointment of the following person as a member of the Cambridge Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for a term of 5-years, as recommended by the Greater Boston Labor Council: Louis Bacci, III.
That makes two appointments to the Cambridge Housing Authority Board in as many weeks. As noted last week, the CHA Board is one of only two City boards where appointees require City Council confirmation, so the appointment of Louis Bacci (who presumably will succeed Anthony Pini) will likely be referred to the Housing Committee for a formal hearing - maybe even a two-for-one deal along with appointee Gerald Clark. [Members of Cambridge Boards & Commissions (updated Jan 24, 2020)]
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Mayor’s recommended appointments of the following member of the Family Policy Council, effective Feb 3, 2020 for the 2020-2021 Council term: Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon and School Committee Member Ayesha Wilson.
Resolution #4. Retirement of Mary Hart from her role as Chief Information Officer for the Information Technology Department. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Though it’s been corrected in the revised agenda, this resolution initially went in with 9 co-sponsors. Heaven forbid that there would have been a conspiracy among a majority of councillors in defiance of the Open Meeting Law on this purely congratulatory resolution. [Some rules are just plain silly.] I’m a bit curious if retiring “from her role as Chief Information Officer” for IT is the same as retirement from working for the City. In any case, look for the City Council to step up in their call for Municipal Broadband - especially in light of Communications & Reports #2 (below).
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to review the roles, responsibilities, and compensation of City Council Aides with an eye toward designating this as a full-time position. Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
I dispute the foundation of this Order, specifically the assertion that “This role has, in the ensuing years, greatly expanded and evolved, with Council Aides managing the schedules of their Council members, conducting constituent intakes and triage, planning and participating in Committee hearings, representing their Council member in public and private meetings, serving as liaisons between their Council members and other elected officials, and serving as an additional conduit between the municipal elected officials and their constituents, in addition to their originally outlined duties.” Is the new practice of having stand-ins for city councillors something that should be celebrated and rewarded? City Council committees may need additional support to function optimally, but not individual councillors. Let’s also not forget that the primary route to a job as a City Council aide is to work in the election campaign of the councillor. Finally, I will note that efforts to grow this particular form of political patronage have often coincided with mayoral elections and proposed extensions of a city manager’s contract. Again, see Communications & Reports #2 (below).
I will also note City Hall parking that was once open to anyone working in City Hall (except for Monday evenings) is now exclusively for city councillors on all days and all hours regardless when any councillors are in the building.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to update the Council on the plans for the Cambridge Recycling Center. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
As one of the people who argued for the continuation of the Recycling Center after the City began curbside recycling (July 1991) and who recommended some of the features of the current setup, I’m quite interested in how this resource may evolve. Whether the City moves toward having a mobile Recycling Center or a better layout for the DPW Yard, this question is fundamentally linked to the long-term plans for the DPW Yard and whether it will remain at 147 Hampshire Street or be relocated. I sure appreciated being able to bring some heavy scrap metal there this weekend.
Order #5. Improvements to STR Ordinance to Enhance Compliance. Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone
Perhaps this is what you get when you choose to have an ordinance go into effect on April Fools Day.
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting a letter from City Manager Louis A. DePasquale, who is serving formal notice of his desire to enter into formal negotiations with the City Council to extend his contract with the City beyond January 2021.
I’m glad to see that Louis DePasquale wants to continue as City Manager. He deserves an extension simply on the merits of his job performance. That said, I can well imagine more than a few pet projects of individual councillors getting funded in this budget cycle. Just sayin’. - Robert Winters
Comments?
Here’s my first pass at the interesting stuff (“interesting”, of course, being a relative term):
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the recommendation to reappointment of Gerard Clark as a member of the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners for a term of 5-years.
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following person as a new member of the Affordable Housing Trust Board for a term of three years, effective Jan 22, 2020: Elaine DeRosa
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of the following members of the LGBTQ+ Commissioner for a term of three years, effective Feb 6, 2020: Mal Malme, Robert Parlin, Aren Stone, Catherine Grams, Noelani Kamelamela, Gregory MacDonough and Britt Huhmann
Many board appointments this week. The City Manager is “the appointing authority” under the City Charter, but there are two boards for which City appointments require City Council confirmation - the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and the Cambridge Housing Authority - so the CHA appointment will likely be referred to the Housing Committee for a formal hearing. [Members of Cambridge Boards & Commissions (updated Jan 24, 2020)]
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $46,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Elections Department Salary and Wages account ($6,145) and to the General Fund Elections Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($39,855) which will be used to cover the additional costs associated with recently approved early voting for the Presidential Primary, Mar 3rd, 2020.
Early Voting for the Presidential Primary will be available Feb 24 through Feb 28 at 6 locations [www.CambridgeMA.gov/EarlyVoting]. Election Day is Mar 3, 2020.
Unfinished Business #3. Fuel pump warning labels [Passed to Second Reading on Jan 13, 2020 to be ordained on or after Jan 23, 2020.]
I expect this perfectly meaningless gesture will be ordained unanimously.
Resolution #2. Congratulations to Sydney Cox for 45 Years at DPW. Councillor Simmons
One of the best things about being involved in recycling and composting promotion in Cambridge was the opportunity it afforded me to meet so many of the really great people at the Department of Public Works - many of whom, including Sydney Cox, have careers with the City spanning many decades. The annual DPW Commissioners Awards Ceremony in the spring has always been one of my favorite City events (and not just for the cookout!).
Resolution #11. Resolution on the death of Richard B. Griffin. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Richard was one of the most decent people I ever met in Cambridge civic life. Perhaps the most moving tribute I have seen is this editorial by Cambridge Chronicle editor Amy Saltzman: Richard Griffin, longtime Chronicle columnist, dies at 91
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with relevant City Departments, and, where relevant, the MBTA and counterparts in other municipalities for routes not wholly in Cambridge, on the feasibility of instituting and funding a fare-free pilot bus program. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui
The chance of doing this just within the boundaries of Cambridge is very low. The idea, however, is not crazy. If done more broadly it could be transformative, but the cost would not only be in lost fare revenue. Ridership would likely jump, and more buses (and drivers) would have to be added with greater frequency of buses (shorter headways). This would also likely lead to demands for more routes as well.
Order #9. That the Cambridge City Council amend the Municipal Ordinances of the City of Cambridge to insert a new Chapter 2.129, entitled WELCOMING COMMUNITY ORDINANCE. Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Sanctuary City Rebranded
Committee Report #1. Report of the Ordinance Committee - Dec 11, 2019, 2:00pm (Natural Gas Ban)
Committee Report #2. Report of the NLTP Committee - Dec 19, 2019, 5:30pm (Cambridge Carnival)
Committee Report #3. Report of the Health & Environment Committee - Jan 22, 2020, 2:30pm (Tree Protection Ordinance)
There are more effective strategies than an outright ban on new gas hookups. Hopefully the various “stakeholders” can make their case, but it’s likely that this will be just one more step down the Road To Ban Everything. As for where the “Tree Protection Ordinance” is headed, I’m sure those trees will be lining The Road To Ban Everything. Any notion that the eventual permanent version of the Tree Protection Ordinance will allow reasonable people to do reasonable things is likely pure fantasy. - Robert Winters
Comments?
This is the first regular City Council meeting of the 2020-21 term. The mayoral vote at the Jan 6 Inauguration was a single take, and newly minted Mayor Siddiqui broke the record for fastest City Council committee appointments. Here are a few items on the agenda of some interest.
Unfinished Business #4. Amendment to Chapter 8.12 of the Municipal Ordinances of the City of Cambridge. [Passed to a Second Reading on Dec 16, 2019 To Be Ordained on or after Dec 29, 2019]
This is the proposed municipal ordinance that would ban mobile fueling operations throughout Cambridge, i.e. where a vehicle shows up where you are and fills your gas tank for you. As I said when this was first introduced as a zoning amendment last October: “Yet more evidence of the lazy ass, ‘call the servants’ times that we now live in. If pumping your own gas at the filling station is so burdensome that you must use a phone app to have the ‘little people’ show up to do it for you, then maybe it’s time to reconsider your life choices.”
Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Christopher Schmidt, regarding an amendment to Section 2.000 of the Zoning Ordinance.
This is a simple and sensible proposal that would amend the definition of “family” in the Zoning Ordinance to remove restrictions on unrelated family members. Specifically, it would simply say: “Family. One or more persons occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit.”
The current definition is this:
Family. One or more persons occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit; provided that a group of four or more persons who are not within the second degree of kinship shall not be deemed to constitute a family.
Notwithstanding the definition in the preceding paragraph, a family shall be deemed to include four or more persons not within the second degree of kinship occupying a dwelling unit and living as a single, nonprofit housekeeping unit, if said occupants are handicapped persons as defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the “Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.” Such unrelated individuals shall have the right to occupy a dwelling unit in the same manner and to the same extent as any family in the first paragraph of this definition.
It’s unknown when the last time the current definition was ever enforced, and households consisting of several unrelated persons are very common in Cambridge and the region. The only potential downside of this simplification might be that an apartment specifically designated as “family housing” may become just another roommate situation.
Resolution #2. Resolution on the death of Carol Cerf. Councillor Simmons
Resolution #5. Resolution on the death of Susan Noonan-Forster. Councillor Toomey
Resolution #9. Resolution on the death of Thomas F. Courtney. Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern
I knew Carol Cerf from the CCA Board over 25 years ago and would often run into her on her bicycle for years after that. She was one of the more kind and generous people I met in local politics over the years. There was a moment of silence at the Jan 6 School Committee Inauguration noting the death of Susan Noonan-Forster. Thomas F. Courtney, among many other notable distinctions, was the father of our most beloved Deputy City Clerk Paula Crane.
Order #4. TPO Extension PO. Councillor Zondervan
The cryptic summary refers to a proposed extension of the Tree Protection Ordinance, i.e. Moratorium, from the current expiration date of March 11, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The Order also encourages that more permanent language be soon established based on recommendations of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force. I can only hope that some flexibility is written into the more permanent ordinance to allow reasonable homeowners to do reasonable things without exorbitant cost, but recent trends tend to be the opposite.
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the Jan 7, 2020 Regular Meeting of the School Committee.
It’s good to see intermural communication like this from the Mayor to the City Council regarding School Committee matters.
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, announcing the formal 2020-2021 appointments to the City Council Committees.
This has to be a new record for fastest City Council committee appointments. It usually takes weeks and Mayor Siddiqui had it done in three days. - Robert Winters
Comments?
City Council main page.