At the November 20 City Council meeting:
Can you spot the mistake in this list of congratulatory resolutions?
11. Congratulations to Senator Robert Travaglini on his re-election to the Massachusetts Senate. Councillor Sullivan
12. Congratulations to Senator Warren Tolman on his re-election to the Massachusetts Senate. Councillor Sullivan
13. Resolution on the death of Senator Jarrett Barrios on his re-election to the Massachusetts Senate. Councillor Sullivan
14. Congratulations to State Representative Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. on his re-election as State Representative. Councillor Sullivan
This has to be the funniest (and most ironic) error I've ever seen in the Council agenda.
There are also these items:
Communication #1. A communication was received from Michael Turk, regarding the increased cost of rental housing.
This also appeared in Thursday's Cambridge Chronicle. Give it a rest, Mike. Rent control is still a dead doggie, even with a Democrat as governor starting in January.
Communication #4. A communication was received from Daniel E. Geer, Jr., urging the City Council to require the City Manager to provide numbers in digital form and offering his services as the City Council’s statistician in residence.
This was an interesting letter in which Dan highlights how ridiculous it is to provide statistical data to city councillors and the public in printed form, often in great bulk, as was the case this summer in data provided to Councillor Kelley by the Police Department. Dan Geer correctly points out that inundation like this is often done to obscure information by burying it in bulk.
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to take the necessary steps to run on cable TV that November is Cambridge Recycles Month and urge that Cambridge residents recycle 40% of their trash and garbage. Councillor Davis
Of course, recycling advocates (like me) like to point out that every month is Cambridge Recycles Month.
Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on measures being taken to prevent future theft and vandalism of parking meters in East Cambridge. Vice Mayor Toomey
Special message to the vandals: Come visit the stretch of Broadway between Inman Street and Lee Street, especially the even side of the street. There are some excellent targets available here! [But seriously, does the City really need to have these meters in effect on Friday afternoons and on Saturdays when the City Hall Annex is closed? Give us a break, Ms. Clippinger.
Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Commissioner of Public Works, The Department of Conservation and Recreation, the MBTA and Northpoint Developers on conducting a study to incorporate and construct an underpass from the current Lechmere Station to the proposed new location of Lechmere Station. Vice Mayor Toomey
I point out this one only because there's been extra attention paid lately to the Lechmere T station both here and in the local papers. If I was a long-time resident of East Cambridge, I would certainly feel some resentment about the Lechmere station being moved to a location less convenient for me and more convenient for what will surely be the considerably more affluent new residents at North Point.
Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to notify the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative that Cambridge wishes to sign up for the Bonus Program and to work in conjunction with Green Decade Cambridge and the Environmental Club at CRLS with the goal of signing up 150 families to qualify for the funds for a solar photovoltaic installation, possibly to be sited at CRLS. Councillor Davis
Good idea. Enough said.
Order #15. That the City Manager is requested to report back to the City Council on the cost of the police presence in Clement C. Morgan Park and any relevant statistics about that police presence such as how many foot patrols were conducted around the park, how many face-to-face interactions police officers had with area residents in and around the park, how many enforcement actions this police presence resulted in and any other pertinent data. Councillor Kelley
See Communication #4 above. It will be interesting to see if Commissioner Watson delivers another massive printed document as was done last summer in response to a request for information from Councillor Kelley. On the other hand, does Councillor Kelley really need statistics for something like this? Wouldn't a simple question and answer do just as well?