Cambridge InsideOut - May 9, 2017
Guest Co-Host this week - Patrick Barrett
Potential Topics:
1) Civic Updates and Opportunities
a) Death of former City Councillor Bob Moncrieff (served 1970-1973)
b) Vacancies on Harvard Sq. and Central Sq. Advisory Committees
c) Participatory Budgeting starting up again (plus some commentary)
d) Outstanding City Employee Awards (highlighting a few people in particular)
2) This week's Budget Hearings
3) Last week's Budget Hearing and the mistreatment of Election Commissioners and staff
6) The AirBnB Question
7) Central Square - everything you wanted to know and then some
8) Cambridge real estate, vacant properties, land-banking, etc.
9) 2017 Candidates Cambridge Candidate Pages
Shapes of the campaign season to come
10) Candidate slates, political organizations, role of local media in the election.
12) Civic Calendar
Continuing Question: How will the turmoil in national politics trickle down to the local level and, in particular, how might it influence the Cambridge municipal election?
Speculation: After over a century of non-partisan Cambridge elections (a major tenet of "The Cambridge Idea" dating back to the late 1800s), there are indications that "Our Revolution", the Bernie Sanders-driven national entity and effectively an emergent political party separate from the Democratic Party, may back candidates in the 2017 Cambridge municipal election.
Possible City Council and School Committee candidates for 2017 (with age at time of election)
| City Council Candidate | Birthdate | Age | address | Notes |
| Timothy J. Toomey | 6/7/1953 | 64 | 88 6th St., 02141 | incumbent, first elected in 1989, unclear if seeking reelection |
| E. Denise Simmons | 10/2/1951 | 66 | 188 Harvard St. #4B, 02139 | incumbent, first elected in 2001 |
| Craig Kelley | 9/18/1962 | 55 | 6 Saint Gerard Terr. #2, 02140 | incumbent, first elected in 2005 |
| Leland Cheung | 2/11/1978 | 39 | 157 Garden St., 02138 | incumbent, first elected in 2009 |
| Dennis Carlone | 5/7/1947 | 70 | 9 Washington St. #6, 02140 | incumbent, first elected in 2013 |
| Marc McGovern | 12/21/1968 | 48 | 15 Pleasant St., 02139 | incumbent, first elected in 2013 |
| Jan Devereux | 5/13/1959 | 58 | 255 Lakeview Ave., 02138 | incumbent, first elected in 2015 |
| Paul Toner | 4/28/1966 | 51 | 24 Newman St., 02140 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Quinton Zondervan | 9/15/1970 | 47 | 235 Cardinal Madeiros Ave., 02141 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Alanna Marie Mallon | 12/6/1970 | 46 | 3 Maple Ave., 02139 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Ronald Benjamin | 1/5/1971 | 46 | 172 Cushing St., 02138 | announced, registered with OCPF |
| Vatsady Sivongxay | 2/20/1982 | 35 | 59 Kirkland St. #2, 02138 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Olivia D'Ambrosio | 9/13/1983 | 34 | 270 3rd Street #305, 02142 | announced, registered with OCPF |
| Sean Tierney | 3/10/1985 | 32 | 12 Prince St. #6, 02139 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Sumbul Siddiqui | 2/10/1988 | 29 | 530 Windsor Street, 02141 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Sam Gebru | 11/20/1991 | 25 | 812 Memorial Dr., 02139 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Nadya Teresa Okamoto | 2/11/1998 | 19 | Canaday Hall B44, 22 Harvard Yard, 02138 | announced, registered with OCPF, actively fundraising |
| Dennis Benzan | 1/25/1972 | 45 | 1 Pine St., 02139 | served 2014-15, may seek reelection |
| Nathan Taylor Thompson | 10/12/1985 | 32 | 31 Tremont Street $#3, 02139 | not announced, registered with OCPF |
| Nadeem Mazen | 9/20/1983 | 34 | 720 Mass. Ave. #4, 02139 | has informed colleagues that he will not seek reelection |
| James Williamson | 1/13/1951 | 66 | 1000 Jackson Pl., 02140 | perennial candidate |
| Gary Mello | 5/24/1953 | 64 | 324 Franklin St. #2, 02139 | ran several times |
| Ilan Levy | 11/1/1967 | 50 | 148 Spring St. 02141 | ran in 2015, seems to be planning to do it again |
| Andrew King | 4/17/1986 | 31 | 40 Essex St., 02139 | conflicting reports on whether or not a candidate |
| Romaine Waite | 6/7/1991 | 26 | 60 Lawn St. #5, 02138 | not announced, but may try again |
| School Committee Candidate | Birthdate | Age | address | Notes |
| Fred Fantini | 6/8/1949 | 68 | 4 Canal Park #203, 02141 | incumbent, first elected in 1981 |
| Richard Harding | 10/16/1972 | 45 | 189 Windsor St. #1, 02139 | incumbent, first elected in 2001 |
| Patty Nolan | 8/28/1957 | 60 | 184 Huron Ave., 02138 | incumbent, first elected in 2005 |
| Kathleen Kelly | 3/8/1960 | 57 | 17 Marie Ave. #1, 02139 | incumbent, first elected in 2013 |
| Emily Dexter | 3/16/1957 | 60 | 9 Fenno St., 02138 | incumbent, first elected in 2015 |
| Mannika Bowman | 11/27/1979 | 37 | 134 Reed St., 02140 | incumbent, first elected in 2015 |
| Will MacArthur | 5/24/1998 | 19 | 18 Shea Rd., 02140 | definitely running for School Committee |
| Fran Albin Cronin | 2/14/1952 | 65 | 1 Kimball Ln., 02140 | planning to seek reelection |
| Jake Crutchfield | 3/31/1987 | 30 | 281 River St. #1, 01239 | speculation that he may run again |
| Elechi Kadete | 9/30/1989 | 28 | 10 Laurel St., 02139 | will likely not run again this year |
| David J. Weinstein | 12/10/1972 | 44 | 45 S. Normandy Ave., 02138 | ran in 2015, possibility for 2017 |
2017 Cambridge Candidate Pages
There are others who are likely to be candidates but who have not yet chosen to be identified as such. Please let me know of other candidates. Not all of the individuals listed above may wish to be identified as candidates, and I will be more than happy to remove those names (unless I am absolutely certain they will be running!). Anyone who has filed papers with OCPF (Office of Campaign & Political Finance) is assumed to be running for City Council. - RW
| Campaign Finance Summaries - City Council 2017 (updated May 7) | |||||||
| Candidate | From | To | Start | Receipts | Expend | Balance | As Of |
| Benjamin, Ronald | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 9.00 | 160.96 | 331.03 | (161.07) | 1-May-17 |
| Benzan, Dennis | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 2097.45 | 62.40 | 1541.24 | 618.61 | 1-May-17 |
| Carlone, Dennis | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 17827.87 | 2572.34 | 437.56 | 19962.65 | 4-May-17 |
| Cheung, Leland | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 90880.32 | 0.00 | 7405.50 | 83474.82 | 5-May-17 |
| D'Ambrosio, Olivia | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 122.75 | 5250.31 | 1960.28 | 3412.78 | 1-May-17 |
| Devereux, Jan | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 8715.10 | 11152.25 | 1289.07 | 18578.28 | 1-May-17 |
| Gebru, Sam | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 19653.00 | 15720.20 | 3932.80 | 1-May-17 |
| Kelley, Craig | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 2231.84 | 230.52 | 356.00 | 2106.36 | 1-May-17 |
| Mallon, Alanna | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 100.00 | 19285.00 | 3195.24 | 16189.76 | 1-May-17 |
| McGovern, Marc | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 14966.66 | 4317.04 | 5822.45 | 13461.25 | 1-May-17 |
| Okamoto, Nadya | 16-Mar-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 1346.96 | 106.91 | 1240.05 | 1-May-17 |
| Siddiqui, Sumbul | 16-Feb-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 9165.00 | 367.92 | 8797.08 | 1-May-17 |
| Simmons, Denise | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 10179.79 | 6148.35 | 4695.91 | 11632.23 | 1-May-17 |
| Sivongxay, Vatsady | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 13776.68 | 3505.96 | 10270.72 | 1-May-17 |
| Thompson, N. Taylor | 1-Mar-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 5.00 | 156.25 | (151.25) | 1-May-17 |
| Tierney, Sean | 1-Feb-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 6379.23 | 2089.08 | 4290.15 | 1-May-17 |
| Toner, Paul | 16-Feb-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 0.00 | 7194.98 | 3231.12 | 3963.86 | 5-May-17 |
| Toomey, Tim | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 4069.67 | 24898.68 | 6385.26 | 22583.09 | 1-May-17 |
| Zondervan, Quinton | 1-Jan-17 | 30-Apr-17 | 3510.00 | 7029.14 | 7006.72 | 3532.42 | 1-May-17 |
Campaign Finance Reports - 2017 City Council (updated May 7)
| Campaign Contributions (2017) - Total Receipts and Cambridge Receipts (updated May 7) |
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| Candidate | ID | Total Receipts | Cambridge Receipts | Percent Cambridge |
| D'Ambrosio, Olivia | 16520 | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | 100% |
| Kelley, Craig | 14104 | $240.00 | $240.00 | 100% |
| Devereux, Jan | 16062 | $10,583.50 | $10,433.50 | 99% |
| Carlone, Dennis | 15680 | $2,572.34 | $2,350.00 | 91% |
| Zondervan, Quinton | 16516 | $7,025.32 | $4,289.00 | 61% |
| Toner, Paul | 16576 | $12,093.76 | $7,075.00 | 59% |
| Mallon, Alanna | 16530 | $19,385.00 | $11,035.00 | 57% |
| Toomey, Tim | 12222 | $24,898.68 | $13,303.68 | 53% |
| McGovern, Marc | 15589 | $4,417.04 | $2,160.50 | 49% |
| Tierney, Sean | 16559 | $6,379.23 | $2,900.00 | 45% |
| Simmons, Denise | 13783 | $6,748.35 | $3,000.00 | 44% |
| Siddiqui, Sumbul | 16556 | $10,596.00 | $4,275.00 | 40% |
| Sivongxay, Vatsady | 16528 | $13,776.68 | $3,080.00 | 22% |
| Benjamin, Ronald | 16493 | $96.99 | $20.00 | 21% |
| Gebru, Sam | 16531 | $19,683.00 | $3,605.00 | 18% |
| Okamoto, Nadya | 16596 | $1,314.28 | $100.00 | 8% |
| Thompson, N. Taylor | 16578 | $5.00 | $0.00 | 0% |
| Benzan, Dennis | 15568 | $0.00 | $0.00 | - |
| Cheung, Leland | 14923 | $0.00 | $0.00 | - |
Noteworthy Agenda Items from the May 8, 2017 Cambridge City Council meeting
Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the recommended appointment of Kathleen L. Born as a member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of five years. The appointment of Kathy Born to the CRA by Bob Healy in 2012 was an inspired choice, and City Manager Louis DePasquale continues the inspiration. One correction to the manager's message is that Kathy actually served four terms on the Cambridge City Council. She was first elected in 1993 and served from 1994 through 2001 including one term as Vice Mayor. There are only two Boards which the City Manager appoints that are subject to City Council approval - the Cambridge Housing Authority and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, so this appointment must formally be passed to the Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning Etcetera Committee before going to the City Council for confirmation (which as assured). Applications & Petitions #1. A communication was received from Richard Harding, et al., 189 Windsor Street, transmitting notification to withdraw their zoning petition. Contrary to the statement in this petition, there were actually 17 registered Cambridge voters who signed the original petition. If 5 of them submit a letter to withdraw the petition, even if these are the authors of the petition, that still leaves 12 registered voters who have not written to ask that the petition be withdrawn - 2 more than the minimum requirement. I believe this means that the original petition remains intact. It's a moot point, however. The petitioners have extracted their desired pound of flesh out of the developer and that's really what this petition was all about. Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City’s transportation planning staff to reach out to Bridj’s Founder and Chief Executive Matthew George to discuss whether there are opportunities for collaboration in meeting the needs of Cambridge residents for more flexible transit. Councillor Devereux, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Mazen This would make for an interesting way to navigate around the municipal procurement regulations. Though I'm sure this company may have something to offer, the City would have to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) or similar device to ALL possible bidders. Those who call the shots at Bridj could then submit a proposal and possibly sign a contract. The real question is whether the City has an identified need around which an RFP could be written. It's not the role of the City to approach private companies asking if there's anything the City can do to keep them afloat. Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to create a permanent office or public-private initiative for the purpose of fostering charitable giving in Cambridge and to work with non-profits to study the local charitable giving landscape, measuring the estimated maximum charitable carrying capacity of the city. Councillor Mazen This is a good intention, but perhaps the more important goal should be to promote existing charitable giving organizations like the Cambridge Community Foundation rather than creating new City administrative positions. Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Leland Cheung, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Apr 19, 2017 to discuss a zoning petition by the City Council to amend the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge by creating a new Section 11.900 Maintenance and Security of Vacant or Abandoned Buildings. The proposed zoning would require that any building that is deemed to be vacant or abandoned for longer than 90 days shall be registered with the Inspectional Services Department, shall be secured and maintained so that it does not exhibit any evidence of vacancy, and shall pay an annual registration fee. The basic premise of this initiative seems to be to come down hard on any property owner who leaves a property vacant for too long - either due to land-banking, wanting to flip a property for a tidy profit, or because of a dysfunctional property owner. I have serious concerns about the confiscatory nature of the original proposal that actually sought to extract the entire assessed value of a vacant property by means of fees in only two years. That is clearly a regulatory taking and it would never stand up to a court challenge. It's also an obnoxious example of government overreach. I assume the language will be modified to make this merely combative and confrontational rather than confiscatory. Nobody likes having important properties (such as the Harvard Square Cinema) sitting vacant for years, but the best way to get good results is still to open up a conversation with the property owner. It would be better if parties other than City officials or elected councillors had those conversations. Communications & Reports from City Officers #1. A communication was received from Councillor Craig A. Kelley, apologizing to his Colleagues, City Manager and City Staff for not attending tonight's meeting in order to attend a conference on climate change adaptation and expressing his thoughts and apology for the events at the Budget Hearing. I greatly appreciate Councillor Kelley's calling out the unforgivable misbehavior of one obnoxious soon-to-be-former city councillor at last week's Budget Hearings. - Robert Winters The Budget Hearings continue this week on Tues, May 9 at 6:00pm (School Department Budget) and on Wed, May 10 at 9:00am (City Budget). The budget is available online at: www.cambridgema.gov. [Complete schedule with Budget Book references] [multi-year comparisons] Wednesday's departments are as follows (the underlined ones are the ones that have been pulled (so far) by councillors for discussion).
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May Day at City Hall - Noteworthy agenda items for the May 1, 2017 Cambridge City Council meetingThe real action this week commences Tuesday at 9:00am with the first of the two FY2018 City Budget Hearings. Here's the lineup for the May 2 hearing:
Manager's Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $240,000 of Virtual Net Metering (VNM) credits to the General Fund Public Works Other Ordinary Maintenance account to cover invoices related to the VNM agreement for the photovoltaic project known as “Summer Street Solar.” As the communication states: "Under the agreement the City will receive monthly checks from Eversource representing the value of the credits and will pay the solar developer 85% of the credits received. Checks will be deposited into a revenue account. ... The City executed this and other virtual net metering agreements as part of the strategy our energy broker recommended to help finance the procurement of 100% renewable energy. ... The 2008 Massachusetts Green Communities Act created incentives for solar developers to work with municipal entities to develop projects. The municipality executes an agreement with a solar developer to purchase the entire output of a commercial scale solar array at a set price per kWh and then effectively sells the entire output of the array to the utility in return for net metering credits equal to a higher price per kWh. ... The City has signed five VNM contracts for close to 6 megawatts of solar, including, most recently, rooftop arrays at Alewife MBTA and the route 128 MBTA facility in Westwood. Resolution #5. Resolution on the death of Arvilla Sarazen. Councillor Toomey, Mayor Simmons I was saddened to see this notice of the death of Arvilla Sarazen. I have crossed paths with Arvilla countless times over the years - in East Cambridge, at events of the Cambridge Democratic City Committee, at the Cambridge Senior Center where she often worked at the front desk, and elsewhere. Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the necessary stakeholders to determine the practicality of buying the Tokyo site and converting it into affordable housing units. Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Devereux Let's not forget that this idea was first introduced at the Oct 20, 2014 City Council meeting. What has happened since then? Is the property actually for sale now or is this just wishful thinking? Communications & Reports from City Officers #1. A communication was received from Mayor E. Dennis Simmons, regarding Policy Order #13 from Apr 24, 2017 Meeting. This communication illustrates Mayor Simmons' capacity to look at a broad range of possible consequences of the vote on an Order that most of her colleagues probably barely read before giving it their stamp of approval. As the Mayor clearly states, "I very much believe that taking steps to move toward 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 is a laudable goal, and communities across the globe need to be taking more aggressive and coordinated actions to protect our environment." She continues, "That said, I believe that the City Council must be more mindful in how we work toward this goal. It would be irresponsible of us as a governing body to create policies in service of any specific goal without pausing to contemplate and acknowledge the impacts they may have on various aspects of our community. There is always the danger of doing the right thing the wrong way, and we must be mindful of the fact that enacting policies too broadly can potentially create negative unintended consequences for segments of our community. In this case, I am specifically thinking about the impact that Policy Order #13 may have upon the small business community of Cambridge, and upon individual homeowners." The current City Council has repeatedly shown a tendency to vote for populist measures that appeal to whatever group can mobilize people to show up at City Hall. Whether these city councillors actually read and understand what they are voting for - especially any broader consequences and the impact on homeowners and small businesses - remains to be seen. - Robert Winters |
May 8, 2017 – City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill vacancies on the Central Square and the Harvard Square Advisory Committees.
The Central Square Advisory Committee works to review all major development actions in the Central Square Overlay District and monitors progress of the non-zoning recommendations of the K2C2 Study relevant to Central Square. Members represent a cross section of stakeholders, which includes residents from abutting neighborhoods and representatives of Central Square’s business community. The Committee meets as needed to advise non-zoning recommendations, to undertake all Large Project Reviews, and to review and comment on all Board of Zoning Appeal variances and special permits within the Overlay District. At this time, a resident of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood is being sought to fill a vacancy. This appointment, to be made by the City Manager, will serve a term of three years that will expire on June 15, 2020, with the option to renew. The Committee meets, at minimum, every two months with additional meetings scheduled as required based on project review needs. For more information, contact Wendell T. Joseph at 617-349-9462 or wjoseph@cambridgema.gov, or visit the committee’s webpage at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/advcomms/centraladvcomm.
The Harvard Square Advisory Committee works to review all major development actions in the Harvard Square Overlay District. Members represent a cross section of stakeholders, which includes residents from abutting neighborhoods, real estate and/or development professionals, property owners, and an institutional property owner. The Committee meets as needed to undertake all Large Project Reviews and to review all Board of Zoning Appeal variances and special permits within the Overlay District. At this time, a resident of the Riverside Neighborhood is being sought to fill a vacancy. This appointment, to be made by the City Manager, will be to serve the remainder of a term that expires on April 23, 2018, with the option to renew. For more information, contact Liza Paden at 617-349-4647 or lpaden@cambridgema.gov, or visit the Harvard Square Advisory Committee webpage at http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/advcomms/harvardadvcomm.
Applications to serve on either of these committees can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply and selecting the respective committee(s) of interest. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline to submit an application for both committees is May 31, 2017.
Cambridge's fourth PB process is about to begin. This time, we will collect ideas in June and July about how YOU would spend $800,000 on one-time capital projects to improve the community. Winning projects from past PB cycles include kinetic energy tiles, solar panels for the Main Library roof, bike repair stations, a freezer van for prepared food rescue, water bottle fill stations, and many others.
We are looking for volunteers to serve on the PB4 Outreach Committee to help ensure that our 2017 PB process engages as many community members as possible. This is a great way to become a community leader, meet new neighbors, and give people a voice in their government. The first Outreach Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 from 6-7:30pm at the Central Square Library. Food will be provided at meetings and each volunteer will receive a PB T-shirt. See the schedule and sign up here by May 12!
You can follow the progress of winning PB projects on our website. All 100 trees from the first cycle were planted last fall, 7 of the 8 bike repair stations have been installed, and Public Works has identified a preferred location for the Central Square public toilet and is working to mitigate underground conflicts.
Projects from the second cycle are moving along as well: green bike lanes have been painted in Inman Square, Human Services is moving forward with the freezer van purchase, and the School Department is purchasing new chairs, desks, and other furniture for the Amigos School and CRLS.
As for the winning projects from the third cycle, the $706,000 for these projects will become available on July 1, 2017. We'll post updates as work on these projects begins.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you for continuing to support Participatory Budgeting in Cambridge!
Best,
The Cambridge Budget Team
Cambridge City Hall
617-349-4270
pb@cambridgema.gov
pb.cambridgema.gov
The City of Cambridge will launch its fourth Participatory Budgeting (PB) cycle from June-December 2017. Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.
For this next process, the City will set aside $800,000 for capital projects to improve the community. Winning projects from past PB cycles include a public toilet in Central Square, bike repair stations, a freezer van for prepared food rescue, water bottle fill stations, bilingual books for children learning English, and many others.
We are seeking volunteers to serve on the PB Outreach Committee to help ensure that the PB process engages as many community members as possible.
Outreach Committee members will serve throughout the PB4 cycle (May-December 2017) by:
The Outreach Committee schedule is as follows:
Outreach Committee members will work closely with Budget Office staff to make PB4 the most successful cycle yet. Food will be provided at Outreach Committee meetings and each volunteer will receive a PB T-shirt.
For more information about the PB process or if you are interested in serving on the PB Cambridge Outreach Committee, visit pb.cambridgema.gov or contact Justin Casanova-Davis and Michelle Monsegur in the Budget Office at pb@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4270. The deadline to apply is May 12, 2017.
May 4 – City Manager Louis DePasquale today presented the 2017 Outstanding City Employee Awards to the following people:.
George Alexander, Traffic Maintenance Worker II, Traffic Department
Neal Alpert, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office
Kevin Aruda, Laborer, Department of Public Works
Samuel Aylesworth, Assistant City Solicitor, Law Department
Robert Carey, Director of Golf, Human Services
Lee Gianetti, Director of Communications & Community Relations, Executive Office
Irene Giannopoulos, Project/Cash Manager, Finance Department
Florence Grant, Registered Nurse, Public Health Department
Maria Melo, Multi-Service Center Director, Human Services
Jean Montout, Account Clerk, Auditing Department
Michelle Monsegur, Principal Budget Analyst, Budget Office
Michael J. Morrissey, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Department
Nicole Murati Ferrer, License Commission Chair, License Commission
Shawn Proctor, Family Support Worker, Human Services
Nancy Tauber, Family Policy Council Executive Director, Human Services
Carolyn Turk, Deputy Superintendent, School Department
The City Manager also present an Award in honor and memory of Assistant City Manager for Community Development Brian Murphy to a person who is committed to making government improve the lives of other. This year's superlative choice was Jeana Franconi.
The recipients were honored at a ceremony on Thursday, May 4, 2017 in the Sullivan Chamber of City Hall, for their superior performance, positive attitude, hard work and dedication to public service. Mayor Simmons and Councillors Devereux, Kelley, and Toomey were in attendance.
May Programs (and Beyond) at Fresh Pond Reservation These events are FREE and open to the public. Children are welcome in the company of an adult. |
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| Woodland Restoration Area Gardening Dates: Tuesdays between 9:30am and 1pm Join other stewardship-minded volunteers in caretaking the native plant restoration area next to Lusitania Meadow, and learn about the diversity of native plant life! We seek dedicated participants who enjoy camaraderie and hard work that includes weeding, pruning, planting, watering new plantings, hauling wood chips and moving logs. Please email friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com if you would like to come, and for more information. |
Fresh Pond Stewards: Wake Up and Weed! Dates: Thursdays, 10am to 12noon Place: Meets at the volunteer trailer in the front parking lot. Join our weed-warrior crew! We are Fresh Pond citizens dedicated to keeping invasive plants at bay for the benefit of wildlife, water and humans alike. No experience or long-term commitment necessary! All tools are provided; sturdy shoes, pants, long-sleeves and a water bottle are strongly recommended. Meets at the volunteer trailer in the lower parking lot. |
| Fresh Pond Kids’ Walks Dates: Fridays, 10 to 11am Place: Meets at the gazebo at Neville Place, 650 Concord Ave. Join us for casual nature explorations, designed for young kids and their caretakers, and play in our urban wild! We might read stories, look out for birds and bugs, and make some crafts. Please come dressed ready for the weather (and in clothes that are OK to get dirty!). Please RSVP to Catherine Pedemonti at friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com. |
Community Weed-Outs Dates: Monday, May 1st, 15th and 22nd, from 6-7:30pm Spring has sprung at Fresh Pond, and among other things this means�weeds! Invasive weedss, that is. Help us protect native plants on the Reservation by keeping these intruders, such as garlic mustard and Canada thistle, at bay at these evening weeding sessions. No experience necessary; all equipment provided! Meets at Maher parking lot, 650 Concord Ave. Please RSVP to fpr@cambridgema.gov. |
| Fresh Pond After-school Kids' Walks Dates: Fridays, May 12th & 26th, 3:30-4:30pm Meeting Place: The Gazebo at Neville Place, 650 Concord Ave. Cambridge Join us for an after-school romp in our urban wilds! This program is intended for kids of all ages accompanied by their parents/caretakers. Please come dressed for the weather and in clothes that are ok to get dirty. Please RSVP to Catherine Pedemonti at friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com. |
Seasonal Walkabout at Lusitania Meadow Date: Thursday, May 18th, 10:30 to 11:30am Place: Meets at Maher parking lot, 650 Concord Ave We will monitor wildlife by sign, track, or presence, and make note of weather, state of plants, condition of water and other abiotic resources. On these monthly walks, help chart the seasonal changes of some of our most active wildlife spots, or simply come and enjoy the walk. Come dressed to be outdoors for the hour. Attend one or the series and develop your ability to take in more of the reservation. No dogs please, except for service dogs. Extreme weather cancels. For more info or to RSVP, contact Ranger Jean at 508-562-7605 or email jrogers@cambridgema.gov. |
| 10th Annual Fresh Pond Day! Date: Saturday, May 20th, 11am to 3pm Place: Water Purification Facility, 250 Fresh Pond Pkwy Fresh Pond Day is the Cambridge Water Department's annual tribute to this unique Reservation that is a vital natural resource, an invaluable sanctuary for wildlife, and a beloved recreational escape in the City. So let's give Fresh Pond the celebration, jubilation and love it deserves; join in the festivities! Attendees will enjoy live wildlife presentations, a wildlife and bike parade, live music, facepainting, truck climb-aboards, tours, and more! Free and open to all, activities will take place in and around the Water Treatment Facility located at 250 Fresh Pond Pkwy. Parking available at the Tobin School, 197 Vassal Lane. Please note: rain or other inclement weather cancels this event. Bookmark the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1040499012761682/! For more information, please email mwong@cambridgema.gov or visit www.cambridgema.gov/freshpondday |
Spring Bird Walk Date: Sunday, May 21st, 7:30 to 9:30am Place: Register for parking and meeting information and for notice of cancellation due to inclement weather By mid-May our avian summer residents have returned and many will have babies in the nest. We may see tree swallows, catbirds, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, phoebes, vireos, warblers and orioles. We also may hear baby birds crying for breakfast, and see their parents bringing them food. Led by Nancy Guppy. Beginners are welcome. We have binoculars to lend and will show you how to use them. To register and for important meeting and parking information, email Catherine Pedemonti at friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com. |
| Reflecting on Fresh Pond: Art, Prose, and Poetry Share Date (rescheduled): Saturday, June 10, 2 to 4pm Place: Neville Place, 650 Concord Ave. Fresh Pond Reservation means so much to so many of us. Whether your come here to hear the tinkle of ice against the shore, the call of returning birds or the squeal of children sledding in Kingsley Park, you may have been inspired to make a note in a journal, write a poem or song; or take a photo or make a drawing. We are calling people of ALL AGES and CREATIVE CAPACITIES to share your Reflections on Fresh Pond at an open mic. All mediums welcome – paint, print, a note scribbled on a napkin, photography, poems, a child’s drawing or performance of song or dance. Please RSVP to fpr@cambridgema.gov with a sentence or two describing your creative work(s). Start the sentence with “I was moved to make (my art) when I experienced (XXX) at Fresh Pond.” And go on from there. Come share your heartfelt experiences with others who are really touched when they walk the Pond and share the wonderment. |
Unless otherwise specified, please contact Martine at 617-349-6489 or fpr@cambridgema.gov for any RSVPs or questions! Would you like to join Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation? Membership in Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation costs only $10 per year ($5 for seniors and students, $15 for families). To join, fill out a membership form available in the Ranger Station information racks, e-mail friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com, call 617-349-6489, or visit our website at www.friendsoffreshpond.org to download a form. Keep up to date on events at the Pond. Visit the Friends group website at http://friendsoffreshpond.org to learn more about Friends group activities and the reservation and its inhabitants. Upcoming Programs |
| A Remembrance of Chip Norton, Watershed Manager for the Cambridge Water Department: http://www.friendsoffreshpond.org/calendar2014/photopages2014cal/jan14/p01-13-14chipnorton.htm |
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| AMC Local Walks/Hikes - Come for a walk or hike with us. | |
 Fri, May 12. Beacon Hill/North End/Downtown Boston. Leisurely 5-mi walk including historic streets, secret alleyways, and a visit to the Boston Public Market. 6:30-9:15pm. Meet outside Park St. T-stop at wall/fence abutting Park St. Steady rain cancels. L Marc Hurwitz. |
Sat, May 13. Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain. Scenic, moderate 5-mi. walk w/many stops to view plants & trees in bloom. 10:15am-1:45pm. Bring lunch. Meet at Admin. Bldg. Park on Arborway or take T to Forest Hills, walk 0.6 mi. Rain cancels. L Marc Hurwitz. |
| Sat, May 13. Arlington's Great Meadows, Lexington. Slow-paced nature walk in search of a variety of spring wild flowers and other cool plants. The walk will focus on plant ID and natural history. 9:00am-12:00pm. Meet at the Playground behind and to the right of The Waldorf School, 739 Mass Ave, Lexington. Please park along Mass Ave in Lexington in the vicinity of the Waldorf School (739 Mass. Ave.). After you park, walk down the driveway on the right side of The Waldorf School to the playing fields and turn right. We will meet off to the side of the playground and basketball court. Steady rain cancels. L Boot Boutwell. |
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| Sun, May 14. Blue Hills, Ponkapoag Pond. 4 mi. mod.-paced hike, 10:30am-1:30pm. Bring lunch+water. I-93/Rte. 128 exit 2A to Rte. 138S for 0.7 mi. to Ponkapoag Golf Course pkg lot on L. Storm cancels. L Beth Mosias. |
Sun, May 14. Lynn Woods, Lynn. Leader's Choice. 9am-1pm. Bring lunch/H2O/snacks. From Rte. 95/128 take Walnut St. exit, 4mi. From Rte.1, take Walnut St. exit, 2mi. Make L on Pennybrook Rd. to Western Gate pkg. lot. L Nelson Caraballo. |
| Sat, May 20. Blue Hills Bird Walk, Milton. 7:30am-10:30am. Bird Walk for 3 miles through the Fowl Meadow and along the Neponset River. Learn to bird by spotting, listening for, and identifying migrant and nesting species in the best birding area in the Blue Hills Reservation. Bring your binoculars and a bird book if you have one. Joint with Friends of the Blue Hills. L Steve Olanoff. |
Sun, May 21. Cox, Walker, and beyond, Groton. 1:00pm start. We will hike thru the Cox and Walker conservation parcels and beyond, including historic Williams Barn, and possibly bag a 500 footer. Along the way we'll see a number of beaver ponds, upland forest, and maybe some open vistas. Meet at the end of Brown Lane (42.6375N 71.5505W). L Olin Lathrop. |
| Sat, May 27. Blue Hills Wildflower Hike, Quincy. 10:00am-3:00pm. 7-mile hike in the eastern section of the Blue Hills Reservation viewing wildflowers and climbing scenic hills, some steep. Joint with Friends of the Blue Hills. L Steve Olanoff. |
Sun, May 28. Middlesex Fells, Winchester. Sheepfold Pkg. lot. Mod to stren. 7 mi. hike over many hills & rough terrain. 9am-2pm. Bring lunch, H2O, snacks. Rte. 93 S to exit 35. At stop sign, go L under highway. At next stop sign go R. At first set of lights turn R onto Rte. 28. Turn R into Sheepfold entrance. Rte. 93 N to exit 33 (Route 28). Sheepfold entrance is 2 miles up on the L. Cancel if rain. L Nelson Caraballo. |
| Sun, June 4. Northeast Groton. 1:00pm start. Explore a large protected area across the Groton/Tyngsboro line. There will be varied ecology from beaver ponds to meadows to upland forest. Additional interests include a physics demonstartion and an old quarry. Meet at the end of Cow Pond Brook Road in Groton (42.6249N 71.5026W). L Olin Lathrop. |
Sun, June 4. Lynn Woods, Lynn. 5 miles, Leader's Choice. 9:00am-1:00pm. Bring lunch, H2O, and snacks. Dress for the elements. I-95/Route 128 to Walnut Street exit, 4 miles. From Route 1, Walnut Street exit, 2 miles. Turn left on Pennybrook Road to Western Gate parking lot. Cancel if rain. L Nelson Caraballo. |
| Sat, June 17, 2017. Newton Aqueducts walk. 9:30am-2:00pm. 8 miles, generally smooth and flat terrain, with one steep section at Hemlock Gorge (individuals can skip this if they want to). Meet in Newton Centre, at the corner of Centre Street and Tyler Terrace. Park on Tyler Terrace or a nearby street or take the T (Green Line D/Riverside) and get off at the Newton Centre stop. Meeting place is about 1/4 mile away. Bring water, lunch, snacks, bug repellent. No children or dogs. Heavy rain cancels. If uncertain, contact Lisa. L Lisa Fleischman, CL Jim Hammond. |
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Civic Infrastructure (from Dec 1, 2015)
Civic landscape today dominated by single-issue advocacy and neighborhood groups that often do not represent their neighborhoods. Common pattern is that some dominant characters eventually drive out other participants rendering the group a narrow agenda-driven entity. Some groups (PSNA, Agassiz-Baldwin) generally have a better focus such as (a) children (Agassiz), or (b) cooperation with the local business community (PSNA).
Groups like the Cambridge Residents Alliance are dominated by zoning and, arguably, efforts to slow or stop new development - residential or commercial/office/lab. The Fresh Pond Residents Alliance is of this type (in addition to serving as a launching point for a City Council candidacy).
For the Cambridge Schools there are also advocacy groups (Special Ed and others), but not necessarily a general forum for broader discussion.
June 7, 2009 - Once upon a time there was a civic organization in Cambridge known as the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA). It was formed in 1945 out of several organizations that had been existed through the 1930s and that had lobbied the state legislature to create the Plan E Charter option (1938) which featured a city manager form of government and proportional representation elections for city council and school committee. These reforms were central to model charter reform movements active in the United States from the early 1900s. The central theme of the CCA in its early days was "good government" in the sense of being anti-patronage and for professionally managed local government. This changed with the introduction of rent control at the end of the 1960s after which the CCA shifted leftward and became permanently lashed to the mast of the rent control vessel. Though the CCA still exists on paper (I believe), it rapidly declined after the statewide abolition of rent control (late 1994) and essentially disappeared a decade later (early 2005).
I bring up the ghost of the CCA today only to point out that when it was created it had some very admirable goals. Here's the original Mission Statement of the CCA:
Purposes: This association is formed for the following purposes:
- 1. To promote businesslike, honest, and efficient conduct of local government, open to public scrutiny.
- 2. To induce residents to take an active interest in the affairs of the City of Cambridge.
- 3. To encourage and support the candidacy of men and women seeking election to public office and to support intelligent, wholesome leadership in public affairs.
- 4. To assure that the best qualified persons are appointed to positions in the City government after consideration of all qualified candidates.
- 5. To promote among the citizens of Cambridge equitable distribution and benefit of public services and equal opportunity for economic security, education, and social advancement.
- Possible additions:
6. To foster an environment of mutual cooperation between local business districts and the neighborhoods they serve.These are pretty good founding principles for a civic organization.
One founding principle of the CCA that fell into disuse over the years is listed above as #3: To encourage and support the candidacy of men and women seeking election to public office and to support intelligent, wholesome leadership in public affairs. Indeed, I can personally testify to the fact that in its dying years the only reason the CCA made endorsements at all was because the CCA-endorsed incumbents wanted the benefit of having an advertised CCA slate of candidates that would help secure their reelection. There was precious little effort to recruit new candidates or to support them. Today, the benefits of incumbency are greater than ever. The cost of political campaigns have become absurdly high and most of the incumbents now have (City paid) staff who are inevitably political appointees who directly or indirectly assist in the reelection efforts of their bosses. The deck is increasingly stacked against challengers. Furthermore, the salary and benefits for elected councillors are now so sweet that it is unlikely that any of them would ever want to move on to another job.
The Advent of PR in Cambridge - by David Goode
CIVIC CALENDAR
6:00pm The City Council's Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY2018 School Department Budget. This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
8:00am-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee (City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor conference room)
9:00am The City Council's Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY2018 City Budget. This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
The Committee on Finance will conduct public hearings on the city and school budgets covering the fiscal period July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
These hearings will be held in the Sullivan Chamber, City Hall, broadcast on the municipal cable station and will follow the schedule outlined below. The proposed budget will include recommendations from the City Manager concerning capital and operating budgets.
All interested individuals are invited to attend and be heard and/or submit written testimony. Those wishing to testify may do so either at the beginning or conclusion of each day’s hearings. Copies of the budget may be viewed at the branch libraries and will be available at the Budget Office at City Hall on or after April 24, 2017. Additionally, the budget will be available on the Internet through the City Home Page: www.cambridgema.gov. [Complete schedule with Budget Book references][multi-year comparisons]
| Cambridge Health Alliance Public Works Water Community Development Historical Commission |
Peace Commission /
Police Review & Advisory Board Cable TV Debt Service Library Human Services |
Women’s Commission Human Rights Commission Veterans Services MWRA Cherry Sheet |
City Overview Finacial Summaries Revenue Public Investment |
| * Date changes for individual departments may occur. The public is invited to attend and be heard. These hearings will be cablecast live on Municipal Television. |
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9:00am The City Council's Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY2018 City Budget (if necessary). This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
4:00pm 2017 Scholarship Award Ceremony (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Housing Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss tenant protections, anti-displacement policies, and Inclusionary Housing tenant selection policies; the Committee will also discuss any updates received from the CHA, including a report on the issuance of CHA Housing Choice Vouchers to public housing applicants. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Economic Development and University Relations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss updates and data collected thus far for the Retail Strategic Plan, and other matters pertaining to the Study. (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00-8:00pm Envision Cambridge Advisory Committee meeting (4th Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)
3:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing on a zoning petition from the Friends of Observatory Hill Village, to establish the Observatory Hill Village Overlay District. This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
9:30am The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the following: the creation of a section in the agenda entitled “General Council Discussion;” to discuss identifying a suitable location site to dedicate to honoring Representative Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. commitment to the City; and to discuss identifying an appropriate building to dedicate to Richard C. Rossi’s decades of service to Cambridge. (Ackermann Room)
5:30pm City Council meeting - and Budget Adoption (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss a proposed Municipal Code amendment to Title 8 entitled “Health and Safety” by adding a new Chapter 8.69 entitled “Running Bamboo Ordinance.” (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the zoning petition filed by Latoyea Hawkins Cockrill, et al. to regulate short-term rental uses throughout the City. This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
4:30pm The City Council's Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the role of police officers in the community, the installation of a police substation in Central Square and the stationing of a uniformed police officer in City Hall. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss City Council proposed zoning amendments to create a new chapter to regulate short-term rentals. This hearing to be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the open data portal, an update from the open data review board, and future opportunities for open data in Cambridge. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council Roundtable/Working Meeting to discuss Envision Cambridge citywide, including the Alewife planning. No public comment. No votes will be taken. Meeting will not be televised. (Sullivan Chamber)
3:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code in Title 6 entitled ”Animals” to insert a new Chapter 6.20 entitled “Restrictions on the sale of Animals in Pet Shops.” (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
8:00am-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)
2:00pm The City Council's Human Services and Veterans Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the current opioid crisis on a state and local level, and what programs and plans exist to combat this epidemic. (Sullivan Chamber)
4:30pm The City Council's Economic Development and University Relations Committee will meet for an undisclosed purpose. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:00pm Special Presentation - A Celebration of Cambridge Volunteers (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00-8:00pm Envision Cambridge Advisory Committee meeting (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)
Discussion topic: community interaction
5:30pm Special (Midsummer) City Council meeting (Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)
6:00-8:00pm Envision Cambridge Advisory Committee meeting (4th Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)
Discussion topic: corridor visioning and analysis
Here are the agenda items this week that I found interesting:
Here are a few items from the City Council meeting's relatively brief agenda that caught my eye: