Thinking out loud about the November municipal election - RW

Sun, July 21, 2019 - Tis the season when I assemble the Cambridge Candidate Pages and keep track of who has pulled nomination papers and submitted signatures for the 2019 Cambridge City Council and School Committee elections. At some point the field will be set and attention will turn to who these candidates are and how voters should decide how to rank their preferred candidates or whether to rank certain candidates at all. Voters will be permitted to rank up to 15 candidates for the 9 City Council seats this year.

I have been thinking a lot about what criteria I would use (and would advise others to use) in choosing which candidates to support and how those candidates might be ranked. Here are a few thoughts (and I will likely add to these as time passes):

1) As is often the case, most candidates will agree on many issues, e.g. the need to promote energy efficiency and resilience to any future changes attributable to climate change. There is, however, often a stark difference between how political candidates address matters on which they agree. Some want to mandate change and remove choice. The better candidates want to encourage change and provide incentives. It's a big difference. It's something I will be evaluating very carefully. Some candidates think primarily in terms of bans and reducing options. Others believe in expanding choice and providing good alternatives from which to choose.

2) Everybody seems to agree that affordability in housing and other essentials is highly desirable - even if it is currently elusive for many. However, even as most candidates speak of how much they believe in affordable housing, they generally evade explaining what they really mean by that. The percentage of subsidized housing units in Cambridge is currently just shy of 15% - a fraction that is slightly lower than it was a few years ago but which has been relatively stable for many years (and which is among the highest in the state). Recent changes to the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance require a flat 20% affordable requirement for all new developments over 10 units - a true mixed-income requirement. Meanwhile some councillors and candidates are pushing the "100% Affordable Housing Overlay" (AHO) proposal because "they believe in affordable housing". What they generally fail to mention is that the AHO is actually a mechanism for transferring privately-owned residential property into "social ownership" in perpetuity. That is, over time its goal is to steadily increase the percentage of housing units that are controlled by government and its agents. In addition, as a result of the permanent deed restrictions required of these developments, they become taxed at the bare legal minimum and thus shift the residential tax burden onto the remaining privately-owned residential properties (unless commercial development is promoted to make up the difference). I will ask candidates if they agree with the goal of having public and quasi-public housing grow at a rate faster than housing in general. I will also ask them if they believe this goal should be achieved by any means necessary even if this means having little or no review by City planners and no mechanism for public objection.

3) In promoting transportation other than single occupancy motor vehicles (whether this be walking, biking, scooters, riding a bus or some other means) I expect most candidates will say how much they support whatever they feel will score them the most votes. They will likely not adequately address the matter of how this affects other modes. Do candidates find significantly increased traffic congestion acceptable just as long as bicycling is encouraged? Do they support a range of bicycle safety enhancements or is a completely segregated bicycle facility the only alternative they find acceptable - even if this creates problems for other modes? Do they support transit and, if so, what specifically do they support? Candidates will often tell you how much they support something without ever addressing the collateral effects.

4) For School Committee candidates, what is more important to you - ensuring that the education of the children of the city prepares them for a good life and to be able to take advantage of the thriving local economy, or making sure that they align with your political and social world view? For what it's worth, I would prefer to have most Cambridge students develop strong mathematics and science skills. I am far less concerned about ensuring that they agree with my social and political views.

Fri, July 26:

5) Groups like A Better Cambridge (ABC) and the Cambridge Residents Alliance (CResA) and whatever other group emerges this year will at some point publicize a list of preferred candidates and tell you to "vote for the slate". Never forget that these slates are the personal recommendations of a handful of people who could likely fit around your kitchen table with room to spare. Think for yourself and be very suspicious of zealots and political operatives.

Sat, Sept 28:

6) As expected, various interest groups are now endorsing slates of City Council candidates (nothing on the School Committee so far) and they are kinda curious. Some on the slate were likely chosen as "feeders" though the respective power brokers likely are not so honest about that. I strongly believe no one should give too much credence to these slates, but they do help to illustrate the shifting political landscape. Here's what I know so far:

Cambridge Residents Alliance (CResA) Dennis Carlone Charles Franklin Risa Mednick Patricia Nolan Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Nicola Williams Quinton Zondervan	Our Revolution Cambridge (ORC) Dennis Carlone Charles Franklin Patricia Nolan Ben Simon Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Nicola Williams Quinton Zondervan	A Better Cambridge (ABC) Burhan Azeem Alanna Mallon Marc McGovern Risa Mednick Adriane Musgrave Sumbul Siddiqui Denise Simmons Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Tim Toomey	Cambridge Citizens Coalition (CCC) to be determined
What best defines them: limited development	What best defines them: worship Bernie Sanders	What best defines them: advocacy for public housing gung-ho for the Overlay height, density, more development	What best defines them: not keen on the Overlay

It is noteworthy that Sumbul Siddiqui was dumped from both the CResA slate and the ORC slate because of her vote that allowed the E. Cambridge Courthouse redevelopment to proceed (i.e. she defied State Misrepresentative Mike Connolly and his acolytes).

Craig Kelley, Derek Kopon, and John Pitkin are among the most substantial candidates in the field and none are yet part of any of the organized slates. We'll see if that changes when the newly-formed Cambridge Citizens Coalition decides on candidates.

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2019 Municipal Election

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2019.     List of Candidates who pulled nomination papers

Cambridge Candidate Pages    2019 Cambridge City Council Campaign Bank Reports

There will be 22 City Council candidates and 11 School Committee candidates.

Cambridge City Council and School Committee candidates: 1941 to 2019  (plain text) (PDF) - updated Aug 3, 2019

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Why do labor unions pour so much money into City Council campaign coffers?

Aug 15, updated Sept 23 - One thing I have always found puzzling is the amount of money donated to the campaign accounts of incumbent city councillors. I suppose this could be interpreted as financial support for those who have supported unions in their noble quest for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, but the fact is that all incumbents and challengers appear to share this sentiment. So perhaps it's something different. There is a longstanding pattern of labor representatives being recruited by some of the larger real estate developers to speak in favor of new development - supposedly because of the jobs involved, but that always struck me as too simplistic. Many of the people who control the funds of these political action committees are, to say the least, politically connected.

There's also the matter of political contributions from people tied to real estate development. This is always difficult to evaluate because of the simple fact that it's very difficult, if not impossible, to determine motive. There are people who have been generous charitable contributors for ages who also happen to own and/or develop Cambridge real estate. Are their contributions related to their real estate interests or not?

Of course, there's also the matter of whether or not contributions come from Cambridge residents. It's not always easy to draw conclusions from this - primarily because some candidates have family and friends scattered across the rest of the state and the country.

Here's a revised account of the (a) Cambridge contributions, (b) union contributions, (c) real estate contributions (as best as I could discern), and (d) total of union and real estate money contributed over this election cycle starting from Feb 1, 2018 through the latest data available (Sept 23, 2019; 7:29am) for all City Council candidates (notes: - receipts include loans from candidates to their campaigns; refunds deducted if clearly a refund):

The table has been relocated and will be regularly updated at:
Follow the Money – Cambridge City Council Campaign Receipts 2019

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Fire Up That Doobie - Cannabis, CPA Funding and the rest of the Sept 23, 2019 Cambridge City Council meeting After an eventful week of Courthouse Controversy and Picking Winners in the Cannabis Sweepstakes, here are the things that struck me as interesting on this week's agenda: Manager's Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to recommendations of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for FY2020. It will be the maximum 80% to the Affordable Housing Trust, and the minimum 10% for Open Space Acquisition and 10% for Historic Preservation - non-negotiable, of course. Manager's Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a petition to amend provisions in Section 22.20, which governs Green Building Requirements, and also applicable definitions contained in Article 2.000. If I'm reading this correctly, it appears that the City is ditching the costly LEED certification process for "green" buildings in favor of an in-house process that achieves the same goals or better. It's also noteworthy that this proposal is for larger projects, so ordinary homeowners should not worry yet about the City monkey-wrenching with ordinary home improvements. Manager's Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a petition to amend provisions in Article 5.000 and Article 22.000 pertaining to setback requirements and exterior building insulation. This appears to be a reasonable minor proposal to allow additional building insulation that might previously have extended into yard setbacks. We're talking inches here, not feet. Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-56, regarding a report on the feasibility of constructing a quick-build complete streets project to provide separated bike lanes on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, from Sidney Street to Putnam Avenue. Communications #22. A communication was received from Michael Monestime, Central Square Business Improvement District, and Nathanael Fillmore, Cambridge Bicycle Safety, expressing their joint support for building protected bicycle lanes on Massachusetts Avenue between Sidney Street and Putnam Avenue in the near future. The velo-zealots will likely be out in force once again proving their inability to understand words like "reasonable" or "compromise" or anything relating to vehicles with more than two wheels. Unfinished Business #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the proposed Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance. ON OR AFTER APR 22, 2019 THE QUESTION COMES ON PASSAGE TO BE ORDAINED Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Aug 14, 2019 to continue discussions on a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code to create a Cannabis Business Permitting ordinance including amendments submitted at the July 30, 2019 Special City Council meeting. Committee Report #3. A report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on Sept 18, 2019 at 11:00am to discuss amendments to the proposed Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance. They should just flip a few coins and approve something and move on. The Ordinance Committee apparently decided to go with the two-year moratorium to allow various "economic empowerment" applicants to have a head start before the medical dispensaries can also dip into the pot of Acapulco Gold. By the way, is there anyone who was not offended by the "Slave Amendment" postcard that was sent citywide by Richard Harding and his cannabis pals? I'm really starting to dislike everyone associated with this business. Order #6. Alcoholic beverage permitting in large parks.   Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Kelley As the Order says: "A better experience would be ensured for participants if a regulated, enclosed, and permitted beer garden could be located within a large park such as Danehy during a special event." Quite true, and Vice Mayor Devereux deserves a lot of credit for following up on this after this year's sizzling Jazz Festival that would be so much nicer if it can be moved back to a field of real grass with a permitted beer garden. Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Department of Human Services and the Cambridge Public Library  system to hire a social worker in the FY2021 budget for the Central Square Library branch.   Councillor Mallon, Councillor Siddiqui, Mayor McGovern I suppose this might be a good thing, but I can't help but wonder if this is yet another way to enable bad behavior that continues to make Central Square, and the Library in particular, a hostile place for families. - Robert Winters

Featured Items on the Sept 16, 2019 Cambridge City Council Agenda Here's my first pass at what I think is the interesting stuff. See below for snarky comments and enduring wisdom. Manager's Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-56, regarding a report on the feasibility of constructing a quick-build complete streets project to provide separated bike lanes on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, from Sidney Street to Putnam Avenue. Perhaps the most important statement in the report is this: "It is also important to note that the continued success of Central Square as a vibrant and livable community hub for business, culture, and government relies on a delicate balance of different activities that go beyond transportation. Any planning related to complete streets and reconfiguring Central Square for the benefit of street users of all ages and abilities must take into account a broad range of factors and stakeholders, to avoid taking any actions that would change that balance in a negative way. We want to ensure that as we contemplate changes that serve our City goals related to promoting sustainable transportation and improving access to community resources and economic opportunities, we do not inadvertently make it more difficult to achieve other goals that we have related to Central Square." I fully expect the velo-zealots will demand that only their concerns should be addressed and that all others should just get on board. Hopefully reason will prevail and we won't have people boarding buses while cyclists weave through the line of passengers, or have every cyclist in town dialing up See-Click-Fix because somebody had to make a delivery and had no choice but to encroach on their turf. Manager's Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-69, regarding a report on the timeline and process for the Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review. We all want energy efficiency but I seriously hope that the mandates don't come crashing down on reasonable people living in older homes. Manager's Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to proposed amendments to the New Street Overlay District Zoning Petition. Unfinished Business #7. A communication was received from Anthony Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone Co-Chair and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on June 26, 2019 to discuss a petition received from Self Storage Group, LLC to amend the Zoning Ordinance by creating a New Street Overlay District. ON OR AFTER AUG 18, 2019 THE QUESTION COMES ON ORDINATION Unfinished Business #12. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting a memorandum from Vice Mayor Devereux, regarding proposed amendments to the New Street Overlay District zoning petition. Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting a memorandum from Adams and Rafferty, James J. Rafferty, P.C. regarding proposed Amendments and a related letter of Commitment for consideration by the City Council concerning the New Street Overlay Zoning Petition. The proposed Amendments consist of the addition of Sections 20.96.5 and Sections 20.96.6. I have no particular opinion on this zoning petition, but it is worth noting that the Planning Board gave it a negative recommendation. The other thing worth noting is that it seems like standard operation procedure nowadays in Cambridge that no matter what the proposal you just promise to throw in a few "affordable housing" units and you're good to go. Maybe even a tree or two if you still need that extra vote. On the Table #1. A communication was received from Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting Part 4 of the report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone, Co-Chair and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chair of the Ordinance Committee, for a reconvened public hearing held on Sept 3, 2019 to continue discussions on a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to create an Affordable Housing Overlay District. I hope we never have to suffer through this again but it would be naive to think this is how it will play out. The ABC zealots are already attacking "those wealthy anti-housing people" as part of their election strategy. I personally feel this matter was tabled last week primarily so that its supporters and potential supporters could weather the November election and then ram it through afterwards without fear. The fact is that it remains a shabbily crafted attempt to rewrite all of Cambridge housing policy so that policy-makers don't have to address the general issue of affordability of housing locally and regionally. Unfinished Business #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the proposed Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance. ON OR AFTER APR 22, 2019 THE QUESTION COMES ON PASSAGE TO BE ORDAINED The Ordinance Committee hearing on this that was recessed in chaos will reconvene this Wednesday as they once again try to decide the winners in the "Who Wants to be a Millionnaire" sweepstakes. Unfinished Business #8. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the License Commission and City Solicitor’s office to drop all charges against UpperWest and its owners, to reconsider UpperWest’s package store application, and to issue a public apology to UpperWest and its owners. Councillor Zondervan may finally have his chance to express his undying love for some of the least likable people anywhere. Unfinished Business #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to obtain a legal opinion from the City Solicitor regarding the License Commission's authority with regard to the issuance, denial, suspension or revocation of liquor licenses in the City of Cambridge. Go ask Nancy. I think she'll know. Unfinished Business #10. A Zoning Petition has been received from Ben LoVemere regarding that the City Council ordain the Zoning language set forth relative the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District. Unfinished Business #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendations on the Alexandria Grand Junction Overlay District Zoning Petition. Unfinished Business #13. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Police Commissioner, the Cambridge Carnival Committee, and the community to organize an alternative event to take place in Cambridge on the Carnival’s rain date, that will allow vendors to sell their products and potentially recover at least some of the costs. While I think this is a good idea, the fact that violence has followed this Carnival is not something that can be ignored, and I seriously doubt if the organizers will be compensating the City for the additional police presence. Applications & Petitions #2. A petition was received from Christopher Schmidt, regarding Upgrade Cambridge Municipal Broadband Petition. Show me the books. Many of us would welcome additional options for Internet and TV service, but my greatest fear is that whatever technology is used to build such a network could become obsolete the day after it's put in place. Order #7. That the City Council urge the MBTA to take whatever emergency measures are necessary to fast-track repairs to the elevators in the Central Square and Harvard Square MBTA stations, and to share these plans with the City Council in a timely manner.   Councillor Simmons You can add to this the work on the new entrance to City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway. It seems that the new construction standard is to do a week of work, walk away for three weeks, then rinse and repeat. Modest scale construction projects shouldn't take an eternity to complete. - Robert Winters Comments?

Digital Equity Working Group Members Sought

City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking residents to fill two positions on the City Manager’s Digital Equity Working Group. This administrative working group will provide input and guidance to the City Manager and staff at key milestones during the City’s yearlong study of digital equity in the Cambridge. The working group will assist in creating a draft vision and set of goals to inform the City’s digital equity strategy. Additionally, the working group, based on the findings of the study and research of best practices and regional efforts, will help develop targeted strategies the City could take to address digital equity in Cambridge.

The working group will meet quarterly with the possibility of 3-4 additional meetings. The term of this working group is one year.

Applications to serve on the City Manager’s Digital Divide Working Group can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or relevant experience  or interest may be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, October 11, 2019.

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Truth Matters

Aug 15 - At last night's City Council Ordinance Committee meeting on cannabis business regulation, one supposedly well-informed and politically astute speaker asserted that there are about 5000 liquor licenses in Cambridge. The actual number is 284. [Twitter comments welcome]

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Mar 27, 2019 – A few words on the "Overlay" proposal

Personally, this Overlay proposal obliterates over 35 years of what changes could be expected around where I live, and I don’t live in the upper crust part of town. The limiting factor has been the floor area ratio (FAR) – 1.0 for commercial and 0.75 for residential. I have always lived with the possibility that a higher building could appear next door, but that the footprint of the building would have to be smaller and additional setbacks would create a little breathing room between the buildings. That seemed like a reasonable expectation – one that I could easily live with.

During the time I have owned my triple-decker I negotiated with one neighbor so that a small extension would have a roof line that allowed light to continue to get to my first floor apartment. When the neighboring building changed hands and they wanted to add air conditioning units on the roof, I negotiated to ensure that they would be located far enough from my windows so that the added sound would be acceptable. These are the kinds of negotiations that happen when buildings are at or somewhat above the allowable density. Through it all I maintained very reasonable rents to all of my tenants since 1985.

If this Overlay proposal is approved, a new owner could build straight up to a height taller than my building with no setback whatsoever from the property line. Furthermore, the building could cover almost the entire lot yielding a density between 3 and 4 times what is allowed today. No sunlight whatsoever would get to my building. I would have no rights whatsoever to object.

Do I take this personally? Yes. If this were to happen I would likely look for another place to live after being here for over 40 years. So I’m looking now at the few potentially reasonable city councillors to step in and prevent this from happening. If adding to our already high percentage of subsidized housing units is your priority, you should really find a way to do this that doesn’t involve throwing me and others under the bus. – Robert Winters

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CIVIC CALENDAR

Tues, Oct 1

6:00pm   School Committee meeting  (Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)
Note: The School Committee may entertain a motion to convene in Executive Session during the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2019, in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, Cambridge, for the purpose of considering the adoption of a proposed contract for Superintendent of Schools. The School Committee will reconvene in Open Session after the Executive Session adjourns.

Wed, Oct 2

12:00pm   The City Council's Transportation & Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the future electricity needs of the Kendall Square area and progress toward identifying an alternate, viable location for a new substation other that the proposed site on Fulkerson Street.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

3:00pm   The City Council's Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code entitled “Welcoming Community”.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30pm   Cambridge Election Commission meeting  (1st Floor Meeting Room, 51 Inman St.)

5:30pm – Voter Registration Challenge Hearing

5:35pm – Regular Election Commission Meeting

6:30pm   Ward 6 School Committee Candidates Forum  (Main Library Lecture Hall)

6:30-8:30pm   Foundry Public Meeting  (Fletcher-Maynard Academy Gymnasium, 225 Windsor Street)
Refreshments will be served. All Cambridge residents are invited to this public meeting. View updated building designs, learn about the construction timeline, share your interests in programs for the Foundry, and hear about future Foundry events. For more information contact: Erica Schwarz, Community Project Manager 617-492-6800 x17; ESchwarz@CambridgeRedevelopment.org.

Thurs, Oct 3

1:00pm   The City Council's Ordinance Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss a petition by the Cambridge City Council, to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge by creating new definitions in Article 2.000 entitled “Shared Mobility”.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Cambridge Historical Commission meeting  (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.)

6:00pm   Human Rights Commission Meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

6:30-8:30pm   School Committee Candidates Forum sponsored by Cambridge Education Association  (Central Sq. Library, 45 Pearl St.)

Mon, Oct 7

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (MCNCDC) meeting  (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

6:30pm   Tax Rate Hearing  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Tues, Oct 15

3:30pm   The City Council's Transportation & Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to review the Vision Zero Year One Report and information on upcoming Vision Zero projects for 2019/2020.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will meet to receive an update and discuss airplane noise in Cambridge.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, Oct 16

8:00-9:30am   Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

2:00pm   The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to discuss Taxicab use of E-Hail.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30-7:30pm   Bicycle Committee meeting  (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)

6:00pm   Peace Commission meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

7:00-9:00pm   MCNA City Council Candidates Night  (CRLS Main Cafeteria)

Thurs, Oct 17

6:00pm   PSNA/ANC City Council Candidates Forum  (University Hall, Lesley University, 1815 Mass. Ave., Porter Sq.)

6:30pm: McNary, Carlone, Azeem, Nolan, Kopon, Pitkin, Simmons, Moree, Zondervan, Williams, Kelley

7:45pm: Siddiqui, Simon, Toomey, Akiba, McGovern, Franklin, Musgrave, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mednick, Levy

Mon, Oct 21

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting  (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

Tues, Oct 22

1:00pm   The City Council's Public Safety Committee will meet to discuss amending the Surveillance Technology Ordinance Ban.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

4:00pm   The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to discuss the proposed Demolition Delay Ordinance.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

7:00pm   Ward 9 Democratic Committee City Council Candidate Forum  (West Cambridge Youth Center, 680 Huron Ave.)

Wed, Oct 23

10:00am   The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will meet to discuss the status of the next community-wide greenhouse gas inventory and annual reporting of same going forward.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

3:00pm   License Commission Public Hearing  (831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

5:00pm   The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to discuss the Zoning petition to create an Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Thurs, Oct 24

6:00pm   Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

6:00pm   LGBTQ+ Meeting  (Windsor St. Health Center, 119 Windsor St.)

6:00pm   Pedestrian Committee Meeting  (City Hall Annex, 4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)

6:30-9:00pm  Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association Candidate Night, LBJ Apartments (150 Erie St.)
mingle (6:30-7:00pm), City Council intros (7:00-8:20pm), School Committee intros (8:20-9:00pm)

Mon, Oct 28

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30pm   Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting  (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

Tues, Oct 29

5:30pm   The City Council's Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss ways to ensure that the Cambridge Carnival will take place in 2020 and Beyond.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, Oct 30

5:00pm   The City Council's Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss Inman Square safety and construction management.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Police Review and Advisory Board meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

Mon, Nov 4

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (MCNCDC) meeting  (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

Tues, Nov 5

7:00am-8:00pm   Election Day  (Citywide)

Thurs, Nov 7

6:00pm   Cambridge Historical Commission meeting  (Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave.)

6:00pm   Human Rights Commission Meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)

Sat, Nov 9

9:00am-1:00pm   Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Day  (Field Street Lot at Danehy Park - enter via Fern St.)

Tues, Nov 12

10:00am   The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss claims against the City.   (Sullivan Chamber - Televised) [The Committee will enter executive session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the City.]

Wed, Nov 13

8:00-9:30am   Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

12:00pm   The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss the following policy order: “That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to draft for discussion several ordinances 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.”   (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

3:00pm   The City Council's Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the final Envision Report.  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

5:30-7:30pm   Bicycle Committee meeting  (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)

Mon, Nov 18

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:00pm   Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting  (Lombardi Building, 831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

Wed, Nov 20

11:00am   The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss Policy Order #7, regarding Open meeting law review and Policy Order #11, regarding Council Budget-Private Attorney.   (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

3:00pm   License Commission Public Hearing  (831 Mass. Ave, Basement Conference Room)

6:00pm   Peace Commission meeting  (2nd Floor Conference Room, 51 Inman St.)