Cambridge InsideOut - Feb 25, 2020

City of Cambridge to Celebrate Five Year Anniversary of Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative Feb 26

c) Transportation Silos - Bike Committee, Pedestrian Committee, Transit Committee; but no advisory committees on traffic congestion, motor vehicle transportation, or emerging mobility modes

Here We Go Again - Select Items on the Feb 24, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

City Hall 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?

Catching Up on the Cambridge News - Feb 16, 2020

Join us for Bike for Bites Winter Ride and Celebration!
Saturday, February 29, 8:30am-1:30pm Meet at the Alewife T Station
Bikes for Bites Join the Cambridge Bicycle Committee for Bike for Bites, the first annual Winter Bike Ride and Winter Biking Celebration! Brave the cold for this winter ride while stopping at Cambridge cafes to warm up and taste their treats.

We will meet at the Alewife T Station at 8:30am and depart at 9:00am. The ride will end at Lamplighter Brewery at roughly 11:00am for a winter biking celebration and meet-up. Free Bluebikes passes will be provided for anyone without a bicycle!

Interested in winter biking, but not yet ready to hit the streets? Come by Lamplighter between 11:00am and 1:30pm to meet other winter bicyclists and exchange tips!

The ride will be cancelled in the event of poor weather.

Cambridge Achieves 30 Percent Trash Reduction Milestone One Year Early
Feb 14, 2020 – In 2009, the City of Cambridge adopted a goal to reduce trash by 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, using 2008 as a baseline. Subsequently, the Department of Public Works (DPW) launched new programs and educational campaigns over the past decade to encourage residents to reconsider what they toss in the trash.

Today, Cambridge officials announced that the 30% trash reduction goal was achieved one year early. In 2019, the City of Cambridge reduced its trash reduction numbers by 32%, to 15.6 pounds per week per household, compared to 22.8 pounds per week per household in 2008.

“By adding new programs that encourage diverting items from the waste stream and enhancing our existing recycling programs, we’ve been able to achieve this ambitious goal ahead of schedule,” said Public Works Commissioner Owen O’Riordan. “I want to thank Cambridge residents and our Recycling Advisory Committee for their hard work in helping the city reduce the amount of trash we send to the landfill. It may take an extra minute or two to separate your items, but it’s worth the extra effort.”

Trash Graph

Cambridge achieved this goal by improving curbside recycling, encouraging reduce and reuse practices, and enhancing opportunities to divert hard-to-recycle items such as electronics and textiles. Among the most impactful programs was Cambridge’s curbside compost program which expanded citywide in 2018 as part of recommendations from the city’s Zero Waste Master Plan. The compost program is accessible to more than 32,000 households in Cambridge. The curbside compost program has reduced trash by 7% and has substantially reduced the net greenhouse gas emissions of our waste programs. It also costs the city less money to dispose of food waste in the compost program than in the trash.

The Zero Waste Master Plan, which was developed to assist the City in achieving goals of reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, also identified mattress recycling as a program that can help reduce trash. Launched in April 2019, the program has diverted more than 5,000 mattresses to date. Instead of going to a landfill, the mattresses are collected by UTEC (United Teen Equality Center), a nonprofit organization serving at-risk young adults, that picks up, deconstructs, and recycles mattresses. This new program reduced trash by 250,000 pounds in 2019.

Cambridge has also encouraged residents to utilize its Recycling Center, at 147 Hampshire Street, to drop off items that may be recycled, but cannot be collected curbside, such as electronics, plastic bags, and scrap metal.

“I’m incredibly proud of this achievement and the various efforts that DPW staff have deployed since 2009 that have contributed to the city meeting the 30% trash reduction goal ahead of schedule,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “This accomplishment highlights the city’s commitment to using data and evidence to drive strategic decisions to achieve goals set by the City Council. Without the help of our impassioned residents and the support of the City Council, this goal would not have been accomplished. I look forward to making strides outlined in our Zero Waste Master Plan to continue decreasing trash in Cambridge.”

“We’re thrilled that we could come together as a community to accomplish this goal,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “Reducing waste is one of several ways Cambridge is working to help reduce our impact on climate change.”

Residents are encouraged to visit CambridgeMA.Gov/Recycle to learn more about how they may collaborate with the city on reducing trash. Stay tuned for opportunities coming this spring to help celebrate this milestone.

Michael Orr at baler
Cambridge Recycling Director Michael Orr inspects sorted recycling bales
with Kate Riley, Public Works Community Relations Manager

River Street Reconstruction - February 2020 Project Update
Work on the River Street Reconstruction and Carl Barron Plaza project continues in many areas.

Working group meeting postponed to March
Given that many of the project work items are still in progress, the project team has postponed the next working group meeting to March 24. This will allow the project team to make substantial progress on design work. The information for this meeting is as follows:
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Doors open 5:45pm
Manning Apartments, 1st Floor Community Room, 237 Franklin Street

Public meeting planned for April
The project team is also working toward a public meeting in April to show the latest designs. This meeting will include corridor designs, traffic analysis, bus routings, and a few concepts for a redesigned Carl Barron Plaza. Stay tuned for updates on the topics and a save the date for this meeting.

Design updates - Carl Barron Plaza
Carl Barron Plaza is the public plaza space in front of Cambridge Savings Bank, Amazon, and the Holmes Building entrance. At the last meeting of the River Street Working Group in December, the working group came to consensus for looking at expanded plaza space. The main way to create a larger plaza is by changing bus routes and stop locations at the busway. The project team calls this new configuration the “Butterfly” design because of its butterfly shape. This design allows for more plaza space while keeping two well-used bus stops on the edges of an expanded plaza.

At the current time, the project team is creating a few distinct conceptual designs to bring to the public for comments. A specific design for the plaza is not yet selected.

To see some of the conceptual designs, view the slideshow from the last working group meeting.

Design updates - River Street corridor
Work to improve the design on the corridor continues. The project team is reviewing the River Street design at places where the street is narrow, evaluating daily use and maintenance. Some minor curb adjustments are expected.

At the same time, the project team is continuing to conduct detailed traffic analysis and modeling. This analysis and modeling will help the project team make sure that the new River Street will work for everybody no matter how they get around and will function to move people safely and efficiently.

The project team is also reviewing curbside access (loading, parking, etc.) along River Street. This review is to make sure that the River Street design meets curb access needs for people going to local businesses, residents, and visitors.

Exploring changes to bus routes and stop locations
We are discussing with the community and the MBTA shifting MBTA Route 64 from Magazine Street to River Street. Using River Street is a more direct route to Central Square. We are also discussing shifting Route 47 from Massachusetts Avenue to Green and Franklin Streets. Using Green and Franklin streets would allow for more plaza space at Carl Barron Plaza and make Route 47 more reliable.

The project team will share more information about these changes at upcoming project meetings. We are also planning to engage riders and the public in additional outreach efforts.

Work continues on public art on River Street
Ritsuko Taho is the artist for the River Street project. She is the original artist who created the “Multicultural Manifestos” artwork in Carl Barron Plaza. This artwork includes the "dream towers" and "dream wheels" in the plaza. The "Multicultural Manifestos" artwork will be removed from the plaza during the reconstruction process. The artist will then take elements of that work and create a new work that will be located in several places along the corridor. We hope to preview the new work at the next working group and public meeting.

Tell us how River Street works today on our questionnaire
The River Street Reconstruction project will renew infrastructure on and under River Street. This questionnaire’s goal is to hear what you feel and think about River Street today. By taking this questionnaire, you will help the project team think about how to design the street. We will also use your answers to compare what people think and feel before and after our reconstruction project.

This survey takes between 5 to 10 minutes. Take the River Street survey.

Project web page with meeting materials and other useful information.

For more information on this project or to be added to the project email list, please visit: cambridgema.gov/riverstreet. If you have any questions about this project or upcoming meetings, contact the River Street Reconstruction team by e-mail at riverstreet@cambridgema.gov. You may also contact Bill Deignan at wdeignan@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4632.

Cambridge Black History Month Celebration February 26
Feb 10, 2020 – In celebration of Black History Month, the City of Cambridge Employees’ Committee on Diversity will hold a reception featuring art by local black artists, the unveiling of the 2020 Black History Month postage stamp, and a presentation by Dr. Manisha Sinha on black womens' roles in the suffrage movement Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 5-7:30pm, at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

The evening will also include remarks by Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.

Manisha Sinha is the James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut and a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University for this academic year.

A leading authority on the history of slavery and abolition and the Civil War and Reconstruction, Dr. Sinha was born in India and received her Ph.D from Columbia University where her dissertation was nominated for the Bancroft prize. She is the author of The Counterrevolution of Slavery: Politics and Ideology in Antebellum South Carolina, which was named one of the 10 best books on slavery in Politico in 2015 and recently featured in The New York Times’ 1619 Project. She is also the author of The Slave’s Cause: A History of Abolition (2016) which won the Frederick Douglass Book Prize and was long listed for the National Book Award for Non Fiction. In 2016, she was named one of the top 25 women in higher education by the journal Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.

This talk will illuminate the forgotten origins of the women's suffrage movement in the abolition movement and reconsider the break between abolitionists and some feminists after the Civil War. It will show how the Reconstruction constitutional amendments opened a path to women's suffrage and the Nineteenth Amendment. Despite black disfranchisement, the Nineteenth Amendment eventually paved the way for black women to emerge as the most progressive voting block in American politics.

[Event Flyer] [Event Program]

Renew Your Resident Parking Permit for 2020 Now to Avoid Delays Later
Feb 7, 2020 – The renewal season for 2020 Resident/Visitor Parking Permits for the City of Cambridge is in process from Jan 2 - Mar 31, 2020. Please note that 2019 Resident and Visitor Permits are valid through Mar 31, 2020.

Residents who have a current Resident or Visitor Parking Permit have the option of renewing their permit(s) online at CambridgeMA.gov/parking-permits. Online applications can take up to three weeks for processing and delivery, so please plan accordingly, keeping in mind the March 31 expiration date for 2019 permits.

Permits can also be renewed by mail using the application available at CambridgeMA.gov/parking-permits or in person during regular hours at the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, Monday: 8:30am-8:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30am-5:00pm, Friday: 8:30am-12:00pm.

The featured photo on the 2020 Permit is of Little Fresh Pond by Judy Silvan.

For more information, visit CambridgeMA.gov/parking-permits.

City of Cambridge to Celebrate Five Year Anniversary of Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative Feb 26
Feb 5, 2020 – The City of Cambridge and its community partners will celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative (DGBVPI) Wed, Feb 26, from 4-6pm, at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include welcome remarks from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, City Manager Louis A. DePasquale, Deputy City Manager Lisa C. Peterson, State Representative Marjorie Decker, and Transition House’s Community Liaison Shameka Gregory. Light refreshments will be served.

The theme of the event - Many Partnerships, One Initiative - will include a showcase of the major projects and work the DGBVPI has accomplished to prevent and respond to domestic and gender-based violence in Cambridge. This will include a “speed meeting” poster session, where members of the community can walk around and engage in conversations with local community partners and service providers about:

Cambridge Police Department’s trauma-informed law enforcement initiative and training;
Examining racial justice within the Initiative’s Steering Committee;
Training, protocol development, advocacy, and supportive housing through the Cambridge Housing Authority and Transition House partnership;
Creation of The Sexual Assault Response Team, a collaboration between the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center and Cambridge Police to better coordinate citywide response to sexual assault;
Educating and engaging youth to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence;
Engaging men in prevention efforts, including the work of Mending Cambridge, a group of men in the city dedicated to taking an active role in preventing domestic and gender-based violence;
Community outreach through the Community Engagement Team;
Preventing elder abuse through Transition House’s advocacy and services; and
Citywide trainings on domestic violence prevention and response.

Katherine Triantafillou - Domestic Violence Free Zone Cambridge has a long history of domestic violence prevention, including the historic resolution to declare the city as a Domestic Violence Free Zone in 1994. Building on this groundbreaking effort and with leadership from State Representative Marjorie Decker (then Cambridge City Councillor), in 2011, the city hosted a Domestic violence summit to stimulate interest in revitalizing Cambridge’s work to prevent domestic violence and undertook a 21 Days of Questions/365 Days of Action Campaign to engage the Cambridge community on questions they had about domestic violence. The campaign led to the official establishment of the Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative.

“Since its creation, the Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative has been engaging and mobilizing the entire Cambridge community to prevent and bring attention to domestic and gender-based violence,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Under the leadership of Elizabeth Speakman, the Initiative’s coordinator, Cambridge has emerged as a leader in providing training and building collaborations to ensure we are creating and fostering compassionate and supportive environments for survivors.”

“We are proud that the City of Cambridge is so fully committed to preventing domestic and gender-based violence and ensuring survivors can get support when they need it,” said Elizabeth Speakman, Coordinator of the Initiative. “This event will recognize the tremendous work of our community partners and the city leadership, while imagining what is possible in the future and hopefully inspiring other communities.”

For more information, contact Elizabeth Speakman, espeakman@cambridgema.gov.

About the Cambridge Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative
The Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative (DGBVPI) engages and mobilizes Cambridge’s communities, agencies, and city departments to change attitudes, behaviors, policies, and practices to prevent and bring attention to domestic and gender-based violence.

In collaboration with community leaders, local agencies, and interested citizens, the DGBVPI develops and provides accessible, safe, and relevant strategies and resources to prevent and respond to domestic violence in Cambridge. Services include training, consultation, building collaborations across various sectors in Cambridge, and coordination of systems of change in order to ensure compassionate and supportive environments for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence across the city.

CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)

Tues, Feb 25

3:00pm Roundtable/Working City Council Meeting to discuss legislative priorities. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

6:30pm Planning Board meeting (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway) - was moved at last minute to City Hall, Sullivan Chamber

General Business

1. Update from the Community Development Department

2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts

Public Hearings

6:30pm PB# 359
75-109 Smith Place – Special Permit application by The Davis Companies, on behalf of QUAD 75 Smith Place, LLC and QUAD 109 Smith Place, LLC to construct a 142,153 square foot three story building for technical office use and a 115-vehicle parking garage below pursuant to Section 19.20 Project Review Special Permit; Section 20.95.1.1, 20.95.1.3 FAR in excess of 1.25 for non-residential use; 20.95.34 Reduction of Yard Requirements (Front and Side Yards) and 20.95.2.1, 20.95.2.3 Height in excess of 35 feet. (Notice) (Materials)

7:30pm PB# 355 (continued from 12/10/2019)
1686 Massachusetts Avenue – Special Permit application by Budega, Inc. to convert the existing space into a Retail cannabis Store pursuant to Section 11.800 (Cannabis Uses). (Notice) (Materials)
NOTE: 1686 Massachusetts Avenue Hearing noticed for 7:30pm is CONTINUED (Letter).

Thurs, Feb 27

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

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

Mon, Mar 2

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

6:30pm East Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Study Committee (East End House, 105 Spring Street)

Tues, Mar 3

7:00am-8:00pm Presidential Primary (citywide)

6:00pm School Committee meeting (Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)

6:00pm The City Council's Housing Committee will meet for a hearing to receive an update from the Cambridge Housing Authority, Community Development, Affordable Trust Fund, Just a Start and Homeowners Rehab, Inc. on the state of Affordable Housing in Cambridge and challenges and opportunities facing the City over the next two years. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, Mar 4

2:30-5:00pm Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Design Review Meeting (Police Station, First Floor Community Room, 125 Sixth St.)

5:30-7:30pm Transit Advisory Committee (Senior Center)

7:00-8:30pm Climate Change, Conservation, and the Role of Native Plant Horticulture (Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge)
Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Smith College
As our world warms, the distributions of many native plant species are shifting with the climate. But not all species will keep pace with modern climate change, and some could face extinction. This poses a dilemma— what role should we take in helping native plant populations migrate? How do we balance our instinct for preservation with the risk of a relocated plant species disrupting the ecology of its new region? Jesse Bellemare will explore these questions in the context of the constant evolution of plant ranges over time, and the current insights we can gain from native plant horticulture. [Flyer]
Jesse Bellemare’s research focuses on the ecology and biogeography of forest plants in the eastern United States. He has authored numerous scientific articles about the impacts of climate change, invasive insects, and land-use history on plant populations. He is currently the president of the New England Botanical Club.

Thurs, Mar 5

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

Wed, Mar 11

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

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

Mon, Mar 16

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

6:30pm East Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Study Committee (East End House, 105 Spring Street)

Tues, Mar 17

time not specified School Committee Budget Workshop (location not specified)

5:00pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet for a hearing on a petition to amend the definition of family in the Cambridge the zoning ordinance. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)

Wed, Mar 18

5:30pm Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Board Meeting (Police Station, First Floor Conference Room, 125 Sixth St.)

6:00-7:30pm Central Square Advisory Committee meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

Tues, Mar 19

time not specified Public Hearing on FY 2021 Proposed School Department Budget (location not specified)

Mon, Mar 23

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

Tues, Mar 24

time not specified School Committee Budget Workshop (location not specified)

Thurs, Mar 26

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

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

Tues, Mar 31

time not specified School Committee Budget Workshop (location not specified)

Here We Go Again - Select Items on the Feb 24, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Special Tues, Feb 18, 2020, 3:00pm City Council Meeting to discuss the Harvard Square Overlay Zoning Petition

Local Cambridge Elections: 2020

Catching Up on the Cambridge News - Feb 16, 2020

Members Sought for Cambridge Peace Commission

Tues, Feb 25

Thurs, Feb 27

Tues, Mar 3

Wed, Mar 4

Thurs, Mar 5

Wed, Mar 11

Tues, Mar 17

Wed, Mar 18

Tues, Mar 19

Tues, Mar 24

Thurs, Mar 26

Tues, Mar 31