Budgets and Bandanas - Coming up on the May 11, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here's my take on this week's agenda:

Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

Manager's Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2021 submitted budget appropriation orders.

I like to track how the budgets of the various City departments change from year to year and in the long term. Here's a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes as well as the 16-year changes.

The big jumps upward this year are for Public Celebrations (up 31.8% in one year and 45.7% for two years), Public Investment (up 38% in one year and 114% for two years), and the Library (up 26.3% and 38.9%). Curiously, Employee Benefits dropped 16.4% from the FY20 Budget, but the change from the Adopted Budget or actual expenditures could possibly be different.

I am trying to read between the lines about how the Covid-19 pandemic will express itself in the FY21 Budget, but perhaps those effects may primarily be felt in terms of a long string of supplemental expenditures and dipping into "free cash".

The City Council apparently continues to treat itself with its political appointees (a.k.a. aides) with an 11% one-year jump. The City Manager's Office (Executive) also increased its budget by nearly 13% in one year and 24.4% over two years. The overall FY21 Proposed Budget is 5.5% more than last year's Proposed Budget.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED IN COUNCIL MAY 4, 2020]

Everyone has opinions. Everyone has agendas. Some people say they have God on their side. Others claim they have Science on their side or that Climate Change is their Righteous Cause and that everyone should comply with their agenda or else. Everyone has opinions, and bullshit is currency in Cambridge. The streets and sidewalks are not crowded - not even Memorial Drive, so they vote to close down streets to curry favor with their preferred constituents. Walking, coughing, maskless disease vectors congregate on benches and in doorways in Central Square, but the City Council will debate for hours whether it's OK for someone to doff their mask in the park without penalty. I am often reminded of the secret of performing magic - distraction.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to order the Department of Public Works and any other relevant departments to consider implementing Simple Recycling’s curbside textile recycling program and report back to the Council on this matter in a timely manner.   Councillor Toomey

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to reopen the Recycling Center for a limited time and to place recycling bins strategically across the City for residents who are unable to access the Recycling Center to allow for residents to recycle plastic items such as bags.   Councillor Toomey

One thing I have known for 30 years is that Councillor Toomey has been one of the most stalwart supporters of recycling in Cambridge, so it's no surprise that these Orders are coming from Councillor Toomey. Regarding the Recycling Center, many of us are clearing out and organizing our living spaces while staying at home, and it sure would be great if we could recycle some of our scrap metal and more. I have a defunct old TV taking up space that won't be picked up with the rubbish and the City has suspended all other alternatives. We have brought tons of stuff to various Red Cross donation bins and elsewhere, but there's a lot more where that came from. Remember the old "Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance?" Well, they won't even let you in the store with that now and you will likely exit with a bunch more plastic bags, and it might be good if there was a place to lose them.

Order #2. That the City Manager report to the Council with an update on recommendations being discussed by the Small Business Advisory Group so the Council may be prepared for quick action on items that may properly come before the body.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

I have no doubt that this will soon become one of the hottest topics at City Council meetings.

Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone

The "Shoe On The Other Foot Test" should be applied here. Imagine that someone in the Police Department inadvertently used the wrong account to tweet something like “More insane crap from that f--- (expletive redacted) Orange Menace in the White House. Sad for us.” Do you think there would even be a story let alone demands for disciplinary action? By the way, the person who erred here has been one of the most solid, courteous, and well-respected members of the Police Department for a very long time, and most of the present and former city councillors know it. I will be interested to see which councillors want to throw him under the bus for not complying with Cambridge political orthodoxy.

Order #5. That the City Council go on record in solidarity with all Lesley University workers and in support of the demands of the community petition.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

I am in general agreement with all of the intentions of this Order, but I would like to inform those who don't understand the concept of infinity that not even our local elite universities have infinite financial resources. Even Harvard and MIT are having to make some difficult choices. - Robert Winters

Comments?

Murder Hornets, Plague, Charles River Turns to Blood, and the ordinary business of the May 4, 2020 City Council meeting

There's one mask I'm still waiting to see out there, and I don't know if I'll find it terrifying, reassuring, or just clever or funny.

I heard there has been one arrest of a man who pulled a knife on someone not disguised as either Batman or Zorro. There's also a pointless "Next Door Cambridge" rhetorical war being waged on whether the cops should have been called on a maskless group in the Library park on Broadway. I personally just amuse myself by pretending that every day is now Halloween, though all those new souls and saints tend to dampen the frivolity.

Meanwhile at Virtual City Hall there's another virtual meeting taking place this Monday covering virtually nothing other than Covid-19 matters (which is as it should be when the fat's in the fire or the shite's in the fan). Here are a few items that tweaked my beak:

Manager's Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Larry Ward as an Election Commissioner for a term of 4 years, effective April 1, 2020.

Larry has been a good friend and neighbor for decades. I have to wonder what elections in Cambridge (and elsewhere) will be like during this plague. At the very least, if the State Legislature has not yet passed no-fault absentee voting, then they haven't been paying attention. On the other hand, maybe they'll just approve a mail-in option and call it a day. Then again, maybe if we're lucky the coast will be sufficiently clear in November to actually go to the polls (if we dare).

Manager's Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review the recommendations listed above with the appropriate City personnel with a view toward establishing clear guidelines that will allow for the re-opening of construction projects across the City, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. [EXERCISED CHARTER RIGHT IN COUNCIL APR 27, 2020]

We clearly have allowed some "essential businesses" to operate during this ordeal - with the understanding that safety protocols must be respected. There are plenty of other things that could potentially be restarted with that same understanding, and that includes some construction activities.

Resolution #2. Resolution on the death of Wayne Travers.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor McGovern

Wayne was at one time the monitor at the Recycling Center in the DPW Yard. We spent many hours there together in days of yore. Though we haven't been in touch for quite a few years, I have very fond memories of Wayne, his motorcycle, and his sense of humor. Farewell, friend.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department to create a plan for how the City will support small, local businesses in recovering from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including use of existing city resources and CARES Act funding to provide additional support, such as individual coaching to support businesses as they are allowed to return to work.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons

This will likely be one of the most difficult tasks for which the City can provide only partial solutions. One option that I hope is considered is to allow many/most Cambridge businesses great freedom to adapt their businesses creatively without unnecessary bureaucratic interference.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Cambridge Public Libraries to explore ways in which physical library materials can be made available to Cambridge Public Schools students and other Cambridge residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui

Order #3. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Arts Council and other relevant departments to determine an appropriate public memorial for members of the Cambridge community who have been lost as a result of this COVID-19 virus.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone

I'll do my best at optimism here and look forward to the day when we can commemorate not only those lost in the pandemic but also the scientists who developed the therapies and/or vaccines that helped to bring it under control.

Order #4. That the City of Cambridge declares May 4, 2020, “Kent State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and declares May 15, 2020, “Jackson State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and invite all Cambridge residents to learn about and reflect on the tragic events that occurred on those days.   Councillor Zondervan

While I completely agree with recognizing the anniversaries of both of these tragic events, I really dislike the use of the word "martyrs" here just as I dislike when the word "heroes" is used to characterize victims of senseless or religious violence.

Order #5. That the City Manager enhance the data center to include information which the City Council deems essential to facilitating our collective response to the COVID-19 crisis.   Councillor Zondervan

Order #6. That the City Manager restart Planning Board meetings virtually and prioritize the completion of any special permits that are in process.   Councillor Zondervan

The wording of this Order makes clear that this is about jump-starting marijuana sales opportunities, unless there are other "Economic Empowerment applicants" of which I am unaware. I guess we all have our priorities.

Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City personnel to devise a plan that will place Cambridge on a path to offer free covid-19 tests to all Cambridge residents, similar to that recently enacted by the City of Somerville, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.   Councillor Simmons

I suspect this may already be planned - depending on availability of dependable testing materials and staffing levels. It does, however, remind me of an old rule we had about mathematics diagnostic testing, namely that you only do it when you have an idea of what you're going to do with the results. I'm sure we'd all like to have a better sense of the true infection rates, but what then will be done with the results? Will this trigger extensive "contact tracing?" Will it be a precondition for returning to work or moving into an apartment? Will housing developments be partitioned into "tested positive" and "tested negative" sections? In some societies these would not be considered unusual steps, but I doubt whether that could happen in Cambridge. Maybe we'll just make better graphs.

Order #8. That the City Manager work with the IT Department to design a system for video conferencing and public comment during the City Council and other official meetings that allows the administrator of the meeting to prevent, eject, and recover from any bad actors attempting to disrupt the meeting.   Councillor Zondervan

We love our technology, but we never seem to establish safeguards and protocols until we're busy reacting to abuses. I personally wish there was a mechanism for tracking down and prosecuting these "bad actors" even if that meant compromising their precious anonymity. I wonder if this sort of thing came up in the "surveillance ordinance" discussion last year when they were worrying about laryngoscopes.

Order #9. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan

The difficulty is that the phrase "required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible" will be often be a matter of opinion, and I think we all know what the opinion of that unmasked person running or riding past you will likely be - regardless of race, age, or gender. - Robert Winters

Comments?

Elected, Injected, Inspected, Detected, Infected, Neglected and Selected Highlights on the April 27, 2020 City Council Agenda

Another week of Covid-19 updates and policy proposals. Here are a few things that struck me as more interesting than drinking Clorox or having miniaturized Fantasic Voyage actors in the USS Proteus injected into my arteries equipped with tiny little ultraviolet ray guns.

Manager's Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 donated to the City by Harvard University ($250,000) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($250,000), to the Grant Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the construction and operation of the War Memorial Temporary Emergency Shelter at 1640 Cambridge Street.

While I can't speak to what else Harvard has done in the midst of this pandemic, it's worth highlighting that in addition to these donated funds, MIT has also transformed its Johnson Skating Rink into the fully licensed 75-bed "Sean Collier Care Center" that will serve members of the MIT community and residents who are referred from the Cambridge Health Alliance and Mt. Auburn Hospital who need medical care for Covid-19. The center is staffed, operated, and funded by MIT.

MIT also suspended rent for all of its retail tenants in Central Square, Kendall Square, and on campus - including 27 small businesses. There have been plenty of additional initiatives taken by MIT to address this crisis. Perhaps most significantly, many of the research scientists here and around the world now working on therapies and vaccines have roots at MIT.

Manager's Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

This has become the primary agenda item for City Council meetings. I look forward to the day when this need no longer be the case.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to repurpose the War Memorial facility into only a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site for unhoused individuals awaiting their test results.

Last week's Special Meeting was very informative and highlighted the extraordinary efforts of a wide range of City staff and partners who are diligently providing solutions even as the circumstances change from day to day. While thoughtful questions and suggestions from elected representatives are appreciated, the wise choice remains to let the professionals do their job and make the best use of their experience and judgment. Reaching quota in a Cambridge PR election does not miraculous confer expertise in either medicine, public saftety, or epidemiology. Also, this is not the time for coronagendas to transform society according to your own personal politics.

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to restrict third party delivery services fees to restaurants and disclose to customers of how delivery charges are allocated.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui

Delivery services right now are in great demand, but the costs should be commensurate with the service, and the primary beneficiaries of any additional cost should be our struggling retailers. I hope this Order can help to shape the fee structures for the better while still providing incentives for these services. In the meantime, if anyone wants to drop off some lettuce, canned tuna, and a quart of light cream for my morning coffee I'll be your best friend and maybe even throw a few bucks your way. We're also running low on cheese and crackers.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to issue an emergency order to make wearing a cloth face covering in public mandatory for all persons in the City of Cambridge, and that such a covering must be worn outdoors, inside essential businesses, and when entering and exiting residential buildings.   Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey

People can argue about just how much freedom can or should be compromised in an actual emergency, but to me the most important fact is that the greatest potential for reduction in the transmission of the coronavirus is a mask worn by a carrier - even if that person is not symptomatic or even aware that he/she is a carrier. So I'll go with making the masks mandatory for at least the short term. Walking along Memorial Drive the other day was like seeing Idiots on Parade - almost nobody wearing a mask as they were biking and running past leaving their vapors in their wake.

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to establish what specific steps will be made to ensure the safety of the workforce upon the re-opening of City offices, and what specific options will be made available to those City workers who are more susceptible to severe covid-19 infections and may require the ability to work remotely until such time as this crisis passes.   Councillor Simmons

I have no suggestions at all about next steps, but I do find something promising in the fact that people are at least thinking about how we can get back to "normal" even if it proves to be a very different kind of "new normal." Even Boo Radley had to emerge eventually. - Robert Winters

Comments?