Possible Topics:Cambridge InsideOut - September 1, 2020
from National to Local
Possible Topics:
1) Reflections on the DNC and RNC Conventions and the Presidential Election
2) Political Rhetoric and the Perception of Chaos and Violence
3) Primary Day - Sept 1, 2020 (Voting in Cambridge - 2020)
4) How the world (at least our part of it) has changed after 5-6 months of the pandemic
Zoom as the new reality
Roles of parents have changed with online education
Working from home is widespread - at least for some professions
Supply chains - delivering the goods during the pandemic
Business struggling, some closing for good
Vagrancy on the rise in Cambridge, Boston, and elsewhere
Wall Street is paradoxically soaring
Nearly cashless society
Rents are changing and vacancies are all around
6) Cambridge Senior Center closed; Libraries open only for Takeout
7) Should the Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund be available to Arts organizations.
8) Shared Streets - an honest look
9) Lane Reductions/Reconfiguration in Harvard Square
10) Covid-19 Status
11) Allston Multimodal Project
12) Starlight Square
13) Civic Calendar
Election Day Voting
All 34 Precincts will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm for in person voting on September 1, 2020.
Revised List of Cambridge Polling Places
All voters will be asked to wear a face mask or covering and to practice physical distancing in the polling sites on Election Day to help minimize public health risks. Additional information and updates related to COVID-19 and voting can be found on the City’s website at www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/voting.
BALLOT DROP BOX HOURS
Every Day from 8:00am - 8:00pm,
51 Inman Street
Voters: Please note that you must deposit your ballot in the drop box by Tuesday, September 1 by 8:00pm in order for it to be counted.
For more information please visit the Cambridge Election Commission website at:
www.cambridgema.gov/election or call 617-349-4361.
Note 1: Early Voting ended on Friday, August 28.
Note 2: In order to facilitate processing of voted ballots, the Cambridge Election Commission conducted advance removal of voted State Primary ballots from their sealed envelopes starting on Mon, Aug 24 at the Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.
1286 tested positive; 99 confirmed deaths (72 in long-term care facilities, 27 in general community)
Click on graph for latest Cambridge data
Aug 31, 2020 Breakdown of Cases
Covid-19 Cambridge Testing Collaborative
Aug 30, 2020 – Hundreds of Cambridge residents have learned they were infected with COVID-19 or had been exposed to the new coronavirus after getting a call from public health nurses from the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD). Thousands more have received calls from CPHD staff informing them of negative test results.
The phone calls are part of a massive behind-the-scenes effort to stop the chain of transmission of COVID-19.
The public health nurses lead a team that reaches out to every infected resident—also known as a case—providing them with support and guidance on how to isolate. They also try to identify and connect with everyone the person was in close contact with while infectious, a process known as contact tracing. The team checks in frequently with cases and contacts in isolation or quarantine, making sure they have enough food and other necessities, are monitoring their health, and are taking precautions to protect others in their household.
“The vast majority of residents have conscientiously and often cheerfully assisted us in this communicable disease investigation work during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Shamsher Bam, RN, interim lead of the department’s public health nursing program.
The department’s public health nurses have extensive experience in case investigation and contact tracing, a specialized field that requires a mix of medical knowledge, detective skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to listen to and gain trust of people who may be reluctant to cooperate. When COVID-19 cases surged in April, the department recruited CPHD school nurses, recently retired CPHD public health nurses, and outside staff from the Commonwealth’s Community Tracing Collaborative to join the team.
The Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) is assigned the more straightforward cases, while the health department handles the complex cases, which include residents in long-term care facilities, hospitalized patients, infected health care workers, patients over 70, and patients believed to be infected through a cluster event.
By early August, the two teams had reached out to over 1,200 positive cases, which was split among CPHD (around 75% of cases) and the CTC (around 25% of cases). CPHD identified about 470 contacts with Cambridge residents, and the CTC identified about 250 contacts with Cambridge addresses.
Learn more about the Commonwealth's CTC.
Dear CPS Community -
I am writing to provide an update on my proposal for reopening schools this fall. Here is a brief summary of my updated proposal, which the School Committee will discuss tonight (Tuesday) at 5pm and consider for approval on Thursday at 5pm.
Proposal:
There is no perfect plan to reopen schools this fall. Every approach will leave some families and staff dissatisfied and concerned. My revised proposal attempts to reflect feedback from the community while providing some families with safe in-person learning opportunities for students with specialized needs.
This is an important decision for our community and I know that we will come together to support students, families, and staff this school year. Please see the upcoming list of community meetings and a more detailed proposal below.
Sincerely, Kenneth N. Salim, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Proposal Details:
Feedback from community on previous proposals:
Detailed proposal
Staged approach:
Safety Precautions:
School/Classroom Setup
Air Quality
|
Cleaning
Masks, Face Shields, Gloves
Testing
|
Aug 10, 2020 – The City of Cambridge is pleased to announce a pilot program at the Cambridge Public Library to eliminate overdue fines for the late return/renewal of materials and the elimination of loss/damaged item fees for children's and young adult's materials. The elimination of Library fines will ensure equitable access to the great resources offered by the Library.
"The Cambridge Public Library is a critical source for books and online resources for our residents,” said Louis A. DePasquale, Cambridge City Manager. “Now more than ever, we need to ensure that all members of the public have easy access to our library services.”
Cambridge Public Library has long been fine free for children’s and young adult materials. The new pilot will extend that policy to late adult materials and to lost or damaged children’s and young adult materials. The Library has not been assessing any fines during the COVID-19 health crisis. The one-year pilot will officially begin when library services return to normal post-COVID to allow for a review period.
Research has shown that low-income families identify fines as a barrier to their use of libraries and that there is no significant difference in overdue rates between libraries that charged fines and those that did not. Fines and fees also disproportionately impact low-income families and neighborhoods. In January 2020, fines and fees in excess of $10 led to over 5,700 patrons being blocked from library use in Cambridge.
“Our public libraries serve a vital role for our residents, particularly for our vulnerable communities," said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, “We know that these fines provide a barrier to low-income families and disproportionally affect low-income neighborhoods. By removing these fines, I am hopeful that all of our residents can enjoy the magic of books at Cambridge public libraries without the fear of overdue fines.”
“Our strategic plan calls on us to reduce barriers to access and take intentional action to create more equitable outcomes for the community members we serve,” stated Dr. Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries. “I am excited that the Library, with the leadership of the City Council and City Manager, is embarking on this significant step in support of access, equity and inclusion.”
The Library will continue to assess and collect fees for lost or damaged items from the adult collection and fines specifically related to our agreements with other libraries outside of Cambridge, such as the Commonwealth Catalog and Interlibrary Loan programs.
About the Cambridge Public Library:
At the Cambridge Public Library, we welcome all, inspire minds and empower community. We support a Cambridge where everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, people live their best lives, and democracy thrives. During the Covid-19 health crisis we are offering a variety of programs and services. See https://cambridgepl.libguides.com/virtual.
City of Cambridge to Relocate Temporary Emergency Shelter at War Memorial Recreation Center to 1575 Cambridge Street
New East Wing Emergency Shelter at Spaulding Hospital will open following renovations
Aug 10, 2020 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced today that the City of Cambridge has entered into an agreement with Spaulding Hospital-Cambridge, Inc. to create a City-funded temporary emergency homeless shelter in the east wing of the facility located at 1575 Cambridge Street.
This new temporary 57 bed shelter will replace the shelter currently located at the War Memorial Recreational Center and will serve as an adult homeless shelter for non-COVID-19-infected guests. The first and second floors of the presently empty east wing will undergo renovations to prepare the site for the new temporary shelter which is expected to open in November.
The War Memorial emergency shelter, which opened in April 2020, helped the City address the urgent needs of Cambridge residents who were experiencing homelessness during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 public health crisis that emerged this spring. The shelter was built with three distinct services areas, which included a quarantine area, isolation area, and shelter area for non-symptomatic persons experiencing homelessness who do not have access to day or overnight services. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts now provides quarantine and isolation facilities, and only the shelter for non-COVID-19 infected guests is currently being operated at the War Memorial site.
“The War Memorial location was highly desirable due to its extensive space, proximity to the Cambridge Hospital, and ability to be quickly converted into a shelter. However, this space was always intended to be temporary and returned to the school department for academic use,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “I want to thank Spaulding Hospital for leasing the City part of its facility on Cambridge Street so that we can relocate the temporary emergency shelter from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School campus. I want to especially recognize and thank Maureen Banks, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cambridge and David Storto, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Their commitment to this initiative and the Cambridge community were critical to reaching a successful agreement that will allow the City to continue supporting our most vulnerable populations for the duration of the pandemic.”
“We have enjoyed a high degree of cohesiveness and community safety during operations of the War Memorial emergency shelter and we look forward to a seamless transition to Spaulding Hospital, where we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure we maintain the highest overall levels of community safety,” said Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr.
The War Memorial emergency shelter was set up to allow existing shelters to reduce overcrowding to make guests in all of Cambridge's shelters safer and to provide a site that guests who were leaving the shelters could move to. The War Memorial also provided important shelter for guests who had been served by seasonal shelters that were closing such as the Warming Center and Harvard Square Homeless Shelter.
“We are grateful to Bay Cove Human Services and to Healthcare for the Homeless who have provided a high level of services to our homeless guests and who will be continuing to provide the onsite services as the emergency shelter moves to Spaulding,“ said Assistant City Manager Ellen Semonoff.
As part of the agreement between the City and Spaulding Hospital, the first and second floors of the east wing located at 1575 Cambridge will be leased, renovated and converted into a shelter space by the City. The City of Cambridge will fund the entirety of the shelter operation. This project is CARES Act funding eligible and the City expects to submit approximately $ 3.4 million for reimbursement to support this critical initiative. The City Manager and Commissioner of Public Health have issued an emergency order temporarily suspending enforcement of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance at Spaulding Hospital to allow the space to be used as a homeless shelter.
“By continuing to provide a Temporary Emergency Shelter for Cambridge residents experiencing homelessness, we will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our most vulnerable residents,” said Dr. Assaad Sayah, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Cambridge. “The more we can do to keep all residents safely distanced, regardless of where they call home, the greater chance we have to prevent increased illness due to this epidemic.”
As this new initiative gets underway, the City will be creating a dedicated webpage, phone number, and email address to respond to community questions or concerns. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.
Shared Streets - An Honest Look
| Street | Location | Type | Status | Details |
| Appleton St | from Brattle St to Concord Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Bow St | from Plympton St to DeWolfe St | Restaurant Outdoor Dining | Implemented | Bow Street, between DeWolfe Street and Plympton Street, is will be reduced to one general travel lane at all times to create space for outdoor dining. All parking adjacent to the outdoor dining area will be removed. |
| Bristol St | from Market St to Cardinal Medeiros Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Broadway | from Scouting Way to Tremont St | Public Connection | Existing | |
| Cadbury Rd | from Sherman St to Wood St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Cambridge Common | from "Little" Concord Ave to Harvard Yard | Public Connection | Existing | |
| Cambridge St | at Hampshire St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | The Route 69 bus will no longer stop at this location. Instead, it will stop at the previously existing bus stop on Hampshire St at Inman St. |
| Cambridge St | at Prospect St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | The Cambridge St at Prospect St bus stop is closed and will not be served by the Route 69 bus. Nearby stops include Hampshire St at Inman St and Cambridge at Norfolk St. |
| Cambridge St | from Springfield St to Prospect St | Restaurant Outdoor Dining | Implemented | On Cambridge St from Springfield St to Prospect St, motor-vehicle travel will be limited to the westbound direction (towards Harvard Square). Motor-vehicles going in the eastbound direction will be detoured via Hampshire St and Prospect St. People walking and biking many continue to go in both directions through this area. The City is coordinating with the MBTA to determine changes to the bus stops for Route 69 passengers headed towards Lechmere. The City will reallocate roadway space to create outdoor dining space on the north and south sides of Cambridge St between Springfield St and Oak St, and on the north side of Cambridge St between Oakland St and Prospect St. On the north side of the street, the areas will convert to loading and short-term parking when they are not being used for dining. Additional parking will be available in seven back-in angled parking spaces which will be created on Cambridge St in the block between Oak St and Oakland St. You can view a drawing of the Inman Square Outdoor Dining Plan. |
| Chauncy St | from Garden St to Mass Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| "Little" Concord Ave | from Follen St to Waterhouse St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Donnell St | from Concord Ave to Garden St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Essex St | from Bishop Allen Dr to Harvard St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Everett St | from Mass Ave to Oxford St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Fountain Ter | from Huron Ave to Holworthy St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Fulkerson St | from Cambridge St to Binney St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Garden St, Field St, and Bay State Rd Corridor | from Concord Ave to New St | Shared Street | Implemented | This corridor was selected as one of the first Shared Street corridors for the June 2020 pilot. It provides connections to Cambridge Common, Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, Danehy Park, Fresh Pond, Alewife, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods. |
| Hampshire St | at Inman St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | This bus stop will now be served by the Route 69 bus. |
| Harvard St | from Prospect St to Portland St | Shared Street | Coming Soon | This street was selected as one of the first Shared Street corridors for the June 2020 pilot. It provides connections to Kendall Square, Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, Sennott Park, nearby City buildings, Washington Elms/Newtowne Court, 119 Windsor Street, Whole Foods. As requested by community members, we are delaying the implementation of this section of Harvard St for a few weeks while we do additional outreach. |
| Harvard St | from Quincy St to Prospect St | Shared Street | Implemented | This street was selected as one of the first Shared Street corridors for the June 2020 pilot. It provides connections to Kendall Square, Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, Sennott Park, nearby City buildings, Washington Elms/Newtowne Court, 119 Windsor Street, Whole Foods. |
| Harvard Yard | from Cambridge Common and Oxford St to Harvard St | Private Connection | Existing | |
| Holworthy St | from Fountain Ter to Belmont St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Howard St | from Kinnaird St to River St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Kelly Rd | from River St to Magazine St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Kinnaird St | from Putnam Ave to Howard St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Lowell St | from Mt Auburn St to Brattle St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Magazine | at Auburn St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Magazine St | at Erie St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Magazine St | at Green St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Magazine St | at Perry St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Magazine St | at Putnam Ave | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Magazine St | from Franklin St to Granite St | Shared Street | Implemented | This street was selected as one of the first Shared Street corridors for the June 2020 pilot. It provides connections to Central Square, Magazine Beach, BU Bridge, Morse School fields, Trader Joe’s. |
| Market St | from Elm St to Broadway | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Massachusetts Ave | from Norfolk St to Brookline St | Restaurant Outdoor Dining | Implemented | On Massachusetts Ave from Norfolk St to Brookline St, the City will repurpose the space that is currently an extension of the left-turn lane at Pearl St, to create an outdoor dining area on the southwest side of Massachusetts Ave. This left-turn lane extension is not essential to roadway operations. The remaining lanes will be shifted so that the new dining area will be adjacent to the sidewalk. |
| Middlesex St | from Notre Dame Ave to Van Norden St | Public Connection | Existing | |
| Moore St | from Broadway to Harvard St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Newell St | from Walden St to Upland Rd | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Notre Dame Ave | from Sargent St to Middlesex St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Oxford St | from City line to Kirkland St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Palmer St | from Church St to Brattle St | Restaurant Outdoor Dining | Coming Soon | Palmer Street, which already operates as a Shared Street, will be fully closed in the evenings to create space for outdoor dining. |
| Putnam Ave | at Allston St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Raymond St | from Richdale Ave to Linnaean St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Reed St | from Harvey St to Rindge Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| River St | at Fairmont St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| River St | at Green St | Bus Stop Change | Coming Soon | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. A new bus stop will be added on River St at Green St. |
| River St | at Kelly Rd | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| River St | at Pleasant St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| River St | opp Blackstone St | Bus Stop Change | Implemented | Starting Friday, June 26, the Route 64 bus will be moved from Magazine St to River St. Riders may access the bus from any stop on River St. |
| Sacramento St | from Mass Ave to City line | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Sargent St | from Rindge Ave to Pemberton St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Scouting Way | from Harvard St to Broadway | Private Connection | Existing | |
| Second St | from Cambridge St to Binney St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Sheridan St / Lincoln Way | from Wood St to Raymond St | Private Connection | Existing | |
| Spring St | from Fulkerson St to First St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Stearns St | from Garden St to Newell St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Tremont St | from Broadway to City line | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Upland Rd | from Raymond St to Huron Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Van Norden St | from Middlesex St to Yerxa Rd | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Vassal Ln / Lakeview Ave | from Fresh Pond Pkwy to Huron Ave | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Walker St | from Linnaean St to Garden St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Wood St | from Cadbury Rd to Walden St | Shared Street | Proposed | Based on the public input provided through July, the City is proposing to add this street to the Shared Streets network. |
| Yerxa Rd | from Van Norden St to Yerxa Rd Underpass | Public Connection | Existing | |
| Yerxa Rd Underpass | from Yerxa Rd to Raymond St | Public Connection | Existing |
Memorial Drive
Harvard Square Lane Reconfiguration
Aug 10, 2020 (Mass. DOT) – On Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration took the next step in the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project by releasing the Scoping Summary Report (SSR) for the project. The full document (including appendices totally over 450 pages) is available in its full form for download on the project website: https://www.mass.gov/doc/national-environmental-policy-act-review-scoping-summary-report-i-90-allston-multimodal-project/download
The Scoping Summary Report serves several purposes in the NEPA process. The Scoping Summary Report documents the opportunities provided for public comment during the scoping process and provides responses to some frequently received comments. Most importantly, the SSR lays out the key elements that will ultimately be used to define the “preferred” version of the I-90 Allston Multimodal Project: a set of alternatives proposed to be carried forward into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and a statement of the project’s purpose and need and set of selection criteria that will be used to compare those alternatives and decide on a “preferred” alternative.
All of the “build” alternatives in the SSR that are being carried forward into the DEIS process are multimodal and make transformative changes to the portion of the project on the former Beacon Park Yards. All include:
There are three different options carried forward for the area known as the “throat”, each suggesting a different approach:
All of these are carried as “build” alternatives, meaning that they fulfill the purpose and need of the project as defined in the SSR. The SSR also carries forward what is called a “no build” alternative, an option that does not meet the project’s purpose and need but does involve re-building the existing, structurally deficient viaduct. Instead of building the multimodal project, MassDOT would replace the deck of the I-90 Viaduct in Allston where it currently exists and leave all other transportation infrastructure in their current alignment. This No Build option would simply reconstruct the viaduct and would not include the construction of a new West Station or Paul Dudley White bicycle and pedestrian path.
The next NEPA document produced after the SSR is the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and so there is no specific public engagement or stakeholder process that occurs at this point in the NEPA process. MassDOT, however, welcomes and expects a continued discussion of this vital infrastructure project as we move to the next phase of the process. MassDOT will spend the next 30 days compiling additional information to better inform this fall’s focus on comparing the three “throat” options against each other and the project purpose and need and selection criteria. We will release this information and hold additional public meetings in September.
Starlight Square
CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)
7:00am-8:00pm Primary Election Day (All 34 Precincts will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm for in person voting)
9:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave.)
By Limited In-Person and Remote Participation via ZOOM
Members of the public may participate in person on a very limited basis due to COVID safety.
I. MINUTES II. REPORTS 1. Executive Director's Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports |
III. PUBLIC COMMENT IV. ACTION AGENDA Old Business 2020 State Primary, Tuesday, September 1 New Business |
1:00pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (51 Inman Street, 1st Floor)
By Limited In-Person and Remote Participation via ZOOM
Members of the public may participate in person on a very limited basis due to COVID safety.
I. MINUTES II. REPORTS 1. Executive Director's Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports |
III. PUBLIC COMMENT IV. ACTION AGENDA Old Business 2020 State Primary, Tuesday, September 1 New Business |
2:30-5:00pm Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Design Review Meeting (Police Station, First Floor Community Room, 125 Sixth St.)
6:00pm Human Rights Commission meeting (Virtual)
6:00pm School Committee Virtual Special Meeting (webcast from Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
There will be a Special Meeting of the School Committee on Thurs, Sept 3 at 6:00pm held in and broadcast from the Dr. Henrietta S. Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway, for the purpose of discussing and voting on Superintendent Recommendations, including a recommendation for the CRLS students to participate in Athletics for the 2020-21 school year and a first reading of Revisions to the Inoculation of Students Policy based on new State guidance, consent agenda items and Official School Committee Minutes. It is anticipated that this meeting will end by or before 8:30pm.
Until further notice, the Cambridge School Committee will hold its meetings and hear public comment virtually. Meetings will be livestreamed at www.cpsd.us and broadcast on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual.
Individuals must sign up in advance to provide public comments at the Sept 3 Special Meeting: The sign-up window is Mon, Aug 31 through Thurs, Sept 3, 12:00pm (by phone) and 5:30pm (online).
- To sign up to call-in by phone: contact Jennifer Dever Wood at 617-349-6620.
- To sign up to call in using the ZOOM app on your computer or mobile device: visit www.cpsd.us/school_committee/virtual.
6:00pm Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission meeting (Zoom)
6:30pm Planning Board meeting (Remote Meeting - web only)
9:15-11:00am Recycling Advisory Committee (virtual meeting)
Agenda:
1. Housekeeping (10 min):
Volunteer to take Minutes. Vote on August Minutes
2. City Updates (10 min):
Curbside compost update; New LCA study from EPA on food waste processing options in MA
[From previous meeting: BYOB Ordinance - reimplemented Aug 10
New curbside recycling hauler starting Nov 1; Yard waste will now extend until Dec 31;
Recycle Center reopened on Saturdays only; Small Business Recycle Program expanding Nov 1]
3. CPAC/RAC sub-committee debrief w/ Bronwyn Cooke (30 min)
4. Chat about Sub-Committees (25 min):
• Recommendation for a survey to community • 1-pagers on food waste reduction tips • Outreach in Compost group
5. Closing (15 min):
• Elections for Chair, Co-chair, Secretary; • Public Comment; • Action Plan/Decisions; • Announcements
5:30-7:30pm Bicycle Committee meeting (4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)
6:00pm Community Preservation Act (CPA) Vote Meeting (Virtual)
6:00pm Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting (Virtual)
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Committee Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
6:00pm Half Crown - Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Zoom)
6:30pm Planning Board meeting (Remote Meeting - web only)
1:00pm The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing to discuss improvements to Harvard Square to promote safe streets and truck traffic regulations in Cambridge. (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
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 (Zoom)
10:00am Pole and Conduit Commission Meeting (Online)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber - Televised)
5:30pm Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission Meeting (Zoom online webinar)
6:00pm Pedestrian Committee Meeting (City Hall Annex, 4th Floor Conference Room, 344 Broadway)