Cambridge InsideOut - Jan 18, 2022
Possible Topics:
1) Christine Elow Named Permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department
4) January 10 City Council meeting
5) Awaiting Report and the Responsibilities of Committee Chairs and the City Clerk
6) Looking Back at the 2020-2021 City Council
7) Looking Ahead at the 2022-2023 City Council
(a) City Manager search
(b) City Clerk search
(c) alternative police options
(d) Charter revision possibilities
(e) Next round(s) of roadway reconfigurations – Is compromise still possible?
(f) Ideology vs. Practicality
(g) Densification, representation, vox populi
8) Cambridge Chronicle and Local Journalism
9) Volunteer Opportunities - Boards and Commissions
10) Civic Calendar
Jan 17, 2022 – City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced Christine Elow has been named the permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. She has served as the Acting Police Commissioner since August 2021 when she took over for Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr., who accepted an opportunity at Johns Hopkins Institutions. Elow becomes the first woman to lead the Cambridge Police Department since its inception in 1859.
“Over the last six months, I have worked closely with Acting Commissioner Elow, and her leadership, contributions, and collaborative spirit throughout this unprecedented time have been nothing short of impressive,” City Manager DePasquale said. “Ms. Elow has clearly demonstrated to the public and to me that she is the right person to lead the Cambridge Police Department. I am pleased to appoint Christine Elow as the permanent Commissioner for the Cambridge Police Department.”
Elow said, “My entire career has been dedicated to serving the Cambridge community. I grew up in Cambridge and love working in this city. Now, I look forward to building off what we have started since I was named Acting Police Commissioner and am truly honored to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the department. I will remain committed to bringing change and transformation to public safety and working collaboratively with the community. I plan on doing everything I can to help CPD advance its mission and continue to serve as the model for policing in Massachusetts and the country.”
“Acting Commissioner Elow has earned the opportunity to lead the Cambridge Police Department on a permanent basis,” Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said. “She is an exemplary role model and has gained my trust and the trust of many in the community through her leadership, integrity, and distinction. As a native Cantabrigian, Christine Elow has a lifelong commitment to our community, and I look forward to working with her in her new role.”
City Councilor E. Denise Simmons said, “I commend our City Manager for formally appointing Christine Elow as the permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. Commissioner Elow was born and raised in Cambridge, she has worked hard and risen up through the ranks, and she truly understands this community. She has never forgotten where she has come from, and she understands the importance of forging strong, respectful relationships within the community she serves. I'm thrilled to have a woman of color serving as a powerful, positive example to the many young girls of color living in Cambridge. It is important that the diversity in our leadership positions reflects the diversity in our community, and it leads to better, more responsive policy-making. This is a truly good day for the City of Cambridge.”
Elow has been with the Cambridge Police since joining as an officer in 1995 after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years. She served in the Patrol Division and oversaw the Professional Standards Unit, where she was responsible for receiving, processing, and investigating complaints made against members of the Department. She later served as Deputy Superintendent for Day Patrol and Community Services. In 2017, Elow was appointed Superintendent, making her the highest-ranking female officer in the history of the Department. She is a strong proponent of community-driven policing, juvenile justice issues, procedural justice, police training and innovative hiring practices. Elow holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Curry College and a Master's Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Program.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Elow was sworn-in at a private ceremony at the Cambridge Police Department.
Election Method Comparison – STV/Cincinnati vs. Fractional Transfer – 2021 Cambridge City Council Election (posted Jan 15, 2022)
Click on graph above for latest Cambridge data.
Jan 18, 2022 Breakdown of Cases:
16600 tested positive (total) - an increase of 205 from the previous day and 7470 over 34 days
130 confirmed deaths (77 in long-term care facilities, 53 (1 on Jan 14 and 1 on Jan 18) in general community)
Thanks to vaccinations, even though the 7-day averages are dreadful the impacts are not as bad as they could have been.
Harvard University COVID-19 data MIT COVID-19 data
The surge in new positive tests is due to a combination of the Delta variant and the Omicron variant.
High vaccination rates have helped to blunt what might have been a larger surge and far more deaths.
Covid Cases by Age Group - through Jan 9, 2022
[the pattern now appears to be similar across most age groups]
Masks Required in Indoor Public Places & High-Quality Masks Recommended
The City of Cambridge requires that face masks or coverings be worn in indoor public places, including common areas of residential buildings with at least four units as well as common areas of office and laboratory buildings. The mask order applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines.
Not all masks provide the same level of protection. Research shows that high quality “medical-style” masks available to the public are most effective at protecting the wearer from infection. Look for masks that fit snugly and block at least 90% of small viral particles from being breathed in. Masks should also be comfortable, especially if they are being worn throughout the day.
Wear a mask with excellent filtration. Aim for 90-95%.
City Booster Clinics to Offer Both Pfizer & Moderna Vaccines at CambridgeSide
The City of Cambridge is offering COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinics for eligible people who live or work in Cambridge on the third floor inside the CambridgeSide mall on:
Appointments are available and walk-ins will be accepted.
Both the Moderna vaccine and booster and the Pfizer vaccine and booster will be available.
You’re eligible for a booster if:
Those 18 and older can mix and match vaccines. You do not need to get the same vaccine brand for your booster as your original COVID-19 vaccination.
Pfizer COVID-19 boosters are now available to anyone ages 12 and older who are at least 5 months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series. At this time, only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents age 12 and older. Learn More
The City of Cambridge offers free COVID-19 testing 7 days a week for people who live or work in Cambridge. Walk-in testing is offered 4 days per week and appointment-only testing is offered 7 days a week through a partnership with CIC Health at their 295 Third St. location in Cambridge. Please see below for details.
Walk-in only testing:
Appointment-only testing through CIC Health:
Through a partnership with CIC Health, appointment-only testing is available 7 days per week to people who live or work in Cambridge at CIC Health’s 295 Third Street location in Cambridge. To schedule an appointment, visit www.cic-health.com/cambridge. You will need to create a new account and select one of the available appointment slots through CIC’s system during the following hours:
Coronavirus levels in Boston-area waste water are falling (Boston Globe. Jan 12, 2022)
Boston-area coronavirus wastewater data takes a plunge: ‘An encouraging sign’ as COVID cases surge (Boston Herald, Jan 11, 2022)
Jan 5, 2022 – The City of Cambridge today amended its emergency order requiring that face masks or coverings be worn in indoor public places to include common areas of residential buildings with at least four units as well as common areas of office and laboratory buildings. The order applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. This amended order goes into effect on Friday, January 7, 2022 at 12:01am.
For the purposes of the amended order, Indoor Public Places include, but are not limited to:
The City also announced temporary restrictions on city public meetings and indoor city events due to COVID-19. All public meetings of city committees, advisory groups, community meetings and the like shall be conducted as remote meetings, rather than in-person meetings. No city-sponsored community events or city-sponsored public gatherings shall take place indoors. Such events may continue when conducted outdoors if participants are masked and are able to physically distance. This does not apply to city-sponsored youth activities or youth sports, or other city-sponsored athletic programs, which may continue to take place indoors.
The meetings of the Board of Zoning Appeal, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and Neighborhood Conservation Commissions, License Commission, Planning Board, Pole and Conduit Commission and Election Commission are authorized to be held. Meetings will continue to be held virtually by utilizing web based technology that will stream audio and video – whenever possible – of the meeting. All meetings will allow for remote participation by the members of the public body.
Despite a significant reduction in deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Massachusetts and a high proportion of vaccinated residents in the Commonwealth relative to other states, COVID-19 cases are on an upward trajectory in Cambridge, neighboring communities, and the Commonwealth due to the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
The full text of the amended temporary emergency order requiring the wearing of masks in indoor public places can be found here.
The full text of the temporary emergency restrictions on city public meetings and indoor city events can be found here.
More information and frequently asked questions about face coverings are available at www.cambridgema.gov/masks.
The City of Cambridge continues to monitor COVID-19 data closely and will make adjustments to COVID-19 testing and mitigation strategies as needed.
The City of Cambridge offers free COVID-19 PCR testing 7 days a week for people who live or work in Cambridge. More information is available at www.cambridgema.gov/testing.
All residents 5 years of age and older are encouraged to get vaccinated and get a booster dose, when eligible. To find a vaccine location near you, visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov.
For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 to sign up for daily City of Cambridge email updates.
You really can't expect too much at the first meeting of a new City Council term, especially with two rookies on the team. Of the 80 items awaiting report from the previous term, 44 have been carried over to the new term (including 5 new ones), and 36 were dispatched to oblivion (a good thing, in my humble opinion).
I often find myself searching for paradigms. Before diving in with comments and analysis I generally need a way to frame things rather than simply react to the proposals, rhetoric, actions and reactions. This is especially true with the coming of a new year or a new City Council term. I don't even bother trying to make sense of the Cambridge School Committee anymore.
One paradigm I have been considering lately in regard to the City Council as well as other elected bodies is the nature of representation. Who do our elected representatives really represent - especially in a system that is supposed to be proportional representation? Are the geographical areas of the city proportionally represented? What about viewpoints on various issues, especially in a political context where some advocates are working overtime to convince voters and elected officials that just one or two issues are all that matter? Perhaps more significantly, do our elected officials represent the people of the city or primarily the activists? [One of the initial actions of one newly minted councillors was to meet with activists rather than residents in general. The other newly minted councillor held an open community meeting in North Cambridge.] Suffice to say that the overwhelming majority of Cambridge residents would likely not identify as “activists”.
This is important when you consider some of the recent flash points such as the reconfiguration of North Mass. Ave. in a manner that delights many activists and infuriates many residents and business owners (and their customers who may be driving from elsewhere). We have seen and will likely soon be seeing more densification zoning proposals pushed by activists who see themselves as part of a national movement. There are proposals now before the Council and the City administration having to do with alternate models for police and emergency response. Are these really what residents want or what the activists want? Do our city councillors see their main job as responding to the demands of the activists or reflecting the desires of the residents of the city? I shudder to think about what criteria some councillors may be using to decide on the next City Manager.
I really wish we had a better way to gauge public opinion than the biased views of city councillors, various neighborhood and activist listservs, NextDoor, or Twitter. My perhaps shocking point of view is that Cambridge people are actually pretty normal – but you wouldn't necessarily know that from all the chatter.
As for the current meeting, here are the agenda items I thought worthy of comment as we get this next term underway:
Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Chief Public Health Officer, the Cambridge Health Alliance, and other relevant City staff to create a “priority line” and/or establish “senior hours” at the City’s Covid-19 testing locations. Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0
I don't envy the job of a mayor, city manager, or school superintendent during a pandemic or other crisis. You're likely to be a hero or a villain in the eyes of many people when you are simply trying to do your job, and the determination of hero vs. villain may be a function of things over which you have little control. The impulse to demand that you “do something” such as imposing restrictions or mandates is strong, and as the person in charge you have to weigh those demands against all the practical aspects of actual vs. perceived safety, union contracts, and economic survival of local businesses.
I follow the Covid numbers pretty closely and make new graphs daily in my “Plague Report” - nothing like a little medieval reference to keep your spirits up. What I don't track (only because the local numbers are hard to access) are hospitalizations and similar measures of severity. Deaths and positive test results are no longer the most relevant measures of this pandemic now that Omicron has spread like a prairie fire with relatively few people dying or getting severely ill (largely thanks to widespread vaccination here). I am always eager to hear more specifics from our public health officials, and I'm grateful that time is set aside every couple of City Council meetings to delve more deeply into the specifics.
Intuitively, I expect that this Omicron prairie fire will burn itself out within a few weeks, but I really have no facts with which to back that up. Some people have been noting the patterns in South Africa, but we really are not all that comparable, especially in terms of vaccination rates. Meanwhile, even if the severity of illness has been tolerable, local businesses are still struggling and some are still closing for good. Suffice to say that the actions of city councillors have not played much of a role in this. This is not meant as a criticism. It's just that there's simply not much that they can do. Let's just hope for an early spring of Red Sox games and reflection of the pandemic past.
Manager's Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs & Public Investments David J. Kale as a member of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees, effective Jan 10, 2022.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager's Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval of new appointments and reappointments of members of the Peace Commission for a term of three years. New Appointments: Kaleb Abebe, Annie Brown, Sarah DeMott, Yasmine Hung, Bonnie Talbert; Reappointments: Kazimiera I.H. Fraley, Larry Kim, Elka Kuhlman, David Seeman
Order Adopted 9-0
I suspect that every City Manager appointment this year will be taken as an opportunity to test the waters of the recent ill-advised charter change that gives the City Council veto power over appointments to City boards & commissions. Does this apply to the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees that was established under a Special Act rather than under the traditional management roles under the Plan E Charter? I don't think we'll be seeing any vetoes of appointments to entities like the Peace Commission, but I wouldn't put it past some councillors to make an issue of it anyway. By the way, there is still no established protocol for how the City Council intends to consider appointments and/or exercise its unfortunate new authority.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint a 20-25 person Cycling Safety Ordinance Implementation Advisory Committee to advise and improve upon the implementation of the citywide bicycle safety infrastructure and to establish recommendations on mitigating any concerns raised in regard to this infrastructure, with the appointments to be announced no later than Jan 31, 2022. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Dec 20, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to convene meetings between his office, the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department, and with the heads of the Neighborhood Business Associations, with the Neighborhood Associations, and within each of the Cambridge Housing Authority’s senior buildings, to ensure that these stakeholders are given the opportunity to collaborate on devising new plans that will inform the City’s approach going forward in establishing citywide bicycle-safety infrastructure that works for bicyclists, motorists, pedestrians, seniors, those with mobility impediments, the local business community, and all our residents. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Dec 20, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended by Substitution 9-0
Communications: There are 13 letters regarding the North Mass. Ave. roadway changes; 2 supporting the HEART proposal; 1 solicitation re: cable TV franchise fees; 1 on Covid testing; and 34 “sundry communications” on the proposal now being floated by CDD to radically alter residential zoning citywide (33 opposed and 1 in favor).
Placed on File 9-0
It was not so long ago that the idea of having stakeholder meetings and advisory committees would be noncontroversial and desirable – even if that meant some delay due to “processing things to death.” In our new “progressive” environment such community feedback is now viewed as counterproductive and obstructionist. After all, it might slow down the juggernaut. In the last meeting of the previous Council term there were actually people who who spoke out emphatically against these proposals for community input and review. Like it or not but being a “progressive” these days seems to be primarily about increasing and endorsing government control without question.
Resolution #3. Thanks to Peter Daly for his tremendous work as Executive Director of Homeowners Rehab, Inc., over the past 33 years, and in wishing him the very best as he looks to pursue his next exciting chapter. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Resolution #5. Resolution on the death of Janet Axelrod. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
I especially like what Library Director Maria McCauley had to say about Janet Axelrod: “It is with sorrow that I write today. One of our longstanding Library champions, Janet Axelrod, passed away on December 26. Janet was the chair of the Board of Library Trustees. She was also one of the founders of the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Janet was the very best board chair. She cared deeply about accessible library services, the freedom to read, and the privacy rights of users. She understood the complexities of a public library. She was committed to social justice, civil rights, and equity and inclusion work, and she greatly appreciated the staff of the Library and its volunteers.”
There are many Cambridge residents who volunteer their time and energy on various City boards & commissions completely independent of the politics of the day. They perform an essential function, and Janet Axelrod was an essential part of this tradition.
Resolution #7. Resolution on the death of legal scholar, civil rights champion, and Cambridge resident Lani Guinier on January 7, 2022 at the age of 71.
Order #2. That Article 20.90 - Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3- Temporarily prohibited uses. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0
This is simply a re-filing of this proposed moratorium due to the failure to schedule an Ordinance Committee meeting within the time limits required under state law. That said, I'll repeat what I said when this was initially introduced: “If the City were to now pass either temporary or permanent zoning changes that significantly decrease the development potential, it sure seems like a good case could be made by the new owners that they should be compensated for that loss. I hope that won't happen, but this says a lot about the consequences of City Council inaction or lack of a coherent vision.”
Suffice to say that the City Council should have established at least interim zoning for this area several years ago and before a significant amount of real estate changed hands. That, of course, presumes that our elected officials actually have some idea of what they want.
Order #3. That the Mayor is requested to schedule a training session within the month of January for the purpose of reviewing Robert’s Rules of Order with the entire City Council. Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Mayor Siddiqui, announcing the formal 2022-2023 appointments to the City Council Committees.
Placed on File 9-0
Perhaps at some level it doesn't really matter who is chosen to be Chair of any given committee, but the practical fact is that committee Chairs do use that role not only to facilitate deliberation but also as a vehicle for their personal political agendas. I simply cannot fathom some of Mayor Siddiqui's appointments for this term, especially Ordinance and Public Safety. On the other hand, Dennis Carlone is a good match for NLTP, as is Marc McGovern with Human Services. The role of the Gov't Operations Committee during a time when we'll be selecting a new City Manager as well as a new City Clerk looms large and consequential. I hope they don't screw it up. - Robert Winters
Dec 25, 2021 – At the end of every City Council term there is inevitably a long list of items under “Awaiting Report” that consists of requests by the City Council to the City Manager for either information or for some form of action on a policy preference expressed in the form of a City Council Order. The standard procedure is that these expire at the end of the term unless one of the councillors specifically asks the City Clerk to carry it over to the next term. At the end of the 2020-2021 term there was a total of 73 items - 1 from 2016, 4 from 2018, 9 from 2019, 10 from 2020, and 49 from 2021. This lack of response is not something for which City Manager Louis DePasquale should feel any great pride, especially in regard to those aged requests that have been mouldering for years and which could have been dispensed with a simple “not at this time” even if that might irritate some councillors.
What needs to be pointed out, however, is that failure to report in a timely way has also become standard practice among some city councillors - specifically committee Chairs who have held committee meetings and never bothered to submit a report to the City Council. As if communication through the Tunnel of Zoom wasn't bad enough, these councillors apparently have not seen fit to keep either their colleagues or the public informed unless they were present at the meeting or chose to view a recording of the meeting. There are reasons why minutes of a meeting are taken. Not everyone wants to suffer through a recording of a long and possibly boring meeting. Besides, there is this rather explicit Rule of the City Council:
Rule 29. Minutes shall be kept of all committee proceedings. All minutes, reports, and papers shall be submitted to the City Council by the City Clerk or his or her designee. Recommendations of each committee shall be made to the City Council for consideration and adoption.
Here is an account of some of the committee meetings for which no minutes have been produced (or which never were communicated to the full City Council). There is a total of 54 meetings for which minutes have not been reported to the full City Council - 15 from the previous Council and 39 from the current Council. Lack of a report is entirely expected for meetings held very recently, but there is really no excuse for the many missing reports of earlier meetings. I don't know whether the City Clerk or the Chairs of the respective committees (or their well-paid aides) should bear the responsibility for this neglect, but I'm not aware of any committee that failed to report any meeting prior to 2018. - RW
2018-2019 City Council Committees - Awaiting Report (15 total)Ordinance (chaired by Dennis Carlone and Craig Kelley) Public Safety (chaired by Craig Kelley) Transportation & Public Utilities (chaired by Jan Devereux) Health & Environment (chaired by Jan Devereux & Quinton Zondervan) Government Operations, Rules & Claims (chaired by Jan Devereux)
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2020-2021 City Council Committees - Awaiting Report (39 total)Ordinance (chaired by Dennis Carlone and Marc McGovern) Finance (chaired by Dennis Carlone and Denise Simmons) Government Operations, Rules & Claims (chaired by Denise Simmons) Public Safety (chaired by Quinton Zondervan) Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, etc. (chaired by Patty Nolan) Housing (chaired by Denise Simmons & Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler) Health & Environment (chaired by Quinton Zondervan) Human Services & Veterans (chaired by Marc McGovern) Economic Development & University Relations (chaired by Alanna Mallon) Transportation & Public Utilities (chaired by Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler) Civic Unity (chaired by Denise Simmons) |
If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record.
EV charging stations coming to Cambridge neighborhoods (Jan 18, 2022)
Cambridge appoints Christine Elow as permanent police commissioner (Jan 17, 2022)
Furnishing Hope helps Boston families rebuild after plight with homelessness (Jan 17, 2022)
Cambridge councilors want advisory committee for bicycle infrastructure (Jan 17, 2022)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 17-23, 2022 (Jan 17, 2022)
585 Third Street project will enliven the Kendall Square area (Jan 13, 2022 by Kim Massenburg)
Lydia Edwards will represent Cambridge in state Senate, voters decide (Jan 12, 2022)
For special Senate election, Cambridge voters head to polls today (Cambridge Chronicle, Jan 11, 2022)
Note: This is only for Ward 2, Precincts 2 and 3; Ward 4, Precincts 1 and 3; and all of Ward 5.
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 10 -16, 2022 (Jan 10, 2022)
Mass. school mask mandate extended through Feb. 28 (Jan 10, 2022)
State debuts digital COVID-19 vaccine passports (Jan 10, 2022)
OPINION: 'Whatever' zoning in Cambridge (Jan 9, 2022 by Cambridge Citizens Coalition)
A look into Cambridge’s delightfully quirky music venue: The Lilypad (Jan 9, 2022)
As he enters retirement, Timothy Toomey on civility, a councillor's duty (Jan 7, 2022 - subscribers only)
Cambridge program cultivates fellowship among teens, officers and fraternity (Jan 6, 2022)
Cambridge expands mask mandate in response to COVID surge (Jan 5, 2022)
Cambridge's below-freezing inauguration ushers in City Council's 2022-23 session (Jan 4, 2022)
Cause behind 3-alarm fire in Cambridge remains under investigation (Jan 4, 2022)
Cambridge delays students' return, carves out time for COVID-19 testing (Jan 3, 2022)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan. 3 - 9, 2022 (Jan 3, 2022)
Cambridge councillors take up campaign finance (Dec 30, 2021)
88-year-old woman dies in Cambridge fire (Dec 29, 2021, updated Dec 30)
Massachusetts housing market forecast 2022: Price increases slow, inventory still too low (Dec 30, 2021, subscribers only)
Massachusetts law going in effect Jan. 1 targets surprise medical bills (Dec 28, 2021, updated Jan 3, 2022))
COVID testing line stretches around Cambridgeside Galleria before of Christmas holiday (Dec 22, 2021)
Councillors want city manager to do more as COVID sweeps across Cambridge (Dec 21, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: The week of Dec. 20 - 26, 2021 (Dec 20, 2021)
Councillors discuss Cambridge's guaranteed-income pilot (Dec 20, 2021)
Cambridge distributing over 21K COVID-19 at-home tests (Dec 20, 2021)
Why do people love Cambridge so much? Here’s one woman’s answer. (Dec 17, 2021)
Cambridge councillors-elect talk goals before 2022 session convenes (Dec 16, 2021)
Cambridge reports 143 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the most on a single day ever (Dec 16, 2021)
Edwards bests D'Ambrosio in special state Senate primary, earns 95% of Cambridge vote (Dec 15, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Dec. 12 - 18, 2021 (Dec 13, 2021)
Should Cambridge have mandatory vaccination for city employees? (Dec 13, 2021, updated Dec 14)
A sliver of Cambridge to vote in Dec. 14 state primary (Dec 8, 2021)
Cambridge City Council denounces alleged bike lane violence (Dec 7, 2021)
Protesters in Cambridge demand Moderna share vaccine formula (Dec 7, 2021)
With winter looming, Cambridge restaurants face closures (Dec 7, 2021)
Cambridge reports highest single-day COVID-case count since April (Dec 6, 2021)
The Chronicle Companion: Week of Dec. 6-11, 2021 (Dec 5, 2021)
Cambridge police recruiting new officers, to host Dec. 13 info session (Dec 3, 2021)
As shortages continue to strain nation's workforce, New England police struggle to hire (Dec 3, 2021)
Cambridge expands COVID-19 testing to five times a week (Dec 3, 2021)
Cambridge extends meal program with restaurants, homeless shelters (Dec 2, 2021)
Officials differ on using Cambridge schools as polling places (Nov 30, 2021)
'Cambridge 400' aims to widen the city's historical lens (Nov 30, 2021)
OPINION: A case for fixing 'Entering Cambridge' signs (Nov 30, 2021 by Leslie Oliver)
On Dec. 7, Cambridge launches curbside textile collection program (Nov 29, 2021)
Voting in Cambridge participatory budgeting process runs Dec 3-12 (Nov 28, 2021)
Derrick Neal named Cambridge chief public health officer (Nov 28, 2021)
Members sought to fill Cambridge Public Library trustee vacancies (Nov 28, 2021)
Cambridge Police Department welcomes new cadets (Nov 28, 2021)
Animal control officer: Cambridge wild turkeys are alive and well (Nov 24, 2021)
PHOTO GALLERY: The wild turkeys of Cambridge, Mass. (Nov 24, 2021)
FAITH IN ACTION: Celebrating Thanksgiving’s 400th anniversary of revisionist history (Nov 23, 2021 by Irene Monroe)
Rodents revisited: City manager fills Cambridge councilors in on rat program, efforts (Nov 23, 2021)
Cambridge nonprofit helping young adults, changing lives turns 20 (Nov 23, 2021)
Cambridge councillors support bill to give tenants right of first refusal (Nov 18, 2021)
Note: Because the right of first refusal is transferable, the likely outcome of this legislation would be the transfer of privately-owned buildings to entities like the Cambridge Housing Authority and Just-A-Start, i.e. not tenant ownership at all.
Meet The Cambridge Chronicle's new editor and reporter, Will Dowd (Nov 17, 2021)
‘Save Mass Ave’ group pushes back on bike lanes planned for Cambridge’s largest thoroughfare (Nov 17, 2021)
Cambridge celebrates Danehy Park's new universal-design playground (Nov 16, 2021)
OPINION: Former editor Amy Saltzman on her departure – 'Support local journalism' (Nov 12, 2021 by Amy Saltzman)
Here’s why more vets are contacting Cambridge’s Veterans Services Office (Nov 12, 2021)
Food for Free is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Somerville, Cambridge (Nov 9, 2021)
We took a deep look at public housing in Massachusetts. What you need to know (Nov 8, 2021)
Billion-dollar backlogs and aging properties: Inside Mass public housing (Nov 8, 2021, subscribers only)
Preliminary election results: Incumbents reelected, two new councilors in (Nov 3, 2021)
Cambridge election 2021: Residents reveal who got their No. 1 vote and why (Nov 3, 2021)
Cambridge considers winter youth work program (Nov 2, 2021)
To create pathways for trades work, Cambridge offers paid intro program (Nov 2, 2021)
First Miyawaki Forest planted in the Northeast in Massachusetts (Nov 2, 2021)
Jan 3, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) to potentially fill either full member position(s) and/or associate member position(s). BZA members must be residents of the City of Cambridge. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.
Made up of five members and up to seven associate members, the Board of Zoning Appeal reviews applications for special permits and applications for variances from the terms of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, in accordance with M.G.L. c.40A and the Zoning Ordinance. The BZA also hears and decides appeals of orders and determinations made by the Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A, §8 and the Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the BZA reviews applications for comprehensive permits, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40B. In evaluating applications and petitions, the Board conducts public hearings and votes on the application or petition’s conformance with the provisions of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
The Board of Zoning Appeal meets twice each month on Thursday evenings for approximately 3-4 hours. Until further notice, all board and commission meetings are being held virtually via the Zoom platform. The Board of Zoning Appeal is subject to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c.30A, §§18-25, and all deliberations of the Board occur at public meetings. The meetings are also audio recorded and may be video recorded. As part of their time commitment, Board members are expected to review application and petition materials prior to each meeting. Materials may include development plans, impact studies, narrative descriptions, provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, information from city departments, written comments from the public, and other documents.
Ideal candidates would possess the ability to participate in a collaborative process, work with other Board members to consider diverse ideas, apply the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance to the facts presented in applications and petitions, and reach a decision. Members should also have strong attentiveness and listening skills. While there is no requirement for a technical background, interest and understanding of development, architecture, urban design, and zoning is desirable.
Individuals interested in being considered should apply by using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and finding “Board of Zoning Appeal” in the list of Current Vacancies. A cover letter and résumé or summary of applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting applications is Jan 31, 2022.
CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)
6:00pm School Committee Meeting (Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
The next Special Meeting of the School Committee will be held on Tues, Jan 18 at 9:00pm for the purpose of convening in Executive Session immediately after the Regular Meeting to discuss strategy for collective bargaining (all CEA Units and Food Service) and to discuss strategy for litigation/arbitration as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and litigation/arbitration positions of the School Committee.
6:30pm Planning Board meeting (Remote Meeting - web only)
General Business
1. Update from the Community Development Department
2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts (10/26/2021)
3. Discussion and possible temporary suspension of Planning Board Rules regarding in-person community engagement meetings.
4. Multifamily housing citywide: Envision Cambridge context (Materials)
4:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (Remote via Zoom)
1. Jan 11, 2022 Special State Election - Overseas Absentee Ballots - Final Election Results
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
6:00pm School Committee Virtual Roundtable Meeting (broadcast from Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
The next Virtual Roundtable Meeting will be held on Tues, Jan 25 at 6:00pm for the purpose of introducing the Youth Resource Officers Program to the School Committee.
Meetings will be livestreamed at www.cpsd.us and broadcast on Cambridge Educational Access TV (CEATV) Channel 98/99, as usual.
10:30am The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet for the purpose of reviewing next steps in the City Manager search process. (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber)
