Cambridge InsideOut - March 1, 2022
Possible Topics:
1) When international conflict gets personal
2) Covid
a) Testing Update
b) Masks Be Gone
c) Plague Report
plus the intertwing of restaurant/nightlife relief with separate agendas A Central Square Plea
3) Neighborhood Consternation Districts - February 28, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda
a) Boards - Test case for Council veto? - Volunteer Opportunities - Boards and Commissions
b) eliminating parking requirements
c) AAA ratings
d)
BEUDO, NetZero, Taxation - Adventures in Regulation
e) Navigating Charter Change
f) Bike Lanes ad nauseum
g) Sweetening the Cannabis
h) City Manager search
i) Kelley Petition - car-sharing, EV charging
4) Tempest Tossed - The Isle of Cambridge
5) Spreading the ARPA momentary wealth
6) Universal Pre-K
Dear Professor Winters,
I'm *****, I'm Ukrainian, and I'm currently located in Ukraine. I'm extremely sad to write this, but Ukraine is now at the state of war, started by the Russian government. I took Math E-21a last semester and decided to proceed with Math E-21b. I do not want to drop the course, and I will try my best to keep up with the lectures and homework assignments. However, we are having the first midterm exam this week, and I want to notify you that I will be unable to take it due to the current conditions. I'm not sure if there will be a reliable Internet connection and whether the air danger alarm will not burst out. In fact, I hear them on a regular basis, often many times a day. Therefore, I would like to ask you to move the percentage weight of this exam toward the final exam. I deeply hope that the war will be over by then and we'll live in peace. I would also highly appreciate any help regarding the homework policies. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you
Sincerely,
***** ******
Feb 28, 2022 – The City of Cambridge today announced the March schedule for its 7 days per week testing program, including walk-in and appointment-based testing options.
Appointment-only testing, provided through a partnership with CIC Health, will be available 7 days per week to people who live or work in Cambridge. Beginning Saturday, March 5, 2022, testing at CIC Health’s 295 Third Street location is available during the following hours:
Appointments can be booked online at www.cic-health.com/cambridge or assistance is available from CIC’s Customer Service Team at support@cic-health.com or by calling 877-280-2937.
Based on lower testing demand at walk-in sites and improved city COVID-19 metrics, walk-in COVID-19 PCR testing will be offered two days per week, beginning Monday, March 7, 2022. Walk-in testing sites will be open during the following hours:
In February, the City also offered walk-in testing options on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The final Thursday testing date at the CambridgeSide site will be March 3; the final Saturday testing date at the St. Paul AME site will be March 5; and the final Sunday testing date at the 50 Church St. site will be March 6. People needing testing on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays can book an appointment for testing at the CIC Cambridge testing location at 295 Third Street.
More information on the City of Cambridge COVID-19 testing program is available at www.cambridgema.gov/testing.
For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 to sign up for daily city email updates.
Feb 23, 2022 – The City of Cambridge today announced that due to the sustained improvement to the City’s COVID-19 metrics over the past month, Cambridge will lift its mask requirement for indoor public places effective at 11:59pm on Sunday, March 13, 2022. Cambridge has seen a steady decrease in reported cases, test positivity, and COVID-19 virus detection in the City’s municipal wastewater monitoring program. Additionally, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 92% of residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 76% of residents are fully vaccinated, and 45% have received a booster dose.
Effective Monday, March 14, 2022, the City of Cambridge will follow the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s mask advisory for vaccinated and unvaccinated residents consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mask guidance and will not require the use of face masks in indoor public places in Cambridge.
Residents are encouraged to follow the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and CDC recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated people, and businesses are reminded that they may continue to require the use of face masks inside their establishments if they wish.
Consistent with the City’s phased approach to reopening City buildings and programs, masks will continue to be required for all employees and visitors in municipal buildings, regardless of vaccination status, through Sunday, March 27, 2022.
The updated Emergency Order Requiring Use of Face Masks in Indoor Public Places is available here.
Many people will still choose to wear masks in certain places and situations after the mask requirement ends, and the Cambridge Public Health Department has provided information on finding high-quality masks. In addition, masks continue to be required on public and private transportation and in healthcare facilities and other specified settings.
All residents are encouraged to get vaccinated and are reminded that the City of Cambridge provides free daily COVID-19 testing at various sites across the city. Appointments and additional information about the testing program are available at www.cambridgema.gov/testing.
For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 to sign up for daily City email updates.
Click on graph above for latest Cambridge data.
Mar 1, 2022 Breakdown of Cases:
19773 tested positive (total) - an increase of 83 from the previous day
142 confirmed deaths - 77 in long-term care facilities, 65 in general community
[Jan 14(1),Jan 18(1),Jan 24(2),Jan 26(2),Jan 27(1),Jan 30(1),Feb 1(3),Feb 17(2),Mar 1(1) - all in general community]
Thanks to vaccinations, even though the 7-day averages were dreadful
the impacts were not as bad as they could have been.
Harvard University COVID-19 data MIT COVID-19 data
The surge in new positive tests was 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 Feb 20, 2022
[the pattern is similar across all age groups]
MWRA Biobot wastewater data - Feb 28, 2022
MWRA Biobot wastewater data North System - Feb 28, 2022
The densifiers are massing at the borders of Cambridge neighborhoods. The next few weeks and months should prove interesting as appointees to neighborhood conservation districts, the Historical Commission, and other boards may find themselves in the crosshairs of densifiers and control freaks. There's even a City Council order this week that seeks to redefine, and perhaps eviscerate, neighborhood conservation districts. We'll see how the review of board appointments plays out, but at this point I fully expect to soon be saying: “I told you so.”
Here are some items of interest on this week's agenda:
Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
pulled by Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0
Manager's Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Michael P. Gardner as a member of the Cambridge Retirement Board for a term of three years, effective Mar 1, 2022.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Maxwell Solet as a new member of the Board of Trustee of the Cambridge Health Alliance for a term to expire June 30, 2024.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointment to Open Data Review Board for a term of two year.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointment and new appointment to the Water Board.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Board.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointments to the Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right - Mallon
Manager's Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Historical Commission.
Charter Right - Mallon
Order #11. Amendment to Chapter 2.78 of the Cambridge Code of Ordinance, entitled “Historical Buildings and Landmarks.” Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Toner; Solicitor explains that this is a City Ordinance under Home Rule, not subject to M.G.L. Ch. 40C, and may be amended by City Council; Referred to NLTP Committee 5-4 (motion of Zondervan) [Carlone, Nolan, Toner, Zondervan, Siddiqui - YES; Azeem, Mallon, McGovern, Simmons - NO]
Manager's Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation's three major credit rating agencies.[Moody’s] [S&P] [Fitch]
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 9-0
Manager's Agenda #15. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force Report.
pulled by Nolan; referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0 (motion of Nolan)
Manager's Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for approval of the special act that has been enacted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, entitled “Chapter 19 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Authorizing the City of Cambridge to Use Certain Land for General Municipal Purposes and the Installation of Subsurface Geothermal Wells” at the Father Callanan Playground and Fields in conjunction with the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools Project.[Tobin Article 97 Plan] [Tobin Art 97 Special Act Parchment] [Tobin Special Act Order]
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager's Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a communication from City Solicitor Nancy E. Glowa, relative to a further response to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93 regarding a report on proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File, Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0 (motion of Zondervan)
On The Table #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes. (Ordinance #2022-2). [Charter Right - Nolan, Jan 31, 2022; Tabled Feb 7, 2022]
Refer to Ordinance Committee 9-0 (motion of Zondervan)
Charter Right #1. That Article 10.000 of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge be amended to insert a new section 10.600, titled “On-Site Fossil Fuel Infrastructure”. [Charter Right - Zondervan, Feb 7, 2022]
Placed on File 9-0 (based on negative opinion from Atty. Gen. Maura Healey on comparable proposed ordinance in Brookline)
Charter Right #2. That section 6.36 entitled, Schedule of Parking and Loading Requirements, of Article 6.000, entitled “Off Street Parking And Loading Requirements And Nighttime Curfew On Large Commercial Through Trucks”, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended. [Charter Right - Simmons, Feb 7, 2022]
Referred to Transportation & Public Utilities Committee 9-0
Charter Right #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct staff from the Community Development and Law Departments to examine the Zoning Ordinance and provide amendment language for consideration by the City Council to remove all other references to parking minimums, including in Articles 13.000, 14.000, 15.000, 16.000, 17.000, and 20.000. [Charter Right - Simmons, Feb 7, 2022]
Referred to Transportation & Public Utilities Committee 9-0
Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition has been received from Craig A. Kelley regarding The Cambridge Transportation De-Carbonization and Congestion-Mitigation Bill.
Charter Right - Carlone
113 Communications covering various topics but overwhelmingly about bike lanes.
Placed on File 9-0
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Economic Development division and other appropriate departments with the intention of conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations now and for a full year once the bike network is completed, positive or negative, which will help inform future installations of bike lanes along commercial corridors. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0 as Amended
Resolution #2. Thanks to Anne Shuhler and the entire Classic Graphx team for more than 35 years of exemplary service to the people and businesses of Cambridge. Councillor Simmons
Resolution #8. That the City Council go on record thanking Izzy Maldonado and his family for over 41 years of serving up some of the finest comfort food in Cambridge at Izzy’s Restaurant & Sub Shop, and in wishing the family well as the beloved institution passes into memory. Councillor Simmons
Resolution #11. Happy 80th Birthday wishes to Peter Valentine. Councillor Zondervan
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to amend all existing Host Community Agreements previously issued by the City by reducing the Impact Fee to 0.05% of Gross Revenue and to refrain from placing this burden upon any future HCAs that may yet be issued. Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem
Charter Right - Zondervan
Order #4. That the Mayor is requested to schedule a Special Meeting of the City Council and invite the Mayor of Somerville, Somerville City Councillors, the Cambridge Police Department, the Somerville Police Department, and others to discuss how to work together to address the gun activity taking place between our youth in our communities. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 8-0-1 as Amended (Siddiqui ABSENT)
Order #7. That a City Manager Search ad-hoc committee of the Cambridge City Council be formed for the purpose of reviewing and selecting self-nominated residents and stakeholders to be on the candidate preliminary screening committee. Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #10. That the City Manager is requested to work with DCR to pilot an expansion of Memorial Drive closures along any segments east of Western Avenue that could be used as parkland. Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Charter Right - Simmons
Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee met on Oct 13, 2021, to conduct a public hearing to discuss the long-term plan for school buildings, including a systemwide summary of status of plans, update on current projects, any plans for future relocations, and projections for enrollment changes over time. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. The Health & Environment Committee and the Human Services & Veterans Committee met on Dec 8, 2021, to discuss the redesign of Carl Barron Plaza with a special focus on the needs of the unhoused community and the ideas presented within Communication #10 from the Oct 18, 2021, regular meeting. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 15, 2021, to conduct a public hearing on the Off Street Parking Zoning petition (Ord #2021-23) [Report not available]
Present: unknown - no report
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0 (even though there was no report)
Committee Report #4. The Human Services and Veterans Committee met on Dec 16, 2021, to hold a public hearing to receive a report from the Department of Human Services Programs regarding changes made to DHSP after school programs. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting a memorandum regarding Final Report of the Cambridge Advisory Committee on City Art, Monuments, & Markers.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Nolan and Councillor Carlone regarding FY24 budget priorities.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Late Resolution #12. Support potential Green Line extension to Porter Square. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Resolution Adopted 9-0
Late Order #12. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to light City Hall blue and yellow this week in honor of Ukraine. Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0
Comments? Additional details may follow.
Feb 21, 2022 – I have been looking over various articles and other references about Cambridge lately, and one thought keeps recurring to me - and has to do with definitions and unilateralism.
I have to confess that even though I have been in Cambridge (at the same address) for 44 years now, I actually grew up in New York City - Whitestone, Queens. Where I grew up may have been viewed as suburban by some people, but it was definitely within New York City and, like most areas of NYC, characterized not by large lots and palatial mansions, but by relatively small lots and what many people used to call “starter homes” even though many of them are now on to their 3rd generation of family occupants. Virtually all of the open lots have long since been built upon, and even that farm across from my junior high school (yes, we still had a working farm all the way through the time I was in college) has now become a housing development.
When we moved (in my infancy) from Astoria to Whitestone, it was largely driven by my father’s unwillingness to be a “cliff dweller” - what he used to call people who lived in apartment buildings. There were definitely some apartment buildings in Whitestone, but it was mainly those much-maligned single-family homes. That’s where I spent the next two decades. After living for a short while in a trailer in Flagstaff, Arizona, I found my way to Cambridge and became a cliff-dweller - just a 3-family cliff, mind you, but a big change from what I was accustomed to - with housemates, the sounds of other building residents coming and going, complaints about noise, and getting along with the landlord. After 8 years I became the landlord and with that came lots of other concerns - mortgages, real estate taxes, utilities, boilers, shoring up porch foundations, fixing plumbing problems, tenant relations - the whole nine yards.
But I digress.
It often seems to me that those advocating for one position or another see Cambridge as some kind of island on which all problems can and should be solved entirely within the island, and often by pushing hard against the tide of economics. If the demand for housing - largely driven by the influx of higher wage tech employees - causes home prices (and rents) to rise steeply, the “solution” offered is to create an entirely separate “affordable” housing system entirely within the island or to build ferociously to get everyone on the island who likes Island Life. I do, in fact, agree with some of that - especially when it comes to elderly people on fixed incomes and people who were born and raised here and want to stay close to family. Unlike many others (whether they openly acknowledge this or not), I am not a fan of “social housing” in general. I think there’s a lot of value - financial and personal - in actually owning your own home. I often think that City planners and advocates in Cambridge put almost no emphasis on ownership - perhaps due to other political beliefs (hint, hint).
One of my biggest beefs with “Envision” is that it didn’t really set any targets or measures of success when it comes to “affordable housing”, i.e. housing divorced from market housing. It just wanted more, more, more.
I have been a mathematician for most of my life, and one thing just about every mathematician knows is the importance of good definitions. The relative softness of the definitions of “affordable housing”, “subsidized housing”, “social housing”, etc. has always been an annoyance to me, and I think much of the definitions are politically motivated. After all, something like “100% affordable housing” sells a lot better than historical terms like “housing project” or “public housing”. A rose is a rose is a rose.
An even more fundamental definition for me is how cities and urban areas are defined. The aforementioned Island of Cambridge is actually not an island. It's part of an entire metropolitan area consisting of a lot of cities and towns - most notably our Big Sister to the south. One of the things I stated over and over and over again (remember the Dave Clark Five?) during the Envision process was that the proposed significant residential development in Union Square, Somerville would likely have a greater effect on housing costs in Cambridge than most of the other policies and proposals being discussed. I still believe that, but I suppose we'll have to wait until all those housing units are finished and available to find out. The point, however, is not just that a thousand housing units in Somerville will affect costs in Cambridge, it’s that ultimately the only way good housing options will come about is to adjust the boundaries of the island.
Many of my friends growing up eventually found jobs “in the city” - which in New York-ese means Manhattan (an actual island, though 4 of the 5 boroughs of New York are actually on islands, including Queens). Other friends who had lived in Manhattan eventually settled in parts of Brooklyn and even across the Hudson in New Jersey. That’s what it took to find the kind of housing they wanted (including some great live/work space for artists). It helped a lot that public transportation in and around NYC was extensive and pretty dependable at all hours of the day and night. My friends continue to identify as New Yorkers, and some of the places they moved have become pretty fabulous - which, I suppose, may also translate into eventually being less affordable which has often been the fate of the risk-takers and urban homesteaders.
It was often said that if you couldn’t find what you wanted at a reasonable cost in Cambridge, you could find something in Somerville or Arlington. Now that radius has expanded to West Medford, Everett, Chelsea, and beyond. The question is not simply whether you can find what you want at a good price in Cambridge. It's really a question of whether you can find something close to what you want at a reasonable cost with reasonable transportation options. And sometimes those options may not be available on the island.
Robert Winters
Dear Mayor Siddiqui, Cambridge City Council, and City Manager,
The announcement of your Cambridge Nightlife Grant is really emblematic of the detachment the Council has had throughout this pandemic. Restaurants and Hospitality have faced massive declines in revenue and steep increases of debt. We've jumped through pointless covid theatrical measures like distancing, forced plexi-glass, prolonged limits on capacity, prolonged limits on seating mostly for naught. The working class of this city served the upper echelon who protected themselves while small business owners gave up their dreams and livelihoods in the name of public health. While some government programs helped in the short term initiatives like PPP-loans were no more than a short lifeline to keep staff employed or the lights on. EIDL loans were similar ... a drowning person will reach for anything to pull them from death ... but in the end these programs are just another rock on the backs of a dying industry ... dying mostly in states like Massachusetts and especially in cities like Cambridge. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund came and went and in Central Sq only 11% of the restaurants got any funds at all.
Many of us saw the writing on the wall and rallied for our restaurant friends and family. I personally was out in the streets through the entirety of the pandemic with my BID brothers and sisters supporting their thankless effort, as well as building tables, patios, a stage, and doing whatever was needed of me while my own business and livelihood evaporated. I remember having Quinton Zondervan through his aide threaten to “take my building for transient uses after I go bankrupt” while I frantically painted the wood paneling of Starlight to satisfy a very late fire department request. I remember Councilor Jivan Sobrino-Wheeler all but promised me I could resume construction if only I acquiesced to having my hotel be used as a homeless shelter. I remember the first round of aid scraps tossed to desperate owners who scrambled to put paperwork together to satisfy this Council's obsessive and arrogant attempt to balance equity when we were all on our last leg. Empathy has never been one of the Council’s strong suits and this latest attempt through so called “Nightlife Grant” is just as insulting, vacant, and bereft of any substantive assistance the industry needs. $2.5M out of $60+ million in ARPA funds is not equity or justice ... it is a token box checking exercise in the worst traditions of this City.
The restaurant revitalization fund isn't getting refilled and the industry that is the second largest in Massachusetts will have to forge ahead knowing that this Council, like our State and Federal Government, looked at our collective worth and found us all to be worthless; an amenity to be discarded; “essential” but also not. It hurts more than any of you luckily will ever understand.
I ask that you strip the ridiculous hoops you've put in place for this latest round and put in place the only caveat that if you received RRF funds you cannot apply. As a token of my appreciation I nor any business I'm affiliated with will not apply; even though I received not a cent from the Fed, lost well over $7M over 2020-21, and did so paying my staff a living wage, carrying them ALL through this pandemic, and came literally within days of losing my home ... and not because of some virus but because of your reaction to it. Your continued overreaction furthers the pain whether it be declaration of “we are back to 2020” or “the vaccines don't work” as our esteemed Vice Mayor and councilors stated only a few short weeks ago.
The restaurants of Cambridge deserve more of you. They deserve to be made whole. Just like the children of this city deserve to be freed of your paranoia and politics. The damage you've fostered will last generations and many of us will never forget. While we fought for our lives and the lives of our neighbors you insulted us, measured us, judged us, while many of you hid in your homes in front of a zoom screen.
Peace and Love,
Patrick W. Barrett
RW Note: I just learned yesterday that Classic GraphX in Central Square will be closing and the end of February. The lingering effects of this pandemic on so many beloved businesses has been devastating.Cambridge Announces $2.5 Million Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant Program
Feb 3, 2022 – The City of Cambridge announced a new Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant program today which will award $2,500,000 to eligible Cambridge venues.These grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues (e.g. movie theaters, performance venues, galleries) heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and entertainment venues citywide will be able to apply for grant awards of $10,000 for allowable business expenses such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, utilities, goods and equipment, and outdoor dining infrastructure. Applications will be accepted from February 3 through February 28, 2022 at 8:00pm and are available at https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.
“The uncertainty of the last two years has made operations difficult for restaurants and nightlife venues, and I am glad we are able to provide some relief at this pivotal time of the pandemic,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “These grants, which will prioritize some of our hardest hit businesses, will help restaurants and nightlife venues that have a long road to recovery.”
The Restaurant and Nightlife Relief grants will be awarded based on criteria which will prioritize businesses owned by people of color, women, and other historically marginalized groups, businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and businesses that have seen a severe decrease in sales from pre-pandemic levels.
“Cambridge’s restaurants and nightlife venues are a vital part of our community and these sectors have been among the hardest hit by this pandemic,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Their economic recovery is critical to our city and I’m proud to launch this new grant program that builds upon the $4,800,000 in relief funds that the City of Cambridge has awarded to local businesses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The City anticipates funding an additional $2,500,000 in small business relief grants for other sectors impacted by the pandemic later this year.
For more information about eligibility, exclusions, and the application for these programs, please visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.
Those with questions or in need of assistance can call 617-349-4654 or email smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov. Translation and interpretation services are available upon request.
Feb 24, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill vacancies on the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) advisory board.
CCPD works to increase access to all aspects of Cambridge community life for people with disabilities. CCPD raises awareness of disability issues and promotes equal opportunity for people with a range of abilities, including physical, mental, and sensory. CCPD also provides information, referrals, guidance, and technical assistance to individuals and their families, employers, public agencies, businesses and private non-profit organizations.
The CCPD board has 11 members who serve as volunteers for three-year terms. 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.
CCPD Board Members:
Individuals interested in being considered for the CCPD Advisory Board can apply online at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. When applying, please submit:
Paper applications can be picked up at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue during regular business hours. If you need help filling out your application or have any questions, please contact CCPD at:
The deadline for submitting applications is March 28, 2022.
Today's meeting of the City Council's Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee primarily focused on the proposed calendar for the City Manager search process and some discussion of how the Screening Committee that would select the priority candidates and finalists might be formed. The significant of the latter cannot be overstated. If any great candidates cannot get past the screening committee then nobody will have a chance to evaluate those candidates, and the City Council will only be able to choose from the pool of candidates recommended by the Screening Committee – unless, of course, they go with former City Councillor Tim Toomey's advice that “it only takes 5 votes” to select a candidate even if that person is not in the pool of those who survived the screening.
The City Council and the City Administration often claim to be quite transparent in all that they do – even in the Zoomy Pandemic World – even though many people would beg to differ. One person during public comment even remarked that it wasn't at all obvious how to even access the agenda of this meeting. True or not, the point is that the City Council and its committees as well as the City Administration really need to be MORE transparent, and simply saying that information is included in the City's updates or posted somewhere on the City website isn't really enough. One need only consider some of the chatter about bike and bus lane implementation to understand that just because public information exists that doesn't necessarily translate into transparency or engagement.
Anyway, here is the agenda and the schedule discussed at today's meeting. There does seem to be a heavy tilt toward “advocacy groups”. My sense is that there may be a need for public engagement outside of the parameters prescribed by this committee or the firms hired to assist in the search process. - RW
Government Operations Rules & Claims Committee - Jan 25, 2022 Agenda
- Timeline presentation & adoption
- Focus groups & Town Halls
- Employee engagement
- Screening Committee
- City Staff liaison
Potential Focus Groups:
- Non-profit community leaders
- Faith based community (Cambridge Black Pastors Alliance, other faith leaders)
- Low Income Housing residents
- ACT/CHA & others Tenant Council
- Arts Community
- Affordable Housing providers
- CRLS Students
- Public School Staff & administrators
- Community School parents
- Neighborhood Associations (Part 1: East/Port/Mid/C-port): ECPT, WEHA Neighborhood Association, MCNA, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, Port Neighborhood Association
- Neighborhood Associations (Part 2: North/West/Alewife/Highlands): Fresh Pond Residents Alliance, Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Association, Maria Baldwin/Agassiz Neighborhood Association, Porter Square Neighborhood Association, Harvard Square Neighborhood Association, North Cambridge Stabilization Committee
- MBK, Equity Road Map, The Black Response/HEART, Families of Color Coalition
- Transportation (Cambridge Bike Safety, Transit Advisory, Bicycle Committee, Pedestrian Committee, Friends of Grand Junction)
- Environment (Green Cambridge, Mothers Out Front, Public Planting committee, Friends of Riverbend Park, Charles River Conservancy, Friends of Riverbend Park, Magazine Beach Park)
[it was suggested that CRWA, 350 Mass, and Sunrise Cambridge be added]- Homeless Shelter providers
- Senior Resident Representatives
- Small Business owners
- Business Association ED’s/Chamber of Commerce/Cambridge Local First
- University Relations
- Cambridge Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (employee group)
- Board and Commissions members
Town Halls:
- Cambridge resident and stakeholder
- Cambridge municipal employees
Screening Committee composition:
(4) City Council members
(3) Resident representatives (who have demonstrated advocacy in support of community needs)*
(2) Business related representatives (with demonstrated partnership experience, ideally from a large and a small business)
(1) Representative from the Cambridge School Committee or a senior School Department administrative representative
(1) Public Safety representative (Police/Fire departments)
(1) Person with demonstrated knowledge of municipal finance
(1) Health and Human Services/Public Health representative
(1) Representative with knowledge of City Planning and Development (experience in urban design and transportation issues preferred)
(1) Higher education/institutional partner
(1) Public art and/or recreational representative
(1) Affordable housing advocate
(1) Non-profit community representative
(1) Representative who advocates for the quality of our community’s civic and social wellbeing
City Manager Search Timeline
| Steps | Activity | Description | Dates | Status | |
| Phase 1: Week 1-5 1/17/22 - 2/27/22 Position Assessment, Community Engagement, and leadership profile development | Step 1 | Create dedicated email and City webpage for City Manager search process | Randi Frank Conulting, LLC will create and monitor a dedicated email for recruitment and to solicit stakeholder feedback. A dedicated webpage on the City's website will be posted with information regarding the search. | 1/17-1/30/22 | In process |
| Step 2 | Conduct staff & City Council interviews | Randi Frank Consulting, LLC, assisted by the City’s appointed search liaison, will conduct interviews with the Mayor, City Council members, Personnel Director, City's Senior Staff, employee groups, employee unions, distribute an employee survey, etc. to collect information to develop a comprehensive leadership profile. | 1/19-2/4/22 | In process | |
| Step 3 | Conduct focus groups and other community engagement as related to developing a leadership profile and community vision for the next City Manager | Randi Frank, LLC will conduct town hall style meetings where residents will be invited to participate in a discussion of what they would like to see in the next City Manager. coUrbanize will develop an extensive online community engagement feedback mechanism. Cortico will conduct 20 targeted focus groups (up to 90 minutes each), all with the purpose of collecting information to develop a leadership profile. | 2/7-2/25/22 | In process | |
| Step 4 | Employee Town Hall w/Randi Frank, LLC | Meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from employees on what they would like to see in the next City Manager, this meeting will not be public. | 2/15/22 5- 7pm | Scheduled | |
| Step 5 | Government Operations Meeting: Resident Town Hall | Public meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from residents on what they would like to see in the next City Manager | 2/16/22 6- 8pm | Scheduled | |
| Step 6 | Leadership profile completed | Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a Leadership Profile to help inform applicant recruitment and screening processes. | 2/27/22 | ||
| Step 7 | Stakeholder engagement report | Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a stakeholder engagement report for use by the City Council and incoming City Manager. | 2/27/22 | ||
| Phase 2: Week 6-9 2/28/22 - 3/27/22 Position announcement, Advertising, Candidate Recruitment and Outreach | Step 1 | Position announced/posted | Randi Frank, LLC shall place the position in the appropriate online publications, including International City and County Management Assoc., National Forum for Black Administrators, the International Hispanic Network, and other websites where potential candidates might look for career opportunities. In addition to public sector publications and websites, outreach should include LinkedIn and other private sector resources. | ||
| Step 2 | Applicant recruitment period | In addition to the job being posted on the above mentioned publications, Randi Frank, LLC shall recruit from their database of contacts, and conduct outreach to potential contacts. | |||
| Step 3 | Screening committee identified | The Government Operations Committee will identify and announce an applicant screening committee to review applicants resumes, and do the initial candidate screening. | |||
| Phase 3: Week 10-11 3/28/2022 - 4/10/22 Candidate Evaluation and Screening by Executive Search Firm |
Step 1 | Candidate credential review | Randi Frank shall review and evaluate candidates' credentials, considering the criteria outlined in the leadership profile. | ||
| Step 2 | Candidate interview & reference collection | -Randi Frank, LLC shall interview the most highly qualified candidates virtually to fully grasp their qualifications and experience, as well as their interpersonal skills. This is an hour long interview, asking specific questions about their experience and skill set. -Randi Frank, LLC shall gather formal and informal references (two per candidate of those deemed "highly qualified") and an internet search of each candidate will be conducted. |
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| Phase 4: Week 12-13 4/11/22 - 4/24/22 Presentation of Recommended Candidates | Step 1 | Recruitment report | Randi Frank, LLC will prepare a Recruitment Report that presents the credentials of those candidates most qualified for the position. A binder which contains the candidate's cover letter and resume shall be prepared, along with a "mini" resume for each candidate, so that each candidate's credentials are presented in a uniform way. NOTE: the screening committee will be provided with a log of ALL candidates who applied, and all resumes can be reviewed if desired. |
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| Step 2 | Screening Committee initial meeting | Randi Frank, LLC will meet with the screening committee to review the recruitment report and expand upon the information provided. The report will be provided to committee members 2-3 days in advance of this meeting, giving the screening committee the opportunity to fully review it. In addition to the written report, Randi Frank, LLC will spend 2-3 hours bringing the candidates to life by reviewing the virtual interviews and providing excerpts from 2 references. NOTE: at this meeting, the interviewing process will be finalized, including the discussion of any specific components of the Screening Committee deems appropriate |
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| Phase 5: Week 14-16 4/25/22 - 5/15/22 Interview Process Screening Committee |
Step 1 | Develop interview questions | Randi Frank, LLC will provide the Screening Committee with interview books that consist of the recruitment report, the credentials each candidate submits, a set of questions with room for interviewers to make notes, and an evaluation sheet to assist interviewers in assessing each candidate's skills and abilities. | ||
| Step 2 | Conduct interviews | The Screening Committee will conduct an interview of the 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council | 5/2 & 5/3? | ||
| Step 3 | Reference checks etc. | Once candidates are selected, references will be contacted, employment & education credentials verified, review search results on Google, and social media activity. | |||
| Phase 6: Week 17 5/16/22 - 5/22/22 Interview Process Community & City Council |
Step 1 | Community interviews | Randi Frank, LLC will offer community interviews with finalists as a means for the community to interact with and get to know the finalists in an informal setting. At this interview, finalists would give a brief overview of themselves and answer questions from the audience. Consultant will also work with the Personnel Department to coordinate a tour of Cambridge facilities and interviews with department heads and a final interview with City Councillors. Randi Frank, LLC will be present for all of the interviews, serving as a resource and facilitator. | ||
| Step 2 | City Council interviews | A public interview of all finalists will be held in a special meeting of the City Council. | |||
| Step 3 | Site visits (if desired) | If site visits are desired, this step can be utilized | |||
| Step 4 | Selection of finalist | The City Council will vote for a selected candidate in a public meeting. | |||
| Phase 7: Week 18+ 5/23/22 - 5/30/22 Appointment of Candidate | Step 1 | Salary & benefit negotiations | |||
| Step 2 | Notification of final appointment | ||||
CIVIC CALENDAR (abridged)
11:00am The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will meet to receive an update on the Net Zero Action Plan. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
6:00pm School Committee Meeting (Attles Meeting Room, CRLS)
6:30pm Planning Board Meeting (Remote via Zoom)
Members of the public can provide comments by 5:00pm the day before the meeting to planningboardcomment@cambridgema.gov, view the meeting online or on cable television within Cambridge, and attend virtually online or by telephone.
General Business
1. Update from the Community Development Department
2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts (1/4/2022, 1/18/2022, 1/25/2022)
Public Hearings
6:30pm PB-387
36-64 Whittemore Avenue (Alewife Park) – Special Permit application by IQHQ-Alewife LLC to renovate 2 existing buildings, demolish 5 existing buildings, construct 3 new buildings, and construct a 350-vehicle above grade parking garage, totaling around 735,500 square feet Gross Floor Area for office, laboratory, and retail use pursuant to Sections 19.20 Project Review and 20.73 Flood Plain Overlay District Special Permit. (Materials)
7:30pm PB# 378 (continued from 12/14/2021) - Withdrawal Request
1290 Massachusetts Avenue – Special Permit application by Santander Bank N.A. to relocate an existing branch of the Santander Bank to a new location along the street on the first floor of the existing building pursuant to Sections 20.54.9 Frontage Restrictions. (Materials)
General Business
3. PB-65
Charles Park – Design Update (Materials)
2:00pm The City Council's Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet for the purpose of reviewing the draft leadership profile, and next steps in the City Manager search process. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to discuss ARPA funding. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm Cambridge Election Commission meeting (Remote via Zoom)
5:30pm SFI Hearing (Statements of Financial Interest)
I. PUBLIC COMMENT II. MINUTES III. REPORTS 1. Executive Director’s Report 2. Assistant Director's Report 3. Commissioners' Reports |
IV. ACTION AGENDA Old Business 1. Wardens and Clerks Debrief 2. Planning for Future Polling Places New Business 1. Voter Survey |
5:30-7:00pm Transit Advisory Committee Meeting (Zoom)
6:00pm Cambridge Historical Commission Meeting (Zoom)
6:00-8:00pm Human Rights Commission Meeting (Zoom)
4:00-6:00pm Community Benefits Advisory Committee meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
6:00pm Mid Cambridge NCDC meeting (Zoom)
6:00pm School Committee Special Education and Student Supports Sub-Committee Meeting (virtual only)
There will be a Virtual Meeting of the Special Education and Student Supports Sub-Committee on Monday, March 7 at 6:00pm for the purpose of reviewing policies under the Office of Student Services. This meeting is expected to end by or before 7:30pm.
3:00pm The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on proposed BEUDO amendments. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
6:30pm Planning Board Meeting (Remote via Zoom)
1. Hearing - Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition - [Petition Materials]
2. Minor Amendment & Design Review (80 First Street & 150 Cambridgeside Place) - PB-364, Cambridgeside PUD - [Materials]
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend Article 20.90- Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new section entitled Section 20.94.3-Temporarily prohibited uses (ORDINANCE #2022-1). (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30-7:30pm Bicycle Committee Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on the Wage Theft Ordinance (Ordinance #2022-3). (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
8:00-9:30am Recycling Advisory Committee meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm The City Council's Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the appropriateness of laboratories in neighborhood retail districts. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
6:00pm Pedestrian Committee Meeting (Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm The City Council's Ordinance Committee will meet to conduct a public hearing on a petition to amend the zoning ordinance entitled “Article 22 Sustainable Design and Development” (Ordinance #2022-7). (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)