New Video Series Opens With Focus on Cambridge’s Charter Leading to Plan E

The Cambridge City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E premiered on Monday, May 15 at 5:30pm on CCTV Channel 9 and is now viewable on YouTube.

Created by a multi-generational team of writer-narrators John Pitkin and Robert Winters, both long-time Cambridge residents, and director Gregorio Leon, a 2016 graduate of CRLS and Emerson College, the video is introduced by WGBH’s Jim Braude. The Cambridge’s City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E combines historical documents, images, maps, and statistics to present a provocative half-hour overview of Cambridge’s first 94 years as a city and the origins of the current Plan E charter.

The episode examines our shared history through the lens of the City Charter and local elections. It shows how the Town Meeting style of government became impracticable and led to the consolidation of Old Cambridge, the neighborhood around Harvard College, with the villages of Cambridgeport and East Cambridge to create the city of Cambridge, chartered by the Commonwealth in 1846. The half-hour video presents a provocative and visually engaging review of the expansion of Cambridge as bridges linked Old Cambridge to Boston in the 18th and early 19th century, as migration drove population growth, suffrage expanded, and participation in local elections increased.

The second episode of Cambridge Civic View, now in production, will look at the 83-year history of the current Plan E charter. Since 1940, Plan E has defined our local government, given us the existing system of nine City Councillors with a City Manager as our chief executive, and established the ranked-choice proportional representation voting system used to elect our Councillors and School Committee.

Together, the first two episodes in the series will provide background and perspective on the issues facing Cambridge’s Charter Review Committee as it proposes changes to the Charter and for Cambridge citizens when they vote on whether to adopt proposed changes.

In November, Cambridge will elect a new City Council of nine at-large Councillors and a School Committee of six. Cambridge Civic View strives to engage and inform all residents, whatever their policy priorities and political values, on civic issues and how our municipal government and local democracy are working.

Cambridge’s City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E will be also be shown on CCTV Channel 9 (and on the web at https://www.cctvcambridge.org/channel-9/) at the following times: 4:30pm on Wed. May 17, 6:30pm on Fri. May 19, and 12:00pm on Sun. May 21 and is available for streaming from YouTube and for classroom use.

Comments?

Celebrate Cambridge Water, Sustainability, and Community at Fresh Pond Day Saturday, June 10

June 1, 2023 – Join the Cambridge Water Department for the city's annual Fresh Pond Day on Saturday, June 10, from 11am-3pm, at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. This event is free and open to all.

Activities include family fun and games with live wildlife, truck climb-aboards, arts and crafts, water treatment plant open house, walks around Fresh Pond, live music, and more. Kids can become a junior ranger and all can learn about sustainability resources.

Fresh Pond Reservation is Cambridge’s green gem - an urban wild that protects Fresh Pond, Cambridge’s in-city drinking water reservoir. Fresh Pond Day serves as an annual community tribute to this unique reservation that is a vital natural resource, an invaluable sanctuary for wildlife, and a beloved recreational and open space escape in the city.

Parking is limited. Extra parking is available at Danehy Park, 166 New Street. Use of public transit and bicycles to get to the event are strongly encouraged. Bus routes 72, 74, 75, 78; & Alewife T are all nearby.

Learn more about this event at Cambridgema.gov/FreshPondDay.

June 1 - I just heard that Alanna Mallon announced that she will not be seeking reelection. Meanwhile, Peter Hsu of 70 Gore Street has filed the paperwork with the Office of Campaign & Political Finance as a candidate for City Council.

Who has been raising and spending money? [Feb 2, 2022 - June 4, 2023] (source - Mass. Office of Campaign and Political Finance)

Central Square Advisory Committee Call for Members

May 24, 2023 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking volunteers to serve on the Central Square Advisory Committee.

What is the Central Square Advisory Committee?
The Central Square Advisory Committee (CSAC) is a group of community members with direct relationships to Central Square in Cambridge who review development proposals and planning projects that impact Central Square. The Central Square Overlay District (Article 20.3 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance) established the Advisory Committee. CSAC provides an additional level of review for development projects in Central Square.

There are 9 members of the committee.

• One member must have recognized qualifications as an architect or a landscape architect;
• Four members are part of the business community in Central Square with diverse representation from property owners, small- and large-scale merchants and office tenants;
• Four members are residents of the four abutting Cambridge neighborhoods (The Port, Mid-Cambridge, Riverside and Cambridgeport).

What is the role of the Central Square Advisory Committee?
The Central Square Advisory Committee comments on development proposals in Central Square. These proposals include new buildings and new uses for existing buildings. The Committee also gives feedback to the City of Cambridge on public projects, such as parks, streets, and transportation.

What kind of skills and abilities do you need to effectively serve on the Central Square Advisory Committee?
It is important to have an interest and enthusiasm for learning about urban development and community engagement, and how they shape the Central Square community. Successful members of the Committee will be able to:

• Engage with many aspects of urban planning, including urban design, transportation, housing, infrastructure planning, public space, community engagement and others;
• Listen to people from diverse backgrounds and consider different points of view;
• Collaborate and build consensus with a group of people;
• Consider how projects might contribute the quality of life in Central Square.

Additionally, the City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All CSAC members must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Who can apply to serve on the Central Square Advisory Committee?
Currently, there are two vacancies to be filled. People who meet one of the following qualifications are sought for this committee at this moment:

• One member having recognized qualifications as an architect or landscape architect who shall also serve as chair of the Committee.
• Owners of commercial property within the Central Square Overlay District.
• Business owners who run a business located in the Central Square Overlay District.
• Tenants who rent offices in the Central Square Overlay District.

When does the Central Square Advisory Committee meet? How much of a time commitment is needed to serve on this Committee?
The Committee meets as needed on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. Meetings are currently being held remotely through Zoom, and generally last approximately two hours. At some future point, in-person meetings may resume. Meeting materials about development projects will be provided at least five days prior to the meeting date for the committee members to familiarize themselves with the projects. Members usually spend an hour reviewing materials before meetings.

How can I Apply to Serve on the Central Square Advisory Committee?
Applications to serve on this Committee can be submitted using the City of Cambridge’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. With your application, include a letter explaining why you are interested in volunteering on the Committee and a description of your relevant experience, background, and unique perspective on Central Square. The City welcomes applicants with a diversity of experiences and perspectives, and values those with a desire to positively shape the future of Central Square. Application deadline is Monday, June 26, 2023.

For more information about the Committee, contact Mason Wells at mwells@cambridgema.gov or visit the Central Square Advisory Committee webpage.

Resources:
Map of the Central Square Overlay District
Central Square Overlay District Zoning
Instructions for how to apply for the Central Square Advisory Committee

Preview - June 5, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are a few select items on this week’s agenda, starting with the expected adoption of the FY2024 Budget:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to amendments to the FY24 Submitted General Fund Budget.
pulled by Nolan; Orders #3 and #4 and Committee Reports #1, #2, and #3 taken up early (see below); Zondervan asks Manager to increase tax levy by an additional 4% instead of applying Free Cash; Manager explains why this would not be prudent; Order Adopted 9-0, Referred to Finance Committee Reports

“With these changes the estimated increase in the property tax levy for FY24 is approximately 9.2% (from the original FY24 estimate of 8.8%).” Please note that even though the rate of inflation has gone up, the City’s tax levy has gone up even more.

Order #3. That City Manager is requested to adjust the Health Alliance Budget to ensure that all services provided to the City of Cambridge by the Health Alliance for Public Health Department needs and staff are fully funded, and to adjust the Capital Budget to ensure all necessary repairs are made to the Windsor Street Clinic.   Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget in FY24 by 7.1% to equal the increase of the overall city budget, increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget by $20 million through a free cash appropriation, outside of the FY24 budget, and engage in creating a 3-year plan to increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget to 10% of the overall City budget.   Councillor Simmons

Order Divided:
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget in FY24 by 7.1% to equal the increase of the overall city budget.
Order Adopted 9-0

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget by $20 million through a free cash appropriation, outside of the FY24 budget.
Order Adopted 5-4 (BA,MM,DS,QZ,SS - Yes; DC,AM,PN,PT - No)

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to engage in creating a 3-year plan to increase the Affordable Housing Trust budget to 10% of the overall City budget.
Order Adopted 6-3 (BA,AM,MM,DS,QZ,SS - Yes; DC,PN,PT - No)

Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on Tues, May 9, 2023, from 9:00am-5:00pm to discuss the City and School budgets covering the fiscal period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on Wed, May 10, 2023, from 6:00pm-11:00pm to discuss the School Department budget covering the fiscal period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on Tues, May 16, 2023 and reconvened on May 18, 2023, to discuss the City and School budgets covering the fiscal period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Zondervan motion to reduce the Police budget and defund Shotspotter:
That the Police Department Budget be reduced to $73,000,000 and that funding for Shotspotter be discontinued in FY24.
Fails 2-7 (QZ,SS-Yes) - [Not surprising that Zondervan voted this way, but now Mayor Siddiqui has officially gone on record in favor of “Defund the Police”]

General Fund Budget of $834,684,910 Adopted as Amended 8-1 (QZ - No)
Water Fund Budget of $15,502,965 Adopted 9-0
Public Investment Budget of $18,056,905 Adopted 9-0
All Loan Orders Adopted 9-0
Reconsideration Fails 0-9 on all Budget-related items

Unfinished Business #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $50,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of the Mass Avenue between Waterhouse Street and Alewife Parkway. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $35,350,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. Funds will support upgrades to the 689 Mass Avenue Interior; upgrades at the Moses Youth Center; Interior fit-out of Rindge Pre-K building; electric vehicle charging station infrastructure at several municipal buildings; and additional work at Inman and East Cambridge Fire Houses; First Street Garage upgrades to stairs and elevator; and other City building upgrades. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of the Peabody School Playground and Corcoran (Raymond Street) park. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $51,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within the Port and River Street areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $26,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets, sidewalks and bike facilities. $15,000,000 of this loan order is attributable to the improvement project related to sewer infrastructure upgrades on River Street, which include full depth roadway reconstruction, new sidewalks, new street trees and various other street improvements. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 1, 2023; Referred to Finance Committee] [text of order (May 1, 2023)]
Order Adopted 9-0

When you consider the rapid rise in the tax levy coupled with expected property tax reductions and abatements for the many commercial properties that are currently underutilized, there is a good chance that residential property tax bills this fall may jump significantly. Meanwhile, our City Council continues to advocate for even more discretionary spending.

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR23-29, regarding amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance. (CM23#155) [cover memo] [Summary Chart] [Amendment_redline] [Amendment_clean]
Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-0-1 (Simmons - Present)

The proposed amendment of the “Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance” was first introduced on Nov 8, 2021, was referred to the Ordinance Committee on Jan 24, 2022, and has since been the subject of much criticism - especially from condominium owners who could potentially be hit with significant costs. Some of the provisions would also greatly affect commercial properties - particularly in regard to mandated electrification and its associated hardware and access. There are also feasibility questions in regard to electrical supply and how Cambridge’s mandates might divert resources away from other communities. The name of the ordinance really should be amended to something more like “Building Energy Use Mandatory Retrofit Ordinance” (BEUMRO) since this clearly would no longer be just about “disclosure”.

When exactly did notions like encouragement and incentive give way to mandates?

Unfinished Business #9. An Ordinance has been received from Craig Kelley et al, relative to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge regarding EV and car share Zoning change. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 15, 2023; To Be Ordained on or after June 5, 2023; Expires Aug 1, 2023] (ORD23#2) [text of report (May 15, 2023)]
No Action Taken

There is a lot of merit to this proposal, but that pesky “Law of Unintended Consequences” continues to be a concern. Will residential properties become the 21st Century equivalent of “filling stations”.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department to provide further study on the proposed changes by the Franklin Petition, as well as a careful review of the language to remove any potential conflicts and ambiguities and is requested to direct the Law Department to provide guidance on any legal issues and questions raised by CDD and the Planning Board by the Franklin Petition.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

The Franklin et. al. Petition would essentially double and triple allowable densities broadly across all residential zones and mixed-use zones. Though it claims to be an effort to “restore” the right to build structures similar in size and shape as existing buildings, this is entirely not the case in most areas that would be affected by the proposed zoning change. It also substantially reduces setback and open requirements. It also would require ground floor nonresidential uses in many settings - even as retail continues to struggle. This Order asks the Community Development Department and the Law Department to review the petition language for potential conflicts and ambiguities especially as they relate to “climate planning, affordable housing, and inclusionary zoning”, but this proposal needs a lot more than just a review for consistency.

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish a new phone number and email address for Inclusionary Tenants to utilize for complaints and emergency issues as they arise, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed in a timely and effective manner.   Councillor Simmons
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0

It’s interesting how the comfort level among some people has been increasing in asking to have different rules and mechanisms for different people.

Order #2. Recognizing June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth in the City of Cambridge, and in urging all Cambridge residents to reflect upon the meaning of this important day.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Simmons; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

At the risk of being attacked for pointing this out, why exactly is the Juneteenth flag displayed on the front of City Hall 365 days per year? Juneteenth takes place on June 19. [This reminds me of the song by Roy Wood’s Wizzard called “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday”.] It’s also worth considering Renee Graham’s recent column in the Boston Globe entitled, “The gentrification of Juneteenth”.

Order #8. That City Manager is requested to ensure adequate funding to fully repair the irrigation system in Danehy Park immediately.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner (PO23#106)
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Hopefully things will be better for this year’s Cambridge Jazz Festival on June 29-30. Last year’s event was more like Burning Man due to the scorched grass.

Order #10. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Fire Department, the Police Department, Emergency Communications Department, Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works and the Harvard Square Business Association to determine if permanent automatic bollards could be feasible in the area of Winthrop Street.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Mallon; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #11. That the Transportation and Public Utilities and Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebration Committees work with the City Manager and appropriate City departments and staff, to hold a joint hearing to receive input from City staff and the community to review the effectiveness and develop recommendations on methods to collect data and establish measurable benchmarks and standards as it relates to the Cycling Safety Ordinance.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Toner; Charter Right - Azeem

This is likely to dominate Public Comment. I anticipate an amendment from at least one of the councillors of the form “as long as this in no way affects any aspect of the Cycling Safety Ordinance”. Some councillors are quite content to never reevaluate their decisions. – “and the Judge wasn’t going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy Pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each One explaining what each one was to be used as evidence…”

Order #12. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate departments to provide a legal opinion on whether the city could, without violating state law, use traffic cameras, regulated under the Surveillance Ordinance, to inform motorists of potential traffic violations or dangerous actions, without issuing any citations or formal warnings.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

Please don’t do that. Pretty please with sugar on it. - Robert Winters

Comments?

Just when you thought things couldn’t get nuttier - May 22, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

This week brings a few more pearls of ignorance from Mr. Zondervan. Specifically, in spite of the ongoing Charter Review process, he wants to cut the line and put a ballot question on the November municipal ballot to change the charter specifically to make the Police Review and Advisory Board a popularly elected board. I suppose the Party for Socialism and Liberation kids may be interested in the jobs. I understand that he’s not pleased that his colleagues thought so little of his controversial Order last week that they proposed a more sensible substitute, so this week he’s decided to double down. Let’s not overlook that little QZ pearl from last week’s meeting when he said: “The institution of policing itself is fundamentally broken and we must move away from it as quickly as possible.” Does anyone actually take this guy seriously? Oh yeah, he also has an Order asking for a legal opinion on whether Cambridge could permanently switch to the MWRA water supply, i.e. abandon our state-of-the art water treatment plant at Fresh Pond. The wackiness doesn’t stop there.

Here’s this week’s Whitman Sampler:

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the third annual Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO) Progress Report.
pulled by Toner; comments by PT,DS,QZ,DC,PN,AM; Placed on File 9-0

Cambridge political discourse these days seems to boil down to bike lanes, subsidized housing, and BEUDO. I’m confident that Public Comment will draw the usual suspects suspects eager to take sides on the bike lane issue, and the councillors will surely follow suit in their typically unyielding fashion. I pledge allegiance to the [FILL IN THE BLANK].

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Community Connections Grant, in the amount of $230,070.35, to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds will contribute to the purchase and installation of Bluebikes bikeshare equipment.
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ,BA (who would apparently rather use an e-bike to get to South Station rather than the Red Line); Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of a grant in the amount of $100,000 received from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to the Grant Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds will support the cost of two 19 dock Bluebikes stations and bicycles that were placed at the Kennedy/Longfellow School and Twin City Plaza.
pulled by Carlone (who questioned by gambling $ is being allocated for bikes rather than gambling addiction prevention); Order Adopted 9-0

Even though there is already a BlueBike station across the street from me at the old Longfellow School, the City apparently wants to install another at the Lee Street park around the corner from me even though the two stations will only be a few hundred feet from each other. Gotta spend that grant money. Now I’ll get to hear the crashing sound of unsuccessful attempts to lock up the bikes in “surround sound”.

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the proposed Alewife Overlay District: Quadrangle (AOD-Q) Zoning Petition and Design Guidelines. (CM23#147) [Council Memo_Alewife Quad_20230517] [AODQ Height Subdistricts] [CLEAN AOD-Q Zoning Petition – 20230517] [Description of Quadrangle Overlay Boundaries] [New Street Centerlines] [Alewife Design Guidelines_2023.05.15]
pulled by Toner; comments by PT,MM,PN,QZ,DC,BA; Zoning language Adopted as a City Council Zoning Petition, Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

I’m glad to see this getting started again, and I hope that one day a couple of new crossings of the RR tracks will grow out of whatever happens in the Quadrangle - The Final Frontier (queue up Star Trek intro). A pedestrian bridge over the Little River connecting the wetland/stormwater retention ponds area in the Alewife Triangle to the Science Park area adjacent to Acorn Park Drive would also be a welcome addition (though it’s north of the current study area). If it’s a choice between connectivity and cul-de-sacs, I’ll choose connectivity.

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant departments to establish a policy of releasing the names of officers involved in any use of force incident, up to and including those incidents resulting in injury or death. [Charter Right – Zondervan, May 15, 2023]
It is worth noting that the chronic several dozen protesters from the Party for Socialism and Liberation again dominated Public Comment with comments directed at individual councillors (thanks to recent rules changes); Mayor Siddiqui violated City Council Rules three times by allowing speakers to speak a 2nd time;
Zondervan began with prepared speech quoting Angela Davis and others, referring to Toner substitution as “whitewashing amendments”, and referring to all who disagree with him as showing “cowardice” and “hiding behind ideology” (which is so opposite to reality as to be amusing);
Councillor Nolan exhibited resolve by saying that she would not be changing her support for the Toner amendment and that contrary to the statements of protesters there was no consensus on this issue among city residents (correct), that it was fiction to say that the City Council has not taken any action in response to the Jan 4 incident, that all involved police officer names will be released when the investigation is complete, and that releasing the names today will do nothing for justice (all true);
City Manager Huang provided a limited update on where we now stand in the investigation and related processes, that per court order no information in the inquest is to be shared until complete, and provided a chronology of the wealth of City actions that have taken place since January in response to the incident;
Commissioner Elow provided updates on the cooperation of CPD with PERF;
Mallon aligned with Zondervan and stated that she won’t be supporting the Substitute Order and that she wants officer names released now (“it’s what progressive cities do” - as opposed to enlightened cities);
Simmons agreed that a policy is needed and that she would not align with Zondervan noting that the specific circumstances of the January incident are not yet known and that releasing the names now does not buy justice, closure, or anything else and that she supports a full, fair and thorough investigation;
McGovern suggested that the original two “WHEREAS” clauses were simply factual and should be included, and asked whether if a City Council policy was approved prior to the investigative report would the names of the officers be released (City Manager Huang seemed to indicate that if the policy was established he would follow policy while acknowledging need to work cooperatively with Police Department - noting that they are involved in complex and dangerous work - “What you want is a change in the culture.”);
Carlone offered comments including cryptic references to “rumors”;
Siddiqui double-talked about her comments in the Boston Globe and that she would align with Mallon and Zondervan and oppose the Substitute Order;
Toner made clear that he does not want officer names released until after DA report is released and noted that references to the releasing of names in other cities was done in the context of bodycams being instituted;
Zondervan referred to Toner Substitute as “sloppy and misleading”;
Azeem offered a broader perspective on how he arrived at his current understanding and position - especially the range of changes and initiatives that have been arrived at working cooperatively with the Cambridge Police Department and the City Administration;
McGovern referred to last two weeks of public comment as “powerful” (though manipulative, coercive, and short on facts may be better descriptors);
Simmons motion to amend Toner Substitute by adding first two “WHEREAS” clauses Passes 8-1 (QZ - No);
QZ motion to added phrases “including retroactively” Passes 6-3 (PN,DS,PT - No);
QZ amendment to add at end the phrase “with such a policy and the names of the offers involved in Faisal’s killing” Fails 3-6 (AM,QZ,SS - Yes);
Substitute Order Adopted as Amended 5-4 (BA,DC,MM,PN,DS - Yes; AM,PT,QZ,SS - No)

Order #6. That the City Council go on record favoring the filing of the attached home rule petition, entitled: “AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO INCLUDE A BALLOT QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 2023 MUNICIPAL BALLOT RELATIVE TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER” regarding electing the Police Review and Advisory Board.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Zondervan (who was soundly excoriated by his colleagues); comments by QZ,AM,DS; Order Fails of Adoption 1-8 (QZ - Yes)

Another day in Zondervan’s sandbox. The only questions are whether petulance will result in a recess and/or Zoom alternative, and if any of the other councillors sign on to either of these Orders. Perhaps the best strategy going forward might be to simply move a substitute order completely replacing every word and intention of QZ whenever things like these are introduced.

Resolution #4. Congratulations on the birth of Sabrina Reid Roberts.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons

Congratulations, Jeff and Sylvia!

Order #1. New Green Park at Third And Binney Streets.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

This Order concerns the possibility of MIT purchasing a 6,000 square-foot lot at the corner of Third and Binney Streets that could be joined with an adjacent 8,000 square foot lot to create open space in the area of the redeveloping Volpe site in Kendall Square. There is a notion that some or all of the 131 mature trees that are to be removed from the Volpe site could be relocated to this area. This is a very appealing idea, but it’s questionable whether such expensive tree relocations will actually be successful. I would personally like to see a miniature golf course integrated into the Volpe site. Maybe even a batting cage where tech workers can work out their frustrations with a few line drives.

Order #2. Removing Cuba From The State Sponsors Of Terrorism List.   Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Azeem; comments by BA,DC; Order Adopted 7-0-1-1 (MM - Absent; PT - Present)

I’m so glad to see the Council back doing what it does best – foreign policy. Hey, the Council spoke and Muammar Gaddafi got his comeuppance.

Order #3. Law Department to provide a legal opinion on whether Cambridge could permanently switch to the MWRA water supply.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Toner; QZ explains that this is only asking for a legal opinion on the legality of abandoning the Cambridge water system; other comments by PT,BA,PN,DS,DC; Order Adopted 5-3-1 (BA,DC,PN,QZ,SS - Yes; AM,DS,PT - No; MM - Absent)

Send Mr. Zondervan some bottled water in glass bottles. The rest of us would prefer to keep our Cambridge water system.

Order #7. That the “Amendments to Protect Family Inclusion and Relationship Diversity” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Zondervan; QZ Motion to Refer to Ordinance Committee; Charter Right - Simmons

Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department to provide a legal opinion on whether the City could fund affordable housing construction through a ($500 Million, at least) bond issue.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem
pulled by Zondervan; comments by QZ,PN,BA,DC; Amended to add Azeem as co-sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

This was an idea floated by Councillor Simmons back in May 2021. This is just another facet of the quest of some councillors to replace as much privately-own housing with “social housing” as possible and to use tax revenue from private-property owners to fund that replacement. - Robert Winters

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In the Merry Month of May - Making Mischief at the May 15, 2023 Meeting

Today’s my birthday and we’ll be celebrating it with a hike in Concord (as well as the grading of Final Exams). This is also premier day on CCTV for the video “Cambridge City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E” that John Pitkin, Gregorio Leon, and I have been working on for the last several months. John and I do most of the narration with an assist from our good friend (and former city councillor) Jim Braude. You can watch it on CCTV Channel 9 at 5:30pm (just in case Public Comment gets either boring or annoying) and at several other times this week. Special thanks to the CCTV staff, Diane LeBlanc, Alyssa Pacy, Charlie Sullivan and all of the wonderful people at the Cambridge Historical Commission. We have more “Civic View” programs planned. [Watch on YouTube]

Tonight’s City Council meeting features these morsels:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Board of Election Commissioners for the City Council to vote to authorize in-person early voting for the Nov 7, 2023 Municipal Election, in accordance with “The VOTES Act”.
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0

Early Voting and No-Excuse Absentee Voting may be here to stay, but a formal City Council vote is required. Vote Early and Vote Often! (well, not really)

DESIGNATED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, HOURS, AND DAYS

Cambridge Water Department - 250 Fresh Pond Parkway
Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street
Main Library – 449 Broadway

Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation that the City Council approve an Order to take by “friendly” eminent domain proceeding parcels of land located at 319 Webster Avenue, Cambridge (as shown on Cambridge Assessors Map 81, Parcel 21), 333 Webster Avenue, Cambridge (as shown on Cambridge Assessors Map 81, Parcel 23), and 455 Columbia Street (as shown on Cambridge Assessors Map 81, Parcel 16) (collectively “Cambridge Parcels”), and approve an Order authorizing the purchase of a parcel of land located at 94 Webster Avenue, Somerville (as shown on Somerville Assessors Map 96, Parcel B-7) (“Somerville Parcel”) (collectively, the “Premises”), all of which are owned by Webster Avenue Ventures LLC (“WV”). [Charter Right – Mallon, May 8, 2023]
Nolan motion to Table Ch. Rt #1 Fails 1-8 (PN - Yes); Appropriation of $3,101,250 Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Order of Taking Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Appropriation of $10,276,750 Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Order of Purchase Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Appropriation of $1,022,000 Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Appropriation of $1,000,000 Adopted 8-1 (PN - No); Rules Suspended for Reconsideration 8-1 (PN - No); Reconsideration Fails 1-8 (PN - Yes)

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to initiate a planning process to determine the use of several parcels of land along Webster Avenue to accomplish Envision goals, including how to best ensure that the acquisition of these parcels results in additional affordable housing and open space.   Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0 (early in meeting)

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update concerning the property at 333 Webster Avenue.
pulled by Mallon; Rules suspended to take up Charter Right #1 and Order #3; Placed on File 9-0

Often lost among competing priorities are the basic things that are necessary for a well-functioning city. This includes public works facilities. I’ll add that this also includes things like redemption centers, loading zones, parking, and sufficient road width for emergency vehicles. These are often forgotten by zealous planners and elected officials who rarely see beyond their own narrow single-issue agendas.

Order #1. City Council support of bill SD 487 and HD 825 which would require the use of Integrated Pest Management strategies and improve pesticide monitoring in Massachusetts to limit ecological damage due to rodenticides.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department and other relevant departments to fund and implement the grant proposal submitted to DOE GTO to design and implement a community-scale geothermal heating and cooling system in Cambridge.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate departments to produce the petition(s) necessary to accomplish the goal of lowering the speed limit as much as possible on all state highways that fall within Cambridge’s geographic boundaries.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant departments to establish a policy of releasing the names of officers involved in any use of force incident, up to and including those incidents resulting in injury or death.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Zondervan [“I submitted this order because I agree with the public’s observation that the decision around whether to release the name of the officer is not yet actually in the hands of the City Manager -- because we haven’t yet asked him to do so. I believe that the public has a right to know where the Council stands on this issue. Of course, it is important to acknowledge that the asks contained in this order are wholly insufficient. As some members of the public have pointed out, this is just a first step. Knowing the identity of the officer isn’t going to change anything about what happened or make it any less likely to happen next time – because this isn’t about just weeding out a few bad apples. The institution of policing itself is fundamentally broken and we must move away from it as quickly as possible, towards true investment in our community. I’m aware that some of my colleagues have produced a substitute order whitewashing the original ask to release the name of the officers involved in the killing of Faisal. While I’m heartened to see the council finally engaging with this ask, and glad to see that my colleagues agree that most forward-thinking police departments release the names of officers involved with use of force even when awaiting the results of investigations, it is disappointing but not surprising to see the ask to release the officers’ names immediately be completely erased by this substitute. To give my colleagues an opportunity to reconsider, I exercise my Charter Right.”]; Charter Right - Zondervan (who objected to the proposed Substitute Order)

Besides catering to the young socialists, rallying his base, and encouraging harassment, I really don’t know what Councillor Zondervan expects to gain from this. I do expect a Charter Right, but if this does come up for a vote it will be VERY interesting to see which other councillors, if any, choose to sign on.

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on May 3, 2023, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Citizens Zoning Petition from Craig Kelley, et al. – Cambridge Transportation Emissions Reduction and Car Sharing Act (APP 2023 #9). [The Committee voted favorably to send the Craig Kelley, et al. – Cambridge Transportation Emissions Reduction and Car Sharing Act Petition to the Full City Council with a favorable recommendation to Pass to a Second Reading.] [text of report]
Passed to 2nd Reading 8-1 (QZ - No); Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

As I said last week, this seems like an interesting initiative, but I’m wary of potential unintended consequences.

The Kouncil Kids may need to retire early so that their eyes will be bright and their tails bushy for what should be the last of the FY2024 Budget Hearings Tuesday morning.

Tues, May 16
10:00am   The City Council’s Finance Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the FY2024 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
Community Maintenance and Development & Human Resources Development:

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Moving On from the Covid Era

May 11, 2023 – Today marks the official end of the Covid-19 emergency, though Covid will likely be with us for a very long time as what we hope will be a manageable disease much like influenza. What will end are the frequent updates and the various mandates that have either tormented us or protected us for the last 3 years - depending on your perspective. I have been suggesting to everyone that they write down some of the things we all did during the first phase of the epidemic when ignorance led to fear and irrational behavior. I will gladly acknowledge not leaving the house for several weeks. For me, accessing the Covid case and wastewater data every day was a form of reassurance that this thing was something to be understood, and through that not to be viewed with irrational fear - even as additional deadly waves like Omicron gave us more than enough reason to be fearful.

So, let’s move on. Some of us have been enjoying a few beers with friends and even enjoying music in indoor venues. I hope everyone can make peace with this virulent enemy and fully embrace all the good stuff around us - especially springtime - even as we remember the friends we lost and the disruption we endured. - RW