Episode 469 – Cambridge InsideOut: Aug 4, 2020
This episode was broadcast on Aug 4, 2020 at 6:15pm. Topics: The importance of mail-in voting; Starlight Square; Picture Show – Around Town; Midsummer City Council meeting – traffic enforcement by non-police, police inventory, gas infrastructure ban runs afoul of state law and constitution, zoning petitions. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
Episode 466 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 23, 2020
This episode was broadcast on June 23, 2020 at 6:30pm. Topics: News updates; Lechmere Square changing; June 22 and June 15 City Council meeting highlights; some recycling history; reinventing roads during the pandemic. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
These are the items that drew my interest:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Though this item seems to have become a semi-permanent fixture on the City Manager’s Agenda, I continue to appreciate all the information that it brings forward. It helps to arrest my fears. (I can still use the word "arrest," right?)
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,641,000 from Free Cash, to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the first year of a two-year lease of operating and office space for the Department of Public Works on Mooney Street.
Here’s a little historical tidbit for you: The impetus for starting recycling in Cambridge was the plan from the Commonwealth to locate approximately 13 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) throughout Massachusetts with one of them at "the Mabardy site" on Mooney Street which back in 1989 was a waste transfer facility. The idea was to get an all-volunteer "interim recycling drop-off" system up and running. The first planning meeting was in April 1989 and we had two sites up and running in June 1989. Only one state-operated MRF was ever built (in Springfield). The plans were eventually dropped to 5 MRFS, but as curbside recycling programs were established the waste industry responded by establishing their own MRFs. For the time being at least, Cambridge appears to be keeping its Recycling Drop-off Center (which supplements the curbside collection) at the DPW Yard on Norfolk St., but some of the Public Works operations will relocate to Mooney Street where 31 years earlier our regional MRF was once slated to be built.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,300,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Human Services Extraordinary Expenditures Account to construct a new Universal Design Playground.
This is kind of a big deal, especially if you live anywhere within marching distance of Danehy Park. We clearly intend to continue with capital projects like this even with the uncertainties visited on us by that godawful virus.
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for an allocation of $1,000,000 from the CPA Fund Balance to the Community Preservation Act Fund COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program.
While this is a perfectly great expenditure, it does show how the Community Preservation Act (CPA) has morphed into yet another add-on to the general fund with fewer restrictions than what was approved by voters nearly two decades ago.
Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of Federal CARES Act funds in the amount of $1,529,834 to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to assist residents and small business owners who are impacted by the virus.
Manager’s Agenda #12. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $120,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Executive (Cambridge Office of Tourism) Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will directly support a city-wide campaign, “Hello Again” in collaboration with the City and the business community – to welcome businesses, customers, and the surrounding neighborhoods back by promoting health safety and positivity following the COVID-19 shut down.
Charter Right #1. Policy Order (June 10) Re Addressing Systemic Racism in Cambridge. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS]
Pardon me while I shift paradigms. The Babson Boulders of Dogtown are my source of inspiration.
Communications #2. A communication was received from Kevin P. Crane, 27 Norris Street, regarding Shared Streets.
Short, sweet, and to the point. I will, however, observe the fundamentally militaristic inclinations of today’s Cambridge activists. It’s all about establishing a beachhead and defending it even as the circumstances change. I personally like the idea of "shared streets" and I feel that a two-way, low-speed, shared-street approach would have been the better way to accommodate cyclists on Brattle Street from Brattle Square to Mason Street. Unfortunately, that beachhead has already been established and its defenders will never give an inch. At this point, my presumption is that Harvard, Garden, and Magazine Streets will forevermore be shared streets even after the virus subsides, and my only concern is that our two-wheeled soldiers will eventually want to stop sharing.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the appropriate city departments to place all collective bargaining agreements between the City and unions on the city website, in an easily accessible location, to increase transparency for the public. Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to provide a report by the end of summer for discussion at a September Council meeting on the advantages and disadvantages of continuing with Civil Service, and the process by which Cambridge could exit Civil Service. Councillor Nolan
I’m curious what the motivation of Councillor Nolan is in forwarding this Order right now.
No longer under civil service: Acton, Adams, Burlington, Easthampton, Franklin, Grafton, Lee, Lexington, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marlborough, Maynard, Milford, Millis, North Adams, North Attleboro, North Reading, Norwood, Orange, Provincetown, Reading, Sharon, Sudbury, Uxbridge, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Westwood, Williamstown.
From a Town of Wellesley document (2018): "The primary purpose of civil service when the Massachusetts legislature enacted the civil service, ‘Merit System’, in 1884 was to protect hiring and discipline from patronage and political interference. … Today we have comprehensive policies and collective bargaining that afford these protections.” … “The civil service system in Massachusetts is no longer up to the important task of helping government recruit and hire the most talented Personnel.”
It’s interesting that one of the arguments in support of leaving Civil Service is the existence of collective bargaining agreements and a police union. Meanwhile, others are arguing for the prohibition of unions for police and other public safety employees.
I’m of the school that says that all options should be on the table – including the staffing of construction and other details by civilians rather than exclusively by uniformed officers. I’m also of the school that says that free speech should be nearly absolute (except for the usual "yelling fire in a crowded theater" type of prohibitions). I’m not so sure how many people would agree with me these days on either of these counts.
So where is all this headed? I listened to a primarily millennial-and-younger throng ("hundreds" – NBC-Boston, "over a thousand" – Boston Globe, or "some 2000" on a local politics/news/advocacy blog) on Saturday chant “No Justice, No Peace. Abolish the Police” as they strolled through Central Square. I also noted how they had the crowd do a prolonged "repeat after me" session in front of City Hall reminiscent of the "Occupy" days of yore (hard to call this "free" speech when you being asked to repeat somebody else’s speech). In any case, they were not debating whether police unions were OK or whether the Civil Service system is advantageous. I took note of the fact that the Cambridge Police Department provided public safety protection for the throng, especially extensive traffic control, in order to protect the speech of those who would choose to abolish them.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to work with the Central Square Business Association in developing a pilot program that will allow Central Square to close to vehicular traffic on Sundays and allow restaurants to fully embrace the concept of outdoor dining for the summer months of 2020, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
Great idea – really. Bring your masks. Don’t forget to remove while eating.
Order #3. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to identify an air-conditioned space for a Cambridge Day Services Center for unhoused people. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons
Even without the air conditioning, there really is a need for some of the "street residents" to have some safe place to go that has some constructive things to do during daytime hours, especially with the libraries still closed. That said, there are a lot of people who will still prefer to be outdoors.
Order #4. Anti-Racist Free Little Libraries. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Education is good. I guess what concerns me here is the notion that our local government wants to dictate which books are to be permitted in a "little free library." It’s one thing for a property owner to exercise discretion in curating what’s on the shelves of the little library on their own property, but think for a minute where this road leads when the local legislature does the curation. Will I be fined for placing a few of my old Calculus books on the shelf? Will DPW be contacted via SeeClickFix to yank out any books that fail the litmus test? Will Zondervan/Nolan have an Order next week for "Little Free Climate Change Libraries"? By the way, I’m really overdue in building a Not-So-Little Free Math Library in front of my house to pass along some of my stash.
Order #7. That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of including a two-track Grand Junction railway crossing in MassDOT’s Allston Multimodal Improvement Project plans, and urges the FMCB to vote in favor of this inclusion. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
This volleyball seems to be going back and forth right now among some people on the Cambridgeport listserv (in addition to the proposal that all people posting on the listserv racially identify themselves prior to expressing themselves – I kid you not). I believe that the current position of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association is that they support a two-track RR bridge for the Grand Junction corridor in the belief that a light rail option (i.e. trolleys) will one day operate along that corridor in addition to the always popular bicycle and pedestrian amenities (which would require additional accommodation on the bridge). It was not so long ago that Lt. Gov. Tim "100mph Rollover Crash" Murray was strongly advocating heavy rail along the Grand Junction corridor. I personally like the idea of a ped/bike/trolley corridor, but I think heavy rail would be a horrorshow of grade crossings, traffic congestion, or – at best – extremely expensive elimination of the grade crossings.
This City Council Order states: "One opportunity is to expand the Grand Junction Railway bridge from a one-track to a two-track crossing, which would realize the potential to connect the commercial hub of Kendall Square to Boston and MetroWest municipalities such as Framingham and Worcester via high-speed regional rail." Be careful what you wish for.
Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to obtain an itemized statement of all materials, tools, and property owned by the Cambridge Police Department. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I suppose these intrepid councillors are trying to get at the question of whether or not Cambridge Police have any equipment that might be characterized as "military" in nature, e.g. an armored vehicle. We should ask Brinks the same question as they patrol our streets picking up and dropping off sacks of money from various banking institutions. Personally, I just want to know if the CPD still has a supply of "billy clubs" and "nightsticks" and, of course, keys to open those vanishingly few police callboxes.
By the way, since both of these councillors were at the Saturday rally, did they join in the chants and in the "repeat after me" robotic chants? Inquiring minds want to know. You know… in the spirit of transparency.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting information from the School Committee’s Special Meeting and Regular Meeting.
I continue to appreciate these reports but I remain very concerned that public education is not being equitably distributed in this virtual environment and that it will remain very difficult to correct this regardless what steps are taken.
This episode was broadcast on June 11, 2019 at 5:30pm. Topics: Central Square Business Improvement District (BID) approved; evolving transportation. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
This episode was broadcast on June 11, 2019 at 6:00pm. Topics: Candidate updates (before Patty Nolan announced), candidate requirements; big issues, candidate pages; zoning – infrastructure and obstruction, Eversource; echoes of the Parking Freeze. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
This is something of a table-setting month – clearing out some lingering business and refocusing on some matters that are sure to be wedge issues in the municipal election – housing, bikes, campaign contributions, neighborhood flash-points. Resolving the details of the "Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance" will apparently continue at least through July and perhaps longer.
Perhaps the most significant piece of business is this 6:30pm hearing:
6:30pm The City Council will conduct a public hearing to discuss the petition filed by Kenneth S. Barron, 614 Massachusetts Avenue, et al property owners, pursuant to MGL Chapter 40 section O petitioning that a Business Improvement District (BID) be established for the Central Square Business Improvement District.
It is likely that a vote will be taken at this meeting to establish the Business Improvement District. It seems to have broad support and may even get a unanimous vote.
Here are a few other notable items for this week:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as a members of the Future of Mobility Implementation Blueprint Technical Advisory Group. The Advisory Group is expected to meet up to six times between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020: Yonah Freemark, David Keith, Steven Miller, Kathryn Carlson, Melissa Chan, Christopher Tassone, Roy Russell, Raymond Hayhurst, Ruth Allen, Jane Gould, David Block-Schachter, Zef Vataj, Will Dickson, Stephen Russell, James Cater, Bruce Kaplan, Megan Aki, Ilya Sinelnikov, Cambridge Housing Authority Rep (TBD). [Future of Mobility RFP]
This process is worth watching in that it is both necessary and potentially over-reaching. For some years now the City has been carrying out the goals of the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance by promoting transportation modes (and infrastructure) as alternatives to motor vehicles. Independently, things like ride-hail services (like Uber and Lyft) and electric scooters have appeared and grown in popularity. Also, there are a lot more electric vehicles now on the road and how to charge them is a growing concern, especially for those without parking on premises. Autonomous (driverless) vehicles may be the next wave. This "Future of Mobility" process is apparently supposed to gaze into the crystal ball and make predictions and plans for how all these pieces can fit coherently together. Recommendations growing from this process might not all be about how to accommodate these new modes – they might also lead to restrictions on existing modes. In recent years there has been a trend of City plans being developed, blessed by compliant advisory committees, and then waved through by a City Council which rarely spends time considering any potential negative consequences of the latest "progressive" policy. Indeed, the RFP makes quite clear that this is not to be a "visioning exercise" by the advisory group, but rather a source of feedback for a process in which City staff has already stated very specifically in the RFP the models from which the hired consultant must work. The end product is likely to be at least as much about regulation and restriction as it will be about accommodation.
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-15, regarding a report on who is purchasing buildings in Cambridge.
This is interesting information – though it’s not so easy to peer behind the curtain and identify what parties make up some of the LLCs (limited liability corporations), e.g. Invesco for several properties in the Alewife Quadrangle, or what the plans are for some of these properties. It’s also not clear what the City Council will do or even could do with this information.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $50,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Executive Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the cable television license renewal process.
Here we go again. The United States Congress thoroughly gutted the ability of municipalities to negotiate much of anything in local Cable TV franchises. We will once again be hearing about PEG (public access, educational, and governmental) since these are the only things that can be discussed. What really makes this whole process rather pathetic is that much of the revenue generated by these franchises now comes from Internet access and there is no legal requirement that any of that revenue should support the PEG needs.
Charter Right #3. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to work with the local taxi industry and other interested parties to prepare a Home Rule Petition for the City Council to submit to the State Legislature that would address Cambridge-specific issues and give the City Council the ability to ensure TNCs operate in a safe and responsible manner.
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Community Development Department, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and other regional partners such as the Central Transportation Planning Staff to explore the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ride-hail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety. Councillor Mallon, Councillor Kelley, Vice Mayor Devereux
Perhaps the "Future of Mobility" consultants will have something to say about this, but my sense is that the proposal for a Home Rule Petition is likely more about protection of taxi medallion owners than it is about safety. As for the Order asking to bring in an army of traffic counters, I encourage anyone standing on a street corner or waiting for a bus to count the percentage of Uber/Lyft vehicles passing by at various times throughout the day. [Hint: It’s a lot.]
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to establish a working committee to review the monuments, memorials, and markers throughout Cambridge to determine whether any of these commemorate those who were linked to the slave trade or engaged in other similarly shameful acts and to determine which individuals should be newly recognized with a monument, memorial, or marker. Councillor Simmons
I just hope that there is a distinction made between those whose sole claim to fame was infamous (like rebel generals) vs. those who did great things but who engaged in bad practices that happened to be legal at the time. Erasing history is not the same as learning from it.
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to meet with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, and the property owners and management of the Fresh Pond Mall to identify additional traffic-calming and safety features and to discuss with the mall owner the potential for creating a formal street connection between Terminal Road and New Street. Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
This is a long overdue conversation. Greater connectivity with enhanced safety would be a good thing in this entire area (especially if only those of us who live here know the secret connections).
Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate departments to televise and record the City Clerk interview meeting on June 17, 2019, starting at 2:30pm in the Sullivan Chamber. Vice Mayor Devereux, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Carlone
Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, transmitting memorandum from Vice Mayor Devereux regarding a special public meeting for the City Clerk interviews.
The City Clerk position is one of only three for which the City Council is the appointing authority under the Plan E Charter. The other two are the City Manager and the City Auditor. I have no idea who has applied for the position or who the four finalists are, but I really hope the person hired is someone who really understands the city deeply and who can also be an asset to the City Council. The truth is that the City Clerk prepares City Council agendas very much like a playwright where the actors (the councillors) can freely improvise within the script. Also, the Council-related duties are only a fraction of the many essential responsibilities of the City Clerk’s Office.
Order #8. That the proposed Special Permit Criteria amendments to Article 19 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance (as attached) be referred to the Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board for hearing and report. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
Committee Reports #1. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, former City Clerk, transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Chair of the Transportation & Public Utilities Committee, for a public hearing held on May 22, 2019 to discuss with Eversource any plans it has for meeting the anticipated electricity needs of Cambridge businesses and residents by expanding capacity on land it owns throughout the City, with a focus on sites in East Cambridge (Kendall Square and Fulkerson Street).
It would appear that this zoning proposal and the Eversource matter on Fulkerson Street are inextricably linked. It’s a bit disturbing when zoning is used as a reactionary tool. Perhaps a better approach would be to require (with appropriate enabling legislation, if necessary) that all major utilities provide short- and long-term infrastructure improvement plans that address such things as capacity, maintenance of the existing infrastructure, and planning for emerging needs such as local solar generation and charging locations for electric vehicles (just to name a few). Conflating this with zoning seems a bit wrong-headed. It’s reminiscent of how the Parking Freeze was used to block commercial development – even environmentally sound commercial development – under the guise of environmental protection.
Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to draft for discussion several ordinances to reduce or prohibit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city. Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Devereux, Councillor Zondervan
It’s an election year. Some version of this proposal happens like clockwork every two years. The only thing that makes it interesting this year is how much money is now coming from people with a financial interest in the "100% Affordable Housing" Overlay proposal that would potentially deliver properties to various "non-profit" housing developers by allowing them to do things that others can only dream of. Any candidate-endorsing organization that receives contributions from these sources (and yes, I do mean ABC specifically) should be subject to the same restrictions as individual candidates. All of this is likely academic since the November election will likely be a memory by the time any action is taken on this proposal, if ever – so it’s really just posturing at this point.
Committee Reports #3. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, former City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Dennis J. Carlone and Councillor Craig A. Kelley, Co-Chairs of the Ordinance Committee, for a public hearing held on May 1, 2019 to discuss a petition to amend the Municipal Code in Chapter 8.16 entitled “Noise Control” by deleting sections 8.16.081-8.16.087 to prohibit the use of leaf blowers.
My proposal: Enact a Total Ban on Leaf Blowers only after loud sound systems in motor vehicles are banned. But seriously, don’t you think we put far too much effort into banning things? When did Cambridge give up on making an effort to convince people to use better practices? Sometimes we really do seem to be The Village of Control Freaks.
Committee Reports #4. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, former City Clerk transmitting a report from Vice Mayor Jan Devereux, Co-Chair and Councillor Quinton Zondervan, Co-Chair of the Health and Environment Committee for a public hearing held on May 21, 2019 to discuss the “City of Cambridge getting to Net Zero Action Plan: Fiscal year 2018 progress report” and to receive a general update on the Net Zero Action Plan.
I really hope that "Getting to Net Zero" doesn’t translate into a $3,000 repair in a residential building costing $30,000 or more in order to meet any new requirements. – Robert Winters
Move along people – nothing to see here. Well, maybe that hidden state flag. The FY2020 Budget is expected to be approved at this meeting after some fiddling and diddling over some late budget-related communications touching on who gets to be artistic at CMAC (Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center).
The pickings are slim this week:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, in response to requests for additional information made by the City Council Finance Committee during hearings on the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) City Budget.
Committee Report #1. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Finance Committee, for public hearings held on May 1, 2019 and May 7, 2019 relative to the General Fund Budget for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2020 and recommending adoption of the General Fund Budget in the amount of $638,060,155.
Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Finance Committee, for public hearing held on May 7, 2019 relative to the Water Fund Budget for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2020 and recommending adoption of the Water Fund Budget in the amount of $12,833,295.
Committee Report #3. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor E. Denise Simmons, Chair of the Finance Committee, for public hearing held on May 7, 2019 relative to the Public Investment Fund Budget for the City of Cambridge for Fiscal Year 2020 and recommending adoption of the Public Investment Fund Budget in the amount of $26,796,725.
First, expect all sorts of mutual congratulatory statements – it’s all part of the ritual and it happens every year. There may be some back and forth over the additional information, especially regarding CMAC, but after that expect all bucks to be passed.
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-93, regarding Parcel C (Constellation Center) in Kendall Square.
It’s hard to say whether there will be any push-back on this. Perhaps there will be some questions raised regarding the tax-exempt status of Parcel C for approximately 16 years during which the taxable value of all neighboring properties soared. It’s likely now all just water under the bridge, but it does raise some questions.
Applications & Petitions #1. A re-filing of a zoning petition has been received from Joseph T. Maguire of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. transmitting a proposed revised amendment to the zoning ordinance by creating the Grand Junction Pathway Overlay District.
It’s hard to say whether or not this proposal will fare better than the previous one given the increasingly hostile political context of the area when factoring in the controversies surrounding the nearby Eversource site and other proposals in East Cambridge. It should be possible for reasonable people to assess this proposal independent of these other matters.
Committee Report #4. A communication was received from Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor E. Denise Simmons, Co-Chair and Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui, Co-Chair of the Housing Committee for a public hearing held on Mar 28, 2019 to discuss Affordable Housing Overlay District.
The juggernaut continues. It’s remarkable just how comfortable some people have become with double standards.
Communications & Reports from City Officers #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Donna P. Lopez, transmitting a communication from Councillor Mallon, transmitting notes for the meeting of the Mayor’s Arts Task Force held on May 9, 2019.
Most of the ideas floated seem all well and good, but I am a bit skeptical about the idea of having a "City-owned arts facility, akin to the EMF building." There is often a fundamental conflict between governmental control and artistic freedom, and the result can often be mediocrity. There is also the problem of political patronage in deciding which artists should be granted money, jobs, and status. This report suggests that "the Task Force could continue on and become an adjudicator based on an equity rubric." This Task Force was appointed by the Mayor, by the way.
There is one suggestion contained in the meeting notes that reflects something I have been emphasizing for several years: "The Baptist church as an arts and culture space". The truth is that there are quite a few older church buildings in the neighborhoods abutting Central Square that would benefit from partnering with various charitable uses, including arts-related functions. Indeed, I have to wonder whether the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority has considered such possibilities as it discusses rescuing the building at 99 Bishop Allen Drive in order to preseve affordable space for the various nonprofit entities now housed there. Dwindling congregations, deferred maintenance, and charitable activities strongly suggest possible mutual solutions. – Robert Winters
Powered by WordPress