Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

May 18, 2020

Big Loans and Bigger Speeches – May 18, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda Notes

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:51 pm

Big Loans and Bigger Speeches – May 18, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda Notes

The boys and girls will again have a virtual shindig this week in and out of the Sullivan Chamber. I’m still counting on an innovative Kendall Square startup to develop special glasses that can filter out the glare of virtue signaling, but until then there’s this:Budget Season!

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from the Massachusetts. Department of Environmental Protection to the Grant Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account which will be supplemented with $379,000 in City funds to purchase three plug-in hybrid rubbish packers that will replace three diesel powered rubbish packers.

“And we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage…..” – Stockbridge, MA

Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $6,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of various water pollution abatement projects, including but not limited to Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.

Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $16,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan which will support improvements at the Department of Public works Complex including the Ryan Garage, Lafayette Square Firehouse structural repair, and other municipal buildings.

Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $9,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements of the Lexington Avenue and River Street Firehouses.

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $237,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School.

Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to electrical service, roof replacement, chiller replacement, floor replacement and replacement of bi-directional amplifier and antenna in various school buildings.

These are the annual Loan Authorization orders that accompany the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Note the big fish in there – $237 million to borrow for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School. Last year’s loan authorizations totaled $74.3 million and $88.15 million the year before that. I suppose we’ll be seeing a tidy little jump in debt service next year even with our AAA bond rating. I hope one of the city councillors at least asks what the projections for residential real estate taxes might be for the next cycle. It’s not like other budgets are being slashed. Once again, here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes to department budgets as well as the 16-year changes.

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

Expect more grandstanding from the usual suspects as soon as the City staff have completed their reports. There’s nothing like a good crisis to practice your political speech-making. Frankly, I just want to hear what the Cambridge response might be to Governor Baker’s cautious "phase one re-opening plan." I expect some councillors will continue to harp on street closures as the One Big Answer to All Things.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident.

I really wish some councillors understood the City Charter and actually listened last week to what the City Solicitor (correctly) had to say. The last thing we need are politically driven councillors micromanaging City employees. By the way, if a City Council aide calls for the firing of a City employee, is that a violation of Chapter 43, Section 107?: “Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with that portion of the service of the city as aforesaid solely through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager either publicly or privately. Any member of the city council who violates, or participates in the violation of, any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, and upon final conviction thereof his office in the city council shall thereby be vacated and he shall never again be eligible for any office or position, elective or otherwise, in the service of the city.”

Order #2. Creating an Arts Recovery Advisory Committee.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern

Order #3. That the City Council go on record in strong support of Bill HD. 5054 relative to restaurant delivery commissions during the COVID-19 state of emergency.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to provide an immediate update to the Council on the digital equity research initiative and advisory board, and on efforts to ensure reliable access to the Internet citywide.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan

Regardless how one feels about municipal broadband, I think we do need some answers about how some version of universal Internet access can be achieved if only for the purpose of educational access in a school year conducted via Zoom and similar platforms.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Election Commission and Board of Election Commissioners to determine the feasibility of universal vote-by-mail for the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone

I’ll take this one. If you boys and girls were paying attention when there was the previous debate about "early voting" for municipal elections, it was explained to you at that time that such authority lies with the State and not with the City – hence the Home Rule Petition that is now collecting dust in the foyer of the State House and which is dutifully included in every City Council agenda packet by our City Clerk. The City cannot simply enact universal vote-by-mail via a Council vote or by a vote of the Election Commission. That authority resides with State government – and I expect that universal vote-by-mail may well be forthcoming from our glacial legislature. That said, if they were to simply permit "no excuse absentee voting" which everyone seems to understand is both feasible and politically acceptable, that would likely address most of the concerns about safety in voting. Time’s a wastin’, legislators.

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to amend the Cambridge emergency advisory on face coverings/masks to require face coverings be worn inside common areas of multi-unit buildings with the exception of 2-and 3- family buildings and in all workplaces where more than one person is present at all times.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern

Good idea. Even in my triple-decker, the tenants and I maintain social distancing in a way that might make you think we don’t get along. (We do.)

Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to develop and present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy for how we are going to reopen the city.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

By "present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy", the authors of the Order no doubt mean "present to the City Council a plan to carry out the specific strategies that we hereby propose". This seems to be a recurring theme of these councillors.

Order #9. That Chapter 2.108 be amended by inserting a new section 2.108.140.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

Some of you may recognize this as just a reformulation of the eminent-domain-like proposals from these same socialist councillors from a few weeks ago. When nobody salutes your flag, just sew the threads into another flag. There are better ways to handle an emergency than confiscating whatever property suits you.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee’s Special Meetings held on May 7, 2020.

Are we actually still providing public education in Cambridge or are school staff just lending a few suggestions to those students who are now being effectively home-schooled by their parents – while a lot of other students are enjoying an early summer vacation?

April 27, 2020

City of Cambridge Issues Emergency Order Requiring Use of Face Coverings

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 7:54 pm

City of Cambridge Issues Emergency Order Requiring Use of Face Coverings

The City of Cambridge today issued an emergency order requiring that face coverings be worn in all public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings. The order takes effect at 12:01am on Wednesday, April 29, and applies to everyone over the age of five years old, with exceptions in alignment with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control or Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Violations may be punishable by a $300 fine.

“While we are grateful to those in Cambridge who have been heeding our previous mask advisory and taking this issue seriously, we are concerned about the number of residents who continue to shop, walk, run and bike throughout the city without proper face coverings,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We must all do our part in flattening the curve and make sure we are preventing the further spread of COVID-19. This mandate emphasizes the importance of wearing a face covering, not as an option, but as a requirement in our effort to combat this pandemic together.”City Seal

The order applies to everyone over five years old “without limitation, when on, in or about” public places, defined as:

  • Sidewalks
  • Streets
  • Parks
  • Plazas
  • Bus stops
  • Non-residential parking lots and garages
  • Any other outdoor area or non-residential parking facility which is open and accessible to the general public.

The mask requirement also applies to anyone working in or visiting an essential business, as well as shoppers and consumers. Masks must remain on throughout shifts or visits to those businesses. The businesses covered under the order, include:

  • Grocery stores or supermarkets
  • Pharmacies
  • Laundromats
  • Dry cleaners
  • Hardware stores
  • Restaurants, cafes or similar establishments where prepared foods, meals or beverages may be purchased
  • Local government buildings
  • Commercial office buildings
  • All essential businesses defined in Governor Baker’s March 23, 2020 Executive Order

In residential buildings of two or more units, masks will be required prior to entering any common area, including:

  • Lobbies
  • Hallways
  • Elevators
  • Stairwells
  • Laundry rooms
  • Garages or parking lots
  • Walkways
  • Yards and other outdoor common areas
  • Mailrooms and other indoor common areas

Residents are reminded to serve as positive community role models by wearing their masks during this order. The Cambridge Police Department will be focused on educating violators and may issue warnings to those residents who do not cooperate. For those who willingly refuse to comply, they may be subject to a $300 fine.

The full text of the emergency order can be found here.

As a reminder, face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing and regular hand washing, which remain among the most effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. The single most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home.

The City is committed to identifying new resources to help residents and businesses navigate this difficult time. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

April 26, 2020

Elected, Injected, Inspected, Detected, Infected, Neglected and Selected Highlights on the April 27, 2020 City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:36 pm

Elected, Injected, Inspected, Detected, Infected, Neglected and Selected Highlights on the April 27, 2020 City Council Agenda

Another week of Covid-19 updates and policy proposals. Here are a few things that struck me as more interesting than drinking Clorox or having miniaturized Fantasic Voyage actors in the USS Proteus injected into my arteries equipped with tiny little ultraviolet ray guns.Fantastic Voyage

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 donated to the City by Harvard University ($250,000) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($250,000), to the Grant Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures Account for the construction and operation of the War Memorial Temporary Emergency Shelter at 1640 Cambridge Street.

While I can’t speak to what else Harvard has done in the midst of this pandemic, it’s worth highlighting that in addition to these donated funds, MIT has also transformed its Johnson Skating Rink into the fully licensed 75-bed "Sean Collier Care Center" that will serve members of the MIT community and residents who are referred from the Cambridge Health Alliance and Mt. Auburn Hospital who need medical care for Covid-19. The center is staffed, operated, and funded by MIT.

Sean Collier Care Center

MIT also suspended rent for all of its retail tenants in Central Square, Kendall Square, and on campus – including 27 small businesses. There have been plenty of additional initiatives taken by MIT to address this crisis. Perhaps most significantly, many of the research scientists here and around the world now working on therapies and vaccines have roots at MIT.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

This has become the primary agenda item for City Council meetings. I look forward to the day when this need no longer be the case.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to repurpose the War Memorial facility into only a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site for unhoused individuals awaiting their test results.

Last week’s Special Meeting was very informative and highlighted the extraordinary efforts of a wide range of City staff and partners who are diligently providing solutions even as the circumstances change from day to day. While thoughtful questions and suggestions from elected representatives are appreciated, the wise choice remains to let the professionals do their job and make the best use of their experience and judgment. Reaching quota in a Cambridge PR election does not miraculous confer expertise in either medicine, public saftety, or epidemiology. Also, this is not the time for coronagendas to transform society according to your own personal politics.

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to restrict third party delivery services fees to restaurants and disclose to customers of how delivery charges are allocated.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui

Delivery services right now are in great demand, but the costs should be commensurate with the service, and the primary beneficiaries of any additional cost should be our struggling retailers. I hope this Order can help to shape the fee structures for the better while still providing incentives for these services. In the meantime, if anyone wants to drop off some lettuce, canned tuna, and a quart of light cream for my morning coffee I’ll be your best friend and maybe even throw a few bucks your way. We’re also running low on cheese and crackers.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to issue an emergency order to make wearing a cloth face covering in public mandatory for all persons in the City of Cambridge, and that such a covering must be worn outdoors, inside essential businesses, and when entering and exiting residential buildings.   Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey

People can argue about just how much freedom can or should be compromised in an actual emergency, but to me the most important fact is that the greatest potential for reduction in the transmission of the coronavirus is a mask worn by a carrier – even if that person is not symptomatic or even aware that he/she is a carrier. So I’ll go with making the masks mandatory for at least the short term. Walking along Memorial Drive the other day was like seeing Idiots on Parade – almost nobody wearing a mask as they were biking and running past leaving their vapors in their wake.

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to establish what specific steps will be made to ensure the safety of the workforce upon the re-opening of City offices, and what specific options will be made available to those City workers who are more susceptible to severe covid-19 infections and may require the ability to work remotely until such time as this crisis passes.   Councillor Simmons

I have no suggestions at all about next steps, but I do find something promising in the fact that people are at least thinking about how we can get back to "normal" even if it proves to be a very different kind of "new normal." Even Boo Radley had to emerge eventually. – Robert Winters

April 13, 2020

Coming Up at the April 13, 2020 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:23 am

Coming Up at the April 13, 2020 Cambridge City Council meeting

While we all strive to "level the curve" and hope for the best, City Council business continues even as most other businesses do not (at least for now). Springtime is usually the season of hope and renewal and that’s rarely been more relevant than this year – at least for those of us who have not lived through World Wars or civil wars (which always struck me as a oxymoron).City Hall

Here are the items on this week’s agenda that I found most noteworthy:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $215,450 from Free Cash to the General Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the Homeless Shelter / Local Restaurant Community Meals Program.

While people can debate whether every action has been the right choice, there is no question that the City Manager and City departments have really been responsive in dealing with this horrible crisis. I’m looking forward to how we go about the transition from crisis to manageable threat. In any case, a lot of practices adopted during this crisis will persist for a very long time. Don’t go expecting a handshake from anyone any time soon, and I expect that masks and gloves may become a regular practice on all public transportation for the foreseeable future.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City departments to give the Council a financial impact summary on how the local Covid-19 response will be impacting the City’s free cash and ability to budget looking into July 1, 2021, and to report back to the City Council in a timely manner. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS ON APR 6, 2020]

Communications & Reports #5. A communication was received from Anthony Ivan Wilson, City Clerk, responding to a question regarding parliamentary procedure.

Pointless kerfuffle. The issue is whether the latter (Apr 6 Order #1 which asks about the effect on next year’s budget and free cash) duplicates the former (Mar 30 Order #5 which asks about current year’s/next year’s budget and free cash). The City Clerk is correct, but the City Council has filed repeated orders on various topics in the past regardless of what the rules may say.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint and convene a Small Business Recovery Advisory Committee.   Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint and convene a COVID-19 Advisory Committee to review the impact of the pandemic on local communities of color, to propose ways to better disseminate information on Impact to Communities of Color.   Councillor Simmons

I think the real distinction here has more to do with income levels and job categories than anything else. Some people can avoid public transportation and work from home and maybe have a good health plan and enough savings to ride things out. Others don’t have such luxuries.

Order #3. That in absence of revised City Council goals for the new term, the most recent approved goals are used in all Council business, particularly the budgetary process.   Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui

One would hope that they would at least pencil in the one additional goal of providing sufficient resources to continue to deal with the Covid-19 crisis and its effects on residents and businesses. I really don’t want to see a lot of resources dedicated to things that are fundamentally optional when there are necessities that have to be addressed right now.

Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Health Department to develop and implement stricter public health regulations to protect our grocery store workers.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui

Absolutely, but not just because of an anecdote or two. Sometimes I think Twitter and neighborhood listservs are the primary source of Cambridge public policy.

Order #5. That the City Council go on record in full support of this petition and of Harvard graduate students as they courageously stand up for their needs in a time of crisis.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan

Order #7. That the City Manager examine expanding the City’s jobs programs for those unemployed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone

Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to repurpose the War Memorial facility into only a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site for unhoused individuals awaiting their test results.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

One week the War Memorial facility is set aside as an emergency shelter primarily to prevent infection, and now this Order calls for it to be used only as a COVID-19 testing and temporary quarantine site. It will be interesting to hear from City Management on this, but it sure seems like a couple of city councillors are making a career out of second-guessing city management and those in charge of public health and public safety.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, transmitting the 2019 Annual Report.

Communications & Reports #6. A communication was received from Councillor Quinton Zondervan, transmitting thoughts on planning for the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I won’t comment on the particulars, but I do appreciate that we are at least beginning to think of next phases to this thing. Unlike some of the foolishness I hear from Washington, D.C. about "reopening the country" as though it was some kind of on-off switch, any rational person needs to understand that this will have to be an extended transition during which some aspects of normalcy will take longer than others and some things will likely change permanently. – Robert Winters

April 5, 2020

We’ll Meet Again – What’s on the Agenda for the April 6, 2020 Cambridge City Council Virtual Meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:43 pm

We’ll Meet Again – What’s on the Agenda for the April 6, 2020 Cambridge City Council Virtual Meeting?

The address of Queen Elizabeth to the people of England today is still resonating with me, especially the subtle reference to the Vera Lynn song from the days of World War II. It really choked me up listing to the old gal weave together past, present, and future. If only we had that kind of moral leadership at the top of our political heap. Perhaps we will again some sunny day.Vera Lynn - We'll Meeting Again

Meanwhile, back in our Cambridge, here are a few agenda items this week that I found interesting:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for the City Council to adopt a statutory small business exemption for personal property accounts equal to or less than $10,000 in assessed value, and if approved as a special act by the Legislature and Governor of the Commonwealth, for personal property accounts equal to or less than $20,000 in assessed value.

This is a relatively modest assist to small businesses, but it’s also a sign that maybe there’s a realization that small businesses are deserving of benefits now reserved entirely for resident homeowners. There’s also the added benefit of bureaucratic simplification.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.

We’ve all come to appreciate the daily updates from the City administration, but perhaps this will be an opportunity to get some insight into the larger picture of how the City is responding and will continue to respond to this public health nightmare.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the relevant City departments to give the Council a financial impact summary on how the local Covid-19 response will be impacting the City’s free cash and ability to budget looking into July 1, 2021, and to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone

I can’t help but be reminded of how often some councillors would view the City’s fund balance as some kind of untapped piggy bank just waiting to be broken open for pet projects and populist initiatives. I guess it takes an actual rainy day to fully understand the value of maintaining a "rainy day fund."

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the relevant City departments to report back to the Council on what efforts have been made to work with other municipalities on this issue and to work with Cambridge’s State Delegation and the Governor’s office for a comprehensive regional housing plan to be put in place to house the homeless during the COVID-19 emergency.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern

ALL housing solutions have to be understood regionally. Unilateral solutions are not solutions. They never were and they never will be.

Order #4. That the City Manager expand tax-filing and stimulus benefit assistance to low-income and unhoused residents.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan

With so many banks in every city square and elsewhere, one might think that these could provide the financial infrastructure for stimulus benefit assistance through coordination between the federal government and all of these banks. The same goes for providing low-interest or zero-interest short-term, government-insured business loans and mortgage assistance. Waiting several months for an across-the-board $1200 check to every resident seems like the least effective way to get through these difficult months of temporary unemployment and loss of income. As for those who lack a bank account or a home address, how to receive the federal benefit seems like just one more problem heaped on top of a host of other problems. – Robert Winters

March 22, 2020

Checking In Virtually – Select Items from the March 23, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council,East Cambridge — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:46 pm

Checking In Virtually – Select Items from the March 23, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

As I said last week, the only things they should be focusing on now are matters relating to the current emergency and basic maintenance of the city. For the most part this seems to be the case. This is not the time for separate policy agendas.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to recommendations for the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning Apr 1, 2020 and ending Mar 31, 2021. [Manager’s Letter]

Same basic story as last year: 0% increase in the water consumption block rate and an 6.3% increase in the sewer use block rate, resulting in a 4.8% increase in the combined rate for the period beginning April 1, 2020 and ending March 31 , 2021. Last year it was 0%, 7.0%, and 5.2%, respectively.City Hall

Charter Right #1. That the “2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance” be forwarded to the Ordinance Committee for discussion and recommendation. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER ON MAR 16, 2020.]

This is not the time for separate agendas. This matter should be tabled for the time being. Besides, if you read the details of the proposal it’s the single worst example of micromanagement by councillors I’ve seen in 35 years.

Resolution #1. That a suitable resolution be prepared on the death of Sal DiDomenico Sr.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons

Resolution #4. Resolution on the death of Jimmy Albert Smith.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern

Two very large trees have fallen in our Cambridge forest. My heart goes out especially to my friend and State Senator Sal DiDomenico whose dad has been a fixture in his East Cambridge neighborhood for many decades. I look forward to the day when a celebration of his life can be held during better times.

Order #1. City Council support of Senator Ron Wyden’s forthcoming legislation calling for the delay of federal REAL ID requirements until September 2021.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui

Order #2. That the Cambridge City Council requests that brokers, landlords, and real estate agents not to show housing units with current occupants during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of using vacant properties and hotels as emergency shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to present emergency appropriations to the City Council in order to provide appropriate financial relief to businesses and organizations in the city, especially those which are not receiving sufficient state or federal assistance.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City personnel to develop and implement an online portal designed to allow senior citizens who are house-bound due to the coronavirus outbreak to sign up and notify the City that they require assistance with receiving grocery deliveries, other services delivered, and/or wellness checks throughout this crisis.   Councillor Simmons

It’s good to see that this week all of the City Council orders are responsive to the current emergency.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting a letter from New England Development regarding a Pre-Application Conference with the City Council for a CambridgeSide 2.0 PUD-8 Special Permit.

Some planning does have to carry on in spite of the current difficulties. I continue to appreciate initiatives like this one that have the possibility of making our streets and neighborhoods more interesting and inviting even as they deliver greater financial stability to the property owners carrying out these developments.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting COVID-19 Ideas and Suggestions.

Good suggestions all. – Robert Winters

March 15, 2020

Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale Issue Statement Related to COVID-19 Emergency Measures

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:44 pm

Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale
Issue Statement Related to COVID-19 Emergency Measures

City SealMarch 15, 2020 – The City of Cambridge has been deeply immersed in dealing with the containment of the Coronavirus crisis. We have closed schools, libraries, Department of Human Services Programs’ preschool and afterschool programs, youth and senior centers, and a number of other public facilities, and we have cancelled all permitted events. We will be closing City municipal buildings to the general public at 5 p.m., Monday, March 16, 2020, until further notice. City Hall will remain open for the City Council meeting, but all City departments at City Hall will be closed to the public starting at 5:00pm on Monday, March 16, 2020.

Our workforce is incredibly committed and responsive to ensuring the City can safely meet the needs of our community. We are particularly appreciative of our Public Health Department, City leadership team, and Public Safety officials in dealing with overall emergency preparedness. There have been many excellent questions raised over the last week and we wanted to address action steps we will undertake over the next week:

  • Scaling the capacity of the City’s workforce and public bodies to conduct many non -public safety operations in virtual or remote environments;
  • Creating and disseminating clear messaging for social distancing best practices for various populations, including out of school youth and young adults, and senior and other vulnerable populations;
  • Collaborating with the non- profit ecosystem on creating a systematic approach to coordinating donations and volunteerism to assist our various community needs;
  • Integrating and monitoring state and federal resources as they are committed to ensure the City is maximizing the use of all available resources to assist our residents, particularly traditionally underserved populations such as our homeless and elderly communities;
  • Discussing the creation of a reserve fund for the Cambridge Health Alliance;
  • Communicating regularly with supermarkets and food stores to discuss operations and supply chain challenges. Governor Baker’s statewide restrictions issued on March 15 do not apply to grocery stores or pharmacies;
  • Enforcing and notifying businesses of Governor Baker’s statewide declaration that all bars and restaurants in Massachusetts will be shut down for on-premise consumption starting Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, April 6, although these establishments can continue to offer food for takeout or delivery. Retail stores can stay open as long as 25 people or fewer are present in them;
  • Educating the public of the Commonwealth’s ban on gatherings of 25 people or more including all community, civic, public, leisure, and faith-based events. This ban also includes sports games with spectators, concerts, conventions, fitness centers, gyms, private clubs, and cinemas and theaters;
  • Communicating with the small business and artist communities on potential resources and relief;
  • Coordinating with our university and business community partners to enlist their support and cooperation and ensure coordination of response efforts; and
  • Establishing an ad hoc advisory working group to assist with the City’s planning and response efforts. This advisory working group, which will report to the Public Health Commissioner, will be comprised of subject matter experts, residents, healthcare providers and City staff to support the ongoing work of the Cambridge Public Health Department. The call for volunteers will be issued the week of March 16.

Aggressive social distancing is a proven public health strategy. It is the key to saving lives and resuming our lives in the future. The City has enlisted and will continue enlisting experts in matters of infectious disease, communication and emergency response and preparedness. We will communicate regularly and strongly encourage the public to regularly visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 for updates and resources.

We need our entire community, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, to be involved in mitigating and slowing this pandemic. We know that the current situation will worsen before it improves. We want to ensure the public that the City’s team, your elected officials, and our community partners are thoughtfully approaching this rapidly evolving pandemic. We are committed to addressing the challenges and needs of the community today and into the future. Because of careful strong City management and sound fiscal policies set by the City Council, the City is in a financial position to strategically use our free cash reserves to support our COVID-19 pandemic response. We are here for you today and we are confident the Cambridge community will, as always, rise to the occasion to respond this challenge.

February 11, 2020

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 451-452: February 11, 2020

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:40 pm

Episode 451 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 11, 2020 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 11, 2020 at 5:30pm. Topics: Voting & Elections & Cheating; election standards, voting machines, voter registration, early voting, Presidential primary, noncompetitive elections, broken political systems, ranked choice voting; Tree Cutting Moratorium extended. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 452 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 11, 2020 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 11, 2020 at 6:00pm. Topics: Welcoming Community Ordinance; Council rhetoric and misunderstanding; Charter Rights and Charter Wrongs; Foreign Policy Committee? history of and possible changes to City Council subcommittees; Full-Time City Council Aides, political patronage, Incumbency Protection Program; City Manager contract. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress