Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

November 19, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 635-636: November 19, 2024

Episode 635 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 19, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 19, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Post-election recap, insane campaign spending, strange Cabinet choices; possible ramifications for sanctuary cities”, possible effects on federal funds, housing eligibility, transportation projects, effect on property tax levy to compensate; misunderstanding democracy, people staying in their respective silos; the Moulton reaction and refusal to moderate; Resident Satisfaction Survey – what it says and doesn’t say; traffic obstruction as City policy; things the City can fix vs. things they cannot; non-solutions to housing affordability; massive upzoning proposed; misrepresentation of the electorate; Advisory Committee appointments; non-negotiable mandates; growing problem of City departments choosing citizen advisory committees based on the outcomes that they want, irony of nonrepresentative appointments in a city with proportional representation elections, need for better outreach and recruitment; drought and fire hazards continue. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 636 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 19, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 19, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Many opportunities for City boards and commissions; City Council diminution of authority of the Planning Board, growing City Council opposition to public input; process underway to ruin Broadway for the Cycling Safety Ordinance, removal of 75% of parking – all a done deal to rubber-stamp plans of City staff, possible political backlash, Traffic and Parking Department and other City departments don’t care; Linkage fee increases, Nexus studies, and proposal for Job Training Trust – how much is too much?; Dramatic upzoning proposal disguised as “ending exclusionary zoning” – potential for major political backlash, dumping all the negative effects onto the “corridors” for political expedience; status of possible City Charter changes – things that could use revision and things that should remain. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

November 5, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 633-634: November 5, 2024

Episode 633 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 5, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 5, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Election Day 2024; City Hall Inscription restored; State Ballot Questions; poor Presidential choices, political dysfunction, no choices in most elections; democracy not just about winner-take-all; putting the “united” back in United States; speed humps and bumps; solar systems; kerfuffle over Sqa Sachem; proposed Jobs Training Trust and Linkage. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 634 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 5, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 5, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Tax rates, assessments, tax levy; pet programs (Rise Up) may not be fundable; Supersized Zoning Petition – obliterating current residential zoning districts; unacceptable alternatives; disingenuous CDD presentation, misinterpretation of Envision Cambridge process; lazy and arrogant planning; blocking public input; Central Square Rezoning and local pushback. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

October 17, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 631-632: October 15, 2024

Episode 631 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 15, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Oct 15, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Cambridge Mosaic; Joan Pickett memorial; Cathie Zusy elected; Bow Tie Ride and Brattle Street crash; Memorial Drive fatality, short-term and long-term redesigns, Beacon Yards and Mass Pike realignment; Ballot Questions 1 and 2. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 632 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 15, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Oct 15, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Ballot Questions 3-5; Tax Rate Hearing and Vote, tax bills coming; A Bigger Cambridge upzoning proposals being sold as “ending exclusionary zoning”; disconnect between ideologues and residents; Central Square rezoning. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 17, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 629-630: September 17, 2024

Episode 629 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 17, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Sept 17, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Constitution Day; Open Archives Roadshow; Boomer Kennedy; Women in Trades; Bob LaTrémouille; Red McGrail; Joan Pickett memorial service; Cambridge Mosaic; Vacancy Recount; Decker/MacKay Recount; charter reconsideration and consensus. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 630 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 17, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Sept 17, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Boards & Commissions; “emergency” extension of Cannabis Permitting Ordinance; Vail Court, lost opportunities, letting the planners plan; Housing Committee super-size proposal and ABC hostility and arrogance; MBTA Communities Act w/Cambridge as poster child; soft targets will bear the burden; political fallout; perfect tax storm coming soon. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 3, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 627-628: September 3, 2024

Episode 627 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 3, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Sept 3, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Death of Cambridge City Councillor Joan Pickett; Vacancy Recount to be scheduled to elect Cathie Zusy – actual procedure, alternatives, history of Plan E vacancies 1941-present; brutality and disrespect of anonymous commenting; a clearer view of Joan Pickett. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 628 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 3, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Sept 3, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Shallowness of local press; Councillor Pickett’s actual views on bicycle and pedestrian safety and compromise; Sept 3 Primary; 77 supervoters; lack of candidates, choices; commentary on Decker-MacKay contest; Meet Your Neighbor Day; Boards and Commissions – Volunteer Opportunities – best education money can’t buy; Pre-K startup; $100 tickets for street cleaning; Oldtime Baseball; City Charter commentary; rejuvenation of local news; Central Square zoning. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

July 2, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 623-624: July 2, 2024

Episode 623 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 2, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on July 2, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Starlight Square Retrospective: 2020-2024. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 624 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 2, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on July 2, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Possible future of Starlight Square – floating some ideas; compatibility with housing; creating a Square within the Square; working with abutting property owners for best solutions; the problem of self-appointed spokespersons for people they don’t represent; cyclist fatalities at Mt Auburn/DeWolfe and now at Hampshire/Portland, the problem with intersections and visibility, better solutions needed, hostility and vengefulness by bike lane advocates; noteworthy board appointments; Central Lots Study and future zoning considerations continue – “hurry up and wait”; PILOT agreements; upcoming meetings of interest; accountability of Affordable Housing Trust; Charter Review status – what should happen, keep it simple; DPW gratitude; Cambridge Jazz Festival coming July 27; government role in local news? – reinvention needed, a problem that needs to be solved; a final note on Presidential election prospects. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 18, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 621-622: June 18, 2024

Episode 621 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 18, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on June 18, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Harvard Summer School; Recent (Riverfest) and upcoming festivals and events (Juneteenth, Spelling Bee, Fresh Pond Day, Citywide Dance Party, Starlight Lovefest); World Champion Celtics; Red Sox rising; Mayor Simmons mutual interests, solving the mystery of the shrinking annual reports; Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan and fiscal constraints; reviving local news, public funding, objectivity, right ways and wrong ways, the larger questions, future of Cambridge Chronicle, the purpose of a “paper of record”, democracy dies in darkness. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 622 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 18, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on June 18, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Best ways to augment democracy with healthy environment of objective information, community voices, marshalling existing resources – the overdue conversation that needs to happen, Cambridge once had 5 newspapers covering Cambridge; cyclist death at Mt Auburn/DeWolfe and aftermath; some City bicycle planning not consistent with bicycle safety at intersections, the limits of signalization, the importance of simplicity; consideration of possible charter changes – simple is best; Cambridge Public Schools and dismissal of Superintendent Victoria Greer; ongoing planning for Central Square – and reactions from abutters. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 4, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 619-620: June 4, 2024

Episode 619 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 4, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on June 4, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Recycling updates, zero waste plan 2.0, Hazardous Waste Day; FY2025 Budget Adopted – nearly a billion dollars, significant increases over time and especially this year; potential tax implications for fall; reorganization of some City departments – Executive and CDD; sizable 34.3% increase in Mayor’s Office budget; Charter Review status and Gov’t Operations Committee; Planning Board appointments and voracious appetite of some city councillors for behind-the-scenes control or public inquisition; Ronayne Petition v. Supersize proposals. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 620 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 4, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on June 4, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Ronayne Petition v. Supersize proposals for residential zoning, legalizing multi-family housing; preference for diversity of housing stock rather than supersize everywhere; turning Cambridge into Flushing and rents don’t go down; artificial affordability via subsidy; Central Square zoning discussions and Central Square Lots Study; lunacy of permitting only low-income housing; naive belief that Starlight Square 2.0 would be compatible with high-density housing; Central Square should be more than a social utility – should be a regional draw, need to involve people who currently don’t want to go to Central Square; the perils of onerous Inclusionary Housing requirements; Historical Commission award for our video, the many things we didn’t include in our video; disappearance of the historical role of the wards; need for a history of the Plan E era. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

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