Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

September 20, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 599-600: September 19, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council,elections,planning — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:43 pm

Episode 599 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 19, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Sept 19, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Candidate’s Eye View of municipal election, candidate forums; national focus ? local competence; some observations on endorsing organizations; AHO restricting housing growth; “100% affordable” vs. mixed-income housing; Special Permit alternative with good criteria; false dichotomy of affordable housing vs. commercial/lab; actual cost of deed-restricted units. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 600 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 19, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Sept 19, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: The Never-Ending Study of Central Square and City Council Policy Order; Zoning Reform; C2 Study recommendations now ready for prime time; Arts & Entertainment + Housing; the short-sightedness of only “100% affordable”, deed-restricted housing; infeasible housing policies; let planners actually plan; in support of big audacious plans and reimagination; getting past anti-capitalism and decommodification; quoting Envision while ignoring it. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 6, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 597-598: September 5, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,cycling,elections,planning,transportation — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 5:04 pm

Episode 597 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 5, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Aug 1, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Municipal election updates; changing hats; Candidate Pages – many good new candidates; endorsing organizations; the problematic “Bike Pledge” and the fallacy of perfection of the Cycling Safety Ordinance; misinterpretation of election results and slates; feeders vs. preferred candidates; the purpose of proportional representation – and the need for a strong executive; bringing ideas rather than beliefs; representation vs. advocacy; perverse candidate questionnaires; deviation from party line may lead to job loss or non-appointment – a problem in democracy; tax troubles on the horizon. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 598 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 5, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Sept 5, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Taxes, tax classification, and Prop 2½; fiction and promise of candidate handcards; taking wrong roads toward housing affordability; the problem of earmarking housing for specific groups; driving vs. “The T” and delusional thinking; looking at housing and transportation holistically, unilateral “solutions” are not solutions; Cambridge is better because of its diversity of housing styles and densities; solving problems or just taking down “the aristocracy”; the need to walk and observe; CDD undoing decades of better planning; lefties need to find more joy in life. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

August 1, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 595-596: August 1, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:54 pm

Episode 595 – Cambridge InsideOut: Aug 1, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Aug 1, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Municipal election updates – final list of candidates; proposed 2030 gas ban amendment – de minimus benefit, detrimental effect on commercial kitchens, cultural discrimination; the problem of elected officials who don’t care what you think, exerting control and accomplishing litte; half truths sold as whole cloth. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 596 – Cambridge InsideOut: Aug 1, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Aug 1, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Interesting candidates and not just radicals; civic resources and appreciation; the positive aspects of candidacy; Candidate Pages – individuals, not organizations; tail wagging the dog – bike lanes and AHO, narrow interests attempting to define the election issues; AHO – violating planning and zoning principles, the big lie of addressing affordability; the “other issues” that may be far more important; Is proportional representation really proportional? Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

July 19, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 593-594: July 18, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,City Council,School Committee — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 6:27 am

Episode 593 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 18, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on July 18, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Saundra Graham; municipal election updates, candidates; Charter concerns; state of the Council; representatives vs. activists, democrats vs. progressives; the problem with City Council Aides; troubles in the Mayor’s Office; Ned Sennott – reporter-councillor; councillor never meant as a full-time profession. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 594 – Cambridge InsideOut: July 18, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on July 18, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Platform? – just be a representative; School Committee challenges – do the math; School Committee candidates; fallacy of throwing money and expecting solutions; loss of multi-families and disappearance of working/middle class; market distortions; myth of the Cambridge-centric universe; mandates as lazy governance; subculture of smart and reasonable people. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 20, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 591-592: June 20, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Charter,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:34 pm

Episode 591 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 20, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on June 20, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Charter history; municipal election updates; activists are not representatives; problem of single-issue candidates and organizations; recollections of Independents vs. Cambridge Civic Association (CCA); current inability to evaluate and modify; the problem with pledges; questionable effectiveness of BEUDO and other climate-related ordinances; voluntary actions vs. City Council mandates. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 592 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 20, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on June 20, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Grading the 2022-23 City Council on a curve; local initiatives written by national players; ideology vs. effectiveness; theory vs. reality in residential development; cumulative effect of regulations; few prospects for evaluation and revision; working with economics vs. fighting it; fallacy of command and control; idiocy of conjugating the Charter Right; citizen outrage as a barometer of policy failure; responsiveness vs. unresponsiveness of elected officials; municipal election mode – all goodness and light. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 7, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 589-590: June 6, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,Charter,City Council,covid,elections,School Committee,schools — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:34 am

Episode 589 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 6, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on June 6, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Central Square updates – Starlight Square and a shoutout to Matt Boyes-Watson, Nina Berg, and especially Brian Wright; Cambridge Police doing the work; politicizing the moment and jumping on board the latest ideological train; looking back at the craziness of Covid, getting back to living; “saving capitalism one screw at a time”; retail spaces as amenities rather than as profit centers; Popportunists coming to Columbia Street. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 590 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 6, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on June 6, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Municipal Election Calendar; time to declare intentions for City Council or School Committee; dumbing down in the name of social justice; education and lifting people up; candidacy takes courage – putting yourself out there – service, not a career; need for a broad range of candidates and a lot of voter education; small “d” democrats vs. performative progressives; Sullivan Chamber as community theater; BEUDO – incentives and support vs. mandates; CDD as an activist organization; upzoning petitions on parade. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

May 3, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 587-588: May 2, 2023

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:28 am

Episode 587 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 2, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on May 2, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: John Clifford and Central Square heroes; AHO – different rules for different people; when bigger and denser is your only goal; starting with conclusions; Vision Zero fantasies; public policy driven by social media; the consequences of living in a news desert. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 588 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 2, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on May 2, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: FY2024 Budget and shifting allocations; explosive growth of City Manager’s Office; self-congratulation disguised as public information; questioning the Cambridge Public Schools; Tax Classification – shifting the burden from commercial to residential, commercial abatements anticipated with high vacancy rates; cumulative effect of regulations and added costs; golden geese growing rarer; continuing kerfuffle over Riverbend Park and traffic diversion. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

April 4, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 585-586: April 4, 2023

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Charter,City Council,elections,history — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:30 pm

Episode 585 – Cambridge InsideOut: Apr 4, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Apr 4, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Development standards and costs; cumulative effect of ordinances, regulations, and other requirements; Inclusionary housing, Linkage and nexus studies; economies of scale benefitting major players; memories of rent control driving properties from small-scale to large-scale owners; more diverse ownership preferable. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 586 – Cambridge InsideOut: Apr 4, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Apr 4, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Charter Review; ideas of charter changes; proportional representation; elected office as service and not as a career; redress of grievances in previous charters; charter provisions as guardrails; history of revised ordinances after charter change. Hosts: Robert Winters, Patrick Barrett [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

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