Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

March 11, 2021

Et tu, Brute? Beware The Ides of March – March 15, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 7:42 pm

Et tu, Brute? Beware The Ides of March – March 15, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are a few items of interest:Ides of March

Reconsideration #1. Task Force Transparency.
RECONSIDERATION FILED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN ON MAR 9, 2021
Reconsideration Fails 4-5 (DC,PN,JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,DS,TT,SS – NO)

Last week’s amended resolution seemed like a proper response to the original policy order, so my impression of this call for reconsideration is that either (a) Councillor Zondervan wants to continue milking this issue for all it’s worth, or (b) he’s sulking because six of his colleagues shot down his proposal to have his committee co-host any future public meetings of the Task Force. I expect this move for reconsideration will fail by the same 3-6 vote.

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the City Manager’s COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Purchasing Department to provide a report detailing the City’s annual stationary expenditures, what percentage of that budget is spent at local retailers, and whether this percentage can be increased during the Covid-19 crisis.   Councillor Simmons
Adopted as Amended 9-0

The City’s creativity in partnering with local restaurants to support Covid-related emergency food programs was fabulous, but there comes a point where this crosses the line into well-intentioned political patronage. There’s also the matter of M.G.L. Chapter 30B which governs municipal procurement. [Chapter 30B Remains in Effect During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency] In the meantime, if you need any stationery supplies, consider buying them at a place like University Stationery or Bob Slate. Chapter 30B doesn’t apply to you!

Resolution #6 (was Order #7). Thank You to My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge.   Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to re-implement capacity restrictions on indoor dining to ensure the safety of restaurant workers, diners, and Cambridge residents until widespread vaccination of the general public is achieved in the coming weeks.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Failed 2-6-0-1 (JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,PN,DS,SS,TT – NO; DC – PRESENT)

I seriously hope this City Council Order goes nowhere fast. The distancing requirements are still in effect and that’s really the limiting factor on capacity in places like restaurants and other indoor spaces. The sponsors of this Order don’t seem to understand the concepts of managing risk and navigating your way safely from bad to better. The fact that they continue to cite Somerville as the wellspring of greater wisdom only makes me question more the role of city council aides, including the current Somerville City Council president. In the meantime, City Manager Louis DePasquale has repeatedly stated that Cambridge restrictions are subject to change as the need arises.

Unfinished Business #8. A Zoning Petition has been received from Arvind Srinivasan regarding zoning language relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest overlay. [Passed to a 2nd Reading Mar 1, 2021; to be ordained on or after Mar 15, 2021. The deadline for ordination is Mar 16, 2021.]
Ordination Fails 1-7-0-1 (DS – YES; AM,MM,PN,JSW,TT,QZ,SS – NO; DC – PRESENT)
City Solicitor Glowa noted that because the Planning Board gave a positive recommendation this petition (or a similar one) may be re-filed at any time. (Otherwise there would have been a 2-year period during which re-filing would be prohibited.) The petitioner has so far indicated no intention to re-file and could develop their properties as-of-right under existing zoning. It was also revealed by the Solicitor that under the recent "Housing Choice" legislation this petition would have required only a simple majority (5 votes) for ordination due to the housing component that was part of the petition.

The odds seem to favor this petition expiring even if this means the owner/developer going forward with plans as-of right that provide little or no additional benefits (such as a bridge over the RR tracks). Then again, perhaps a rabbit will be pulled out of a hat Monday night that results in the necessary six votes for ordination. I’ll say flat out that I hate the very idea of "contract zoning", i.e. Let’s Make A Deal, but I would really like to see something better made of this corner of Cambridge with connections between the Quadrangle and the Triangle and also across the Little River (thought that’s more of a DCR matter).

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Public Works, the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department, the Budget Department, Cambridge Table to Farm, the local Business Associations, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and other relevant groups to explore the feasibility of creating a Commercial Composting Pilot Program to serve at least 100 small businesses with fewer than fifty employees.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Nolan
Adopted 9-0

As a long-time promoter of composting I was glad to see this Order. However, as the Order states: "As this program will likely have budget implications similar to the 2018 Small Business Recycling Pilot, this possibility should be examined before the next fiscal year begins." Ideally, recycling and composting should yield financial benefits in addition to environmental benefits, but this is not always the case and any potential costs have to be taken into account.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Historical Commission to initiate a process to begin chronicling the rich and vibrant history of people of color in Cambridge, similar to other City-commissioned books such as “We Are the Port: Stories of Place, Perseverance, and Pride in the Port/Area 4 Cambridge, Massachusetts 1845-2005” and “All in the Same Boat” and “Crossroads: Stories of Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1912-2000”.   Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

This would be a good project – hopefully as part of a continuing series of less-recorded histories of the people and families who have lived in Cambridge over its nearly 300 years from village to town to city.

Order #4. Student Loan Crisis.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

I have long viewed cancellation of student debt as just a form of political patronage. There may be some room for forgiveness of some of this debt, but restructuring the debt at low interest rates has always seemed like the most fair way to address this. By the way, I do believe there should always be free or low-cost university options – just like I had when I went to college.

Order #5. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to open Riverbend Park before the end of March and on other days in addition to Sundays, and explore the feasibility of extending Riverbend Park to the BU Bridge and beyond.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

Here we go again. I expect we’ll again see Saturday and Sunday closures from April through November from Western Avenue to the Eliot Bridge, but any extension is unlikely for the same reasons DCR has provided in the past. Meanwhile, there are long-term plans to redesign of the Memorial Drive Greenway between the BU Bridge and the Eliot Bridge that hopefully will get back on track as the public health emergency wanes.

Resolution #5 (was Order #6). Ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

File this under "Qaddafi and other foreign relations initiatives".

Order #8. Order to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge to insert new section Restricting the Use of Chemical Crowd Control Agents and Kinetic Impact Projectiles.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Apparently much of last week’s related discussion went in one ear and out the other. Maybe even in five ears and out the other five.

And let’s not forget this:
Tues, Mar 16
3:00pm   The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss the initial steps that must be undertaken to establish the search process for the next City Manager.   (Sullivan Chamber)

And so it begins. Pardon my cynicism but I would rather put my faith in random selection of a city manager than entrust the task to the current crop of city councillors. Unfortunately, it’s their call under the Charter. Come to think of it, perhaps we should advocate for a Charter change to have the Cambridge City Council chosen by lottery from the registered voter list. – Robert Winters

March 8, 2021

Getting to know your job (or not) – Preview of the March 8, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:08 pm

Getting to know your job (or not) – Preview of the March 8, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

When you have watched the Cambridge City Council for over three decades (as I have) you develop certain expectations. For example, when there are no City Council orders calling for the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi, you start to worry if everyone is feeling OK or if they are in need of some intervention. You also come to expect a fair number of poorly-researched "drive-by orders" asking the City Manager and staff to dedicate many hours to explore some barely-formed notion that someone heard about in Santa Monica or elsewhere. I’m reasonably OK with the latter (mainly because I don’t have to follow up on the requests for information), but I have always found the former (foreign intervention) to be just a bit out of the range of the role of the City Council. This week we’ll hear about farmers in India.City Hall

Another common situation is the failure of some city councillors to understand what they can and cannot do under our Plan E Charter. In recent months we have seen efforts to micromanage City departments – most notably the License Commission and the Police Department (CPD), but also the Public Health Department. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, in particular, has repeatedly expressed his frustration when five councillors expressing a point of view fails to result in all hands on deck carrying it out. In other words, his notion of a city manager is to not actually be a manager but rather a messenger incapable of making managerial decisions regarding logistics, financing, approving contracts, labor negotiation or much of anything else – as if doing so is somehow a breakdown in “democracy”.

One case in point this week is seen in the responses from the City Solicitor regarding whether the Cambridge City Council can forbid the use of tear gas by CPD (which it hasn’t actually used for nearly half a century). It’s now essentially a moot point thanks to recent state legislation and CPD policies restricting its use, but the Solicitor does take the councillors to school regarding the limits of Council authority in matters such as this. I generally find the expressed dichotomies of some councillors to be willfully ignorant. They may see this as a choice between peaceful negotiation and tear gas, but the significant choice really only comes up in a full-scale riot or insurrection when it’s a choice between lethal and non-lethal force – and it’s good to have non-lethal options in that case.

Some councillors a few weeks ago expressed frustration regarding the role of the License Commission in managing potential conflicts regarding live entertainment and enforcement of the Noise Ordinance in allowing acoustic music without a license. It’s great that the City Council wants to recommend some changes, but they also have the luxury of never having to adjudicate the conflicts. That said, the License Commission seems to have understood the desired goals and they are now proposing ways to realize those goals while still being able to adjudicate conflicts – something that is definitely not the job of a city councillor.

It is entirely proper for a city councillor to second-guess the decisions of the City Manager and his staff. It would also be proper for a councillor or even a majority of councillors to tell the Manager that they think one of his departments is dysfunctional. If the Manager remains unresponsive, a simple majority of the City Council can even exercise its nuclear option and send the Manager packing. On the other hand, if a city councillor chooses to bypass the Manager and directly browbeat a department head or other employee, that might actually cross the line into felony territory. Councillors need to know their limitations. That goes for their aides as well.

Here are the visible highlights this week:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting COVID-19 Update Questions.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #1. Mobile Vaccines Policy Order.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #2. Waiving Business Fees.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #3. Honoring the Cambridge Lives Lost to COVID-19.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

The City’s many responses to the pandemic continue. Vaccinations are increasing and there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the 7-day averages of new cases are no longer decreasing – and this is a cause for some concern. It may be the presence of virus variants, and I’m sure the count will soon be decreasing again. In the meantime, we remain vigilant – and hopeful.

And soon there will be baseball.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation on the Green Roofs Ordinance (Oliver, et al.) Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

The Planning Board recommends against adoption of this petition in its present form. While the intentions of the petitioners are to be respected, the petition is highly deficient in terms of definitions, practical considerations regarding maintenance and cost, and how the proposed requirements would interact with code requirements related to safety, accessibility, and building mechanical systems. It’s also unclear how this proposal dovetails with existing zoning regulations and other proposals now under consideration.

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Calendar Item Number 2 dated Nov 2, 2020, which requested draft ordinance language to prohibit the use of tear gas in Cambridge.
Placed on File 9-0

“I am of the opinion that the authority to dictate what weapons are used by Cambridge police officers when carrying out their official duties, under the City’s Plan E Charter and its Home Rule powers, rests with the City Manager and not the City Council; that future changes in weapons and equipment already in use by the Police Department would likely be subject to collective bargaining as to the impact of such changes; and that an ordinance restricting police officers from carrying assault weapons would thus be invalid as inconsistent with or frustrating the purposes of State law.” — That sums it up pretty well. Both responses from the City Solicitor are worth reading.

Charter Right #2. Task Force Transparency. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL MAR 1, 2021 (Order #2 of Mar 1, 2021)]
Adopted as Amended by Simmons Substitution 9-0
[after QZ amendment to have joint meeting w/Public Safety Committee failed 3-6 (DC,JSW,QZ – YES)]

Regarding the Task Force, I’ll repeat what I said last week: “Apparently Councillor Zondervan and I have the same wish but likely for diametrically opposite reasons. I have been asking to get access to these meetings (or at least the recordings) of the new Task Force on the Future of Public Safety, and apparently now so is he. My concern is that I don’t want to see problematic people dominating the conversation, and I suspect Councillor Zondervan may desire to ensure the exact opposite. Public Safety, in my view, translates into an improved police force sharing specific responsibilities with others as appropriate. Others openly express a desire to abolish police entirely. That’s a non-starter for me and not a plausible outcome of this process, but I would like to at least sample the dialogue.”

Charter Right #3. Shelter Wages. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL MAR 1, 2021 (Order #4 of Mar 1, 2021)]
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Again, repeating what I said last week: “I have no idea what constitutes an appropriate wage for people who work at the 240 Albany Street wet shelter, but it’s not a City-owned facility and it serves the region and not just Cambridge residents. My understanding is that the City’s Living Wage Ordinance applies to people working for the City and to companies bidding on City contracts. Does this describe how the Bay Cove (formerly CASPAR) shelter operates? This is not the only facility they operate. [“Each year, Bay Cove provides services to more than 25,000 individuals and families who face the challenges of developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorder, homelessness and/or aging, at more than 170 program sites in Metro Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.”] There are waiver provisions in the ordinance. I’m curious to see how this plays out. After all, there are other shelter facilities in Cambridge that are not funded via City contracts. Would they all then be obliged to raise wages even if their funding sources cannot support it?”

On the Table #7. The Health & Environment Committee met on Oct 13, 2020 to discuss amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force. [TABLED IN COUNCIL MAR 1, 2021 BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN]

Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee met on Nov 10, 2020 to continue discussing amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force.
Tabled 9-0 (Zondervan)

Once again, I hope that this City Council will somehow see the wisdom in not overly restricting reasonable choices of homeowners or burdening them with unreasonable costs.

Unfinished Business #9. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City of Cambridge Law Department to review the above changes to the language of the Domestic Partnerships Ordinance and report back to the Council. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER SEPT 14, 2020]
Ordained as Amended 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on Jan 20, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on amendments to the Domestic Partnership Ordinance.
Placed on File 9-0; Ordained as Amended 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

It looks like this may be ordained after many months of discussion. I’ll withhold my opinion regarding the need for such detailed revision.

Order #4. That the Cambridge City Council goes on record in support of the farmer protests in India.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

See my remarks above.

Order #5. That the City Manager consult relevant staff to implement universal Pre-K in Cambridge.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

This has been in the works for some time, and I look forward to seeing what the detailed implementation of this goal will actually looks like as we eventually emerge from this Covid nightmare. I suspect there will be plenty of nuance – in part informed by having a pre-K Montessori School on one side of me and a Rock & Roll Daycare on the other side of me and an elementary school building across the street. Any comprehensive plan will have to integrate new options with existing options in a way that parents and taxpayers can afford. – Robert Winters

March 2, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 493-494: March 2, 2021

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,campaign finance,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:59 pm

Episode 493 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 2, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Mar 2, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Tree protection and reasonable latitude; Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville won’t seek reelection; campaign finance limits at the Ordinance Committee; legal issues with early/no-excuse absentee voting; roughing up the Voting Rights Act. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 494 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 2, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Mar 2, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Alterations to single-family zoning up for discussion; Cambridge as a sandbox for national organizations and movements; factual vs. fictional history of Cambridge zoning; questioning support/guidelines for “neighborhood groups”; distinguishing neighborhood groups vs. advocacy groups vs. political groups; community schools program and neighborhood councils; Covid-19 update; Alewife zoning and a brief mention of the “land bank” proposal from 1990. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

February 28, 2021

March Madness – March 1, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:17 pm

March Madness – March 1, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here we go on the road to Spring and hopefully something at least a little closer to normalcy.City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0

Though the overall trends are good, I am a little concerned that the 15-day moving average of new infections seems to have stopped its decline. Whether via vaccination or vigilance, those numbers have to be driven down.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to additional information and revised Financial Analysis for the Alewife Zoning Petition.
Referred to Committee Report #3

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 16, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay petition.
Referred to Report #2

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 10, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Alewife zoning petition.
Referred to Report #3

Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 16, 2020 to conduct a public hearing to continue discussion on the Alewife zoning petition.
Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended by Substitution 6-3 (DC,MM,PN,DS,JSW,SS – YES; AM,TT,QZ – NO)

The committee reports seem to suggest some continuing reluctance to approve this petition for reasons that vary all over the map. This may be the best shot at getting the bridge over the tracks that everyone seems to want, and if it does happen I hope it can at least support small shuttle buses rather than just bicycles and pedestrians. Linking the Alewife Quadrangle and Triangle in a meaningful way is a very worthwhile goal. It would be even better if there could be multiple crossings and a new commuter rail stop.

One person at the Dec 16 hearing said, "A single bridge really does not address the needs of the majority of the current workers and residents in the area. Three bridges would be optimal. Two bridges creating a loop for a shuttle with both directly benefit the residents at large but also provide linkage to potential customer servicing businesses." Though that might push things into deal-breaker territory, I agree with the general sentiment. I’ll add that if DCR can build an additional simple pedestrian bridge over the Little River north of this area that would make for a perfect combination.

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation’s three major credit rating agencies. [Moody’s] [Standard & Poor’s] [Fitch]
Placed on File 9-0

Even with the financial pressures from the pandemic we still managed to again pull off a triple triple. As usual, I’m sure there will be some people who will find a way to spin this as a bad thing.

Charter Right #1. The Health & Environment Committee met on Oct 13, 2020 to conduct a public hearing to discuss amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL FEB 22, 2021]
Tabled 9-0 (Zondervan)

I suppose we’ll have to wait a little longer to resolve this, but I continue to hope that this City Council will somehow see the wisdom in not overly restricting reasonable choices of homeowners or burdening them with unreasonable costs.

On the Table #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-64, requesting Home Rule language to allow for acoustic live entertainment performances in small businesses under certain conditions without a license. [TABLED IN COUNCIL FEB 22, 2021] [Related: Late Order #4 of Feb 22 meeting]

I’m not sure how this will ultimately play out, but at the very least I hope this City Council can appreciate that there may be differences in what should be permitted in a central business district like Central Square or Harvard Square or the Porter Square Shopping Center vs. some of the smaller neighborhood mixed use zones where there can be conflicts between entertainment uses and residential uses. I hope they can also consider the fact that uses by time of day are not really found in the zoning code and that it’s really the License Commission that helps to smooth out the potential conflicts.

On the Table #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63, which requested a review of the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCIL NOLAN IN COUNCIL FEB 3, 2021; TABLED IN COUNCIL FEB 8, 2021]
Placed on File 9-0

On the Table #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a further response to Calendar Item Number 2, regarding a report on reviewing the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project, which was previously answered as Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63 on Feb 1, 2021. [TABLED IN COUNCIL FEB 22, 2021] [Related: Late Order #5 of Feb 22 meeting]
Placed on File 9-0

Both of these communications are still just as clear as an unmuddied lake or an azure sky of deepest summer – and laying on the table won’t make them any clearer. You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game.

Applications & Petitions #3. A Zoning Petition has been received from Beals Associates Inc. regarding Broad Canal Subdistrict Zoning Petition as submitted with strike outs.
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0

Highlights: Up to 582,000 additional square feet in the form of an infill building between the two existing buildings; expanded retail space; activation of the ground floor and the public realm along Main Street and the Broad Canal; proposed floating restaurant in the Broad Canal; Broad Canal restoration and maintenance; upgrades to Poor Man’s Landing in the Charles River; restoration of the DCR Boathouse (old MDC Boathouse) near the Museum of Science.

Order #1. Lowell Street Property.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

This takes me back about 30 years to 1990-1991 when then City Councillor Ed Cyr proposed that the City identify various City-owned properties as possible housing sites – a "Land Bank". The list included about a dozen locations, including such places as the dead-end of Norfolk St. near DPW, the park house at the Corporal Burns Playground, and (you guessed it) 25 Lowell Street. I don’t have a strong opinion on this specific Order either way, but I do find it bizarre that there is now such a frenzy to densely develop every possible square inch of Cambridge land – especially if that land has an 02138 zip code.

We used to think in terms of prioritizing "transit-oriented development" or "smart growth". Now it’s just "development" and "growth" and the desire to build everywhere at maximum density regardless of any and all other factors. I guess this is how some people define "a better Cambridge" – not me. Several weeks ago some councillors expressed a desire to build on a newly-acquired softball field. Soon they’ll be taking up a proposal to more than double the allowable density across much of the city. It’s like they put amphetamines in the Cambridge Kool-Aid.

Order #2. Task Force Transparency.   Councillor Zondervan
Charter Right – Simmons

Apparently Councillor Zondervan and I have the same wish but likely for diametrically opposite reasons. I have been asking to get access to these meetings (or at least the recordings) of the new Task Force on the Future of Public Safety, and apparently now so is he. My concern is that I don’t want to see problematic people dominating the conversation, and I suspect Councillor Zondervan may desire to ensure the exact opposite. Public Safety, in my view, translates into an improved police force sharing specific responsibilities with others as appropriate. Others openly express a desire to abolish police entirely. That’s a non-starter for me and not a plausible outcome of this process, but I would like to at least sample the dialogue.

Order #3. Budget Reallocation Update.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

This appears to be primarily a prompt by the sponsors to accelerate their desire to "Defund the Police".

Order #4. Shelter Wages.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Charter Right – Zondervan (with Mallon amendments pending)

I have no idea what constitutes an appropriate wage for people who work at the 240 Albany Street wet shelter, but it’s not a City-owned facility and it serves the region and not just Cambridge residents. My understanding is that the City’s Living Wage Ordinance applies to people working for the City and to companies bidding on City contracts. Does this describe how the Bay Cove (formerly CASPAR) shelter operates? This is not the only facility they operate. [“Each year, Bay Cove provides services to more than 25,000 individuals and families who face the challenges of developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorder, homelessness and/or aging, at more than 170 program sites in Metro Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.”] There are waiver provisions in the ordinance. I’m curious to see how this plays out. After all, there are other shelter facilities in Cambridge that are not funded via City contracts. Would they all then be obliged to raise wages even if their funding sources cannot support it?

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee.
Placed on File 9-0

Though informative, this communication also reports the unbearable tragedy of the suicide of a 10th grader in the Cambridge Public Schools. The process of finding an interim and "permanent" Superintendent of Schools continues, and expanded in-person learning begins this week on Monday. – Robert Winters

February 22, 2021

Featured Items on the Feb 22, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:12 pm

Featured Items on the Feb 22, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here’s my Broadway view of this week’s Civics in Cambridge:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the COVID-19 Update.
Placed on File 9-0

The numbers continue to look better and vaccination opportunities are slowly opening up. I suppose I should go seek a jab or two one of these days.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Final Landmark Designation Report for the St. Augustine’s African Orthodox Church at 137 Allston Street.
Adopted 9-0

This building clearly needs landmark status as the report recommends, but I’ll say once again that I always love reading reports like this from the Cambridge Historical Commission. I went on a tour of this church and other Cambridgeport churches a couple of years ago and I got to explore just about every corner of this building right down to the plumbing. I even received a blessing in the basement. This church is the real deal.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a proposed amendment to Section 8.66 of the Municipal Ordinance relating to Tree Protection and related Order.
Rules Suspended 7-2 (DS, TT – NO) to allow ordination in a single session;
Ordained 7-2 (DS, TT – NO)

Committee Report #1. The Health & Environment Committee met on Oct 13, 2020 to conduct a public hearing to discuss amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force.
Charter Right – Zondervan

The City Council will officially kick the can down the road another 60 days to April 29. I sincerely hope that when they do finally come around to finalizing an ordinance that it will have sufficient flexibility for homeowners to make reasonable decisions without incurring unreasonable costs or having to face unnecessarily burdensome procedures.

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-64, requesting Home Rule language to allow for acoustic live entertainment performances in small businesses under certain conditions without a license.
Tabled 9-0

Late Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Law Department to draft a home rule petition and a zoning amendment to allow acoustic music performances without a license.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toomey – PRESENT)[Note: The City Council’s failure to consider unintended consequences here is a spectacular failure. Perhaps that will be discussed at a future meeting.]

In short, the License Commission recognizes that it has an important role to play in ensuring that Cambridge businesses and residents can peacefully coexist. Anyone who lives in a mixed-use area of the city (like I do) understands this. Only one of the current city councillors lives in such an area.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-144, regarding the feasibility of creating a Fire Cadet Program.
Home Rule Petition Adopted 9-0

Good plan, but it’s remarkable that a Home Rule Petition is even necessary to do something like this. Civil service laws may have been created with the best intentions, but they should never thwart good initiatives like this. It must be pointed out, however, that there are many laws passed with the best intentions that can have serious negative consequences.

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a further response to Calendar Item Number 2, regarding a report on reviewing the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project, which was previously answered as Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63 on Feb 1, 2021.
Tabled 9-0 (after Councillor Nolan exercised her Charter Right initially even though this was obviously not new business).

Late Order #5. That the City Solicitor report back to the City Council on whether or not the City can require written notice be sent to all abutters, both property owners as well as tenants, regarding the scheduling of a hearing regarding the extension of a building permit request to the Planning Board.
Adopted 9-0

The previous communication on this was as clear as an unmuddied lake or an azure sky of deepest summer. One of the oldest and most important rules is that you don’t change the rules in the middle of the game. If a development proposal secures financing based on a certain set of requirements, retroactively changing those requirements jeopardizes the financing and viability of the project. In this case it’s the Planning Board’s authority to grant extensions "for good cause" and they voted to do so. It’s not the place of the Cambridge City Council to second-guess those decisions.

Order #1. Policy Order re: Services for the Unhoused.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted as Amended 9-0

In short, it’s been a while since the City did a comprehensive review of how such matters are addressed and it’s overdue, especially in light of some of the extraordinary pressures caused by the pandemic. The City has done a very good job in devising short-term solutions in an emergency setting, but it would be helpful to take a step back and look at these matters more holistically – and not just as a shallow political response to phone-in democracy.

Committee Report #2. The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning; Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Wed, Nov 18, 2020 to discuss the Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study RFP.
Placed on File 9-0

My prediction is that by the time the City decides on a course of action and invests mightily in such infrastructure, the technology will be rendered obsolete by space lasers. – Robert Winters

February 3, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 489-490: February 2, 2021

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:19 am

Episode 489 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 2, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 2, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Covid-19 status and vaccination roll-out; challenges of non-congregate housing; Kendall Square Urban Redevelopment Plan; Alewife Quadrangle/Triangle planning and transportation for real; Jerry’s Pond optimism; significant retirements. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 490 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 2, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 2, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Early days of Cambridge Recycling; Retirements of Lisa Peterson, Susan Fleischman, and Liza Paden; false advertising and the “Missing Middle Housing” zoning petition; how dense is dense enough?; hostile architecture – or not?; Cambridge City Council on hallucinogens. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

February 2, 2021

Pre/Post-Groundhog Day featured attractions – Feb 3, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:22 pm

Pre/Post-Groundhog Day featured attractions – Feb 3, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here goes — A lot to chew on…..Groundhog

The Feb 1 meeting was postponed to Wed, Feb 3 due to the Snow Emergency.

Starting with The Plague
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #2. Policy Order re: Establishing an On-Site Vaccination Program.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. Policy Order re: Covid-19 Protocols at Affordable Housing Worksites.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. Vaccinating CPS Staff Plan PO.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Tabled – Mallon (9-0)

Order #8. Supporting the School Committee.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted as Amended 7-1-0-1 (Zondervan – NO, Sobrinho-Wheeler – PRESENT)

Stay Positive and Test Negative. Seriously, we should get all teachers and school staff vaccinated and able to do their jobs without fear as soon as humanly possible.

Coronagenda
Charter Right #1. That the City further investigate renting space from the New England School of English to house appropriate members of our unhoused community. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL JAN 11, 2021]
Adopted as Amended 7-0-0-2 (DS,TT – PRESENT)

This now obsolete Order (the space on Green Street has been rented as state-funded temporary housing for a some time now) was contained in the Nov 12 committee report of a public hearing on homelessness. The New England School of English apparently made available their dormitory space on Green Street that had been vacant due to the current pandemic. It was never meant to be a long-term arrangement. Activists are using this opportunity to push an agenda centered on the demand that the City establish and fund non-congregate shelter/housing for unhoused individuals. Not addressed in their demands is the fact that without similar facilities being established in Boston and elsewhere this effectively becomes a regional facility drawing people from all over the Greater Boston area. Also not addressed by the activists are the staffing and logistical challenges associated with a clientele with a high incidence of substance abuse and mental health challenges. Indeed, during the relatively short time the Green Street facility has been open there have been several drug overdoses and one suicide (jump from the parking garage across the street). One of the great luxuries of activism is that you rarely have to deal with the hard stuff.

A little open space while we still can…. and the joys of mitigation
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,717,250 from the Mitigation Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Department of Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account. Funds were received from contributions to the East Cambridge Open Space Fund and will be used will be used to fund the design and construction of three new parks in the East Cambridge/Kendall Square area; Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. Park, Triangle Park and Binney Street Park.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $3,174,389 from Free Cash to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund which will be used to fund specific future projects, which will require separate individual appropriations by the City Council.
Order Adopted 9-0

Zoning and legal matters
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-142, regarding a report on determining the feasibility of expediting the demolition and rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63, which requested a review of the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project.
Charter Right – Nolan

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with comments and suggested modifications, the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest Overlay District (Srinivasan, et al.) Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

"The Board encourages the City Council to carefully consider to what extent a bridge may or may not be guaranteed as part of a Quadrangle Northwest Master Plan Special Permit and what types of alternatives would be acceptable to the City." – Ideally, this area should have its own commuter rail stop and multiple crossings over the railroad tracks, including at least one crossing that would permit shuttle buses and possibly other vehicles. The Alewife Triangle and Quadrangle should be united rather than forever remain separate oversized cul-de-sacs. Property owners and developers should recognize the value in this or seek another line of work.

Unfinished Business #5. A Zoning Petition has been received from Cambridge Redevelopment Authority regarding a Zoning Ordinance to reflect the proposed changes to the KSURP. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JAN 11, 2021. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER JAN 25, 2021] [Petition and Memo] [Draft Letter of Commitment]
Ordained 9-0

Communications #1. A communication was received from Tom Evans, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, submitting a Letter of Commitment to accompany the MXD Zoning Petition and Kendall Square Urban Redevelopment Plan submission.
Adopted, Letter of Commitment incorporated; Placed on File 9-0

Ordination seems likely at this meeting. I’ll leave the details as a reading assignment.

And then there’s this
Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Carolyn Fuller – Ordinance #2021-2 Cambridge Missing Middle Housing Zoning Petition. [Text of petition] [signatures]
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board for Hearing and Report 9-0

The organization that calls itself "A Better Cambridge" (ABC) has now fully earned its alternative name "A Bigger Cambridge". The crux of this petition is the merging of the Residence A-1, A-2, B, C, and C-1 districts into a single unified Residence N district with dramatically increased allowable density (FAR 1.25 – Floor-Area-Ratio, the ratio of built living area as a fraction of the land area of the lot) and greatly diminished front, side and rear setbacks. It also permits additional height to allow 3 stories across all these combined districts. The appellation "Missing Middle Housing" has, in fact, nothing to do with this proposal other than as a sales pitch. In addition to allowing multi-family housing in all zones, this is simply a petition to increase – by a factor of 2 to 3 in many cases – the amount that can be built across the city – a real Gold Rush for property developers. For example, the Res A-1 and A-2 districts currently permit a 0.5 FAR; Res C permits a 0.6 FAR; and Res C-1 permits a 0.75 FAR. This proposal simply blows the lid off all of these allowable densities. Apparently, the fact that Cambridge is already one of the densest cities in the United States is simply not enough for the Sim City players who form the core of "A Bigger Cambridge". In terms of affordability for the "missing middle" there is simply nothing in this petition that would indicate this as a likely outcome. The affordability of the traditional two-family or three-family home in years past came with the responsibilities of being a landlord with the rents helping to cover the mortgage. This proposal would more likely result in even larger single-family homes (McMansions) and a greater stock of high-end condominiums and investment properties.

It’s true that Cambridge has a lot of nonconforming buildings that could not have been built under current zoning, including my own triple-decker (land area 3,133 sq ft, total living area 3,978 sq ft, and an FAR of 1.27 with negligible side setbacks and a very small yard). If I were proposing changes to Cambridge zoning I would likely allow some additional density where it makes sense, but I certainly would not recommend the replication of my own situation on my tiny lot as the new standard.

What exactly is the goal of ABC? New York City ranks 6th with a population density of 27,016 per square mile. San Francisco ranks 21st at 17,246. Somerville is 16th at 18,432. Cambridge ranks 26th in the USA at 16,355. Boston is 51st at 13,321. Chicago is 75th at 11,868. Philadelphia is 95th at 11,234. Berkeley is 110th at 10,753. Cambridge is not Belmont (5,317/sq mi).

Suffice to say, I think the general lay of the land in Cambridge today is actually quite good – an interesting balance of densities and housing types. Some greater flexibility for property owners might be a good thing, but wholesale redefinition of the city would not be a wise choice.

Bikes, bikes, and more bikes and other transportation matters
Manager’s Agenda #11. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $115,300 received in donations received from MIT Real Estate, Museum of Science, and CambridgeSide to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenses account which will be used for costs associated with the BlueBikes bikeshare system.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #12. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $452,600 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund received from various sources to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used for the purchase and expenses of Bluebikes bikeshare equipment.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number Awaiting Report 19-75, regarding the feasibility of partnering with a local research institution to conduct a study that determines how many ridehail vehicles are on the roads during both on and off-peak times and their impacts on congestion and safety.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #15. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-151, regarding the feasibility of making Porter Square and Massachusetts Avenue between Roseland Street and Beech Street a quick-build complete street with bus priority.
Placed on File 9-0

2013 Cambridge commuter shares: 28% transit, 24% walk, 7% bike, 4% carpool. The numbers have likely shifted a bit since 2013 but even with BlueBike stations and various infrastructure changes across the city it’s unlikely that the share of residents biking will ever rival transit or walking. At any given time are there more bikes on Cambridge roads or Ubers? If electric vehicles and or/autonomous vehicles proliferate, what do you think will be the result?

21st Century Commerce
Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-56, regarding establishing a plan that will allow for greater outreach and technical assistance to women-and-minority-owned businesses and small businesses that have not yet received financial assistance to assess any future City funding. [CDD report]
Placed on File 9-0

Resolution #14. The Cambridge City Council, hereby assembled, urges Amazon to meet and confer with the Cambridge community, included, but not limited to, representatives of labor unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Adopted 9-0

Order #1. Spending Disparity Study PO.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

Thank You Notes
Resolution #7. Retirement of CCTV Executive Director, Susan Fleischmann.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Charter Right – Mallon

Resolution #15. Thank You to Lisa Peterson.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
Adopted 9-0

Resolution #17. Thank You to Elizabeth “Liza” Malenfant Paden.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Toomey
Adopted 9-0

I have known all of these Great Women of Cambridge for decades. Susan Fleischmann is the one who pushed me to start doing TV broadcasts – initially with Election Night coverage and then eventually the sequel to the original Cambridge InsideOut. I first met Lisa Peterson when she worked in the City Manager’s Office during Bob Healy’s tenure. She was our point person during the early days of Cambridge Recycling about 30 years ago. Liza (and, really, all you have to say is Liza in Cambridge civic circles and everyone knows who you mean) has been a friend in and out of City government – along with her extended family – for close to 30 years. The total hours I kept Liza from getting back to work on Inman Street over the years gabbing about life and politics and how the city operates is something we’d better not talk about lest they dock her retirement.

A growing chorus of voices from Fairmont Avenue
Order #6. Policy Order re: Renaming Fairmont Avenue.   Councillor Simmons
Charter Right – Simmons

Oh, the hardship. I guess we’d also better start worrying about Washington Ave. vs. Washington St., Highland Ave. vs. Highland St., Oxford Ave. vs. Oxford St., and Wyman St. vs. Wyman Rd. Life in Cambridge is just so difficult.

Luxury Seating
Order #9. Eliminating Hostile Architecture.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right – Nolan

Methinks the sponsors of this Order (and the activists who inspire them) wouldn’t know the difference between hostile and helpful.

Cambridge City Council on Hallucinogens
Order #10. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to direct city staff to work with the City’s state and federal partners in support of decriminalizing all Entheogenic Plants and plant-based compounds.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 8-1 (Toomey – NO)

This Order may actually explain a lot about the behavior of the Cambridge City Council. Perhaps when the pandemic winds down they can decorate the Sullivan Chamber with Peter Max posters and pipe in some Donovan songs like "Mellow Yellow" and "Sunshine Superman". Bringing back black lights would also be a nice touch.

Carrots or Sticks
Committee Report #1. Health & Environment Committee met on Aug 11, 2020 meet to discuss the Net Zero Action Plan FY20 progress report and to receive a general update on the plan including the upcoming 5-year review process.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Greater efficiency is always a good thing, but incentives are always better than mandates when it comes to private homes. I don’t think enough councillors fully understand this. – Robert Winters

January 4, 2021

Meet the New Year, Same as the Old Year – Featured Items on the January 4, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:10 pm

Meet the New Year, Same as the Old Year – Featured Items on the January 4, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

There are two things in my daily/weekly routine that fill me with dread. The first is when I check the latest count of Covid infections and deaths among Cambridge residents. The most recent count indicated 51 new infections but fortunately no new deaths. However, after a long period of no new deaths (it was pinned at 100 for 82 days), there have been 8 new reported deaths since Dec 15, and this is very alarming. My other moment of dread is when I check the agenda for the next City Council meeting. That’s when I expect to see the latest attempt by our elected scolds to dictate to Cambridge residents what they in their imagined brilliance feel is The Way Things Must Be. Whether it’s dictating how to manage trees in my yard or whether my gas stove should be banned, they are always in the hunt for further ways to limit personal choice or play to the latest trendy movements. Thankfully, this week they gave us a break, but who know what’s in the pipeline. Sometimes I think that constitutional rights may be the only recourse.2020 to 2021

The last meeting of 2020 had some interesting late additions. They emerged from Executive Session with a late appropriation order for a $1.4 million legal settlement (or so it appears). We are only left to speculate whether this was related to the Vail Court eminent domain taking of a few years ago or something else. In the Vail Court case, if the property owners had any sense (they didn’t) they could have built a mixed income residential development that would have added vitality to that corner of Central Square. Instead, the City felt compelled to take the property by eminent domain for the usual uninspired purposes. Had that property been redeveloped in concert with the underutilized parking lot at the corner of Prospect Street we could have seen a really interesting revitalization of what may be the single most drab location in the Greater Central Square area. That, of course, would have required creative thinking and negotiation from the Community Development Department, but instead we ended up with asphalt and legal settlements. Then again, perhaps the $1.4 million was for hush money. At least that would make for a more interesting story.

The other big story from the previous meeting was the $18.5 million eminent domain taking of an athletic field along Fresh Pond Parkway and the simultaneous disposal of the Green Ribbon Open Space Report from March 2000 (see comments of previous meeting if interested). Predictably, the councillors endorsed by ABC (A Bigger Cambridge) would prefer to Build Baby Build on that land. Clearly Cambridge has far too much open space. </sarcasm>

Here’s my first pass at the marginally interesting stuff this week:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Placed on File 9-0

Charter Right #1. Policy Order re: Covid-19 Vaccines.
Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

Order #4. That the City Council go on record supporting the School Committee in aligning School opening and closing with the “Schools and Path to Zero” framework with the goal of opening up all schools for in person learning, and supporting all efforts to include as many students as practically possible for at least some in person learning, with the goal of full time in person learning as soon as it can be done safely.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

There was a great little book published some years ago called Innumeracy – Mathematical Illiteracy and its Consequences by John Allen Paulos. I often think of this book and it’s theme when reading or hearing from city councillors or from more than a few people in the City’s employ. Whether it’s in promoting development with few goals or quantification, or the laundry list of brainstorming ideas that was dubbed "Envision Cambridge," or in making sense of the relative risk of Covid-19 infection from various activities, innumeracy is often the rule. Regarding the public schools, at some point three metrics were chosen to determine whether our schools would be primarily in-person or done via remote learning. If we exceed 2 of the 3 metrics, it’s shutdown time for all the schools. That’s where we are right now – average of 25.7 new cases/day (the limit is 25, so a slight excess) and 851.5/ml viral copies in wastewater testing (limit is 100/ml).

The crux of Order #4 seems to be to support the proposal to open the schools and keep them open just as long as individual schools can demonstrate that they are maintaining and ensuring a low-risk environment. I have no idea what the thinking of School Committee members is on this matter, but I do like the basic idea of evaluating each situation on its own merits.

As for the Order re: vaccines held over from the last meeting, I’ll simply note that on the one hand our councillors want to ensure that only the most effective vaccines are made available to Cambridge residents, but they also want us to be last in line only after all higher-risk communities have been vaccinated (Order #3 of Dec 21). The truth is that most of these decisions are not in the hands of city councillors but more appropriately in the hands of public health officials, and for this I am grateful.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the biennial City of Cambridge Resident Telephone Survey for 2020.
Placed on File 9-0

I used to actually read these survey results, but I now question their validity. On the housing question in particular, I will simply note that possibly 100% of residents want housing to be affordable, but that’s not the same as endorsing the City’s approach to "affordable housing." So many satisfaction surveys are more a function of the way the questions are asked than of the responses received. By the way, I believe that mom and apple pie are still highly regarded.

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Zoning Petition which amends Article 8.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

Since the court decision leading to this recommendation would favor slightly more flexibility for owners of single-family and two-family homes, I’ll not be surprised if there’s resistance to the recommendation by the density boosters who would prefer that Cambridge be more like Coop City in the Bronx. The nerve of someone wanting to live in a single- or two-family home. Don’t they know there’s a crisis going on? </sarcasm>

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-72, regarding keeping Riverbend Park opened beyond Dec 27, 2020.
Placed on File 9-0

Sorry folks. I guess the ample sidewalks and paths alongside Memorial Drive will have to be repopulated for the duration of the season.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Law Department to draft Home Rule Petition language for a Fire Cadet Program similar to the language used in the Police Department Home Rule Petition.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

This is a good idea, but I still find it remarkable that a Home Rule Petition is required to create programs like these.

Order #3. That the Cambridge City Council formally expresses its interest in joining other cities actively pursuing digital equity and internet access by signing up for Next Century Cities.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

In all the controversy and committee meetings about the possibility of investing in municipal broadband, there are a few things that don’t get nearly enough attention. One is the matter of TV – you know, as in television programs. You would think from the proponents that TV (Cable or otherwise) is something only senior citizens want. Maybe it’s true and that nobody under 50 watches television anymore, but it never seems to be part of the discussion. Another matter rarely addressed is the matter of who would actually provide the content and connectivity. It’s not the same as water or electricity where you simply introduce the water or voltage to the conduit. Another point not emphasized nearly enough is that cities where municipal broadband has been established tend to be those who already operate their own electric utilities – and we don’t. Anyway, I don’t know much about Next Century Cities, but they seem to be concerned only with equity rather than content.

Committee Report #1. The Economic Development & University Relations Committee met on Nov 19, 2020 to discuss challenges and opportunities that exist in City purchasing, procurement and programs for MWBEs and other historically disadvantaged businesses and non-profits in Cambridge.
Report Accepted; Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Public Safety Committee met on July 7, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the Cambridge Police Department’s Use of Force Policy and related matters.
Report Accepted; Placed on File 9-0

These reports are included for information only. Meanwhile, Councillor Zondervan is having another committee meeting this week in which he’ll continue his campaign to defund the police. Political theater is such a poor substitute for real entertainment. – Robert Winters

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