Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

January 2, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 603-604: January 2, 2024

Episode 603 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 2, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Jan 2, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: City Council and School Committee Inaugural Meetings – entertainment courtesy of PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation); Mayor Denise Simmons; protests and groupthink; Simmons appointments guaranteed better than predecessor; Charter considerations pending; Resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay and other Harvard observations; university presidents as fundraisers. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 604 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 2, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Jan 2, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Globe article on Bernie Goldberg, Brookline Lunch; Charter Review Committee – horror of Zoom-only process, nothing binding, strong mayor vs. manager form, bad behavior of CRC member(s), voting age, non-citizen voting, term length, recall provisions, at-large PR elections, citizen assemblies, citizen petitions, citizen initiative petitions, late proposals rejected, policy order vs. “action” orders; some highlights/lowlights of 2022-23 City Council term. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 1, 2024

Plan E Cambridge School Committees (and Mayors) At A Glance

Filed under: Cambridge,elections,School Committee — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:46 pm
1941Brooks, WilliamCassidy, JamesConant, Cora ButlerFitzgerald, JamesRobart, RalphWood, RussellCorcoran, John
1943Conant, Cora ButlerFoley, JohnGummere, RichardKelleher, MargaretReardon, RobertWood, RussellCorcoran, John
1945Conant, Cora ButlerDewey, BradleyKelleher, MargaretO'Neill, Thomas P. "Tip"Reardon, RobertWood, RussellLynch, John D.
1947Cassidy, JamesDewey, BradleyKelleher, MargaretMahoney, ThomasMinot, ElizabethReardon, RobertNeville, Michael
1949Amory, RobertCassidy, JamesFitzgerald, JamesMahoney, ThomasMcCrehan, FrancisWise, PearlCrane, Edward
1951Cremens, JohnFitzgerald, JamesMahoney, ThomasMcCrehan, FrancisVellucci, AlfredWise, PearlDeGuglielmo, Joseph
1953Campbell, JohnCorcoran, PaulMcCrehan, FrancisShaplin, JudsonVellucci, AlfredWise, PearlFoley, John
1955Fitzgerald, JamesGalluccio, AnthonyMaynard, JosephOgden, CatherineShaplin, JudsonSullivan, John BristonSullivan, Edward
1957Fitzgerald, JamesGalluccio, AnthonyHayes, DanielOgden, CatherineShaplin, JudsonSullivan, EdwardMcNamara, Thomas
1959Barnes, WilliamFitzgerald, JamesGalluccio, AnthonyHayes, DanielOgden, CatherineSolomons, GustaveCrane, Edward
1961Ackermann, BarbaraFitzgerald, JamesGalluccio, AnthonyMaynard, JosephOlesen, GeorgeSolomons, GustaveCrane, Edward
1963Ackermann, BarbaraDuehay, FrancisFitzgerald, JamesMcMahon, EdwardOlesen, GeorgeSolomons, GustaveCrane, Edward
1965Ackermann, BarbaraDuehay, FrancisFitzgerald, JamesMcMahon, EdwardOlesen, GeorgeSolomons, GustaveHayes, Daniel
1965.1 vacancyAckermann, BarbaraDuehay, FrancisFitzgerald, JamesGood, John A.P.Olesen, GeorgeSolomons, GustaveHayes, Daniel
1967Clinton, DanielDuehay, FrancisFitzgerald, JamesGood, John A.P.Solomons, GustaveWylie, DavidSullivan, Walter
1969Butler, LorraineDuehay, FrancisFantini, DonaldFitzgerald, JamesMaynard, JosephWylie, DavidVellucci, Alfred
1971Fantini, DonaldFitzgerald, JamesGesell, PeterMaynard, JosephPierce, CharlesWylie, DavidAckermann, Barbara
1973Fitzgerald, JamesGesell, PeterKoocher, GlennMaynard, JosephPierce, CharlesWolf, AliceSullivan, Walter
1975Berman, Sara MaeFantini, DonaldFitzgerald, JamesKoocher, GlennMaynard, JosephWolf, AliceVellucci, Alfred
1977Berman, Sara MaeFantini, DonaldHolway, DavidKoocher, GlennMaynard, JosephWolf, AliceDanehy, Thomas
1979Attles, HenriettaBerman, Sara MaeFantini, DonaldKoocher, GlennMaynard, JosephWolf, AliceDuehay, Francis
1981Attles, HenriettaBerman, Sara MaeFantini, AlfredKoocher, GlennMaynard, JosephSullivan, JaneVellucci, Alfred
1983Cooper, FrancesFantini, AlfredKoocher, GlennLeib, RenaMaynard, JosephSullivan, JaneRussell, Leonard
1983.1 vacancyCooper, FrancesFantini, AlfredKoocher, GlennLeib, RenaMaynard, JosephSullivan, JaneDuehay, Francis
1985Cooper, FrancesFantini, AlfredGarcia, SaraMaynard, JosephSullivan, JaneWeinstein, LarrySullivan, Walter
1985.1 vacancyCooper, FrancesFantini, AlfredGarcia, SaraSullivan, JaneToomey, TimWeinstein, LarrySullivan, Walter
1987Cooper, FrancesDavis, HenriettaFantini, AlfredRafferty, JamesToomey, TimWeinstein, LarryVellucci, Alfred
1989Cooper, FrancesDavis, HenriettaFantini, AlfredRafferty, JamesVellucci, AlfredWeinstein, LarryWolf, Alice
1991Davis, HenriettaFantini, AlfredMaher, DavidRafferty, JamesSimmons, E. DeniseWeinstein, LarryReeves, Kenneth
1993Davis, HenriettaFantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephHarris, RobinMaher, DavidSimmons, E. DeniseReeves, Kenneth
1995Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephMaher, DavidSegat, SusanaSimmons, E. DeniseTurkel, AliceRussell, Sheila
1997Grassi, JosephHarris, RobinMaher, DavidSegat, SusanaSimmons, E. DeniseTurkel, AliceDuehay, Francis
1999Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephSegat, SusanaSimmons, E. DeniseTurkel, AliceWalser, NancyGalluccio, Anthony
2001Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephHarding, RichardPrice, AlanTurkel, AliceWalser, NancySullivan, Michael
2003Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephHarding, RichardLummis, BenMcGovern, MarcWalser, NancySullivan, Michael
2005Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephHarding, RichardNolan, PatriciaSchuster, LucWalser, NancyReeves, Kenneth
2007Fantini, AlfredGrassi, JosephMcGovern, MarcNolan, PatriciaSchuster, LucTauber, NancySimmons, E. Denise
2009Fantini, AlfredHarding, RichardMcGovern, MarcNolan, PatriciaTauber, NancyTurkel, AliceMaher, David
2011Fantini, AlfredHarding, RichardMcGovern, MarcNolan, PatriciaOsborne, MervanTurkel, AliceDavis, Henrietta
2013Cronin, Fran AlbinFantini, AlfredHarding, RichardKelly, KathleenNolan, PatriciaOsborne, MervanMaher, David
2015Bowman, ManikkaDexter, EmilyFantini, AlfredHarding, RichardKelly, KathleenNolan, PatriciaSimmons, E. Denise
2017Bowman, ManikkaDexter, EmilyFantini, AlfredKelly, KathleenKimbrough, LauranceNolan, PatriciaMcGovern, Marc
2019Bowman, ManikkaDexter, EmilyFantini, AlfredRojas Villarreal, Jose LuisWeinstein, RachelWilson, AyeshaSiddiqui, Sumbul
2019.1 vacancyBowman, ManikkaFantini, AlfredRojas Villarreal, Jose LuisWeinstein, DavidWeinstein, RachelWilson, AyeshaSiddiqui, Sumbul
2021Bhambi, AkritiFantini, AlfredRojas Villarreal, Jose LuisWeinstein, DavidWeinstein, RachelWilson, AyeshaSiddiqui, Sumbul
2021.1 vacancyFantini, Alfred B.Hunter, CarolineRojas Villarreal, Jose LuisWeinstein, DavidWeinstein, RachelWilson, AyeshaSiddiqui, Sumbul
2023Harding, Richard Jr.Hudson, ElizabethHunter, CarolineRojas Villarreal, Jose LuisWeinstein, DavidWeinstein, RachelSimmons, E. Denise

December 16, 2023

Municipal Election Voting Comparison: 2021 vs. 2023 (and then some)

Municipal Election Voting Comparison: 2021 vs. 2023

I am just now beginning to analyze the voting patterns of the recent municipal election compared to previous years. There’s a lot more analysis to come, but here’s a quick chart showing histograms of the number of people who voted by age (in 3-year groupings):

Comparison of 2021 vs. 2023 voters by age
Number of people voting in the 2021 vs. 2023 municipal elections

Note, in particular, that the number of people voting in the 24-35 age range jumped considerably, the number of people in the 56-67 age range actually dropped, and the number of people in the 74-82 age range increased considerably. The number of people voting increased from 22,097 to 23,478 (based on available data from the registered voter list and the voter history files).

Here’s the sequence of histograms for 2017 through 2023:

voted 2017

voted 2019

voted 2021

voted 2023

Here are the changes in number of people who voted for 2017 to 2019, 2019 to 2021, and 2021 to 2023:

change from 2017 to 2019

change from 2019 to 2021

change from 2021 to 2023

Feel free to interpret these changes as you see fit. Possible causes are changing demographics, who was targeted by candidates, and specific issues such as bike lanes and the AHO. More to come as the spirit moves me. – RW

November 26, 2023

Voter Success and Number of Candidates – Cambridge Municipal Elections

Voter Success in Cambridge Elections

The table below indicates the percentage of ballots for which the #1 ranked candidate was elected; the percentage of ballots for which the #1 or #2 ranked candidate was elected; and the percentage of ballots for which the #1, #2, or #3 ranked candidate was elected. (updated Nov 26, 2023 from Nov 2017 original posting)

Voter Success in Cambridge Elections
Election elect candidates valid invalid total
ballots
Quota Pct #1
elected
Pct #1 or #2
elected
Pct #1, #2,
or #3 elected
Pct none
elected
Pct
blank
1997 Council 9 19 16879 350 17229 1688 88.7 96.2 97.6 1.6 0.3
1999 Council 9 24 18777 384 19161 1878 76.5 92.5 95.5 3.0 0.5
2001 Council 9 19 17126 562 17688 1713 83.8 94.0 96.2 2.8 1.1
2003 Council 9 20 20080 878 20958 2009 72.7 87.0 91.0 6.7 2.0
2005 Council 9 18 16070 132 16202 1608 78.7 93.4 96.1 2.6 0.5
2007 Council 9 16 13633 88 13721 1364 79.3 93.2 96.0 2.9 0.4
2009 Council 9 21 15995 118 16073 1596 75.1 90.9 94.1 4.3 0.6
2011 Council 9 18 15845 126 15971 1585 77.8 92.6 95.5 3.3 0.5
2013 Council 9 25 17743 103 17846 1775 68.6 87.8 93.0 4.9 0.4
2015 Council 9 23 17854 105 17959 1786 71.7 90.4 94.8 3.3 0.3
2017 Council 9 26 22524 72 22596 2253 68.7 87.0 92.8 4.7 0.2
2019 Council 9 22 21239 85 21324 2124 70.5 89.4 95.4 2.2 0.2
2021 Council 9 19 21814 260 22074 2182 75.1 91.2 95.4 2.5 0.8
2023 Council 9 24 23339 173 23512 2334 72.2 88.4 94.3 2.2 0.3
Election elect candidates valid invalid total
ballots
Quota Pct #1
elected
Pct #1 or #2
elected
Pct #1, #2,
or #3 elected
Pct none
elected
Pct
blank
1997 School 6 8 16386 285 16671 2341 83.3 96.4 97.6 2.4 0.1
1999 School 6 13 17961 307 18268 2566 76.0 91.1 94.4 4.7 0.1
2001 School 6 10 16489 1160 17649 2360 76.2 90.5 92.6 7.1 4.8
2003 School 6 8 18698 2210 20908 2672 81.9 89.7 90.0 10.0 8.8
2005 School 6 8 15470 719 16189 2211 77.4 90.6 93.1 6.9 4.2
2007 School 6 9 13276 433 13709 1897 77.0 91.2 92.7 7.1 3.0
2009 School 6 9 15423 549 15972 2204 72.6 90.1 91.6 8.4 3.3
2011 School 6 11 15290 614 15904 2185 77.6 90.3 92.2 6.9 3.6
2013 School 6 9 16592 1128 17720 2371 80.9 90.0 91.2 8.5 6.2
2015 School 6 11 16797 1062 17859 2400 69.2 84.7 88.0 11.1 5.7
2017 School 6 12 20708 1744 22452 2959 67.2 81.5 85.2 13.3 7.7
2019 School 6 11 19425 1712 21137 2776 69.9 84.8 87.8 11.6 8.1
2021 School 6 9 20017 1824 21841 2860 75.5 87.0 89.6 9.9 8.0
2023 School 6 11 21255 1837 23092 3037 66.1 84.1 87.8 11.6 7.5

Note: Almost all of the invalid ballots were blank ballots. It’s common that some voters will vote only the City Council ballot and cast a blank School Committee ballot.

Number of Candidates

Here’s the whole history of the number of candidates going back to 1941 (CC for City Council and SC for School Committee).
Any significant write-in candidates are included in the totals. (updated from Oct 2017 original posting)

Number of candidates in Cambridge municipal elections: 1941-present
Year CC SC     Year CC SC     Year CC SC     Year CC SC     Year CC SC
1941 83 28   1961 23 16   1981 25 13   2001 19 10   2021 19 9
1943 39 19   1963 22 17   1983 16 16   2003 20 8   2023 24 11
1945 37 14   1965 24 13   1985 22 9   2005 18 8        
1947 34 18   1967 20 18   1987 19 13   2007 16 9        
1949 40 16   1969 26 14   1989 28 8   2009 21 9        
1951 27 15   1971 36 22   1991 19 12   2011 18 11        
1953 35 18   1973 34 26   1993 29 11   2013 25 9        
1955 41 19   1975 25 16   1995 19 11   2015 23 11        
1957 35 26   1977 24 10   1997 20 8   2017 26 12        
1959 31 21   1979 23 12   1999 24 13   2019 22 11        

November 22, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 601-602: November 21, 2023

Episode 601 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 21, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 21, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Notable Passings: Teresa Neighbor, Gregg Moree, Kevin Glynn; a personal tale of candidacy, the politics of personal destruction, the lack of a viable local press, and “taking one for the team”; Gaza takes center stage; municipal election results – City Council and School Committee; election mechanics, configuration files, ballot data files; the problem of ballot order dependence and how to fix it. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 602 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 21, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 21, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Replacements in the event of a vacancy; The Comedy of Voting Errors; Ward/Precinct #1 Vote distribution; neighborhood bases of support; great disparity in voter turnout among precincts and disproportional representation; #2 Vote Distribution from the ballot data; Cost per #1 Vote; some history of proportional representation historically and in the United States and in Massachusetts; Question: Proportional to what? Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

October 30, 2023

Seeking Six Lame Ducks – Oct 30, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Seeking Six Lame Ducks – Oct 30, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

The circus that is this year’s municipal election will soon be over and we’ll know in a couple of weeks whether Cambridge will step back from the brink or careen over the edge. Hopefully events at the national and international scale will be enough to convince people locally of the dangers of the democratic socialists, the “intersectional left”, and others (like DSA, Our Revolution, and even the little old ladies of the Cambridge Residents Alliance) who casually embrace antisemitism hidden behind Halloween masks of liberation as they celebrate murder, rape, and kidnapping.City Hall

Speaking of elections, I was able to skip some City Council candidate events this week in order to focus on more important things like the School Committee election and, in particular, an event in East Cambridge entitled, “What’s Algebra Got to Do with It? – a School Committee Forum on Math and Academic Challenge.” I may write about this elsewhere, but the bottom line is that the participating incumbents had virtually nothing of substance to say other than the usual School Committee jargon, and several of the new candidates really shone – particularly Elizabeth Hudson, Alborz Bejnood, and Eugenia Schraa Huh. Bobby Travers also showed great promise as a candidate who has seen it all over the years working within the Cambridge Schools. Honestly, the only incumbents I see as worth retaining are José Luis Rojas Villarreal and Caroline Hunter. That’s an even 6. All too often the School Committee election is the forgotten stepchild of Cambridge elections – but their $245 million budget and the fact that the education and future prospects of so many Cambridge children is largely dependent on having good schools suggests that maybe voters should pay a little more attention.

Meanwhile, back at City Hall, here are some of the more notable items on this week’s agenda:

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $2,091,000 from Free Cash to the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund. During FY23, the City received mitigation revenues from various developers as a result of commitments related to zoning ordinance amendments and special permit conditions. By law, all mitigation revenues must be deposited into the General Fund and can only be appropriated after the Free Cash Certification is complete.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Claire Spinner as Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs.
pulled by Carlone; comments by Nolan, City Manager Huang (over 50 applicants); Placed on File 9-0

152 Communications – many either in favor or opposed to the policy order from the previous meeting regarding proposed changes to Linear Park in North Cambridge.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the City Solicitor to look at possible base zoning changes for a new residential use that has a first-floor mixed-use option or other zoning alternative, to review the city’s permit policy for extending construction hours/days & propose changes that more significantly protect residents’ quality of life, and to work with the Department of Public Health to look at ways the City’s board of health, under the Nuisance Law, might further restrict undue noise.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Carlone; comments by Carlone, Toner, McGovern; Order Adopted 9-0

None of the current city councillors live in a mixed-use district. I have – for over 45 years. I’m happy to tell you about the pros and cons.

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments and the consultant team and deliver an update on Municipal Broadband and Digital Equity by December 2023.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan; Zondervan added as sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

My assumption is that even if all relevant indicators suggest that Municipal Broadband won’t provide a fraction of the benefits its proponents have suggested, and even if it’s cost-prohibitive, a majority of councillors will signal Full Speed Ahead.

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to engage with various stakeholders including recycling advocates, package store owners, and business associations, and report back to the city council with a list of recommendations to reduce the use of miniature liquor bottles.   Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to report back to the City Council with an update to the Mar 23, 2021 report on the process of banning various single-use plastics in line with the discussion during the Health and Environment Committee meeting and actions by the state and by various municipalities.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Toner; comments by Nolan, Toner, Carlone, Zondervan, McGovern, Azeem; add Zondervan as sponsor; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #10. City Council support of letter to State Lawmakers on the Mass Clean Heat Platform.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #13. City Council support of H. 872 An Act establishing a climate change superfund and promoting polluter responsibility, and the companion bill S. 481.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Zondervan; add Siddiqui, Nolan; comments by Zondervan, Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #14. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department and other relevant City departments and prepare a report regarding the efficacy of establishing a dual reporting system for the Director of Public Health, the process by which the City could establish by ordinance a Commissioner of Public Health who would report directly to the City Manager, and the reestablishment of a Health Policy Board.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Simmons; comments by Nolan, Simmons; Charter Right – Simmons

It’s also worth noting the following two items on the Hearing Schedule:

Wed, Nov 8
3:00pm   The Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing from 3:00pm-5:00pm to discuss the results of the inquest regarding the Police shooting of Arif Sayed Faisal. [CANCELLED]

This is not a local legislative matter. An inquest was conducted and the officer(s) involved were found to have acted in a reasonable and proper manner consistent with their training and responsibilities. A Zondervan hearing on this matter would be nothing more than a political show, and I’m glad the meeting was cancelled.

Wed, Nov 15
3:00pm   The Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing from 3:00pm-5:00pm to discuss and receive updates from the Community Safety Department and HEART.

As I have said many times, the new Community Safety Department – as a mechanism for handling matters not necessarily requiring Cambridge Police – has the potential to relieve Cambridge Police officers of some of the responsibilities that can be safely managed by others. Cambridge HEART, in contrast, is little more than political patronage for a group of people who have consistently shown nothing but hostility toward Cambridge Police and law enforcement in general. – Robert Winters

July 19, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 593-594: July 18, 2023

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 24, 2023

2023 Cambridge Municipal Election: Nomination Papers

2023 Municipal Election: Nomination Papers

Vote!June 20, 2023 – Nomination papers for City Council and School Committee will be available beginning Monday, July 3rd at the Election Commission office, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge. The office will be open on Monday, July 3rd from 8:30am until 8:00pm. The deadline to file nomination papers is Monday, July 31, 2023, at 5:00pm. The 2023 Municipal Election Calendar is posted on the Commission’s website: www.cambridgema.gov/election. [Calendar]

The requirements to run for City Council or School Committee are:

1. The person must be a registered voter in Cambridge. To register, one must be 18 years of age by Election Day, a U.S. citizen and a resident in the City of Cambridge.

2. The person must file no fewer than fifty (50) and no more than one hundred (100) certifiable signatures of registered voters in the City of Cambridge.

The Commission has prepared an information kit for candidates containing important dates, Commission policies, services and publications. The kits will be available with the nomination papers on July 3rd.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

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