Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

August 6, 2024

Dog Days of Summer – August 5, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting (Zoom only – Why?)

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,Charter,City Council — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:25 pm

Dog Days of Summer – August 5, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting   (Zoom only – Why?)

It’s that special time for that Special Summer Meeting. It may also be time for a visit to the Babson Boulders in Dogtown. Here are the items that caught this dog’s attention:Dogtown

Reconsideration #1. City Council support of the Massachusetts State Ballot Question to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics For Therapeutic Use.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the Cambridge Preschool Program. [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; JSW asks about participating family childcare programs; responses by Ellen Semonoff (DHSP), David Murphy (Interim School Superintendent); Siddiqui, Wilson questions/remarks; Simmons suggests a September Roundtable; McGovern, Nolan questions/remarks; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #17. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of 243,689.30, to the Grant Fund Police Department Extraordinary Expenditures account. This grant will support the purchase of some of the hardware necessary for the implementation of the Department’s Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program.
pulled by Toner; Toner asks about status of union negotiations; Christine Elow notes that these are progressing; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #19. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Numbers 24-33, 24-34 & 24-38, regarding Vision Zero responses. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments re: truck safety, university and large employees; remarks by Traffic Director Brooke McKenna; Nolan asks about automated traffic enforcement and legislative approval, status of automated parking enforcement, intersection improvements, education; Sobrinho-Wheeler comment on “turn hardening” and greater visibility, truck side guards, voluntary actions; McGovern asks about timeline for more “quick-builds”, data on most dangerous intersections, near misses, enforcement; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #20. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $175,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Traffic Extraordinary Expenditures account. These mitigation funds were received as part of the MIT PUD5 (south of Main Street / Kendall Square) Special Permit (PB #303) and will be used to partially fund the design of the Cambridge Street separated bike lanes and other associated street improvements.
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #21. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report 24-19, regarding researching incentives and support for residents without cars. [text of report]
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #23. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the submission of the 2024 Affordable Housing Overlay Annual Report. [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; remarks by JSW, question about status of some projects where offers were rejected or not pursued, replies by Chris Cotter (Housing); McGovern comments, wants to see breakdown by neighborhood; comments by City Manager Huang, Councillor Nolan; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)Dogtown

Manager’s Agenda #27. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the Request for Information (RFI) for 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive. [text of report]
pulled by Siddiqui in response to public comments, desire for only an AHO project on these sites, wants explanation why it might need to be otherwise; City Manager Huang says its not impossible to do “100% affordable”, but this might result in fewer such housing units, limitations on City funding and fact that City-funded projects will go somewhere even if not at these sites, expenses associated with cultural space and limitations on bonding capacity in light of anticipated school building reconstructions and other priorities, similarities with situation with Alewife garage/station and MBTA; Iram Farooq (CDD) notes that Housing Division are contacting affordable housing developers regarding possibilities at these sites, importance of leveraging other capital; Siddiqui reiterates her desire that these sites be public housing w/cultural component; Sobrinho-Wheeler wants to see some scenarios; McGovern notes that this is just a Request for Information, wants most “affordable” housing even if this involves private developers; Azeem wants to know how many “100% affordable” housing units could be placed under current zoning, Cotter says such an estimate not yet available; Azeem wants to know if there has already been interest expressed, especially by abutting property owners, Farooq says they have hesitated in working with abutters in order to maintain an even playing field; Azeem says number of units and best use of available spaces, interested in long-term land leases; Toner agrees w/McGovern re: partnership w/private developers, supporting of mixed-income housing model; Nolan comments supportive of public/private partnerships; Wilson, Simmons comments; Siddiqui asks about timeline; Melissa Peters (CDD) responds; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to reach out to the Executive Director of the Cambridge Housing Authority to explore the feasibility of utilizing the large screen televisions in the community rooms of CHA buildings to enable seniors living in these buildings to participate in (via public comment) and view City Council meetings as they are held.   Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem
pulled by Simmons for comments; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #6. That the City Council will only consider Charter Review Committee recommendations which received a 2/3rds vote as stated in the Charter Review Ordinance.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett
pulled by Toner; Rules suspended to take up Orders 6, 7, and 8; Comm. & Reports #2, and Committee Report #5; Toner explains proposed orders and timeline for possible ballot question in Nov 2025; Azeem proposes amendment to allow other proposals after consideration of CRC proposals with 2/3 vote; Nolan wants to consider other charter amendments; Azeem amendment adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT); Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #7. Requiring a 2/3rds vote for approving changes to be forwarded to the legislature and the voters on a future ballot.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett
pulled by Toner; Sobrinho-Wheeler opposed to 2/3 vote requirement, wants only simple majority for proposed charter changes; Toner notes that some or all proposed changes may have to go to the State Legislature and that 2/3 vote appropriate – not just a simple policy order; Nolan says simple majority should rule, notes that it’s not Legislature’s role to object to anything unless it violates State Constitution, purpose of 2/3 is to endure likelihood of legislative approval; Order initially Adopted 5-2-1-1 (MM,PN,PT,AW,DS – Yes; SS,JSW – No; JP – Absent; BA – Present); At end of meeting, Councillor Wilson asked for unanimous consent to change her vote from Yes to No. This changed to vote to 4-3-1-1 (MM,PN,PT,DS – Yes; SS,JSW,AW – No; JP – Absent; BA – Present) and Order Failed of Adoption.
[Note: Councillor Pickett was Absent at this meeting and was expected to vote Yes which would have caused this Order to be adopted, so I would expect that at least one city councillor will file for Reconsideration so that this will be voted again in September.]

Order #8. That the Mayor is requested to form a Special Committee of the Whole or hold a special City Council meeting to discuss the Charter Review Committee recommendations and plan the process moving forward.   Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled by Toner; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #5. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on June 25, 2024 to continue the June 5, 2024 discussion on Charter Review recommendations and develop draft recommendations to the full City Council for reviewing, deliberating, adopting, and processing possible changes to the Cambridge City Charter for future vote by Cambridge voters. [text of report]
pulled by Toner; Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #2. A communication from Councillor Toner, transmitting an update from the Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee regarding Charter Review. [text of report]
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to urge the necessary departments to reconsider the initial plans for the Upstream Bridge/Draw One Bridge to include the construction of the pedestrian/bicycle pathway as has always been planned for the Draw One Bridge for train renovation and Upstream Bridge for pedestrian/bike crossing.   Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)Dogtown

Order #11. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant staff and departments to conduct outreach to Cambridge colleges and universities about the pilot University Pass Program and coordinate with the MBTA and report back to the City Council on these outreach efforts.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #12. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant staff and departments to create a listserv for residents to sign up for that automatically emails an alert to subscribers when a board or commission vacancy occurs.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #13. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department to provide a legal opinion on whether Cambridge can enact a local ordinance or regulation similar to H.3685, which would prohibit associations from unreasonably restricting the use of a solar energy system, or whether the City should submit a Home Rule Petition to ensure access to solar energy for residents.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #14. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant departments to review climate leading heating and cooling regulations and direct the appropriate departments to develop and implement a policy that aligns with Cambridge’s climate leadership to ensure that City operated buildings have default temperatures that align with health and sustainability best practices, including differing guidelines for workplace occupancy hours and outside of business hours.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Order #15. That the City Manager is requested to work directly with the MBTA regarding the redevelopment of the Alewife garage and advocate for City priorities.   Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Siddiqui; Yi-An Huang notes that City will be very involved in community engagement process, adding community benefits, leveraging private capital (MBTA does not have sufficient capital otherwise); Nolan comments/questions re: commuter rail stop, bridge, whether City zoning would apply to this redevelopment; City Solicitor Megan Bayer notes that there are some immunities for government and essential uses; Nolan suggests that MBTA is anticipating a possible commuter real stop, maybe light rail and electrified trains; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

On The Table #2. That the City Manager is requested to support local news production as a public good by conducting a $100,000 per year City-backed news fund pilot for up to three years to be administered through an independent intermediary that will decide on funding criteria and selection of local newspapers that provide material coverage of Cambridge news. [Charter Right – Azeem, June 10, 2024; Tabled June 17, 2024]
No Vote was taken to Remove from Table, yet Azeem, Nolan both spoke to this Order; Nolan speaks to need for public information and nonsustainability of existing local news outlets, surprised that there was no support for this Order, wants idea revisited in the future; Azeem motion to Withdraw accepted without objection.

Resolution #1. Congratulations to George Hinds on 25 Years of dedication to the youth of the Cambridge.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Toner; Simmon, Wilson added sponsors; Adopted as AmendedDogtown

Resolution #12. Thanks to Flagg Street Studio and the Central Square BID for their commitment to the cultural and public life of the City.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Siddiqui

Resolution #15. Congratulations to Cara Seiderman on her retirement from the Community Development Department.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons

Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on May 23, 2024 to discuss the ongoing partnership with Neville Manor. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #2. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on June 12, 2024 to discuss municipal broadband. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #3. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on June 18, 2024 to review and discuss the first annual Green Jobs report, as required by the Green Jobs Ordinance, Article III Ch. 2.66.100. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #4. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on June 20, 2024 to discuss amendments to the Tenant’s Rights Ordinance recommended by the Law Department. [text of report]
pulled by Toner; Rules Suspended to take up Comm. & Reports #3; Motion to Amend using language from City Solicitor Bayer Adopted 7-0-2 (Pickett, Siddiqui ABSENT); Ordinance Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT); Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #3. A communication from Acting City Solicitor Megan B. Bayer, transmitting Tenant’s Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance. [text of report]
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #6. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing with Harvard, MIT, and Lesley Universities on June 26, 2024 to receive their “Town Gown” reports and to discuss current and potential programs and partnerships with the City. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #7. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on June 27, 2024 to further discuss multi-family housing and hear updates from the Community Development Department. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #8. The Human Services and Veterans Committee held a public hearing on July 16, 2024 to receive an update from the City’s Opioid Task Force and local providers regarding the opioid crisis in Cambridge and current and future interventions. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

Committee Report #9. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on July 17, 2024 to continue the discussion on allowing multifamily housing in all neighborhoods of the city. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (Pickett ABSENT)

July 2, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 623-624: July 2, 2024

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:50 pm

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

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

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

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

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 23, 2024

Summer in the City – June 24, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Central Square,City Council,cycling,Deaths — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:40 pm

Summer in the City – June 24, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

This will be the last regular meeting until the Midsummer meeting on August 5. A rally is expected in front of City Hall prior to the meeting in response to the most recent cyclist fatality this past Friday morning.

Cambridge woman killed in bike crash remembered by family for ‘unbreakable spirit’ (Boston Globe, June 23, 2024)
“The woman killed in a bicycle crash in Cambridge last week was identified by her family on Sunday as Minh-Thi Nguyen, a graduate student at MIT.”

“Nguyen’s death came just two weeks after a Florida woman was killed while bicycling in Cambridge. Kim Staley, 55, of Naples, was riding a Bluebike on June 7 when a box truck turned right onto DeWolfe Street from Mt. Auburn Street at about 4:30pm.”

Here’s my first pass at the interesting stuff on the regular agenda:On Vacation

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Rayna Jhaveri and Emma Pan as members of the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Appointments Approved 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Kathleen Kelly to the Cambridge Water Board.
Appointment Approved 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Tom Stohlman as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-22, regarding a request for an update on City efforts related to PFAS concerns. (CM24#137) [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, DPW Commissioner Kathy Watkins; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2023 Transportation Demand Management Program Report. (CM24#142) [text of report]
pulled by Pickett; comments by Stephanie Groll (CDD), Ryan McKinnon (CDD), Nolan, Iram Farooq (CDD), City Manager Yi-An Huang, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson, Azeem, Toner; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-17, regarding a report on adding maximum lot area per dwelling unit, maximum setback requirements, and minimum floor area ratios in some districts or as part of an overlay in the Zoning Ordinance and whether the City Council could require a special permit for a down conversion in developments that would result in a net loss of housing units. (CM24#143) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler (who advocates prohibiting or requiring a Special Permit for any “down-conversion”, i.e. a conversion of a building to fewer residential units), City Solicitor Megan Bayer; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-27, regarding a list of current zoning initiatives and a timeline for completion. (CM24#144) [text of report]
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner (who wants to put greater focus and shorter timelines for Central Square), Azeem, Pickett, Siddiqui, Iram Farooq (CDD), Simmons, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Nolan, McGovern; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-29, regarding providing the Request for Information (RFI) for the 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive to the City Council for review and comment. (CM24#145) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Melissa Peters (CDD), Azeem, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Iram Farooq, Siddiqui, McGovern, Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-28, regarding an outreach plan for Central Square rezoning. (CM24#146) [text of report]
pulled by Wilson; comments by Wilson, Melissa Peters (CDD), Marlees West Owayda (Community Engagement Manager), Simmons, Yi-An Huang, Azeem, Nolan; Referred to Civic Unity Committee 8-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler – Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update from the City Manager. (CM24#147) [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Toner, Yi-An Huang, Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0

Order #2. The City Manager is directed to provide a plan for keeping residents, businesses and public safety officials informed about the status of current and future inter-jurisdictional transportation projects.   Councillor Pickett, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO24#88)
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #3. City Council commitment to providing high quality health care to all residents and in strong support of H.1239/S.744.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson (PO24#89)
pulled by Toner; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan; Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toner – Present)

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to provide a report to the City Council on the status of PILOT discussions about its PILOT agreement with the City with Harvard at the summer Council meeting and a plan for regular updates going forward.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (PO24#90)
pulled by Toner; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner; Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toner – Present)

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to consider a number of City application processes and find ways to reduce paper and printing waste.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler (PO24#93)
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #8. City Council support of the Massachusetts State Ballot Question to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics For Therapeutic Use.   Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Toner; comments by McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Pickett, Wilson; Add Nolan as sponsor 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 5-0-0-4 (Pickett, Toner, Wilson, Simmons – Present)

Late Order #9. Policy Order regarding Truck and Intersection Safety Improvements.   Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons
Comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Azeem, Siddiqui, Toner, Brooke McKenna (TPT), Owen O’Riordan, City Solicitor Megan Bayer (on Interstate Commerce Clause limitations on regulating trucks), Pickett, Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Wilson, McGovern (on change of culture needed); Add all as sponsors 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Resolution #3. Congratulations to Catherine Woodbury on her retirement from the Department of Public Works.   Councillor Toner

Resolution #31. Appreciation to Catherine Preston Connolly for her dedicated service to the City of Cambridge and its citizens.   Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson

Resolution #34. Gratitude to City Workers at DPW.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern

June 18, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 621-622: June 18, 2024

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,Charter,City Council,cycling,Deaths,Fresh Pond,history,School Committee,schools,transportation — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:53 pm

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

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

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

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

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 16, 2024

Making the News – June 17, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,Charter,City Council,transportation — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:00 pm

Making the News – June 17, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are the items that drew my attention this week:City Hall Shrouded - June 2024

Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $15,000 to the Grant Fund Public Celebrations (Arts Council) Other Ordinary Maintenance account. This funding will support District-based initiatives that drive economic growth and strengthen the distinctive character of the Central Square Cultural District.
Order Adopted 9-0

Every little bit helps. I really hope we can revive the Central Square World’s Fair not only for this year but for future years. In my perfect world, the large parking lot at Prospect Street and Bishop Allen Drive should be transformed into the Cambridge Fairgrounds with rides, miniature golf, a batting cage, and other attractions. Hey, a guy can dream.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to update on the City’s efforts to support the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Track Improvement Program in 2024. (CM24#132) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan, Iram Farooq (CDD); Placed on File 9-0

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to explore with the MBTA how to best ensure that the public art, Gift of the Wind, is preserved.   Councillor Pickett, Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Pickett to add additional sponsors; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to develop a policy and systems to ensure that an infrastructure safety audit is made to intersections where a crash results in a serious injury and implement needed safety improvements.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Pickett, Azeem, Nolan, Wilson, Toner, add all as sponsors; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department and all relevant City departments to report on how have community events and ways to inform residents of all efforts to improve driving, cycling, and pedestrian safety and educate residents on how best to safely follow the rules when using roadways.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

151 Communications – mostly robotic form letter submissions generated by the Bike Lane Advocates deflecting attention from the fact that a bicyclist fatality recently occurred at a location where there were already fully implemented separated bike lanes.

Suffice to say that a safety audit of hazardous intersections and those sections of road that are inherently dangerous should have been done prior to any adoption of a Cycling Safety Ordinance – if indeed safety was the actual priority. As was made clear with the recent fatality at Mt Auburn/DeWolfe, infrastructure changes alone can never eliminate the role of human error leading to fatalities or severe injuries.

Order #3. That Chair of the Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee is hereby appointed to manage the City Manager performance evaluation process via his role as Chair of this committee.   Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Because the revised Charter says it must be done – whether or not it is actually needed.

Order #5. City Council support of the mission of the June delegation to strengthen the contact between Cambridge and El Salvador and to foster ties between the communities as well as the community-building in our home communities.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson
Order Adopted 9-0

Foreign policy is back on the agenda.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to support local news production as a public good by conducting a $100,000 per year City-backed news fund pilot for up to three years to be administered through an independent intermediary that will decide on funding criteria and selection of local newspapers that provide material coverage of Cambridge news. [Charter Right – Azeem, June 10, 2024]
comments by Azeem, Wilson, Siddiqui; Tabled 9-0

This Order was on a crash-and-burn trajectory last week prior to the Azeem Charter Right, and it’s doubtful whether it can be amended to make it something other than a City bailout in violation of state law. That said, it may be possible to craft a substitute Order that can address the larger question of the inadequacy of local news coverage in Cambridge. There are many of us who would like to be part of that solution, but the authors of the Order chose not to include anyone outside their small circle. Ideally, I would like to see the Civic Unity Committee or an ad-hoc committee take up the larger issue of local news and information in Cambridge – and I hope this could be an opportunity to get a representative from Gannett (current owners of the Cambridge Chronicle) to appear before this committee to explain why they have forsaken Cambridge and what their long-term plans are for the Cambridge Chronicle.

1924 City Council reporters
1924 Cambridge City Council reporters

This is really a time for reinvention and not just subsidizing partial solutions. I will have a lot more to say about this in the weeks to come. As City Manager Huang noted last week, Cambridge at one time had assigned seats in the City Council chamber for five newspapers. Most Cambridge residents at one time read one or more of these newspapers every week. A lot has changed since then, including the way businesses advertise that was a primary source of revenue for these newspapers. This loss of local press is a national problem and there are some good examples available of how some places have taken up this challenge. It’s actually far easier to publish these days, so this should really be about discovering a sustainable solution particular to each community that incorporates a maximum number of voices and keeps the vitriol to a bare minimum.

Resolution #1. Congratulations to Laura Nichols on her retirement from the City of Cambridge.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toner

Best wishes to Laura Nichols, a long-time friend and a jewel of a person, on her upcoming retirement.

Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on May 21, 2024 to discuss the upcoming Central Square zoning process and next steps following the Central Square Lots Study, City Manager Agenda Item 2024 #33, with a focus on 105 Windsor Street, 205 Western Ave, and 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive (Lots 4 and 5). [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Late Order #6. That the City Council formally go on record in expressing its strong hope that the City engage in a thoughtful, deliberative, and collaborative community process to determine the future of the Central Square Library and the Green Street Garage.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

I’m still not sure where this process is eventually headed. For many years the choices for Central Square have been somewhere between nothing and hosting services wanted nowhere else. Never forget that there was a day decades ago when many people traveled to Central Square from elsewhere as a kid-friendly destination for shopping and recreation – and not just in the evening hours for clubs and restaurants.

Committee Report #3. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on June 5, 2024 meeting to discuss Charter Review recommendations and develop draft recommendations to the Full City Council for reviewing, deliberating, adopting, and processing possible changes to the Cambridge City Charter for a future vote by Cambridge voters. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Based on the testimony from the June 5 meeting, my sense is that the City Council should be content with a general reformatting of the Charter with modern language and modest changes to permit more flexibility in our PR elections. One thing that should be absolutely clear is that making substantial changes to a city charter in order facilitate the political desires of a councillor or two is not such a bright idea. – Robert Winters

June 8, 2024

Chronicling Cambridge – June 10, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,cycling,Harvard Square — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 7:38 pm

Chronicling Cambridge – June 10, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

There is sure to be some focus on Friday’s bicycling fatality at Mt Auburn/DeWolfe in addition to the various items on this week’s agenda. Here are some of the items that drew my attention:Mt Auburn and DeWolfe

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the fourth annual Cycling Safety Ordinance (CSO) Progress Report. (CM24#123) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Pickett, Nolan, Wilson, and Brooke McKenna; Placed on File 8-0-1 (DS-Absent)

Though this arrived prior to Friday’s fatal bike crash, it seems inevitable that advocates on either side of this never-ending debate will use this as an opportunity to promote their viewpoints. I will not. I will only say that infrastructure alone does not determine human behavior.

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-30, regarding Youth Center Tuition Rates. (CM24#124) [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by JSW, Yi-An Huang, Wilson, Ellen Semonoff, Michelle Farnum, Siddiqui, Nolan, Toner, McGovern; Placed on File 9-0

The proposal is to phase in the steep increases over two cycles.

Order #1. The City Manager is requested to provide an update to the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan (MFIP) including revised cost estimates to help inform the FY26 and ongoing capital budget priorities in a timely manner.   Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett, Nolan, Owen O’Riordan; Order Adopted 9-0

Will cost/benefit analysis be making a comeback among elected officials? I sure hope so.

Order #2. That the Cambridge City Council go on record requesting that MassDOT begin engaging with Cambridge residents and the Cambridgeport neighborhood early and often throughout the BU Rotary/Reid Overpass Reconstruction.   Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Siddiqui; comments by Siddiqui, JSW (who considers all roads “scary”), McGovern, Pickett, Wilson, Nolan, Owen O’Riordan, Toner; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I don’t know what exactly is planned for the BU Rotary/Reid Overpass, but I found this presentation from 5 years ago to be instructive (especially starting at page 40).

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to support local news production as a public good by conducting a $100,000 per year city-backed news fund pilot for up to three years to be administered through an independent intermediary that will decide on funding criteria and selection of local newspapers that provide material coverage of Cambridge news.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett
pulled by Azeem; comments (mostly skeptical and indicating a NO vote) by Pickett, Nolan, Toner, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, McGovern, Megan Bayer; Charter Right – Azeem

In my view, this is a road best not traveled. I do like the idea of nonprofit journalism, but it seems obvious that the use of local taxes to support a newspaper or blog (except for fee for services) will inevitably lead to a loss in independence and objectivity. This is not to say that objectivity is the rule currently, but that should always be the ideal in journalism. This strikes me as nothing more than an indirect way to fund a specific publication. I remember various times over the course of the last few decades when there were calls to use local property taxes to support more neighborhood-based publications like 4Word (for Area 4, now called The Port) and The Alewife (N. Cambridge) when their UDAG and stabilization funds ran dry. Those proposals were denied at least in part for the reasons I just stated. I see no way that it would be any different today.

What I would really like to see is a concerted effort to revive the Cambridge Chronicle as an actual “paper of record” regardless of the fact that it has been horribly mismanaged by the Gannett corporation. An actual “paper of record” covers the whole local picture, including noncontroversial and non-political matters (e.g. Little League games, obituaries, the comings and goings of significant people). It’s not all about bike lanes, budgets, and building bigger buildings.

Order #4. That the City Council go on record urging Fenway Health to reconsider the closure of the Central Square Boomerangs thrift store, that the organization is requested to provide a detailed explanation to the community regarding the reasons for the closure of these thrift stores, and that the organization is requested to explore all possible alternatives to maintain this vital community resource.   Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Wilson
pulled by McGovern; comments by Simmons (notes that it’s been there for over 25 years), McGovern (funds cut to Youth on Fire, hours cut at Needle Exchange), add Wilson as sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

The closing of any business in Central Square is dreadful, but some enterprises simply run their course. The Salvation Army store is long gone, but the Goodwill store is still chugging along just down the street.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of delaying the Mass Avenue reconstruction project to minimize its impact upon the busy season for restaurants and other affected businesses, and, should this not be found feasible, a method of providing financial assistance to the impacted businesses to cover the costs of removing their outdoor dining structures, designed to mitigate some of the financial impacts upon them, should be established. [Charter Right – Simmons, June 3, 2024]
comments by Simmons on amendments, Nolan, Owen O’Riordan, Kathy Watkins (explains why paving must take place no later than October), Nolan does not support Simmons amendments, McGovern, Wilson, Simmons, Toner (suggests doing job in July); Amendments Adopted 9-0; comments by McGovern (does not support delay), Azeem, Nolan (does not support delay); Tabled as Amended 8-1 (Nolan-No)

Resolution #3. Resolution for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program’s 50th Year.   Mayor Simmons

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on May 21, 2024 to discuss Citizen’s Zoning Petition from Khalida Griffin-Sheperd, et al. to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Section 11.206.1 and Subsections 11.206.1 and 11.206.2, AP24#10. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on May 22, 2024 to discuss a City Council Zoning Petition to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Articles 2.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000, 13.000, 14.000, 17.000, 20.000, and 22.000, AP24#12. The Committee voted to send the Petition as amended to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation to Pass to a 2nd Reading. [text of report]
Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 9-0; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on May 28, 2024 to discuss Citizen’s Zoning Petition by Joseph S. Ronayne et al. to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Articles 4, 5, and 8, AP24#14. The Committee voted to send the Petition back to the full City Council with a recommendation that it be sent to the Housing Committee. [text of report]
Report referred to Housing Committee 9-0; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Late Order #5. In Support of Neville Center.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui (PO24#80)
comments by Nolan, Siddiqui, Azeem (asks about how this might affect Neville’s ability to take out loans in future), Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0

June 4, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 619-620: June 4, 2024

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,Charter,City Council,planning — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:58 pm

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

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

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

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

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 2, 2024

Blessing of the Big Budget – June 3, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,City Council,planning — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:36 pm

Blessing of the Big Budget – June 3, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Unless the government is overthrown before Monday night, this week’s City Council meeting will have as its central feature the series of votes for approving the FY2025 Budget as well as the major loan authorizations that accompany it. Here are the agenda items I thought significant this week:Fat City Hall

The FY2025 Budget and Loan Authorizations

Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on May 7, 2024, regarding the City budget covering the fiscal period July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. [text of report ]
Nolan notes ignorance of some people re: when Budget comes to a vote, anticipation of more difficult financial decisions in future; Pickett notes that Budget vote will be better advertised in future, concerns about coming tax rates and need to curtail spending, desire to take closer look at capital spending; Wilson has procedural questions and possibility of delaying vote (due to uninformed public comment by one individual); Yi-An Huang expresses concerns about re-opening these matters so late in process; Taha Jennings notes that state law requires budget votes within 45 days of budget submission; Comments by Nolan, Pickett on Public Investment budget; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
General Fund Budget of $939,336,875 Adopted 9-0
Water Fund Budget of $16,247,475 Adopted 9-0
Public Investment Budget of $38,432,720 Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on May 8, 2024, regarding the School Department budget covering the fiscal period July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Finance Committee conducted a public hearing on May 14, 2024, regarding the City budget covering the fiscal period July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the appropriation and authorization to borrow $11,500,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Comments by Nolan; Loan Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #3. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of appropriation and authorization to borrow $4,350,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. Funds will support significant building improvements and deferred maintenance projects. Proposed projects include but are not limited to upgrades of Public Works facilities, municipal offices, youth centers, branch libraries and fire stations, renovations to 105 Windsor Street and upgrades of HVAC and electrical systems. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Loan Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $3,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of open spaces at the Peabody School Playground, Corcoran (Raymond Street) Park, Rafferty Park, Wilder-Lee Park, and 359 Broadway. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Comments by Nolan, Pickett; Loan Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $2,560,000 to provide funds for financing school building upgrades. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Comments by Pickett, Simmons; Loan Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #6. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of and authorization to borrow $6,550,000 to provide funds for the Ozone Generator Replacement; Water Treatment Plant equipment and systems upgrades and water works construction projects in coordination with DPW street restoration projects, which include Massachusetts Ave 4, Chestnut, Dana, Sciarappa and Winter Streets. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Loan Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization to borrow $8,500,000 to provide funds for the sewer Capital Repairs Program and projects related to climate change preparedness efforts. [Passed to 2nd Reading and Referred to Finance Committee, Apr 29, 2024]
Loan Order Adopted 9-0

GENERAL GOVERNMENT FY2024 adopted FY2025 proposed 1 yr % change
City Clerk $1,818,560 $2,162,335 18.9%
City Council $2,649,690 $2,817,000 6.3%
Election Commission $2,408,620 $2,447,755 1.6%
Employee Benefits $28,241,740 $27,111,425 -4.0%
Equity and Inclusion   $2,270,380 new
Executive (*) $8,467,495 $6,845,075 -19.2%
Finance $24,714,165 $26,479,690 7.1%
Human Resources (Personnel) $4,160,630 $5,513,370 32.5%
Law $4,152,645 $4,356,320 4.9%
Mayor $973,255 $1,306,905 34.3%
Public Celebrations $1,621,360 $1,793,575 10.6%
Reserve $40,000 $40,000 0.0%
TOTAL $79,248,160 $83,143,830 4.9%
     
PUBLIC SAFETY FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
Animal Commission $673,010 $706,165 4.9%
Community Safety $3,036,620 $3,090,825 1.8%
Emergency Communications $10,346,540 $10,930,090 5.6%
Fire $70,461,720 $74,755,005 6.1%
Inspectional Services $5,228,140 $5,544,615 6.1%
License Commission $1,706,185 $2,009,740 17.8%
Police $78,367,440 $80,945,830 3.3%
Police Review & Advisory Board $9,900 $9,900 0.0%
Traffic, Parking & Transportation $16,998,910 $18,077,040 6.3%
TOTAL $186,828,465 $196,069,210 4.9%
     
COMMUNITY MAINT/DEVEL. FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
Cable T.V. $1,813,725 $1,880,965 3.7%
Capital Building Projects $1,574,415 $1,872,660 18.9%
Community Development (**) $40,890,300 $11,257,750 -72.5%
Conservation Commission – – –
Debt Service $89,585,875 $101,890,280 13.7%
Historical Commission $1,040,215 $1,096,310 5.4%
Housing   $27,834,470 new
Office of Sustainability   $3,143,675 new
Peace Commission $228,225 $237,210 3.9%
Public Works $69,094,590 $73,911,430 7.0%
TOTAL $204,227,345 $223,124,750 9.3%
     
HUMAN RESOURCE/DEVEL. FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
Commission on Women $345,945 $493,220 42.6%
Human Rights Commission $874,840 $878,550 0.4%
Human Services $59,224,695 $73,251,275 23.7%
Library $18,950,730 $19,391,415 2.3%
Veterans $1,067,600 $1,360,950 27.5%
TOTAL $80,463,810 $95,375,410 18.5%
     
CITY TOTAL $550,767,780 $597,713,200 8.5%
     
EDUCATION FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
Schools Operating (TOTAL) $245,000,000 $268,250,000 9.5%
     
INTERGOVERNMENTAL FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
Cambridge Health Alliance $8,316,000 $8,671,170 4.3%
Cherry Sheet Assessments $33,586,010 $33,101,520 -1.4%
MWRA $30,601,130 $31,600,985 3.3%
TOTAL $72,503,140 $73,373,675 1.2%
     
GRAND TOTALS $868,270,920 $939,336,875 8.2%
     
FY24 adopted FY25 proposed 1 yr % change
WATER $15,502,965 $16,247,475 4.8%
PUBLIC INVESTMENT $18,056,905 $38,432,720 112.8%
FY24 adopted FY25 proposed  
Loan Authorizations for Capital Budget $50,000,000 $11,500,000  
  $35,350,000 $4,350,000  
$2,500,000 $3,000,000  
$1,800,000 $2,560,000  
$51,500,000 $6,550,000  
$26,000,000 $8,500,000  
Total Loan Authorizations $167,150,000 $36,460,000  

* 7.7% combined increase for Executive/Equity-Inclusion
** 3.3% combined increase for CDD/Housing/Sustainability

All this should breeze through on either unanimous votes or the typical protest vote from any DSA-affiliates who want to continue beating that old “defund the police” horse. I am far more concerned about the residential tax bills we’ll be seeing in late October when all this has to be funded. Single-, two-, and three-family homeowners may be in for quite a shock based on indications so far.

Unfinished Business #8. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation and authorization of $15,000,000 to provide additional funds for the construction of improvements at the Fire Station Headquarters Building located at 491 Broadway. [Passed to 2nd Reading May 20, 2024; Eligible for Adoption June 3, 2024]
Appropriation Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Adam Westbrook and Diego Macias as members and Daniel Anderson and Joy Jackson as associate members of the Planning Board for a term of five-years.
pulled by Nolan (on representativeness of appointees); comments by Yi-An Huang, Iram Farooq; Nolan wants balance on approach to development; Siddiqui wants to know rubric used to select appointees, wants Boston Society of Architects to be involved; Azeem notes charter change, importance of ideology, wants Planning Board to be aligned with City Council; Sobrinho-Wheeler wants data on number of applicants over time and if stipends have affected this, wants to have City Council confirmation process or opportunity to interview applicants prior to appointment; Toner OK with prior process but would prefer to be consulted on applicants prior to appointment; Wilson concerned about diversity of candidates, also wants to be consulted prior to appointments, wants to know how many of the applicants were “persons of color”, when next appointments will occur (three in Aug, Nov 2026); responses by Swathi Joseph re: vetting by Diversity & Inclusion Office; Simmons also wants to know how many of the applicants were “persons of color”; Wilson wants this information in writing; Yi-An Huang describes and defends process, expresses concerns about possible effect of City Council inquisition on willingness of residents to apply; Farooq says 5 of 11 interviewed were “persons of color”; Simmons questions what “persons of color” entails, wants further discussion of Council role in appointments; Appointments Approved 9-0

Making Cambridge More Like Flushing – Or Not

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Planning Board Report regarding the Ronayne, et al., Zoning Petition. (CM24#115) [text of report]
Referred to Petition 9-0

Committee Report #5. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on May 8, 2024, to discuss allowing multifamily housing in all neighborhoods of the city. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #6. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on May 22, 2024, to continue the May 8, 2024, discussion on allowing multifamily housing in all neighborhoods of the city. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I attended a recent Ordinance Committee meeting on this petition. It’s actually a pretty good zoning petition, but apparently Mr. Azeem and the ABC crowd will have none of it because it doesn’t go nearly far enough toward making all of Cambridge more like Flushing, NY. I am a graduate of Flushing High School, by the way, and I watched how entire blocks of mixed-scale housing were wiped clean and uniformly replaced by 6-story boxes with near-zero setbacks. This has not stabilized rents there, and it’s a far more hostile place than what I remember. I almost feel as though Flushing has finally followed me to Cambridge – even though it took a while.

Other than the fact that both the Ronayne Petition and the nascent “Azeem-Siddiqui-Cotter-Farooq” petition both call for legalizing multi-family housing in all residential zones, these are two radically different proposals and visions. The former still maintains good neighborhood-scale heights and densities in many residential areas, but the latter would drop all residential zones into a blender and permit the same significantly greater heights and densities across all residential areas of the city. Say what you will but I actually appreciate the current diversity of residential densities and housing types that can currently be found in Cambridge.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request – if necessary – to move to Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation known as Dalkia Energy Services v. Cambridge, Kendall Green Energy Holdings LLC v. Cambridge, and Southern Energy Kendall v. Cambridge, (Appellate Tax Board Dockets F325664, F325663, F325665, F328941, and all related Appellate Tax Board Docket Numbers for these cases), which are appeals before the Appellate Tax Board.
pulled by Nolan; relates to prior Mgr #7; Solicitor Megan Bayer explains; Executive Session not needed; Placed on File 9-0

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to clarify why the Wage Theft Enforcement Committee has not yet been appointed and to swiftly appoint the committee as called for in the Wage Theft Ordinance.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to explore the feasibility of delaying the Mass Avenue reconstruction project to minimize its impact upon the busy season for restaurants and other affected businesses, and, should this not be found feasible, a method of providing financial assistance to the impacted businesses to cover the costs of removing their outdoor dining structures, designed to mitigate some of the financial impacts upon them, should be established.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Nolan; Wilson add as sponsor 9-0; Charter Right – Simmons

Central Square Table-Setting

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to provide a list of current zoning initiatives along with CDD’s recommendations for a timeline for completing each of the zoning initiatives in order for the Council to confirm zoning priorities.   Councillor Pickett, Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett, Toner; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to work with CDD to provide a written outreach plan for engaging the community related to the processes underway in Central Square.   Councillor Pickett, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Simmons
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett, Nolan, Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is hereby requested to provide the draft Request for Information for the 84 & 96 Bishop Allen Drive to the City Council for review and comment.   Councillor Pickett, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Simmons
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett; Order Adopted 9-0

I have been closely following the current discussions about possible Central Square rezoning and the Central Square Lots Study. Perhaps more than anything, I find the whole paradigm of Central Square advocacy to be rather wrong-headed. Too many people think of Central Square as though it’s a utility meant to provide for much of what the rest of the city would never dream of hosting, e.g. low-income housing and social services. Even the “outreach plans” so far adhere to this flawed paradigm. Historically, Central Square was a major draw for all of Cambridge and greater Boston for shopping and recreation. There are now many people who purposely avoid “Central Scare” due to either real or perceived safety concerns. Nowhere on the list of “target groups” for outreach about Central Square planning did I see any mention of the thousands of people who now avoid Central Square because of these concerns or because Central Square simply doesn’t currently have a whole lot to offer them or their families. My vision of the future Central Square would have a lot of families with children, people of all ages, and ample recreation for everybody.

Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to provide to the City Council a detailed justification for the increased fees for Youth Centers for the 2024-2025 school year.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Nolan (PO24#75)
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Toner, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson, Simmons, Azeem, Ellen Semonoff, Yi-An Huang; add Wilson, Nolan as sponsors 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Charter Right #1. City Council support of the Act Establishing Protections and Accountability for TNC and DNC Workers (S.627/H1158), which would allow TNCs to sustain worker benefits and protections that maintain a level playing field across transportation industries. [Charter Right – Toner, May 20, 2024]

I have been seeing advertisements on the TV that make it difficult to take a side on this issue. I have no love for the Uber and Lyft companies and I think they should have to play by rules comparable to taxi companies, but I can really sympathize with drivers who like having some independence and choice and who would rather not see themselves as traditional employees of these companies. When was the last time we heard the phrase “gig economy”?

49 Communications – quite tame in comparison to recent weeks. Based on some of the current zoning proposals, Central Square discussions, and more, I suspect the template emails to pick up again soon. – Robert Winters

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