In Cambridge we like to tout our Proportional Representation (PR) election system as superior to other systems, and in many ways this is true. There is one question, however, that has been nagging at me for some time: “Proportional to what?” During the heyday of Cambridge rent control, it was pretty clearly the case that the City Council was in a similar proportion to the tenant-dominated electorate and that many, perhaps most, voters at that time were guided by that one dominant issue before considering any other issues or candidate traits. After the demise of rent control after Question 9 in 1994, the dominance of the rent control issue faded quickly and we entered a prolonged period where individual personalities and legacy affiliations guided local electoral choices. The notion of proportionality became more of a relic than anything else. In recent years, we have seen the rise of single-issue politics (density, subsidized housing, bike lanes, preservation), but identity politics is as much of a factor as any polarized issue. The question of “Proportional to what?” could not be muddier. What I find most aggravating is how single-issue advocates quote municipal election results to argue why their single issue is somehow reflective of the will of the electorate. There are so many confounding factors involved in voter choice that it is simply never valid to draw conclusions on issues that were not explicitly on the ballot.
Last week’s meeting featured 4 Orders that either directly or indirectly addressed the question of installing separated cycle tracks on Broadway and the loss of on-street parking and curb access. It was an interesting mix of political theater, dismissal of the concerns of many petitioners (mainly older and working class voters), and some degree of betrayal and political favoritism. Costumes and props were plentiful, and facts were in short supply as assertions of treacherous conditions on Broadway were made that bore very little resemblance to the actual reality that residents on and around Broadway see every day. Perhaps those who question the plans for Broadway should have shown up with walkers and work clothes. We are now living in a version of Cambridge where unicorns are real and nobody has any need for a car or for parking. City policies are based on wishful thinking and capitulation to advocacy groups flush with cash and social media savvy. Our City Manager seems unable or unwilling to question the advocates embedded in his own City departments. Reason and compromise have no place in this new Cambridge, and older people and working class people should just suck it up. They clearly don’t count in the political calculus of people named Azeem, Sobrinho-Wheeler, McGovern, and Siddiqui, and they are at best dangled along by others named Nolan and Zusy. Our City Council, and probably our School Committee, is now proportional in name only.
Enough of last week’s political theater. This week should see less costumery and fewer props. Here are some items that I found interesting in this week’s agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $540,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account for the settlement payment relating to Lubavitch of Cambridge, Inc. v. Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal and City of Cambridge (United States District Court District of Massachusetts, Docket No. 1:24-cv-12403).
Order Adopted 9-0
This relates to the recent Executive Session on the above topic and about the status of the long-standing legal challenge to the City’s eminent domain taking of the Vail Court property on Bishop Allen Drive in September 2016. Many of us would like very much to know about the Vail Court status – especially in light of the June 23 committee meeting regarding vacant commercial properties. If we are going to be concerned about vacant properties, then perhaps we should first get our own house in order.
Manager’s Agenda #9. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $2,800,000, received from the U.S. Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Grant Program ($2,400,000) and from the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Transportation Improvement Program ($400,000), to the Grant Fund Transportation Department Extraordinary Expenditures account, for the design of the Fitchburg Crossing bicycle/pedestrian bridge project. Funds will be used to support the design costs of a new off-road bridge over the Fitchburg Rail Line that will connect Danehy Park to the Rindge Avenue neighborhood and create greater access to recreations facilities, retail and jobs for people walking and biking.
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Brooke McKenna (Dept. of Congestion & Obstruction, a.k.a. Transportation Department), Bill Deignan, Toner (on funding source), Owen O’Riordan (bridge will cost ~$30 million), Zusy, Simmons; Order Adopted 9-0
Such a pedestrian crossing has been batted around for probably three decades now. Cost concerns and ADA requirements were always an issue, but I suppose now that bicycles are being named in the plans the money will simply fall like manna from heaven.
Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointments of Kwame Dance and Yemi Kibret and the reappointments of M. Amaris Kinne, Duane Brown, Frederick Cabral, Collin Fedor, Christopher Fischer, and Bran Shim to the Human Services Commission for a term of three years.
Appointments Approved 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of members to the of the American Freedmen Commission (“AFC”); Xenia Bhembe, Jeff Davis, Paula Paris, Cheyenne Wyzzard-Jones, Kashish Bastola, Melissa Jackson Collins, George Greenidge, Gassendina Lubintus, Sukia Akiba, Thabiti Brown, Kwame Dance, Natassa Mason.
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy re: hiring of Exec. Director, report, recommendations; DEI Director Diedre Travis Brown on background; Simmons comments re: Saskia van James, background, claiming unanimous support; Zusy calls this a “noble goal”, not about reparations (really?); Wilson comments on need to move quickly; comments by City Manager Yi-An Huang; Nolan comments re: “Color of Law”; Appointments Approved 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #15. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $250,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account.
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Brooke McKenna, Nolan, Wilson; Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order 2024-33, regarding a request to amend Cambridge Code of Ordinances 6.08.010 (“Regulation of vicious dogs”) to bring into compliance with State law; and to create a “Kennel License” that complies with Massachusetts General Laws Section 137A. (CM25#175) [text of report]
pulled by Simmons; comments by McGovern; Christine Carreira (Animal Commission), Nolan, Zusy; Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendments. (CM25#176) [text of report]
pulled by Simmons; comments by Nolan, Peter McLaughlin (Inspectional Services), Peter DeAngelo (Housing Inspector), Elliott Veloso (Law Dept.), Toner, Zusy, Wilson, Owen O’Riordan, Azeem, McGovern; Adopted as a Zoning Petition, Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the City Solicitor, in consultation with relevant City departments and the Community Benefits Advisory Committee, to draft amendments to the Community Benefits Ordinance that allow for the use of funds for capital expenses, provided that such expenses clearly advance the goals of the Community Benefits program. Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Zusy, Mayor Simmons
pulled by Siddiqui; comments by Siddiqui w/minor amendment; add Zusy, Simmons as sponsors 9-0; Amendment Adopted 9-0; questions from Toner re: whether this might affect pending BioMed benefits for East End House; McGovern comments noting recent Carlone comments on this topic; Zusy, Wilson, Nolan comments; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
On The Table #3. That the City Manager is requested to explore with the Government Operations Committee whether the functions of the Peace Commission may be improved and enhanced by bringing them within another City Commission or Department, such as the Human Rights Commission, and report back in a timely manner. [Charter Right – Simmons, May 19, 2025; Tabled June 2, 2025]
292 Communications – most in opposition to the plans to remove most of the parking and curb access along Broadway.
Committee Report #1. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on May 6, 2025 to discuss all Workforce Development/Job Training programs provided for and/or funded by the City, School Department, and non-profits, and discuss a possible future “Jobs Trust” may do differently, or in addition to, current programming funded and/or operated by the City. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. The Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee held a public hearing on May 21, 2025 to discuss whether the City Council can be removed from the process of approving/denying curb cuts, whether abutters should continue to be part of the process of approving/denying curb cuts and if abutters remain part of the process including renters in definition of “abutters” and to prepare draft Ordinance language. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Our City Council has been focusing a lot on how to handle requests from people with driveways who want curb cuts. Now if only there was just a tiny bit of care for those residents who don’t have driveways and off-street parking. Keep dreaming. – RW
Late Order #5. That the City Council go on record in support of H2343/S3653 “An Act Expanding Truck Safety Requirements”. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan (PO25#98)
Order Adopted 9-0
Late Order #6. On Tuesday, June 24, 2025 the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government is discussing H.4156, which reforms the Cambridge City Charter. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson (PO25#99)
comments by Simmons, Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0; Reconsideration Fails 0-9
We’ll have to wait to see what the fallout will be of a changing federal picture on left-leaning “sanctuary cities” like Cambridge. I can easily imagine changes in both funding and eligibility for public housing and perhaps some economic repercussions for life sciences and pharmaceutical companies that dominate Kendall Square. Will there be efforts to replace lost federal money by jacking up local property taxes? It’s all just a big guessing game right now. I don’t believe we will be receiving too many federal favors for the next several years.