Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

December 8, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 527-528: Dec 7, 2021

Episode 527 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 7, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Dec 7, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Covid-19 updates; Bike Lane Battles, confirmation bias of studies, and some history of bicycle advocacy; campaign finance limitations and City Council contorted rhetoric. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 528 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 7, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Dec 7, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Zoom reflections; campaign finance facts & fallacies; Battles of Righteousness – virtue signalling and hypocrisy; policy orders as policies and not mandates; strong mayor vs. city manager systems; Awaiting Report Forever; tribunals for board appointments coming soon. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

November 16, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 525-526: November 16, 2021

Episode 525 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 16, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 16, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Final Election process; reprecincting; Boncore vacancy; non-implementation of planning efforts in Alewife and Central Square; Alewife and Envision chronology; failure of well-paid councillors to show up for work; deep pockets and the means to achieve good results. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 526 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 16, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 16, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Detailed election results and analysis; the dominance of incumbency; political spin in the absence of mandates; importance of establishing a loyal political base vs. “movement” candidates; winners & feeders; slate voting results; Siddiqui’s margin of victory and dissatisfaction with other candidates; the Cincinnati problem; ballot transfers, #2 votes, alternate measures of popularity; School Committee campaign finance. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

November 13, 2021

Final 2021 Cambridge Election Results

Final Official City Council Results (Nov 12)
(in order of election)

Siddiqui, Sumbul
Simmons, E. Denise
Nolan, Patricia M.
Carlone, Dennis J.
McGovern, Marc C.
Zondervan, Quinton Y.
Azeem, Burhan
Mallon, Alanna M.
Toner, Paul F.

Final Official School Committee Results (Nov 12)
(in order of election)

Wilson, Ayesha
Fantini, Alfred B.
Bhambi, Akriti
Weinstein, Rachel B.
Rojas Villarreal, José Luis
Weinstein, David J.

All three ballot questions passed (Final, Official)

Final Official City Council results:


Distribution of #1 Votes by ward/precinct – City Council 2021:

City Council 2021 – #2 Vote Distributions

Alternate Measures of Popularity – 2021 City Council Election

Final Official School Committee results:

Distribution of #1 Votes by ward/precinct – School Committee 2021:

School Committee 2021 – #2 Vote Distributions

Alternate Measures of Popularity – 2021 School Committee Election

Who would replace each of the elected city councillors and School Committee members should a vacancy occur? Replacements are determined from the ballots used to elect each councillor or School Committee member. I ran the tabulation software with the 2021 ballot data and here’s what I found:

City Council Replacement
Azeem Sobrinho-Wheeler
Carlone Williams
Mallon Sobrinho-Wheeler
McGovern Sobrinho-Wheeler
Nolan Williams
Siddiqui Sobrinho-Wheeler
Simmons Sobrinho-Wheeler
Toner McGuirk
Zondervan Sobrinho-Wheeler
 
School Committee Replacement
Bhambi Hunter
Fantini Hunter
Rojas Villarreal Lim
D. Weinstein Johnson
R. Weinstein Hunter
Wilson Johnson

November 6, 2021

2021 Cambridge City Council and School Committee (Unofficial) Election Results

For those who like their information in spreadsheets….

Cambridge City Council

Cambridge School Committee

November 4, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 523-524: November 2, 2021

Episode 523 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 2, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 2, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Election Day; turnout; early and mail-in voting; Candidate Page statistics; ballot questions & Quest for Control – selling control as “democracy”; truths about City boards & commissions; civic responsibilities; Federico Muchnik videos – Walden Square, The Tasty; reducing elections to “hot topics”. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 524 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 2, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 2, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Changing rules for voter registration; auxiliary ballots, provisional ballots; preliminary vs. unofficial vs. official election results; campaign finance for City Council and School Committee; reporting the details of the PR Count; the down side of slate voting and the importance of voting for individuals. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

October 26, 2021

Vote NO on all three Ballot Questions

Ballot Question Information (includes arguments for and against)

Cambridge’s ballot questions explained: Here’s what you need to know (Oct 14, 2021, Cambridge Chronicle)

As long as people are opining on the three ballot questions, I just want to say that I will be voting NO on all three questions.

Regarding Question #1, it might have been helpful if the sponsors had actually asked some members of City boards & commissions how they felt about the proposed change. They didn’t.

I think you can make a reasonable case for Council review of appointees in a system where the City Council has no say in the selection of the appointing authority, e.g. in a city with a directly elected mayor. In Cambridge the appointing authority is the City Manager who is hired by the City Council and who serves "at the pleasure of the City Council."

I have serious concerns that members of some boards will now have to toe the party line of a bare majority of city councillors. For example, I would not be at all surprised if an appointee to the Historical Commission is rejected for supporting historic preservation in an environment where five councillors want to clear out historically significant buildings in order to facilitate densification.

I will add that the proponents failed to determine or specify which boards/commissions might be subject to this change. For example, is the License Commission (Police Commissioner, Fire Chief, and Exec. Director) now subject to City Council approval? (I don’t think so.) What about the Election Commission which was established via a 1921 Special Act of the Mass. Legislature? Would the membership of a topic-specific Task Force appointed by the City Manager be viewed as a "Board" that would now be subject to City Council review?

Regarding Question #2, the City Council has always had the ability to require an annual review of their city manager – no charter revision required. So is the real point that there has been intramural fighting among councillors with the Chair of their Government Operations Committee failing to recommend or schedule a review?

Regarding Question #3, I have no problem with there being a periodic review of the City Charter. I do, however, take issue with the proposal that every member of the proposed Charter Review Committee would be appointed by the City Council. Ordinary citizens need not apply. An independent Charter Review Commission – possibly even an elected commission – would be the better way to proceed.

Robert Winters

Ballot Questions

October 6, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 519-520: October 5, 2021

Episode 519 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 5, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Oct 5, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Wild Card baseball; voter registration and voting options; tax classification & taxes, councillors wanting to tax & spend; over-reliance on commercial development, residential exemption and the condo sweet deal; neighborhood associations, community schools, & neighborhood councils; topics for candidates. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 520 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 5, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Oct 5, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Tim Toomey Park and happy reunions; from carpetbagger to townie; voting history and supervoters; reprecincting; PACs and candidate slates; campaigning door-to-door; using City Council committee meetings for political organization and promotion. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 30, 2021

Voter Registration and Voting Options for the Municipal Election

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , — Robert Winters @ 7:25 pm

Voter Registration and Voting Options for the Municipal Election

Early voting is available to all voters for the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 2nd. Early voting is available by mail and in-person to all registered voters in Cambridge. However, you choose to vote, please be advised that once a voter casts an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls.

Voter Registration

For anyone wanting to vote early in-person, by mail, or by drop box, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check your voter registration status and to find information on how to register to vote, please go to www.registertovotema.com. You will need a license, or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, you must register to vote or make changes to your voter registration by Wednesday, October 13, 2021. The office will be open until 8:00pm on October 13, 2021.

Early Voting by Mail

To vote by mail:

  1. Complete a Vote by Mail Application. For voter convenience postage paid postcard applications were mailed by the Election Commission to all registered voters in Cambridge. You may also download an application at www.cambridgema.gov/earlyvoting or send a written request with your name, Cambridge address, address where you want the ballot sent, and your signature.Vote!
  2. Send your signed application by email, fax or mail:

    • Email: elections@cambridgema.gov

    • Fax: 617-349-4366

    • Mail: Cambridge Election Commission 51 Inman Street Cambridge, MA 02139

  3. Vote when your ballot arrives.
  4. Return your voted and sealed ballot to the Cambridge Election Commission by mail, ballot drop box, or in person to the Cambridge Election Commission office.

You can check the status of your ballot at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com.

The deadline to return a vote by mail ballot is November 2, 2021 at 8:00pm to be counted.

The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail Application for a mailed ballot for the election is Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 5:00pm. The Cambridge Election Commission recommends submitting this application no later than October 19th to ensure the timely delivery of your ballot.

The Election Commission is open to the public by walk-in or appointment. If you would like to schedule an appointment at, please go to https://calendly.com/cambridge-election-commission.

Early Voting In-Person

To vote in person, visit any one of the three (3) early voting locations offered in Cambridge during the period from Saturday, October 23, 2021 to Friday, October 29, 2021 for the Municipal Election. You must be a registered voter in Cambridge to vote at the early voting locations. Please refer to the City’s designated early voting schedule below. The deadline to vote early in person is Friday, October 29, 2021 at 5:00pm.

DESIGNATED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, HOURS AND DAYS

Cambridge Water Department – 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge
Main Library – 449 Broadway, Cambridge
Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street, Cambridge

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
October 23 October 24 October 25 October 26 October 27 October 28 October 29
10am – 3pm ALL SITES
CLOSED
11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 10am -5pm

The Election Commission office located 51 Inman Street will NOT be an early voting location for the Municipal Election, November 2, 2021. Voters must go to one of the designated early voting locations listed above.

Official Ballot Drop Box Locations

Official ballot drop boxes will be available at the following six (6) locations for Cambridge voters beginning Friday, October 9, 2021 through Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 8:00pm. The drop boxes will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Sunday.

  1. City Hall – Near the back door of the building located at 795 Massachusetts Avenue
  2. Morse School – Near the front entrance of the building located at 40 Granite Street
  3. Cambridge Police Headquarters – Near the front of the building located at 125 6th Street
  4. Maria L. Baldwin School – Near the Oxford Street entrance of the building located at 28 Sacramento Street
  5. O’Neill Library – Adjacent to the entrance stairs of the building located at 70 Rindge Avenue
  6. Coffon Building – Near the front of the building located at 51 Inman Street (see note below)

Note: Location #6 located in the front of the Coffon Building is already open for use.

Relocation of Some Polling Sites & Voting on Election Day

Voting on Election Day will still be available for those who want to vote at the polls. Some polling sites were relocated for the upcoming Municipal Election on November 2, 2021. Your polling site location will be in the same ward and precinct or near your regular polling site for voter convenience and to minimize voter confusion. In the next few weeks, voters will receive an Early Voting Guide and a Voter Notification Card in the mail that will have information pertaining to where you vote, any relocated polling sites and other important election related information. Please refer to the voter information which will be mailed to you over the next few weeks. A list of wards/precincts and polling sites are available below, so you know where to go if you choose to vote on Election Day. The highlighted locations were relocated for the 2021 Municipal Election.

2021 Polling Sites

Precinct      Location
Ward 1
1-1 COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL OF CAMBRIDGE, 245 Bent Street, Main Entrance
1-2 COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL OF CAMBRIDGE, 245 Bent Street, Main Entrance
1-3 MILLER RIVER APARTMENTS, 15 Lambert Street, Cambridge Street entrance
Ward 2
2-1 PISANI CENTER, 131 Washington Street
2-2 M.I.T., Kresge Auditorium, behind Stratton Center, 70 Mass. Avenue
2-3 M.I.T., Kresge Auditorium, behind Stratton Center, 70 Mass. Avenue
Ward 3
3-1 VALENTE BRANCH LIBRARY, 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street
3-2 MOSES YOUTH CENTER, 243 Harvard Street, Lower Level, Rear Entrance
3-2A MOSES YOUTH CENTER, 243 Harvard Street, Lower Level, Rear Entrance
3-3 SALVATION ARMY HEADQUARTERS, 402 Massachusetts Avenue
Ward 4
4-1 CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER, 5 Callender Street, Howard Street Entrance
4-2 CITY HALL, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Driveway Entrance
4-3 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOOL, 102 Putnam Avenue, Playground Gym Entrance
Ward 5
5-1 LBJ APARTMENTS, 150 Erie Street, Community Room (Parking Lot Entrance)
5-2 MORSE SCHOOL, 40 Granite Street, Main Entrance
5-3 MORSE SCHOOL, 40 Granite Street, Main Entrance
Ward 6
6-1 CITY HALL ANNEX, 344 Broadway Conference Room, Second Floor
6-2 CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN SCHOOL, 459 Broadway, Media Cafeteria, Cambridge Street Entrance
6-3 CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN SCHOOL, 459 Broadway, Media Cafeteria, Cambridge Street Entrance
Ward 7
7-1 BALDWIN SCHOOL, Community Floor, 28 Sacramento Street entrance
7-2 BALDWIN SCHOOL, Community Floor, 28 Sacramento Street entrance
7-3 GUND HALL, 48 Quincy Street, Cambridge Street Entrance
Ward 8
8-1 GRAHAM AND PARKS SCHOOL, 44 Linnaean St., playground entrance
8-2 FRIENDS CENTER, 5 Longfellow Park, Community Room
8-3 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SCHOOL, 102 Putnam Avenue, Playground Gym Entrance
Ward 9
9-1 HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN CHURCH, 145 Brattle Street, Parking Lot Entrance on Sparks Street
9-2 CAMBRIDGE WATER DEPARTMENT, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway
9-3 RUSSELL YOUTH CENTER, 680 Huron Avenue, Second Floor
Ward 10
10-1 PEABODY SCHOOL GYM, 70 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance
10-2 GRAHAM AND PARKS SCHOOL, 44 Linnaean Street., Playground Entrance
10-3 CAMBRIDGE FRIENDS SCHOOL, 5 Cadbury Road, Front Entrance
Ward 11
11-1 RESERVOIR CHURCH, 170 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance
11-2 PEABODY SCHOOL GYM, 70 Rindge Avenue, Rear Entrance
11-3 BURNS APARTMENTS, 50 Churchill Avenue, Community Room

Voters are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering in the early voting locations and on Election Day at polling sites to help mitigate public health risks associated with COVID-19.

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