Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

November 6, 2023

Proportional Representation: The Silent Ballot Question – Nov 6, 2023 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:14 pm

Proportional Representation: The Silent Ballot Question – November 6, 2023 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Tomorrow’s municipal election may be about choosing 9 people out of 24 City Council candidates and choosing 6 people out of 11 School Committee candidates, but there’s also the unspoken ballot question of the efficacy of our proportional representation (PR) elections. Elsewhere in the USA in years past, cities that used PR for their local elections gave up that election method when it yielded perverse results – either real or received. New York City quit using PR after two Communists were elected back in the 1930s (the actual story is a bit more nuanced). Other cities gave it up because some felt it was too “complicated” – a point of view not shared by me, though I admit that explaining how the tabulation works can be a challenge. That said, the idea of ranking your approved candidates doesn’t seem very difficult to understand.Countdown

There is a possibility that this year’s election could produce perverse results, or (hopefully) it will yield a group of candidates who are both rational and representative of the people of Cambridge. [I am, of course, quite biased since I am also a candidate this year.] I have often jokingly referred to myself as “the junkyard dog of Plan E and PR” in that I could be counted on to defend our system against any unwarranted or wrongheaded criticism. There are points worthy of criticism and there are opportunities to make some positive changes, but I do have some serious concerns about the efforts by some to turn Cambridge into the worst kind of populist government. [These concerns are the main reason I chose to be a candidate this year.]

Anyway, we’ll either be heading over the cliff tomorrow or pulling back from the brink. We’ll know soon enough. Meanwhile, there is a City Council meeting on Election Eve – traditionally one of the shortest ones, but I suppose all it takes is one difficult councillor to ruin everyone’s evening – unless the exercise of the Charter Right puts an end to the mayhem. Here are the items I found interesting this week:

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report #23-61, regarding the demographic information of dues-paying members of the municipal golf course.
pulled by Zondervan; QZ wants City to continue to collect information on race, age, and gender; Adam Corbell response that any such data collection will be voluntary; PT was under belief that such demographic information was NOT being collected at golf course; ambiguous response from Corbett; PN notes that this was report only on demographics (and not on other aspects of original City Council Order); MM addresses women’s sports scholarships; Placed on File 9-0

Hopefully this will mark the end of the silliness initiated by Councillors Nolan, Carlone, Zondervan, and Azeem back in January 2022. On the other hand, doubling-down on dumb ideas is not uncommon these days in politics from the local level to the national level and beyond.

Charter Right #2. 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. [Charter Right – Simmons, Oct 30, 2023]
Simmons explains her use of Charter Right, wants to tease this Order out regarding what it aims to achieve; DS wants to Table and/or send back to Health and Gov’t Operations Committees; AM says many of these questions were asked at committee meeting, says there will be additional meetings; PN notes that this Order asks only for additional information from Law Department; MM suggests removing clause re: hiring a consultant; DS says that getting information is OK but concerned about whether a consultant should be hired; PN,AM,SS have had conversations with former MM motion to delete 2nd “Ordered” passes 5-4 (BA,MM,DS,PT,SS-Yes; DC,AM,PN,QZ-No); Adopted as Amended 8-0-0-1 (DS-Present)

Committee Report #4. The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee and the Health and Environment Committee held a joint meeting on Tues, Oct 17, 2023, to discuss the relationship between the City and the Cambridge Health Alliance, the budget of the Public Health Department, and best ways to serve the community’s public health needs. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I can’t say for sure what this is all about, but my suspicion is that this is rooted in the desire on the part of several city councillors to gain more control over our local health care options. I will remind everyone that there were very good fiscal reasons to spin the Cambridge Hospital off with state legislation that established the Cambridge Health Alliance and to separate this out from the City’s Operating Budget. I am very curious what the actual motivation is here.

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to more fully explore the Commonwealth’s recommendations from the Separated Bike Lane document, especially for all squares and along small business districts, schools, and key park entries, and with a focus also on the integration of pedestrian and biking infrastructure.   Councillor Carlone (PO23#202)
Adopted 9-0

I expect that Councillor Azeem may exercise his Charter Right on this one in order to give him time to ask Chris Cassa and others associated with the Cambridge Bike Safety group what he is allowed to think.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to direct CDD, the Law Department and any other relevant Departments to review this citizens zoning petition and provide any recommendations in writing to the Ordinance Committee on Nov 29, 2023.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

This concerns the Zoning Petition from Allene R. Pierson et al. relating to where Lodging Houses are permitted as-of-right and, presumably, how this relates to the proliferation of quasi-hotel uses (AirBnB) that have been gobbling up rental housing in Cambridge. If I misread this, please disabuse me of my interpretation.

Committee Report #1. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee met on May 5, 2022, to discuss municipal broadband. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Human Services Committee conducted a public hearing on June 16, 2022, to discuss the recent MBTA bus network redesign. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee conducted a public hearing on June 28, 2022, to discuss the recent MBTA bus network redesign. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Looking back in time at meetings held more than a year ago.

Committee Report #5. The Health and Environment Committee held a public meeting on Wed, Oct 25, 2023, to discuss, review, and evaluate the Zero Waste Master Plan and plan reports and updates, and to discuss possible ways to further reduce waste in Cambridge including exploring how the city might eliminate single-use plastics including but not limited to nips, bottled water, and utensils. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I would love to see these nuisance plastics go away, but sometimes I feel as though our City Council just doesn’t like small businesses when they take actions that cut into the very narrow margins that allow these businesses to simply exist. Has persuasion been tried? Must everything be a legal mandate? – Robert Winters

November 5, 2023

Vote Wang for Solidarity

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council,cycling — Tags: , , , , , , — Hao Wang @ 8:13 am

Vote Wang for Solidarity

The curtain for the 2023 election will drop after about one Cambridge Day; all the candidates and activists will soon take a bow. We will again reflect on who we were and what we have done.

The apparent take is that, as one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. and one of the most sophisticated crucibles for ingenuity, we could have done better. We had an election season roiled by hatred, disrespect, social shaming, and gross mischaracterization. An all-or-nothing, either-or type of thinking epitomizes our political arena.

Many of our activists were quick in condemning, social shaming, minimizing any voice of reason, and grossly mischaracterizing the pragmatic approach the city badly needs. In today’s Cambridge, one cannot be a practical bike lane supporter. It would be best if you were a zealous, our way or highway advocate. Otherwise, you will be labeled as an opponent to saving lives, only trying to rip off the bike lanes. In today’s Cambridge, quick-to-shame activists will label many moderate views on civic issues as “homophobic” or “transphobic.”  Anyone who differs from a single component of their agenda will be quickly treated as an unforgivable opponent. In their belief, being a moderate is “just supporting the other side.”

Angry and hostile tones permeated this election, and group allegiance came out as a kind of mentality disorder and hate politics, grossly deterring the balanced approach the city needed to bring itself together. Even our esteemed Harvard Crimson may have forgotten the noble tradition of Walter Cronkite in journalism, mistaking allegation with verification, conviction with indictment. In some reporters’ minds, a judge and jury will no longer be necessary; the accused is automatically guilty as charged.

In this toxic arena, we are no longer capable of building a consensus. There can be no rational political dialogue. In this climate, Cambridge did not treat our centrist, moderate, or independent respectfully. A balanced candidate was hard to win. The “us vs them,” “all or nothing” mentality is almost certain to harm everyone ultimately.

It may be very late in this election, but we need our solidarity back. Diversity will not hold without solidarity. Equality starts with solidarity. As a city, we will need to transcend cultural and political boundaries. We must signify once again our unity, mutual support, and our shared sense of community. We must show compassion and regain our ability to empathize with others and stand by their side for their needs and ways of life. We need to offer our cooperation and support to each other. The polarization is toxic. The apathy must go. The divisive politics must go.

 

Hao Wang

2023 Cambridge City Council Candidate

https://votewang.com

October 30, 2023

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

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council,elections,School Committee,schools — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:29 pm

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

October 17, 2023

How to turn a flawed AHO2 into a net positive for Cambridge

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,City Council,Harvard Square,planning,transportation — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Hao Wang @ 2:33 pm

How to turn a flawed AHO2 into a net positive for Cambridge

Yesterday, October 16, 2023, the three-year-old Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) zoning got a boost in height to 12 stories along Cambridge’s main corridors and 15 stories in Central, Harvard, and Porter squares. However, many expect the impact of this new law to be limited. The limitation for these buildings for 100% AHUs and nonprofit builders are preferred to construct will neither lead to a widespread success as a housing solution nor create these housing units fast enough. Besides, the implementation of it will surely meet neighborhoods’ opposition.

How do we create better outcomes for this flawed ordinance?

First, we must preserve our squares and corridors to the standards and characters that our neighborhoods desire. We can build with the support of our communities. A well-intended policy to house more people in our city must come with our appeals to neighborhoods’ support. More trees and open spaces can only improve the quality of life of our new residents. Building even taller buildings at the easier-to-build places will reduce the cost of the new units than force-building them at our squares and some stretches of our corridors.

Secondly, we should motivate commercial builders and allow these buildings for mixed-use and a good portion for market rates. We have a limited capacity to build. Cambridge is not known for producing large quantities of housing units quickly. If we are mostly limited to nonprofit builders, our ability to build will not fulfill the AHO or Envision Cambridge promises.

Lastly, we need to address the broader issues facing our city. The socioeconomic underpinning has shifted since Envision Cambridge.  Our city is undergoing a likely hollowing out of our middle classes, coupled with a poverty problem.  Gentrification is already happening, though incomplete. Our teachers, scientists, researchers, police, medical staff, and young college graduates all need housing. Many of them are forced to leave Cambridge and live elsewhere. Reducing the percentage of affordable housing units to less than 25% of the new build, coupled with increasing the threshold to apply for housing assistance, can help them to live and work here, to mix with our low-income population, which in turn will generate more jobs and opportunities for our low-income population, ultimately contribute to the eradication of poverty in our city.

The AHO2, however well intended, was created with less operation experience, little impact analysis, and essentially no implementation planning. The new council should work together to turn it into a net positive for our city.

Hao Wang

2023 Cambridge City Council Candidate

https://haoforcambridge.com

October 13, 2023

Another Monday Night of Diminished Expectations – October 16, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:31 am

Another Monday Night of Diminished Expectations – October 16, 2023 Cambridge City Council meeting

Conspicuously absent from this week’s Peoples Republic of Cambridge International Affairs Agenda is a resolution where incumbent city councillors actually have to say out loud their take on what recently transpired in Israel. Bothsidesism gives way to nosidesism as they gauge how voters might respond. Meanwhile, a vote on “AHO 2.0” to further disenfranchise residents is expected to breeze through on the same 6-3 vote (while they still can). Then there’s reparations. Here are a few things:Peoples Republic of Cambridge

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Order #23-147, regarding a report on whether change in language to the CSO is necessary to enable installation of permanent, seasonal, and/or temporary outdoor dining and pop-ups alongside separated bicycle lanes consistent with Cycling Safety Ordinance that address concerns about the current situation.
Referred to Ordinance Committee 8-1 (QZ-No)

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the establishment of an Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund.
Order Adopted; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,903,731.64 from Free Cash to the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund. The $1,903,731.64 appropriated to the Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund is the only the appropriation from Free Cash attributed to Opioid Settlement funds and will be used to fund specific future projects, per requirements of the settlement agreement, which will require separate individual appropriations by the City Council.
Appropriation Adopted; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 23-23 which clarifies the state law on zoning petition signature requirements to ensure clarity and lawful deliberation in the future.
Placed on File 9-0

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the License Commission and other relevant departments to prepare recommendations on regulations that would ban or limit the sale of nips in Cambridge. [Charter Right – Toner, Oct 2, 2023]
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to reaffirm the city’s commitment to renovating the schoolhouse at 105 Windsor Street as a top priority following the completion of the Central Square lots study. [Charter Right – Simmons, Oct 2, 2023]
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Unfinished Business #3. An Ordinance has been received from City Council, relative to Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) amendments. (Proposed Ordinance #2023-7) [Passed to 2nd Reading, Sept 11, 2023; Amended Sept 18, 2023; Amended Further Sept 18, 2023; Eligible to be Ordained; Expires Oct 29, 2023] (ORD23#7)
Ordained 6-3 (BA,AM,MM,DS,QZ-Yes; DC,PN,PT-No)

Unfinished Business #4. An Ordinance has been received from City Clerk, relative to 2.76.020 enacted is to protect the human rights of all the residents of the City Protect Family Inclusion and Relationship Diversity [Passed to 2nd Reading, Oct 2, 2023] (ORD23#8)

Resolution #12. Resolution on the retirement of Steven A. Cohen from the City of Cambridge Planning Board.   Councillor Carlone

Resolution #13. Resolution of the retirement of Hugh Adams Russell from the City of Cambridge Planning Board.   Councillor Carlone

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to conduct a thorough assessment regarding the feasibility, costs, and benefits of replacing the existing community notice boards on the front lawn of City Hall with one or two digital signs.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department, the Finance Department, and any other relevant departments to investigate potential mechanisms to support Cannabis Business in Cambridge.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish an American Freedmen Commission.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted, Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Order #8. That the City Council schedule a roundtable on Mon, Nov 13, 2023, from 3pm-5pm to receive an update from the City Manager and relevant departments on the Central Square City Lots Study.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to work with DPW to restore Linear Park by re-using the existing award-winning design, to create, publish and implement a climate resilience-based maintenance plan and minimize the embodied carbon of the project by re-using, wherever possible, the existing lamps and lamp posts.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended, Referred to Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning Committee 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Housing Committee held a public hearing on Apr 13, 2023 to continue the discussion of potential amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay district as outline in the Nov 21, 2022 Policy Order adopted by the City Council. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee held a public hearing on Sept 27, 2023 to discuss the report and update on the City of Cambridge Disparity Study. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. A public meeting of the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee was held on Wed, Oct 4, 2023, to discuss changes to the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge relative to Chapter 5.50, Cannabis Business Permitting. The Committee approved a motion that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Law Department, the Finance Department, and any other relevant departments to investigate potential mechanisms to support Cannabis Business in Cambridge, including but not limited to: not collecting the local tax on Cannabis product sales, refunding some of the rent that was paid while awaiting a Special Permit, and limiting the number of stores that are allowed and report back to the City Council by Nov 20, 2023. The related policy order is on this agenda. The Committee voted to send the proposed ordinance language, as amended in Committee to the Full City Council with a favorable recommendation to pass to a second reading. [text of report]
Placed on File, Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

Committee Report #4. A public meeting of the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee was held on Tues, Oct 10, 2023. The Committee approved a motion to send the Zoning Ordinance Petition relative to hen keeping to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation to pass to a second reading. [text of report]
Placed on File, Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

October 10, 2023

Rally at City Hall – Oct 9, 2023

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,Cambridge government,Central Square,City Council — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:24 am

Rally at City Hall – Oct 9, 2023

From The Dispatch, Oct 10: In a statement Monday, President Joe Biden announced that 11 American citizens had been among those killed in the attacks on Israel over the weekend, with more likely held hostage by Hamas. “In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis,” the president said, likening the attack to those America suffered on September 11, 2001. “We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.”

Meanwhile, in Cambridge, MA, hundreds rallied in front of Cambridge City Hall shouting Intifada! Intifada! in what can best be described as a celebration of the recent atrocities committed by Hamas. There were some familiar faces in the crowd, including people politically active in Cambridge. Now I know that this was not a representative sample of the people of Cambridge, and I certainly don’t believe that antisemitism and the celebration of murder, rape, and kidnapping is tolerated by any more than a small minority of deranged residents. I also got the sense that many of the celebrants were not actually Cambridge residents and included plenty of area college students. That said, they chose Cambridge City Hall as the site for their rally. “No Place for Hate” – except when it is. When fires grow, consider who is providing the oxygen.

I stood with the Israel supporters across the street, and I stand with Israel now. I hope this war is resolved quickly with minimal loss of life. I now look forward to some classic “bothsidesism” from our Cambridge elected officials and candidates. – Robert Winters

Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally  Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally

Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally  Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally

Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally  Oct 9, 2023 City Hall Rally

When People Tell You Who They Are, Believe Them (Bari Weiss, The Free Press, Oct 10, 2023)
This is what ‘decolonization’ really looks like. Look carefully at who is cheering it on.

This Is What ‘Decolonization’ Looks Like (Peter Savodnik, The Free Press, Oct 9, 2023)
Fancy-sounding academic jargon is not a curious intellectual exercise. Words make worlds. Words make nightmares.

“And as you might have seen, there was some sort of rave or desert party where they were having a great time until the resistance came in electrified hang gliders and took at least several dozen hipsters,” a speaker at a Democratic Socialists of America rally in New York proclaimed to whoops and laughter. (DSA members include representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar.)

You can learn more about Eugene Puryear, the person who said these words on Wikipedia. Puryear writes regularly for Liberation News, the newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. In 2008, Puryear ran on the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s ticket alongside presidential nominee Gloria La Riva. The La Riva/Puryear slate was on the ballot in six states and received 6,818 total votes. In July 2015, Puryear was announced as the running mate of Gloria La Riva, the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s 2016 presidential nominee. However, he was not eligible to hold the office, as he would not have been at least 35 years old by Inauguration Day. He was critical of the Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Many of you may recall that the “Party for Socialism and Liberation” was the primary organizer of the series of anti-police rallies and Cambridge City Council meeting disruptions earlier this year. Those rallies and the demands associated with those rallies were enthusiastically supported by some sitting City Councillors as well as some of the current crop of City Council candidates.

October 7, 2023

What is the main message of The Crucible?

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:00 am

What is the main message of The Crucible?

“One of the main messages of the play is to show that trying to preserve one’s reputation can end up harming others. But, in keeping one’s honor and integrity, a person can stay true to themselves, and can put an end to fear that might cause hysteria.”Robert Winters

Over this last week or so, I have been subjected to more accusations, innuendo, and suggestions of “inappropriate comments” than I have ever known, and some individuals and political organizations have even gone so far as to do harm to the reputations of other municipal election candidates with whom I have some affiliation or even candidates about whom I have said positive things. I am astonished that this kind of feeding frenzy has come to Cambridge, but I have little doubt that it is politically motivated by candidates concerned about their own electability (or their reelection) as well as by at least one political organization fearful of losing ground in the upcoming municipal election.

Some people have suggested that I issue some sort of public apology for things I have written and even for “liking” things I found humorous. I make no apologies for things that I may find funny – and I don’t think that anyone should ever apologize for their personal sense of humor. I consider Dave Chappelle to be perhaps the most brilliant comedian of the last several decades – even though I am aware that some people are offended by some of what he says.

I am certain that some people are offended by some of my commentary about elected officials, activists, and others. If you feel that I have been unfair at times, you might even be correct, but that’s the nature of personal expression, and I certainly hope that free speech does not become a casualty of this current hysteria. Indeed, some of the people hurling criticism at me, including one of the current candidates, have “tweeted” views far more offensive than anything I have ever written. I will leave it others to provide details.

One particular “tweet” that has been used to do harm to my reputation was one relating to a blogger who uses (or used at one time) the handle “LibsofTikTok”. That blogger posted something on Twitter about something taking place in a library somewhere else in the country, and my great “offense” was to rather naively note (based on a published update from the Cambridge Public Library that arrived around that time) that there was a similar event in Cambridge. I simply made that purely informational note. That’s it. No agenda, no endorsement, nothing. I did not “retweet” anything – at least not that I am aware of, yet this otherwise forgettable note has now been used by politically motivated people to brand me in ways that are unfair and untrue. So… if anyone was actually offended by my naive act, you have my unequivocal and sincere apology.

Now, will there be any apologies forthcoming from “A Better Cambridge” or their endorsed candidates who have been unfairly exploiting this kerfuffle for their own purely political reasons? Will the other City Council candidate who expressed actual anti-Catholic bigotry (and lots more) be issuing apologies? – Robert Winters

October 6, 2023

Meeting with the neighbors is important for City Council Candidates

Filed under: 2023 election,Cambridge,City Council,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Hao Wang @ 8:58 am

Each municipal election will have new challengers who may be lesser known to our residents.  It is important to have our neighbors organize meet and greet events for the candidates to learn from our neighbors and for the neighbors to learn from the candidates.

This year, a resident in Cambridge for over 40 years, Mr. Young Kim carefully studies each candidate’s platform and personally picked five candidates for our residents to meet this coming Sunday October 8th, 2023.

Time: 3-5 p.m., on October 8th, Sunday

Place: 17 Norris Street, Cambridge, MA

Signup sheet is here –

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1PlfAuYpENZmlBE7nu4s0Vt6Hqo1YjntqTp5F-G907OU/htmlview#

Please stop by if you can and meet with them to let them know what you think and learn about their experience and platform. We welcome more neighbors organize similar events for us to meet.

October 6th, 2023 by Hao Wang for Cambridge

https://haoforcambridge.com

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