Episode 464 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 26, 2020 – Carefully Venturing Outside from Inside
This episode was broadcast on May 26, 2020 at 6:30pm. Topics: The Empty City; Riverbend Park and the closing of streets here and elsewhere; Impasse on Municipal Broadband; Catching Up with the City Council; FY2021 Budget. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale joined members of the Veterans Services Department, Cambridge Police and Cambridge Fire to place flags at the graves of our fallen in the Veterans section of the Cambridge Cemetery. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Memorial Day observances will feature several virtual events and remembrances.
“Memorial Day is a time to remember the brave men and women who gave their life for our country and to honor them for paying the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom, our country, and our Cambridge,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “I ask that our residents, on Memorial Day this year, find time in their day to conduct a moment of silence and remembrance for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
During the evenings over the Memorial Day Weekend, Cambridge City Hall will be lit up gold and decorated with wreaths bearing the message, “Cambridge Remembers Our Fallen.” The gold lighting on City Hall honors the Gold Star Families of our City and the Commonwealth, and also honors all Cambridge veterans lost in service and to COVID-19. Additionally, a pre-recorded Memorial Day observance will air on Monday, May 25, at 10:00am and 8:00pm, on the Municipal Cable Television Channel, 22-CityView. The observance will also be available online at Cambridgema.gov/Covid19.
“Lighting up City Hall gold, having city staff place flags on the graves of fallen heroes, and placing special wreaths on the City Hall lawn are ways for all of us as a community to remember those who have lost their lives in service to our country, and also to the families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. [Photos by Kyle Klein]
Police Commissioner Branville Bard, City Manager Louis DePasquale, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui
Members of the Cambridge Fire and Police Departments place flags at the graves of Cambridge’s fallen heroes
The boys and girls will again have a virtual shindig this week in and out of the Sullivan Chamber. I’m still counting on an innovative Kendall Square startup to develop special glasses that can filter out the glare of virtue signaling, but until then there’s this:
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from the Massachusetts. Department of Environmental Protection to the Grant Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures Account which will be supplemented with $379,000 in City funds to purchase three plug-in hybrid rubbish packers that will replace three diesel powered rubbish packers.
“And we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage…..” – Stockbridge, MA
Manager’s Agenda #3. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $6,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of various water pollution abatement projects, including but not limited to Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $16,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan which will support improvements at the Department of Public works Complex including the Ryan Garage, Lafayette Square Firehouse structural repair, and other municipal buildings.
Manager’s Agenda #6. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $9,000,000 to provide funds for the construction of improvements of the Lexington Avenue and River Street Firehouses.
Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $237,000,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School.
Manager’s Agenda #8. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for repairs to electrical service, roof replacement, chiller replacement, floor replacement and replacement of bi-directional amplifier and antenna in various school buildings.
These are the annual Loan Authorization orders that accompany the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Note the big fish in there – $237 million to borrow for the design and construction of the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School. Last year’s loan authorizations totaled $74.3 million and $88.15 million the year before that. I suppose we’ll be seeing a tidy little jump in debt service next year even with our AAA bond rating. I hope one of the city councillors at least asks what the projections for residential real estate taxes might be for the next cycle. It’s not like other budgets are being slashed. Once again, here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes to department budgets as well as the 16-year changes.
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Expect more grandstanding from the usual suspects as soon as the City staff have completed their reports. There’s nothing like a good crisis to practice your political speech-making. Frankly, I just want to hear what the Cambridge response might be to Governor Baker’s cautious "phase one re-opening plan." I expect some councillors will continue to harp on street closures as the One Big Answer to All Things.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident.
I really wish some councillors understood the City Charter and actually listened last week to what the City Solicitor (correctly) had to say. The last thing we need are politically driven councillors micromanaging City employees. By the way, if a City Council aide calls for the firing of a City employee, is that a violation of Chapter 43, Section 107?: “Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with that portion of the service of the city as aforesaid solely through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager either publicly or privately. Any member of the city council who violates, or participates in the violation of, any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, and upon final conviction thereof his office in the city council shall thereby be vacated and he shall never again be eligible for any office or position, elective or otherwise, in the service of the city.”
Order #2. Creating an Arts Recovery Advisory Committee. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Order #3. That the City Council go on record in strong support of Bill HD. 5054 relative to restaurant delivery commissions during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to provide an immediate update to the Council on the digital equity research initiative and advisory board, and on efforts to ensure reliable access to the Internet citywide. Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan
Regardless how one feels about municipal broadband, I think we do need some answers about how some version of universal Internet access can be achieved if only for the purpose of educational access in a school year conducted via Zoom and similar platforms.
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Election Commission and Board of Election Commissioners to determine the feasibility of universal vote-by-mail for the City of Cambridge. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
I’ll take this one. If you boys and girls were paying attention when there was the previous debate about "early voting" for municipal elections, it was explained to you at that time that such authority lies with the State and not with the City – hence the Home Rule Petition that is now collecting dust in the foyer of the State House and which is dutifully included in every City Council agenda packet by our City Clerk. The City cannot simply enact universal vote-by-mail via a Council vote or by a vote of the Election Commission. That authority resides with State government – and I expect that universal vote-by-mail may well be forthcoming from our glacial legislature. That said, if they were to simply permit "no excuse absentee voting" which everyone seems to understand is both feasible and politically acceptable, that would likely address most of the concerns about safety in voting. Time’s a wastin’, legislators.
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to amend the Cambridge emergency advisory on face coverings/masks to require face coverings be worn inside common areas of multi-unit buildings with the exception of 2-and 3- family buildings and in all workplaces where more than one person is present at all times. Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern
Good idea. Even in my triple-decker, the tenants and I maintain social distancing in a way that might make you think we don’t get along. (We do.)
Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to develop and present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy for how we are going to reopen the city. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
By "present to the City Council a comprehensive strategy", the authors of the Order no doubt mean "present to the City Council a plan to carry out the specific strategies that we hereby propose". This seems to be a recurring theme of these councillors.
Order #9. That Chapter 2.108 be amended by inserting a new section 2.108.140. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Some of you may recognize this as just a reformulation of the eminent-domain-like proposals from these same socialist councillors from a few weeks ago. When nobody salutes your flag, just sew the threads into another flag. There are better ways to handle an emergency than confiscating whatever property suits you.
Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, communicating information from the School Committee’s Special Meetings held on May 7, 2020.
Are we actually still providing public education in Cambridge or are school staff just lending a few suggestions to those students who are now being effectively home-schooled by their parents – while a lot of other students are enjoying an early summer vacation?
Episode 463 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 12, 2020 – Still Inside more than Outside
This episode was broadcast on May 12, 2020 at 6:30pm. Topics: The Empty City; closing of streets; mandatory face masks and social distancing; Coronagendas; carefully restarting construction; Catching Up with the City Council; FY2021 Budget; To Tweet or Not to Tweet – Councillors and the City Charter; access to recycling. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]
Here’s my take on this week’s agenda:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2021 submitted budget appropriation orders.
I like to track how the budgets of the various City departments change from year to year and in the long term. Here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes as well as the 16-year changes.
The big jumps upward this year are for Public Celebrations (up 31.8% in one year and 45.7% for two years), Public Investment (up 38% in one year and 114% for two years), and the Library (up 26.3% and 38.9%). Curiously, Employee Benefits dropped 16.4% from the FY20 Budget, but the change from the Adopted Budget or actual expenditures could possibly be different.
I am trying to read between the lines about how the Covid-19 pandemic will express itself in the FY21 Budget, but perhaps those effects may primarily be felt in terms of a long string of supplemental expenditures and dipping into "free cash".
The City Council apparently continues to treat itself with its political appointees (a.k.a. aides) with an 11% one-year jump. The City Manager’s Office (Executive) also increased its budget by nearly 13% in one year and 24.4% over two years. The overall FY21 Proposed Budget is 5.5% more than last year’s Proposed Budget.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED IN COUNCIL MAY 4, 2020]
Everyone has opinions. Everyone has agendas. Some people say they have God on their side. Others claim they have Science on their side or that Climate Change is their Righteous Cause and that everyone should comply with their agenda or else. Everyone has opinions, and bullshit is currency in Cambridge. The streets and sidewalks are not crowded – not even Memorial Drive, so they vote to close down streets to curry favor with their preferred constituents. Walking, coughing, maskless disease vectors congregate on benches and in doorways in Central Square, but the City Council will debate for hours whether it’s OK for someone to doff their mask in the park without penalty. I am often reminded of the secret of performing magic – distraction.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to order the Department of Public Works and any other relevant departments to consider implementing Simple Recycling’s curbside textile recycling program and report back to the Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Toomey
Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works and any other relevant City departments to reopen the Recycling Center for a limited time and to place recycling bins strategically across the City for residents who are unable to access the Recycling Center to allow for residents to recycle plastic items such as bags. Councillor Toomey
One thing I have known for 30 years is that Councillor Toomey has been one of the most stalwart supporters of recycling in Cambridge, so it’s no surprise that these Orders are coming from Councillor Toomey. Regarding the Recycling Center, many of us are clearing out and organizing our living spaces while staying at home, and it sure would be great if we could recycle some of our scrap metal and more. I have a defunct old TV taking up space that won’t be picked up with the rubbish and the City has suspended all other alternatives. We have brought tons of stuff to various Red Cross donation bins and elsewhere, but there’s a lot more where that came from. Remember the old "Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance?" Well, they won’t even let you in the store with that now and you will likely exit with a bunch more plastic bags, and it might be good if there was a place to lose them.
Order #2. That the City Manager report to the Council with an update on recommendations being discussed by the Small Business Advisory Group so the Council may be prepared for quick action on items that may properly come before the body. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I have no doubt that this will soon become one of the hottest topics at City Council meetings.
Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Police Department to provide information to the City Council about social media protocols and what disciplinary action has been taken as result of the Department’s social media use incident. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
The "Shoe On The Other Foot Test" should be applied here. Imagine that someone in the Police Department inadvertently used the wrong account to tweet something like “More insane crap from that f— (expletive redacted) Orange Menace in the White House. Sad for us.” Do you think there would even be a story let alone demands for disciplinary action? By the way, the person who erred here has been one of the most solid, courteous, and well-respected members of the Police Department for a very long time, and most of the present and former city councillors know it. I will be interested to see which councillors want to throw him under the bus for not complying with Cambridge political orthodoxy.
Order #5. That the City Council go on record in solidarity with all Lesley University workers and in support of the demands of the community petition. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
I am in general agreement with all of the intentions of this Order, but I would like to inform those who don’t understand the concept of infinity that not even our local elite universities have infinite financial resources. Even Harvard and MIT are having to make some difficult choices. – Robert Winters
There’s one mask I’m still waiting to see out there, and I don’t know if I’ll find it terrifying, reassuring, or just clever or funny.
I heard there has been one arrest of a man who pulled a knife on someone not disguised as either Batman or Zorro. There’s also a pointless "Next Door Cambridge" rhetorical war being waged on whether the cops should have been called on a maskless group in the Library park on Broadway. I personally just amuse myself by pretending that every day is now Halloween, though all those new souls and saints tend to dampen the frivolity.
Meanwhile at Virtual City Hall there’s another virtual meeting taking place this Monday covering virtually nothing other than Covid-19 matters (which is as it should be when the fat’s in the fire or the shite’s in the fan). Here are a few items that tweaked my beak:
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Larry Ward as an Election Commissioner for a term of 4 years, effective April 1, 2020.
Larry has been a good friend and neighbor for decades. I have to wonder what elections in Cambridge (and elsewhere) will be like during this plague. At the very least, if the State Legislature has not yet passed no-fault absentee voting, then they haven’t been paying attention. On the other hand, maybe they’ll just approve a mail-in option and call it a day. Then again, maybe if we’re lucky the coast will be sufficiently clear in November to actually go to the polls (if we dare).
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to review the recommendations listed above with the appropriate City personnel with a view toward establishing clear guidelines that will allow for the re-opening of construction projects across the City, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. [EXERCISED CHARTER RIGHT IN COUNCIL APR 27, 2020]
We clearly have allowed some "essential businesses" to operate during this ordeal – with the understanding that safety protocols must be respected. There are plenty of other things that could potentially be restarted with that same understanding, and that includes some construction activities.
Resolution #2. Resolution on the death of Wayne Travers. Councillor Toomey, Councillor McGovern
Wayne was at one time the monitor at the Recycling Center in the DPW Yard. We spent many hours there together in days of yore. Though we haven’t been in touch for quite a few years, I have very fond memories of Wayne, his motorcycle, and his sense of humor. Farewell, friend.
Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department to create a plan for how the City will support small, local businesses in recovering from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including use of existing city resources and CARES Act funding to provide additional support, such as individual coaching to support businesses as they are allowed to return to work. Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
This will likely be one of the most difficult tasks for which the City can provide only partial solutions. One option that I hope is considered is to allow many/most Cambridge businesses great freedom to adapt their businesses creatively without unnecessary bureaucratic interference.
Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Director of Cambridge Public Libraries to explore ways in which physical library materials can be made available to Cambridge Public Schools students and other Cambridge residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order #3. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Cambridge Arts Council and other relevant departments to determine an appropriate public memorial for members of the Cambridge community who have been lost as a result of this COVID-19 virus. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone
I’ll do my best at optimism here and look forward to the day when we can commemorate not only those lost in the pandemic but also the scientists who developed the therapies and/or vaccines that helped to bring it under control.
Order #4. That the City of Cambridge declares May 4, 2020, “Kent State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and declares May 15, 2020, “Jackson State Martyrs Remembrance Day,” and invite all Cambridge residents to learn about and reflect on the tragic events that occurred on those days. Councillor Zondervan
While I completely agree with recognizing the anniversaries of both of these tragic events, I really dislike the use of the word "martyrs" here just as I dislike when the word "heroes" is used to characterize victims of senseless or religious violence.
Order #5. That the City Manager enhance the data center to include information which the City Council deems essential to facilitating our collective response to the COVID-19 crisis. Councillor Zondervan
Order #6. That the City Manager restart Planning Board meetings virtually and prioritize the completion of any special permits that are in process. Councillor Zondervan
The wording of this Order makes clear that this is about jump-starting marijuana sales opportunities, unless there are other "Economic Empowerment applicants" of which I am unaware. I guess we all have our priorities.
Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City personnel to devise a plan that will place Cambridge on a path to offer free covid-19 tests to all Cambridge residents, similar to that recently enacted by the City of Somerville, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner. Councillor Simmons
I suspect this may already be planned – depending on availability of dependable testing materials and staffing levels. It does, however, remind me of an old rule we had about mathematics diagnostic testing, namely that you only do it when you have an idea of what you’re going to do with the results. I’m sure we’d all like to have a better sense of the true infection rates, but what then will be done with the results? Will this trigger extensive "contact tracing?" Will it be a precondition for returning to work or moving into an apartment? Will housing developments be partitioned into "tested positive" and "tested negative" sections? In some societies these would not be considered unusual steps, but I doubt whether that could happen in Cambridge. Maybe we’ll just make better graphs.
Order #8. That the City Manager work with the IT Department to design a system for video conferencing and public comment during the City Council and other official meetings that allows the administrator of the meeting to prevent, eject, and recover from any bad actors attempting to disrupt the meeting. Councillor Zondervan
We love our technology, but we never seem to establish safeguards and protocols until we’re busy reacting to abuses. I personally wish there was a mechanism for tracking down and prosecuting these "bad actors" even if that meant compromising their precious anonymity. I wonder if this sort of thing came up in the "surveillance ordinance" discussion last year when they were worrying about laryngoscopes.
Order #9. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to review the order and align it with guidelines promulgated by the CDC, WHO, Dr. Fauci, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to make clear face coverings are required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
The difficulty is that the phrase "required in public settings only when physical distancing is not possible" will be often be a matter of opinion, and I think we all know what the opinion of that unmasked person running or riding past you will likely be – regardless of race, age, or gender. – Robert Winters
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