Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

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

  2. Vote when your ballot arrives.
  3. 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.

The PACs are choosing up sides

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , — Robert Winters @ 7:19 pm

The PACs are choosing up sides

Sept 29 – Cambridge has a growing presence of Political Action Committees each trying to influence how you vote. What each of them stands for is a bit muddy in spite of their various pronouncements and what will surely soon be slick mailings to Cambridge voters. At least two of these entities have migrated to the “Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee” mode in order to be able to accept (and spend) more money under the debatable theory that they are operating independently of any of the campaigns of specific candidates.Vote!

Interestingly, all but one have so far ignored the School Committee unlike in years past when an actual civic organization like the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) put at least as much effort into its School Committee endorsements as it did into its City Council endorsements.

Anyway, the current scorecard is below. Note the crossover of candidates who appear on multiple slates and, perhaps just as significantly, the exclusion of some candidates from particular slates that actually align with in terms of policy positions. Make no mistake about it – the primary role of most candidate slates is incumbency protection and the last thing a PAC want is to have one of their challengers bump off one of their incumbents. The remaining candidates are a mix of candidates who might add to the PAC’s elected ranks as well as some “feeders” whose role is to draw in votes to the slate that will be transferred to other slate candidates upon defeat. Needless to say, nobody will ever openly tell a candidate that they are primarily a “feeder”. RW

PAC A Better Cambridge
(ABC)		 Cambridge Citizens
Coalition (CCC)		 Cambridge Residents
Alliance (CResA)		 Our Revolution
Cambridge (ORC)
Endorsed
Candidates		 Burhan Azeem
Tonia Hicks
Alanna Mallon
Marc McGovern
Joe McGuirk
Sumbul Siddiqui
Denise Simmons
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Paul Toner		 Dana Bullister
Dennis Carlone
Patricia Nolan
Nicola Williams		 Dennis Carlone
Tonia Hicks
Patricia Nolan
Theodora Skeadas
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Nicola Williams
Quinton Zondervan		 Dennis Carlone
Tonia Hicks
Theodora Skeadas
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Nicola Williams
Quinton Zondervan
 
School Committee:
Daria Johnson
José Luis Rojas Villarreal
David Weinstein
Rachel Weinstein
Ayesha Wilson

2021 Proposed Cambridge Reprecincting Plan

Filed under: Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 7:14 pm

2021 PROPOSED REPRECINCTING PLAN
Request for Public Feedback

City SealSept 30, 2021 – The Election Commission is seeking feedback from the public regarding its proposed reprecincting plan. Members of the public are invited to join the Board of Election Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 5:30pm via Zoom. The Current Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2010 census), Proposed Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2020 census), Proposed Map with Current Precinct Boundary Overlay, and the 2020 Population by Census Block Map can be viewed at https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/ElectionCommission/Reprecincting

Current Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2010 census)

Proposed Ward and Precinct Map (based on 2020 census)

Proposed Map with Current Precinct Boundary Overlay

2020 Population by Census Block Map

Written comments, questions, or suggestions can be sent by email to elections@cambridgema.gov or by mail to 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. Written comments should be submitted by Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 5:00pm to be considered at the 5:30pm meeting.

2021 Cambridge Reprecincting Proposal

The population of Cambridge increased from 105,162 in 2010 to 118,403 in the 2020 US Census, however, the changes were not evenly distributed throughout the city. Some precincts increased dramatically in population, while others stayed the same or decreased. With 33 precincts, each precinct must have a population within 5% of 3,588. Any change that is made in one precinct has a cascading effect on the entire map as other precincts will need to be adjusted to keep the population of every precinct within that range.

The Board of Election Commissioners took a number of factors into consideration in creating this proposal, such as minimizing the number of voters who need to cross major thoroughfares in order to vote and keeping most voters in the same precincts whenever possible. It should be noted that reprecincting changes will not take effect until the 2022 elections. Some of the current polling locations may be changed in 2022 in order to better accommodate voters under the new map.

What is Reprecincting?

Every ten years after the Federal Census is complete, new ward and precinct boundary lines are drawn to reflect changes in the City’s population and to anticipate the needs of the City’s election system for the next decade.

Voting precincts established by a city or town must meet the following requirements:

  • Each new precinct must be “composed of compact and contiguous territory” without protruding fingers or long tails to the extent possible.
  • Precincts must be bounded by the center-line of streets or other well defined boundaries such as streams or other bodies of water, railroad tracks, power lines or other clearly visible geographic figures.
  • No precinct may contain more than 4,000 residents.
  • Every precinct’s population must be within five percent (5%) of the average precinct population for that ward or town.
  • Ward populations must be within five percent (5%) of the average ward population for the city.
  • Redrawn ward and precinct boundaries must not result in the dilution of minority group members’ votes.

September 28, 2021

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the votingest of them all?

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 6:50 pm

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the votingest of them all?Vote!

Sept 28 – Political campaign organizations love to do “opposition research” on other candidates. One of the things they often inquire about is voting history. Fortunately, I have all that data on hand, so allow me to save you the trouble. Bear in mind that younger candidates, recently naturalized citizens, and candidates who only recently moved to Cambridge (or moved back to Cambridge) are at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of the totals. Though I have all the voter histories for 45 city-wide elections going back to 1997, here are the voting records for just the November elections (24 of them). [Note: It’s possible that some records were corrected in the intervening years, but the table below comes from the original voter history files with some updates I made over the years as better information became available.] – Robert Winters

Candidate reg_date n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 Total
Fantini, Alfred B. 7/9/1982 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 24
Nolan, Patricia M. 10/5/1992 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 24
Simmons, E. Denise 6/1/1987 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 24
Toner, Paul F. 8/18/1984 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 24
Carlone, Dennis J. 10/4/1980 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n06 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 22
McGovern, Marc C. 9/30/1994 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 22
Moree, Gregg J.  4/18/1984 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n20 21
Weinstein, David J. 8/28/2002 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 19
Zondervan, Quinton Y. 6/4/2004 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 17
Mallon, Alanna M. 9/27/2004 n04 n06 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 15
Williams, Nicola A. 8/30/2006 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 15
Hunter, Caroline M. 7/19/2021 n97 n98 n99 n00 n01 n02 n03 n04 n05 n06 n07 n08 n09 n10 14
Johnson, Daria A. 6/24/1996 n00 n03 n04 n07 n08 n12 n13 n14 n16 n18 n19 n20 12
Weinstein, Rachel B. 7/28/2009 n09 n10 n11 n12 n13 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 12
Lim, Christopher 7/18/2006 n06 n08 n10 n12 n14 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 10
McGuirk, Joe 3/5/2010 n10 n12 n13 n14 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 9
Siddiqui, Sumbul 6/6/2006 n14 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 7
Levy, Ilan 7/13/2015 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 6
Pierre, Frantz 6/21/2003 n05 n08 n10 n11 n12 n15 6
Rojas Villarreal, José Luis 9/19/2015 n15 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 6
Bullister, Dana 6/4/2016 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 5
Skeadas, Theodora Theo 6/10/2016 n16 n17 n18 n19 n20 5
Azeem, Burhan 10/14/2015 n16 n17 n19 n20 4
Bhambi, Akriti 8/6/2018 n18 n19 n20 3
Hicks, Tonia D. 8/15/2018 n18 n19 n20 3
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan 3/28/2018 n18 n19 n20 3
Wilson, Ayesha 11/14/2017 n18 n19 n20 3
Eckstut, Robert 8/8/2019 n19 n20 2

September 27, 2021

A Long Look at a Short Meeting – Sept 27, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:35 am

A Long Look at a Short Meeting – Sept 27, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

It’s a relatively compact agenda this week. Here are some of the seemingly more significant items on the agenda:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Unfinished Business #5. That the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended to allow the service of postoperative care for a dog (Ordinance #2021-16). [Referred to Committee In Council June 28, 2021; Passed to a Second Reading In Council Sept 13, 2021; To Be Ordained on or after Sept 27, 2021]
Ordained 9-0

Resolution #2. Thanks to Michael Monestime for his five years of work as Executive Director of the Central Square Business Association and best wishes in his future endeavors.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Resolution Adopted 9-0

Those of us who have been actively involved for a long time in trying to restore Central Square to its full potential will testify as to just how long people talked without success about establishing a Business Improvement District (hint – it was more than a quarter-century). Getting that level of agreement among many property owners was, as the saying goes, like herding cats. It was only when two main stars came into alignment that the impossible became possible – the energetic, take-no-prisoners efforts of Patrick Barrett, and the charismatic, hard-working, and relentlessly optimistic presence of Michael Monestime.

From there the approval of the BID seemed almost easy because of the level of well-founded faith that everyone had in these two individuals to make things happen and to make things happen right. They chose great people for their staff and as their ambassadors on the street, and they managed to strike the right balance with City management and the City departments in terms of responsibility and initiative while being respectful of the surrounding neighborhoods. The pandemic was the ultimate test of not only how well the City could work with the BID, but also how well the BID could work with the local business community to find ways to survive the storm. Starlight Square is just one shining example, but there was much more and there will be much more.

Not every business weathered the storm, but the Central Square business district in now well-positioned to emerge in good shape. Michael Monestime was a big part of how we got through this and why there is continued cause for optimism. Michael has the Midas touch, so look for great things in all that he does from here.

Order #1. Resolution Condemning the Treatment of Haitian Immigrants in Texas.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #3. Affirming Reproductive Freedom.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toomey – Present)

Order #5. End Title 42 Deportations.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

I’m not sure that all national and foreign policy will yield to the exhortations of the Cambridge City Council, but knock yourselves out.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to reach out to the owner of 689 Massachusetts Avenue to inquire about the prospect of selling this building to the City of Cambridge, and to report back to the City Council on this matter in a timely manner.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

While I suppose the City could grab this building at significant cost to house the City Council aides or for some other purpose, this really is in the core of the Central Square business district and I would hate to see it turned over to institutional use. That said, Councillor Simmons has long advocated for some sort of Cambridge-specific museum to showcase our long history. I don’t know if this would be a good museum location or if that might be a part of the future uses at this site, but I still would like to see more active ground-level activity throughout Central Square.

Celebrating OlmstedOrder #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the staff at the Cambridge Historical Commission, the DCR Commissioner, and members of Cambridge’s state delegation to approve, fund and execute the design and installation of a suitable historic marker by April 2022 to recognize the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted and others in transforming the Cambridge riverfront landscape, and report back on their progress before the end of the current Council term.   Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

This is a great idea. Though some people would be more than happy to tear down much of Cambridge as they worship at the altar of higher density, it’s nice to see that other people still want to celebrate some of the good planning and vision of those who came before us. The riverfront is just one example. There are also a lot of great neighborhoods that are spectacular just as they are.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met to conduct a public hearing on Apr 8, 2021 to discuss the Cambridge Missing Middle Housing Zoning Petition (Ordinance #2021-2).
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Speaking of worshiping at the altar of higher density, this cobweb-covered committee report is on a densification proposal that expired in July but which will likely rise from the dead when it’s more politically expedient to ram through an even worse iteration. It continues to amaze me how some people see significantly higher density as an end in itself without regard to a wide range of other considerations. Let’s try this one more time – Cambridge is already among the most densely developed and densely developed cities in both Massachusetts and the entire United States.

By the way, the committee report indicates that this meeting that is only now being reported 6 months after the fact was not actually adjourned, but recessed. That means that if they should ever decide to reopen the meeting they can just blow off any additional public testimony. That would likely suit some of the councillors just fine – because they’re not actually listening to anyone except the choir. – Robert Winters

September 21, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 517-518: September 21, 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,covid,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:53 pm

Episode 517 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 21, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Sept 21, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Covid updates; municipal elections; candidate forums; political endorsements; “pledging” to not consider other opinions; slates as incumbency protection; dictating “the issues”. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 518 – Cambridge InsideOut: Sept 21, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Sept 21, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Boston and Somerville preliminary elections; lefties vs. townies; Cambridge ballot questions and consequences; in search of the city manager search; major appointments and exits; the inescapable problem of Central Square drug abuse. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 19, 2021

Featured Items on the September 20, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:42 pm

Featured Items on the September 20, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here are my choices for the notable stuff:Peoples Republic of Cambridge

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the recommendations of the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC) for FY2022.
19 Orders Adopted; Reconsideration Fails 0-9

80%-10%-10%. Never changes.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for approval to submit an amendment to the proposed Home Rule Petition for a special law regarding a fire cadet program for the City of Cambridge Fire Department.
Order Adopted 9-0; Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Just a technical revision for clarity.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department, the City Solicitor, and other appropriate City staff to compile a report detailing the efforts the City has made toward creating LGBTQ+-Friendly Housing over the past decade, to state what impediments had been identified in realizing this effort, and to outline recommendations for how the City may successfully create such housing within the next three years.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

I still don’t understand the intent of this, though apparently the legal opinion that this “might violate federal fair-housing laws” has led to a more “affirmative action” alternative rather than the previous segregated housing proposal which seemed fundamentally regressive.

Order #4. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Public Health Department and report back to the City Council on the milestones that will be used to determine when the indoor mask mandate will no longer be needed.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

This Order is primarily a request for public information, i.e. “it would be helpful for the community to know how decisions are made and what specific milestones need to be achieved.” At first glance I thought it was yet another attempt by inexpert councillors to micromanage our public health professionals. I actually would love to know what the milestones will be – and I hope they come real soon.

Order #5. That section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 of the Zoning Ordinance, regarding the linkage fee, be amended by substitution.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern
Referred to Housing Committee, Ordinance Committee, and Planning Board 9-0 as Amended

Our “squeeze ’em ’til it hurts” councillors are proposing to increase in one giant leap the Incentive Zoning Linkage Fee from the current $20.10 per square foot to $33.34 per square foot for new commercial developments of more than 30,000 square feet of gross floor area. That’s a 66% increase. The fee sat at $4.58 per square foot of new commercial development from 1988 to 2015 when it was increased to $12 per square foot plus periodic annual and CPI adjustments that brought it to the current $20.10 per square foot in 2020.

Order #6. Council Support of H.926, The Massachusetts Schoolchildren Pesticide Protection Act.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

This is absolutely a good idea, but it’s always worth remembering that prior to the (hopefully thoughtful and cautious) use of pesticides and other means to combat food-borne pathogens, sickness and death as well as some cancers (notably stomach cancer) were very common. The Modern World giveth and taketh away.

Order #7. That the City Council urges the US Congress to fulfill its obligation to prevent nuclear war, as outlined in the Back from the Brink campaign.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0 as Amended

So good to see the Cambridge City Council engaging again in what it does best – national and foreign policy.

Order #9. That the City Council schedule a hearing of the Ordinance Committee for the purposes of amending the Ordinance of the City of Cambridge regarding MUNICIPAL BUILDING PERMITS and WAGE THEFT.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Among other things, it’s interesting that in this proposal the City Council is already presuming to have veto power over City Manager appointments. Also, the proposed “Wage Theft Enforcement Committee” would require that “No less than half the committee members shall be Cambridge residents, and no less than half shall be union/labor representatives.” In other words, existing labor unions would control all proposed enforcement.

I will note that even in the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance there is no mention of any union requirements. Indeed, a search for the word “union” in the Zoning Ordinance returns no results.

Committee Report #1. The Transportation and Public Utilities Committee met on July 14, 2021 to discuss car storage policies in Cambridge.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

The Cambridge City Council’s never-ending war on motor vehicles continues. Councillor Zondervan stated that “car storage is one of the worst land uses cities employ and hopes to achieve zero car storage and usage through policy regime.” Councillor Zondervan has a parking space on his property.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting memorandums from City Solicitor, Nancy E. Glowa regarding Minor Correction to Ballot Question No. 3 Which Is to be Placed on the Nov 2, 2021 Ballot Pursuant to Calendar Item No. 3 of 6/28/21. [Note: Date of Election Day corrected – RW]
Amended text Approved 9-0; Report Placed on File 9-0

There is much that can be said on this topic and I will continue to do so in the days to come. The most significant change is the proposal to effectively give a bare majority of the City Council the right to control 100% of the membership of all City boards and commissions. So much for representation of minority viewpoints or, for that matter, expertise from anyone other than those favored by 5 councillors.

As further evidence of the shoddy work of the proponents of these ballot questions, the proposal that would require annual performance reviews of the city manager (which, by the way, they already have the power to do) would amend section 116 of the Plan E Charter that has to do with “General election laws; applicability” even though this proposed change has zero to do with elections. It seems pretty obvious that this should more properly amend section 103 that concerns “City manager; appointment; qualifications; compensation; removal.” Reading is apparently a lost art.

Personally, I feel that the primary intention of these “reforms” is simply to transfer some measure of executive power away from the city manager to the legislature (City Council) – which is supposed to be a policy-making body. The other two ballot questions are superfluous. It’s also worth noting that there was essentially zero public process leading up to the Council’s decision to place these particular questions on this November’s municipal ballot. There are potentially some good amendments to the Charter that could have been considered (for example, modifying the PR elections to eliminate ballot order dependence), but those were never discussed. – Robert Winters

September 13, 2021

See You in September…When the Summer’s Through – September 13, 2021 City Council Agenda

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:50 pm

See You in September…When the Summer’s Through – September 13, 2021 City Council Agenda

After every long break from City Council meetings I generally read through the upcoming agenda with a sense of dread – expecting that the competition to be more outrageous than the other councillors will finally go right off the cliff. There’s some of that in this week’s agenda and as we head toward Early Voting and the Nov 2 municipal election I’m sure there will be even more attention-seeking rubbish. Here’s a sample of agenda items ranging from routine to ridiculous.City Hall

The Pandemic and Related Matters

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to authorization to grant street obstruction approvals.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Cambridge Community Development Department, Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, Department of Public Works, local non-profit organizations, Cambridge businesses dedicated to locally sourced produce, farmers, and resident gardeners to study the feasibility of spending Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to address food insecurity by installing raised garden beds throughout Cambridge and providing free, fresh, locally-grown food for residents in need.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
Adopted 9-0

Elections and Charter Deform

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Board of Election Commissioners for the City Council to vote to authorize in-person early voting for the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election, in accordance with Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended by Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2021 and Chapter 29 of the Acts of 2021.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

RECOMMENDED 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 CLOSED 11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 10am -5pm

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request from the Board of Election Commissioners recommending the relocation of polling sites for the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

The polling place relocations affect Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 9-2, 9-3, and 11-3.

Order #12. In response to the Election Commission request for a summary argument in support of proposed charter amendments, that the City Council authorize Mayor Siddiqui and Councillor Nolan to submit language to the Election Commission before the deadline on Sept 20, 2021.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting communications from Tanya Ford, Executive Director of the Cambridge Election Commission regarding support and in opposition of the proposed charter amendments to be included in a mailing to voters prior to the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Toomey – PRESENT)

Two of the ballots questions aren’t necessary because the City Council always had the authority to demand an annual review of the City Manager or a periodic charter review. The other question promises to turn all City boards and commissions into political bodies rather than nonpartisan citizen bodies. Imagine if you will (spoken in Rod Serling tones) a city in which favoring historic preservation at a site of a proposed high density development will disqualify you from serving on the Historic Commission.

Parks and Trees, Birds and Bees

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-56, regarding improvements to Jerry’s Pond and along Rindge Avenue.
Tabled 9-0 – Siddiqui

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments on how the City can change practices such that all projects will treat trees as essential infrastructure. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Order Adopted 7-1-1 (Toomey – NO; Simmons – ABSENT)

Order #14. That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant City departments, the contractor, and the community to take another look at ways in which Sennott Park construction could be contained or compartmentalized in such a way that would allow for various sections or elements of the park to remain safely accessible during the construction period while they are not actively being worked on.   Councillor Zondervan
Order Fails of Adopted 4-5 (DC,PN,JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,DS,TT,SS – NO)

Many Appointments

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as new Associate Members of the Planning Board for a term of five-years, effective Sept 1, 2021: Alan Price and Ashley Tan
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a reappointment and appointment of new members of the Central Square Advisory Committee for a term of three years, effective July 1, 2021 – Reappointments: Esther Hanig, Robert Winters, Michael Monestime, Joel Alstein, Tahir Kapoor; New Appointments: Saffana Anwar and Christopher Fort
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of members to the newly formed BIPOC Business Advisory Committee for a term of one-year, effective Sept 1, 2021.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointments of the following members of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2021:
3-year terms – Yvette Verdieu, James Henderson, Marian Darlington-Hope, Barbara Guthrie, Katherine Kosinski
1-year term: Joshua Posner, Alexander White
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Zoning Petitions for Dogs and People

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendation on Article 22.000 Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report on the Post-Operative Animal Care zoning petition, which recommends the adoption of an alternative zoning amendment to effect the proposed change.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Committee Report #4. The Ordinance Committee met on Sept 1, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the petition to amend the Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new row in section 4.31 “Residential Uses” regarding the service of post-operative care for a dog.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Petition Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 9-0

Applications & Petitions #4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Francis Donovan, regarding Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) zoning petition.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 8-0-1 (McGovern ABSENT)

Cannabis, Race, and Patronage

On the Table #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to determine the feasibility of establishing a pilot reparations program that would take a to-be-determined percentage of revenue from local cannabis sales and distribute these monies to local Black-owned businesses and to economic empowerment applicants. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Zondervan in Council June 21, 2021; Placed on the Table in Council June 28, 2021]
Adopted as Amended 9-0

On the Table #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish a restitution program that would take a to-be-determined percentage of revenue from local cannabis sales and distribute these monies to current and former Cambridge residents who have been harmed by the war on drugs, with a targeted launch date of July 2022. [Placed on the Table in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Adopted 9-0

Order #11. That the City Manager is requested to work with all relevant City departments, the City Council, the Black community, and the general public in Cambridge to implement the attached proposal to establish a Commission of Racial Justice and Equity.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #13. Amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone
Amended (section 5.50.040) 9-0; Amended to declare emergency to ordain w/o 2nd Reading 8-1 (Toomey – NO);
Ordained as Amended 8-1 (Toomey – NO); Reconsideration Fails 1-8 (Toomey YES)

Committee Report #3. The Civic Unity Committee me on May 27, 2021 to conduct a public hearing to discuss the recently released ‘Social Equity Legislation in Cannabis: A National Study of State and Local Approaches’ by the Initiative organization.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting an explanation of the proposed amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance.
Placed on File 9-0

Pardon my cynicism, but all of this amounts to little more than cash rewards for connected people, and I doubt I’ll ever warm up to the idea that only people who meet specific racial identity criteria may serve on a particular board or commission. Another really sweet feature in Order #11 is the demand that all commission members receive $100/hour compensation for meeting attandance and that any work done in addition to meeting attendance shall be compensated through a contract with the city. Requests for political patronage rarely are as transparent as this little gem.

Streets & Cars

On the Table #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-41, regarding a report on closing Mass Ave from Prospect Street to Sidney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor McGovern in Council June 28, 2021; Placed on the Table in Council Aug 2, 2021]

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the City Solicitor to review the City’s residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to speak to the above-referenced concerns and to develop recommendations that speak to these modifications. [An individual obtained residential parking permits for perhaps ten vehicles, all of which are parked on the residential streets near this individual’s home and all of which are primarily utilized not for this individual’s personal use, but instead for the purpose of being rented out (in a concept similar to the peer-to-peer car share model) as a business enterprise.]   Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department regarding the feasibility of installing speed bumps on Inman Street.   Councillor McGovern
Adopted 9-0

Miscellany – Weapons, Refugees, Security Deposits

Unfinished Business #6. Order to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge to insert new section Restricting the Use of Chemical Crowd Control Agents and Kinetic Impact Projectiles. [Passed to a Second Reading in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Ordained 9-0

Order #8. That the City Council go on record as being willing to work with the Governor’s Office and any nonprofits in helping to settle Afghan refugees in Cambridge should it be needed.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Adopted 9-0

Order #15. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Law Department to review the proposed ordinance regarding Renter Choice (Ordinance #2021-18) and provide feedback on implementation.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Comings and Goings

Resolution #11. Congratulations to Christine Elow on being named Acting Commissioner for the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting a memorandum regarding the current three-year term as City Clerk expiring on May 31, 2022.
Placed on File 8-1 (Carlone – NO)

Powered by WordPress