Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

Et tu, Brute? Beware The Ides of March – March 15, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are a few items of interest:

Reconsideration #1. Task Force Transparency.
RECONSIDERATION FILED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN ON MAR 9, 2021
Reconsideration Fails 4-5 (DC,PN,JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,DS,TT,SS – NO)

Last week’s amended resolution seemed like a proper response to the original policy order, so my impression of this call for reconsideration is that either (a) Councillor Zondervan wants to continue milking this issue for all it’s worth, or (b) he’s sulking because six of his colleagues shot down his proposal to have his committee co-host any future public meetings of the Task Force. I expect this move for reconsideration will fail by the same 3-6 vote.

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

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the City Manager’s COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Purchasing Department to provide a report detailing the City’s annual stationary expenditures, what percentage of that budget is spent at local retailers, and whether this percentage can be increased during the Covid-19 crisis.   Councillor Simmons
Adopted as Amended 9-0

The City’s creativity in partnering with local restaurants to support Covid-related emergency food programs was fabulous, but there comes a point where this crosses the line into well-intentioned political patronage. There’s also the matter of M.G.L. Chapter 30B which governs municipal procurement. [Chapter 30B Remains in Effect During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency] In the meantime, if you need any stationery supplies, consider buying them at a place like University Stationery or Bob Slate. Chapter 30B doesn’t apply to you!

Resolution #6 (was Order #7). Thank You to My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge.   Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to re-implement capacity restrictions on indoor dining to ensure the safety of restaurant workers, diners, and Cambridge residents until widespread vaccination of the general public is achieved in the coming weeks.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Failed 2-6-0-1 (JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,PN,DS,SS,TT – NO; DC – PRESENT)

I seriously hope this City Council Order goes nowhere fast. The distancing requirements are still in effect and that’s really the limiting factor on capacity in places like restaurants and other indoor spaces. The sponsors of this Order don’t seem to understand the concepts of managing risk and navigating your way safely from bad to better. The fact that they continue to cite Somerville as the wellspring of greater wisdom only makes me question more the role of city council aides, including the current Somerville City Council president. In the meantime, City Manager Louis DePasquale has repeatedly stated that Cambridge restrictions are subject to change as the need arises.

Unfinished Business #8. A Zoning Petition has been received from Arvind Srinivasan regarding zoning language relative to the Alewife Quadrangle Northwest overlay. [Passed to a 2nd Reading Mar 1, 2021; to be ordained on or after Mar 15, 2021. The deadline for ordination is Mar 16, 2021.]
Ordination Fails 1-7-0-1 (DS – YES; AM,MM,PN,JSW,TT,QZ,SS – NO; DC – PRESENT)
City Solicitor Glowa noted that because the Planning Board gave a positive recommendation this petition (or a similar one) may be re-filed at any time. (Otherwise there would have been a 2-year period during which re-filing would be prohibited.) The petitioner has so far indicated no intention to re-file and could develop their properties as-of-right under existing zoning. It was also revealed by the Solicitor that under the recent "Housing Choice" legislation this petition would have required only a simple majority (5 votes) for ordination due to the housing component that was part of the petition.

The odds seem to favor this petition expiring even if this means the owner/developer going forward with plans as-of right that provide little or no additional benefits (such as a bridge over the RR tracks). Then again, perhaps a rabbit will be pulled out of a hat Monday night that results in the necessary six votes for ordination. I’ll say flat out that I hate the very idea of "contract zoning", i.e. Let’s Make A Deal, but I would really like to see something better made of this corner of Cambridge with connections between the Quadrangle and the Triangle and also across the Little River (thought that’s more of a DCR matter).

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Public Works, the Economic Development Division of the Community Development Department, the Budget Department, Cambridge Table to Farm, the local Business Associations, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and other relevant groups to explore the feasibility of creating a Commercial Composting Pilot Program to serve at least 100 small businesses with fewer than fifty employees.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Nolan
Adopted 9-0

As a long-time promoter of composting I was glad to see this Order. However, as the Order states: "As this program will likely have budget implications similar to the 2018 Small Business Recycling Pilot, this possibility should be examined before the next fiscal year begins." Ideally, recycling and composting should yield financial benefits in addition to environmental benefits, but this is not always the case and any potential costs have to be taken into account.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Historical Commission to initiate a process to begin chronicling the rich and vibrant history of people of color in Cambridge, similar to other City-commissioned books such as “We Are the Port: Stories of Place, Perseverance, and Pride in the Port/Area 4 Cambridge, Massachusetts 1845-2005” and “All in the Same Boat” and “Crossroads: Stories of Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1912-2000”.   Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

This would be a good project – hopefully as part of a continuing series of less-recorded histories of the people and families who have lived in Cambridge over its nearly 300 years from village to town to city.

Order #4. Student Loan Crisis.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

I have long viewed cancellation of student debt as just a form of political patronage. There may be some room for forgiveness of some of this debt, but restructuring the debt at low interest rates has always seemed like the most fair way to address this. By the way, I do believe there should always be free or low-cost university options – just like I had when I went to college.

Order #5. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to open Riverbend Park before the end of March and on other days in addition to Sundays, and explore the feasibility of extending Riverbend Park to the BU Bridge and beyond.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

Here we go again. I expect we’ll again see Saturday and Sunday closures from April through November from Western Avenue to the Eliot Bridge, but any extension is unlikely for the same reasons DCR has provided in the past. Meanwhile, there are long-term plans to redesign of the Memorial Drive Greenway between the BU Bridge and the Eliot Bridge that hopefully will get back on track as the public health emergency wanes.

Resolution #5 (was Order #6). Ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

File this under "Qaddafi and other foreign relations initiatives".

Order #8. 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.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Apparently much of last week’s related discussion went in one ear and out the other. Maybe even in five ears and out the other five.

And let’s not forget this:
Tues, Mar 16
3:00pm   The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee will meet to discuss the initial steps that must be undertaken to establish the search process for the next City Manager.   (Sullivan Chamber)

And so it begins. Pardon my cynicism but I would rather put my faith in random selection of a city manager than entrust the task to the current crop of city councillors. Unfortunately, it’s their call under the Charter. Come to think of it, perhaps we should advocate for a Charter change to have the Cambridge City Council chosen by lottery from the registered voter list. – Robert Winters