Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

Murder Hornets, Plague, Charles River Turns to Blood, and the ordinary business of the May 4, 2020 City Council meeting

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