Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

November 25, 2022

HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE – Rev. Lucius Paige, 1877 – INDIAN HISTORY

Filed under: Cambridge,history — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:45 pm

HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE
Rev. Lucius Paige, 1877

CHAPTER XX.

INDIAN HISTORY.

IN describing the original settlement of Cambridge by the English, the author of “Wonder-working Providence” calls attention to their preservation when “they were in such great straites for foode”; and what “was more remarkable, when they had scarce houses to shelter themselves, and no doores to hinder the Indians accesse to all they had in them, yet did the Lord so awe their hearts, that although they frequented the Englishmens places of aboade, where their whole substance, weake wives, and little ones, lay open to their plunder during their absence, being whole dayes at Sabbath-assemblies, yet had they none of their food or stuffe diminished, neither children nor wives hurt in the least measure, although the Indians came commonly to them at those times, much hungry belly (as they use to say) and were then in number and strength beyond the English by far.” 1 There may have been some Indians in the easterly part of the town, as in old records that section is sometimes styled “Wigwam Neck”; but the far greater number probably dwelt near Menotomy River and Mystic Pond. They were subject to the “Squaw-sachem,” formerly wife of Nanepashemet, who is mentioned in “Mourt’s Relation.” A party from Plymouth visited the Indians at “the bottom of the Massachusetts Bay,” whose sachem, Obbatinewat, a subject of Massasoit, “used us very kindly; he told us he durst not then remain in any settled place, for fear of the Tarentines. Also the squaw-sachim, or Massachusetts queen was an enemy to him.” 2 On promise of protection, however, he “went along with us, to bring us to the squaw-sachim.” Crossing the bay to its northerly side, “we went ashore, all but two men, and marched in arms up in the country. Having gone three miles, me came to a place where corn had been newly gathered, a house pulled down, and the people gone. A mile from hence, Nanepashemet their king in his life-time had lived. His house was not like others, but a scaffold was largely built, with poles and planks some six foot from ground, and the house upon that, being situated on the top of a hill. Not far from hence in a bottom, we came to a fort built by their deceased king, the manner thus: there were poles, some thirty or forty foot long, stuck in the ground as thick as they could be set one by another, and with these they enclosed a ring some forty or fifty foot over. A trench breast high was digged on each side; one way there was to go into it with a bridge; in the midst of this palisado stood the frame of a house, wherein being dead he lay buried. About a mile from hence, we came to such another, but seated on the top of an hill; here Nanepashemet was killed, none dwelling in it since the time of his death.” 3 After his decease, his widow administered the government of the tribe as squaw-sachem, and married Webcowits, her principal powwow, conjurer, or medicine man. By this marriage, however, he did not become a sachem, or king, but merely a prince-consort.

In the “First General Letter of the Governor and Deputy of the New England Company for a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council for London’s Plantation in the Massachusetts Bay in New England,” dated “In Gravesend the 17th of April, 1629,” is this important direction, – “If any of the salvages pretend right of inheritance to all or any part of the lands granted in our pattent, wee pray you endeavour to purchase their tytle, that wee may avoyde the least scruple of intrusion.” 4 Accordingly, at the session of the General Court, March 13, 1638-9, “Mr. Gibons was desired to agree with the Indians for the land within the bounds of Watertowne, Cambridge, and Boston.” 5 The deed of conveyance, or release of title, I have not been able to find; yet there is sufficient evidence that the purchase was made of the squaw-sachem, and that the price was duly paid. The General Court ordered, May 20, 1610, that the 18l. 8s. 6d layd out by Capt. Gibons shall bee paid him, vid.: 13l. 8s. 6d. by Watertowne and 10l. by Cambridge; and also Cambridge is to give Squa-Sachem a coate every winter while shee liveth.” 6 This sale or conveyance to Cambridge is recognized in a deed executed Jan. 13, 1639, by the “Squa-Sachem of Misticke” and her husband Webcowits, whereby they conveyed to Jotham Gibbons “the reversion of all that parcel of land which lies against the ponds at Mistick aforesaid, together with the said ponds, all which we reserved from Charlestown and Cambridge, late called Newtowne, and all hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, after the death of me the said Squa-Sachem.” 7 The inhabitants of Cambridge lived on friendly terms with the Indians; at least, no evidence appears to the contrary. They paid their allotted dues to the Squa-Sachem, and made full compensation for all losses which she sustained through their default. The Town Records show that, on the 10th of April, 1643, “agreed with the Indians, by the present townsmen, to pay to Squa-Sachem 8 bushels of Indian corn, after next harvest. It is agreed likewise, that George Cooke being at the charge to make a fence of two sufficient rails in the town line, about half a mile in length, the fence to begin at the outside of George Cooke’s land, running out northward to meet Captain Gibbines his fence., to secure the Indian’s corn, it is agreed that the town will pay for the making the fence.” Again, Nov. 11, 1643, Agreed, that the cow-keepers shall pay six bushels of corn to squa-sachem, for the damage done to her corn, upon the Sabbath day, through the neglect of the keepers, in the year 1642.”

On the 8th of March, 1643-4, the “Squa-Sachim” with four other Indian rulers, voluntarily put herself “under the government and jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, to be governed and protected by them,” and promised “to be true and faithful to the said government.” 8 She is supposed to have died not long before 1662, when a claim was made for land in which she had reserved a life estate. 9

One of the Indian Chiefs, who united with the Squaw-sachem in this act of submission to the government and jurisdiction of the Massachusetts,” was Cutshamache, Cutshamakin, or Kuchamakin, who resided “at a place called Neponsitt, within the bounds of Dorchester.” 10 His authority extended over those who dwelt at Nonantum, which was then included in Cambridge. With these Indian neighbors the English maintained peace. In one respect their relations were peculiarly interesting. When Rev. John Eliot commenced the public labors of his mission, “the first place he began to preach at was Nonantum, near Watertown Mill, upon the south side of Charles River, about four or five miles from his own house, where lived at that time Waban, one of their principal men, and some Indians with him.” 11 Eliot had previously devoted much time to the task of acquiring a competent knowledge of the Indian language, and had imparted religious instruction to individuals, as he had opportunity. At length he commenced his public ministry to the heathen, as thus related by himself: “Upon October 28, 1646, four of us (having sought God) went unto the Indians inhabiting within our bounds, with a desire to make known the things of their peace to them. A little before we came to their Wigwams, five or six of the chief of them met us with English salutations, bidding us much welcome; who leading us into the principal wigwam of Waaubon, we found many more Indians, men, women, children, gathered together from all quarters round about, according to appointment, to meet with us, and learn of us. Waaubon, the chief minister of justice among them, exhorting and inviting them before thereunto, being one who gives more grounded hopes of serious respect to the things of God than ally that as yet I have known of that forlorn generation,” etc. 12 My prescribed limits will not admit a particular account of this primitive Christian mission to the Indians. Briefly, they were visited in a similar manner, November 11 and 26, and December 9, in the same year. At these several meetings, by prayers, and sermons, and familiar questions and answers, an earnest effort was made to impart to them a knowledge of the Gospel. A particular description of the means used, and of the encouraging results, is given by Eliot in a tract entitled, “The Day-breaking if not the Sun-rising of the Gospel with the Indians in New England,” printed at London, 1647, and reprinted in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, xxiv. 1-23. In this missionary work, Mr. Eliot was assisted by Rev. Thomas Shepard of Cambridge and others. In a tract entitled “The Clear Sunshine of the Gospel breaking forth upon the Indians in New England,” printed at London, 1648, Mr. Shepard says, “As soone as ever the fiercenesse of the winter was past, March 3, 1647, I went out to Noonanetum to the Indian Lecture, where Mr. Wilson, Mr. Allen of Dedham, Mr. Dunster, beside many other Christians were present.” 13 At a later day, Mr. Eliot was assisted by his son John (H. C. 1656), by Daniel Gookin, son of General Gookin (H. C. 1669), and by others. For several years, the mission was successful beyond all reasonable expectation. The Indians at Nonantum soon became so far civilized as well as Christianized, that they desired to live in a more orderly way. Accordingly a tract of land, called by the natives Natick, or a Place of Hills, was assigned by the General Court, for their exclusive use. “In the year 1651, the town of Natick was settled. It consisted of three long streets, two on the north and one on the south side of the river, with a bridge eighty feet-long, and eight feet high, and stone foundations, the whole being built by the Indians themselves. To each house situated on these streets was attached a piece of land. The houses were in the Indian style. One house, larger and more commodious than the rest, was built in the English style. One apartment of it was used as a school-room on week-days, and as a place of worship on the Sabbath. The upper room was a kind of wardrobe, where the Indians hung up their skins and other valuables. In the corner of this room was partitioned off an apartment for Mr. Eliot. This building was the first meeting house in Natick.” 14 “In this town was the first church of Indians embodied, in the year of our Lord, 1660.” 15

The Christian mission was not confined to the dwellers at Nonantum. Mr. Eliot, and others whom God raised up, both English and Indians, preached the word with success to other tribes. In addition to his other labors, Mr. Eliot translated the whole Bible into the English tongue, which was printed at Cambridge, the New Testament in 1661, and the Old Testament in 1663. He also prepared an Indian Grammar, and translated into the Indian tongue several tracts written by himself and others,16 all which were also printed in Cambridge. It was very properly said by the Rev. Mr. McKenzie, “Let it be remembered to the honor of our fathers, that the first Protestant mission to the heathen in modern times began in Cambridge; the first Protestant sermon in a heathen tongue was preached here; the first translation of the Bible by an Englishman into a heathen tongue was printed here; the first Protestant tract in a heathen language was written and printed here.” 17 The result of all these labors up to the year 1674 was described by Gookin, in his “Historical Collections of the Indians in New England,” printed in the first volume of Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Besides Natick, the most important of all, there were six communities in Massachusetts, exclusive of Plymouth, which had long been denominated “praying towns;” namely, Pakemitt, or Punkapaog (now Stoughton); Hassanamesitt, or Hassanamisco (Grafton); Okommakamesit (Marlborough); Wamesit, or Pawtuckett (Tewksbury); Nashobah (Littleton); Magunkaquog (Hopkinton). There were also seven “new praying towns,” where the Gospel had been favorably received about three years: Manchage (Oxford); Chabanakongkomun (Dudley); Maanexit (north part of Woodstock, at that time included in Massachusetts); Quantisset (southeast part of Woodstock); Wabquissit (southwest part of Woodstock); Packachoog (south part of Worcester); Waeuntug (Uxbridge). “There are two other Indian towns; viz., Weshakin18 and Quabaug,19 which are coming on to receive the gospel; and reckoning these, there are nine in the Nipmuck country.” 20 In these fourteen established towns, there were two organized churches, and, as Gookin estimated, about eleven hundred “souls yielding obedience to the gospel.”

Meantime an earnest effort was made to impart scientific as well as religious knowledge to the Indians, in which commendable work Mr. Eliot was a prominent actor. His labors and their result are described by Gookin in his “Historical Collections.” Besides preaching and inducing others to preach the Gospel, and translating the Bible and other books into the Indian language, – “he took great care that schools should be planted among the praying Indians; and he taught some himself to read, that they might be capable to teach others; and by his procurement some of the choice Indian youths were put to school with English schoolmasters, to learn both English, Latin, and Greek tongues. There was much cost out of the Corporation stock expended in this work, for fitting and preparing the Indian youth to be learned and able preachers unto their countrymen. Their diet, apparel, books and schooling, was chargeable. In truth the design was prudent, noble, and good; but it proved ineffectual to the ends proposed; for several of the said youth died, after they had been sundry years at learning, and made good proficiency therein. Others were disheartened, and left learning after they were almost ready for the college. And some returned to live among their countrymen, where some of them are improved for schoolmasters and teachers, unto which they are advantaged by their education. Some others of them have entered upon other callings; as one is a mariner; another, a carpenter; another went for England with a gentleman that lived sometimes at Cambridge in New England, named Mr. Drake, which Indian, as I heard, died there not many months after his arrival. I remember but only two of them all that lived in the college at Cambridge; the one named Joel, the other Caleb, both natives of Martha’s Vineyard. These two were hopeful young men, especially Joel, being so ripe in learning, that he should, within a few months, have taken his first degree of bachelor of art in the college. He took a voyage to Martha’s Vineyard, to visit his father and kindred, a little before the commencement, but upon his return back in a vessel, with other passengers and mariners, suffered shipwreck upon the island of Nantucket. . . . . The other, called Caleb, not long after he took his degree of bachelor of art 21 at Cambridge in New England, died of a consumption at Charlestown, where he was placed by Mr. Thomas Danforth, who had inspection over him, under the care of a physician in order to his health, where he wanted not for the best means the country could afford, both of food and physick; but God denied the blessing, and put a period to his days.” 22

The records of the Commissioners of the United Colonies of New England contain accounts of sundry payments for the maintenance and instruction of Indian scholars, some of them very young, from 1656 to 1672. An earlier account is preserved in the “Massachusetts Archives,” xxx. 9, which may serve as a sample: –

“An account of expenses layd out for ye country from August 1645 until this 8th of October 1646.

First, for ye printing of five hundred declarations, 4. 00. 00
Item, for ye diet & washing of ye two Indians since ye 3d of ye 8th mon. hitherto, considering ye attendance of ye yonger beeing a very childe wt yo think meet,   16. 00. 00
Item, for physick for Jonathan in ye time of his sicknes, 00. 04. 06
Item, for physick for James during his sicknes for 5 or 6 weeks, ^ 19. 06
Item, for making ym 12 bands & 8 shirts & often mending their apparel, 00. 03. 08
Item, for buttons thread & other materials bought of Mr. Russel for ym, 00. 02. 06
Item, for half a years schooling for James, 00.06. 00

“I pray yo to appoint mee part of my pay as far as that will reach in the hands of Henrie Shrimpton both because I am ingaged to him and hee hath promissed to accept yt pay, & if yt ye Indians require pay back at his hands I shall bee ready to repay him such as they shal accept. Further, wheras the Indians with mee bee so small as that they [are] uncapable of ye benefit of such learning as was my desire to impart to ym & therfore they being an hindrance to mee and I no furtherance to them, I desire they may bee somwhere else disposed of wth all convenient speed. So I rest in what I can.
    Yrs HENRIE DUNSTER.”

This account was referred to a committee, who reported, –

“Wee thinke meete Mr. Dunster should be paid 22l. 16s. 2d. The magistrates consent to this return of the sd Committee,
    “JO : WINTHROP, Govr.
    “Consented to by ye deputs.     EDWARD RAWSON.”

In this praiseworthy effort to enlighten, and civilize, and Christianize the Indians, Cambridge shares the glory with Roxbury. Not only was the gospel first preached to them here, and many of their youth here educated, but some of the most conspicuous and energetic laborers in this field of duty resided here. Omitting for the present all mention of others, if the labors of John Eliot of Roxbury entitled him to be regarded as an “Apostle,” or as standing in the place of Aaron as a high-priest to them in spiritual things, with equal propriety may Daniel Gookin of Cambridge be regarded as their Moses, – their civil instructor, ruler, judge, and historian. The “praying Indians” are said to have been early persuaded by Mr. Eliot, Aug. 6, 1651, to adopt the Mosaic form of government, by electing rulers of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.23 “Moreover the General Court appointed and empowered one of the English magistrates, to join with the chief of their rulers,24 and keep a higher court among them; extending the power of this court to the latitude of a county court among the English; from the jurisdiction whereof nothing for good order and government, civil or criminal, is expected [excepted?] but appeals, life, limb, banishment, and cases of divorce. The first English magistrate, chosen to be ruler over the praying Indians in the colony of Massachusetts, was first Mr. D. G.25 the author of these Collections; and this was in A. D. 1656. But not long after his occasions called him for England for two or three years, one Major Humphrey Atherton was appointed to conduct this affair, which he did about three years. But then the Lord taking him to himself by death, and the author being returned back, in the year 1660, a year or more before Major Atherton’s death, was again called and reinstated in that employ, A. D. 1661, and hath continued in that work hitherto.” 26 In this position Gookin continued until the Charter government was abrogated in 1686: and most faithfully did he perform his duty. He tells us that besides causing the orders of the General Court to be observed, sundry other things were to be “done by him in order to their good; as the making of orders, and giving instructions and directions, backed with penalties, for promoting and practising morality, civility, industry, and diligence in their particular callings:” he was also “to make and execute good orders for keeping holy the sabbath day; and that the people do attend the public worship of God; and that schools for the education of youth be settled and continued among them.” 27 His own record of a court held at Wabquissit, in 1674, illustrates the manner of proceeding: After Mr. Eliot had preached, “then I began a court among the Indians. And first I approved their teacher Sampson, and their Constable Black James; giving each of them a charge to be diligent and faithful in their places. Also I exhorted the people to yeild obedience to the gospel of Christ, and to those set in order there. Then published a warrant or order that I had prepared, empowering the constable to suppress drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, especially powowing and idolatry; and, after warning given, to apprehend all delinquents, and bring them before authority, to answer for their misdoings; the smaller faults to bring before Wattasacompanum, ruler of the Nipmuck country; for idolatry and powowing, to bring them before me.” 28 A life-like picture of one of these courts is exhibited in Gookin’s certified copy of its session: –

“At a Court held at Naticke among the Indians, Sept. 14, 1681. The testimonies of several aged and principal Indians hereafter named, taken in Court, as followeth:

“Present, Daniel Gookin senr. Esq., Assistant.
Waban, Piambow, Tom Tray} Rulers     Mr. John Eliot, senr., Andrew Pittimee, Peter Ephraim} Interpreters.

“Waban, aged about eighty years, Piambow, aged about eighty years, Nowanit, aged about 81 years, Jethro, aged about 70 years, William, aged 68 years, Anthony Tray and Tom Tray, unkells by the father’s side unto John Woampas deceased, aged 60 years and fifty-eight or thereabout,” testified that the said “John Woampas was no Sachem, and had no more right or title to any lands in the Nipmuk country within [the bounds] of Massachusetts than any other common Indians;” and therefore they disclaimed and repudiated all sales or gifts of land pretended to have been made by him.29

Under the joint instruction and superintendence of Eliot and Gookin, slow but encouraging progress was made in civilizing and Christianizing the Indians in Massachussetts, as far west as the westerly border of Worcester County; and a similar good work was accomplished in the Colony of Plymouth. The two races maintained peaceful relations with each other until 1675, when that terrible contest commenced, which is generally known as Philip’s War. And even then, Gookin insists that the Christian Indians, in the seven old praying towns, were true friends to the English, and rendered them important assistance; and he intimates that the magistrates agreed with him in opinion, while the popular branch of the government and the common people generally, lost all confidence in the Indians, and insisted that, without distinction, they should be treated as enemies. Having mentioned some instances of useful information given by the Indians, and services rendered by them as soldiers, Gookin says, “Notwithstanding those signal and faithful services done by those Christian Indians, and divers others not here related, yet the animosity and rage of the common people increased against them, that the very name of a praying Indian was spoken against, in so much that some wise and principal men did advise some that were concerned with them to forbear giving that epithet of praying. . . . . Things growing to this height among the English, the Governor and Council, against their own reason and inclination, were put upon a kind of necessity, for gratifying the people, to disband all the praying Indians, and to make and publish an order to confine them to five of their own villages, and not to stir above one mile from the centre of such place, upon peril of their lives.” 30 “This cruel frame of spirits (for I can give it no gentler denomination) arose, I apprehend, from a double ground; first the malice of Satan against Christ’s work among the Indians, and to hinder their progress in religion. . . . . A second root of this trouble arose from the perfidious and unfaithful dealing of the wicked Indians, and their causeless rage and cruelty and fury against the English, and particularly the Springfield and Northampton Indians, who lived near the English and seemed to carry it fair for a time, but at last proved perfidious and treacherous. But there was not one of them that ever I heard of, that was a pretender to Christian religion.” 31 It is possible that a desire to appropriate the land of the Indians to their own use may have had some influence on the populace then, as it has in more recent times.

Afterwards, orders were issued for the removal of the Indians to Deer Island; and Gookin relates the manner in which the Natick tribe was removed. “In pursuance of this order, Capt. Thomas Prentiss (who was a person civil and friendly to those Indians), with a party of horse, was commanded to bring them down speedily to a place called the Pines upon Charles River, about two miles above Cambridge, where boats were appointed to be in readiness to take them on board, and take them to the aforesaid island. . . . . Good Mr. Eliot, that faithful instructor and teacher of the praying Indians, met them at the place before mentioned, where they were to be embarked, who comforted, and encouraged, and instructed, and prayed with them and for them; exhorting them to patience in their sufferings, and confirming the hearts of those disciples of Christ, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, for through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. . . . . In the night, about midnight, the tide serving, being the 30th of October, 1675, these poor creatures were shipped in three vessels and carried away to Deer Island above mentioned, which was distant from that place about four leagues, where I shall leave them at present.” 32 In May, 1676, many of the men having performed military service for the English, permission was granted by the General Court for the departure of the Indians from the Island. The remnant of the Natick tribe, after a temporary residence near Nonantum, returned to their own town, which was under the management of Indian officers for nearly a century, until it was incorporated as an English district in 1762. “From 1651 to 1762” Natick “was an Indian town; and its history is little more than a picture of wild Indians making unsuccessful attempts to clothe themselves in the robes of civilization.” 33

While the Christian Indians mere passing through this furnace of affliction, they had a faithful friend in Gookin, who labored constantly to avert the evils to which they were exposed and to alleviate those which they suffered. In this labor of love he had the constant support of Thomas Danforth, his associate in many a hard-fought political battle on other fields. Indeed it would seem that most of the magistrates, or Court of Assistants, concurred with him in a desire to deal kindly with the praying Indians; but that they were to some extent compelled by the populace to adopt harsh measures. He says, “the enmity, jealousy, and clamors of some people against them put the magistracy upon a kind of necessity to send them all to the island.” 34 Again, an Indian who had a certificate of fidelity from Gookin and was actually employed in the public service as a secret agent, was apprehended by Capt. Henchman, who, “being ignorant of the design, sent both him his pass to the Governor, at Boston, who more to satisfy the clamors of the people than for any offence committed by this man, he was committed to the common jail. . . . . He had committed no offence (that ever I heard of), but was imprisoned merely to still the clamors of the people, who railed much against this poor fellow, and fain would have had him put to death (though they knew not wherefore). But those murmurings were not only against the Indian, but as much against Major Gookin, who granted him the certificate.” 35 Again, he says, “notwithstanding the council’s endeavors in the former orders, and the testimony of these English witnesses36 on behalf of the Christian Indians, yet the clamors and animosity among the common people increased daily, not only against those Indians, but also against all such English as mere judged to be charitable to them, and particularly, many harsh reflections and speeches were uttered against Major Daniel Gookin and Mr. John Eliot.” 37

As a specimen of the popular “clamors and animosity,” I copy a few manuscripts : –

“Elizabeth Belcher, aged 57, Martha Remington, aged 31, and Mary Mitchell, aged 20, being sworne, doe say, that on ye 28th day of Febr. last, abt 10 of the clocke at night, Ri: Scott came into ye house of ye said Belcher, and suddenly after he came in broak out into many hideous raileing expressions agt ye worn Capt. Daniel Gookin, calling him an Irish dog yt was never faithful to his country, the sonne of a whoare, a bitch, a rogue, God confound him, & God rott his soul, saying if I could meet him alone I would pistoll him. I wish my knife and sizers were in his heart. He is the devils interpreter. I and two or three more designed to cut of all Gookins brethren at the Island, but some English dog discovered it, the devil will plague him,” etc. Sworn before Simon Willard, Assistant, March 4, 1675-6.38 Scott was fined and imprisoned; he afterwards made a very humble confession, and was released.

Two copies of a written handbill are preserved, dated on the same day that Scott gave vent to his wrath: “Boston, February 28, 1675. Reader thou art desired not to supprese this paper, but to promote its designe, which is to certify (those traytors to their king and countrey) Guggins and Danford, that some generous spirits have vowed their destruction; as Christians wee warne them to prepare for death, for though they will deservedly dye, yet we wish the health of their soules. By ye new society. A. B. C. D.” 39

The following memorandum was entered by Rev. John Eliot, on his Church Record: “1676. On the 7th day of the 2d month, Capt. Gookins, Mr. Danforth, & Mr. Stoughton wr sent by the Councill to order matters at Long Island for the Indians planting there, ya called me wth ym. In or way thither a great boat of about 14 ton, meeting us, turned head upon us (whethr willfully or by negligence, God he knoweth), ya run the sterne of or boate wr we 4 sat under water. Or boats saile or something tangled with the great boat, and by God’s mercy kept to it. My cosin Jacob & cosin Perrie being forwarder in or boat quickly got up into the great boat. I so sunk yt I drank in salt water twice, & could not help it. God assisted my two cosins to deliver us all, & help us up into the great boat. We were not far from the Castle, where we went ashore, dryed & refreshed, & yn went to the Island, performed or work, returned well home at night, praised be the Lord. Some thanked God, & some wished we had been drowned. Soone after, one yt wished we had been drowned, was himself drowned about the same place wr we wr so wonderfully delivered: the history wroff is” –. Here the account abruptly ends.

At a later day, John Marshall testified that on the 9th of October, 1677, “I saw John Joans driveing his trucks, whipping his horses which caused them to run very furiously; the worshipful Thomas Danforth being before the trucks shifted the way several times to escape the horses, and I was afraid they would have ran over him; but having escaped them, when the said Joans came to the wharfe where I was, I asked him why he drave his trucks soe hard to run over people, and told him he had like to have ran over Mr. Danforth; he answered it was noe matter if Mr. Danforth and Major Gucking were both hanged. Sworn in Court. J. Dudley, Assistant. 12. 8. 77. Said Jones is sentenced to be admonished, and not to drive a cart in Boston upon penalty of a severe whipping.  J. DUDLEY, per order.” 40

On account of the popular exasperation, Capt. Gookin failed of election in May, 1676, as one of the Assistants. The General Court, however, manifested their sympathy and confidence, by promoting him, at their first session, to the office of Sergeant-major, or chief commander of the militia in the County. During the year, the tide of feeling changed in his favor, and in May, 1677, he was reinstated in his former position as an Assistant. Thenceforth, both he and his associate, Danforth, retained their hold on the public confidence until the close of life.

Notes:
Coll. Mass: Hist. Soc., xiii. 138.

2  Charles River, anciently called Quineboquin, was the natural boundary between these two hostile tribes. The Squaw-sachem seems to have resided on the westerly side of Mystic Pond. A deposition of Edward Johnson is preserved among the papers of the Middlesex County Court (1662), testifying that he was present when the Squaw-sachem and her husband in 1639 “did give and sell unto Charlestown all their lands within the limits of Charlestown, except that on the west side of the Ponds called Misticke, where their wigwam then stood, which they reserved for term of her life,” etc.

Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., xix. 57, 58.

Mass. Col. Rec., i. 394.

Mass. Col. Rec., i. 254.

Mass. Col. Rec., i. 292.

7  The original deed is preserved in the files of the Middlesex County Court, 1662, having been used as evidence in a legal controversy concerning the lands conveyed to Gibbons. Besides the Indian marks, it bears the autographs of John Winthrop, John Endicott, Richard Saltonstall, Thomas Flint, Thomas Danforth and William Aspinwall.

Mass. Col. Rec., ii. 55.

9  Brooks’ Hist. Medford, p. 74.

10  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 169. He is styled “Sagamore of the Massachusetts” in his sale of land in Andover to John Woodbridge and his associates, and “Sachem of Massachusetts” in a similar sale of land in Dorchester to Richard Collecott “for the use of the plantation of Dorchester.” – Mass. Arch., xxx. 7, 15.

11  Ibid., p. 168.

12  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., xxiv. 3.

13  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., xxiv. 41.

14  Bacon’s History of Natick, p. 9.

15  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 181.

16  One or more of them is said to have been written by Mr. Shepard.

17  Hist. Lect., p. 67.

18  Or Nashaway, now Lancaster.

19  Brookfield.

20  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 189-195.

21  “Caleb Cheeshahteanmuck, Indus,” 1665, is the solitary Indian name found on the Triennial Catalogue of Harvard College.

22  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 172, 173.

23  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., xxiv. 171.

24  Gookin bears honorable testimony to the character of one of these rulers. In describing Natick he says: “In this town they have residing some of their principal rulers, the chief whereof is named Waban, who is now above seventy years of age. He is a person of great prudence and piety; I do not know any Indian that excels him.” – Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 183, 184. This Waban was the same who made arrangements for the first missionary visit of Eliot to Nonantum, as heretofore related. His sign manual, or mark, is preserved in the Cambridge Records, affixed to an agreement “to keep about six-score head of dry cattle on the south side of Charles River,” in 1647. He was living in 1681, then “aged about eighty years.”

25  DanieI Gookin.

26  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 177.

27  Ibid., i. 178.

28  Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., i. 192.

29  Mass. Arch., xxx. 260.

30  Coll. Amer. Antiq. Soc., ii. 449, 450.

31  Ibid., ii. 454.

32  Coll. Amer. Antiq. Soc., ii. 473, 474.

33  Bacon’s Hist. of Natick, p. 23.

34  Coll. Amer. Ant. Soc., ii. 485.

35  Coll. Amer. Ant. Soc., ii. 481.

36  John Watson, Sen., and Henry Prentiss, both of Cambridge, who by direction of the Council dwelt with the Natick Indian; about twelve weeks, and certified their obedience to God and their faithfulness to the English.

37  Coll. Amer. Ant. Soc., ii. 452, 453.

38  Mass. Arch., xxx. 192.

39  Mass. Arch., xxx. 193.

40  Mass. Arch., viii. 4.

Notes re-indexed from original

Lucius Paige - History of Cambridge   Lucius Paige

November 21, 2022

Destroying a City is as Easy as ABC – November 21, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Destroying a City is as Easy as ABC – November 21, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Perhaps it’s a good time to burn some bridges and take sides. The 2023 Municipal Election Season has now begun and there is some detritus that needs to be disposed.Corridors of Destruction

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Orders 2022 number 290 & 291 [Awaiting Report 22-82], regarding continuing the outdoor dining season and considering the extension of the reduced fee schedule.
pulled by Zondervan; Placed on File 9-0

Though this may not be the response some councillors wanted, but it makes total sense – especially in regard to how much of the space taken in the public way for cold weather outdoor dining went unused most of the time last winter.


Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-90, regarding a request for various City departments in coordination with the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority to identify spaces in Central Square that would support the creation and protection of cultural and human services.
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File 9-0

Another great response from the City Manager and staff. One extra note I will make is that venues that support music and the arts should be viewed as “community benefits” in much the same way as open space and ground-floor retail and housing that is affordable to people whose incomes might otherwise leave them priced out.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Reports Items Numbered 16-111, 18-38, and 20-61, regarding Municipal Property Inventory. [Report]
Pulled by Nolan; Charter Right – Zondervan

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $200,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Department Extraordinary Expenditures account to be used for professional services related to a Central Square area municipal property needs assessment and planning study.
pulled by Carlone; Order Adopted 9-0

Excellent reports that make clear the range of priorities that need to be considered – especially in the proposed Central Square area municipal property needs assessment and planning study. All too often the City Council simply throws ideas out onto the floor based on what they see as popular. This is how Boston ended up with zillions of MDC skating rinks while the water and sewer infrastructure crumbled – until the courts created the MWRA to properly manage these resources. In the Cambridge context, this illustrates very well the value of a city manager form of government over some populist alternative.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge resuming the use of the city-owned water supply on Nov 19, 2022.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

Speaking of infrastructure, it’s great to have you back again, Cambridge Water.


Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-77, regarding a review of the proposed language for Ordinance #2022-18, the Incentive Zoning Rate Study Petition, as amended in Committee and report of findings back to the City Council.
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Petition 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. An Ordinance has been received, relative to Reevaluation of Housing Contribution Rate, Incentive Zoning Petition, Section 11.202 (d) of Article 11.000 entitled SPECIAL REGULATIONS, Ordinance #2022-18, as amended. [Passed to 2nd Reading Oct 31, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after Nov 21, 2022] (ORD22#18)
pulled by Zondervan; Ordained as Amended 9-0

This is really just a minor alteration in the timeline for the next nexus study, but I still believe that the whole basis for Incentive Zoning needs to be reviewed rather than to exist only as a cash cow for “social housing.”


Unfinished Business #3. The Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee met on Oct 25, 2022, to discuss potential changes to the City Council Rules. The Committee voted favorable to recommend several amendments to the Rules of the City Council related to Rule 15, Rule 21(resulting in Rule 21, 21A and 21B), Rule 22, Rule 24B, Rule 24C.1b, Rule 27-Economic Development and University Relations Committee, Rule 27-Housing Committee, Rule 27-Civic Unity Committee, Rule 32 (adding new Rule 32D), Rule 38.8, and adding a new Rule 40.1. The Committee also voted favorably to replace “he” and “she” with gender neutral language. Rule 36B. No amendments or additions to the rules may be enacted until at least seven days have elapsed from the date of the submission of the proposed changes or additions and require a majority vote of the entire membership of the City Council. [Order #1] [Order #2] [Order #3] [Order #4] [Order #5] [Order #6] [Order #7] [Order #8] [Order #9] [Order #10] [Order #11] [Order #12] [Order #13] [Order #14]
pulled by Mallon; Orders #1-6, #8-14 Adopted 9-0; Order #7 Adopted 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

This is mainly routine “hey kids, let’s re-write the student organization constitution” stuff. I will note only two specific things. First, amending the Rules should not be viewed as an opportunity to enshrine specific policies. City Council Orders and Resolutions are the more appropriate places for that. Second, there are better ways to achieve gender-neutral language than nonsense phrases like “A member that has recused themselves shall not participate in the discussion…” Try something more like, “A member, after recusal, shall not participate in the discussion…” Just a friendly suggestion.


Order #15. Amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Toner; Azeem amendment Fails (BA,MM,DS,QZ – YES; DC,AM,PN,PT,SS – NO)
QZ amendment to Require Committee Reports by Jan 31, 2022 Fails 4-5 (BA,MM,DS,QZ – YES; DC,AM,PN,PT,SS – NO)
Toner Amendment to send to Housing Committee and NLTP Committee (rather than to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board) Adopted 8-1 (QZ – NO)
Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (QZ – NO)

This may well be the most outrageous proposal I have ever seen from this or any other Cambridge City Council. Please read the full text of this Order and the accompanying maps. It simply blows past decades of thoughtful, deliberative planning and public participation in favor of dramatic upzoning without any meaningful opportunity for public response or input. I will add that we may now be at the point where proposals such as this will have to be viewed through a “regulatory taking” lens in the sense that what is allowed and what is proposed to be allowed for government-sponsored developers is dramatically more than what is allowed for ordinary property owners. It seems as though the policy of this City Council has become completely skewed toward moving privately-owned property toward “social housing” – and they apparently are willing to keep skewing the rules to benefit their chosen developers (who are likely also the ones drafting the regulations) until they achieve this shift.

I feel some obligation to now talk about proportional representation elections. In the absence of any true civic and political infrastructure in Cambridge, our municipal elections have become dominated by single-issue advocacy groups. In the absence of a true local newspaper willing to listen to community concerns and provide objective journalism, political propaganda has become the rule, and that includes partisans embedded in neighborhood listservs eager to attack anyone who might stand in the way of their respective agendas. So here is my first bit of advice when it comes time to vote in the next municipal election – in addition to considering which candidates you find acceptable and ranking them by preference, think even more about which candidates you should exclude from your ballot. We are now in a period where voting for candidate slates is being strongly encouraged, and in an environment where most residents remain unaware of the actions and proposals of councillors and candidates, propaganda can dominate. The truth is that some candidates win regardless of endorsements and it’s demonstrably false to claim that a majority of voters support policies of your organization simply because they are included on your candidate slate. We have never actually polled Cambridge voters about specific issues, and the range of criteria used by most voters in their candidate preferences is as wide as an ocean.

The ABC group (more properly called “A Bigger Cambridge”) has never made a secret of its long-term mission – namely to dramatically increase heights and densities everywhere in Cambridge, to eliminate all neighborhood conservation districts and historic preservation regulations, and to “streamline” permitting in the sense that most or all rights to object to development proposals should be eliminated. One of their principal officers even suggested a target population of at least 300,000 for Cambridge a few years ago (that’s about triple the current population). This is like the reincarnation of Robert Moses as Jane Jacobs rolls over in her grave. I actually ranked 3 of the 9 candidates ABC endorsed in the 2021 municipal election. I will not rank any of their endorsees again even if I like them personally, and I encourage others to do the same. This, by the way, should not be viewed in any way as an endorsement of any other candidates or candidate slates – despite what some activists may choose to think (or tweet).

Here’s a letter sent by Patrick Barrett to the City Council that captures many of my sentiments and makes some very important points:

Honorable Mayor Siddiqui and Cambridge City Council,

I have to admit that following this Council lately is a lot like drinking from a fire hose. It has been difficult to keep up with all of the proposed changes. This latest amendment request has a lot of stuff in it but instead of getting tangled in the binary weeds of yes or no I think what I am seeing here is a moment in time where we ought to clearly state or get comfortable with where this city is headed. In about a month it will be C2’s 9th birthday … a failed planning initiative that was ultimately rejected by CDD, some current councillors, and the Planning Board. I compare that five year process to this petition and I can only think about how massively this conversation about development has changed in such a short time. Back in those days (2013) 14 stories was declared too tall, would block out the sun, and force MBTA personnel to use brooms to push passengers into overcrowded T stops. Dark times to be sure. However, now the pendulum has swung wildly in another direction where proponents of any change now state that an “emergency” dictates that we must act immediately on everything … all the time … no matter what. Even worse, proponents of everything from BEUDO to the AHO state that to not be 100% onboard is akin to doing nothing, being a climate denier, being anti-housing, or being a racist. It is hard to take them seriously especially in a city like Cambridge where it is unlikely and rare to find another city that does more within 6.2 sq miles on either subject. Maybe we ought to start thinking about what we do instead of berating ourselves over the false perception that we do nothing?

I am supportive of “tall” buildings in Central Square in part because we already have them and because Central Square, more than most areas of the City, has yet to come close to realizing its potential. However I think this has to do more with a lack of vision than archaic zoning, though to be clear Central Square zoning is the absolute worst in the city. I must admit, and please do not faint, that I have an issue with 100% affordable development schemes; especially when they preclude market rate developments that match. For instance, Central Square has a base height of 55′ whereas this proposal would allow for 280′ and potentially unlimited height depending on how you interpret the section on open space subparagraph (f). I’m not sure I care that much about height and I cannot tell the difference between an 18 story building or a 24 story building especially from the ground floor but such a wildly disproportionate development scheme for one type of housing is a mistake anywhere and especially in an area that already exceeds 30% affordable for total housing stock. I say this in light of the fact that proponents of the AHO often cited lack of affordable housing in other parts of the city, currently below even 40b standards, and that the AHO was designed to fix that. This has not been the case so far and maybe it makes sense to put the lion share of affordable housing in one section of the city … but I’ve yet to hear anyone in planning or the City explain why. I also believe that market rate housing IS the “affordable housing” for the vast majority of people coming to Cambridge who do not qualify for affordable housing. Without a substantive plan to address that population aren’t we just kicking the can and further exacerbating values? Have we decided collectively that supply and demand is a myth? If so that might help explain this strategy though I’ve not heard that openly expressed by CDD or City Staff.

My questions about this policy change are more about bigger picture issues:

1) Are we no longer going to permit market rate development?

2) Do we have a goal with regard to affordable housing?

3) Have we thought about what happens once people are housed or are we merely counting units?

4) What happens in the commercial districts or more importantly a cultural district when the developer is no longer bound to zoning in any way?

5) Is home ownership no longer a goal?

6) If the council feels that 280′ is an appropriate height for buildings, why limit that to affordable only?

7) Has anyone audited the impact of the AHO on market costs?

8) Have we assessed the impact of changing inclusionary zoning since it was increased in 2015?

9) Is there a conflict of interest with the affordable housing trust where the Manager, affordable developers, and a few interested parties are solely responsible for doling out taxpayer money to each other for their own projects and also now draft zoning changes with City staff to remove their need to comply while everyone else has to? I cannot imagine we’d accept this arrangement for market rate development. Why is it OK here?

10) I would love to hear someone articulate a clear vision for the City. In Central Square we have been pushing our own vision in the absence of a clear direction from the City. I am happy to share that vision; would you kindly share yours?

Lastly, our ordinance is a book about us and our values and it seems at this moment in time it is making assumptions that are incorrect. Maybe this is the moment where we take a pause and try to piece together the dozens of studies, reams of data collected over four decades, and actually reform our zoning code to reflect the values everyone seems to claim they have? It doesn’t have to take another decade or even more than a few months, but if we are planning for the next 150 years like our university friends do we should be looking at this top down not through the narrow lens of one subject.

CC: Hatfields
CC: McCoys

Regards and Happy Thanksgiving,
Patrick W. Barrett III


Order #16. The City Manager is requested to work with the Finance and Assessing Departments to determine how the City could adopt G.L. c. 40, sec. 60B, created under the Municipal Modernization Act, which allows cities and towns, through their respective legislative bodies, to provide for Workforce Housing Special Tax Assessments Zones (WH–STA) as an incentive to create middle-income housing.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

This Order quotes the “Envision Cambridge Housing recommendations” that supposedly came out of the Housing Working Group of Envision Cambridge (of which I was a member). I consider that entire exercise to be a failed process due to the manner in which that committee was formed primarily of inside “affordable housing” developers, funders, and advocates with virtually no focus on housing in general. That said, this is an interesting proposal. It does, however, need some clarification. In particular, does the statement “The WH-STA Zone is an area in which the City identifies opportunities for increased development of middle-income housing and provides property tax relief to developers during construction and for up to five years, in exchange for all units being rented at a pre-established rate targeting middle-income renters…” mean to imply that rent levels would be maintained for up to 5 years or be subject to regulation in perpetuity (which would seem to violate state law)?

Order #17. Roundtable on Open Space Planning and Programming including the Public Space Lab.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #18. That the memo from Charles Sullivan regarding Comments on Citizen’s Petition to Amend Ch. 2.78, Article III, Neighborhood Conservation Districts and Landmarks and the memo from Charles Sullivan regarding the Proposed Friendly Amendments to Ch. 2.78, Art. III be forwarded to the full City Council with the recommendation to refer said memos to the Ordinance Committee for further discussion.   Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning Committee conducted a public meeting on Oct 25, 2022 to discuss the Neighborhood Conservation District Citizen’s Petition: Historical Commission Proposed Response. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Suffice to say that the “Neighborhood Conservation District Citizen’s Petition” is one of ABC’s policy goals to minimize or eliminate public review of development proposals. As for Neighborhood Conservation Districts in general, while I absolutely would not want them to dictate what paint I can use on my house or the requirement of materials that are dramatically more expensive, I absolutely support their underlying purpose. In spite of the Robert Moses view of things, I believe there are many things in Cambridge worthy of preservation.

Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee conducted a public meeting on Oct 12, 2022 to discuss the issue of water quality from the Cambridge water supply including PFAS levels, and comparison with the MWRA system, the long-term strategy for ensuring water quality standards for all users and all other water quality related issues and concerns. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I didn’t attend this meeting and I don’t really buy into the alarmism espoused by some of the councillors. I do, however, agree that some businesses (coffee shops are the one that come to mind) and some residents have expressed concerns about hardness and possibly other qualities of Cambridge water that can affect appliance life span. I have heard this many times from plumbers. The Water Department recommends that we “Flush/Drain/Clean Hot Water Heater at least Annually (per manufacturers recommendation)” but the truth is that many of us still go with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” philosophy.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from City Solicitor Nancy E. Glowa, transmitting a response of City of Cambridge to Open Meeting Law Complaint of John Hawkinson dated Nov 7, 2022.
Response to Office of Atty. General Approved 9-0

I suppose we all have the discretion to choose which hill to die on. This isn’t my hill. To paraphrase Freud, sometimes a training is just a training.

Resolution #1. Congratulations to Deputy Superintendent Rick Riley on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Toner

Best of luck and happy trails, my friend. – Robert Winters

November 16, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 569-570: November 15, 2022

Episode 569 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 15, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 15, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: The Replacements – esp. for departing School Committee member Akriti Bhambi, how vacancy recounts are conducted in Cambridge; Covid optimism; positive and negatives from the Covid experience – outdoor patios, virtual meetings; Charter Review dominated by uninformed gripes. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 570 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 15, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 15, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Climate Resiliency zoning, flood-prone areas, building elevations, “green score”, ADA compliance, intended and unintended consequences; learning from history – a Muddy River illustration; the value of “the 80% solution”, economic slowdown, especially labs; floating Linkage; reasonable outcomes in federal elections; listening vs. telling, pushing back on the ideologues; City Boards & Commissions – professionalism vs. politics. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

November 14, 2022

Featured Items on the Nov 14, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Featured Items on the Nov 14, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

I suppose more fur will fly when they take a second pass at last week’s Order re: traffic disruptions caused by the partial one-way conversion of Garden Street for bicycle comfort (as well as the new questionably executed Brattle St. bicycle facilities). Predictably, there were zillions of communications both last week and this week both from less frequent commenters caught by surprise as well as the usual suspects who can always be counted on to toe their particular party line regardless of actual facts.City Hall

Here are the items that seem most interesting to this toeless observer:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a public health update.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Climate Resilience Zoning. [cover letter] [draft zoning]
pulled by Nolan; Referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-72, regarding a report outlining the efficacy of the Private Property Rodent Control Program and the SMART Digital Rodent Control Boxes, and any changes being contemplated to these current programs; and the status of the Rat Liaison position. [report]
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $586,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Public Works Other Ordinary Maintenance account to support the continuation and expansion the City’s rodent control program utilizing SMART box technology and to fully fund the residential property rodent control program. [letter and order]
pulled by Mallon; Placed on File, Order Adopted 9-0

It would be great if they sold smaller indoor units for mice – ones that actually work.


Charter Right #1. Policy Order Regarding Traffic Flow on Garden Street. [Charter Right – Simmons, Nov 7, 2022]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

87 Communications – all but two of which focus on the Garden Street “experiment”. It’s worth noting that only 13 of the 87 communications arrived after the Nov 7 meeting, but since the relevant Order was delayed via Charter Right they’re all still timely.

Let me guess – 100 people will Zoom in during Public Comment reading scripted comments about how wonderful the bicycle comfort lanes are, or how the Traffic, Parking & Transportation lives to make driving as difficult as possible (true), or how if anyone disagrees with any aspect of the Bicycle Safety Ordinance they must be passively trying to kill people. There are good reasons why I generally skip Public Comment these days.


On the Table #2. Policy Order Seeking Development Analysis. [Charter Right – McGovern, Oct 17, 2022; Tabled Oct 24, 2022]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0


Order #1. Improved Marketing for Green Plus Cambridge Community Electricity.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I’ll take the cheapest one, thank you.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to extend the Outdoor Dining Policy and continue to allow winter outdoor dining as has been the case in the last two years.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0

Many of the Covid-inspired street patios are really past their prime and should be phased out or scaled back to sidewalk-only. That said, the Central Square patios on the south side of Mass. Ave. have become a real destination – even if some reconfiguration and scaling back is in order. Other Covid-inspired accommodations such as Starlight Square need some revision or relocation as we return to more normal times. A blocked-off area with little or no active use most of the time adds little to the vitality of Central Square.

Late Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to consider extending the current reduced fee schedule for another year and to report on this matter by Nov 30, 2022.
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee met on Oct 25, 2022, to discuss potential changes to the City Council Rules. [text of report]
Moved to Unfinished Business 9-0

As I noted several weeks ago, former Mayor Frank Duehay once told me that the death knell of any organization is when they spend excessive time and emphasis on their by-laws instead of their mission. I am also reminded of those annoying kids in high school who obsessed over “rewriting the student constitution.” I guess they grow up and become city councillors.

Committee Report #2. Health & Environment Committee [to discuss and amend the draft Net Zero Action Plan update, and next steps in implementing and updating the City’s NetZero Action Plan including setting SMART goals for action items, accelerating timelines in line with the Climate Protection Action Committee review and the Climate Crisis Working Group discussion and any other issues related to the Plan] – Oct 28, 2022, 9:00am [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I expect even more unfunded mandates from “progressive” councillors who feel obliged to tell you how to think, what you can and cannot do or say, what you should or should not buy, what vehicle you should or should not drive, what you should or should not eat, how you should heat your home or cook your food, and pretty much anything else that used to go under the category of “choice”. All they have to do is say there’s an emergency and anything goes.

Wed, Dec 14 (Hearing Schedule)
3:00pm   The Public Safety Committee is holding a public meeting to discuss the implementation of the new Community Safety Department and integration with HEART.

The so-called “H.E.A.R.T. proposal” (Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team) was first introduced in May 2021 by activists who were openly hostile to police and who repeatedly referred to police as “slave-catchers”. Everyone, including Cambridge Police, agree with the idea that not all emergency calls need to be or should be handled by uniformed and armed police. The City came back with a more rational proposal with the creation of a new Community Safety Department along with a system called CARP (Cambridge Alternative Response Program) that would integrate alternate emergency response with Emergency Communications – in contrast with the activist proposal that would have created a completely separate system divorced from City government (except for the funding). The availability of federal ARPA money with minimal strings attached led to the activists seeking an alternate way to justify their existence. Since then I have heard rumors that the people behind the HEART proposal had an inside track to get a contract under the new department – something some of us consider highly problematic. I hope this is just an unfounded rumor. Some city councillors, Mr. Zondervan in particular, continue in their effort to assume an executive role by asserting that the Community Safety Department will be integrated with HEART even though there is no such reference in the FY2023 Budget. It continues to astound me that Mayor Siddiqui chose to appoint Councillor Zondervan as Chair of the Public Safety Committee. – Robert Winters

November 5, 2022

Roads Scholars? – Notable Items on the Nov 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Roads Scholars? – Notable Items on the Nov 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Apparently the quickest roads to City Hall right now are via Brattle Street and Garden Street. Here are the agenda items that drove me to comment:Penny Farthing

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to approval requested for an appointment of new members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) – Keisha Greaves, Robert Goss [three-year terms].
Appointments Approved 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-58 , regarding directing the appropriate City staff to establish a fund designed to assist those City employees in same-sex marriages with paying for surrogacy services. [City Solicitor’s response]
pulled by Simmons; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with a recommendation to adopt the Incentive Zoning Rate Study Petition, with clarifying changes.
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Petition 9-0

Lotsa Communications about bike lanes and the collateral damage of cut-through traffic caused by the City’s latest “engineering” solutions.

Order #1. Policy Order Regarding Traffic Flow on Garden Street.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner, Simmons, Carlone, Nolan, McGovern, Zondervan (proposes amendments), Mallon, Siddiqui, Toner (willing to acept amendments), Carlone, Azeem, Nolan, Simmons; Charter Right – Simmons

Order #2. Ban Turns on Red Citywide.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Mallon (who apparently advertised this proposal with the print and broadcast press), amendment proposed; comments by Azeem, Carlone, Zondervan, Toner (notes that Traffic Director already has authority to impose “No Turn on Red”), McGovern (notes Alewife Brook Pkwy at Rindge Ave. backups), Nolan, Simmons, Siddiqui; Mallon amendment passes 9-0; Amend to add McGovern, Zondervan, Nolan, Carlone as cosponsors passes 9-0; Nolan amendment (as further amended by Zondervan) passes 9-0; Order Adopted 7-2 [Simmons, Toner – NO]

Order #4. MBTA Pass [for City employees].   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Mallon; comments by Siddiqui, Mallon; Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Carlone, Toner – ABSENT)

Order #5. Roundtable on Broadband.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #6. Capital Projects Finance Meeting.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. Revised MBTA Bus Redesign.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toner
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Simmons; Substitute Order Adopted 9-0 (this substitute was not made available to the public in any form)

Note: Rather than offer my usual comments this week, I instead spent my time Monday restoring my living room to a condition where I can now find and play all of my favorite CDs and vinyl records. Some things are just more important than Cambridge City Council meetings. – Robert Winters

November 2, 2022

Akriti Bhambi has submitted her resignation from the Cambridge School Committee – effective Nov 15, 2022

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,School Committee — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 7:42 pm

Akriti Bhambi has submitted her resignation from the Cambridge School Committee – effective Nov 15.

Akriti Bhambi, School Committee memberNov 2, 2022 – Under the Plan E Charter, Bhambi’s replacement will be determined from among eligible candidates who ran unsuccessfully in the 2021 School Committee election using a PR Count to elect one person from the quota of ballots that were used to elect Bhambi in 2021. The Election Commission will now have to officially contact all potential candidates (Caroline Hunter, Daria Johnson, and Christopher Lim) to determine if they wish to be considered and remain eligible for this vacancy recount. A date for this vacancy recount has not yet been scheduled.

Who would replace each of the elected city councillors and School Committee members should a vacancy occur? Replacements are determined from the ballots used to elect each councillor or School Committee member. I ran the tabulation software with the 2021 ballot data and here’s what I found (assuming all candidates are still eligible):

City Council Replacement
Azeem Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Carlone Nicola Williams
Mallon Sobrinho-Wheeler
McGovern Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Nolan Nicola Williams
Siddiqui Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Simmons Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Toner Joe McGuirk
Zondervan Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
 
School Committee Replacement
Bhambi Caroline Hunter
Fantini Caroline Hunter
Rojas Villarreal Christopher Lim
D. Weinstein Daria Johnson
R. Weinstein Caroline Hunter
Wilson Daria Johnson

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 567-568: November 1, 2022

Episode 567 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 1, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 1, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Shoutout to Keith Streng, Josh Kantor, the Fleshtones, Split Squad, and the Plough & Stars; big city vs. small town; citizens petition abuse and what City Council aides should and should not be doing on the dime of taxpayers; some history of CC aides; down to 94 supervoters; How to Become a True Cantabrigian. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 568 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 1, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 1, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: City Boards & Commissions – listings, history, stipends, term limits, etc.; BZA and Traffic Board members sought; the value of serving on boards and commissions; Moment of Truth coming for City Manager & city councillors re: appointments and to boards and City Council review – professionalism vs. politics; the destructive nature of religious zeal in national and local politics. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

November 1, 2022

A word or two about Cambridge property tax increases

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government — Tags: , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:27 pm

A word or two about Cambridge property tax increases

Real Estate TaxesThere’s a phrase that the Cambridge City Administration has been including in its annual “Dear Residents and Taxpayers of Cambridge” mailing for years that goes something like this: “For FY23, 80% of residential taxpayers will see a reduction, no increase, or an increase of less than $250.” This phrase used to end with “or an increase of less than $100”, but I suppose the percentages are much more appealing with the change. One might actually be led to believe that the tax levy is going down based on the initial reading of this annual message. In fact, this year (FY23) the tax levy went up by 7.4%, and the increases in recent years were 4.7%, 7.85%, 6.9%, 5.3%, and 3.8% (reverse chronologically). Much of the tax increases were picked up by commercial properties due to tax classification and City’s tax policy decisions, but the residential tax burden has certainly been on the rise.

One major source of confusion in the competing narratives of “80% of residential taxpayers will see a reduction…” and the “the tax levy went up by 7.4%” comes down to the fact that condominiums now comprise a very large percentage of residential tax bills, and condo owners have been getting a pretty sweet deal while much of the burden has shifted onto single-, two- and three-family property owners (as well as new residential buildings). Here’s a chart showing the median annual changes in residential tax bills (including the residential exemption) over the last 15 years:

Median Annual Tax Increases – Cambridge
Tax Year condo single-family two-family three-family
FY2009 $ 18 $ 40 $ 24 $ 72
FY2010 $ 69 $ 119 $ 47 $ 41
FY2011 $ 77 $ 306 $ 132 $ 154
FY2012 $ 60 $ 269 $ 177 $ 215
FY2013 $ 65 $ 159 $ 80 $ 85
FY2014 – $ 38 $ 109 $ 110 $ 201
FY2015 $ 15 $ 11 $ 334 $ 253
FY2016 – $ 18 $ 64 $ 101 $ 217
FY2017 $ 11 $ 324 $ 237 $ 336
FY2018 $ 76 $ 136 $ 33 $ 61
FY2019 $ 21 $ 124 $ 292 $ 469
FY2020 $ 43 $ 449 $ 366 $ 369
FY2021 $ 3 $ 246 $ 131 $ 218
FY2022 $ 33 $ 545 $ 301 $ 335
FY2023 – $ 107 $ 419 $ 269 $ 379
5 year average – $ 1.40 $ 356.60 $ 271.80 $ 354.00
10 year average $ 3.90 $ 242.70 $ 217.40 $ 283.80
15 year average $ 21.87 $ 221.33 $ 175.60 $ 227.00
current number of properties 14841 3910 2292 1168

As you can see from these figures, it’s the large number of condominiums (nearly 15,000) that enables the City to declare that “80% of residential taxpayers will see a reduction, no increase, or an increase of less than $250.” For owners of single-, two-, and three-family homes, the story is quite different – especially during the last 5 years. Indeed, this year is the sweetest deal of all for condo owners. This year’s median change for condo owners is a reduction of $107, while it’s increases of $419 for a single-family, $269 for a two-family, and $379 for a three-family.

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