Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

March 2, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 539-540: March 1, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:37 am

Episode 539 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 1, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Mar 1, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Ukraine invasion hits home; higher education reinventing itself; adjusting the center; Covid updates; assaulting the Boards; efforts to eviscerate neighborhood conservation districts and some history of their success; turning grudges into policy. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 540 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 1, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Mar 1, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: dependent vs. independent councillors; charter review; city manager search; budget process misunderstandings; purpose of City Council orders under Plan E; some history of responsiveness of city managers and the nuclear option; AAA bond ratings; regulation and taxation; envisioning transit and urban planning. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

March 1, 2022

Cambridge’s Bike Lane Mandate Hurts Us All – by John Pitkin

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,cycling,transportation — Tags: , , , , , — John Pitkin @ 11:57 am

An op-ed by former City Councillor Jen Devereux in Cambridge Day belittles the growing opposition of residents to Cambridge’s bike lane mandate. She likens it to a conspiracy about a word game, castigates opponents’ “sky-is-falling rhetoric,” and admonishes them with therapeutic advice that, “feelings are not facts and emotions are not truth.”

Her call for a return to norms and an end to what she terms the “bike wars” rings hollow because she ends her piece with a reminder that two people have been “killed by drivers” in Porter Square since 2016. This strikes me as ironic, since the “bike wars” she laments were touched off by cycle advocates’ using two 2016 cyclist fatalities as a rhetorical battering ram to advance new cycle lanes in Inman Square, Cambridge Street and Brattle Street.

Organized cycle advocates d/b/a Cambridge Bike Safety used this emotional appeal to shut down debate and short-circuit consideration of financial, environmental and social costs as well as alternative means to improve safety for all. Those who voiced objections were even labeled “killers” by association with the unfortunate and, by all accounts, blameless drivers in the fatal crashes.

It is said that “Truth is the first casualty of war.” The same can be said of our “bike wars.” Facts are rarely checked and only valued for their emotional impact or clickability, and the arguments or interests of opponents are dismissed out of hand..

If we want to move forward from this situation a good first step would be to see it not as a “war” but a “social dysfunction,” not zingers flying between partisans, but the equivalent of a heart attack of endemic mistrust in our body politic. It affects everyone and harms us all, because if we don’t trust each other, if we don’t trust our government, we won’t be able to act with the unity we need to meet the existential threats of climate change or the immediate needs of our community. We have to figure out how to work together on common solutions to critical problems, and the bike lane disputes are a distraction from the real work that must be done.

Trust cannot be restored by City Councillors tut-tutting citizens for voicing concerns about the bike lanes when the actual impacts become apparent. Indeed City Council created the current civic mess by not involving the very people – the body politic – that they represent.

The contentious discourse and public debate that Ms. Devereux bemoans could and should have taken place before the mandates in the Cycling Safety Ordinance were enacted in 2019 and strengthened in 2020. She acknowledges that “parking is the third rail of politics.” Other City Councillors must also know. Yet to this day the majority of the City Council as well as City administrators play down the scope of the bike lane mandate, branding them as benign “bicycle safety improvements.” And obligatory public notices of community meetings and installation of new bike lanes were utterly ineffective, leaving most residents and business owners in the dark until the eve of installation.

But now the truth is coming out that the Bike Lane Mandate is a big deal. It touches the “third rail” of parking. And the City Council’s defective process has created a giant mess.

The mandated lanes comprise a 26 mile network, covering 10% of Cambridge’s public streets, including Mass. Avenue and other major arteries, and must be completed or in construction by 2026.

It will mean removing many hundreds of parking spaces, in some areas half or all of the parking, as well as loading zones needed for deliveries to and pickups from businesses. Costs are not known but will be substantial. Engineering services alone for the first Quick-Build lanes, not including implementation, have averaged $160 thousand per mile.  The full design and build of just one major intersection, Inman Square, is budgeted to cost close to $10 million.

The financial impacts on local businesses are not known because the City has not asked the affected businesses.  In places were parking has already been removed some business owners report that their revenues have dropped 45%.  A parking access and loading zones are removed over time, there are reasonable fears that commercial dead zones will spread to sections of Mass. Avenue, Cambridge Street and Huron Avenue where there are now thriving, diverse shopping districts.

Thousands of residents who rely on street parking and access to homes, necessary services, and local shops will also be adversely impacted.

The scope of the Bike Lane Mandate is so broad and complex that the City Council might reasonably have put it on the ballot for residents to vote on in a municipal referendum before acting on it. Instead, the City Council passed the mandate after limited public discussion and debate and deputized the Director of Transportation, Traffic and Parking to inform the affected residents and owners in community meetings of what “cycling safety” means for them.

Now that citizens more clearly understand the grand plan and how it affects them, we are starting to see the beginnings of the kind of vigorous, contentious, factual debate that is needed for democracy to work and that we as Americans expect. These stirrings should not be discouraged or tamped down, but rather welcomed as a hopeful beginning of the civil discourse we urgently need to build trust in one other and strengthen our community.

John Pitkin
18 Fayette Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

February 28, 2022

Neighborhood Consternation Districts – February 28, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:00 am

Neighborhood Consternation Districts – February 28, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

The densifiers are massing at the borders of Cambridge neighborhoods. The next few weeks and months should prove interesting as appointees to neighborhood conservation districts, the Historical Commission, and other boards may find themselves in the crosshairs of densifiers and control freaks. There’s even a City Council order this week that seeks to redefine, and perhaps eviscerate, neighborhood conservation districts. We’ll see how the review of board appointments plays out, but at this point I fully expect to soon be saying: “I told you so.”City Hall

Here are some items of interest on this week’s agenda:

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

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Michael P. Gardner as a member of the Cambridge Retirement Board for a term of three years, effective Mar 1, 2022.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Maxwell Solet as a new member of the Board of Trustee of the Cambridge Health Alliance for a term to expire June 30, 2024.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointment to Open Data Review Board for a term of two year.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointment and new appointment to the Water Board.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Board.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for new appointments and reappointments to the Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for reappointments to the Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District Commission.
Charter Right – Mallon

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval requested for a new appointment and reappointments to the Historical Commission.
Charter Right – Mallon

Order #11. Amendment to Chapter 2.78 of the Cambridge Code of Ordinance, entitled “Historical Buildings and Landmarks.”   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Toner; Solicitor explains that this is a City Ordinance under Home Rule, not subject to M.G.L. Ch. 40C, and may be amended by City Council; Referred to NLTP Committee 5-4 (motion of Zondervan) [Carlone, Nolan, Toner, Zondervan, Siddiqui – YES; Azeem, Mallon, McGovern, Simmons – NO]

Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the City of Cambridge retaining its AAA rating from the nation’s three major credit rating agencies.[Moody’s] [S&P] [Fitch]
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #15. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Climate Resilience Zoning Task Force Report.
pulled by Nolan; referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0 (motion of Nolan)

Manager’s Agenda #16. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request for approval of the special act that has been enacted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, entitled “Chapter 19 of the Acts of 2022, An Act Authorizing the City of Cambridge to Use Certain Land for General Municipal Purposes and the Installation of Subsurface Geothermal Wells” at the Father Callanan Playground and Fields in conjunction with the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools Project.[Tobin Article 97 Plan] [Tobin Art 97 Special Act Parchment] [Tobin Special Act Order]
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a communication from City Solicitor Nancy E. Glowa, relative to a further response to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93 regarding a report on proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File, Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0 (motion of Zondervan)

On The Table #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes. (Ordinance #2022-2). [Charter Right – Nolan, Jan 31, 2022; Tabled Feb 7, 2022]
Refer to Ordinance Committee 9-0 (motion of Zondervan)

Charter Right #1. That Article 10.000 of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge be amended to insert a new section 10.600, titled “On-Site Fossil Fuel Infrastructure”. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Feb 7, 2022]
Placed on File 9-0 (based on negative opinion from Atty. Gen. Maura Healey on comparable proposed ordinance in Brookline)

Charter Right #2. That section 6.36 entitled, Schedule of Parking and Loading Requirements, of Article 6.000, entitled “Off Street Parking And Loading Requirements And Nighttime Curfew On Large Commercial Through Trucks”, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended. [Charter Right – Simmons, Feb 7, 2022]
Referred to Transportation & Public Utilities Committee 9-0

Charter Right #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct staff from the Community Development and Law Departments to examine the Zoning Ordinance and provide amendment language for consideration by the City Council to remove all other references to parking minimums, including in Articles 13.000, 14.000, 15.000, 16.000, 17.000, and 20.000. [Charter Right – Simmons, Feb 7, 2022]
Referred to Transportation & Public Utilities Committee 9-0

Applications & Petitions #5. A Zoning Petition has been received from Craig A. Kelley regarding The Cambridge Transportation De-Carbonization and Congestion-Mitigation Bill.
Charter Right – Carlone

113 Communications covering various topics but overwhelmingly about bike lanes.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Economic Development division and other appropriate departments with the intention of conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations now and for a full year once the bike network is completed, positive or negative, which will help inform future installations of bike lanes along commercial corridors.   Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0 as Amended

Resolution #2. Thanks to Anne Shuhler and the entire Classic Graphx team for more than 35 years of exemplary service to the people and businesses of Cambridge.   Councillor Simmons

Resolution #8. That the City Council go on record thanking Izzy Maldonado and his family for over 41 years of serving up some of the finest comfort food in Cambridge at Izzy’s Restaurant & Sub Shop, and in wishing the family well as the beloved institution passes into memory.   Councillor Simmons

Resolution #11. Happy 80th Birthday wishes to Peter Valentine.   Councillor Zondervan

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to amend all existing Host Community Agreements previously issued by the City by reducing the Impact Fee to 0.05% of Gross Revenue and to refrain from placing this burden upon any future HCAs that may yet be issued.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem
Charter Right – Zondervan

Order #4. That the Mayor is requested to schedule a Special Meeting of the City Council and invite the Mayor of Somerville, Somerville City Councillors, the Cambridge Police Department, the Somerville Police Department, and others to discuss how to work together to address the gun activity taking place between our youth in our communities.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 8-0-1 as Amended (Siddiqui ABSENT)

Order #7. That a City Manager Search ad-hoc committee of the Cambridge City Council be formed for the purpose of reviewing and selecting self-nominated residents and stakeholders to be on the candidate preliminary screening committee.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #10. That the City Manager is requested to work with DCR to pilot an expansion of Memorial Drive closures along any segments east of Western Avenue that could be used as parkland.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Charter Right – Simmons

Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee met on Oct 13, 2021, to conduct a public hearing to discuss the long-term plan for school buildings, including a systemwide summary of status of plans, update on current projects, any plans for future relocations, and projections for enrollment changes over time. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Health & Environment Committee and the Human Services & Veterans Committee met on Dec 8, 2021, to discuss the redesign of Carl Barron Plaza with a special focus on the needs of the unhoused community and the ideas presented within Communication #10 from the Oct 18, 2021, regular meeting. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 15, 2021, to conduct a public hearing on the Off Street Parking Zoning petition (Ord #2021-23) [Report not available]
Present: unknown – no report
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0 (even though there was no report)

Committee Report #4. The Human Services and Veterans Committee met on Dec 16, 2021, to hold a public hearing to receive a report from the Department of Human Services Programs regarding changes made to DHSP after school programs. [Report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting a memorandum regarding Final Report of the Cambridge Advisory Committee on City Art, Monuments, & Markers.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Nolan and Councillor Carlone regarding FY24 budget priorities.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Late Resolution #12. Support potential Green Line extension to Porter Square.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
Resolution Adopted 9-0

Late Order #12. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to light City Hall blue and yellow this week in honor of Ukraine.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Additional details may follow.

February 4, 2022

Don’t Worry About The Government – Selections from the February 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:38 am

Don’t Worry About The Government – Selections from the February 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here are a few choice items from this week’s agenda:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0Feb 6 Covid 7-day averages

The Covid numbers have been improving daily. Harvard dining halls have now opened at full capacity and required testing has been reduced. The questions now should be about when the City’s various requirements will be reduced or eliminated as we transition from pandemic to endemic.

Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes (Ordinance #2022-2). [Charter Right – Nolan, Jan 31, 2022]
Tabled 9-0 – Nolan

The big question for me will be how the next round of charter revision plays out. The pattern over the last few years has been one of city councillors seeking more privilege and authority (personal aides, designated parking spaces, private offices, veto power over appointments to City boards & commissions). They have even now asserted themselves as the primary source of all future charter revision by assuming power to appoint all members to any future charter review commission. Will the next call be for a popularly elected mayor and the elimination of the current city manager form of government (even as they are in the process of hiring a city manager)? Depending on how the first round goes, there may be the need for citizens to petition for their own elected charter review commission. In the 1930s, the combination of political patronage, poor fiscal management, and elevated taxes led to a citizens movement to adopt Plan E. History may well repeat itself, but perhaps only after considerable fiscal turmoil.

I will also point out that there are still no protocols in place for how the City Council will review appointments to City boards & commissions or if this authority applies to all boards, commissions, task forces, or ad-hoc committees.City Hall

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to consult with the appropriate City staff to determine the feasibility of establishing additional compensation for the City’s essential employees in accordance with the considered State legislation framework.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

This may be a good idea, but there is something odd about crediting additional years toward an employee’s pension as if this was some new form of currency. One might think that providing “hazard pay” to employees who came to work through the worst part of the pandemic would be the more appropriate action.

Order #2. That Article 10.000 of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Cambridge be amended to insert a new section 10.600, titled “On-Site Fossil Fuel Infrastructure”.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
Charter Right – Zondervan

Order #8. Amendment to Article 22 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge entitled “Sustainable Design And Development” to insert a new section.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toner – PRESENT)

Order #2 calls for a zoning amendment that would mandate no new gas hookups in new or substantially rehabilitated buildings – except subsidized housing development. Order #8 would mandate emissions reporting for all major new projects and substantially rehabilitated buildings – except any residential buildings that include affordable units.

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to provide a legal opinion on whether the City Council can delegate the authority of curb cut approvals to the Inspectional Services Department through the City Manager.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Carlone – NO)

When Marjorie Decker was on the City Council she would regularly question why the City Council should be involved in the approval of curb cuts. In contrast, other councillors over the years have jealously guarded their ability to either block projects or extract benefits using (or abusing) this authority. Delegate it.

Order #4. That section 6.36 entitled, Schedule of Parking and Loading Requirements, of Article 6.000, entitled “Off Street Parking And Loading Requirements And Nighttime Curfew On Large Commercial Through Trucks”, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Amended 9-0; Charter Right – Simmons

Order #9. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct staff from the Community Development and Law Departments to examine the Zoning Ordinance and provide amendment language for consideration by the City Council to remove all other references to parking minimums, including in Articles 13.000, 14.000, 15.000, 16.000, 17.000, and 20.000.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Councill McGovern
Amended 9-0; Charter Right – Simmons

I have mixed feelings about this. The creed over the last decade or two has been that new housing near public transit should have relaxed or no parking minimums. Now that density has become the new religion with the added belief that automobiles are the work of the devil, the new wave is for eliminating parking minimums everywhere. Insofar as many tenants and owners may still want a place to park their Electric BMW, it’s likely that some developers will continue to build parking into their projects in order to maximize value. It’s not so clear how less affluent people who have to drive to jobs elsewhere will make out – other than to fight over the diminishing supply of on-street spaces when they return home. Pretty soon every day may feel like street cleaning day.

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to report to the City Council on options for spending ARPA money on direct support for households and individuals facing eviction, housing instability, and/or homelessness.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

I’m sure some of this makes good sense, but I would like to see some documentation of the “acute crisis of homelessness, housing instability, and eviction in Cambridge” that this proposal seeks to address as well as the means via which eligibility for this new form of public assistance would be determined. I recall there being claims a year ago about the coming “tsunami of evictions” but I’m not so sure that metaphorical storm ever struck. Nobody questions that housing costs are high in Cambridge, but it’s hard to make a direct connection between that reality and the pandemic.

Order #6. That the City Council appoints City Councillors Denise Simmons and Paul Toner as members of the City Clerk preliminary screening committee to begin the application and interviewing process for the new City Clerk, and to report back to the full City Council, as required by law, for the public interviewing of recommended finalists for the City Clerk position.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee met on Jan 26, 2022 for the purpose of reviewing next steps in the City Manager search process.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #6. A communication was received from Vice Mayor Mallon, transmitting a memorandum regarding updates on the City Manager search.
Placed on File 9-0

One of my favorite all-time films starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Natalie Wood and others is John Ford’s “The Searchers”. I hope the City Council’s triple search process ends as well.

Order #7. Amend Section 2.66 of the Municipal Code to add a new section titled “Article III Green Jobs.”   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding the Fare Free Bus Pilot Working Group.
Placed on File 9-0

Let me guess what the recommendation will be… You need look no further than the name of the working group. – Robert Winters

City Council Campaign Receipts, Bank Reports, $/Vote – 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 8:55 am

Follow the money….

Money!Here’s the final tally of campaign receipts for candidates for City Council in the 2021 municipal election as well as Political Action Committees who backed candidates in the municipal election. Only late reported data and error corrections will be made after this point.

I have always found the pattern of campaign receipts to be a strong indicator of which candidates are likely to seek reelection and which candidates are pursuing this goal most aggressively. It must be emphasized that aggressive fundraising should never be misinterpreted as quality of any given candidate.

Here’s the latest account of the (a) total receipts, (b) Cambridge contributions, (c) contributions by candidate to own campaign, (d) union contributions, (e) real estate contributions (as best as I could discern), and (f) total of union and real estate money contributed over this election cycle starting from Feb 1, 2020 through Jan 31, 2022 (a full two-year election cycle) for all City Council candidates (notes: – receipts include loans from candidates to their campaigns; refunds deducted if clearly a refund):

Note to candidates and campaigns: If you feel that anything in these tables is not correct, please contact me at election2021@cambridgecivic.com to make your case. Reasonable requests only.

You can sort on any field by clicking on the field name – in increasing order on the 1st click and in decreasing order on the 2nd click.

Total Receipts

Table of reported City Council campaign receipts (Feb 1, 2020 - Jan 31, 2022 - a full two-year election cycle)
Total Receipts, Cambridge Receipts, Self-funding, Unions, Real Estate
Last updated Apr 27, 5:35pm.
[Note: The figures shown for Nicola Williams required some correction due to very poor record-keeping, duplicate entries, etc. by the campaign Treasurer. There are likely still errors to be corrected.]
Candidate (and PACs)ReceiptsCambridgePctSelfunionsPctReal EstatePctunions+REPct
Toner, Paul$76,707.00$38,980.0050.8%$5,025.00$5,600.007.3%$11,625.0015.2%$17,225.0022.5%
Zondervan, Quinton$71,129.90$52,490.1873.8%$17,000.00$500.000.7%$0.000.0%$500.000.7%
Simmons, E. Denise$67,899.99$32,772.0048.3%$0.00$6,100.009.0%$18,200.0026.8%$24,300.0035.8%
McGovern, Marc C.$66,284.21$33,925.0051.2%$0.00$10,350.0015.6%$13,175.0019.9%$23,525.0035.5%
Williams, Nicola A.$58,415.40$43,775.2174.9%$7,780.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Skeadas, Theodora$48,374.40$8,321.0017.2%$3.90$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Mallon, Alanna$41,596.02$25,514.5761.3%$136.00$5,500.0013.2%$3,850.009.3%$9,350.0022.5%
Siddiqui, Sumbul$40,070.03$28,310.4370.7%$0.00$3,000.007.5%$500.001.2%$3,500.008.7%
Carlone, Dennis$39,358.47$29,596.0575.2%$0.00$750.001.9%$0.000.0%$750.001.9%
Nolan, Patricia M.$37,491.00$27,082.0072.2%$0.00$1,000.002.7%$499.001.3%$1,499.004.0%
Azeem, Burhan$37,402.10$24,925.1066.6%$14,000.00$500.001.3%$0.000.0%$500.001.3%
CCC - IEPAC$32,855.00$32,855.00100.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan$30,977.11$15,722.0850.8%$2,177.88$3,250.0010.5%$0.000.0%$3,250.0010.5%
McGuirk, Joe$27,187.81$9,866.2136.3%$10.00$1,500.005.5%$850.003.1%$2,350.008.6%
Hicks, Tonia$19,607.777112.9436.3%$120.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ABC - IEPAC$18,594.00$14,555.0078.3%$0.00$0.000.0%$200.001.1%$200.001.1%
Bullister, Dana$15,047.01$8,199.0154.5%$5,399.01$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Eckstut, Robert$10,452.00$1,120.0010.7%$720.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ORC - PAC$4,860.00$4,860.00100.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
BikeSafety-PAC$4,231.00$3,275.0077.4%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ABC - PAC$1,280.00$1,130.0088.3%$0.00$0.000.0%$50.003.9%$50.003.9%
CResA - PAC$1,045.00$1,045.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Pierre, Frantz$250.00$50.0020.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Moree, Gregg$100.00$100.00100.0%$100.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Levy, Ilan S.$0.00$0.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
CCC - PAC$0.00$0.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Total$751,215.22$445,581.7859.3%$52,471.79$38,050.005.1%$48,949.006.5%$86,999.0011.6%

Source: Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF)

ABC-PAC: “A Better Cambridge Political Action Committee” [dissolved 4/14/21 in favor of ABC-IEPAC]
ABC-IEPAC: “A Better Cambridge Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
BikeSafety-IEPAC: “Cambridge Bicycle Safety Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
CCC-PAC: “Cambridge Citizens Coalition Political Action Committee” [dissolved 11/5/21 in favor of CCC-IEPAC]
CCC-IEPAC: “Cambridge Citizens Coalition Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
CResA-PAC: “Democracy for Cambridge Political Action Committee” – Cambridge Residents Alliance
ORC-PAC: “Our Revolution Cambridge Political Action Committee”

Note: Late support from two additional Independent Expenditure PACs (IEPAC) associated with Liam Kerr has been reported for two candidates:
Priorities for Progress IEPAC – $3000 toward Paul Toner (Novus Group, digital advertisements)
Democrats for Education Reform IEPAC – $2500 toward Patricia Nolan (Novus Group, digital advertisements)

Bank Reports and $ per #1 Vote

Bank Reports 2021 - Cambridge City Council Candidates and PACs
Last updated Feb 4, 1:00pm
CandidateFromToStartReceiptsExpendBalanceAs Of#1 Votes$/#1 Vote
ABC-PAC02/01/2004/14/21$2,051.88$1,229.43$3,281.31$0.0004/14/21
ABC-IEPAC02/17/2110/31/21$0.00$18,424.00$11,178.25$7,245.7511/01/21
CCC-PAC02/01/2010/31/21$5,142.82$0.00$5,142.82$0.0011/04/21
CCC-IEPAC01/01/2112/31/21$0.00$32,855.00$32,512.40$342.6001/05/22
CResA-PAC02/01/2001/31/22$456.16$2,041.56$1,419.26$1,078.4602/03/22
BikeSafety-IEPAC02/01/2010/20/21$0.00$3,861.00$0.00$3,861.0010/20/21
ORC-PAC02/01/2001/31/22$60.00$4,860.10$4,433.08$487.0202/01/22
Azeem, Burhan02/01/2001/31/22$53.68$38,646.06$38,307.13$392.6102/03/221379$27.78
Bullister, Dana11/01/2001/31/22$0.00$15,071.40$14,930.41$140.9902/04/22520$28.71
Carlone, Dennis02/01/2001/31/22$7,231.04$40,784.41$35,958.09$12,057.3602/01/221493$24.08
Eckstut, Robert05/12/2101/31/22$0.00$9,886.39$9,688.13$198.2602/01/2270$138.40
Hicks, Tonia11/01/2001/31/22$0.00$19,079.01$17,277.12$1,801.8902/01/22363$47.60
Levy, Ilan02/01/2001/31/22$54.78$0.00$51.00$3.7802/01/2297$0.53
Mallon, Alanna02/01/2001/31/22$4,944.73$40,630.07$39,879.65$5,695.1502/03/221220$32.69
McGovern, Marc02/01/2001/31/22$11,356.02$67,758.37$65,477.31$13,637.0802/02/221539$42.55
McGuirk, Joe12/01/2001/31/22$0.00$26,359.48$23,853.41$2,506.0702/01/22611$39.04
Moree, Gregg12/31/2011/30/21$0.00$100.00$100.00$0.0012/06/2180$1.25
Nolan, Patty02/01/2001/31/22$6,855.33$36,922.69$30,637.02$13,141.0002/01/221971$15.54
Pierre, Frantz11/01/2012/31/21$0.00$3,336.17$2,312.83$1,023.3401/04/22355$6.52
Siddiqui, Sumbul02/01/2001/31/22$15,318.99$40,290.95$35,863.41$19,746.5302/01/224124$8.70
Simmons, Denise02/01/2001/31/22$8,662.33$66,729.02$60,207.29$15,184.0602/01/221764$34.13
Skeadas, Theodora02/01/2101/31/22$0.00$46,663.79$46,008.27$655.5202/01/22813$56.59
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan02/01/2001/31/22$2,103.89$30,001.90$31,048.50$1,057.2902/01/221225$25.35
Toner, Paul02/01/2001/31/22$156.57$75,858.01$74,637.07$1,377.5102/01/221703$43.83
Williams, Nicola A.02/01/2001/31/22$262.21$61,089.46$60,934.55$417.1202/01/221159$52.58
Zondervan, Quinton02/01/2001/31/22$256.49$70,872.25$70,347.73$781.0102/01/221295$54.32

2021 Cambridge Candidate Pages

February 2, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 535-536: February 1, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:40 pm

Episode 535 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 1, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Feb 1, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Wildlife, snowpocalypse; continued bus/bike lane controversies, options, advisory committee; future planning and Quick Build shortsightedness; Fresh Pond Golf Course controversy, revolutionary stupidity, new councillor naivete, ideology superseding reason. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 536 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 1, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Feb 1, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Groundhog Day; City Manager search, schedule, screening concerns; civic knowledge on a need-to-know basis; simultaneous searches for City Manager, Clerk, & Auditor under cloud of possible charter changes; opportunity to reexamine job descriptions of City Manager, Clerk, Auditor, and City Council Aides and staff; test cases coming in review of Board appointments. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 31, 2022

Shoveling Snow Against The Tide – January 31, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Fresh Pond — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 6:42 pm

Shoveling Snow Against The Tide – January 31, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting

If you don’t dig what’s going down (or coming down), Zoom in to Monday Night Live. In addition to the meeting agenda, there will plenty of other agendas on display – some hidden, some not. Amid mixed precipitation and metaphors, here are some potentially stormy items:Golf course

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and committees to present a report to the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee which includes information on the history, membership data of golf course users, environmental conditions, and a legal analysis of what uses are currently permitted or what would be involved in changing use for other city needs. [Charter Right – Toner, Jan 24, 2022]
Substitute Order Adopted 9-0

The public comment on the proposed “study” of the golf course will likely be just as plentiful this week as it was last week. I’m sure Councillor Zondervan supports this because it’s just one more chapter in his revolution book. Councillor Azeem knows so little about the people of Cambridge that he thinks that desiring “abundant housing” to grow on the golf course will score him big points in his YIMBY circles. Councillor Nolan will be playing both sides of the issue – as usual. As for Councillor Carlone, that’s anyone’s guess. I suppose if your whole goal in life is to be seen as “progressive”, then nothing should ever be left as is. That, in my opinion, is a stupid point of view. There are many great things that are best left alone save for the maintenance.

Substitution for Policy Order submitted by Councillors Toner, McGovern and Simmons as amended
O-3     Jan 24, 2022   Jan 31, 2022   Adopted 9-0
COUNCILLOR TONER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
WHEREAS: The Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Golf Course, also known as the Fresh Pond Golf Course, in West Cambridge is the largest open space in Cambridge and has been enjoyed as welcome green space for since 1933; and
WHEREAS: Golf is an important and safe outdoor activity, with many residents participating, and has operated in a manner to ensure the sport is accessible to an increasingly diverse community of residents, including keeping course fees low to ensure affordable to all users, and supporting the CRLS golf team when most urban high schools charge fees or do not have a golf team due to barriers; and
WHEREAS: The golf course is self-sufficient and operates on member fees and receives no additional funding from the city,
WHEREAS: The City seeks to encourage outdoor activity and physical activity among residents,
WHEREAS: Considering these trends, it makes sense review if other outdoor uses could be incorporated into golf operations without interfering with its current and primary purpose as the only low cost municipal golf course in Cambridge; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with all appropriate departments, as well as the Cambridge Water Board and Fresh Pond Advisory Committee, and present a report to the Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, which includes but is not limited to a legal analysts of what uses are currently permitted, information on the history of the golf course, residency and other demographic information about membership data of golf course users, and any environmental constraints; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council request that the Chair of the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts, and Celebration Committee schedule a public hearing to discuss what other complementary uses, if any, might be made of the space that do not interfere with the regular operations of the golf course, and encourage greater usage by all Cambridge residents; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council by March 30, 2022 to enable a committee hearing this spring.

Note 1: Zondervan stated that he does want to change/limit golf operations.

Note 2: Carlone scolded his colleagues for having scolded the original authors of the policy order.

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-93, regarding proposed amendments to the Municipal Code relative to recent charter changes.
Charter Right – Nolan

The City Solicitor has provided partial language on the matters of City Manager review and how a charter review committee might be formed. There is still no word on how the City Council will go about reviewing board appointments or even which City boards and commission would be subject to Council review. More and more I am coming to the conclusion that city residents may have to soon form their own charter review movement independent of this City Council.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-85, which requesting a report on potential modifications or adjustments to the recent improvements that were made on the segment of Massachusetts Avenue from Dudley Street to Alewife Brook Parkway.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-1, regarding the feasibility of creating a Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group.
Placed on File 9-0

The repercussions of The Pledge continue. How many City ordinances are there that come with a pledge that they must never be reviewed or changed? Very progressive. As for the proposed membership of the “Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory group”, will they be subject to City Council review? More significantly, will this group have any ability to do anything other than to inform the public that little or nothing can or will be done to alter the course of the juggernaut. As the Manager’s communication says, “we educate the community on what elements of the projects are flexible and open to change and which elements are constrained.” Is the only change possible the color of the flexi-posts?

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to not adopt the Cushing, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Yamin, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 8, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Yard Setback Zoning Petition (Ord # 2021-22). [PDF of Committee Report #1 – unedited software-generated transcript with many errors]

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation not to adopt the Francis Donovan, et al., Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

The bottom line these days is that unless zoning changes are blessed by an elite few, they don’t stand a chance, and it doesn’t really matter if they have merit. Pretty soon it won’t even be possible to serve on the Planning Board unless you have been pre-approved by that same elite.

Order #2. Wage Theft Ordinance.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I still don’t fully understand this proposal, though my suspicion, based on the proposed language, is that it may simply be a way to block the hiring of independent contractors or to ensure that only union members can be hired. The term “wage theft” is very provocative, but perhaps not necessarily accurate.

Order #3. That the City Council and School Committee hold a joint virtual roundtable on Tues, Feb 8, 2022 to discuss priorities for the FY23 Budget.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

I’m a little confused about whether this is meant to have the City Council advise the School Department about their priorities or vice-versa. Their respective budgets have no intersection except perhaps in the shared use of some facilities, e.g. for polling locations or community school programs. – Robert Winters

7. Late Resolution for David Albert.   Councillor Toner
Late Resolution Adopted 8-1 with Councillor Zondervan (unbelievably) voting NO

Res #7     Jan 31, 2022
WHEREAS: Officer David Albert announced his retirement after 33 years of service to the Cambridge Police Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert served as a Patrol Officer for 27 years and ended his last 6 years as a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Department; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert dedicated his energy and focus to serving the citizens of Cambridge; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert grew up in North Cambridge on Magoun Street and comes from a large family dedicated to public service to the City of Cambridge serving as police officers, firefighters and nurses, including his youngest daughter, Delaney Albert who recently joined the force; and
WHEREAS: Officer Albert has earned a long and happy retirement with his wife Kathleen;
RESOLVED: That the City Council and City of Cambridge go on record thanking Officer Albert for his long and honorable service to the City of Cambridge.

January 30, 2022

The siege is soon to be lifted

Filed under: Cambridge — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:41 pm

City of Cambridge Lifts Snow Emergency Parking Ban
Ban lifted as of 6:00pm on Sunday, January 30

Jan 30, 2022 – The Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect will be lifted in the City of Cambridge as of 6:00pm on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Residents parked in one of the City’s Snow Emergency Off-Street Parking locations should exit within 2 hours after the ban has been lifted to avoid being charged.

If travel is required, please clear all snow off of vehicles, including the roof, prior to driving, use extra caution, and leave additional distance between other vehicles and snow crews.

Property owners should remove snow from sidewalks next to their property or business by 1:00pm today as City Ordinance requires sidewalks to be cleared of snow within 12 hours of daytime snowfall and before 1:00pm when it has fallen overnight. Property owners must also remove or melt all ice within 6 hours of the time it forms. There is a $50 fine for each day of non-compliance. Residents and property owners are asked to promptly clear snow and remove ice next to their property, and corner properties are reminded that they are required to shovel and clear ramps at corners near their properties to help make crossing safer for all. Uncleared sidewalks can be reported online at cambridgema.gov/commonwealthconnect or by using the Commonwealth Connect app for iPhone/Android. Additionally, the City is encouraging residents and businesses to clear snow from the nearest fire hydrants and catch basins.

Property owners are asked that when shoveling their sidewalks to please maintain a minimum of 36 inches clear width so that people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices (also parents using strollers, etc.) can navigate the sidewalk. The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) requests that a 48-inch clear width be created when possible – this gives an extra measure of safety. Additionally, CCPD urges residents and businesses to pay particular attention to the corners, where one sidewalk meets another – shovel the full length and width of curb ramps, so that pedestrians with disabilities can get to the crosswalks. Business owners are requested, if there is a disability parking space on the street near your storefront, to please take the extra time to shovel a clear path to that space, so that your customers with disabilities can visit your establishment. In particular, shovel a space wide enough so that vans with lifts can deploy the lift onto the sidewalk.

Power outages should be directly reported to Eversource at 800-592-2000 and downed wires in Cambridge should be reported to 911.

The public can follow updates on Twitter at @CambMA. The City uses the hashtag #CambMASnow on Twitter to help the public follow the conversation. In addition to following updates on the City’s website and social media, members of the public are encouraged to sign-up to receive notification of snow emergency parking bans at: CambridgeMA.GOV/Snow.

Snow! Snow!
Holding back the plows!

Snow! Snow!
The traditional blessing of the snow shovellers

Broadway snow

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