Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

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

January 23, 2022

Tee Time for Toddlers – January 24, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:31 pm

Tee Time for Toddlers – January 24, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

I’m just trying to figure out if Councillors Nolan, Carlone, Zondervan, and Azeem are trying to take over the Fresh Pond Golf Course. There’s also these:Net Zero Idiots Guide

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

Though still an order of magnitude greater than last summer, positive Covid tests continue to drop quickly as predicted by the wasterwater data. Drops in hospitalizations (and fatalities) generally follow. Cambridge residents continue to exercise greater caution than in most places, and there seems to be little or no cause to impose any additional restrictions. With luck we may even look forward to restrictions being eased within a few weeks.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Cambridge Net Zero Action Plan 2021 Update and Executive Summary.
Referred to Health & Environment Committee 9-0

The documents are interesting, but what I would really like to know is how some of the ideas and proposals translate into requirements, costs, and incentives for various categories of property owners. If I need to do a roof repair or siding replacement on my triple-decker, will I soon be required to make other changes at a significantly increased cost? When my gas-fired boiler reaches the end of its useful life, will I be able to replace it or will I have to reconfigure my whole building and install a completely different heating system? Will mandates come with funding sources? Will new requirements have the unintended consequence of delaying renovations due to added costs? Should a homeowner rush a renovation now before costly new mandates are imposed? How will possible “point of sale” mandates affect decisions about potential improvements and who will bear the added costs? Will requirements for commercial properties lead to relocation? Perhaps we need an “Idiot’s Guide to Net-Zero Requirements” for ordinary people.

Talk Less. Do More.Charter Right #1. That the City Council designates the Chair of Government Operations, Rules, and Claims Committee to serve as the City Council’s designee to coordinate with Randi Frank Consulting, LLC as well as appropriate City officials in carrying out the executive recruitment process for a new City Manager search process. That the City Manager is requested to ask the Purchasing Agent to coordinate with the Chair of Government Operations, Rules and Claims committee to engage the services of the identified Community Engagement Specialist(s) to work with Randi Frank Consulting, LLC in the executive recruitment for a new City Manager. [Charter Right – Simmons, Jan 10, 2022]
Order Adopted 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information regarding the Clerk search process.
Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #4. A communication was received from City Auditor, James Monagle, transmitting a memorandum regarding his retirement at the end of his current term.
Placed on File 9-0

At this point my confidence in our elected officials to competently fill all three of the positions for which they have direct control under the Plan E Charter (City Manager, City Clerk, City Auditor) is close to Net Zero. At least one councillor with serious self-loathing issues has already expressed the point of view that only candidates from outside of Cambridge should be considered. My sense is that if they really screw this up there may be an exodus of other prominent City staff.

Resolution #4. Congratulations to Christine Elow on her appointment as Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Simmons
Resolution Adopted 9-0

It was an inspired choice by City Manager Louis DePasquale to appoint Christine Elow as Acting Commissioner last August, and this seals the deal. One point worth emphasizing is how much has changed in the ~30 years since the transition was made from Police Chief to Police Commissioner. This was very controversial and political back then, and in the interim all of the Commissioners have come from outside of Cambridge – Perry Anderson, Ronnie Watson, Robert Haas, and Branville Bard. I remember Ronnie Watson once remarking that his intention was to have the command staff become so solid that there would be no need to look outside for his successor. Well, it took a few years but it’s noteworthy that Christine Elow is Cambridge born and bred and rose up through the ranks, and nobody in the political sphere finds it at all controversial that she is now Police Commissioner – especially when you consider the fact that there are continuing conversations about possible restructuring of public safety and how to respond to emergency calls.

Order #2. That the City Manager is hereby requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to determine what safety improvements could be made to the area in front of CRLS and the crosswalk on Broadway.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

This Order brought back a memory from when I first arrived in Cambridge in 1978 and for a long while afterwards. It used to be commonplace for CRLS students heading home after school to purposely walk in the middle of the travel lanes on Broadway – not because it was necessary but just to be defiant. I haven’t seen that so much in recent years. I suppose it all fits under the umbrella described in Bruce Springsteen’s song “Growing Up”, e.g. “when they said ‘sit down’ I stood up.”

Order #3. 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.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem
Charter Right – Toner
[Note: There was overwhelming opposition to this Order during Public Comment. The only people speaking in favor of the Order seeking to change the use of the Fresh Pond Golf Course were from “Our Revolution” and the “Cambridge Residents Alliance”.]

I suspect this is all about toppling the perceived aristocracy minus the guillotines. I have never played golf (except miniature golf), but I have never viewed it as a sport of the elite. The Revolutionary Guard within the Cambridge City Council takes on yet another battle to nowhere. Is the latest vacant thought to replace 18 holes with 18 stories? One of the things I like most about Cambridge is the diversity of buildings, densities, and uses – and that includes that fact we somehow can still have a golf course in addition to our current considerable density of housing.

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Inspectional Services Department, the Department of Public Works, the Cambridge Historical Commission and other relevant City departments to determine the feasibility of expediting the Demolition and Rebuilding permitting process in the event of a natural disaster.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Do these three councillors know something about a “natural disaster” to come? Flood? Pestilence? Tornadoes? Actually, the essence of the Order concerns disasters like building fires, so I suppose this is more of a semantic thing rather than planning for the Apocalypse.

Order #5. That the City Council go on record in support of House Bill 965 and Senate Bill 623 that would prohibit the sale of fur, and urge the Massachusetts Senate to pass this bill.   Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

I learned something new from this Order – raccoon dogs. They’re not racoons. Be like Pat Nixon and wear a respectable Republican cloth coat.

Committee Report #1. The Health & Environment Committee met on Dec 22, 2021 to discuss the BEUDO amendments. [Minutes] [Cover Letter] [Proposed Amendments – red-lined] [Proposed Amendments – clean] [City Solicitor Letter]
Proposed Amendments Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

This has been in the works for some time – amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance that was ordained in 2014 that requires energy and water reporting from commercial properties over 25,000 square feet and residential properties over 50 units. It is an essential element of the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP). It’s not just about disclosure. There are requirements for emissions reduction explicitly in the ordinance: From a Baseline determined in 2018-2019, covered properties are required to reduce emissions to 80% of Baseline by 2025-2029; 60% by 2030-2034; 40% by 2035-2039; 20% by 2040-2044; 10% by 2045-2049; and 0% for 2050 onwards. It remains to be seen if similar requirements may be imposed on smaller residential properties at some point. – Robert Winters

January 19, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 533-534: January 18, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,Cambridge InsideOut,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:56 pm

Episode 533 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 18, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Jan 18, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Police Commissioner Christine Elow and some history of Chief vs. Commissioner; optimistic Covid update; bikes & buses – controversy and alternatives; ideology within Community Development Department; future prospects. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 534 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 18, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Jan 18, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Filibuster and the value of slow legislation; Charter questions – past, present, and future; Envision history; Charter Change while seeking new City Manager, City Clerk (and City Auditor); proportional representation (PR) realities and distortions by single-issue politics; role of planning within CDD vs. responding to partisan petitions; PR revisions for fractional transfers should be part of future Charter revision discussions. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 18, 2022

Cambridge City Auditor Jim Monagle to retire May 31, 2022

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 9:52 pm

City Auditor Jim Monagle to retire May 31, 2022 at the end of his current 3-year term

Jan 18, 2022 – Under the Plan E Charter, the Cambridge City Council directly hires only 3 people – The City Manager, the City Clerk, and the City Auditor. There is currently a search process underway to identify a successor to City Manager Louis DePasquale when his contract ends on July 5, 2022. City Clerk Anthony Wilson informed the City Council in September that he would be leaving his position when his contract ends on May 31, 2022. Now City Auditor Jim Monagle has informed the City Council that he will be retiring from his position at the end of his contract – also on May 31, 2022.James Monagle

Dear City Council,

After serving as City Auditor for the past 20 years, I am writing to inform you that I plan to retire at the end of my current term, which expires on May 31, 2022. It has been a tremendous honor to serve as City Auditor. I am proud of my record of providing independent and timely oversight of the City’s finances and operations. Working closely with the Council, administration, and my team, I have carried out my duties to ensure that City’s programs are executed legally, efficiently, and effectively. It has been a pleasure working for the City Councils during my tenure.

The role of City Auditor is not always well understood by the public because most of an auditor’s work takes place behind the scenes and is buried in detailed financial reports. The staff of the Auditing Department works tirelessly to promote an honest, effective, and fully accountable City government. The collaborative nature of the auditing team and the passion each employee brings to their role plays a critical role in safeguarding against potential fraud or misuse of City resources. My staff’s attention to detail is responsible for the timely creations of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Schedule A, and Per-Pupil Report. These documents play a crucial role in providing financial information to the City Council, City Manager, the investment community, the state and federal governments, and the residents of Cambridge.

I have been fortunate to have worked with so many incredibly talented and dedicated staff during my tenure, and I want to thank each of them. I also want to thank the three City Managers I have worked with and each City department. The City Administration has always been collaborative, hardworking, and dedicated to serving the residents of Cambridge.

I want to thank the City Council for placing your trust in me and your dedication to your constituents and the City.

James Monagle
City Auditor

January 17, 2022

Christine Elow Named Permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department

Filed under: Cambridge — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:35 pm

Christine Elow Named Permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department
Becomes First Woman to Lead the Department and First Cambridge Native to Serve as Permanent Police Commissioner

Jan 17, 2022 – City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced Christine Elow has been named the permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. She has served as the Acting Police Commissioner since August 2021 when she took over for Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr., who accepted an opportunity at Johns Hopkins Institutions. Elow becomes the first woman to lead the Cambridge Police Department since its inception in 1859.

“Over the last six months, I have worked closely with Acting Commissioner Elow, and her leadership, contributions, and collaborative spirit throughout this unprecedented time have been nothing short of impressive,” City Manager DePasquale said. “Ms. Elow has clearly demonstrated to the public and to me that she is the right person to lead the Cambridge Police Department. I am pleased to appoint Christine Elow as the permanent Commissioner for the Cambridge Police Department.”

Elow said, “My entire career has been dedicated to serving the Cambridge community. I grew up in Cambridge and love working in this city. Now, I look forward to building off what we have started since I was named Acting Police Commissioner and am truly honored to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the department. I will remain committed to bringing change and transformation to public safety and working collaboratively with the community. I plan on doing everything I can to help CPD advance its mission and continue to serve as the model for policing in Massachusetts and the country.”?

“Acting Commissioner Elow has earned the opportunity to lead the Cambridge Police Department on a permanent basis,” Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said. “She is an exemplary role model and has gained my trust and the trust of many in the community through her leadership, integrity,?and?distinction. As a native Cantabrigian, Christine Elow has a lifelong commitment to our community, and I look forward to working with her in her new role.”

City Councilor E. Denise Simmons said, “I commend our City Manager for formally appointing Christine Elow as the permanent Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department. Commissioner Elow was born and raised in Cambridge, she has worked hard and risen up through the ranks, and she truly understands this community. She has never forgotten where she has come from, and she understands the importance of forging strong, respectful relationships within the community she serves. I’m thrilled to have a woman of color serving as a powerful, positive example to the many young girls of color living in Cambridge. It is important that the diversity in our leadership positions reflects the diversity in our community, and it leads to better, more responsive policy-making. This is a truly good day for the City of Cambridge.”

Elow has been with the Cambridge Police since joining as an officer in 1995 after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years. She served in the Patrol Division and oversaw the Professional Standards Unit, where she was responsible for receiving, processing, and investigating complaints made against members of the Department. She later served as Deputy Superintendent for Day Patrol and Community Services. In 2017, Elow was appointed Superintendent, making her the highest-ranking female officer in the history of the Department. She is a strong proponent of community-driven policing, juvenile justice issues, procedural justice, police training and innovative hiring practices. Elow holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Curry College and a Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Elow was sworn-in at a private ceremony at the Cambridge Police Department.

Commissioner Elow

January 15, 2022

Election Method Comparison – STV/Cincinnati vs. Fractional Transfer – 2021 Cambridge City Council Election

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:03 pm

It has been suggested at various times that Cambridge should consider modifications to its current proportional representation election method – especially in regard to its method of distribution of surplus #1 votes using the “Cincinnati Method” which is dependent on the order in which ballots are initially tabulated. An alternate method that is often suggested (but rarely explained) is known as “Fractional Transfer” and various other names. Indeed, the tabulation software currently used by Cambridge (ChoicePlusPro) has Fractional Transfer as its default method, and our own “Cambridge Rules” must be invoked for our local Cambridge elections. The Election Quota is calculated in the same manner, i.e. the total number of valid ballots divided by one more than the number to be elected, rounded up to the nearest integer (or add 1 if a whole number).Vote!

There are several key differences between the Cambridge Rules and Fractional Transfer:
(1) Under the Cambridge Rules, any overvote where the same rank is given to more than one candidate is ignored. Under Fractional Transfer, overvotes may be counted (for example if 4 candidates are given a #1 vote they would each get 0.25 votes) or they may be ignored. This is a choice that would have to be made.

(2) Under the Cambridge Rules, surplus #1 votes are redistributed to the next highest ranked continuing candidates as whole ballots where the whole ballots are chosen via the Cincinnati Method, i.e. every nth ballot where n is the nearest integer to the quotient of the total and the number of surplus ballots. For example, if Quota was 2000 and a candidate had 2600 #1 votes, there would be 600 surplus votes and 2600/600 would be approximately 4.3 and the ballots chosen for redistribution would be (in sequence) #4, #8, #12, etc. Any surplus ballot with no valid next preference would not be transferable and would remain with the #1 choice. Thus there can be no “exhausted” ballots during the surplus distribution. The distribution of surplus ballots continues until the elected candidate’s number of votes is reduced to the Election Quota. If during this surplus distribution another candidate reaches Quota, that candidate would be declared elected and would no longer be eligible to receive additional ballots with any subsequent ballots transferred to the next preference candidate on that ballot still eligible to receive transfers. There are thus two ways in which the initial ballot order can affect the election results – the specific ballots chosen for redistribution and the point at which any other candidate reaches Quota.

Under Fractional Transfer, any elected candidate with surplus votes would have a fraction of ALL ballots transferred to the next preferred continuing candidate with a corresponding weight. For example, if the Quota was 2000 and the candidate had 2500 votes (so the surplus would be 500), then ALL of that candidates ballots would be transferred to the next preferred candidate with a weight of 1/5 or 0.2 with the elected candidate retaining 0.8 of all of all ballots – thus reducing the total to the election quota. In the case where there is no valid next preference, that weight (0.2 in the example) would be exhausted, so there can be ballot exhaustion during the surplus distribution in order for the election to be independent of ballot order. If another candidate reaches Quota during this distribution (or any subsequent surplus distribution), the distribution will continue allowing the newly elected candidate to exceed Quota. A subsequent count will then take place to also reduce that candidates total down to Quota – again transferring a fraction of ALL of that candidate’s ballots in the same manner. Any candidate who has reached Quota at the end of any round is declared elected and becomes ineligible to receive transfers.

(3) Under the Cambridge Rules, after all #1 vote surpluses have been fully distributed, the next Round is the “Under 50” Round where all candidates with fewer than 50 votes at that point are simultaneously defeated and all ballots transferred to next preferred eligible candidates or exhausted if there is no additional valid choice.

Under Fractional Transfer, all candidates who have been “mathematically eliminated” are defeated simultaneously. This means that the sum of all of the votes of those candidates at that point is less than the number of votes for the next lowest candidate. If any continuing candidate reaches Quota during this round, that candidate is declared elected at the end of the round, and any surplus ballots are subsequently redistributed in a subsequent round.

(4) Under the Cambridge Rules, the remainder of the process is a series of runoffs where the candidate with the fewest votes at the end of each round is defeated and all of that candidate’s ballots are transferred to the next highest ranked continuing candidate or exhausted. This continues until the required number of candidates have been elected either by reaching Quota or by having not been defeated at the point where the requisite number of candidates have not been defeated. If any candidate reaches Quota during a round, that candidate is declared elected and is no longer eligible to receive additional ballots. This is another way in which the original ordering of ballots can affect the election outcome. After the initial #1 surplus distributions, no candidate can ever have more than the Election Quota of ballots.

Under Fractional Transfer, the election proceeds in much the same way via a series of runoffs, but whenever a candidate reaches Quota during a round, the count continues until all of the defeated candidate’s ballots have been transferred or exhausted, and any surplus ballots of an elected candidate are transferred in a subsequent surplus distribution round to reduce that elected candidate’s total to Quota. This process continues until the number of candidates is reduced to the number to be elected. In the final round some candidates may go over Quota, but the standard rule is that the election is declared to be complete at that point without any additional surplus distribution.

(5) Under the Cambridge Rules, if a vacancy occurs, the vacancy is filled via a “Vacancy Recount” using only the Quota of ballots that were used to elect that candidate. This is simply a series of runoffs to elect one candidate where all candidates not previously elected are eligible to receive votes (but not including any votes previously received in the original election).

There is no established rule for how a vacancy would be filled under Fractional Transfer. It could be done in the same manner as the Cambridge Rules, but candidates elected in the final round might have a substantial number of surplus ballots compared to any candidates elected during previous rounds all of whom would have exactly a Quota of ballots.

Here is a comparison of three methods for the most recent (2021) Cambridge City Council election: (1) the official results using the Cambridge Rules; (2) Fractional Transfer with overvotes included; and (3) Fractional Transfer with all overvotes ignored. As you can see, the same candidates are elected with the order of election differing slightly and the rounds somewhat different due to differences in the rules – most notably in the introduction of surplus distributions after any candidate reaches Quota during a round.

Official Count:
CouncilFinal2021

Fractional Transfer including overvotes:
Fractional2021

Fractional Transfer – No Overvotes:
Fractional2021NoOvervotes

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