A Tax Attacks – October 20, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting and Tax Rate Hearing
It’s the Second Coming of the Tax Classification Hearing after the alarm bells rang two weeks ago due to some (apparently) alarming news about the proposed jump in the commercial tax rate. A crisis is often an opportunity for some education.
How many people really understand what this hearing and vote is all about? How many people understand the limited options available under state law? How many people have given any thought at all to how the state legislature might change things in order to have a more fair system, e.g. setting the Residential Exemption within different residential classes, distinguishing large commercial properties from “mom and pop stores”, etc.? How many elected officials are willing to speak honestly about the fact that taxes are rising quickly primarily because of their own actions in growing the budget at a rate well in excess of inflation?
Unless the City Council is ready to dump more of the tax burden on residential properties (will never happen), there is actually very little that the City Council can do other than to just cast the usual votes.
Here are some of the items that drew my attention this week:
The Property Tax Rate Classification Hearing
[Tax Rate Letter from City Manager][Tax Rate Orders][Tax Rate Executive Summary][Commercial Tax Rate Examples]
Comments by City Manager Yi-An Huang, Asst. City Manager Claire Spinner, Assessing Director Gail Willett, Budget Director Taha Jennings, Councillors Toner, McGovern, Azeem, Nolan, Zusy, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Wilson; Tax Rates Adopted 9-0; Both Orders Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by City Manager Yi-An Huang, Councillor Nolan, Elliott Veloso (Law Dept.), Franz LaBianca (Law Dept.), Councillor Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Charles J. Marquardt as an Election Commissioner for a four-year term, effective through March 31, 2029.
Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-53, regarding a request that the City Manager consult with relevant departments about the implications of deploying license plate readers and provide recommendations as to whether adjustments in plans for deployment should be made in light of changes since approval in February. [text of report]
pulled by Toner; comments by CPD Commissioner Christine Elow (noting how license plate readers may have helped sole Charlene Holmes murder case) , Pauline Wells (CPD), Peter Vellucci (CPD), Councillor Toner proposes referral to Public Safety Committee; McGovern to propose Late Order to suspend use of license plate readers for now; Mayor Simmons comments; Councillors Nolan, Azeem, Zusy, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Wilson, Toner comments; Referred to Public Safety Committee 9-0; Placed on File 9-0; Toner asks if a policy is currently in place (CPD – Yes), comments by McGovern, Nolan, Toner, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy (how can we know that they’re really off?), Commissioner Elow; Late Order (McGovern et.al.) “That the City suspend or revoke using Flock cameras and all ALPR technology currently in use, until a meeting is held by the Public Safety Committee of the City Council and a vote is taken to allow it.” Adopted 9-0
Late Order #9. That the City suspend or revoke using Flock cameras and all ALPR technology currently in use, until a meeting is held by the Public Safety Committee of the City Council and a vote is taken to allow it. Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment and reappointment of members to the Committee on Public Planting for terms of three years. [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-34 regarding curb cut disputes. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy re: 177 Hancock St. curb cut and possibility that application contained misrepresentations; comments by Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, Toner, Nolan; opinion on process from Elliott Veloso (Law Dept.); comments by Yi-An Huang, including requirement that legal notice be given prior to revocation of a permit; Sobrinho-Wheeler opines that City Council should not be deciding on individual curb cuts; Azeem comments, Veloso responds; Toner notes that a two-thirds vote is required to revisit this; Zusy also doesn’t want Council to decide on curb cuts, suggests Council was hoodwinked; McGovern, Simmons, Kathy Watkins, Toner, Wilson, Nolan, Azeem comments; Placed on File 9-0 (with an understanding that a future Communication and Order to rescind may follow)
Order #1. City Council support for Massachusetts’ community colleges and state universities and urging the state Legislature to pass the DRIVE Act with an amendment to cover student supports and other cuts beyond research grants as a first step toward public higher education funding that adequately supports students, faculty and staff. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Order #3. City Council support of H.811, An Act authorizing cities and towns to provide for citizen-funded election campaigns. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Wilson
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Order #4. City Council support of the unionization efforts of Massachusetts State House legislative staff and H.2093/S.1343, and urge the recognition of the Massachusetts State House Employee Union. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Wilson, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Order #6. That the City Council supports House Bill H.3564, An Act Relative to Infrastructure Replacement Projects, and House Bill H.3446 /Senate Bill S.2248, An Act Relative to Municipal Voices in Gas Utility Work that are currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Order #7. City Council support of Bill Lifting Caps on Municipal Solar. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Zusy
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Order #8. City Council opposition to Harvard University’s efforts to strip union protections from workers in the Harvard Graduate Students Union bargaining unit, and to all forms of union busting, and go on record urging the Harvard administration to engage in good faith with the demands of our residents organizing with HGSU, HAW, and the Harvard Undergraduate Workers Union (HUWU), including fair pay, healthcare, and workplace harassment and discrimination protections. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 8-1 (Zusy-No)
Charter Right #1. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Sept 16, 2025 to review and discuss solar impact analysis and zoning options to encourage the use of solar energy systems and protect solar access for Registered Solar Energy Systems. [Charter Right – Azeem, Sept 29, 2025]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Sept 25, 2025 to discuss whether the City should reinstate something similar to the exemption of the Dover Amendment to regulate the density and impact of institutional development within residential districts. The 1979 & 1980 exemption was eliminated Feb 10, 2025 with the passage of the Multifamily Housing Ordinance. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Oct 7, 2025 on a Zoning Petition by Martin Bakal, et al., to amend the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance in Sections 4.30 and 4.40 with the intent to restrict increasing pavement in Open Space districts by establishing “Paved way greater than 10’ wide” as a principal use within the Table of Use Regulations that would be prohibited in Open Space districts and permitted in all other zoning districts, with a footnote providing further clarifications and restrictions on the establishment of “paved ways.” [text of report]
Comments by Zusy, McGovern; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Unfavorable Recommendation Adopted 9-0
Aug 31 – While other candidates are spending their Labor Day weekend handing out campaign literature and promising whatever it takes to win a #1 vote, I was down in the basement yesterday clearing the collected dust and debris out of a dryer vent. In addition to hair clips and mini-Lego pieces from my previous 1st floor tenants (who were great, by the way), I was able to pocket $1.37 in loose change. I guess I’ll use that to supplement the cost of the 3rd floor front porch deck that I will likely be replacing next month. Owning a triple-decker is great – except when it isn’t.
This week’s agenda is dominated by several City Council Orders meant to address (or navigate around) the contentious issue of whether the proposed separated bicycle lanes, removal of most of the existing parking, and loss of curb access should proceed on Broadway as currently mandated by the Cycling Safety Ordinance. This is not really a matter of safety so much as political clout. Some straightforward analysis using the current registered voter list indicates that those who want the street reconfiguration to proceed as planned are approximately 25 years younger than those who have signed the petition opposing the reconfiguration. It is also anecdotally clear that there is also a large gap in socioeconomic status. Basically, young professionals are well-represented among those wanting to remove the parking, and those in opposition include far more seniors, people with mobility issues, and people who need their motor vehicles for work and chores.
