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 10, 2022

Opening Day – What’s on Deck for the January 10, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:44 pm

Opening Day – What’s on Deck for the January 10, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting?

You really can’t expect too much at the first meeting of a new City Council term, especially with two rookies on the team. Of the 80 items awaiting report from the previous term, 44 have been carried over to the new term (including 5 new ones), and 36 were dispatched to oblivion (a good thing, in my humble opinion).City Hall

I often find myself searching for paradigms. Before diving in with comments and analysis I generally need a way to frame things rather than simply react to the proposals, rhetoric, actions and reactions. This is especially true with the coming of a new year or a new City Council term. I don’t even bother trying to make sense of the Cambridge School Committee anymore.

One paradigm I have been considering lately in regard to the City Council as well as other elected bodies is the nature of representation. Who do our elected representatives really represent – especially in a system that is supposed to be proportional representation? Are the geographical areas of the city proportionally represented? What about viewpoints on various issues, especially in a political context where some advocates are working overtime to convince voters and elected officials that just one or two issues are all that matter? Perhaps more significantly, do our elected officials represent the people of the city or primarily the activists? [One of the initial actions of one newly minted councillors was to meet with activists rather than residents in general. The other newly minted councillor held an open community meeting in North Cambridge.] Suffice to say that the overwhelming majority of Cambridge residents would likely not identify as “activists”.

This is important when you consider some of the recent flash points such as the reconfiguration of North Mass. Ave. in a manner that delights many activists and infuriates many residents and business owners (and their customers who may be driving from elsewhere). We have seen and will likely soon be seeing more densification zoning proposals pushed by activists who see themselves as part of a national movement. There are proposals now before the Council and the City administration having to do with alternate models for police and emergency response. Are these really what residents want or what the activists want? Do our city councillors see their main job as responding to the demands of the activists or reflecting the desires of the residents of the city? I shudder to think about what criteria some councillors may be using to decide on the next City Manager.

I really wish we had a better way to gauge public opinion than the biased views of city councillors, various neighborhood and activist listservs, NextDoor, or Twitter. My perhaps shocking point of view is that Cambridge people are actually pretty normal – but you wouldn’t necessarily know that from all the chatter.

As for the current meeting, here are the agenda items I thought worthy of comment as we get this next term underway:

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

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Chief Public Health Officer, the Cambridge Health Alliance, and other relevant City staff to create a “priority line” and/or establish “senior hours” at the City’s Covid-19 testing locations.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 9-0

I don’t envy the job of a mayor, city manager, or school superintendent during a pandemic or other crisis. You’re likely to be a hero or a villain in the eyes of many people when you are simply trying to do your job, and the determination of hero vs. villain may be a function of things over which you have little control. The impulse to demand that you “do something” such as imposing restrictions or mandates is strong, and as the person in charge you have to weigh those demands against all the practical aspects of actual vs. perceived safety, union contracts, and economic survival of local businesses.

I follow the Covid numbers pretty closely and make new graphs daily in my “Plague Report” – nothing like a little medieval reference to keep your spirits up. What I don’t track (only because the local numbers are hard to access) are hospitalizations and similar measures of severity. Deaths and positive test results are no longer the most relevant measures of this pandemic now that Omicron has spread like a prairie fire with relatively few people dying or getting severely ill (largely thanks to widespread vaccination here). I am always eager to hear more specifics from our public health officials, and I’m grateful that time is set aside every couple of City Council meetings to delve more deeply into the specifics.

Intuitively, I expect that this Omicron prairie fire will burn itself out within a few weeks, but I really have no facts with which to back that up. Some people have been noting the patterns in South Africa, but we really are not all that comparable, especially in terms of vaccination rates. Meanwhile, even if the severity of illness has been tolerable, local businesses are still struggling and some are still closing for good. Suffice to say that the actions of city councillors have not played much of a role in this. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just that there’s simply not much that they can do. Let’s just hope for an early spring of Red Sox games and reflection of the pandemic past.

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs & Public Investments David J. Kale as a member of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees, effective Jan 10, 2022.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to approval of new appointments and reappointments of members of the Peace Commission for a term of three years. New Appointments: Kaleb Abebe, Annie Brown, Sarah DeMott, Yasmine Hung, Bonnie Talbert; Reappointments: Kazimiera I.H. Fraley, Larry Kim, Elka Kuhlman, David Seeman
Order Adopted 9-0

I suspect that every City Manager appointment this year will be taken as an opportunity to test the waters of the recent ill-advised charter change that gives the City Council veto power over appointments to City boards & commissions. Does this apply to the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees that was established under a Special Act rather than under the traditional management roles under the Plan E Charter? I don’t think we’ll be seeing any vetoes of appointments to entities like the Peace Commission, but I wouldn’t put it past some councillors to make an issue of it anyway. By the way, there is still no established protocol for how the City Council intends to consider appointments and/or exercise its unfortunate new authority.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint a 20-25 person Cycling Safety Ordinance Implementation Advisory Committee to advise and improve upon the implementation of the citywide bicycle safety infrastructure and to establish recommendations on mitigating any concerns raised in regard to this infrastructure, with the appointments to be announced no later than Jan 31, 2022. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Dec 20, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to convene meetings between his office, the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department, and with the heads of the Neighborhood Business Associations, with the Neighborhood Associations, and within each of the Cambridge Housing Authority’s senior buildings, to ensure that these stakeholders are given the opportunity to collaborate on devising new plans that will inform the City’s approach going forward in establishing citywide bicycle-safety infrastructure that works for bicyclists, motorists, pedestrians, seniors, those with mobility impediments, the local business community, and all our residents. [Charter Right – Zondervan, Dec 20, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended by Substitution 9-0

Communications: There are 13 letters regarding the North Mass. Ave. roadway changes; 2 supporting the HEART proposal; 1 solicitation re: cable TV franchise fees; 1 on Covid testing; and 34 “sundry communications” on the proposal now being floated by CDD to radically alter residential zoning citywide (33 opposed and 1 in favor).
Placed on File 9-0

It was not so long ago that the idea of having stakeholder meetings and advisory committees would be noncontroversial and desirable – even if that meant some delay due to “processing things to death.” In our new “progressive” environment such community feedback is now viewed as counterproductive and obstructionist. After all, it might slow down the juggernaut. In the last meeting of the previous Council term there were actually people who who spoke out emphatically against these proposals for community input and review. Like it or not but being a “progressive” these days seems to be primarily about increasing and endorsing government control without question.

Resolution #3. Thanks to Peter Daly for his tremendous work as Executive Director of Homeowners Rehab, Inc., over the past 33 years, and in wishing him the very best as he looks to pursue his next exciting chapter.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui

Resolution #5. Resolution on the death of Janet Axelrod.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui

I especially like what Library Director Maria McCauley had to say about Janet Axelrod: “It is with sorrow that I write today. One of our longstanding Library champions, Janet Axelrod, passed away on December 26. Janet was the chair of the Board of Library Trustees. She was also one of the founders of the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Janet was the very best board chair. She cared deeply about accessible library services, the freedom to read, and the privacy rights of users. She understood the complexities of a public library. She was committed to social justice, civil rights, and equity and inclusion work, and she greatly appreciated the staff of the Library and its volunteers.”

There are many Cambridge residents who volunteer their time and energy on various City boards & commissions completely independent of the politics of the day. They perform an essential function, and Janet Axelrod was an essential part of this tradition.

Resolution #7. Resolution on the death of legal scholar, civil rights champion, and Cambridge resident Lani Guinier on January 7, 2022 at the age of 71.

Order #2. That Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3- Temporarily prohibited uses.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0

This is simply a re-filing of this proposed moratorium due to the failure to schedule an Ordinance Committee meeting within the time limits required under state law. That said, I’ll repeat what I said when this was initially introduced: “If the City were to now pass either temporary or permanent zoning changes that significantly decrease the development potential, it sure seems like a good case could be made by the new owners that they should be compensated for that loss. I hope that won’t happen, but this says a lot about the consequences of City Council inaction or lack of a coherent vision.”

Suffice to say that the City Council should have established at least interim zoning for this area several years ago and before a significant amount of real estate changed hands. That, of course, presumes that our elected officials actually have some idea of what they want.

Order #3. That the Mayor is requested to schedule a training session within the month of January for the purpose of reviewing Robert’s Rules of Order with the entire City Council.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Mayor Siddiqui, announcing the formal 2022-2023 appointments to the City Council Committees.
Placed on File 9-0

Perhaps at some level it doesn’t really matter who is chosen to be Chair of any given committee, but the practical fact is that committee Chairs do use that role not only to facilitate deliberation but also as a vehicle for their personal political agendas. I simply cannot fathom some of Mayor Siddiqui’s appointments for this term, especially Ordinance and Public Safety. On the other hand, Dennis Carlone is a good match for NLTP, as is Marc McGovern with Human Services. The role of the Gov’t Operations Committee during a time when we’ll be selecting a new City Manager as well as a new City Clerk looms large and consequential. I hope they don’t screw it up. – Robert Winters

December 13, 2021

The End Is Near – December 13, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting – T Minus One Meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:04 pm

The End Is Near – December 13, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting – T Minus One Meeting

End of the World - Cambridge Chronicle, 1848This will be the next-to-last meeting of the 2020-2021 City Council which may best be remembered (at least by me) as The Nine who operated under the Shadow of Zoom to carry out agendas that likely would never have flown had there been actual public meetings. I fully expect that any partially hidden agendas of this term will be on full display in the upcoming term.

Here are the things that appeared this week in my personal palantír:

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Kimberly Massenburg, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House as a member of the Community Benefits Advisory Committee for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021, as recommended by the Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Police Department Deputy Superintendent Frederick Cabral as a member of the Human Services Commission for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as members of the Cambridge Immigrant Rights & Citizenship for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021 – New Appointments: Eva Gottschalk, Abhishek Raman and Joe Manok. Reappointments: Karim El Razzaz and Jennifer Sparks.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as a members of the Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, effective Dec 13, 2021 – New Appointments: Stephen Curran and Judith Laguerre and Reappointments: Yasmin Padamsee Forbes.
Placed on File 9-0

…and the councillors collectively sighed in anguish for being denied their opportunity to grill the appointees on their worthiness…

Charter Right #1. That the City Clerk is requested to forward the Home Rule Petition establishing a Net Zero emissions requirement for building construction in Cambridge in accordance with its Net Zero Action Plan, adopted in 2015, to the entire state legislative delegation for immediate adoption. [Charter Right Exercised By Councillor Zondervan In Council Dec 6, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting proposed amendments to Calendar #1.
Placed on File 9-0

Order #1. Fossil Fuel Special Permit Policy Order.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #5. Reaffirming Commitment to the Goal of 100% Renewable by 2035.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

Though I may agree with many of the goals, there is still something unsettling to me about rigid mandates that take rational economic decisions out of the equation. Energy efficiency saves money in the long term and most people will make good economic choices accordingly. Cars are much more environmentally friendly than in years past. Heating systems are also getting more efficient and home insulation programs are available. I do not agree with outright bans on natural gas options. Some people, including me, prefer to cook on a gas stove and I have no intention of changing my heating and hot water systems over to electric any time soon. Fortunately, most of the mandates apply only to new buildings (for now), so I suppose I won’t be hounded just yet.

Communications #6. A communication was received from Lori DiLiddo, regarding To Human Services Veterans Meeting Re: Carl Barron Plaza.
Placed on File 9-0

This is a breath of fresh air.

Order #3. COVID19 Expert Advisory Panel.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation and Divco West regarding the spending plan and possible reallocation for the anticipated GLX refunds, and to report to the City Council on the use of GLX Project Participation Agreement funding in a timely manner.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Sept 9, 2021 to discuss the possibility of amending the ordinance to extend the preference period, and to explore what additional financial assistance the City may be able to help Economic Empowerment applicants obtain during that extended period, and to provide an opportunity to hear from stakeholders on this.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Two Orders Adopted

Suffice to say that I really don’t think local legislatures should be leaping through flaming hoops to pick the winners in the cannabis contest. Incentives and competitive advantages are one thing, but there are limits beyond which it becomes a matter of government dictating who is permitted to be successful.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Councillor Simmons, transmitting an update to the members of the City Council and to the public on the process around the search for the City’s next city manager.
Placed on File 9-0

I heard that the City’s Request for Proposals for a search firm drew just one bidder. If that’s not correct, please let me know. As for the process yet to come, I do not have great expectations. On the other hand, perhaps the ideal candidate is already near at hand. – Robert Winters

November 11, 2021

To Be Continued – November 15, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:18 am

To Be Continued – November 15, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Most of the significant items from last week were either delayed by Charter Right or Tabled where they may languish or eventually vanish when the lame duck dies. Here are the items worth mentioning:Lame Duck

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
City Manager reports that DCR has agreed to extend Riverbend Park (Sat and Sun) through December 19.

The rate of new cases has been growing since mid-October. While disturbing and somewhat frustrating, the fear and panic that was routine a year ago has largely given way to perspective and trust in the effectiveness of vaccines to at least ward off the worst of the ill effects. Will Thanksgiving and other holidays fuel the Covid fires, or will increased vaccination among younger people blunt those disease vectors? Time will tell. I think it’s booster time.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments of members of the Foundry Advisory Committee for a term of three years, effective Nov 8, 2021.
Charter Right – Simmons

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of the following person as a members of the Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Board, for a term of three years, effective Nov 15, 2021.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to new appointments and reappointments of the following persons as members of the Citizens Committee on Civic Unity, effective Nov 1, 2021 for three year terms.
Charter Right – Simmons

I’m glad to see the pace of board appointments picking up, and I hope there are lots more before the politicos sink their fangs into the process after January 1. There is still no protocol for how the councillors will exercise their new micromanagement authority come the New Year (if they dare to do so). Will appointees have to go before a Council tribunal to answer for the jokes they made on social media? Will members of the public be given an opportunity to voice their approval or disapproval of the background of board appointees? Will anyone even want to apply to be on a City board or commission?

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $400,000 from MassDOT’s FY22 Complete Streets Program to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the Huron Avenue (Glacken Field to Fresh Pond Parkway) project.
Will keep 80% of the existing parking (but eliminate 20% of the currently available parking) – Order Adopted 9-0

I believe the proposal is to create a two-way bike path on the Fresh Pond Reservation side of the street – no controversy expected.

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-6, regarding a report on housing development information.
Referred to Housing Committee 9-0

2,814 affordable units in development of which 940 will be new units. This includes the Jefferson Park redevelopment at a cost of $251,769,435 for 278 units (which works out to $905,645 per unit). So glad to see our tax dollars at work in the least efficient way possible.

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Numbers 21-37 and 21-38, regarding digital equity. [McCormick, Gianetti] [Analysis of U.S. Digital Equity Programs] [CHA Housing Broadband Pilot Engineering Report]
Referred to Civic Unity & NLTP Committees 9-0
[Note: None of the proposed actions anticipates any provision of Cable TV.]

I have no real sense whether these reports are sufficiently responsive, but since the councillors will brutally criticize just about anything relating to municipal broadband or the alternatives, does it really even matter what’s in the reports?

Charter Right #1. That the City Council go on record requesting that the forthcoming new Universal Design Playground located in Danehy Park be named the Louis A. DePasquale Universal Design Playground. [Charter Right – Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nov 8, 2021]
Motion by Sobrinho-Wheeler to dually name playground (for Haben Girma) FAILS 3-5-0-1 (PN,JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,DS,TT,SS – NO; DC – PRESENT);
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Zondervan – PRESENT)

I have a few suggestions regarding the naming of several public restrooms in honor an elected official or two.

Charter Right #2. That Article 20.90 – Alewife Overlay Districts 1-6 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance be amended to insert a new section entitled Section 20.94.3 – Temporarily prohibited uses (Ordinance #2021-25). [Charter Right – Toomey, Nov 8, 2021]
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

Charter Right #3. Upper Mass. Ave. Bike Lane Improvements. [Charter Right – Simmons, Nov 8, 2021]
Order Adopted 5-4 (DC,AM,MM,PN,SS – YES; DS,JSW,TT,QZ – NO)

Let the fur fly. Honestly, if our councillors were actually working for us they would have proposed interim Alewife zoning within one week of the Envision Alewife recommendations. Even if those recommendations were insufficient there would already have been interim zoning in place. Instead they now propose a moratorium after over a half billion dollars exchanges hands under existing zoning.

As for the upper Mass. Ave. bike lanes, it’s all about whether or not you signed the pledge to cover your ears and close your eyes and mind.

Order #2. That the Regular City Council meeting scheduled for Nov 29, 2021 be changed to a joint Roundtable meeting of the City Council and School Committee to discuss the past election, including but not limited to new practices and polling locations is Cambridge with the City Manager, Election Commission, and any other relevant departments.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

School buildings are public buildings, and they should accommodate our occasional elections as needed.

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Nancy Glowa, City Solicitor, transmitting a letter regarding an Open Meeting Law complaint from Heather Hoffman.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Late Order to have Solicitor Respond Adopted 9-0

I have some interest in this – mainly in regard to the erosion of standards in our new Zoomy version of City Council meetings. We have a City government that apparently believes in the principal: “The public will eventually find out what we did, and we’ll convince them later that what we did was acceptable.”

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from the City Clerk, transmitting the Pending Zoning Chart.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (DS – ABSENT)

Communications & Reports #5. A communication was received from the City Clerk, transmitting the 2020-2021 Referral List.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (DS – ABSENT)

See previous comment regarding the erosion of standards in our new Zoomy version of City Council meetings. – Robert Winters

November 4, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 523-524: November 2, 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,campaign finance,elections — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:20 pm

Episode 523 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 2, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 2, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Election Day; turnout; early and mail-in voting; Candidate Page statistics; ballot questions & Quest for Control – selling control as “democracy”; truths about City boards & commissions; civic responsibilities; Federico Muchnik videos – Walden Square, The Tasty; reducing elections to “hot topics”. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 524 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 2, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 2, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Changing rules for voter registration; auxiliary ballots, provisional ballots; preliminary vs. unofficial vs. official election results; campaign finance for City Council and School Committee; reporting the details of the PR Count; the down side of slate voting and the importance of voting for individuals. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

October 20, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 521-522: October 19, 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 8:49 am

Episode 521 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 19, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Oct 19, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Election Countdown; Zoom candidate forums don’t cut it; baseball; Toomey Park & Slide; North Mass. Ave. bike/bus lane controversy; pledging to never listen; coronagendas; Covid update. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 522 – Cambridge InsideOut: Oct 19, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Oct 19, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Carl Barron Plaza – fact vs. fiction; what hostile architecture isn’t; hostile bus shelters and CDD stonewalling; Ballot Questions; Boards & Commissions – definitions, history, ideas, institutional memory; lazy councillors. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

September 13, 2021

See You in September…When the Summer’s Through – September 13, 2021 City Council Agenda

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:50 pm

See You in September…When the Summer’s Through – September 13, 2021 City Council Agenda

After every long break from City Council meetings I generally read through the upcoming agenda with a sense of dread – expecting that the competition to be more outrageous than the other councillors will finally go right off the cliff. There’s some of that in this week’s agenda and as we head toward Early Voting and the Nov 2 municipal election I’m sure there will be even more attention-seeking rubbish. Here’s a sample of agenda items ranging from routine to ridiculous.City Hall

The Pandemic and Related Matters

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

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to authorization to grant street obstruction approvals.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Cambridge Community Development Department, Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs, Department of Public Works, local non-profit organizations, Cambridge businesses dedicated to locally sourced produce, farmers, and resident gardeners to study the feasibility of spending Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to address food insecurity by installing raised garden beds throughout Cambridge and providing free, fresh, locally-grown food for residents in need.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
Adopted 9-0

Elections and Charter Deform

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Board of Election Commissioners for the City Council to vote to authorize in-person early voting for the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election, in accordance with Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended by Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2021 and Chapter 29 of the Acts of 2021.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

RECOMMENDED EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, HOURS AND DAYS

Cambridge Water Department – 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge
Main Library – 449 Broadway, Cambridge
Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street, Cambridge

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
October 23 October 24 October 25 October 26 October 27 October 28 October 29
10am – 3pm CLOSED 11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 11am – 7pm 10am – 5pm 10am -5pm

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request from the Board of Election Commissioners recommending the relocation of polling sites for the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election.
Report Accepted, Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

The polling place relocations affect Precincts 1-1, 1-2, 9-2, 9-3, and 11-3.

Order #12. In response to the Election Commission request for a summary argument in support of proposed charter amendments, that the City Council authorize Mayor Siddiqui and Councillor Nolan to submit language to the Election Commission before the deadline on Sept 20, 2021.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting communications from Tanya Ford, Executive Director of the Cambridge Election Commission regarding support and in opposition of the proposed charter amendments to be included in a mailing to voters prior to the Nov 2, 2021 Municipal Election.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Toomey – PRESENT)

Two of the ballots questions aren’t necessary because the City Council always had the authority to demand an annual review of the City Manager or a periodic charter review. The other question promises to turn all City boards and commissions into political bodies rather than nonpartisan citizen bodies. Imagine if you will (spoken in Rod Serling tones) a city in which favoring historic preservation at a site of a proposed high density development will disqualify you from serving on the Historic Commission.

Parks and Trees, Birds and Bees

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-56, regarding improvements to Jerry’s Pond and along Rindge Avenue.
Tabled 9-0 – Siddiqui

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments on how the City can change practices such that all projects will treat trees as essential infrastructure. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Toomey in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Order Adopted 7-1-1 (Toomey – NO; Simmons – ABSENT)

Order #14. That the City Manager is requested to work with the relevant City departments, the contractor, and the community to take another look at ways in which Sennott Park construction could be contained or compartmentalized in such a way that would allow for various sections or elements of the park to remain safely accessible during the construction period while they are not actively being worked on.   Councillor Zondervan
Order Fails of Adopted 4-5 (DC,PN,JSW,QZ – YES; AM,MM,DS,TT,SS – NO)

Many Appointments

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as new Associate Members of the Planning Board for a term of five-years, effective Sept 1, 2021: Alan Price and Ashley Tan
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a reappointment and appointment of new members of the Central Square Advisory Committee for a term of three years, effective July 1, 2021 – Reappointments: Esther Hanig, Robert Winters, Michael Monestime, Joel Alstein, Tahir Kapoor; New Appointments: Saffana Anwar and Christopher Fort
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of members to the newly formed BIPOC Business Advisory Committee for a term of one-year, effective Sept 1, 2021.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #17. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointments of the following members of the Cambridge Health Alliance Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2021:
3-year terms – Yvette Verdieu, James Henderson, Marian Darlington-Hope, Barbara Guthrie, Katherine Kosinski
1-year term: Joshua Posner, Alexander White
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Zoning Petitions for Dogs and People

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with no positive or negative recommendation on Article 22.000 Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report on the Post-Operative Animal Care zoning petition, which recommends the adoption of an alternative zoning amendment to effect the proposed change.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Committee Report #4. The Ordinance Committee met on Sept 1, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the petition to amend the Zoning Ordinance by inserting a new row in section 4.31 “Residential Uses” regarding the service of post-operative care for a dog.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Petition Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 9-0

Applications & Petitions #4. A Zoning Petition has been received from Francis Donovan, regarding Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) zoning petition.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 8-0-1 (McGovern ABSENT)

Cannabis, Race, and Patronage

On the Table #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to determine the feasibility of establishing a pilot reparations program that would take a to-be-determined percentage of revenue from local cannabis sales and distribute these monies to local Black-owned businesses and to economic empowerment applicants. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Zondervan in Council June 21, 2021; Placed on the Table in Council June 28, 2021]
Adopted as Amended 9-0

On the Table #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to establish a restitution program that would take a to-be-determined percentage of revenue from local cannabis sales and distribute these monies to current and former Cambridge residents who have been harmed by the war on drugs, with a targeted launch date of July 2022. [Placed on the Table in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Adopted 9-0

Order #11. That the City Manager is requested to work with all relevant City departments, the City Council, the Black community, and the general public in Cambridge to implement the attached proposal to establish a Commission of Racial Justice and Equity.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #13. Amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Carlone
Amended (section 5.50.040) 9-0; Amended to declare emergency to ordain w/o 2nd Reading 8-1 (Toomey – NO);
Ordained as Amended 8-1 (Toomey – NO); Reconsideration Fails 1-8 (Toomey YES)

Committee Report #3. The Civic Unity Committee me on May 27, 2021 to conduct a public hearing to discuss the recently released ‘Social Equity Legislation in Cannabis: A National Study of State and Local Approaches’ by the Initiative organization.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Councillor Zondervan, transmitting an explanation of the proposed amendments to the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance.
Placed on File 9-0

Pardon my cynicism, but all of this amounts to little more than cash rewards for connected people, and I doubt I’ll ever warm up to the idea that only people who meet specific racial identity criteria may serve on a particular board or commission. Another really sweet feature in Order #11 is the demand that all commission members receive $100/hour compensation for meeting attandance and that any work done in addition to meeting attendance shall be compensated through a contract with the city. Requests for political patronage rarely are as transparent as this little gem.

Streets & Cars

On the Table #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-41, regarding a report on closing Mass Ave from Prospect Street to Sidney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor McGovern in Council June 28, 2021; Placed on the Table in Council Aug 2, 2021]

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Director of the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and the City Solicitor to review the City’s residential parking permit program to determine whether the criteria for this program can be modified to speak to the above-referenced concerns and to develop recommendations that speak to these modifications. [An individual obtained residential parking permits for perhaps ten vehicles, all of which are parked on the residential streets near this individual’s home and all of which are primarily utilized not for this individual’s personal use, but instead for the purpose of being rented out (in a concept similar to the peer-to-peer car share model) as a business enterprise.]   Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department regarding the feasibility of installing speed bumps on Inman Street.   Councillor McGovern
Adopted 9-0

Miscellany – Weapons, Refugees, Security Deposits

Unfinished Business #6. Order to amend the Municipal Code of the City of Cambridge to insert new section Restricting the Use of Chemical Crowd Control Agents and Kinetic Impact Projectiles. [Passed to a Second Reading in Council Aug 2, 2021]
Ordained 9-0

Order #8. That the City Council go on record as being willing to work with the Governor’s Office and any nonprofits in helping to settle Afghan refugees in Cambridge should it be needed.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Adopted 9-0

Order #15. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Law Department to review the proposed ordinance regarding Renter Choice (Ordinance #2021-18) and provide feedback on implementation.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Comings and Goings

Resolution #11. Congratulations to Christine Elow on being named Acting Commissioner for the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from City Clerk, Anthony I. Wilson, transmitting a memorandum regarding the current three-year term as City Clerk expiring on May 31, 2022.
Placed on File 8-1 (Carlone – NO)

June 28, 2021

Campaign Trailhead and Summer Vacation – June 28, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 8:31 am

Campaign Trailhead and Summer Vacation – June 28, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

This is the last City Council meeting until the Midsummer meeting in August and then again in September. These are the days when councillors are setting the table for their respective political sales pitches with an eye toward the November municipal election. Here are the items that seem most notable:

Note: Even though City Hall is open, only 4 councillors (Toomey, Siddiqui, Nolan, Carlone) bothered to actually show up while the other 5 continued to call in from the privacy of their own homes. I went there just to reacquaint myself with the surroundings.

Public comment seems to be dominated by people who want to sell dope and want to have money funneled their way via City ordinance. It’s also worth noting that this meeting was not accessible via the Open Meeting Portal nor via the new streaming video link. I was only able to access the meeting via Zoom. It is somewhat bewildering how we can never seem to master our chosen technologies.On Vacation

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-41, regarding a report on closing Mass Ave from Prospect Street to Sydney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Charter Right – McGovern

While we may respect the intention of the Order that led to this report, there are significant reasons for not routinely shutting down this important thoroughfare. It’s also not necessary since so much of the action is on the sidewalks and places of business. That said, we really should revive something like the Central Square World’s Fair and host a few really signature events each year in Central Square. It really is the most happening place in Cambridge.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to recommendation from the Planning Board and communication from Community Development Department and Law Department staff related to the Cannabis Delivery Zoning Petition. [Law Dept. memo] [recommended amended text of petition]
Placed on File 9-0

Unfinished Business #7. ORDINANCE 2021-8 Cannabis Delivery Zoning Amendments. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING ON JUNE 14, 2021; TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER JUNE 28, 2021]
Amended 8-0-1 as proposed in Mgr #8 (Toomey PRESENT); Ordained 8-0-1 (Toomey PRESENT)

Order #11. That the Chairs of the Ordinance Committee convene a hearing on amending the Cannabis Business Permitting Ordinance to extend the preference period.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

While I can certainly respect the notion of affirmatively acting to give some disadvantaged people a leg up in economic opportunities, there does come a point where you cross over into the realm of political patronage and we may now be crossing that line. I will add that we may very soon see at least four cannabis retailers in Central Square in addition to any “cannabis courier establishments.” Meanwhile, Graffiti Alley, the parking lots, the sidewalks of Central Square, and even the public toilets continue to see a thriving environment for drug sales – cannabis and otherwise.

Charter Right #1. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $65,019,211, received from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the new Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), to the Grant Fund Finance Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL JUNE 21, 2021]
Sobrinho-Wheeler Motion to Table Fails 2-7 (JSW,QZ – YES); Order Adopted 9-0; Reconsideration Fails 0-9

The Manager’s report on this topic last week was very informative, and also served as a reminder of just how much effort and money was expended during this pandemic on the essential services need to get through this dark tunnel. I seriously hope the Council rhetoric doesn’t devolve into wish lists and giveaways. I will be far more interested to see if forthcoming federal infrastructure legislation can somehow tip the balance to turn some desirable projects from infeasible to not only feasible but recommended, and that includes things like bridges connecting the Alewife Triangle and Quadrangle and other desirable connections. We should have some "shovel ready" plans in place in order to take advantage of any federal funds for such permanent improvements. Let the pandemic relief and recovery money go to pandemic relief and recovery.

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to determine the feasibility of establishing a pilot reparations program that would take a to-be-determined percentage of revenue from local cannabis sales and distribute these monies to local Black-owned businesses and to economic empowerment applicants. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL JUNE 21, 2021]
Tabled 9-0 (Simmons)

Please note that this proposal is characterized as a “pilot reparations programs” which suggests that there will be more proposals to come. I absolutely agree with the idea of economic empowerment and providing strategic advantages, but I absolutely disagree with the concept of reparations.

Charter Right #3. That the City Council go on record in favor of filing of the attached Home Rule Petition entitled: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TO INCLUDE A BALLOT QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER 2, 2021 MUNICIPAL BALLOT RELATIVE TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR TOOMEY IN COUNCIL JUNE 21, 2021]
Late Amendments unseen by the public Approved 8-1 (Toomey – NO); Order Approved as Amended 8-1 (Toomey – NO); Reconsideration Fails 0-9
Apparently, there will be one track that asks Attorney General to opine on legality, then straight to municipal ballot; other track is Home Rule petition to state legislature.

There were only two extremely-low attendance Zoom meetings on this topic, and the proposal to hand over the authority to approve all appointments to City boards and commissions is nothing more than a power grab guaranteed to politicize all City boards and destroy any possibility of proportionality in the membership of those boards. This would be a major structural change with not only unintended consequences but, more fundamentally, intentional consequences. In short, if five city councillors want to have the Planning Board or any other board be 100% compliant with their point of view (or their endorsing organization’s point of view) – even if the appointees have no other qualifications – they will be able to do so if this proposed change is approved. The other two proposed changes are benign – requiring an annual review of the City Manager’s performance and a review of the Charter every decade (unless 5 city councillor can completely control who participates in the charter review – see above).

Unfinished Business #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance. [PASS TO A SECOND READING ON JUNE 14, 2021; TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER JUNE 28, 2021]
Amended 8-0-0-1 (Toomey – PRESENT)
Ordained as Amended 7-1-0-1 (Toomey – NO; Simmons – PRESENT)

Order #1. That the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cambridge be amended to insert a new row in section 4.31 “Residential Uses” regarding the service of post-operative care for a dog.   Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0
Reconsidered 9-0; Adopted as Amended by Substitution 9-0

This is an example of what the City Council actually should be doing, i.e. recognizing a problem and fixing it – no ideology required. There apparently was a recent BZA case where it was decided that providing care for the pet of a friend was a technical zoning violation. This zoning amendment is intended to remedy that zoning malady.

Order #2. City Council support of HD.3403 and SD.2340, An Act Relative to Fare Free Buses.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #3. City Council support of the Cambridge Transit Advisory Committee’s suggested configuration for the #47 Bus.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. City Council endorsement of the Agassiz Neighborhood name being changed to the Baldwin Neighborhood in honor of Maria L. Baldwin.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui
Charter Right – Nolan

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Personnel Department, and other relevant City departments to examine and implement a flexible, permanent remote work policy for City employees who can perform their tasks remotely.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toomey ABSENT)

I agree completely that there should be continued flexibility for some City workers, but I see no reason whatsoever at this point for city councillors not showing up in person at City Council meetings.

Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to work with the DPW and the family to install a suitable memorial in a meaningful location, including a new tree planting, to honor the life of Luca Gibson.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance which allows individual condominium owners the ability to obtain a City construction permit to repair known structural and other safety violations even without a majority of the building’s condominium owners’ vote of approval.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (McGovern PRESENT)

This would open some interesting legal cans of worms. Even more fundamentally, the transition over the last 40 years from individual ownership of whole properties to condominium ownership has produced more than a few unintended consequences and long-term maintenance issues that could use a fresh look. Unilateral action by one condo owner leading to assessments for all owners may not be the best or even the legal solution.

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Finance and Personnel Departments to examine stipend models for the City’s multi-member bodies.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

I suppose that examining the issue is harmless, but I still cannot warm up to the idea of paying members of boards and commissions. I would rather see a change in culture that rewards constructive civic participation in other ways. Former Mayor David Maher understood this and hosted events thanking residents who volunteer to serve on City boards and commissions. Covid notwithstanding, it’s a shame that subsequent mayors failed to see the value in such recognition. This isn’t all about money.

Order #10. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the Law Department, Cambridge Development Department, and the City Manager’s Housing Liaison to discuss and advise on a condominium conversion ordinance.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted; Referred to Law Department and to Housing Committee 7-1-0-1 (Toomey – NO; McGovern – PRESENT)

Those horses left the barn 25 years ago and much of the city’s multi-family stock has already been converted (and with it one of the most time-tested routes to middle class stability). This is just a political attention-getting move now.

Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee and the Housing Committee conducted a joint hearing on Wed, Feb 17, 2021 to discuss the elimination of single and two-family only zoning and restrictions on the type of housing that can be built city-wide.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

This is the kind of actual conversation that we should be having – as opposed to intense densification proposals like the so-called "Missing Middle" petition that will soon be expiring and could potentially be reintroduced (likely an even worse iteration). There are strong arguments in favor of liberalizing zoning to allow multi-family homes in all residential zones, and it is also reasonable to review the allowable densities every once in a while without necessarily opening the floodgates to demolition and redevelopment in places that are now functioning well. Cambridge has an interesting brand of density that works in its own curious ways in most neighborhoods, but it also has a variety of densities that provide choices for people with different needs and preferences. We need a little more Jane Jacobs and a little less Robert Moses. Perhaps most of all we need to have local zoning ordinances that allow reasonable people to do reasonable things.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Anthony Wilson, City Clerk, transmitting information regarding the Early Voting Home Rule Legislation.
Modified Home Rule Petition Re-Filed 9-0; Report Placed on File 9-0

This matter has been on the City Council Calendar for ages and may even become obsolete depending on what the state legislature finally decides regarding permanently establishing such things as "no excuse absentee voting," ballot dropboxes, and other accommodations. The City Clerk has readied this for re-filing the Home Rule petition, but I’m not so sure that this will be necessary or even advisable at this point. I also would not want to burden the Election Commission staff unnecessarily if there are other perfectly good alternatives. – Robert Winters

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