As our elected officials nervously wait out the pre-election purgatory, the meetings go on. Here are the agenda items this week that struck me as interesting or concerning:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on COVID-19.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Charter Right #1. The Health and Environment Committee met on Apr 14, 2021 to conduct a public hearing regarding the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Charter Right exercised by Councillor Zondervan in Council Oct 4, 2021]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
I think a big question on the minds of a lot of people is when some of the mandates will be modified or lifted. Our 7-day average daily COVID-positive test numbers are now consistently down to single digits. When the local history of this pandemic is written, it will show a mix of appropriate and sometimes excessive caution, business innovation driven by survival, and also some politically-driven failures such as last year’s “shared streets” that were neither necessary nor effective. It will also show how some elected officials exploited the obscured nature of Zoom meetings to ram through agendas unrelated to the pandemic.
Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $170,975 from Free Cash to the General Fund Elections Department Other Ordinary Maintenance account which will be used to cover the additional costs associated with recently approved vote by mail-in, and early voting for the municipal election, Nov 2, 2021.
Order Adopted 9-0
Not much to say about this other than the fact that elections aren’t free and that the existence of Mail-In Voting and Early Voting have made the timeliness of getting information to voters somewhat challenging.
Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Michael Jeremy Yamin, regarding Yard Setback Zoning Petition.
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 7-1-1 (Zondervan – NO; Toomey ABSENT)
Applications & Petitions #2. A Zoning Petition has been received from Karen Cushing, regarding Off Street Parking consistent with the base zoning district, in order to minimize the use of on-street parking in the surrounding area.
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 7-1-1 (Zondervan – NO; Toomey ABSENT)
Both of these petitions ask to modify some provisions that were enacted as part of the “Affordable Housing Overlay” (AHO). Specifically, they seek to partially restore some of the diminished setbacks from property lines and to treat AHO projects the same as other properties in terms of parking requirements. It is worth noting that such requirements may soon be lowered or eliminated as part of a separate rezoning process.
Communications #5. A communication was received from Jeanne Oster and Annette Osgood, regarding Save Mass Ave Save Our City Online Petition Paper Petition – 503 signatures.
Communications #6. A communication was received from Yi Sheng Wang, regarding Cycling Safety Ordinance.
Communications #8. A communication was received from Sharon Stichter, regarding Porter square De Facto Simulation of Mass Ave Safety Improvement Project – Dudley St to Alewife Brook Pkwy.
Communications #9. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding De Facto Simulation of Mass Ave Safety Improvement Project – Dudley St to Alewife Brook Pkwy.
Communications #12. A communication was received from Jeanne Oster, regarding to expand the definition of the Mass Ave Four so all streets between Alewife Brook Parkway and Everett St can be looked at together as a cohesive whole.
There will be a follow-up meeting on Thurs, Oct 28, 2021 at 6:00pm.
Suffice to say that some aspects of the North Mass. Ave. plans that are about the be implemented are coming as quite a shock to some residents and area businesses, and there are efforts now underway to find some compromise and alternatives. There are two simultaneous changes about to be implemented – (1) separating bicycle lanes along with significant removal of parking spaces, and (2) dedicating full travel lanes as “Bus Only” lanes. The net effect may be to reduce Mass. Ave. down to a single travel lane in each direction along much of this corridor. Current traffic congestion will likely grow worse, but some see this as a means to an end by driving people out of their cars and onto an inadequate public transportation system. Whether that will actually happen is debatable.
This is yet another example of how City actions hatched in obscurity during Zoom-only pandemic versions of public process have left some people feeling as though they are under the wheels of a juggernaut. Meanwhile, elitist activists write off the concerns of those affected as “fear of change.” In my view, North Mass. Ave. has long been in need of safety improvements, especially for cyclists in close proximity to relatively higher traffic speeds along a major traffic corridor, but this process could be a case study in how not to plan or implement significant changes. Sadly, we’ve been writing a whole book of such case studies.
Communications #10. A communication was received from the community, regarding Carl Barron Plaza reconstruction.
Charter Right – Zondervan
This appears to be an organized effort to label some of the proposed redesign of Carl Barron Plaza in Central Square as “hostile architecture” – which is simply not the case. Included in the communications are some good suggestions for amenities such as a water fountain/filler, level sidewalks, and better means of waste disposal. I have friends who spend a lot of time in this location who are not substance abusers, but this location has over time become a problematic center for alcohol and drug abuse – certainly not the only such location in Central Square, e.g. the inbound #1 bus stop near Pearl Street. By the way, requests to CDD, the Transit Advisory Committee, and the Pedestrian Committee to issue a policy statement regarding priority to actual bus passengers have gone nowhere. Meanwhile bus passengers wait at a distance from the bus stop rather than be harassed at the shelter where most or all of the available seating is not available or is so hostile that passengers prefer to wait up the street at a distance from the bus shelter.
My viewpoint about the design of public places is that you should primarily design not for what you think you’re stuck with but rather for the environment you wish to see – and that includes a better location for public events, public transportation, and the interplay between public spaces and private spaces such as abutting businesses and residences. This is a busy crossroads for bus and train passengers as well as for neighborhood residents visiting Central Square and all that is has to offer. If we create a great space, the users will sort things out.
Order #2. That the City Council go on record prioritizing Cambridge residents for Building Pathways. Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
This is a good Order primarily about fostering opportunities for area residents, particularly in underserved communities, to access careers in the construction industry. All too often City initiatives center more on subsidy and public assistance rather than on economic empowerment, and it’s good to occasionally see some emphasis on the latter rather than the former.
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to consult with the Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship and other relevant City staff to determine the feasibility of creating a uniform process for aiding the resettlement of refugees in Cambridge. Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to determine the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0
As the Order states: “Lesley University recently announced a new campus plan that includes the University’s intention to sell its underutilized properties…” Insofar as some of those properties may be useful in advancing some City goals, this is worthy of pursuit. That said, the recent trend of calling on the City to simply buy up properties whenever they are up for sale – or even drafting laws to give advantages to the City purchase of properties – is just as worrisome as universities collecting properties as though Cambridge was a board game from Parker Brothers.
Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to place a cricket field in one of the Cambridge parks. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
Two weeks ago it was pickleball. This week it’s cricket. There are worse things that City Council Orders could be addressing. I can only hope that next week will bring calls for miniature golf. If so, I have some really great ideas on that subject.
Order #6. That the City Manager is requested to appoint a task force that will hold regular public meetings to solicit ideas and feedback from residents on the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
The worst form of City budgeting is one where you dangle $65 million in federal funds like a piñata in front of nine blindfolded city councillors with sticks. That said, perhaps some good suggestions from the public will emerge that aren’t just calls for diversion of funds for pet projects.
Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to start placing QR codes on signage around construction projects so that interested parties can quickly and easily access information regarding these projects to promote information sharing and transparency. Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0
As all of my friends know, I don’t own a cell phone and I have no plans to get one. The only QR I know is the QR-factorization I teach in my Linear Algebra courses. A regular sign (with actual words!) would likely do just as well at construction projects.
Order #9. That the City Manager is requested to confer with the appropriate staff of both the City and State to confirm if the Truck Restriction map is up to date, who should be enforcing the ban on Alewife Brook Parkway, and what actions can be taken moving forward. Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted 9-0
Meanwhile, the trucks keep a-storrowin’ with increasing frequency. Apparently Reading and Driving are becoming as difficult for some as Walking and Chewing Gum. Worry not, say the futurists – soon they’ll all be driverless and we can all just blame the programmers.
Order #11. City Council support for the proposed site location for Eversource’s Geothermal Pilot Program project. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #12. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to support the Uplift the Solar Energy Industry in Massachusetts coalition. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0
These are both good Orders, but I have no plans to get rid of either my gas stove, my gas-fired boiler, or my gas-fired hot water heater anytime soon. I’m sure that it’s because I fear change – or so the self-declared enlightened ones tell me.
Order #13. That the City Council go on record in reaffirming strong support for H.1426/S.890, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Toomey – NO)
This ill-begotten proposal was bound to roll around again. Many property owners would love to offer the opportunity to purchase to some of their tenants, but the real intention of this legislation is to transfer privately-owned residential property into the hands of nonprofits and housing authorities working in conjunction with municipalities and using tax revenue to execute the transfer. The title “Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act” is hopelessly dishonest. – Robert Winters
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This will be the last meeting of the 2020-2021 Cambridge City Council which will likely be remembered for its lack of cohesion and the distant quality of its remote public meetings held in Zoom. The increased access of remote public comment was arguably a plus but any advantages were outweighed by the scripted nature of call-in comments driven by social media and the complete lack of meaningful interaction between members of the public and between elected officials and the public. A two-minute Zoom speech with the clock ticking followed by an abrupt mayoral cutoff is hardly a model for public participation. Perhaps even more problematic was the tendency for consequential policies to be developed and implemented in relative isolation and obscurity.