Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

June 15, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 507-508: June 15, 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:26 pm

Episode 507 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 15, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on June 15, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Flattening the curve; reopenings; Temple Street and varying views of environmental justice; AHO realities; Central Square Library rhetorical competition; progressive vs. sensible; misrepresenting “the community”; alternatives to the misguided Missing Middle; rejecting unilateralism. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 508 – Cambridge InsideOut: June 15, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on June 15, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Tree Protection Ordinance; misrepresenting “the community”; lack of civic education and targeting “low-information voters”; afterschool programs & community schools; overeagerness to spend $ from American Rescue Plan; federal funding and the long view on infrastructure projects; City Manager hiring process continues; NYC mayoral primary and RCV; candidate updates. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

June 14, 2021

Craven Attention – June 14, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 4:53 pm

Craven Attention – June 14, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here’s my first pass at this week’s effort:City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $500,000 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Library Extraordinary Expenditures account to fund a comprehensive Library Building Program Study and Feasibility Study for the Central Square Branch Library.
Order Adopted 9-0

Many of us who spend a lot of time in Central Square and think about Central Square will likely agree that even though the proposed improvements are appreciated there should really be a Grand Vision for the library and the Green Street parking garage in the context of the whole district. For example, unless you believe that all cars and all parking should be abolished (in which case you should really take up farming or ascetic religion), proposals to build on surface parking lots (or continue Starlight Square) might want to consider where those vehicles might park (at least until the Rule of Robots). A couple more parking levels on Green Street might make sense even if only as a place for the robots to live.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-18, regarding a report on the City’s annual stationery expenditures and percentage spent at local retailers.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to first Progress Report due under the Cycling Safety Ordinance (Chapter 12.22 of the Cambridge Municipal Code), which is required to detail “…progress towards meeting the requirements set forth in Subsections C, D, E, F, G, and H. Such report shall include details on the Separated Bicycle Facilities planned for the coming twelve months.”
Referred to Transportation and Public Utilities Committee 9-0

No comment.

On the Table #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to further proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance and draft regulations. [TABLED IN COUNCIL MAY 17, 2021] [May 17 memo] [changes] [regulations]
Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 7-0-0-2 (DS,TT – PRESENT)
Note: Special thanks to Councillor Toomey for pointing out the hypocrisy of the City Councillors eagerly wanting to relieve the Cambridge Police of various public safety responsibilities while adding on the responsibility of enforcement of the Tree Protection Ordinance. The ordinance was subsequently amended.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Apr 28, 2021 to discuss the Tree Protection Ordinance. [proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance]
Reports Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Ordinance Passed to 2nd Reading 7-0-0-2 (DS,TT – PRESENT)

Committee Report #1B. The Health & Environment Committee met on Oct 13, 2020 to discuss amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force.

Committee Report #1C. The Health and Environment Committee met on Nov 10, 2020 to continue discussing amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force.

The updated ordinance should be approved this month – probably next week. The final draft regulations are not as onerous for homeowners as they could have been, but the onward march of government control over your property continues.

Blue Heron Bridge

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, the Assessing Department, the Finance Department, and other relevant City departments to explore the feasibility of purchasing properties for sale in the Alewife area to address City goals.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
Adopted 8-0-1 as Amended (TT – ABSENT)

Order #2. That the Mayor be and hereby is requested to schedule a Roundtable meeting to discuss how the American Rescue Plan funds may best be utilized in Cambridge.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted 9-0

Order #10. That the Co-Chairs of the Finance Committee schedule a hearing to discuss the $65 million Cambridge is eligible to receive from the American Rescue Plan, and to begin the discussion on how the money can best be spent to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in our community.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone
Adopted 9-0

Note: “General infrastructure spending is not covered as an eligible use outside of water, sewer, and broadband investments or above the amount allocated under the revenue loss provision.” I really wish we could take some of that money and build a couple of bridges connecting the Alewife Triangle and Quadrangle and maybe build a pedestrian bridge over the Little River connecting to the Science Park area.

Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Health Department, the Inspectional Services Department, the Cambridge Housing Authority, and other relevant City departments to determine if the City has the discretion to waive this rule (state sanitary code re: heating & cooling), and the circumstances in which the City could administer this waiver, and report back to the City Council.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted 9-0

This Order grew out of the recent heat wave and the strange fact/claim that the change from heating to cooling in CHA buildings couldn’t happen until June 15 regardless of conditions. The world might be a better place if we just put the administrators out to pasture and put the supers and custodians in charge.

Order #6. Amending City Council Rules for Remote Participation.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Adopted 9-0 as Amended

The State Legislature seems to be on the verge of extending the right of elected officials to continue “phoning it in” (we’ll see tomorrow), but I hope they don’t. I really hope we return to in-person meetings. The matter of public comment is a somewhat separate matter that can be adjusted simply by amending the City Council Rules – hence this Order. I wish they would at least restrict remote public comment to Cambridge residents and invited guests. Elected officials and City staff should simply show up in person unless they are physically unable to attend.

Order #7. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to adopt certain policies related to Open Space.   Councillor Carlone, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Adopted 9-0 as Amended

Order #8. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Traffic & Parking Department to make these immediate improvements to the safety of this intersection (Cardinal Medeiros Avenue, Binney Street, and Bristol Street) and to all intersections in the city that are similarly malfunctioning, and to implement longer term changes as soon as possible.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Adopted 9-0

Order #9. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with City staff to provide an update on the cost of each license and permit required by businesses in Cambridge.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

The would be useful information to see in one place, and I think most of use will readily agree that fees should be reasonable and bear at least some connection with the costs associated with the regulations. As far as continuing to waive or significantly reduce fees, unless you waive the enforcement and reduce the personnel, all you’re doing is moving the cost over to the property tax.

Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee met on May 12, 2021 to conduct a hearing on the Cannabis Delivery Zoning Amendments and Municipal Code Amendments.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Perhaps I should make a short list of the highest priorities of this Council term and the previous term. Cannabis promotion would high on that list.

Committee Report #3. The Public Safety Committee met on Jan 6, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Cambridge Police Department inventory list.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

The Zondervan/Sobrinho-Wheeler war on law enforcement continues. – Robert Winters

May 18, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 503-504: May 18, 2021

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:49 pm

Episode 503 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 18, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on May 18, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Looking back; camaraderie of the unmasked; Apollo & Cambridge; Budget hearings and political theater; trickle-down politics; boycotts, divestment, and Chapter 30B; Plan E and city management; digital equity/municipal broadband – and Cable TV. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 504 – Cambridge InsideOut: May 18, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on May 18, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Legal tussles over acoustic music; License Commission; emerging from the pandemic; end of the emergency – beginning of the questions; voting post-Covid; eviction moratorium to end; sidewalk & street dining – temporary or permanent; election year rhetoric; emergent candidates and PR realities; Starlight future. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

May 17, 2021

Foreign Affairs and Other Adventures – May 17, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:49 pm

Foreign Affairs and Other Adventures – May 17, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Election-year dynamics are in full swing as our incumbents tailor their appeal to voters whose attention lies both inside and outside the borders of our little 6.39 square mile peoples republic. Here are the items that drew my attention this week:Welcome to the Peoples Republic

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-58, regarding a report on creating a comprehensive digital, postal, and traditional media outreach campaign educating residents on the Cambridge eviction moratorium, tenants’ rights, and resources available to at-risk tenants.
Placed on File 9-0

Now that the Governor has announced that we’re going to 100% Reopening as of May 29 and all the Covid indicators are rapidly trending in a good direction, is there any legal justification for maintaining the eviction moratorium? By the way, there is no indication of any “tsunami of evictions” coming any time soon in Cambridge, and the communication notes that “Thankfully, numbers have been very low in Cambridge, and we believe this is due in part to the strong and ongoing partnerships the City has built and continues to build with property management companies.” It is, however, an election year, so I expect to see a tsunami of rhetoric coming regardless.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-3, regarding a report on the parameters on eligible expenses from Free Cash.
Referred to Finance Committee 9-0 (Mallon)

This is great to have some clarity for our research-challenged councillors. There are definitely some councillors who would like nothing more than to hand out cash and prizes – especially to those whose memories run until at least next November – but state law and the Mass. Constitution does not grant such ease to cities and towns. We are obliged to be creative (as in paying restaurants to provide meals on a fee for service basis during the pandemic) or at least to cast such expenditures in terms of broad public benefit even if the resources are going directly to individuals (as is the case with most housing programs).

Manager’s Agenda #7. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $70,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Public Investment Fund Community Development Extraordinary Expenditures account from mitigation funds contributed by Regency Centers to the Harvard Square Improvement Fund as a condition of special permit #PB334 which will be used for the purchase and installation of public space improvements on Palmer Street in Harvard Square.
Order Adopted 9-0

This expenditure is pocket change, but the intention (I believe) is to work with the abutting property owners on Palmer Street to recreate it as a much more active and interesting space where the boundary between private and public space is intentionally blurred. This alley is necessary for deliveries and other utilitarian needs, but with very little other traffic it’s a perfect location for music and other performances. Movies, hot dog vendors, and other street food would also be nice. Making this a spectacular space will likely cost significantly more than $70K, but I’m sure some of the abutters can chip in. Maybe we can have a pickup game of stick-ball there sometime. If you hit the Coop bridge on the fly, that has to be at least a triple.

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to revised versions of the Retail Zoning Petition and Home Occupations Zoning Petition.
Petition Amended by Substitution (CDD text) 9-0; Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Apr 14, 2021 regarding the Retail Uses Zoning Recommendations – Refiled (Ordinance #2021-3) and the Home Occupations Zoning Recommendations – Refiled (Ordinance #2021-4).
Report Accepted, Place on File 9-0

Much of this is long overdue, but the list of proposed changes is just long. Would anyone like to translate and simplify for the rest of us?

On the Table #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-64, requesting Home Rule language to allow for acoustic live entertainment performances in small businesses under certain conditions without a license. [TABLED IN COUNCIL FEB 22, 2021]
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to additional information on a Acoustic Music response currently On the Table. [License Commission Mar 9, 2021 Memo] [License Commission Feb 22, 2021 Memo]
Placed on File 9-0

This new response from the License Commission makes a lot of sense. One area that never gets the attention it deserves is how the City and the License Commission balance competing interests in mixed use zones, e.g. when a venue that could generate noise is in close proximity to apartments. This becomes especially important with more people working from home.

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-13, regarding next steps on implementation of Universal Pre-K.
Placed on Table 9-0 (Sobrinho-Wheeler)

I like reading these kinds of things. All too often the refrain from City leaders is about public assistance rather than economic and personal empowerment; and education – from pre-K on up to college-level classes – is a big part of what constitutes empowerment.

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to further proposed amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance and draft regulations. [Attachment A] [Attachment B] [Attachment C]
Placed on Table 9-0 (Zondervan)

Please, councillors, just let homeowners make reasonable choices about how we manage our property without inflicting onerous requirements or excessive costs just because you think you know what’s best. That may involve a little trust. Is that something you can warm up to?

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with all relative City departments, the Central Square BID and the MBTA to close Mass Ave. from Prospect Street to Sydney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:00pm to 1:00am through September 2021 and report back to the Council. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL MAY 10, 2021]
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Zondervan – Present)

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the City Manager’s Small Business Advisory Committee, the Cambridge Business Coalition, and other relevant City Departments to outline a plan for future outdoor dining and necessary City supports to ensure its’ success.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

It has been great seeing how creative some business owners (and business associations and business improvement districts) have been as they navigated the pandemic working cooperatively with City departments. I expect this will continue long after the pandemic. That said, just closing down a street for the sake of saying you closed down a street isn’t especially helpful. Shutting down Mass. Ave. every Friday and Saturday night would have a lot of ripple effects on transportation and on the surrounding streets, and it’s not at all clear what, if any, benefits might result. The action is on the sidewalks and outdoor patios right now and not in the middle of the street. Save the full closures for a few targeted events on some summer and fall weekend afternoons. Definitely make the extended patios a permanent part of the non-winter pedestrian experience in places like Central Square.

Charter Right #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Law Department to review the proposed ordinance to reduce or limit campaign donations, POR 2020 #240, and respond to the City Council, in a reasonable time, with suggested edits, comments and recommendations. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN IN COUNCIL MAY 10, 2021]
Order Adopted 9-0

Charter Right #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the City Solicitor’s Office to draft a Home Rule Petition that would cap campaign contributions to any City Council candidate to $200 per person, per year, per candidate. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN IN COUNCIL MAY 10, 2021]
Order Adopted 7-2 (Carlone, Zondervan – NO)

I seriously think this is more political distraction than anything else. There’s a morality faux fight implicit in all this that’s borderline pathetic. If you simply shine a very bright light on candidates whose campaigns are fueled from questionable sources, that should be enough.

Resolution #5. Resolution on the death of John E. "Jack" Flynn.   Councillor Toomey
Resolution Adopted 9-0

This was really sad news. I hadn’t heard a word about Jackie in years. He was once upon a time a fixture in the City Clerk’s office and at City Hall.

Resolution #6. Death of Jenna Santos.   Mayor Siddiqui
Resolution Adopted 9-0

I read about this in a School Committee communication. It has been a rough year for current CRLS students and some recent CRLS graduates. I heard just the other day about another recent CRLS graduate who died of a drug overdose in Central Square.

Resolution #7. In Support of H.R.2590, “The Palestinian Children and Families Act”.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Charter Right – Nolan

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Purchasing Department to review Cambridge’s corporate contracts and identify any companies that are in violation of Cambridge’s policy on discrimination, including (but not limited to) Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Hewlett Packard Incorporated over their role in abetting apartheid in the Middle East, and to suggest alternatives for Cambridge to explore in order to ensure the city embody the values it put on paper.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Carlone
Charter Right – Nolan

I respectfully disagree.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to (1) refresh the rainbow benches outside of City Hall by June 1, 2021, (2) re-paint the crosswalks in colors that represent the Trans Flag, the Pride Flag, the Bi Flag and the People of Color Pride Flag by June 1, 2021, and (3) light City Hall up in rainbow colors in recognition of Pride Month from June 1, 2021-June 12, 2021.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

This is all well and good, but at some point the question has to be raised regarding how long any given “statement” should remain on City Hall or the surrounding area. For example, the “Juneteenth” flag appeared on City Hall last summer when that day (June 19) was recognized. One might reasonably think that the flag would come down after the holiday and return again this summer, but it remained all year – most likely because of the racial theme during a difficult year. What is awkward here is that even the suggestion that such a flag should be removed until the next celebration could likely be viewed as a hostile act. Nobody is likely to ask about policies regarding such matters because of the discomfort, but there really should be policies and practices that apply to such commemorations and statements. While I’m risking offense, I may as well also note that those POW-MIA flags have been flying now probably since the Vietnam Conflict was still raging. Here’s a suggestion – charge the Civic Unity Committee with making recommendations regarding how and for what duration flags and similar things should be displayed.

Order #2. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts State Police, and MassDOT to develop a holistic plan for managing the traffic and congestion in the Alewife area and report back to the City Council.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Cambridge comes full circle. For those who didn’t just move here, let me remind everyone that this is precisely what kicked off the whole adventure that resulted in the “Envision Cambridge” process. It’s almost like our “Envision” needs a new prescription every year.

Order #4. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to consult with relevant Department heads and the nonprofit community on "Digital Equity" and report back to the Council with an implementation plan, schedule, and request for appropriation.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #5. That the City Manager be and hereby is ordered to consult with relevant Department heads on other broadband benefits programs offered by the Federal government, and report back to the City Council on the City’s plans to leverage these funds in pursuit of Digital Equity.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I often wonder these days how many City Council orders are ghost-written on Cottage Street or Laurel Street or in some Somerville apartment. By the way, I signed the original petition for municipal broadband, but the more this drags on the more my doubts grow regarding whether that’s even a good road to travel. Sometimes it just seems more like just a wedge issue that exists primarily to argue for charter reform and/or clear-cutting the City administration. – Robert Winters

May 10, 2021

Of interest on the May 10, 2021 City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:56 pm

Of interest on the May 10, 2021 City Council Agenda

Big ticket loan authorizations, juggling finances, tax implications, political machinations and more.City Hall

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

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui transmitting questions for the COVID-19 Update.
Placed on File 9-0

I have been updating the COVID data and graphs every day for over a year now, and there is nothing I would like more than to see the daily new infections drop to zero so that the graphs will have literally nothing to show and we can all just call it a day and start focusing on other things. We are now down to single digits, and you can actually see faces emerging again.

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the FY2021 Cultural Investment Portfolio Program Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in the amount of $12,100 to the Grant Fund Historical Commission Salaries and Wages account ($12,100) which will continue to support part-time archives assistants, who maintain the public archive of Cambridge history.
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-11 regarding filling vacant positions.
Placed on File 9-0

Leaving budgeted positions unfilled was a key component of the City’s strategy for navigating the pandemic with its diminished revenue and added expenses. This year’s Budget Book shows that FY2020 had an Adopted Budget of $665,550,940 but actual expenditures of $639,240,005 – a savings of $26,310,935. The FY2021 Adopted Budget was $702,432,985, but the Projected FY2021 expenditures are $705,360,745 – just $2,927,760 more than was adopted in June 2020. The new total FY2020 Budget is $735,203,865.

It remains to be seen what the net effect of the pandemic will be on revenues and the resulting tax rates that will be determined in the Fall. Suffice to say that commercial tax revenues are tied to income generation from those properties, and many of them remained vacant or partially vacant for much of this past year. I would like very much to learn more about the property tax abatement applications and whether or not this could result in a significant shift of the tax burden from commercial properties onto residential properties – even if only for a year or two. Needless to say, revenue sources like the hotel/motel tax will be a fraction of what they have been prior to the pandemic and many fees have been reduced or waived.

The Budget Hearings start tomorrow (Tues, May 11). This week’s hearing will include the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) Budget along with many other department budgets. Look for plenty of political grandstanding. The FY2020 CPD Adopted Budget was $63,384,730 and the FY2020 actual expenditures were $61,191,815. Last June the CPD Adopted Budget was $65,925,945 amidst the confused complaints of those who thought we were Minneapolis, and the FY2021 projected CPD expenditures should ring in at around $63,919,100. The FY2022 Budget calls for $68,731,130. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the City Council insisted on reducing this by some token amount just so they could include that in their campaign literature.

Don’t be surprised if by Tuesday evening you find me arguing in favor of replacing proportional representation elections by a system of random selection of 9 people from the Registered Voting List.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-31, regarding funding for housing stabilization assistance in the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $28,500,000 to provide funds for the construction of sewer separation, storm water management and combined sewer overflow reduction elimination improvements within River Street and Harvard Square areas as well as the Sewer Capital Repairs Program and climate change preparedness efforts.
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $1,800,000 to provide funds for various Schools for projects that include: asbestos abatement in various schools, replace the front plaza and failing masonry wing walls and recaulking the building at the Haggerty School, replace emergency generator and extend exhaust at Cambridgeport, recaulking precast panels at CRLS Field House, unit vents engineering at the Fletcher Maynard Academy and Longfellow building and replace the gym floor at the Amigos School.
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $10,000,000 to provide funds for the Municipal Facilities Improvement Plan. Funds will support improvements at the Department of Public Works Complex, Moses Youth Center HVAC Design, fire notification system installation at 11 buildings, Coffon building bathroom rehab and upgrades and MFIP study. Also, included is funding to support fire station improvements including: Lafayette Square fire station improvements (floor slab, kitchen and gym flooring replacement), Taylor Square fire station improvements (decontamination showers, installation and parapet improvement), East Cambridge fire station improvements (sanitary storm system replacement and generator installation) and Lexington Ave. fire station driveway construction.
Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an order requesting the appropriation and authorization to borrow $5,000,000 to provide funds for the reconstruction of various City streets and sidewalks.
Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

These loan authorizations (bonds) total $45,300,000. In addition, the FY2022 Public Investment Budget (Pay-As-You-Go) is proposed to be $38,610,865. This brings the total proposed amount for Public Investment to $83,910,865. The funding sources are: Bond Proceeds ($16,800,000), Chapter 90 ($2,706,330), Community Development Block Grant ($1,549,380), Departmental Revenue ($6,027,155), Mitigation Revenue ($3,403,000), Parking Fund Revenues ($1,150,000), Property Taxes ($15,725,000), Sewer Bond Proceeds ($28,500,000), Sewer Service Charges ($2,750,000), Water Fund Balance ($1,800,000), and Water Service Charges ($3,500,000)

The amounts associated with bonds will be paid over time through the Debt Service budget which was $74,269,970 (actual) in FY2020, $78,854,890 (projected) in FY2021, and $82,441,070 (proposed) for FY2022. Just for the sake of comparison over the years, the Debt Service was $8,277,290 in FY1992, $11,493,110 in FY2000, $23,917,070 in FY2005, $43,293,670 in FY2010, and $50,446,035 in FY2015. The choice to pay for much of the capital investments via bonds is at least in part due to the low interest rates we can get thanks to our AAA bond ratings.

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the first Cycling Safety Ordinance report which analyzes the block-by-block impacts of installing quick-build separated bike lanes on four specific segments of Massachusetts Avenue, as identified in Section 12.22.040 (E) of the ordinance.
Refer to Transportation & Public Utilities Committee 9-0

The rhetoric will be entertaining. Parking is now referred to as "private vehicle storage" in order to characterize it as diametrically opposite to "community benefit." The underlying presumption is that all righteous people will soon travel and shop via bicycle – except for those surly laborers who actually deliver your goods, fix your plumbing, install your solar panels and vegetated roofs, etc. By the way, how was your latte this morning?

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with all relative city departments, the Central Square BID and the MBTA to close Mass Ave. from Prospect Street to Sydney Street on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:00pm to 1:00am through September 2021 and report back to the Council.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Charter Right – Zondervan

I don’t yet know of anyone in the Central Square business community who supports this, and I’m sure that the traffic that’s diverted to the parallel residential streets will go over superbly with the residents on those streets. I’m not saying that there can’t be some positive aspects to this, but it strikes me as naive and political as opposed to informed and practical. Selectively re-purposing some streets in Central Square during certain hours and certain days has a lot of merit (and some of this is already planned), but vacating the Massachusetts Ave. roadway on weekend evenings seems neither necessary nor helpful. A more helpful suggestion would be to help facilitate a few summer weekend closures for festivals with music – assuming, of course, that the Covid numbers continue to drop.

Order #2. In support of H. 3559, An Act Relative to Public Transit Electrification.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toomey
Order Adopted 9-0 as Amended

This is specific to public transit and calls for (a) blocking any proposed conversion to fuel-powered buses on any of bus routes now powered by overhead wires; (b) having an all-electric MBTA bus fleet within approximately a decade; and (c) converting all commuter rail lines from diesel to electric. While I find a lot of this to be unnecessarily rigid, especially in terms of the durability and route flexibility of the buses, I would like to see not only the electrification of many of the commuter rail lines, but also the folding of some of those lines into an expanded rapid transit system with far more frequent service.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 24, 2021 conduct a public hearing on the following ordinance amendments.
(1) That the City Council adopt a municipal ordinance to reduce or limit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city.
(2) The Cambridge City Council direct the City Manager to work with the City Solicitor’s Office to draft a Home Rule Petition that would cap campaign contributions to any City Council candidate to $200 per person, per year, per candidate and limit candidate loans to $3,000 per election cycle.
Charter Right – McGovern

We have heard variations of these proposals more times than I care to count, and the legal complications of some of the proposed ideas aren’t even worth repeating at this point. It’s as though proposals like this are integral parts of the campaign rhetoric of some candidates – and whether they are ever implemented in some form is almost irrelevant.

Local political campaigns nowadays do not necessarily require a fortune to be successful – and there is a lot of evidence that the keys to a successful campaign have more to do with social media and shoe leather than with mammoth campaign war chests. In fact, there are some voters (like me) who look upon excessively funded campaigns with more suspicion than respect. The increasing role of political action committees (PACs) in local campaigns is not even being raised by city councillors, and that goes especially for those councillors who are backed by these PACs and appear on their candidate slates – even as the campaign accounts of these PACs are being converted to "Independent Expenditure PACs" with little or no transparency. [References: Cambridge City Council Campaign Receipts 2021 and Cambridge City Council Campaign Receipts 2019]

Personally, I would rather see voluntary caps on spending and full disclosure by all players in the political campaigns – including all organizations who are working to unlevel the playing field and influence the outcomes. A roster of all the people associated with these organizations would also be helpful since simply calling yourselves "Better" means about as much as saying "Make Cambridge Great Again" when what you’re really doing is just creating more investment opportunities to exploit (not that there’s anything wrong with investment). – Robert Winters

May 3, 2021

For Your Consideration on the May 3, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:24 pm

For Your Consideration on the May 3, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting agenda

Here are the things I found interesting, alarming, or downright absurd this week:

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

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 9-0

It was a pleasure going for a walk this weekend without the mask (except when in close proximity with other people). Let’s hope that things continue on the road to normalcy (or at least close to normal).

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of The Port Infrastructure Project Working Group, effective May 3, 2021 for a period of 12-15 months.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-25, regarding a report on monitoring drought conditions and an update on demand projections.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-66, regarding a report on establishing a Black and Brown-Owned Business Task Force.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2022 submitted budget and appropriation orders. [FY2022 Summaries] [FY2022 Budget Book]
Referred to Finance Committee 9-0Budget Season!

I like to track how the budgets of the various City departments change from year to year and in the long term. Here’s a chart showing the one-year and two-year changes as well as the 17-year changes.

The big jumps upward this year are for the Law Department (up 23.4% in one year and 38.6% over two years), the Executive Department, i.e. the City Manager’s Office (up 14.3% in one year and 28.8% over two years), and the Animal Commission (up 12.4% in one year but just 0.9% over two years). It is notable that the Mayor’s Office budget dropped 15.3% from the previous year. The overall proposed budget is up 4.7% from the previous year and 10.5% from two years earlier.

It’s not so easy to ascertain from just the summaries how the Covid-19 pandemic expressed itself in the FY22 Budget, but perhaps that will become more clear when information about positions purposely left unfilled is known. There will also be $83.9 million in Loan Authorizations for Capital Projects that will appear on next week’s agenda.

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to present a plan to the City Council to increase the affordable homeownership stock over the next 10 years by financing the construction of affordable homeownership units through a bond issue of no less than $500 million. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL APR 26, 2021] [Order #3 of Apr 26, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

As I said last week: “I think it’s a great idea to encourage and even facilitate homeownership – especially for those who have lived in Cambridge for a long time or possibly their entire lives. Of course in Cambridge-speak, the phrase ‘affordable homeownership’ doesn’t just mean facilitating the purchase of a home. There are always strings attached with ‘social housing,’ and ultimately a ‘homeowner’ could never actually build up any significant equity in the property. For many prospective homeowners, looking elsewhere would still likely be the better long-term option. A program I could definitely warm up to would be one involving loan guarantees to assist prospective homeowners seeking to buy housing in the big wide housing world with fewer strings attached.”

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, the Affordable Housing Trust, and other relevant City departments to provide options to update the HomeBridge and Affordable Home Ownership Programs to better align with the City’s values, and promote racial equity and socioeconomic justice.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

See above. The Housing Division of the City’s Community Development Department is so addicted to control of the city’s housing stock that it’s doubtful they’ll ever shift their priorities toward actual home ownership and economic equity. The Cambridge municipal view of “socioeconomic justice” generally involves some form of government control and limited or nonexistent equity.

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Cambridge Police Department to present a plan to the City Council for demilitarization, including the destruction and recycling of all rifles and shotguns, and elimination of the Lenco Bearcat. [CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IN COUNCIL APR 26, 2021] [Order #5 of Apr 26, 2021]
Order Adopted as Amended by (McGovern) Substitution 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

See my comments from last week on this item. To repeat: “I don’t believe most city councillors ever consider the really exceptional circumstances where greater security is needed. They see only situations where people engaged in protests are offended by ‘the optics’ of large vehicles, weapons, and extra defensive gear. It’s a great luxury (and privilege) to never have to consider the exceptional circumstances.”

On the Table #4. That the City Council shall have its own budget for outside legal research to be utilized at the discretion of the Council when designated by a majority of members in pursuance of the Council’s authority to exercise the legislative powers of the City as specified in the City charter. [TABLED IN COUNCIL APR 26, 2021] [Amended Order #8 of Apr 12, 2021]
Adopted as Amended 7-2 (Simmons, Toomey – NO)

On the Table #5. A communication was received from City Solicitor, Nancy E. Glowa, transmitting Legal Opinion Regarding Request to Have Legal Resources Committed to Assist City Council with Legal Research and Drafting of Ordinances Pursuant to Orders Voted Upon in Public at Scheduled City Council Meetings. [TABLED IN COUNCIL APR 26, 2021] [Late Communication of Apr 26, 2021]
Placed on File 9-0

My comments from last week, including in the aftermath of the Late Communication from City Solicitor Nancy Glowa (who was simply stating facts and not "defending her turf" as some have described her comments): “If this were to happen there is no doubt whatsoever that we would soon see five councillors hand-picking their own lawyer who would then be pitted against the City Solicitor – a recipe for chaos. Furthermore, the City Council is under no obligation to abide by the legal advice of the City Solicitor – though that would generally be a rather poor choice.”

Ms. Glowa’s well-researched and informative communication includes the following: “However, it is not possible, legally or ethically, to provide independent legal counsel to the City Council that would not be under the direction of and reporting to the City Solicitor for the reasons set forth above. It could lead to "dualling lawyers", representing different components of the same client – the City of Cambridge – a situation which “creates a serious potential for confusion and contradiction in the direction of the City’s litigation, as well as the potential for disruption of the City’s business in the event that the advice rendered differs between each attorney.”

In addition to this Late Communication, the City Solicitor forcefully reminded the City Council of the potential jeopardy of proceeding with the Order as originally written. Specifically, Section 107 of the Plan E Charter (which is part of the Mass. General Laws) states that “Neither the city council nor any of its committees or members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the city manager or any of his subordinates, or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers and employees in that portion of the service of said city for whose administration the city manager is responsible. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the city council and its members shall deal with that portion of the service of the city as aforesaid solely through the city manager, and neither the city council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the city manager either publicly or privately. Any member of the city council who violates, or participates in the violation of, any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, and upon final conviction thereof his office in the city council shall thereby be vacated and he shall never again be eligible for any office or position, elective or otherwise, in the service of the city.

After the April 26 meeting Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler opined that this section of the Charter was only meant to prevent a councillor from forcing the firing of a City employee. That is a woefully incorrect reading of this clause. Some councillors appeared to be mock-offended at the suggestion of jail time, but it should be obvious to anyone who can read that the greater penalty would be removal from office and the prohibition from ever seeking that office again.

Unfinished Business #7. A Zoning Petition has been received from Amy Oliver, regarding that the City require the installation of GREEN ROOFS vegetated or BioSolar on future construction and significant rehab of buildings that are 20,000 square feet and larger. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL APR 12, 2021] [Text as Amended on Apr 26, 2021]
Ordained as Amended 6-0-0-3 (Mallon, Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

Though the Planning Board voted 8-1 against this petition as originally drafted, our compulsively prescriptive City Council will likely ordain this by a comfortable margin.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to ensure that additional funding for Housing Stability shall be made available throughout FY22 if the City Council advises that the need is present.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #3. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with Community Development and Traffic, Parking and Transportation to include an EV requirement in their review of development projects, including that a minimum of 25% of all parking spaces shall be EVSE-Installed, meaning a parking space equipped with functioning Level 2 Chargers, or the equivalent thereof must be provided, and that all parking spaces be EV-ready, meaning raceway to every parking space, adequate space in the electrical panel, and space for additional transformer capacity; the City approved EV Requirement Equivalent Calculator must be used if chargers other than Level 2 Chargers are installed.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

There is little doubt that with electric vehicles becoming more common there will have to be a lot more rethinking about how "filling stations" give way to "charging stations". Even with the best of new battery technologies it’s unlikely that the time needed to charge up an electric vehicle will ever be close to the time it takes to fill up the gas tank. It’s not hard to imagine a future where charging is widely available in most garages, but it’s not nearly so easy to imagine how cars parked on the street will routinely access the necessary charging. I imagine long road trips will also have to be reimagined to allow time and the means for charging. All this makes me think of a relevant song by Phil Ochs.

Order #5. That the Cambridge City Council goes on record in support of the Bathroom Bill of Rights being sponsored by Free to Flush.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

I wonder if this Bathroom Bill of Rights will encompass the right to deal and inject drugs or provide sexual services like the toilet now parked on City Hall property on the Inman Street side. The red indicator on the door used to mean "occupied" but now means "open for business."

Order #7. Free The Vaccine Resolution.   Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0

I believe resolution of this is already happening even without a Cambridge City Council resolution.

Order #8. That the City Manager be and is hereby requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department to apply for the Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program and if grants are received to work with the community before implementation of a program.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

It’s nice that the Cambridge City Council recognizes some of the adaptation and success that has come about thanks to the initiative of the Central Square BID in cooperation with the City administration, but I don’t really know what role, if any, the City Council has played in any of this other than the photo ops.

Order #9. That the Cambridge City Council go on record standing in solidarity with the MNA nurses campaigning for fair contract negotiations with Cambridge Health Alliance.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 9, 2021 to conduct a public hearing on the Cannabis Delivery-Only Zoning Ordinance petition.
Report Accepted, Placed on File, Order Adopted 9-0

It’s all about the money – and picking the winners.

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting charter assessment: review and reform. [2nd Memo provided late]
Placed on File 9-0

Rarely have I seen a more vacuous communication as this. It refers to the attached memo that supposedly contains “an overview of the individual discussions with each Council member, recommendations and alternatives for the Council to consider, and potential next steps for this process.” There was no attachment other than a link to the previous memo from nearly 7 weeks earlier. It’s pretty clear that conversations on this topic have been happening but only in this Council’s characteristic lack of transparency. – Robert Winters

March 16, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 495-496: March 16, 2021

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut,Central Square,City Council,covid,schools — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:47 pm

Episode 495 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 16, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Mar 16, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Heros of Central Square through the pandemic; flexibility w/City agencies as a philosphy; Arts & Music, busk stops, and what is to come. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 496 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 16, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Mar 16, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Popportunity and its progeny; Starlight Square; city manager search; charter change and the lust for power; Covid-19 updates and the misreading of data; real human services; Cambridge schools during Covid; School Superintendent search. Hosts: Patrick Barrett, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 19, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 487-488: January 19, 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:37 pm

Episode 487 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 19, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Jan 19, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Inauguration & Insurrection; Apr 1971 vs. Jan 2021 in DC; I Beg your Pardon; Starting up the Biden Administration; avoiding civil war; Covid-19 Status and vaccination roll-out; Schools, Superintendent resignation, between a rock and a hard place. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 488 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 19, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Jan 19, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Public Safety and Populist Politics; hostile architecture, the MBTA and ADA; public discourse vs. political theater; civics vs. politics; the paradox of liberalism; municipal election candidates and wild cards. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

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