Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

February 22, 2021

Featured Items on the Feb 22, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:12 pm

Featured Items on the Feb 22, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here’s my Broadway view of this week’s Civics in Cambridge:City Hall

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

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, transmitting questions for the COVID-19 Update.
Placed on File 9-0

The numbers continue to look better and vaccination opportunities are slowly opening up. I suppose I should go seek a jab or two one of these days.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the Final Landmark Designation Report for the St. Augustine’s African Orthodox Church at 137 Allston Street.
Adopted 9-0

This building clearly needs landmark status as the report recommends, but I’ll say once again that I always love reading reports like this from the Cambridge Historical Commission. I went on a tour of this church and other Cambridgeport churches a couple of years ago and I got to explore just about every corner of this building right down to the plumbing. I even received a blessing in the basement. This church is the real deal.

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a proposed amendment to Section 8.66 of the Municipal Ordinance relating to Tree Protection and related Order.
Rules Suspended 7-2 (DS, TT – NO) to allow ordination in a single session;
Ordained 7-2 (DS, TT – NO)

Committee Report #1. The Health & Environment Committee met on Oct 13, 2020 to conduct a public hearing to discuss amending the Tree Protection Ordinance based on the findings of the Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force.
Charter Right – Zondervan

The City Council will officially kick the can down the road another 60 days to April 29. I sincerely hope that when they do finally come around to finalizing an ordinance that it will have sufficient flexibility for homeowners to make reasonable decisions without incurring unreasonable costs or having to face unnecessarily burdensome procedures.

Manager’s Agenda #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 9-0

Late Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to instruct the Law Department to draft a home rule petition and a zoning amendment to allow acoustic music performances without a license.   Vice Mayor Mallon
Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Toomey – PRESENT)[Note: The City Council’s failure to consider unintended consequences here is a spectacular failure. Perhaps that will be discussed at a future meeting.]

In short, the License Commission recognizes that it has an important role to play in ensuring that Cambridge businesses and residents can peacefully coexist. Anyone who lives in a mixed-use area of the city (like I do) understands this. Only one of the current city councillors lives in such an area.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-144, regarding the feasibility of creating a Fire Cadet Program.
Home Rule Petition Adopted 9-0

Good plan, but it’s remarkable that a Home Rule Petition is even necessary to do something like this. Civil service laws may have been created with the best intentions, but they should never thwart good initiatives like this. It must be pointed out, however, that there are many laws passed with the best intentions that can have serious negative consequences.

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a further response to Calendar Item Number 2, regarding a report on reviewing the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project, which was previously answered as Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63 on Feb 1, 2021.
Tabled 9-0 (after Councillor Nolan exercised her Charter Right initially even though this was obviously not new business).

Late Order #5. That the City Solicitor report back to the City Council on whether or not the City can require written notice be sent to all abutters, both property owners as well as tenants, regarding the scheduling of a hearing regarding the extension of a building permit request to the Planning Board.
Adopted 9-0

The previous communication on this was as clear as an unmuddied lake or an azure sky of deepest summer. One of the oldest and most important rules is that you don’t change the rules in the middle of the game. If a development proposal secures financing based on a certain set of requirements, retroactively changing those requirements jeopardizes the financing and viability of the project. In this case it’s the Planning Board’s authority to grant extensions "for good cause" and they voted to do so. It’s not the place of the Cambridge City Council to second-guess those decisions.

Order #1. Policy Order re: Services for the Unhoused.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted as Amended 9-0

In short, it’s been a while since the City did a comprehensive review of how such matters are addressed and it’s overdue, especially in light of some of the extraordinary pressures caused by the pandemic. The City has done a very good job in devising short-term solutions in an emergency setting, but it would be helpful to take a step back and look at these matters more holistically – and not just as a shallow political response to phone-in democracy.

Committee Report #2. The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning; Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee held a public hearing on Wed, Nov 18, 2020 to discuss the Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study RFP.
Placed on File 9-0

My prediction is that by the time the City decides on a course of action and invests mightily in such infrastructure, the technology will be rendered obsolete by space lasers. – Robert Winters

February 16, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 491-492: February 16, 2021

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge InsideOut — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 11:57 pm

Episode 491 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 16, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 16, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Impeachment and acquittal; redefinition of major parties; Red Sox; Covid update; observations on density and the “missing middle” petition; loosening of single-family zoning. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 492 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 16, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Feb 16, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: In search of a Superintendent of Schools and the mythical visionary; eduspeak; young socialist robots invade public comment; democracy by the pound; SROs – an idea whose time may have come again; organically grown local politics. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting featured attractions

Filed under: Cambridge,covid — Tags: , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 3:47 pm

February 8, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting featured attractions

First of all, congratulations to Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, and to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their Super Bowl victory. As for those who took the opportunity to disparage Brady for his political inclinations, I just want to remind you that this was just a football game.City Hall

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

The Covid-19 numbers have been trending in a good direction lately. That’s cause for guarded optimism. Also, even though the start of spring training and the 2021 baseball season will be delayed, a 154 game schedule has been proposed, and hopefully the vaccinated fans will at some point outnumber the cardboard cutouts in the stands.

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund to the Grant Fund Human Services Other Ordinary Maintenance for the purpose of entering into grant agreements with nonprofit organizations to provide services to vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 emergency and recovery.
Order Adopted 9-0

Money well spent. It will be interesting to see in a few months what cumulative impact this dreadful pandemic will have on City finances (and taxes). The numbers I have heard for commercial and residential vacancies have been stunning.

Charter Right #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-63, which requested a review of the granting of an extension for the 605 Concord Avenue project. [Charter Right Feb 3 – Nolan]
Tabled 9-0 (Nolan)

Charter Right #2. Policy Order re Renaming Fairmont Avenue. [Charter Right Feb 3 – Simmons]
Withrawn (Rescinded) 9-0

Perhaps this item was delayed when other residents of Fairmont Ave. found out that their address might be changing.

Charter Right #3. Eliminating Hostile Architecture. [Charter Right Feb 3 – Nolan]
Order Adopted 7-0-0-2 as Amended (DS,TT – PRESENT)

I expect we’ll have another parade of clueless Harvard Young Democratic Socialists reading from their script. By the way, none of the examples of "hostile architecture" attached to the Order is particularly hostile. There is such a thing as hostile architecture, but this ain’t it.

PUBLIC COMMENT TEMPLATE

Hi, my name is _____. I live on______. [ State your relationship to Cambridge. E.g. I have lived here for 7 years, I was unhoused, I attend X university, I work in Cambridge, I grew up in Cambridge ].

I’m here today to urge the City of Cambridge to support Charter Right 3 and councilor Zondervan’s amendment to that policy order. Our unhoused community already suffers from lack of non-congregate shelter and resources every single day, and taking away one of the few sheltered places they can safely rest does nothing more than reinforce that harm. 

We hear the argument often that the hostile architecture installed is actually installed for the benefit of disabled and senior citizens. Unhoused people frequently fall into both of those categories. So I don’t think the council should accept Vice Mayor Mallon and Councillor Nolan’s amendments. Vice Mayor Mallon’s amendment removes the ask to create design guidelines for future projects, the ask to remove existing hostile architecture in the city, and the specific reference to Carl Barron Plaza which will soon be redesigned. Councillor Nolan’s amendment shifts the balance of the order uncomfortably towards housed people. These amendments hide behind legitimate concerns for the elderly and disabled communities in order to act against the interest of the most vulnerable unhoused seniors and disabled people. Members of the unhoused community have supported the specific asks in this policy order, and they should remain.

I am glad that the city has provided some services to the unhoused community already in the face of the pandemic. We have never said that the city has done NOTHING for the homeless community. We understand that the city spent $10 million on supporting non-profits who address homelessness, but the city has spent $0 dollars on non-congregate shelter, and that is what we want to highlight. Instead of spending Cambridge taxpayer funds to support unsafe shelter, the city should have used federal FEMA funding over the past year to support safe non-congregate shelter. Unlike what was said in last week’s meeting, Spaulding is a congregate shelter, and not a non-congregate one. What homeless community members have explicitly asked for are private spaces, and Spaulding definitionally does not meet this demand. Thank you for your time.

I have never been a fan of robots.

Order #1. Retail Table of Land Use Update PO.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Referred to Ordinance Committee & Planning Board 9-0

This is important…. and complicated.

Order #4. Redesigning Cambridge Voting Stickers.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Apparently having a sticker that says simply "I Voted" is insufficiently woke.

Order #5. That the City Manager instruct his staff to develop a ten-year infrastructure plan for the City Council that outlines all future needs and plans for infrastructure, public safety and public services.   Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

I agree with this Order completely. Waiting for utility companies such as Eversource to plan in any comprehensive way is a hopeless quest. Perhaps we should should energize the City’s Pole and Conduit Commission. – Robert Winters

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]

January 10, 2021

Insurrection and Featured Items on the January 11, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 10:15 pm

Insurrection and Featured Items on the January 11, 2021 City Council Agenda

The news has become an endless series of rearrangements of the words and phrases "25th Amendment", impeachment, insurrection, Pence, Trump, Pelosi, Cruz, and Hawley – as Trump manages to continue owning the headlines by any means necessary. At this rate the Biden Inauguration on January 20 might get as far as Page 2 in the New York Times below the fold. Any early initiatives of the incoming Administration will get less attention than the repercussions of the Jan 6 Invasion of Idiots. Let’s not forget that this "insurrection" involved the murder of a police officer. It’s incredible how violence in the name of politics with little or no consequence has become normalized in this country. That has to change. The right to peaceful assembly does not include the right to murder or to threaten people or to destroy property without consequence simply because you’re angry.

I just hope the Joint Chiefs of Staff are keeping a watchful eye on the “football”. The best plan I’ve heard so far (from Rep. James Clyburn) is to play Censure the Menace, pass Articles of Impeachment, and then wait 100 days before proceeding with a post-transition impeachment trial in order to reclaim the agenda before cooking the goose and relegating him to the darkest dungeon of American history. Though almost nobody ever seems to talk about it, we should also be having a serious discussion about the flaws in our election systems that yield perverse results like we have had to endure for the last four years. Unfortunately, after elections have passed and some have declared victory and others have conceded defeat, almost everyone quickly forgets the flawed mechanisms of the democracy they so want to defend.

Here you go (but please don’t storm City Hall to overthrow the government):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

The current daily rate of new positive Covid-19 tests is alarming in spite of the promise of the roll-out of vaccinations. Other than the fact that a large proportion of new cases are among people in the 20-29 and 30-39 age ranges, there hasn’t been much information on specific means of transmission, e.g. reckless gatherings, routine letting your guard down, or transmission at the workplace or other specific sites. I would prefer it if councillors would focus more on targeted prevention than on equitable infection.

Resolution #3. Congratulations to Mayor Marty Walsh.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Adopted 9-0

At least it’s not Sanders. Meanwhile, more than a few hats appear to be headed for the Boston Mayoral Ring which could well result in typical vote-splitting in a plurality election leading to a top-two runoff between those lucky enough to not have their prime constituency split in a many-candidate primary. Ranked Choice Voting would be preferable, but I guess voters only understand that when betting on horses.

Order #2. Lighting Up City Hall for a National Moment of Unity and Remembrance.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toomey
Adopted 9-0

Perhaps we should arrange for the lights to continuously flicker or be put on a dimmer switch.

Order #4. That the City Manager and his staff prepare a memorandum outlining any federal, state or municipal law that restricts the City of Cambridge from allocating direct financial assistance to residents, non-profit agencies or small businesses and to develop a plan to offer direct financial assistance to Cambridge residents, non-profit organizations and small businesses suffering during the Covid-19 Pandemic.   Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

The Anti-Aid Amendment for starters. There are creative ways to provide such aid indirectly, and we’ve seen that for much of this past year via contributions to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund. There are legitimate reasons for concern about direct financial assistance, but I’ll leave it to the City Solicitor to provide those lessons. Meanwhile, here’s a good reference courtesy of the Town of Natick.

Order #5. That the City Council go on record asking the MBTA to reconsider bench bars at the Central Square T any T station in the City of Cambridge.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Simmons – NO)

This reminds me of when over 20 years ago we recommended installing hospitable benches throughout Central Square despite warnings that they would be immediately occupied by drunks and other substance abusers. My attitude at the time was to simply make sure there were a lot more benches than drunks, but a lot of business owners saw it differently. Many benches were moved or removed over time from very problematic locations, but apparently the reduction of benches still failed to cure alcoholism or drug abuse. I never cared for the addition of hostile mid-bench barriers but, then again, I also think cops (or social workers for the "defunders") should be enforcing a "move along, buddy" policy with vagrants. I guess I’m just old-fashioned. I hope I haven’t triggered anyone.

Addendum to Order #5: One of the things I have come to appreciate as I grow older is how many standards for ADA and otherwise can really matter in ways I never previously appreciated. For example, when the building inspectors told me I had to put in a banister on a very short stairwell going down to my basement I thought it was ridiculous and reluctantly installed the banister. Later I came to realize how useful it was. When I had balance issues a while back I really came to appreciate things like handholds and even the importance of relatively level sidewalks. Live and learn. Unless I hear otherwise I’ll trust the MBTA’s call on their benches. I always thought they needed at least side rails. To the organized parade of local members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) who chose to use this issue as yet another organizing tool, perhaps one day you’ll understand.

Committee Report #2. Ordinance Committee met on Nov 19, 2020 to discuss on the KSURP Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

Committee Report #3. Ordinance Committee met on Jan 5, 2021 to continue discussion of the KSURP Zoning Ordinance Amendment petition. [Order Printout] [Appl. & Petition Printout] [Petition & Memo]
Reports Accepted, Placed on File 9-0, Petition Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

This football appears to be on the tee and ready to be kicked off to a 2nd Reading. The deadline for ordination is February 17. – Robert Winters

January 5, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 485-486: January 5, 2021

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

Episode 485 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 5, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was broadcast on Jan 5, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Post-War America 2021; Georgia on our Minds; municipal election candidates and prospects; Covid update. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

Episode 486 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 5, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was broadcast on Jan 5, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Green Ribbon Open Space Report and political forgetfulness; $18.5 million open space acquisition; Executive Session mysteries and the $1.4 million question; Vail Court and lost opportunities; future mobility realities; Riverbend Park on hiatus; shared streets; sour grapes and Rep. DeLeo; and CCTV congratulations. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 4, 2021

Meet the New Year, Same as the Old Year – Featured Items on the January 4, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 2:10 pm

Meet the New Year, Same as the Old Year – Featured Items on the January 4, 2021 Cambridge City Council Agenda

There are two things in my daily/weekly routine that fill me with dread. The first is when I check the latest count of Covid infections and deaths among Cambridge residents. The most recent count indicated 51 new infections but fortunately no new deaths. However, after a long period of no new deaths (it was pinned at 100 for 82 days), there have been 8 new reported deaths since Dec 15, and this is very alarming. My other moment of dread is when I check the agenda for the next City Council meeting. That’s when I expect to see the latest attempt by our elected scolds to dictate to Cambridge residents what they in their imagined brilliance feel is The Way Things Must Be. Whether it’s dictating how to manage trees in my yard or whether my gas stove should be banned, they are always in the hunt for further ways to limit personal choice or play to the latest trendy movements. Thankfully, this week they gave us a break, but who know what’s in the pipeline. Sometimes I think that constitutional rights may be the only recourse.2020 to 2021

The last meeting of 2020 had some interesting late additions. They emerged from Executive Session with a late appropriation order for a $1.4 million legal settlement (or so it appears). We are only left to speculate whether this was related to the Vail Court eminent domain taking of a few years ago or something else. In the Vail Court case, if the property owners had any sense (they didn’t) they could have built a mixed income residential development that would have added vitality to that corner of Central Square. Instead, the City felt compelled to take the property by eminent domain for the usual uninspired purposes. Had that property been redeveloped in concert with the underutilized parking lot at the corner of Prospect Street we could have seen a really interesting revitalization of what may be the single most drab location in the Greater Central Square area. That, of course, would have required creative thinking and negotiation from the Community Development Department, but instead we ended up with asphalt and legal settlements. Then again, perhaps the $1.4 million was for hush money. At least that would make for a more interesting story.

The other big story from the previous meeting was the $18.5 million eminent domain taking of an athletic field along Fresh Pond Parkway and the simultaneous disposal of the Green Ribbon Open Space Report from March 2000 (see comments of previous meeting if interested). Predictably, the councillors endorsed by ABC (A Bigger Cambridge) would prefer to Build Baby Build on that land. Clearly Cambridge has far too much open space. </sarcasm>

Here’s my first pass at the marginally interesting stuff this week:

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

Charter Right #1. Policy Order re: Covid-19 Vaccines.
Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

Order #4. That the City Council go on record supporting the School Committee in aligning School opening and closing with the “Schools and Path to Zero” framework with the goal of opening up all schools for in person learning, and supporting all efforts to include as many students as practically possible for at least some in person learning, with the goal of full time in person learning as soon as it can be done safely.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

There was a great little book published some years ago called Innumeracy – Mathematical Illiteracy and its Consequences by John Allen Paulos. I often think of this book and it’s theme when reading or hearing from city councillors or from more than a few people in the City’s employ. Whether it’s in promoting development with few goals or quantification, or the laundry list of brainstorming ideas that was dubbed "Envision Cambridge," or in making sense of the relative risk of Covid-19 infection from various activities, innumeracy is often the rule. Regarding the public schools, at some point three metrics were chosen to determine whether our schools would be primarily in-person or done via remote learning. If we exceed 2 of the 3 metrics, it’s shutdown time for all the schools. That’s where we are right now – average of 25.7 new cases/day (the limit is 25, so a slight excess) and 851.5/ml viral copies in wastewater testing (limit is 100/ml).

The crux of Order #4 seems to be to support the proposal to open the schools and keep them open just as long as individual schools can demonstrate that they are maintaining and ensuring a low-risk environment. I have no idea what the thinking of School Committee members is on this matter, but I do like the basic idea of evaluating each situation on its own merits.

As for the Order re: vaccines held over from the last meeting, I’ll simply note that on the one hand our councillors want to ensure that only the most effective vaccines are made available to Cambridge residents, but they also want us to be last in line only after all higher-risk communities have been vaccinated (Order #3 of Dec 21). The truth is that most of these decisions are not in the hands of city councillors but more appropriately in the hands of public health officials, and for this I am grateful.

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the biennial City of Cambridge Resident Telephone Survey for 2020.
Placed on File 9-0

I used to actually read these survey results, but I now question their validity. On the housing question in particular, I will simply note that possibly 100% of residents want housing to be affordable, but that’s not the same as endorsing the City’s approach to "affordable housing." So many satisfaction surveys are more a function of the way the questions are asked than of the responses received. By the way, I believe that mom and apple pie are still highly regarded.

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Zoning Petition which amends Article 8.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

Since the court decision leading to this recommendation would favor slightly more flexibility for owners of single-family and two-family homes, I’ll not be surprised if there’s resistance to the recommendation by the density boosters who would prefer that Cambridge be more like Coop City in the Bronx. The nerve of someone wanting to live in a single- or two-family home. Don’t they know there’s a crisis going on? </sarcasm>

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-72, regarding keeping Riverbend Park opened beyond Dec 27, 2020.
Placed on File 9-0

Sorry folks. I guess the ample sidewalks and paths alongside Memorial Drive will have to be repopulated for the duration of the season.

Order #1. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Law Department to draft Home Rule Petition language for a Fire Cadet Program similar to the language used in the Police Department Home Rule Petition.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

This is a good idea, but I still find it remarkable that a Home Rule Petition is required to create programs like these.

Order #3. That the Cambridge City Council formally expresses its interest in joining other cities actively pursuing digital equity and internet access by signing up for Next Century Cities.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted 9-0

In all the controversy and committee meetings about the possibility of investing in municipal broadband, there are a few things that don’t get nearly enough attention. One is the matter of TV – you know, as in television programs. You would think from the proponents that TV (Cable or otherwise) is something only senior citizens want. Maybe it’s true and that nobody under 50 watches television anymore, but it never seems to be part of the discussion. Another matter rarely addressed is the matter of who would actually provide the content and connectivity. It’s not the same as water or electricity where you simply introduce the water or voltage to the conduit. Another point not emphasized nearly enough is that cities where municipal broadband has been established tend to be those who already operate their own electric utilities – and we don’t. Anyway, I don’t know much about Next Century Cities, but they seem to be concerned only with equity rather than content.

Committee Report #1. The Economic Development & University Relations Committee met on Nov 19, 2020 to discuss challenges and opportunities that exist in City purchasing, procurement and programs for MWBEs and other historically disadvantaged businesses and non-profits in Cambridge.
Report Accepted; Placed on File; Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #2. The Public Safety Committee met on July 7, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the Cambridge Police Department’s Use of Force Policy and related matters.
Report Accepted; Placed on File 9-0

These reports are included for information only. Meanwhile, Councillor Zondervan is having another committee meeting this week in which he’ll continue his campaign to defund the police. Political theater is such a poor substitute for real entertainment. – Robert Winters

December 20, 2020

Dropping the Curtain on a Very Bad Year – Featured Items on the December 21, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,Harvard Square — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 12:51 pm

Dropping the Curtain on a Very Bad Year – Featured Items on the December 21, 2020 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here’s my rundown of the interesting stuff this week:New Year Ahead

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 20-44, regarding a Vaccine Task Force.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)

Order #2. Policy Order re Covid-19 Vaccines.   Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon
Charter Right – Zondervan

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate City personnel to establish a waiver for low-income individuals utilizing the Covid-19 vaccine if the vaccine would otherwise cost money to access.   Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

The Beat Goes On. I would just like a better sense of what the principal causes are for the latest wave of Covid-19 positive tests. The fact that there were several new fatalities recorded this past week after many weeks without any new fatalities is, to say the least, alarming. Privacy concerns notwithstanding, a little explanation and reassurance right now will go a long way – even as the vaccine wagon rolls into town.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a response to Policy Order No. O-8 of July 27, 2020, regarding a review of the proposed amendments to Chapter 2.119 of the Municipal Code – the Domestic Partnership Ordinance.
Referred to Ordinance Committee 9-0

Unfinished Business #2. The City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the City of Cambridge Law Department to review the above changes to the language of the Domestic Partnerships Ordinance and report back to the Council. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL JULY 27, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER SEPT 14, 2020]  See Mgr #2

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Planning Board to adopt with modifications, the MXD Amendments Zoning Petition.
Referred to MXD Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adoption the Cannabis Delivery Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0 (Petition to be Re-Filed in January due to changes in State Law)

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommendation to adopt with modifications, the Canal District Kendall (PUD-CDK) Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to memo from the development economics consultant team led by Karl F. Seidman regarding a financial assessment of the Canal District Kendall (PUD-CDK) Zoning Petition submitted by BioMed Realty.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Unfinished Business #3. A Zoning Petition has been received from BMR–Third LLC c/o BioMed Realty, L.P. regarding a Zoning Amendment Petition for a new Planned Unit Development PUD District CDK. [PASSED TO A SECOND READING AS AMENDED ON NOV 30, 2020. TO BE ORDAINED ON OR AFTER DEC 21, 2020.]  See Mgr #10, #11
Ordained 9-0 as Amended; Letter of Commitment incorporated

Communications #6. A communication was received from Salvatore Zinno Vice President, Development, BMR-Third LLC, regarding commitment letter to accompany zoning amendment petition.
Letter of Commitment incorporated into Zoning Amendment

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the following requests relative to the eminent domain taking of 185 Larch Road: 1. Appropriate $7,702,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Department Travel & Training (Damages) Account to cover the pro tanto payment toward the expenses of acquisition as required by the above referenced Sections of Chapters 40 and 43 of the General Laws for the property located at 185 Larch Road owned by BB&N; 2. Approve an Order to take by eminent domain a 185 Larch Road; and 3. Appropriate $10,798,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Department Travel & Training (Damages) Account to fund the settlement of BB&N’s remaining eminent domain damages claim.
Order Adopted 8-1 (Toomey – NO)

Lest you think otherwise, note that the City Manager’s message says: “For several decades the City Council has been asking City Managers to actively pursue opportunities to acquire and increase access to open space for all residents. Unfortunately, this goal has been very difficult to achieve due to the lack of availability of land suitable for open space use in Cambridge. Due to this, when BB&N expressed interest in selling Buckingham Field, we aggressively pursued this opportunity to acquire additional open space in Cambridge.”

About 20 years ago I served on the City’s Green Ribbon Open Space Committee whose charge was to develop priorities and strategies to acquire additional open space in Cambridge. Since then there have been some opportunities seized by the City to achieve these goals – notably the purchase and street closure that led to Greene-Rose Park in The Port neighborhood, movement on the Grand Junction corridor, and some parcels that came to us as a result of various upzonings. This is a densely-developed city with very few opportunities available for adding to our very small inventory of open space.

It is noteworthy that on the night when the City Council voted on a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the eminent domain taking of the BB&N land on Larch Road for open space, many city councillors chose to focus primarily on how they could turn around and build on this newly-acquired open space. In short, many/most councillors were essentially saying that we should tear up the Report of the Green Ribbon Open Space Committee of March 2000.

There are certainly lots of worthwhile priorities such as housing, schools, and additional space for Public Works, but it’s simply shameful that this particular group of councillors would choose to disregard long-standing calls for open space acquisition in such a dismissive way. Suffice to say that housing, including subsidized housing, can be built almost anywhere in the city. Few, if any, would advocate for demolishing residential buildings in order to create open space, but they seem very comfortable and even eager to eliminate open space at the very moment they are acquiring it.

I really hope there are some big changes on the City Council in November 2021.

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request to move to Executive Session in order to discuss possible settlement and pending litigation.
Late Order Adopted 6-2-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui – NO; Nolan – PRESENT) after Executive Session for appropriation of $1.4 million for unspecified purposes (see below)

Manager’s Agenda #13. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,400,000 from Free Cash to the General Fund Law Travel and Training (Judgment and Damages) account to cover current and future disbursements that must be paid from this account.
Late Order Adopted 6-2-0-1 (Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui – NO; Nolan – PRESENT)

I completely respect the idea of Executive Session “to discuss possible settlement and pending litigation” and for various other reasons, but I have never understood why this has to be such a McGuffin (as Alfred Hitchcock would say) where even the general topic of the Executive Session remains a suspenseful mystery. Would it compromise the City’s position to just add a clarifying phrase such as “regarding an open space purchase” or “for the acquisition of residential units” or “in regard to the ongoing Vail Court litigation”? In the absence of such, my suspicious mind and desire for drama always drifts toward “for the purchase of the silence of Madame Bouvier regarding the scandal in the City Hall clock tower.”

Resolution #7. Thanking Rep. Robert A. DeLeo for his many years of dedicated service.   Councillor Toomey
Failed of Adoption 3-3-0-3 (Mallon, McGovern, Toomey – YES; Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zondervan, Siddiqui – NO; Carlone, Nolan, Simmons – PRESENT)

Order #1. That the Cambridge City Council calls upon the Animal Legal Defense Fund management to respect the democratic choice of its workers by, without delay, voluntarily recognizing ALDF United and bargaining a contract with ALDF United that reflects the core values of ALDF – compassion, innovation, balance, justice, commitment, and integrity – and that seeks to create a workplace that is anti-racist, cooperative, equitable, inclusive, just, respectful, and transparent.   Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Nothing says "municipal election year coming" like a ghost-written order in search of a candidate endorsement.

Order #4. That the City Manager and DCR explore the feasibility of keeping Riverbend Park open beyond Dec 27, 2020.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan
Order Adopted 9-0

This may be a Very Good Thing, but let’s please stop the pretense that this has anything to do with the pandemic and the need for social distancing.

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee met on Oct 21, 2020 to conduct a public hearing on the Harvard Square Conservation District Study Committee Report.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Order Adopted 9-0; proposed amendments to Chapter 2.78, Article III, Section 2.78.150 of the Cambridge Municipal Code, entitled “Definitions for Article III” Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0

I always love reading reports from the Cambridge Historical Commission and its related study committees. In addition to being extremely well-written and documented, they serve as a reminder that Cambridge does indeed have many buildings and settings that are absolutely worth preserving and enhancing. This truth is often lost on the latest wave of activists in the Robert Moses tradition of tearing all things down in the name of density without vision or any sense of history. Transit-oriented development and other smart projects notwithstanding, A Bigger Cambridge is not necessarily a better Cambridge.

Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Nolan, Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebration Committee, for a public hearing held on Oct 14, 2020 to discuss the process for conducting the feasibility study for municipal broadband and the Request for Proposal.
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

I’m glad that there’s some movement on this regardless whether it leads anywhere – either at the speed of light or more slowly. I do find it interesting (and perhaps it’s a generational thing) that there was not a single mention of Cable TV in the report. Some of us bundle our phone, TV, and Internet together and, even if most of us have a less-than-stellar view of the Comcast Evil Empire, we don’t see broadband access as completely separate from our ability to get really crappy TV programming at an unreasonably high cost. – Robert Winters

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