Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

January 31, 2023

Arlington to Harvard Square on a Bicycle

The video embedded in this post is of my bicycle ride on Massachusetts Avenue from the Arlington town line to Harvard Square and Brattle Street, November 29, 2022. I recorded continuously, so the video runs for 15 minutes. I have added narration explaining my actions. I describe many different riding conditions and strategies, so think that your patience to watch it all the way through is warranted. Most of the time, I chose not to ride in the designated bikeway, in the interest of my safety or to avoid obstructions. I didn’t cause delay for anyone: quite the contrary, the traffic signals established travel times and at the end, I caught up with a truck that had passed me 12 minutes earlier.

This is a high-definition video. For the best viewing experience, expand it to fill the screen.

November 5, 2022

Roads Scholars? – Notable Items on the Nov 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Roads Scholars? – Notable Items on the Nov 7, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Apparently the quickest roads to City Hall right now are via Brattle Street and Garden Street. Here are the agenda items that drove me to comment:Penny Farthing

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to approval requested for an appointment of new members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) – Keisha Greaves, Robert Goss [three-year terms].
Appointments Approved 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-58 , regarding directing the appropriate City staff to establish a fund designed to assist those City employees in same-sex marriages with paying for surrogacy services. [City Solicitor’s response]
pulled by Simmons; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with a recommendation to adopt the Incentive Zoning Rate Study Petition, with clarifying changes.
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Petition 9-0

Lotsa Communications about bike lanes and the collateral damage of cut-through traffic caused by the City’s latest “engineering” solutions.

Order #1. Policy Order Regarding Traffic Flow on Garden Street.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner, Simmons, Carlone, Nolan, McGovern, Zondervan (proposes amendments), Mallon, Siddiqui, Toner (willing to acept amendments), Carlone, Azeem, Nolan, Simmons; Charter Right – Simmons

Order #2. Ban Turns on Red Citywide.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
pulled by Mallon (who apparently advertised this proposal with the print and broadcast press), amendment proposed; comments by Azeem, Carlone, Zondervan, Toner (notes that Traffic Director already has authority to impose “No Turn on Red”), McGovern (notes Alewife Brook Pkwy at Rindge Ave. backups), Nolan, Simmons, Siddiqui; Mallon amendment passes 9-0; Amend to add McGovern, Zondervan, Nolan, Carlone as cosponsors passes 9-0; Nolan amendment (as further amended by Zondervan) passes 9-0; Order Adopted 7-2 [Simmons, Toner – NO]

Order #4. MBTA Pass [for City employees].   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
pulled by Mallon; comments by Siddiqui, Mallon; Order Adopted 7-0-2 (Carlone, Toner – ABSENT)

Order #5. Roundtable on Broadband.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #6. Capital Projects Finance Meeting.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #7. Revised MBTA Bus Redesign.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Toner
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Simmons; Substitute Order Adopted 9-0 (this substitute was not made available to the public in any form)

Note: Rather than offer my usual comments this week, I instead spent my time Monday restoring my living room to a condition where I can now find and play all of my favorite CDs and vinyl records. Some things are just more important than Cambridge City Council meetings. – Robert Winters

October 3, 2022

Growing a Government – for Better or Worse: October 3, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Growing a Government – for Better or Worse: October 3, 2022 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are a few items that warrant further comment this week:Fat City Hall

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on new positions. [responds to Awaiting Report Items 22-37 and 22-40]
pulled by Carlone; Placed on File 9-0

Here come the “Chief People Officer”, the “Talent Officer”, the Director of Community Engagement, and the Director of Emergency Management. I’m not quite sure what to make of the first three of these new positions.


The Linkage Question

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-62, regarding requests for a legal opinion and additional analysis on linkage fee rate increase discussion.
pulled by Carlone along with Mgr #6, Mgr #7, Unf. Business #4, Comm. & Reports #1; McGovern amendment adopted 9-0; Referred to Petition

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report with a recommendation not to adopt the Incentive Zoning Rate Increase Petition.
pulled by McGovern; Referred to Petition 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a communication received from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust regarding the Incentive Zoning amendment.
pulled by McGovern; Referred to Petition 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. Section 11.202(b) of Article 11.000 Special Regulations linkage fee., be amended by substitution. (Ordinance #2022-14). [Passed to 2nd Reading Sept 12, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after Oct 3, 2022]
Removed for discussion and amendment, returned to Unfinished Business

Communications & Reports #1. A communication was received from Councillor Marc McGovern, transmitting a proposed amendment to the linkage fee.
McGovern amendment adopted 9-0; Referred to Petition

Late Order #12. That the City Manager direct the Community Development and the Law Department to review the amendment that states that exclusing the first 30,000 sq ft for buildings less that 60,000 sq ftin total size and sharing feedback, and report back to the City Council by the regular City Council meeting on Mon, Oct 17.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zondevan, Councillor Azeem
Order Adopted 8-0-0-1 (Carlone – PRESENT)

We’ll see how this goes, but it will be very disappointing if this all comes down to just maximizing revenue generation without regard to any other incentives or unintended consequences.


Taxation without Representation

Manager’s Agenda #1 (Tax Rate Hearing). A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to votes necessary to seek approval from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue of the tax rate for FY2023. [Tax Rate Orders] [Tax Rate Letter]

The bottom line is that: the FY23 Adopted Operating Budget increased by 6.5% over the FY22 Adjusted Budget. The June 2022 FY23 Adopted Budget projected a property tax levy increase of $41.5 million, or 8.4%, to $536.3 million in order to fund operating and capital expenditures. This included the use of $13 million from Free Cash. With approval of the recommendations, the actual FY23 tax levy required to support the FY23 Budget is $531,600,922 – an increase of $36.9 million or 7.45% from FY22. This increase is lower than the estimated increase of 8.4% projected in the June 2022 Adopted Budget due in large part from higher than projected state aid and the use of reserve funds to lower the required tax levy. The property tax levy increase of 7.45% is above the FY22 increase of 4.7%. The property tax levy increase is also above the five-year (FY19-FY23) annual average increase of 6.44%, and the ten-year (FY14-FY23) annual average increase of 5.31%. Based on a revised property tax levy of $531,600,922 the FY23 residential tax rate will be $5.86 per thousand dollars of value, subject to Department of Revenue approval. This is a decrease of $0.06, or 1% from FY22. The commercial tax rate will be $10.38, which is a decrease of $0.85, or 7.6% from FY22. By property class, on average a single-family home will see a 6.6% tax increase, a condo will see a 6.5% decrease, a two-family will see a 4.7% increase, and a three-family will see a 5.4% increase.

Required Votes:
• Authorize $19,000,000 in Free Cash to Reduce the FY23 Tax Levy. [Adopted 8-1, QZ – NO]
• Transfer of Excess Overlay Balances. [Adopted 8-1, QZ – NO]
• Classify Property and Establish Minimum Residential Factor. [Adopted 9-0]
• Residential Exemptions. [Adopted 9-0]


Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department to convene a North Massachusetts Avenue Corridor District Zoning Proposal Working Group Policy Order Proposing a North Massachusetts Avenue (NMA) Corridor Working Group for the purpose of developing comprehensive zoning recommendations. [Charter Right – Azeem, Sept 19, 2022]
Withdrawn by Councillor Toner in favor of new Policy Order #3 (yet the required vote for unanimous consent was NOT taken)

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department to convene a North Massachusetts Avenue Corridor District Zoning Proposal Working Group by June 15, 2023.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
pulled by Toner; Order Adopted 9-0

To repeat what I said from the previous meeting: “This is a very promising Order. I will note, however, that unlike the days of yore when CDD would study and process things to death before coming to any conclusions, they often now arrive with conclusions and simply run interference during any subsequent public process. Let’s hope this time is different.”


Wild in the Streets

Charter Right #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Transportation and Parking Department to convene a series of meetings with the Vision Zero, Pedestrian Committee, Bicycle Committee, the newly appointed Bicycling Advisory Committee, Cambridge Police Department, and any other departments deemed necessary, to review and revise the Cambridge Street Code. [Charter Right – Simmons, Sept 19, 2022]
Withdrawn by Councillor Toner in favor of new Policy Order (yet the required vote for unanimous consent was NOT taken)

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department to meet with and receive input from the Vision Zero, Pedestrian, Bicycle Committee, the Council on Aging, the Transit Advisory Committee, the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board, Cambridge Police Department, and any other departments, to review and revise the Cambridge Street Code, promulgate the updated guide throughout the city, and develop recommendations for staffing and methods of improving traffic enforcement.   Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern
pulled by Toner; Charter Right – Zondervan

It is noteworthy that at the previous meeting a number of prominent members of the bicycle lobby took issue with the idea of updating the Cambridge Street Code, and at least two councillors carried their water. Go figure.


On the Table #3. That the City Council refer the zoning petition regarding lab use to the Ordinance Committee and Planning Board for a hearing and report. [Tabled Sept 19, 2022]
Removed from Table by Toner 8-1 (QZ – NO); Amended by Toner, Mallon; Amendment Adopted 8-1 (BA – NO); Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (QZ – NO); Referred to Economic Development and University Relations Committee and the Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee for a review and discussion

Unfinished Business #5. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of appropriation and authorization to borrow $4,500,000 to provide funds for the design and construction of building renovations to the vacant City owned property at 105 Windsor Street. [Passed to 2nd Reading Sept 12, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after Oct 3, 2022]
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted 9-0

Unfinished Business #7. That the City Council schedule a hearing of the Ordinance Committee for the purposes of amending the Ordinance #2022-3 Wage Theft of the City of Cambridge to insert the language. [Passed to 2nd Reading Sept 19, 2022; To Be Ordained on or after Oct 3, 2022]
pulled by Zondervan; Ordained 9-0

Resolution #18. Happy 80th Birthday wishes to Bill Cunningham.   Councillor Zondervan

Happy birthday, Bill – even though we’ll probably never agree on a lot of things.


BEUDO Communications

Communications #31. A communication was received from Patrick W. Barrett III, regarding BEUDO Meeting Recap.

Communications #40. A communication was received from Nancy E. Donohue, Director of Government and Community Relations, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce regarding joint Business/Institutional BEUDO letter. [Joint Business/Institutional BEUDO letter] [BEUDO April 2022 letter] [BEUDO questions from 9-15-22] [BEUDO Amendment Requirements]

The “conversation” continues in spite of the tin ears of some councillors.


Time of the Season

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to convene an advisory group to determine ways in which the City can work to lift up the voices and experiences of the descendants of the Indigenous People who currently reside in our community.   Councillor Simmons, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Simmons; Adopted 8-1 as Amended (Carlone – ABSENT)

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to direct the appropriate City staff to affix the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Banner above JFK Street and Mount Auburn Street beginning on Oct 4, 2022, for no less than one week and recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct 10, 2022.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Azeem, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan
pulled by McGovern; Adopted as Amended 9-0

At the same time, let’s give a hearty shout-out to all of the immigrants from other continents and their descendants who have contributed so much to this country and the world.


Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Law Department to automatically provide an initial legal opinion to the City Council and the City Clerk at least three business days in advance of the first Public Hearing on any amendment to the Code of Ordinances formally introduced in the City Council.   Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #8. Amendment to section 22.25.1(c) of Article 22, entitled Sustainable Design and Development.   Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Zondervan; Referred to Planning Board & Ordinance Committee 9-0

Committee Report #5. On Sept 21, 2022, at 5:30pm, the Ordinance Committee, Chaired by Councillor McGovern, continued the Public Hearing on Ordinance #2022-5 that would eliminate parking minimums. This ordinance was originally proposed under POR 2022 #19. Councillor Zondervan made a motion that was approved by the Committee to amend the petition by substitution so that it adds the sentence underlined and in red below to section 6.30, and that this be the entirety of the petition. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0; Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended (by Toner) 8-1 (Carlone – NO)

I do want to point out that one can support eliminating parking minimums in many circumstances while still acknowledging their value in other circumstances. Treating this as yet another ideological mandate is not helpful, but I suppose that’s where we’re at these days. – Robert Winters

July 5, 2022

Amanda Phillips — more

I have already published a post in this blog about the Amanda Phillips fatality in Inman Square.

Well, there’s more. Four things:

* The design of Inman Square at the time pushed bicyclists westbound on Cambridge Street bit by bit closer to the stream of motor traffic, unless they controlled the through lane when crossing the Square, or paused till traffic cleared so they could control it on exiting as shown in this video. Controlling the lane was the safe option here, but to adopt it, cyclists need to understand that defensive driving also often requires an assertive lane position.

* It is undisputed that Phillips struck the opening door of a parked vehicle, then fell under a truck just west of Inman Square.

* But, contrary to news reports, Phillips did not ride off the sidewalk — which would pin the blame on Phillips by charging her with  riding illegally on the sidewalk, and so she would have been visible only very briefly if the driver whose door she struck had checked his driver’s side mirror at just the right time.

* Video evidence which came out as the investigation was released was altered to make it appear that Phillips rode off the sidewalk, The video evidence revealed that she had been crossing Inman Square on Cambridge Street and was a fast, strong cyclist. She was not controlling the lane. Who altered the video, I do not know.

It’s been years since I reviewed the evidence and created the two videos. Since then, I have made several inquiries attempting to alert advocacy organizations and news media to what I found — to no avail.

I’ve had it with the silence, and I am going public with this information here.

Inman Square is being reconstructed, largely due to the need felt following the Phillips fatality. How the current redesign of Inman Square will play out, I don’t know. I need to return and check the completed project before I can draw conclusions.

April 22, 2022

Just Another Manic Monday – April 25, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting

Just Another Manic Monday – April 25, 2022 Cambridge City Council Meeting

Here are the items of significance that jumped out at me 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

Every day is another day of wishin’ and hopin’ that this pandemic will wind the hell down. The case numbers are up substantially, but at least yesterday’s wastewater figures suggested a possible leveling – and that’s usually a good leading indicator of what’s to come. In the meantime, avoid all people between the ages of 20 and 40 (except via Zoom).


Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Victoria Harris as an Election Commissioner for a term of four years, effective April 1, 2022.
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the reappointment of Kathleen Born as a member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for a term of five years, effective June 26, 2022.
Referred to NLTP Committee 9-0

Excellent reappointments. As the communications makes clear, appointments to the Election Commission are not subject to Council review, and appointments to the Redevelopment Authority have always been subject to Council review.


Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-8, regarding eliminating hostile architecture.
pulled by Zondervan; Placed on File 9-0Hostile Bench

The report on “defensive design” or “hostile architecture” from CDD and DPW is refreshingly thoughtful and balanced on a subject that all too often descends into mindless ideology. Thank you.

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update from the Planning Board on discussions of allowing Multifamily Housing citywide.
pulled by Azeem; Referred to Housing Committee 9-0

This report shows wisdom and flexibility, but my concern is that the request for further policy guidance from the City Council will result more in ideology than in the kind of wisdom that anticipates both intended and unintended consequences. Most of us will agree that allowing more flexibility across all residential districts is generally a good thing, but doubling or tripling allowable densities based purely on ideological grounds would be a mistake.


Charter Right #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on MassAve4 and request for approval for the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on these critical segments of Massachusetts Avenue. [Charter Right – Carlone; Apr 11, 2022]
Order Adopted 8-1 (Simmons – NO)

Order #3. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic and Parking Department to work diligently with the MBTA to remove the catenary wires as soon as possible, and/or investigate the possibility of the City removing the catenary wires itself and commit to moving forward with the design and installation of the proposed “partial construction” bike lanes only when the wires have been removed.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons
pulled early by Toner; Fails 3-6 (Carlone, Simmons, Toner – YES)

Order #6. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Traffic and Parking Department to forego its original plan for “quick build” implementation and ensure that the implementation of bike lane infrastructure in Porter Square is accomplished as part of the whole of the Massachusetts Avenue 4 section, when the catenary wires and median strip are removed so that Porter Square may be included in the plans for ‘partial construction” infrastructure as part of one, cohesive plan stretching from Dudley Street to Waterhouse Street to be completed no later than Apr 30, 2026.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Simmons
pulled early by Toner; Fails 2-7 (Simmons, Toner – YES)

Lotsa communications about bike lanes.

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting a letter sent to the MBTA.
Placed on File 9-0

The Cambridge Bike Safety group has now declared war against Councillor Carlone for daring to break The Pledge by being a cosponsor of these Orders. It’s nice to see that three councillors have spines and are willing to let Reason prevail over Religion. That said, I’m sure both Orders will be amended into irrelevance or simply defeated by Those Who Dare Not Bite The Political Hand That Feeds Them. None of this is about safety – it’s all about turf. There are many ways to deliver safety for road users that deviate from the script of the Bicycle Safety Ordinance.

I used to naively believe that the primary purpose of elected office was to be a custodian of the public interest. I now see it as being primarily about power – gaining it and using it – and this disappoints me to say the least.


Charter Right #3. That the City Manager is requested to confer with City departments, including the Community Development Department and the Department of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation to consider the feasibility of implementing a similar program and any other ways to enforce the anti-idling law. [Charter Right – Azeem; Apr 11, 2022] [Order #2 of Apr 11, 2022]
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0; Referred to Traffic & Transportation Committee

Just because you don’t like idling vehicles doesn’t mean you want to empower bounty hunters.


On The Table #5-11. Appointments and Reappointments to City Boards & Commissions on hold while City Council pipes in Muzak to appointees.
Approved 8-0-1 (Carlone – ABSENT)

Order #2. City Manager Report on Boards and Commissions.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Carlone – ABSENT)

It’s hard to say whether the pending appointments/reappointments will now be allowed to go forward or if the councillors will continue to fiddle and diddle. I just wish they would be more honest about the real purpose of all this, i.e. filtering candidates for any Board that might possibly stand in the way of building anything less than the maximum housing density imaginable. Even worse, I expect many of those decisions will be made in the homes of political activists.


On The Table #12. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $39,600.00 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the purchase of a new vehicle for the Emergency Preparedness and Coordination office. [Charter Right – Nolan, Mar 7, 2022; Tabled – Mar 21, 2022]

Councillor Nolan continues her audition for Purchasing Agent.

On the Table #13. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 9, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (2021-26). [Charter Right – Zondervan, Mar 28, 2022; Tabled Apr 4, 2022 – Zondervan] [Committee Report]
Adopted Amendments (as circulated to councillors but not to public) 9-0; Placed on File 9-0

When we actually get a Committee Report (now rarer than hen’s teeth), it ends being Tabled. Some of us actually like to know what City Council committees are doing without having to run through long and boring videos that often do not provide any accompanying documentation.

Applications & Petitions #1. A Zoning Petition has been received from Craig A. Kelley regarding The Cambridge Transportation De-Carbonization and Congestion-Mitigation Bill. (Ordinance #2022-13)
Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0 (re-filed due to lack of cover letter)

I’m not quite sure why this is being re-introduced at this time. There’s already an Ordinance Committee meeting scheduled for May 4 on this petition. Has the petition been amended?


Resolutions #2-9. Congratulations on the promotions within the Cambridge Police Department.
Adopted 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

It is noteworthy that the only city councillor voting against these congratulatory resolutions was Councillor Zondervan who (unbelievably) was appointed as Chair of the Public Safety Committee by Mayor Siddiqui.

Resolution #11. Resolution on the death of Mary M. (Sullivan) Carven.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem
Adopted as Amended 9-0

Resolution #13. Wishing Artis Spears a Happy 90th Birthday.   Councillor Simmons
Adopted 9-0

If there was ever a family that should be considered the Cambridge Royal Family it would be the Sullivan family. I will also join in with Happy Birthday wishes for Artis Spears, one of the great First Ladies of Cambridge.


Order #1. That the City Manager confer with the Cambridge Heath Alliance, the Department of Public Works, the Inspectional Services Department and other relevant departments regarding the building condition and what repairs are needed at 205 Western Avenue to allow the Cambridge Community Center to house their program.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan
pulled by Mallon; Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Toner – ABSENT)

This seems like an excellent proposed use for this building, and any costs necessary to bring this building into compliance seem to align well with the criteria for the current ARPA funding – much moreso than many of the other ARPA funding requests that are now under consideration. This is not the only City or City-related building that has been allowed to deteriorate which could and should be put to better use.

Speaking of ARPA funding, apparently the Cambridge Housing Authority is the overwhelmingly loudest bird chirping for funds. They are requesting $82.3 million out of an available $55 million that has not yet been allocated. Other Big Requests were $15 million from the “Project Right to Housing” group, a $13 million request for Starlight Square, and $5.5 million for that political patronage program that markets itself as the “HEART proposal.” Many who are requesting ARPA funds like to point to the fact that the money is not subject to the “Anti-Aid Amendment”, but this only makes me wish that they were so that the budgeting process would not be twisted by politically connected interests.

By the way, whatever happened to that idea of building a bridge over the tracks connecting the Alewife Triangle and Quadrangle or the modest pedestrian bridge over the Little River in that area?

Order #4. That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Department of Public Works to devise ways to encourage residents to request the smallest size they need and to keep waste output low with the rollout of the new bins in June.   Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Azeem; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Toner – ABSENT)

This is a welcome Order. According to the citywide mailing that arrived this week, my triple-decker would get two gigantic 65 gallon toters that not only are too big to manage but far in excess of the rubbish generated by my building even when operating at full capacity. We’ll probably be OK with just a single 45 gallon toter (or less). We ran through the same song and dance when single-stream recycling was introduced. Are Cambridge residents really as wasteful as the proposed allocation suggests. Good grief!

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Siddiqui, transmitting information about the Universal PreK ad-hoc for Universal Pre-K.
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Toner – ABSENT)

Another year, another advisory committee. – Robert Winters

April 11, 2022

April Flowers – Select Items from the April 11, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

April Flowers – Select Items from the April 11, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Here are the first things that popped up from the ground this week:

Deep Blue
Yellow
Light Blue
Pink

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-6, which requested a report on expediting the demolition and rebuilding permit process in the event of a natural disaster.
Referred to Petition 9-0

Though the description suggests hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, this is really more about expediting things after a house fire.


Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to an update on MassAve4 and request for approval for the approach and timeline for implementing separated bike lanes on these critical segments of Massachusetts Avenue. [Cover Letter] [Report] [Order]
pulled by Carlone; Kathy Watkins says median removal to be considered more generally as part of “partial build” (as opposed to “quick build”), removal of catenary wires; Joseph Barr suggests that some parking could be retained; Zondervan says that if this modified timeline is not approved then Quick Build is the only option under the ordinance; Mallon reads prepared statement, proposes amendment; Toner notes that Ordinance could be changed and that self-imposed deadline is detrimental, cannot support any of the proposals; Simmons notes past promises that bike projects would later be evaluated but never were, notes great impacts on local businesses; McGovern asks about timelines; Nolan expresses shock re: $55 million cost for 2.5 miles of bike project, Kathy Watkins explains; Nolan emphasizes need to reduce number of cars; Toner suggests shifting some sidewalk space; Siddiqui supports Order as a “pre-step”; Mallon amendments approved 9-0; Charter Right – Carlone

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-10, regarding a report on conducting a study to collect relevant economic data relating to business impacts from bike lane installations.
pulled by Toner; concerned expressed about hearing from business owners; Placed on File 9-0

Pardon my cynicism, but all of this just strikes me as political talk with little real desire or plans to deviate from the current ideological path. Please prove me wrong. I would so much rather see trees and flowers rising from the ground than white plastic posts.


Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-70, regarding the feasibility of purchasing property from Lesley University to address City goals.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

This is more in the nature of an announcement that Lesley University has agreed to sell its property at 1627 Massachusetts Avenue to Homeowners Rehab, Inc., financed by the City’s Affordable Housing Trust. As stated in the report, “The site consists of a historic building on a 14,400 s.f. lot and presents an opportunity for residential development (market or affordable) given the zoning potential of the site.” The only real question is how much more density is added to the site. The current building has 6,499 sq ft of living area and historic value but most of the site now serves as a parking lot. My guess is that the built density will at least double before all is said and done and the future number of parking spaces will likely to be zero (it is on a major transportation corridor).

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Planning Board to adopt with additional considerations, the Alewife Overlay Development Zoning Petition.
Referred to Petition 9-0

The City Council, of course, should have passed interim zoning for this area several years ago and before significant land purchases were made. This temporary development moratorium is really more like a confession of failure to have done so. Other than the predictable political rhetoric it’s not clear that the City Council really knows what it wants in this area. One question posed by the Planning Board seems especially relevant for the case when elected officials fiddle and diddle while investors spend tons of money, i.e. “If this Petition impacts property values, potentially benefiting some property owners over others, does this raise specific concerns over the legal defensibility of the Petition?”

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to MBTA Communities Draft Guidelines presentation. [CDD Memo] [MBTA Communities Draft Guidelines] [MBTA Presentation]
pulled by Carlone; Cambridge likely in compliance when guidelines are finalized; Placed on File 9-0

I’m really not sure what conclusions to draw from the materials provided. It appears that Cambridge now has 53,907 units of residential housing, and according to the state’s Housing Choice Initiative we would be required to have at least 13,477 units in multifamily housing in order to meet the “minimum multifamily district unit capacity requirement”. Cambridge zoning districts covering most of the city appear to meet most or all of the requirements, but the materials provided pose as many questions as answers. Regardless, it seems that the Housing Choice Initiative as well as previous “anti-snob zoning” provisions in state law, e.g. Chapter 40B, are intended to target places other than Cambridge which already has a wealth of multi-family housing. That, of course, has never stopped developers and their enablers from using provisions of these well-intentioned laws to further concentrate density in the core cities while neighboring cities watch from the sidelines.

On the Table #1-7. Appointments and Reappointments to City Boards & Commissions on hold while City Council pipes in Muzak to appointees.

There is a meeting of the Government Operations, Rules and Claims Committee scheduled for tomorrow, April 11 at 10:00am, “to discuss new guidelines for Boards and Commissions appointments.” Whither that goes no one knows, but the prospect of councillors evaluating the “reputation and character of applicants” remains chilling, especially when we all know that this is really about seating only those who support increased housing density regardless of other factors.

On the Table #9. The Ordinance Committee met on Feb 9, 2022 to conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (2021-26). [Charter Right – Zondervan, Mar 28, 2022; Tabled Apr 4, 2022 – Zondervan] [Committee Report]

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to consult with the Department of Public Works and the Animal Commission to look into placing free pet waste bags at other sites around the City.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Toner
pilled by Mallon; Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to confer with City departments, including the Community Development Department and the Department of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation to consider the feasibility of implementing a similar program and any other ways to enforce the anti-idling law.   Councillor Nolan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Toner; concerns expressed about “bounty hunter” aspect of proposal; Charter Right – Azeem

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to work with Boston Calling, Harvard, and any other relevant parties to ensure that noise does not exceed the permitted level at the concert.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Simmons
pulled by Toner; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #4. That the City Council hold a virtual Roundtable meeting on Tues, May 24, 2022 at 6:00pm to receive a training on Robert’s Rules from parliamentarian Ann G. MacFarlone.   Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)

Order #5. That the City Manager is requested to consult with relevant staff to consider a guaranteed income program that expands on Cambridge RISE and targets families in poverty in Cambridge.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner
pulled by Siddiqui; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all CRLS students free Charlie Cards throughout the school year.   Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem
pulled by Siddiqui; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Late Order #11. That the City Manager is requested to report back on the feasibility of providing all Cambridge high school students with free Charlie Cards throughout the school year.   Councillor Nolan
Charter Right – Simmons

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate City departments to provide the City Council with an analysis of the impact of current curb cut policies.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Toner
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons ABSENT)

This is actually kinda funny. On February 7 the City Council passed an Order calling for delegating curb cut authority, on March 28 they denied a curb cut, and now on April 11 they’ll likely pass an Order to examine curb cut policies. The current Order asks for “an approximation of the number of residential parking spaces that have been lost to new curb cuts each year over at least the last decade” which seems to contradict their other stated concern regarding “curb cut policies and their impact on encouraging car use and reducing green space.” It should be pretty clear that curb cuts can add parking on premises or take away on-street (shared) parking, and often it’s a wash. I would actually be more interested to know how many on-premises residential parking spaces are being rented out in violation of the ordinance that explicitly prohibits this practice.

Order #10. City Council support of the proposed Fair Share Amendment and in urging the voters of Cambridge to support it at the ballot box in 2022.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

For those unfamiliar with this, the proposed Fair Share Amendment would create an additional 4% tax on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by this tax to public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation. Sounds like a good idea, but I can already hear the scurrying feet of tax lawyers figuring a way to navigate around this. I suppose this also would apply to the sale of a home and maybe added on top of the estate tax, but I’ll leave those questions to the lawyers.

Meanwhile, it’s time to head out to Fresh Pond to give my full attention to the birds and the turtles and the muskrats and the flowers. – Robert Winters

April 5, 2022

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 543-544: April 5, 2022

Episode 543 – Cambridge InsideOut: Apr 5, 2022 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Apr 5, 2022 at 6:00pm. Topics: Baseball; Covid status; Zapping Rats (rabbits get a pass); compost do’s and don’ts; community gardens – history and policies, agency, urban agriculture; simplified regulations at small scale. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 544 – Cambridge InsideOut: Apr 5, 2022 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Apr 5, 2022 at 6:30pm. Topics: Reputation and character (and not qualifications and experience) of applicants…; criteria for review of Board appointees; Budget Hearings coming – and a “Community Safety” category; ignoring citizen petitions; 5 votes to hire a City Manager, a City Clerk, and a City Auditor – regardless of the process; assault in Central Square. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

March 25, 2022

Out Like a Lion – March 28, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Out Like a Lion – March 28, 2022 Cambridge City Council Agenda

Lion and the LambSpring is springing and the turf wars continue. This week features a citizens petition to modify the Bicycle Safety Ordinance and with it a golden opportunity for city councillors to double-talk their way to stardom. Here are some of the agenda items that I found interesting 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

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-11, regarding Riverbend Park opening and potential expansion.
pulled by Nolan; likely will leave Mem. Drive closed continuously through weekend starting either Friday evening or Saturday morning; Placed on File

Charter Right #2. An application was received from Mathew Marshall, requesting permission for a curb cut at the premises numbered 221 Columbia Street; said petition has received approval from Inspectional Services, Traffic, Parking and Transportation, Historical Commission and Public Works. No response has been received from the neighborhood association. “ [Charter Right – Simmons, Mar 21, 2022]
Interesting that the loss of one or two parking spaces at this location due to a curb cut gets so much pushback when elsewhere hundreds of parking spaces are being permanently removed for “quick build” bike lanes that impact businesses, health care providers, day care facilities, churches, and more.
Petition Denied (voice vote, but unanimous)

On the Table #3-9. Appointments and Reappointments to City Boards & Commissions on hold while City Council pipes in Muzak to appointees.

On the Table #10. Transmitting Communication from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of the Emergency Management Performance Grant from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in the amount of $39,600 to the Grant Fund Fire Extraordinary Expenditures account which will be used to support the purchase of a new vehicle for the Emergency Preparedness and Coordination office. [Charter Right – Nolan, Mar 7, 2022; Tabled – Mar 21, 2022]

Councillor Nolan continues her audition for Purchasing Agent.

Communications #3. A communication was received from Annette Osgood and Jeanne Oster, regarding a petition signed by over 1,050 names requesting changes to the Cycling Safety Ordinance.
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File (voice vote); Azeem notes that he would consider taking it up in Transportation Committee but makes clear now that nothing will come of it.

The actual number of petioners appears to be approximately 878 when duplicates are purged. There’s also the unhinged cyclist who wrote: “Fuck you disgusting pieces of shit Up yours cagers. I hope you and your cars burn.”

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to draft language to enable the Cambridge Police Department and Department of Public Works to donate abandoned bicycles to charitable organizations as outlined under MGL 30B Section 15(g).  Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Adopted as Amended

Order #2. City Council support of the MIT Graduate Student Union.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zondervan, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor McGovern
Order Adopted

Order #3. That City Council remind the residents of Cambridge that regular street cleaning begins again on April 1, 2022 and that all residents can sign up for automatic alerts and reminders from the City of Cambridge for the remainder of the year.   Councillor Toner
Order Adopted

Order #4. City Council support urging the Massachusetts Legislature and the residents of Cambridge to oppose House Bill 1234 and the proposed 2022 state ballot initiative and ensuring that the rights of workers remain solid and strong for generations to come.   Councillor McGovern, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Toner, Councillor Zondervan, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted as Amended

My favorite phrase in this Order: “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts enjoys a long and distinguished history in the fight for workers’ rights and protections from exploitation from capitalists and corporate interests…”. Alas, life in The Peoples Republik.

Also, there are these Budget Hearings now scheduled in the Merry Month of May:

Tues, May 10

9:00am   The City Council’s Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Budget Overview
Mayor’s Office
Executive – Leadership
Executive – Housing Liaison    
Executive – Diversity
Executive – DGVPI
Executive – Equity and Inclusion    
Public Information Office
Tourism
Housing Liasson    
City Council
City Clerk
Law
Finance Admin.
Budget
Personnel
Purchasing
Auditing
Assessing
Treasury/Revenue
Information Technology    
General Services
Employee Benefits
Election Commission
Public Celebrations
Reserve
Animal Commission
Community Safety (new)
Fire Department
Police Department
Traffic, Parking & Transportation
Inspectional Services
License Commission
Electrical
Emergency Communications

Wed, May 11

6:00pm   The City Council’s Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 School Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Tues, May 17

10:00am   The City Council’s Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Cambridge Health Alliance    
Public Works
Water
Community Development
Historical Commission
Peace Commission / PRAB    
Cable TV
Debt Service
Library
Human Services
Women’s Commission
Human Rights Commission    
Veterans’ Services
MWRA
Cherry Sheet
City Overview Section
Financial Summaries Section
Revenue Section
Public Investment Section

Thurs, May 19

9:00am   The City Council’s Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY 2023 City Budget (if needed).  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

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