Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

March 5, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 611-612: March 5, 2024

Episode 611 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 5, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Mar 5, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Super Tuesday; Iran voting boycott vs. campaign for “No Preference”; Trump vs. Biden; ward committees; City Council less dysfunctional, more collaborative w/City Manager; Finance Committee – levy projections, call for restraint, need to maintain excess levy capacity; use of operating budget for affordable housing has consequences; anticipated 10%+ annual increases in levy coming; fewer building permits – revenue not subject to Prop 2½ limits; commercial values relatively flat – shift of levy from commercial to residential; within residential, condos get sweetest deal after residential exemption and most of the increases borne by single-, two-, and three-family properties; need for intervention now to avoid future need for overrides; councillors had luxury for years in not having to think about limitations; FY24 consolidated spending categories; note that every stick of affordable housing (deed restrictions) has de minimis tax revenue – receive far more value in services that tax generated. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 612 – Cambridge InsideOut: Mar 5, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Mar 5, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Mar 4 City Council meeting; PERF report – police-involved shooting, good recommendations, positive evaluation of CPD practices, less-lethal options, CPD to be first in Mass. with policy on releasing names of involved officers; Central Square Lots Study in parallel with zoning changes; other assets, adjacent properties; everyone loves Central Square until they don’t; demise of current Starlight Square, need for replacement; contradictory signals on whether to gather more information or take action; exclusive focus on “affordable housing” creates net financial negative in perpetuity – math doesn’t work; plan in concert with privately-owned adjacent lots, e.g. Bishop Allen/Prospect, Green/Pleasant lot and Needle Exchange building; 44 years and 24 studies – the never-ending study of Central Square; not just about making everything bigger – need to make things better, more creative and more interesting; death of Paul Ryder; Charter Review update – next steps, desire to control process, facets of City government via Special Acts that should be part of Charter or at least be referenced – License Commission, Election Commission, Traffic Board, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge Housing Authority, Cambridge Redevelopment Authority; housing-related orders re: real estate transfer tax and municipally-funded vouchers (a real budget buster); the more we fund affordable housing the wider the gap in affordability. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

February 27, 2024

Current City of Cambridge Board and Commission Vacancies (Feb 27, 2024)

Filed under: Cambridge,Cambridge government — Tags: , — Robert Winters @ 4:38 am

Volunteer Opportunities – Cambridge Boards & Commissions

Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission Members Sought

Feb 26, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission (LGBTQ+ Commission).

The LGBTQ+ Commission was established under Chapter 2.125 of the Cambridge Municipal Code. The function of the Commission is to advocate for a culture of respect and monitor progress toward equality of all persons with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, and to promote policies and practices that have a positive effect on the health, welfare, and safety of all persons who live, visit, or work in the city with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Commissioners are expected to be knowledgeable about the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and must live or work in Cambridge.City Seal

Commissioners are expected to:

  • Attend monthly meetings;
  • Participate and volunteer for outreach and other community events;
  • Promote the principals of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and
  • Work with LGBTQ+ Commission staff.

The LGBTQ+ Commission consists of up to 20 members appointed to 3-year terms.

  • Meetings are typically held on the fourth Thursday of every month, 6-8pm., though the meeting schedule may be reassessed to accommodate Commissioners’ needs.
  • Under the provisions of the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, meetings are usually required to be in person at 51 Inman Street; although the LGBTQ+ Commission has shifted to meeting hybrid under the temporary Open Meeting Law provisions.
  • The LGBTQ+ Commission will continue to utilize remote capabilities whenever public health needs arise.

Board and commission members in Cambridge do not generally receive compensation for their time. However, the city has explored the possibility of offering a stipend for high time commitment boards. Serving on the LGBTQ+ Commission does not require a high time commitment and therefore is not under consideration for a potential stipend at this time.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 25, 2024. Applications can be submitted using the City of Cambridge’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications can also be obtained at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.

For more information, contact Carolina Almonte at 617-349-4396 or calmonte@cambridgema.gov.


Members Sought for City of Cambridge Danehy Park Improvements Plan Working Group

Feb 13, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang seeks volunteers to serve on a new Working Group to help guide the Danehy Park Improvements Plan Project.City Seal

Working Group members will have two general responsibilities:

  • Serve as community representatives to help guide the City Manager and staff on key issues related to the design of improvements to Danehy Park;
  • Help communicate the process and design of the project back to the larger community.

Danehy Park is 30 years old and needs a fresh look. The City of Cambridge has contracted with a landscape consultant team to plan the next 10-20 years of improvements to the park. The goal is for Danehy Park to be an exceptional public park that residents of Cambridge will continue to be proud of and cherish. The Capital Improvement Plan will identify improvements for Danehy Park that:

  • complement the essential natural, historic, and visual character of the site;
  • are based on a strong public engagement process that prioritizes outreach to traditionally underrepresented groups. In addition to the Working Group, there will be a community engagement process for additional public participation;
  • provide access to and protect the plants and animals of Danehy Park;
  • address future flooding and heat impacts due to climate change;
  • allow people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to relax, play, exercise and connect with other people in the park;
  • judge the condition and quality of the parks features and systems; and
  • propose a series of distinct projects and phased improvements to the park.

The Working Group will be made up of 10-15 members, representing a diverse set of interests. This will help ensure that multiple perspectives are heard and that there is appropriate representation reporting back to the larger community. The Working Group will include residents, institutional representatives, and a variety of people that currently use Danehy Park. It is anticipated that the group will meet six to eight times between April 2024 and December 2024. Meetings of the Working Group will be open to the public.

Individuals who want to shape the future of Danehy Park and want to collaborate with City of Cambridge staff to realize the goals above are encouraged to apply.

Persons interested in applying can do so through the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and select “Danehy Park Improvements Working Group” in the list of Current Vacancies. A letter of interest can be submitted during the online application process.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 11, 2024.


Members Sought to fill Cambridge Library Board of Trustees Vacancy

Feb 12, 2024 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees for the Cambridge Public Library.City Seal

Library trustees are volunteer community representatives, library advocates, and leaders in the establishment of goals and policies for the Cambridge Public Library system. Trustees are a vital link between the library staff and the community and work to ensure the quality of library services, collections, and programs, and to make certain that the library reflects and is relevant to the community.

Trustees are appointed by the City Manager following City Council confirmation to serve a 3-year term. Board members are expected to attend monthly board meetings, committee and community meetings, appropriate continuing education workshops or conferences, and library programs as their schedules allow. Monthly meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5pm, virtually and in-person in the Cambridge Public Library Board Room, 449 Broadway.

Ideal candidates will have an interest in and passion for public libraries and an understanding of the importance of the public library as a center of information, culture, recreation, and life-long learning in the community. Candidates should also have knowledge of the community, including an awareness of diverse social and economic conditions, needs and interests of all groups. Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking skills are required. Trustees work productively as a team. It is also important for candidates to understand how the role of the public library is evolving and how information technology and societal changes inform the library’s future.

Applications can be submitted to the City Manager’s Office using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. For more information about the role of Library Trustees, contact Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries at mmccauley@cambridgema.gov.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 18, 2024.


Members Sought for City of Cambridge Planning Board

Feb 12, 2024 – The City of Cambridge is seeking members to serve on the Planning Board. All Cambridge residents are invited to apply.City Seal

The Planning Board is made up of Cambridge residents who make recommendations and decisions about urban development on behalf of the City of Cambridge. The Planning Board has seven full members and two associate members who are appointed by the City Manager, and then approved by the City Council to serve a 5-year term. All members can participate in Planning Board discussions.

The Planning Board meets regularly in a public forum to discuss the City of Cambridge’s urban planning objectives, and apply them in the following ways:

  • Reviewing major urban development proposals, granting certain types of special permits when they are needed, and putting conditions on special permit approval. The Planning Board reviews about 20-25 special permit cases each year;
  • Reviewing proposed amendments to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, which sets rules for urban development, and making recommendations to the Cambridge City Council. The Planning Board reviews about 10-15 proposed zoning amendments each year;
  • Making recommendations to the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) on some cases. The BZA is a different board that grants some special permits and variances.
  • Discussing other City of Cambridge planning efforts.

Anyone who lives in Cambridge can apply to serve on the Planning Board. You don’t need to be a homeowner. The city is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

No specific professional background is needed to serve on the Planning Board. However, since a big part of the Planning Board’s role is reviewing building plans and designs, it is important that members have a strong interest and enthusiasm for urban design and how it shapes the community. Successful members of the Planning Board will be able to:

  • Engage in a constructive discussion of urban planning topics, including urban design, transportation, housing, infrastructure planning, public space, and other topics;
  • Listen to people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and consider different points of view;
  • Visit and learn about different parts of Cambridge, and bring experience from other cities that members have visited, lived in, or learned about;
  • Ask critical questions and make sure to get clear answers;
  • Work toward constructive solutions to complex problems;
  • Collaborate and build consensus with a group of people;
  • Learn about and understand the laws related to planning and zoning; and
  • Make reasonable decisions on behalf of the City that follow those laws.

We strongly suggest that people who are interested in the Planning Board attend or watch a Planning Board meeting. Visit www.cambridgema.gov/planningboard to learn about upcoming meetings. Archived video of meetings can be found on the City’s website here (then scroll to “Available Archives” / “Planning Board”).

By state law, all board members must complete a training in ethics and conflict-of-interest laws. The City’s Law Department also provides training and assistance to Planning Board members on legal issues. The City of Cambridge provides training to employees on topics including Preventing Sexual Harassment and Valuing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These trainings will be available to Planning Board members and may be required.

The Planning Board is supported by professional planning staff in the Community Development Department, with added support from the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, and others. Staff give written reports to Planning Board members on cases that are before them, and are also available if members have questions. Staff may also develop training on other topics that are relevant to the Planning Board’s work and may direct Planning Board members to training offered by outside organizations.

The Planning Board usually meets 2-4 times each month on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Meetings can last about 3-4 hours. Members are expected to attend most meetings. Members can expect to spend about 2-4 hours before each meeting reviewing materials such as plans and documents, which are sent to members about 5 days before each meeting. Some members find it helpful to visit sites that they are reviewing in person, but it is not required.

The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law usually requires meetings to be in person. However, the Planning Board has been meeting remotely under the temporary Open Meeting Law provisions established during the COVID-19 pandemic and may continue to meet remotely through March 2025. For remote meetings, Planning Board members must have a computer or other device with an internet connection, camera, and microphone that can support video conferencing. It is also helpful to have a private place to attend remote meetings without distractions.

Planning Board members receive $6,000 per year as a stipend. This stipend is meant to offset the annual out-of-pocket costs that members might pay to make it possible to serve on the Planning Board, such as child care, transportation, and other expenses.

People interested in being considered should apply by using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply and selecting “Planning Board” in the list of Current Vacancies. During the application process, you should provide a cover letter to explain why you are interested in being on the Planning Board, and a résumé or summary of applicable experience. Experience can include both professional and volunteer work.

The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, March 18, 2024.

If you have questions, contact Swaathi Joseph in the Community Development Department at 617-349-4668 or sjoseph@cambridgema.gov or visit www.cambridgema.gov/planningboard


The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

February 21, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 609-610: February 20, 2024

Episode 609 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 20, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Feb 20, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Local News – Cambridge and beyond; Valentine’s Day – 46 years; City Council Goals & Objectives; the ordeal of facilitation and training; the value of informality and interaction in committee meetings; 311 vs. SeeClickFix vs. an Ombudsman vs. a simple phone call; benefiting from the existence of a problem; pros and cons of a good idea; upside-down priorities – the essential difference between a city manager and a strong mayor system. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 610 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 20, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Feb 20, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Ambiguity in affordable housing – buy vs. rent, market vs. subsidized; the DEI lens – one lens in addition to effectiveness, efficient delivery of services, and transparency; Envision – quote it when it suits you, ignore it when it doesn’t; the mythology of Central Square progress; Cycling Safety update – drawing conclusions from the inconclusive; Community Safety update – tiptoeing around the HEART problem; foreign policy or not; Charter Review Report gets political right out of the gate. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

February 14, 2024

Random Thoughts – February 14, 2024

Random Thoughts – February 14, 2024

In addition to the romanticism of Valentine’s Day, this day also marks the day I moved to the Cambridge/Boston area – 46 years ago. While this means that I can never be a True Cantabrigian, my consolation is that many lifelong Cambridge residents have adopted me as a kind of lost cousin. In fact, my move to Cambridge happened on the first day that buses were running from New York to Boston after the Blizzard of ’78, so it’s always easy for me to remember when I first washed up on the shores of the People’s Republic.RW

I spent a couple of hours yesterday attending a Special City Council meeting called for the purpose of updating the City Council Goals that were most recently updated over 5 years ago in October 2017. It’s likely that the statement of Guiding Principles and City Council Goals will change little, though perhaps they’ll get a bit more specific than the rosy generalities issued in 2017.

I have to say that I have never enjoyed meetings like this where participants stumble about trying to say something relevant that might get the attention of the facilitator. I will add that these exercises often seem more like justifications for keeping “facilitation companies” going than actually producing anything useful. I might say the same thing of most “team building” exercises and virtually all “trainings” – online or in-person. Especially in the context of elected officials who are endlessly competing for credit or attention, the notion that you can train competition into collaboration seems a bit naive. They’ll either do it or they won’t.

That said, there were a few moments of wisdom, reality, and perhaps even redefinition. For example, at least one councillor noted the difference between City Council orders and committee work. This is something I appreciate – over the years I have come to view many policy orders as “drive-by orders” where some random idea is tossed into the public arena or perhaps lifted from some other municipality. Committee work used to be more like a serious detailed discussion that welcomed public participation. That hasn’t really been the case in recent years – unless you are one of the privileged few who function more like “10th councillors” thanks to your affiliation with a lobbying group that also endorses candidates in the municipal election. Everyone else just gets their two or three minutes to make a short statement before being terminated by the Chair. I liked it better when if you actually offered constructive ideas at a committee meeting you might actually be involved in a back-and-forth discussion with the councillors. Nowadays you just perform and exit – unless you are among the politically privileged.

One suggestion made at yesterday’s meeting was that the City Manager and staff should send out weekly general updates of current topics being worked on by City staff. City Manager Yi-An Huang welcomed the idea but also expressed concern about “granularity” as he noted that at any given time there are ~2000 employees working on different things. Was the suggestion to have “weeklies” really be just about getting updates on the usual “hot topics” like bike lanes, BEUDO, and plans for recently-acquired City properties? It was also not made clear if these “weeklies” would be just for councillors or if they would be publicly available. Also unanswered was how such a protocol might mesh with the current daily updates to which many of us are subscribed.

One suggestion was that there should be a 311 system – a single point of contact for resident complaints and inquiries. This brought two things to mind. First, this sounds a lot like SeeClickFix – which is supposed to be the place for residents and elected officials alike to report problems. There seemed to be some sense that this system may not be functioning as well as it should be, and that when there is no response or action the calls go to city councillors. My experience has been that some kinds of SeeClickFix reports get an almost immediate response, and others languish for months or even years. It doesn’t help that some people view SeeClickFix as just another social media outlet on which they can bitch and moan about things that often go well beyond what the City can or should do. The other thing that came to mind was the proposal from over 20 years ago to create an Ombudsman Office that would respond to resident requests. That proposal went down in flames when councillors realized that responding to such complaints was an essential part of their political existence and that transferring that responsibility would only hurt their role in providing “constituent services”. In short, councillors often benefit from the existence of a problem.

Yesterday’s facilitator suggested that city councillors should be asking questions more than making statements. The response from some councillors was that this really doesn’t work in the context of a City Council meeting where you have to wait your turn to be recognized by the Chair and where technically all remarks are made through the Chair. I would note that in committee meetings this kind of questioning and back-and-forth conversation at least used to be common (and useful). It was also pointed out that the Open Meeting Law actually thwarts this kind of questioning and collaboration.

When the facilitators displayed their distillation of apparent City Council priorities (presumably based on some kind of questionnaire), the results were both predictable and misleading. The same can be said of the periodic Resident Surveys conducted on behalf of the City. Affordable housing always tops the list but rarely, if ever, is there any clarification of what that actually means. In one sense, it’s likely that 100% of residents want their housing to be affordable, but does that mean that they want to be able to buy a home on the open market at an affordable price, or does it mean that they want the City to subsidize the purchase? The same goes even more significantly when it comes to renting an apartment. I believe most renters simply want to see more affordable rents, and not necessarily that they want the City to subsidize those rents, but you would never know that from the Resident Survey or from the councillors’ prioritization.

It is worth noting that many, perhaps most, things that residents care about are not directly addressable by city councillors, the City administration, or from any level of government. Kindness, mutual respect, neighborliness, and voluntarism form the glue of society and likely have more to do with the satisfaction of living in a town or city than anything that was ever woven into a City Council policy order.

I was especially impressed when Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan noted that a major portion of City expenditures are in infrastructure, yet there was not even a mention of this in the list of City Council priorities. Perhaps this serves to highlight the difference between the politics of being an elected councillor and the management by City administration. Indeed, one of the greatest problems with a popularly-elected mayor as CEO is that it almost guarantees a greater share of attention and resources toward popular concerns and a corresponding decrease in focus on matters like infrastructure and municipal finance. I hope our current group of councillors keep this in mind as they debate possible Charter changes. It is, in fact, this focus on such matters by City management that allows the elected councillors to focus on more visible populist concerns.

Mayor Simmons bemoaned the fact that DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) was way down on the list of priorities, but stated that “this should be the lens through which we look at things.” It’s certainly one such lens, but fiscal responsibility, effective service delivery, responsiveness, and transparency are also pretty good lenses through which to look at and evaluate what we do as a city.

There was an interesting back-and-forth about the Envision plan and how it is often quoted or ignored depending on what you want or don’t want. There also continues to be a lot of misinterpretation of the goals and metrics in that report – especially in the area of housing.

Regarding Central Square, City Manager Huang stated that many of the goals contained in past studies have already been implemented – noting, in particular, bike lanes and outdoor dining. In fact, there is little mention of bike lanes in these past studies (perhaps due to how long ago the studies were produced), and much of the outdoor dining came about not from past studies but as an emergency response to the Covid epidemic as a means of helping some local businesses to economically survive. Indeed, the only significant new developments in Central Square happened independently of past studies, e.g. the Mass & Main (Normandy/Twining) zoning petition. It is my understanding that some new zoning proposals may be forthcoming based, in part, on some of the considerations of the C2 Study (from over a decade ago), but we’ll have to see where that road leads. – Robert Winters

February 7, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 607-608: February 6, 2024

Episode 607 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 6, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Feb 6, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Charles Fried and a Capitol tale; Peter Valentine archive; Mapping Black Cambridge; campaign finance wrap-up; Gaza capitulation and activist misbehavior; the long history of foreign policy at the Cambridge City Council; City gobbling up Central Square; what’s in store for ’24. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 608 – Cambridge InsideOut: Feb 6, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Feb 6, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Foreign policy; Charter Review Final Report – manager vs. mayor, voting age, non-citizen voting, even-year elections, citizen assemblies – a critique; dysfunction in how we involve residents in decision-making; City Council “finding itself”, coming to terms with prioritization; City Council committee appointments; fending off the socialists; smart ideas vs. unreasonable mandates; better ways to manage public meetings with less Zoom and more interaction. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 17, 2024

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 605-606: January 16, 2024

Episode 605 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 16, 2024 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Jan 16, 2024 at 6:00pm. Topics: Shout out to DPW; OCPF reports due Jan 20; Council committees pending; Clean Slate at Jan 8 Council meeting; Jerry’s Pond; dealing with the nonresident protesters and bad political theater. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 606 – Cambridge InsideOut: Jan 16, 2024 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Jan 16, 2024 at 6:30pm. Topics: Looking back at the 2022-23 City Council term and ahead to the 2024-25 term; single-issue advocacy at the root of the problem, need for cost/benefit analysis – examples with transportation, housing, energy; Charter considerations; phantom Traffic Board; confounded analysis of slate voting; and a Big Wish for better Squares and more fun. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

January 5, 2024

The New City Council Begins to Take Shape – January 8, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

The New City Council Begins to Take Shape – January 8, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Clean SlateDuring Mayor Simmons’ remarks at the Jan 1 Inaugural meeting, she made reference to beginning the new City Council term with a clean slate. A lot of people feel the same way – including me. It’s almost guaranteed that some bad behavior will follow – especially if some councillors engage in shallow populism – but hopefully there will be enough fortitude to call BS when that needs to be said, and that goes triply if we continue to see the kind of unchallenged displays like we witnessed during the Inaugural meeting.

I was especially pleased to see the City Manager’s communication regarding the eternal backlog of “Awaiting Report” items – most of which really should not have been carried forward to the new City Council term. This is not to say that there are few things worthy of consideration on the list – only that it would be better to set some priorities first. City Council policy orders should not be “Letters to Santa” or “make work projects” for campaign workers occupying patronage positions as City Council Aides.

Here are the notable items in this week’s agenda (in my opinion, of course):

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Policy Orders and Awaiting Reports for the New Term.
pulled by Toner; Rules Suspended 9-0 to bring forward Comm. & Reports #2; Toner says he intends to move to place all Awaiting Report Items on File; Manager explains desire for Council to collaborate and prioritize; McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Siddiqui, Toner, Nolan, Wilson, Azeem, Pickett, Simmons remarks; Simmons notes need to update City Council Goals which have not changed since 2017, notes difference between goals and policy orders; Toner motion to place Comm & Rpts #2 and all items on Awaiting Report on File Approved 5-4 (BA,MM,JP,PT,DS – Yes; PN,SS,JSW,AW – No); Manager’s Communication #4 referred to Gov’t Operations 9-0

118 Communications (really 121 topics) — The tally is 51 on the proposed (and failed) BEUDO amendment to the amendments; 41 on Zondervan’s order re: police procedures; 22 calling on the City to evict Elbit Systems from Cambridge (mainly from people who don’t live in Cambridge); 4 protesting the City Council’s Nov 20 “Present” vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza; 2 pro-municipal broadband; 1 anti-municipal broadband; 1 supporting of the Freedmen’s Commission, and 1 regarding traffic on N. Mass. Ave.

I’m highlighting these communications primarily to point out what may well have been the single most stupid idea floated at the last Charter Review Committee meeting – namely a proposal to require a pro/con tally of all public comment and communications to the City Council on various issues. For starters (and this was pointed out by more sensible voices), not every opinion is pro or con. There can be nuanced points of view (like almost all of my points of view). Also, those who are reasonably satisfied with the status quo rarely feel compelled to make public comment. Most public comment these days tends to be reflection of political organizing and often consists of less-than-well-informed diatribes (e.g., the belief that the City Council or the City Administration can evict a commercial tenant (Elbit Systems) associated with a country now in disfavor among the extreme left, or the fascist belief that the Planning Board could support zoning that singles out particular companies). “Direct Democracy” can be very appealing – until you realize that it can be little more than mob rule. I’ll choose representative democracy every time – even when I have concerns about the wisdom or the representativeness of the representatives.


Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to consult DPW, CDD, IQHQ, Friends of Jerry’s Pond, Alewife Study Group and Mass Audubon about further changes and enhancements to Jerry’s Pond, improvements to the shoreline ecology and other improvements to the current plans for the Rindge Avenue public edge along Jerry’s Pond and investigate funding sources for such plans including the use of City moneys and resources.   Councillor Wilson, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled early by Toner; remarks by Wilson, McGovern, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Toner, Nolan, Pickett, Azeem; Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan, DPW Commissioner Kathy Watkins respond; Order Fails 4-5 (MM,SS,JSW,AW – Yes; BA,PN,JP,PT,DS – No)

Committee Report #1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, and Arts and Celebration Committee held a public hearing on Sept 27, 2023 to discuss the future treatment of Jerry’s Pond, specifically the Rindge Avenue edge as it affects the community. The meeting on Sept 27, 2023 was recessed and reconvened on Dec 13, 2023. [text of report]
pulled by Toner (early); Placed on File 9-0


Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to consult with relevant staff to consider using remaining ARPA funding to create a tuition relief opportunity with Lesley University for Cambridge employees and residents.   Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Simmons
Order Adopted 9-0

Note: The meeting began in the Sullivan Chamber but was disrupted by the same petulant nitwits who disrupted the City Council Inauguration a week earlier. The remainder of the meeting was conducted in Zoom, and all public commenters who insisted on bringing up matters not on the agenda were summarily muted (in accordance with City Council Rules). – Robert Winters

November 22, 2023

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 601-602: November 21, 2023

Episode 601 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 21, 2023 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Nov 21, 2023 at 6:00pm. Topics: Notable Passings: Teresa Neighbor, Gregg Moree, Kevin Glynn; a personal tale of candidacy, the politics of personal destruction, the lack of a viable local press, and “taking one for the team”; Gaza takes center stage; municipal election results – City Council and School Committee; election mechanics, configuration files, ballot data files; the problem of ballot order dependence and how to fix it. Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 602 – Cambridge InsideOut: Nov 21, 2023 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Nov 21, 2023 at 6:30pm. Topics: Replacements in the event of a vacancy; The Comedy of Voting Errors; Ward/Precinct #1 Vote distribution; neighborhood bases of support; great disparity in voter turnout among precincts and disproportional representation; #2 Vote Distribution from the ballot data; Cost per #1 Vote; some history of proportional representation historically and in the United States and in Massachusetts; Question: Proportional to what? Host: Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

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