Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

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]

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]

October 6, 2023

Meeting with the neighbors is important for City Council Candidates

Each municipal election will have new challengers who may be lesser known to our residents.  It is important to have our neighbors organize meet and greet events for the candidates to learn from our neighbors and for the neighbors to learn from the candidates.

This year, a resident in Cambridge for over 40 years, Mr. Young Kim carefully studies each candidate’s platform and personally picked five candidates for our residents to meet this coming Sunday October 8th, 2023.

Time: 3-5 p.m., on October 8th, Sunday

Place: 17 Norris Street, Cambridge, MA

Signup sheet is here –

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1PlfAuYpENZmlBE7nu4s0Vt6Hqo1YjntqTp5F-G907OU/htmlview#

Please stop by if you can and meet with them to let them know what you think and learn about their experience and platform. We welcome more neighbors organize similar events for us to meet.

October 6th, 2023 by Hao Wang for Cambridge

Hao for Cambridge

February 4, 2022

City Council Campaign Receipts, Bank Reports, $/Vote – 2021

Filed under: 2021 election,Cambridge,elections — Tags: , , , — Robert Winters @ 8:55 am

Follow the money….

Money!Here’s the final tally of campaign receipts for candidates for City Council in the 2021 municipal election as well as Political Action Committees who backed candidates in the municipal election. Only late reported data and error corrections will be made after this point.

I have always found the pattern of campaign receipts to be a strong indicator of which candidates are likely to seek reelection and which candidates are pursuing this goal most aggressively. It must be emphasized that aggressive fundraising should never be misinterpreted as quality of any given candidate.

Here’s the latest account of the (a) total receipts, (b) Cambridge contributions, (c) contributions by candidate to own campaign, (d) union contributions, (e) real estate contributions (as best as I could discern), and (f) total of union and real estate money contributed over this election cycle starting from Feb 1, 2020 through Jan 31, 2022 (a full two-year election cycle) for all City Council candidates (notes: – receipts include loans from candidates to their campaigns; refunds deducted if clearly a refund):

Note to candidates and campaigns: If you feel that anything in these tables is not correct, please contact me at election2021@cambridgecivic.com to make your case. Reasonable requests only.

You can sort on any field by clicking on the field name – in increasing order on the 1st click and in decreasing order on the 2nd click.

Total Receipts

Table of reported City Council campaign receipts (Feb 1, 2020 - Jan 31, 2022 - a full two-year election cycle)
Total Receipts, Cambridge Receipts, Self-funding, Unions, Real Estate
Last updated Apr 27, 5:35pm.
[Note: The figures shown for Nicola Williams required some correction due to very poor record-keeping, duplicate entries, etc. by the campaign Treasurer. There are likely still errors to be corrected.]
Candidate (and PACs)ReceiptsCambridgePctSelfunionsPctReal EstatePctunions+REPct
Toner, Paul$76,707.00$38,980.0050.8%$5,025.00$5,600.007.3%$11,625.0015.2%$17,225.0022.5%
Zondervan, Quinton$71,129.90$52,490.1873.8%$17,000.00$500.000.7%$0.000.0%$500.000.7%
Simmons, E. Denise$67,899.99$32,772.0048.3%$0.00$6,100.009.0%$18,200.0026.8%$24,300.0035.8%
McGovern, Marc C.$66,284.21$33,925.0051.2%$0.00$10,350.0015.6%$13,175.0019.9%$23,525.0035.5%
Williams, Nicola A.$58,415.40$43,775.2174.9%$7,780.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Skeadas, Theodora$48,374.40$8,321.0017.2%$3.90$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Mallon, Alanna$41,596.02$25,514.5761.3%$136.00$5,500.0013.2%$3,850.009.3%$9,350.0022.5%
Siddiqui, Sumbul$40,070.03$28,310.4370.7%$0.00$3,000.007.5%$500.001.2%$3,500.008.7%
Carlone, Dennis$39,358.47$29,596.0575.2%$0.00$750.001.9%$0.000.0%$750.001.9%
Nolan, Patricia M.$37,491.00$27,082.0072.2%$0.00$1,000.002.7%$499.001.3%$1,499.004.0%
Azeem, Burhan$37,402.10$24,925.1066.6%$14,000.00$500.001.3%$0.000.0%$500.001.3%
CCC - IEPAC$32,855.00$32,855.00100.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan$30,977.11$15,722.0850.8%$2,177.88$3,250.0010.5%$0.000.0%$3,250.0010.5%
McGuirk, Joe$27,187.81$9,866.2136.3%$10.00$1,500.005.5%$850.003.1%$2,350.008.6%
Hicks, Tonia$19,607.777112.9436.3%$120.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ABC - IEPAC$18,594.00$14,555.0078.3%$0.00$0.000.0%$200.001.1%$200.001.1%
Bullister, Dana$15,047.01$8,199.0154.5%$5,399.01$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Eckstut, Robert$10,452.00$1,120.0010.7%$720.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ORC - PAC$4,860.00$4,860.00100.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
BikeSafety-PAC$4,231.00$3,275.0077.4%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
ABC - PAC$1,280.00$1,130.0088.3%$0.00$0.000.0%$50.003.9%$50.003.9%
CResA - PAC$1,045.00$1,045.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Pierre, Frantz$250.00$50.0020.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Moree, Gregg$100.00$100.00100.0%$100.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Levy, Ilan S.$0.00$0.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
CCC - PAC$0.00$0.000.0%$0.00$0.000.0%$0.000.0%$0.000.0%
Total$751,215.22$445,581.7859.3%$52,471.79$38,050.005.1%$48,949.006.5%$86,999.0011.6%

Source: Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF)

ABC-PAC: “A Better Cambridge Political Action Committee” [dissolved 4/14/21 in favor of ABC-IEPAC]
ABC-IEPAC: “A Better Cambridge Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
BikeSafety-IEPAC: “Cambridge Bicycle Safety Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
CCC-PAC: “Cambridge Citizens Coalition Political Action Committee” [dissolved 11/5/21 in favor of CCC-IEPAC]
CCC-IEPAC: “Cambridge Citizens Coalition Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee”
CResA-PAC: “Democracy for Cambridge Political Action Committee” – Cambridge Residents Alliance
ORC-PAC: “Our Revolution Cambridge Political Action Committee”

Note: Late support from two additional Independent Expenditure PACs (IEPAC) associated with Liam Kerr has been reported for two candidates:
Priorities for Progress IEPAC – $3000 toward Paul Toner (Novus Group, digital advertisements)
Democrats for Education Reform IEPAC – $2500 toward Patricia Nolan (Novus Group, digital advertisements)


Bank Reports and $ per #1 Vote

Bank Reports 2021 - Cambridge City Council Candidates and PACs
Last updated Feb 4, 1:00pm
CandidateFromToStartReceiptsExpendBalanceAs Of#1 Votes$/#1 Vote
ABC-PAC02/01/2004/14/21$2,051.88$1,229.43$3,281.31$0.0004/14/21
ABC-IEPAC02/17/2110/31/21$0.00$18,424.00$11,178.25$7,245.7511/01/21
CCC-PAC02/01/2010/31/21$5,142.82$0.00$5,142.82$0.0011/04/21
CCC-IEPAC01/01/2112/31/21$0.00$32,855.00$32,512.40$342.6001/05/22
CResA-PAC02/01/2001/31/22$456.16$2,041.56$1,419.26$1,078.4602/03/22
BikeSafety-IEPAC02/01/2010/20/21$0.00$3,861.00$0.00$3,861.0010/20/21
ORC-PAC02/01/2001/31/22$60.00$4,860.10$4,433.08$487.0202/01/22
Azeem, Burhan02/01/2001/31/22$53.68$38,646.06$38,307.13$392.6102/03/221379$27.78
Bullister, Dana11/01/2001/31/22$0.00$15,071.40$14,930.41$140.9902/04/22520$28.71
Carlone, Dennis02/01/2001/31/22$7,231.04$40,784.41$35,958.09$12,057.3602/01/221493$24.08
Eckstut, Robert05/12/2101/31/22$0.00$9,886.39$9,688.13$198.2602/01/2270$138.40
Hicks, Tonia11/01/2001/31/22$0.00$19,079.01$17,277.12$1,801.8902/01/22363$47.60
Levy, Ilan02/01/2001/31/22$54.78$0.00$51.00$3.7802/01/2297$0.53
Mallon, Alanna02/01/2001/31/22$4,944.73$40,630.07$39,879.65$5,695.1502/03/221220$32.69
McGovern, Marc02/01/2001/31/22$11,356.02$67,758.37$65,477.31$13,637.0802/02/221539$42.55
McGuirk, Joe12/01/2001/31/22$0.00$26,359.48$23,853.41$2,506.0702/01/22611$39.04
Moree, Gregg12/31/2011/30/21$0.00$100.00$100.00$0.0012/06/2180$1.25
Nolan, Patty02/01/2001/31/22$6,855.33$36,922.69$30,637.02$13,141.0002/01/221971$15.54
Pierre, Frantz11/01/2012/31/21$0.00$3,336.17$2,312.83$1,023.3401/04/22355$6.52
Siddiqui, Sumbul02/01/2001/31/22$15,318.99$40,290.95$35,863.41$19,746.5302/01/224124$8.70
Simmons, Denise02/01/2001/31/22$8,662.33$66,729.02$60,207.29$15,184.0602/01/221764$34.13
Skeadas, Theodora02/01/2101/31/22$0.00$46,663.79$46,008.27$655.5202/01/22813$56.59
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan02/01/2001/31/22$2,103.89$30,001.90$31,048.50$1,057.2902/01/221225$25.35
Toner, Paul02/01/2001/31/22$156.57$75,858.01$74,637.07$1,377.5102/01/221703$43.83
Williams, Nicola A.02/01/2001/31/22$262.21$61,089.46$60,934.55$417.1202/01/221159$52.58
Zondervan, Quinton02/01/2001/31/22$256.49$70,872.25$70,347.73$781.0102/01/221295$54.32

2021 Cambridge Candidate Pages

December 22, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 529-530: December 21, 2021

Episode 529 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 21, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Dec 21, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Obscurity of Zoom; parting resolutions (esp. Tim Toomey); alarming increase in Covid positive tests and potential new restrictions; City Manager search status with City Clerk search coming; hazardous political environment; clearing out the dead wood at the end of a City Council term. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 530 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 21, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Dec 21, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Mayoral prospects and the coming inaugurations; transition and some truth about election results; need for cooperation and de-poisoning of the political waters; the consequences of initiatives passed under the cover of darkness (Zoom); the “OK, Boomer” dynamic of playing to one lobby over all other concerns; “processing to death” vs. “running over all opposing views”; campaign finance limits ordained, changing traditions, and running on purity. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

December 8, 2021

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 527-528: Dec 7, 2021

Episode 527 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 7, 2021 (Part 1)

This episode was recorded on Dec 7, 2021 at 6:00pm. Topics: Covid-19 updates; Bike Lane Battles, confirmation bias of studies, and some history of bicycle advocacy; campaign finance limitations and City Council contorted rhetoric. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters
[On YouTube] [audio]


Episode 528 – Cambridge InsideOut: Dec 7, 2021 (Part 2)

This episode was recorded on Dec 7, 2021 at 6:30pm. Topics: Zoom reflections; campaign finance facts & fallacies; Battles of Righteousness – virtue signalling and hypocrisy; policy orders as policies and not mandates; strong mayor vs. city manager systems; Awaiting Report Forever; tribunals for board appointments coming soon. Hosts: Judy Nathans, Robert Winters [On YouTube] [audio]

[Materials used in these episodes]

December 5, 2021

Preview of December 6, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting – T Minus Two Meetings

Filed under: Cambridge,City Council,covid — Tags: , , , , , , — Robert Winters @ 1:35 pm

Preview of December 6, 2021 Cambridge City Council meeting – T Minus Two Meetings

The Pandemic Council Term is winding down even as the Omicron Variant is winding up for the next term. I fully expect another two years of coronagendas pushed through under the Shadow of Zoom.Running Down the Clock

Here are a few items of possible interest for this week:

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 (Nolan – ABSENT)

Suffice to say that the latest rates of positive tests have been quite alarming – even though fatalities have become quite rare (as he searches for wood on which to vigorously knock). I would very much appreciate more information about where the increased positive tests are rooted. It appears as though the university populations and younger people are the chief contributors, but many of us would like more clarity.


Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following persons as new members of the Family Policy Council effective Dec 1, 2021: Wendy Georgan, Tabithlee Howard, Sophie Goldman, Elijah Lee-Robinson, Elaine Wen
Placed on File 9-0

Order #7. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the City Solicitor to draft the appropriate ordinance amendments for the City Council to review following the recent charter amendments.   Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons – ABSENT)

<sarcasm>I believe we need to see a report detailing the status of each of these appointees in terms of ethnic representativeness, rental status, and philosophy regarding housing density. After all, Family Policy is Housing Policy. Please wait until after January 1 to refer these appointments to the Civic Unity Committee.</sarcasm>

I am looking forward to seeing how the tribunals will be structured for the evaluation of the worthiness of citizen volunteers by a panel of clueless and politically motivated councillors. Meanwhile, all I have heard regarding the rather important matter of choosing the next City Manager is a throng of crickets.


Manager’s Agenda #14. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 21-88, regarding amendments to the draft Ordinance to limit and monitor campaign donations by individuals seeking financial benefit from the City of Cambridge. [Solicitor’s response]
Referred to Proposed Ordinance 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

On the Table #1. That the City Council adopt a municipal ordinance to reduce or limit campaign donations from donors seeking to enter into a contract, seeking approval for a special permit or up-zoning, seeking to acquire real estate from the city, or seeking financial assistance from the city; Ordinance #2020-27. [Tabled – Nov 8, 2021]
Taken from Table 9-0; Passed to 2nd Reading as Amended 7-2 (Simmons, Toomey – NO)

On the Table #2. That the attached Home Petition titled “Petition For An Act Authorizing The City Of Cambridge To Enact An Ordinance To Limit And Monitor Campaign Donations In Local Elections By Individuals Seeking Financial Reward From The City Of Cambridge” be forwarded to the General Court for adoption. [Tabled – Nov 8, 2021]
Taken from Table 9-0; Placed Back on Table 8-0-0-1 (Simmons – PRESENT)

For what it’s worth, I don’t actually support these restrictions. I’m all for disclosure, and I do my best to help illuminate campaign donations, but the forced imposition of restrictions like those in the proposed ordinance is a slippery slope that serves no useful purpose and is based on the loosiest and goosiest of interpretations and carve-outs for politically acceptable influence-purchasing. Every candidate is free to refuse donations from any source or to highlight the acceptance of those donations by their competitors.

And just to piss off anyone who continues to lose sleep over the Citizens United case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, I actually agree that the right to raise and spend money falls under the category of “free speech”. That said, I think everyone should cast a suspicious eye toward Super-PACs, Independent Expenditure PACs (which, lets face it, often aren’t all that independent of the candidates they support), and any other vehicle used to purchase election victories. Perhaps a more relevant pursuit would be to ensure that all credible candidates are guaranteed widely accessible free platforms via which voters can get to know them.

Some of the most lavishly-funded campaigns derive their treasures not from “individuals seeking financial reward from the City of Cambridge” but from highly-paid professionals who enjoy great access and influence with the councillors they support. I will add that I find it endlessly entertaining to listen to the rhetorical contortions of councillors arguing both sides of this issue. Everyone is always looking for an edge.


Communications #1-6 all address concerns about the recent N. Mass. Ave. bus and bike lane installation and its impacts on traffic and commercial viability.Traffic - North Mass Ave - photo from Save Mass Ave site

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to confer with appropriate departments on what the standard public process will be prior to implementing new sections of bike lanes, and what general evaluation process will take place post-installation.   Councillor Toomey, Councillor Simmons
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

The problem, of course, is that the City Council passed amendments to the Bike Safety Ordinance that essentially limits public process to little more than a discussion over the color of the flex posts. Considerations of such things as the viability of businesses, traffic congestion, and even actual bike safety must take a back seat to everything except perceived safety and the comfort of cyclists.

Order #3. That the Cambridge City Council condemns, in the strongest possible terms, any actions that may result in the physical injury of any individual, regardless of their support or non-support, of the bike/bus lane implementation on Massachusetts Avenue.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 7-0-0-2 (Simmons, Toomey – PRESENT)

To any idiot who thinks that you can advance your cause by spreading tacks or bricks or broken glass in bike lanes: Violence is a poor substitute for reason, persistence, or even mockery. Try winning your argument with wit and wisdom instead. Even if you don’t prevail you can still live with your conscience (assuming you have one).


Order #2. City Council opposition to the MBTA’s plans to introduce new diesel infrastructure at the North Cambridge Garage and buses with diesel heaters.   Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Placed on File (motion of Mallon) 8-1 (Zondervan – NO)

Order #6. That the City Clerk is requested to forward the Home Rule Petition establishing a Net Zero emissions requirement for building construction in Cambridge in accordance with its Net Zero Action Plan, adopted in 2015, to the entire state legislative delegation for immediate adoption.   Councillor Zondervan, Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Carlone
Charter Right – Zondervan

I will soon be getting insulation pumped into all the outer walls of my building, and I think most Cambridge property owners are receptive to greater energy efficiency in their buildings. That said, I am always suspicious of actions by the City Council that may potentially lead to dramatic increases in the cost of home renovations.

Order #8. That the City Manager is requested to direct the City Solicitor to draft home rule language to establish a Cambridge Jobs Creation Trust for City Council review by the Dec 20, 2021 regular City Council meeting.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor Mallon, Mayor Siddiqui
Order Adopted 9-0

It sure seems as though this City Council is poised to jack up the linkage fee on new commercial developments as high as legally possible regardless of the intended or unintended consequences. Any reasonable person likely supports job creation for residents, but the proposed Cambridge Jobs Creation Trust seems more like a justification for an increase in the linkage fee than anything else.

Order #9. That a special meeting of the City Council, School Committee, Cambridge Health Department and other appropriate city and school staff be scheduled to discuss the findings of the 2021 Cambridge Teen Health Survey for Middle and High School students and what immediate interventions are going to be implemented in response to concerns.   Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Carlone – ABSENT)

Suffice to say that the statements “46% of high school students and 31% of middle school students reported feeling tense, nervous, or worried every day for two or more weeks in a row” and “35% of high school students and 27% of middle school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks or more that they stopped doing usual activities” may well apply to a lot of people at various times during the pandemic. – Robert Winters

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