It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like 2016 Again – December 9, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting
It seems like Deja Vu all over again. As I was grabbing links to past Sanctuary City resolutions, I stumbled upon my notes from the Nov 21, 2016 City Council meeting. Some of the agenda items were strikingly similar to this week’s agenda – both, of course, in the context of a forthcoming Trump presidency. [Sanctuary City references: 1985, 2006, 2016 and 2020; and now this]
Note: There was a meeting of the Special Committee on Charter Review earlier in the day at which a long list of proposed Charter amendments were either recommended, dismissed, held over until the next meeting or referred to the Government Operations Committee for possible separate action.
Here are the items that seemed interesting to me this week:
Boards & Commissions
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Zhonghe Li and Jean Dany Joachim and the re-appointment of David Daniel, Aliyah Gary, Lori Lander, Calvin Lindsay Jr., Ann Lawson, Stella Aguirre McGregor, Michael Monestime, Diane Charyk Norris, Katherine Megumi Shozawa and Christine Lamas Weinberg to the Cambridge Arts Advisory Board for a term of three years.
Appointments Approved; Placed on File 9-0
Resolution #1. Congratulations to CHA Board Commissioner Gerard J. Clark on his retirement. Mayor Simmons
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-24, regarding a Porchfest pilot. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Jason Weeks, Simmons, Wilson; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Affordable Homeownership Commitment. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0
Transportation and, of course, bikes
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the proposed Bluebike bike share system contract term.
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Stephanie Groll, Wilson, Simmons, Megan Bayer; Order Adopted 9-0
Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department and Harvard University to restore Garden Street to two-way automobile traffic while preserving two-way protected bike lanes, preserving as much parking on and/or near Garden Street as possible and identifying potential areas for resident parking on neighboring streets and communicating the changes to the affected neighborhood. Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner, Zusy, Nolan, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, McGovern, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Azeem, Siddiqui, Owen O’Riordan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 24-61, regarding lowering speeds on state highways. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Jeff Parenti, Brooke McKenna; Order Adopted 9-0
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to forward a letter to all Cambridge organizations working with immigrant populations, as well as all City Departments, reminding them of the city’s Sanctuary/Trust Act City status, the protections provided by the 2020 Welcoming Community Ordinance, and the importance of ensuring non-citizens are treated with dignity and respect. Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner (PO24#154)
pulled by McGovern; comments by McGovern, Siddiqui, Nolan, Wilson, Simmons; Order Amended to add all councillors; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
On The Table #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments and encourage the state Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the MBTA to adhere to Cambridge local ordinances, including the Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance, during Alewife Construction. [Tabled Nov 25, 2024]
Removed from Table 9-0; comments by Nolan; Order Adopted 9-0
Resolution #3. Recognition of Cambridge Investment in Renewable Energy. Councillor Nolan, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui
pulled for comments by Nolan
8 Committee Reports – 7 from previous City Council terms
Reports Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Communications & Reports #2. A communication from Councillor Siddiqui and Councillor Toner, transmitting an update on the Special Committee on Charter Review. Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0