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Apr 29, 2024
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If you would like to be a guest (or co-host) one of these Tuesdays, let me know. - RW

Thought for today

“It is much easier to be a rebel than a hard-working student. . . . It is also much easier to be a hero or a martyr than to strive day in day out mastering knowledge and acquiring new skills.” – Eric Hoffer [Reference]

April 5 - I read this today in that godsend known as TGIF from The Free Press:
→ Seattle drops accelerated courses: Seattle, seeing that the kids testing into accelerated schools were “disproportionately” Asian and white, has decided to eliminate accelerated programs entirely. Now, everyone will remain in the same class, studying the same material on the same day. (Suburbs and private schools, expand the playgrounds, add a carpool lane, brace for flight.)

Meanwhile, the L.A. Times is arguing that Algebra 2, traditionally taught as third-year high school math, should be eliminated as a requirement for certain elite public universities since. . . you guessed it. Algebra 2 is hard, and it’s unfair to require it. The paper’s editorial board writes: “Algebra 2 is more abstract than data science, a form of applied mathematics that combines math, statistics, and other tools to provide a wide range of useful information for many professional careers. That could include predicting side effects to medication, consumer buying trends, or matching couples on dating apps.” The answer to any observed difference is always the same: take away the class. Cancel that math. Learning to code — you could be the dev responsible for optimizing a dating app! — is much more important than learning how a dumb triangle works. Every time I think this movement is done, it goes and takes a new city. Seattle has fallen. College math is next. I promise reading is around the corner.

When some evil tech bros announced a new math and English learning product, a local San Francisco activist had this to say: “Why do these folks want kids learning math so fast? They want their labor and productivity to ‘accelerate human achievement.’”

Ew, human achievement. Terrifying. Who would want that?

Riding the Third Rail - April 8, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

The relative quiet of the last few weeks will likely end this week with the introduction of a policy order that challenges the status quo of the Cycling Safety Ordinance. There’s also a new zoning petition. Here are the agenda items of note this week:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 2024 #6, regarding micromobility rules and regulations. [text of report]
pulled by Pickett; comments by Acting City Solicitor Megan Bayer, Pickett, Toner, Traffic Commissioner Brooke McKenna, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Deputy City Manager Owen O’Riordan, Iram Farooq (CDD), Nolan, Police Commissioner Christine Elow, Phil McDavitt (CPD); Placed on File 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 2024 #12, regarding tenant protections resources. [text of report]
pulled by Siddiqui; comments by Siddiqui, Maura Pensak (Housing Liaison), Maria ?, Sobrinho-Wheeler, McGovern, Megan Bayer, Simmons, Toner exercises Charter Right on JSW motion to refer to Ordinance Committee; Placed on File 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #5. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $20,000,000 from Free Cash to the Debt Stabilization Fund. This appropriation will be used to mitigate anticipated debt service costs in future years for the City’s major capital projections.
pulled by Pickett; comments by Pickett, Finance Director Claire Spinner explains rationale, Simmons asks for clarification, City Manager Yi-An Huang notes anticipated increases in debt load, Taha Jennings provides additional information re: role of Covid; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a summary of a Planning Board Meeting on the 2023 Town-Gown Reports and Presentations. [text of report]
Place on File 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Law Department to draft proposed near-term amendments to the PTDM Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner, Iram Farooq, Pickett, McGovern, Yi-An Huang; McGovern motion to require report back no later than October 2024; Siddiqui asks if City would be involved in negotiating private parking arrangements; Owen O’Riordan says these would be primarily private arrangements; Brooke McKenna notes that City would be involved if parking is commercial parking requiring a permit; McGovern asks if City would be involved in renting spaces for metered parking (no); Nolan asks if October 2024 sufficient time, Huang notes that timeline could be reported much sooner, Farooq says timing is reasonable; McGovern amendment Adopted 8-0-1 (BA-Absent); Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking and Transportation Department, the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department, and the Law Department to draft proposed amendments to the Cycling Safety Ordinance to extend the deadline associated with the completion of those sections of the ordinance that are required to be completed by May 1, 2026.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Toner; Toner notes that there is no intention to jeopardize safety, disputes public comment interpretation of impact report, need for more mitigation before any implementation, notes that City staff wrote the text of the “Ordered” sections of the Order, need to do no harm; comments by Pickett on lessons learned from implementations so far; Wilson notes that “it’s important that when we know better, we do better”; Yi-An Huang notes work of Toner, Pickett, and Wilson with City staff leading to this Order, emphasizes that City ready to meet original timelines (seems as though City only interested in parking mitigation and nothing more); McGovern emphasizes that this is only a proposed delay for mitigation and that no other changes are expected; Simmons acknowledges importance of cycling safety but also businesses affected, houses of worship affected by loss of parking; Siddiqui emphasizes City Manager statement about meeting current deadlines; O’Riordan prefers to provide more details when matter returns after Charter Right; Toner asks for clarity on timelines; McKenna says a delay will allow for Cambridge Street to be split into two projects; Huang promises more granular data and timelines; Sobrinho-Wheeler asks if language actually came from staff, O’Riordan concurs that staff provided the language but that City is not advocating a particular outcome; JSW and Pickett want more data, notes that most accidents occur at intersections and those hazards are made worse by quick-build bike lanes; Charter Right - Sobrinho-Wheeler

28 Communications - all but two of which are in response to the potential touching of that sacred cow that is the Cycling Safety Ordinance.

There could be hundreds opining during Public Comment on this - largely due to the activists lighting up their mailing lists with alarm calls. Much of the commentary will be variants of the statement that “if you don’t do exactly as I say and implement every aspect of the latest Bicycle Plan, then countless people will die and civilization itself will be threatened.” Personally, I would just like to understand how Broadway got snuck into the latest plan without anyone asking the residents of Mid-Cambridge. To wit:

The 2015 Bicycle Plan (note that Broadway is not included):

The 2020 Plan (eastern half) in which Broadway is added:

For what it’s worth, I really wish the City would, at the very least, take Broadway out of the plan. It’s not a primary route for cyclists and it duplicates other routes. It is also a primary route for emergency vehicles and, based on experience from elsewhere in the city, those emergency vehicles will likely have a much more difficult time doing their jobs with a combination of white posts, concrete barriers, and greatly narrowed road width. Needless to say, the loss of parking will also greatly impact residents on and off Broadway - many of whom do not have driveways.

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department to hold a community meeting with residents of Appleton and surrounding streets in the Huron and Brattle Street neighborhoods to review their findings and discuss options for addressing the traffic concerns on Appleton Street.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor McGovern
pulled by Toner; comments by Toner, Brooke McKenna, McGovern added as sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (BA-Absent)

Order #4. City Council support of H.2963, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation by organizations exempt from the property tax, to ensure municipalities are fairly compensated and their long-term budgetary needs are preserved.   Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Toner; uptalked comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Wilson, Siddiqui, Toner on whether Catholic Church and others would be affected, Yi-An Huang response; Charter Right - Toner

Applications & Petitions #1. A Citizens Zoning Petition has been received from Joseph S. Ronayne, regarding amending the current Articles 4, 5 and 8. [text of petition]
Referred to Planning Board and Ordinance Committee 6-0-3 (BA, PN,JSW-Absent)

Comments?

No kidding around - April 1, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting

Here are some of the more interesting items this week:

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the MBTA Track Improvement Program work in February and July 2024 on the Red Line. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Iram Farooq (CDD), Brooke McKenna (TPT), Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Pickett, Simmons, City Manager Yi-An Huang, Suzanne Rasmussen (CDD), Wilson; Placed on File 9-0

Order #1. City Council support of H.3012/S.2027, An Act Authorizing Project Labor Agreements, to strengthen and secure Massachusetts’ long term economic development.   Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Pickett, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson
pulled by Toner; comments by Azeem; Toner motion to add all as sponsors; Order Adopted 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Mar 19, 2024 to review and discuss the FY25 Capital Budget and to continue the Dec 12, 2023 City Council discussion on Public Investment Planning and to discuss City Council budget priorities and goals. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0

Resolution #4.1. In support of waiting ‘til the midnight hour.   Councillor Wilson, Councillor Pickett

R-4.1     Apr 1, 2024
COUNCILLOR WILSON
COUNCILLOR PICKETT
WHEREAS: I’m gonna wait ‘til the midnight hour, That’s when my love come tumbling down, I’m gonna wait ‘til the midnight hour, When there’s no one else around, I’m gonna take you, girl, and hold you, And do all things I told you, in the midnight hour; and
WHEREAS: Yes I am, oh, yes I am, One more thing I just wanna say right here; and
WHEREAS: I’m gonna wait ‘til the stars come out, And see that twinkle in your eyes, I’m gonna wait ‘til the midnight hour, That’s when my love begins to shine; and
WHEREAS: You’re the only girl I know, That really love me so, in the midnight hour; and
WHEREAS: Oh yeah, in the midnight hour, Yeah, alright, play it for me one time now; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: I’m gonna wait ‘til the midnight hour, That’s when my love come tumbling down, I’m gonna wait, way in the midnight hour, That’s when my love begin to shine, just you and I, Oh, baby, huh, just you and I, Nobody around, baby, just you and I, Alright, you know what?, I'm gonna hold you in my arms, just you and I, Oh yeah, in the midnight hour, Oh baby, in the midnight hour.

Comments?

City of Cambridge Awarded $2.4m Federal Grant to Fund Design of Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Crossing MBTA Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line

Mar 28, 2024 – The City of Cambridge announced the award of $2.4 million in federal funds for the design of a critical off-road bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the MBTA Fitchburg Commuter rail line in North Cambridge. The federal funds will be combined with an existing $600,000 of City matching funds to complete the design of this bridge crossing that will help connect the Rindge Avenue neighborhood to Danehy Park. The project also includes planning and design of a multi-use path parallel to the rail line, creating connectivity to the crossing from many local points, as well as providing more convenient access to the Alewife Red Line transit station.

The City of Cambridge completed a design feasibility study for this crossing in 2023, which included a public process and examination of design alternatives. The study concluded it was feasible and suitable to construct a pedestrian and bicycle bridge and the City submitted a Reconnecting Communities & Neighborhoods (RCN) grant application in September 2023. On March 13, 2024, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Cambridge was among the recipients of the RCN grant awards.

In addition to feasibility, the grant considered the potential community benefit and impact of the proposed project. The project will create a safe and dedicated path of travel between a densely populated area on Rindge Avenue to Danehy Park – the largest open space in Cambridge - as well as Fresh Pond Mall. This path will provide residents direct access to grocery stores, clothing and other retail outlets, as well as work force training and employment opportunities. The bridge crossing project, which includes several connector paths, will become a key link in the greater bicycle and pedestrian network. Just to the north, paths will connect to Linear Park, the Minuteman Path, and the Somerville Community Path and directly to the south, will connect to Fresh Pond, the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, and the Danehy-New Street Connector path, which is under design.

“This award allows us to make meaningful progress on a project that will be of great benefit to residents in this neighborhood,” said Iram Farooq, Cambridge Assistant City Manager of Community Development. “There is a true revitalization movement underway in this region of our City, with recent rezoning accomplishments that have encouraged development of housing and mixed-use buildings. Mobility and access to local open space, businesses, and other resources is key to building a community. The rail crossing and multi-use paths will transform the way people are able to navigate, experience, and enjoy the neighborhood.”

The RCN grant award will fund the planning and design of the bridge crossing project but is not intended to fund construction. The City is working to add the project to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) in order to seek state and federal funding for future construction. The RCN grant award confirms the viability of the project and the validity of the rationale, improving the chances of garnering funding for future stages.

Please visit the project website for more information on the Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line Crossing Study:
https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/communitydevelopment/fitchburgcommuterraillinecrossingstudy

To learn more about the RCN program and grant recipients, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation:
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/reconnecting-communities/reconnecting-communities-fy23-awards

The Prophets: Bayard Rustin

The 1960s civil rights hero, who was sidelined because he was gay, predicted the rise of identity politics and affirmative action
  – and how they would divide us today. (by Coleman Hughes, The Free Press, March 9, 2024)

Why schools should bring back eighth-grade algebra

Lack of diversity in advanced math classes is a problem, but leveling down is the wrong solution.
by Marcela García, Boston Globe Columnist, Mar 8, 2024

Official Cambridge results from the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary:

Presidential Preference and State Committee (PDF)

Democratic Ward Committee (PDF) [Note: I was elected as a write-in candidate to the Ward 6 Committee. - RW]

Republican Ward Committee (PDF)

Libertarian Ward Committee (PDF)

Project of the Week — Local News Sources
If you have any additions or suggestions, let me know.

Volunteer Opportunities - Cambridge Boards & Commissions (click for details)

None

Rules? We don’t have to follow no stinkin’ rules!

Updated January 3, 2024 - In the 2022-23 City Council Rules, there are two items that have been often ignored in recent City Council terms:

As if communication through the Tunnel of Zoom wasn’t bad enough, some committee Chairs apparently have not seen fit to keep either their colleagues or the public informed unless they were present at the meeting or chose to view a recording of the meeting. There are reasons why minutes of a meeting are taken. Not everyone wants to suffer through a recording of a long and possibly boring meeting, and a voluminous transcript is not a substitute for good (succinct) minutes.

Here is the current record of deliquency [Chair]:

Cambridge Municipal Election News

Who has been raising and spending money? [Feb 2, 2022 - present]
(source - Mass. Office of Campaign and Political Finance)
Note: Expenditures last updated Jan 31, 2024.
Note: You may have to “Clear Cache” in order to refresh some of the embedded charts/tables for campaign finance.

City Council Campaign Finance - Sorted by Receipts

2023 Cambridge Candidate Pages     Calendar of 2023 Election-related events

City Council Campaign Finance - Sorted by Expenditures

Periodic OCPF Bank Reports

Union Contributions to Candidates - Incumbency Protection

School Committee Campaign Finance

Cost per #1 Vote - City Council 2023	Cost per #1 Vote - School Committee 2023

New Video Series Opens With Focus on Cambridge’s Charter Leading to Plan E

The Cambridge City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E premiered on Monday, May 15 at 5:30pm on CCTV Channel 9 and is now viewable on YouTube.

Created by a multi-generational team of writer-narrators John Pitkin and Robert Winters, both long-time Cambridge residents, and director Gregorio Leon, a 2016 graduate of CRLS and Emerson College, the video is introduced by WGBH’s Jim Braude. The Cambridge’s City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E combines historical documents, images, maps, and statistics to present a provocative half-hour overview of Cambridge’s first 94 years as a city and the origins of the current Plan E charter.

The episode examines our shared history through the lens of the City Charter and local elections. It shows how the Town Meeting style of government became impracticable and led to the consolidation of Old Cambridge, the neighborhood around Harvard College, with the villages of Cambridgeport and East Cambridge to create the city of Cambridge, chartered by the Commonwealth in 1846. The half-hour video presents a provocative and visually engaging review of the expansion of Cambridge as bridges linked Old Cambridge to Boston in the 18th and early 19th century, as migration drove population growth, suffrage expanded, and participation in local elections increased.

The second episode of Cambridge Civic View, now in production, will look at the 83-year history of the current Plan E charter. Since 1940, Plan E has defined our local government, given us the existing system of nine City Councillors with a City Manager as our chief executive, and established the ranked-choice proportional representation voting system used to elect our Councillors and School Committee.

Together, the first two episodes in the series will provide background and perspective on the issues facing Cambridge’s Charter Review Committee as it proposes changes to the Charter and for Cambridge citizens when they vote on whether to adopt proposed changes.

In November, Cambridge will elect a new City Council of nine at-large Councillors and a School Committee of six. Cambridge Civic View strives to engage and inform all residents, whatever their policy priorities and political values, on civic issues and how our municipal government and local democracy are working.

Cambridge’s City Charter: From Town Meeting to Plan E will be also be shown on CCTV Channel 9 (and on the web at https://www.cctvcambridge.org/channel-9/) at the following times: 4:30pm on Wed. May 17, 6:30pm on Fri. May 19, and 12:00pm on Sun. May 21 and is available for streaming from YouTube and for classroom use.

Comments?

A chronology of the 1972 conflict over Proportional Representation in Cambridge
(posted Feb 24, 2023)

Featured recent stories in the Cambridge Chronicle (the paper of record) - with some comments:

If you would like to subscribe or pick up a free paper copy at various sites, I encourage you to do so. It really is The Paper of Record - even if it is currently understaffed and in need of rejuvenation.

Cambridge’s ‘Duke’ of bartending inducted into Hall of Fame (Dec 27, 2022, subscribers only)
At 86 years old, longtime Cambridge resident Daniel “Duke” Pugliese was just inducted into the Bartender Hall of Fame after a career filled with giving to charity, pouring drinks and listening to people pour out their soul.

Fuel assistance applications available for Cambridge, Somerville residents in need (Oct 18, 2022)

Trees have a story to tell, on your next walk in the woods take in the natural history (Oct 17, 2022)

Star Market and Shaw's acquired: What to know about the Kroger-Albertsons deal (Oct 14, 2022)

MA electricity, gas prices going up 64 percent compared to last year (Sept 22, 2022)

Measure to limit wildlife-killing rat, mice poisons is in Senate hands (Sept 22, 2022)

Somerville, Medford rents rise as landlords tout Green Line Extension (Sept 22, 2022, subscribers only)

Removing dams restores river ecology, but the process can take years (Sept 15, 2022)

Is the drought making MA water unsafe? Here's where e-coli outbreaks have been reported (Sept 12, 2022)

Coalition says just enforcing waste bans would greatly reduce trash (Sept 9, 2022)

Plans show Cambridge nightclub, music venue could become 6-story hotel (Sept 7, 2022)

PHOTOS: Oldtime Baseball Game honors Jim Corsi (Aug 25, 2022)

Beware the Asian longhorned beetle and lanternfly, Mass residents advised (Aug 17, 2022)

Governor’s desk crowded with almost 70 measures still pending (Aug 11, 2022)

Plan E Cambridge City Councils - At A Glance (Mayor in bold) — Comments?

Plan E Cambridge School Committees (and Mayors) At A Glance — Comments?

In case you were wondering about how to make Cambridge’s PR elections independent of how the ballots are counted…

Election Method Comparison – STV/Cincinnati vs. Fractional Transfer – 2021 Cambridge City Council Election (posted Jan 15, 2022)

HOW TO BREAK A POLITICAL MACHINE
pictures added Mar 27, 2021 scanned from original magazine
[Collier’s Magazine, January 31, 1948]
Comments?

THE MUNICIPAL SITUATION IN CAMBRIDGE
A Paper read at the Annual Meeting of the National Municipal League at Chicago, April 28, 1904
by Henry N. Wheeler, President of the League
preceded by a Program of the Work of the League for 1904
[original PDF]

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes on CCJ Forum

Cambridge InsideOut currently airs every first and third Tuesday at 6:00pm and 6:30pm with producers/hosts Robert Winters and (sometimes) Patrick Barrett. We will have other guest hosts as well. All shows are posted on YouTube after broadcast.

[complete list of shows - with links to YouTube videos (and now audio too!)]

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 615-616: Apr 16, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 613-614: Mar 19, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 611-612: Mar 5, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 609-610: Feb 20, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 607-608: Feb 6, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 605-606: Jan 16, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 603-604: Jan 2, 2024 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 601-602: Nov 21, 2023 (solo w/Robert Winters)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 599-600: Sept 19, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 597-598: Sept 5, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 595-596: August 1, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 593-594: July 18, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 591-592: June 20, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 589-590: June 6, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 587-588: May 2, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 585-586: April 4, 2023 (w/Patrick Barrett)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 583-584: Mar 21, 2023 (w/Judy Nathans)

Cambridge InsideOut Episodes 63 and 64 with Glenn Koocher
We had a great time doing these shows with the man who invented the original Cambridge InsideOut - Glenn Koocher.

Cambridge InsideOut on CCTV during 2013-2014 featured co-hosts Susana Segat and Robert Winters.
Cambridge InsideOut on CCTV during 2015-2022 features co-hosts Judy Nathans and Robert Winters.
Cambridge InsideOut on CCTV during 2022-2023 features co-hosts Patrick Barrett (sometimes) and Robert Winters.

History - Kendall Square and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority

MBTA Role in Cambridge Center Project – Kendall Station Urban Initiatives Project, 1979-1989 (Feb 13, 2014 by Thad Tercyak)

Kendall Square Urban Renewal Project: Six Pivotal Episodes (June 8, 2013 by Thad Tercyak)

Kendall Square Urban Renewal Project, Initial Years, 1963 to 1982 (July 12, 2012 by Thad Tercyak)

Kendall Square Urban Renewal Area – Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (Apr 5, 2012)

Open for Comments - CCJ Forum

List of all CCJ Forum posts (2009 – present) – reverse chronologically with author’s name (originally Aug 14, 2022 - updated automatically)

Out Like A Lion – March 25, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting (posted Mar 22, 2024, updated Mar 26)

Springing Forward – March 18, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting (posted Mar 14, 2024, updated Mar 19)

Marching Fourth – March 4, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting (posted Mar 4, 2024, updated Mar 5)

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

Gently Stepping Forward – February 26, 2024 Cambridge City Council meeting (posted Feb 24, 2024)

Random Thoughts – February 14, 2024 (posted Feb 14, 2024)

Having Recently Secured World Peace, the Cambridge City Council Presents its February 12, 2024 Agenda (posted Feb 12, 2024)

Cambridge Municipal Election News – 2023 (originally posted Oct 25, updated periodically)

Plan E Cambridge School Committees (and Mayors) At A Glance (originally posted Jan 21, 2022, updated Jan 1, 2024)

Plan E Cambridge City Councils At A Glance (originally posted Jan 21, 2022, updated Jan 1, 2024)

Municipal Election Voting Comparison: 2021 vs. 2023 (and then some) (posted Dec 16, 2023)

Voter Success and Number of Candidates – Cambridge Municipal Elections (updated Nov 26, 2023)

Rally at City Hall – Oct 9, 2023 (posted Oct 10, 2023)

What is the main message of The Crucible? (posted Oct 7, 2023)

Now It’s My Turn To Speak – by Robert Winters (Oct 2, 2023 - message from candidate Robert Winters)

New Video Series Opens With Focus on Cambridge’s Charter Leading to Plan E (posted May 16, 2023)

Municipal Broadband or Municipal Boondoggle (posted Mar 13, 2023)

A chronology of the 1972 conflict over Proportional Representation in Cambridge (posted Feb 24, 2023)

Arlington to Harvard Square on a Bicycle (by John Allen, posted Jan 31, 2023)

Alice Wolf: 1933-2023 (posted Jan 28, 2023)

An Idea Whose Time Has Come Again – Redress of Grievances (posted Jan 26, 2023)

Completing the Square [originally posted June 11, 2013]

On Love and Elections (Dec 26, 2022 by David Goode)

Sheila Doyle Russell – City Councillor, Mayor, and Friend (posted Dec 13, 2022)

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR UPON THE FIRST ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT – 1846 (posted Dec 11, 2022)

HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE – Rev. Lucius Paige, 1877 – INDIAN HISTORY (posted Nov 25, 2022)

A word or two about Cambridge property tax increases (posted Nov 1, 2022)

April 1 Cambridge News – Somerville Invades Cambridge! (posted Apr 1, 2022)

Election Method Comparison – STV/Cincinnati vs. Fractional Transfer – 2021 Cambridge City Council Election (posted Jan 15, 2022)

City of Cambridge Releases Comprehensive Digital Equity Study (posted Apr 20, 2021)

HOW TO BREAK A POLITICAL MACHINE – Collier’s Magazine, Jan 31, 1948 (posted Sept 24, 2020, updated Mar 27, 2021)

A few observations on density (posted Feb 16, 2021)

Cambridge Growth Policy – Toward a Sustainable Future (posted Oct 31, 2018)

The Advent of PR in Cambridge (Nov 10, 2013)

Completing the Square (June 11, 2013)

On becoming a True Cantabrigian (Dec 29, 2012 by Glenn Koocher)

The Neverending Study of Central Square

Aug 11, 2012 - While preparing to write a series of essays on Central Square, I put together the following list of Central Square studies culled from a variety of sources. I have originals for most of these. If you know of any others, please let me know. - Robert Winters

Feb 1980 - CDD report entitled “Central Square - Commercial Area Revitalization District”

June 1980 - CDD booklet entitled “Facade Improvements” with focus on Central Square

Apr 1983 - “Central Square Report” produced by City Council’s Central Square Subcommittee (study began in 1980 or 1981)

1987 - A report produced in 1987 about a Subcommittee that allegedly built on the 1983 report (may be same as Central Square Action Plan)

Nov 1987 - Central Square Action Plan

1989 - Draft Central Square Development Guidelines

May 1993 - Results of the “Mayor’s Forum on Central Square”

Oct 1993 - Report by the Committee to Promote and Enhance Central Square Now!

Aug 1994 - A Study of the Visual Images and Signage of Central Square (CDD)

May 1995 - Central Square Improvements Project, Master Plan Report

May 1995 - An Urban Design Plan for Central Square (executive summary)

May 2001 - Summary Notes from “A Conversation about Central Square”

Feb 2000 - The Gibbs Report, Central Square Commercial Market Study - Executive Summary (June 30, 1999)

Oct 2004 - Central Square, Cambridge - Rising Fortunes at a Regional Crossroads (Rekha Murthy)

Dec 2004 - Reviving a Traditional City - Central Square, Cambridge, gets a facelift (Rekha Murthy)

June 2005 - Street Media: Ambient Messages in an Urban Space - a photographic analysis of Central Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Rekha Murthy)

2009 - CDD Central Square Customer Intercept Survey Report

2011 - Central Square Market Profile

2011 - Red Ribbon Commission Study Report

2012 - Goody/Clancy report and recommendations

2013 - K2C2 Final Reports (Dec 30, 2013)
The final reports for Kendall Square and Central Square are now available for download. Zoning discussions based on the recommendations of the K2 and C2 Advisory Committees, which are encapsulated in these reports, will continue in 2014.

Kendall Square Central Square Planning Study (K2C2)

Central Square Final Report 2013 Part 1, December 2013 (K2C2)

Central Square Final Report 2013 Part 2, December 2013 (K2C2)

Kendall Square Final Report 2013 Part 1, December 2013 (K2C2)

Kendall Square Final Report 2013 Part 2, December 2013 (K2C2)

This comprehensive planning effort guided by stakeholder advisory committees, City staff, and a team of multidisciplinary consultants led by Goody Clancy, developed a vision and master plan for Central Square, Kendall Square, and the area South of Main Street (including the Osborn Triangle) connecting the two squares. Both final reports are divided into two parts; in each case you will need to review both parts to read the entire report.

FYI - Current Rules and Goals: Cambridge City Council & Cambridge School Committee

City Council Rules 2024-2025 (as amended Mar 25, 2024)

City Council Rules 2022-2023 (as amended Nov 21, 2022)

City Council Rules 2020-2021 (as amended Oct 26, 2020)

City Council Rules 2018-2019 (adopted January 29, 2018; provisionally adopted for 2020-2021 term on Jan 6, 2020)

City Council Rules 2016-2017

City Council Rules 2014-2015 (adopted January 7, 2014, amended Feb 10, 2014 to reflect revised Council committees)

City Council Goals - FY2018 (current, adopted Oct 16, 2017)

City Council Goals - FY2012-2013 (adopted Dec 13, 2011)

City Council Committees (for the current term)

School Committee Rules (Adopted January 1, 2018; Revised June 19, 2018)

School Committee Rules (adopted January 7, 2008)    School Committee Goals (adopted October 7, 2008)

Civic Infrastructure - 2009

June 7, 2009 - Once upon a time there was a civic organization in Cambridge known as the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA). It was formed in 1945 out of several organizations that had been existed through the 1930s and that had lobbied the state legislature to create the Plan E Charter option (1938) which featured a city manager form of government and proportional representation elections for city council and school committee. These reforms were central to model charter reform movements active in the United States from the early 1900s. The central theme of the CCA in its early days was “good government” in the sense of being anti-patronage and for professionally managed local government. This changed with the introduction of rent control at the end of the 1960s after which the CCA shifted leftward and became permanently lashed to the mast of the rent control vessel. Though the CCA still exists on paper (I believe), it rapidly declined after the statewide abolition of rent control (late 1994) and essentially disappeared a decade later (early 2005).

I bring up the ghost of the CCA today only to point out that when it was created it had some very admirable goals. Here’s the original Mission Statement of the CCA:

Purposes: This association is formed for the following purposes:

1. To promote businesslike, honest, and efficient conduct of local government, open to public scrutiny.
2. To induce residents to take an active interest in the affairs of the City of Cambridge.
3. To encourage and support the candidacy of men and women seeking election to public office and to support intelligent, wholesome leadership in public affairs.
4. To assure that the best qualified persons are appointed to positions in the City government after consideration of all qualified candidates.
5. To promote among the citizens of Cambridge equitable distribution and benefit of public services and equal opportunity for economic security, education, and social advancement.

These are pretty good founding principles for a civic organization and I’m tempted to say that some should be incorporated into the recently adopted City Council’s Goals for FY2010 (adopted Feb 2, 2009). In fact, of the 22 current goals, the only one that comes close is: “An increased level of recruitment and opportunities for membership on boards and commissions.” The current Council goals emphasize things like “fostering community” via block parties and such, though one has to wonder if the City should be promoting these activities or just getting out of the way so that people can foster community on their own. The goals also seem to put some emphasis on developing “successful nightlife campaigns” while mentioning nothing about promoting ordinary “daytime” economic activity that supports the everyday needs of residents.

One founding principle of the CCA that fell into disuse over the years is listed above as #3: To encourage and support the candidacy of men and women seeking election to public office and to support intelligent, wholesome leadership in public affairs. Indeed, I can personally testify to the fact that in its dying years the only reason the CCA made endorsements at all was because the CCA-endorsed incumbents wanted the benefit of having an advertised CCA slate of candidates that would help secure their reelection. There was precious little effort to recruit new candidates or to support them. Today, the benefits of incumbency are greater than ever. The cost of political campaigns have become absurdly high and most of the incumbents now have (City paid) staff who are inevitably political appointees who directly or indirectly assist in the reelection efforts of their bosses. The deck is increasingly stacked against challengers. Furthermore, the salary and benefits for elected councillors are now so sweet that it is unlikely that any of them would ever want to move on to another job.

With this background in mind, I would like to encourage all Cambridge residents to help level the playing field by finding out about this year’s challengers for seats on the Cambridge City Council and the Cambridge School Committee. This is not meant as a dig against any particular incumbent as much as an appeal to support the challengers in what is a difficult and laudable effort. Please see the Cambridge Candidate Pages for the current list of expected candidates. Then use your own judgment - don’t expect me or anyone else to do it for you.

Speaking of this year’s municipal election, there are some activists who are now expending great effort to attack the City Manager and most of the current City Council. That is not nor has it ever been the intention of the Cambridge Civic Journal or its editor. Candidates are now being seduced by financial promises from one angry fellow with a Brattle Street address and a basketful of grudges. Former CCA Executive Board members from its darkest and most manipulative days are oozing up from the civic swamp trying to at last make good on their failed campaigns of the early 1990s to oust city manager Bob Healy.

It’s entertaining to watch people who have primarily earned disrespect in their civic efforts try to capitalize on the recent Monteiro jury decision as a means of realizing their decades-old vendettas. Conveniently forgotten in their recent letters to Cambridge’s “oldest weekly newspaper” are the many achievements of City Manager Bob Healy, the strong financial position of the City, and the recent 8-1 vote of confidence bestowed upon Mr. Healy in granting him a three year contract extension. Also missing in this testimony is the fact that virtually all affirmative action in the hiring of employees and department heads has taken place on Mr. Healy’s watch. These letters also fail to divulge how long these writers have been carrying their jealousy and anger toward Mr. Healy for actually orchestrating progress in Cambridge while the best they could ever do is snipe from the sidelines. - Robert Winters

Selected City of Cambridge References:

Plan E Charter (Cambridge’s city charter)

Acts of 1921, Chapter 239 as amended (establishment of Cambridge Election Commission)

Mass. General Laws Chapter 54A (governing Cambridge’s PR elections)

Pen Portraits of Prominent People - by Henry J. Mahoney Editor, Cambridge Sentinel - 1923

This book was published c. 1923 and features very witty one-page “pen portraits” (with photo) of prominent Cantabrigians of the day. I’ll be adding names alphabetically as time permits. There are 182 portraits in the book.

It comes to mind that there may be some value in expanding these profiles to other prominent Cantabrigians who arrived on the scene after 1923, including prominent Cantabrigians of today. With this in mind, I extend the invitation to any and all who may wish to contribute their own “pen portraits” of Cambridge people. Contributions do not necessarily have to be in the style of Mr. Mahoney. Inclusion is, as always, subject to the erratic discretion of the editor.

Special thanks to Karen Welch for sending me the book. - RW

Political History of Cambridge in the 20th Century - by Glenn Koocher (Nov 2004); edited by Robert Winters (July 2006)
[An alternate edit of this essay appeared, along with many other valuable essays, in a centennial volume to be published by the Cambridge Historical Society in 2007.]

Which People’s Republic - by Bill Cunningham (1999)