Cambridge Community Gardens Today (a publication of the Cambridge Plant & Garden Club)

New book celebrates, documents Cambridge community gardens (Apr 6, 2022 - Cambridge Chronicle)
I highly recommend this article and the referenced online publication (and not just because I’m pictured in it back when I had long hair!) - RW

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.

Cambridge Community Foundation awards $516K in grants to 73 nonprofits (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge earmarks $22M in APRA funds for basic income program (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of City Manager Louis DePasquale's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

Full text of Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui's 2022 State of the City Address (Apr 28, 2022)

PHOTOS: Scenes from Cambridge's 'state of the city' addresses (Apr 28, 2022)

In Cambridge, Hubba Hubba gets a makeover (Apr 28, 2022)

Cambridge children's librarian retires after 40 years (Apr 21, 2022, updated Apr 27)

Cambridge relief grants help keep restaurants afloat (Apr 27, 2022)

Advocates call for Baker to extend pandemic rental assistance (Apr 25, 2022, updated Apr 26)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 25 - May 1, 2022 (posted Apr 25, 2022)

Will the image on the MA state seal change? Here's why the commission may need more time (Apr 25, 2022)

Cambridge councillors endorse proposed 4% tax on wealthy (Apr 20, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 18-24, 2022 (posted Apr 17, 2022)

Cambridge salutes Rumba as Police Dept. retires K9 officer (Apr 15, 2022)

Boston Marathon's 'Original 8' women ran on 'momentous day' in 1972 (Apr 13, 2022, subscribers only)
Very nice to see my friend and neighbor Sara Mae Berman quoted and in several of the photos!

Kathrine Switzer still rewriting Boston Marathon history 50 years later (Apr 12, 2022)

Time to expand bottle bill has come, Cambridge lawmaker (Marjorie Decker) argues (Apr 13, 2022)

Campaign to change the perception of survivors of sexual assault, abuse (Apr 12, 2022)

Cambridge not doing enough to reduce carbon footprint, report argues (Apr 12, 2022)

Grant ensures continuation of trauma-informed law enforcement training in City of Cambridge (Apr 12, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 11-17, 2022 (posted Apr 11, 2022)

New book celebrates, documents Cambridge community gardens (Apr 6, 2022, updated Apr 7)
I highly recommend this article and the referenced online publication (and not just because I'm pictured in it back when I had long hair!)

Mystic River trails project to focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety (Apr 6, 2022, Arlington Advocate)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of April 4-10, 2022 (posted Apr 3, 2022)

City leaders: Bishop Allen Drive project exemplifies Cambridge values (Apr 3, 2022, updated Apr 4)

2022 Parking Permit Renewal Deadline Extended (and now expired)

To provide additional time to process 2022 resident parking permit applications, the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department is extending the validity of 2021 Resident and Visitor Parking Permits to a new expiration date of May 16, 2022.

Note: This only begs the questions: How much more on-street parking is going to be removed - and where and when? Perhaps the next step will be to print a very large Scarlet Letter A on the sticker to shame all the sinful Automobile drivers.

Nobody Gets Out Alive - but let's talk about Cause of Death

Apr 30, 2022 – At the April 25 City Council meeting, Councillor Azeem made a statement (see video from 4:33:43-4:34:20) that suggested that the most likely cause of death for a person in his age range was getting killed by a motor vehicle while riding a bike. He even challenged anyone to look it up on the CDC website, so I did. Some statistics from 2020 (the most recent year when full statistics are available) are given below. Nobody, least of all me, is suggesting that riding a bicycle in an urban environment, or in any other environment, is completely safe. However, let’s be clear what the most likely causes of death are for young people like our rookie councillor. Let’s also be clear that people in these youthful age ranges are far less likely to die than much older people, i.e. the greatest advantage of youth.

Cause	Ages 15-24	Pct	Ages 25-34	Pct	Ages 15-34	Pct
Unintentional Injury	15117	42.2%	31315	42.6%	46432	42.5%
Homicide	6466	18.1%	7125	9.7%	13591	12.4%
Suicide	6062	16.9%	8454	11.5%	14516	13.3%
Heart Disease	870	2.4%	3984	5.4%	4854	4.4%
COVID-19	501	1.4%	2254	3.1%	2755	2.5%
Other	6800	19.0%	20354	27.7%	27154	24.8%
Total deaths	35816	100.0%	73486	100.0%	109302	100.0%

The category of “Unintentional Injury” includes many subcategories. (Presumably, “Poisoning” includes deaths by drug overdose.)

Unintentional Injury	Ages 15-24	Pct	Ages 25-34	Pct	Ages 15-34	Pct
MV Traffic	6741	44.6%	7929	25.3%	14670	31.6%
Poisoning	6664	44.1%	20938	66.9%	27602	59.4%
Drowning	593	3.9%	611	2.0%	1204	2.6%
“Pedal Cyclist”	25	0.2%	30	0.1%	55	0.1%
Other	1094	7.2%	1807	5.8%	2901	6.2%
Total deaths	15117	100.0%	31315	100.0%	46432	100.0%

The subcategory of MV (Motor Vehicle) Traffic includes many particular accident types and victims:

MV Traffic	Ages 15-24	Pct	Ages 25-34	Pct	Ages 15-34	Pct
Pedestrian	600	8.9%	1172	14.8%	1772	12.1%
Pedal cyclist	73	1.1%	85	1.1%	158	1.1%
Other	6068	90.0%	6672	84.1%	12740	86.8%
Total deaths	6741	100.0%	7929	100.0%	14670	100.0%

If we group things according to these more specific causes of death for people in these age ranges, here’s what the data says:

Cause	Ages 15-24	Pct	Ages 25-34	Pct	Ages 15-34	Pct
Homicide	6466	18.1%	7125	9.7%	13591	12.4%
Suicide	6062	16.9%	8454	11.5%	14516	13.3%
Poisoning	6664	18.6%	20938	28.5%	27602	25.3%
other motor vehicle death	6068	16.9%	6672	9.1%	12740	11.7%
Pedestrian death	600	1.7%	1172	1.6%	1772	1.6%
Pedal cyclist death	98	0.3%	115	0.2%	213	0.2%
all other causes	9858	27.5%	29010	39.5%	38868	35.6%
Total deaths	35816	100.0%	73486	100.0%	109302	100.0%

Looking at the cumulative totals for these various causes of death for people in the 15-34 age range, one might think that the rhetoric among city councillors might be more focused on the relative dangers of homicide, suicide, and drug overdose than about whether or not bicycle lanes are or are not separated from other traffic. Indeed, being killed as a pedestrian appears to be far more likely than when riding a bicycle. No doubt this is in part attributable to there being more people traveling on foot than on bicycle, but it does seem worth noting. – RW

FY2023 Budget Summaries/Appropriation Orders now available

City Manager's Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to the FY2023 submitted budget and appropriation orders.

Here's a spreadsheet showing how things have changed from last year, from 2 years ago, and from 18 years ago.

Here's an alternate version that shows proposed vs. actual and projected budgets.

The biggest changes:
Mayor's Office budget increased 29.7% - reasons unknown
Election Commission budget increased 23.7% - likely related to costs of Early/Mail-In Voting
Human Rights Commission budget increased 32.1% - reasons unknown
Peace Commission budget increased 20.2% - reasons unknown
New budget category for “Community Safety” with a proposed budget of $2,874,570 - Details
Overall City Budget increase of 7.2% over FY2022 Adopted Budget
Loan Authorizations increased from $83,910,865 to $159,900,000 [Note: it was $275,300,000 in FY2021]

---

FY2023 Budget Book Coming Soon

Apr 28, 2022 – I am expecting the City of Cambridge FY2023 Budget Summary to be included in the City Council’s May 2 meeting materials available later today. I am especially interested in what the document says about the proposed new “Community Safety” budget category and whether this includes patronage funding for the “HEART proposal” that has been advocated by several political entities. My main question is whether any allocation for a purpose such as this is subject to M.G.L. Chapter 30 (Uniform Procurement Act) which would require competitive bidding from qualified vendors for services such as this. I am hopeful that the City administration will propose a better model that works in conjunction with the Cambridge Police Department.

The full FY2023 Budget Book should be available on Monday, though it might be available online before that. Budget Hearings start May 10.

Tues, May 10

9:00am   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

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

Wed, May 11

6:00pm   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 School Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Tues, May 17

10:00am   The City Council's Finance Committee will meet to conduct hearing on FY2023 City Budget.  (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)

Cambridge Health Alliance     Public Works Water Community Development Historical Commission	Peace Commission / PRAB     Cable TV Debt Service Library Human Services	Women’s Commission Human Rights Commission     Veterans’ Services MWRA Cherry Sheet	City Overview Section Financial Summaries Section Revenue Section Public Investment Section
Those marked in bold are the ones pulled for discussion.

There was an Ordinance Committee meeting on April 13 “to conduct a public hearing on Ordinance #2022-2 charter change municipal code amendments.” At this meeting the following language was proposed by the City Solicitor and amended by the City Council:

Be it ordained by the City Council as follows:
That Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.02 entitled “City Council” shall be amended by the addition of the following two sections:

Section 2.02.090 Annual Review of City Manager’s Performance

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, § 116(a) the City Council shall prepare and deliver to the City Manager an annual written performance review of the City Manager’s performance.

B. The annual written performance review shall address the City Manager’s performance during the prior year and the issues work that the City Council would like to be addressed performed by the City Manager in the following year.

C. The written report of the annual performance review of the City Manager conducted by the City Council should be based upon written information submitted to the City Council by the City Manager in the regular course of the business of the City, and upon an oral performance review meeting conducted individually or severally by and between the City Councillors and the City Manager.

D C. The annual written performance review shall be completed and delivered to the City Manager by no later than March 30 of each year and shall encompass the City Manager’s performance during the preceding calendar year.

Section 2.02.100 Special Committee to Review the City Charter Every Ten Years

A. As provided in G.L. c. 43, §116(b), no later than July 1 in each year ending in 2, beginning in 2022 and every 10 years thereafter, the City Council shall establish a special committee tasked with reviewing the City Charter and recommending any proposed changes the special committee deems necessary or desirable.

B. The special committee shall:

(i) be made up of [NUMBER] 12-18 of registered voters of the City, not currently holding any elective office in the City;

(ii) include [NUMBER] [be made up of members selected by an ad hoc committee of four councillors appointed by the Mayor] of special committee members appointed by the Mayor, [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the City Manager, and [NUMBER] of special committee members appointed by the Superintendent of Schools;

(iii) hold all of its meetings in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law and keep written minutes of all meetings which shall be submitted to and approved by the special committee at its next meeting;

(iv) hold not less than [NUMBER] of duly posted and advertised public meetings to seek input from members of the community on whether any changes to the City Charter should be made and the reasons why any proposed changes would be desirable, the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the electorate and the community in general, and the beneficial effects that any such changes would have upon the reasonable operation and effectiveness of City government;

(v) submit a written report to the City Council within one (1) year of its appointment, unless the special committee seeks an extension of the one-year period for enumerated reasons stated by the special committee and the City Council approves the requested extension of the one-year period by majority vote. The written report shall include any charter changes the special committee recommends as necessary or desirable by a two-thirds vote of the special committee, and shall include the reasons for the recommended changes to be made and the anticipated effects of the changes as set forth in subsection (iv) above; and

(vi) dissolve once it files its written report with the City Council.

C. Action on any proposed Charter changes shall be as authorized by law.

Both sections (as amended) were forwarded unanimously to the full City Council with positive recommendations.

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.

Cambridge lays poetry at the feet of its people (Mar 30, 2022)

PHOTOS: Cambridge's 99 Bishop Allen Drive, a home for non-profits, is now officially open (Mar 30, 2022)

Cambridge gives 'heartfelt congrats' to 'CODA' director, a CRLS alum (Mar 29, 2022)

Cambridge to spend $72M on fire-station upgrades (Mar 29, 2022)

Federal funds secured for "catastrophic flood" prevention along Mystic (Mar 29, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of March 28 - April 3, 2022 (posted Mar 27, 2022)

Ticks are out now: What to watch for and how to protect yourself (Mar 25, 2022, USA Today, updated Mar 28)

Anonymity shrouds identity of man who died in Harvard Square (Mar 23, 2022)

In Cambridge, Raytheon protestors face trespassing, vandalism charges (Mar 22, 2022)

MBTA Union Square station in Somerville now open for commuters - PHOTOS (Mar 22, 2022)

At last: the trains have come to Somerville; first new Green Line Station opens (Mar 22, 2022, Medford Transcript)

The Green Line Extension Union Square Station opens in Somerville (Mar 21, 2022, Somerville Journal)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of March 21-27, 2022 (posted Mar 20, 2022)

Cambridge police honor Officer Lawrence Hudson with walk-through service (Mar 21, 2022)

PHOTOS: Cambridge and MIT Police Departments honor Cambridge Officer Lawrence Hudson (Mar 19, 2022)

A look at the popularity of thrift shopping in Cambridge (Mar 20, 2022)

LETTER: More balance needed in Cambridge's bike lane process (Mar 17, 2022, updated Mar 20)

Cambridge Black Trailblazers: Elizabeth 'Betty' Rawlings (Mar 17, 2022 by Paula Paris)

OPINION: Cambridge councillors weigh in after City delays Porter Square project (Mar 17, 2022)

Cambridge police officer found dead in Woburn home (Mar 15, 2022)

New task for Mystic River Watershed Association: prepare communities for climate change (Mar 15, 2022)

The spirit of Cambridge bar, shuttered by COVID, lives on in The New Republik (Mar 15, 2022)

Harvard unions' merger pitch remains outstanding; nonaction draws frustration (Mar 14, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of March 14-20, 2022 (posted Mar 14, 2022)

Cambridge recruiting community members to vet city manager (Mar 14, 2022)

Two years of COVID in New England, by the numbers: Deaths, vaccinations and more (Mar 11, 2022 - USA Today, updated Mar 14)

Harvard Square Business Assoc. honors city manager, reflects on past two years (Mar 10, 2022)

Inman Incubator pop-up storefront features local makers (Mar 8, 2022)

Cambridge city manager announces delay for bike lane project (Mar 7, 2022, updated Mar 8)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Mar 7 - Mar 13, 2022 (posted Mar 6, 2022)

Supreme Court reinstates death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (Mar 4, 2022 - USA Today)

Ready to transition to electric heat? Mass Save has incentives (Mar 4, 2022 - USA Today)

Do you use rat poison? It could be killing owls, hawks and eagles (Mar 3, 2022 - USA Network)

Cambridge's fiscal health earns AAA ratings, saving taxpayers on interest payments (Mar 2, 2022)

Cambridge RISE: Empowerment through choice (Mar 2, 2022)

Apr 15, 2022 in Concord, MA – Great Meadows, Edge Trail, Old North Bridge, Reformatory Trail

 

Initial Screening Committee for the City Manager Search Finalized (Apr 14, 2022)

Brian Burke - Resident Advocate Kathleen Moore - Resident Advocate Susan Fleischmann - Resident Advocate Banti Gheneti - Resident Advocate Mo Barbosa - Health & Human Services Representative Rachel Weinstein - Cambridge School Committee Representative     Christine Elow - Public Safety Advocate Michael Monestime - City Planner

Vernon Walker - Non Profit Representative Thomas Lucey - Higher Education Representative B. Kimmerman - Large Business Representative Jason Alves - Small Business Representative Elaine DeRosa - Affordable Housing Advocate Chris Cassa - Arts/Recreation Advocate James Kaufman - Municipal Finance Representative

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.

Hundreds of students rally in Cambridge for Ukraine (Feb 27, 2022 - WCVB-TV)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Feb. 28 - March 6, 2022 (posted Feb 27, 2022)

Cambridge indoor masking mandate ends in mid-March (Feb 24, 2022, updated Feb 27)

How New England caught the COVID deaths much of the country missed (Feb 24, 2022)

Bookmarking a pantheon of Cambridge's Black trailblazers (Feb 23, 2022, subscribers only)

As cities and towns drop mask mandates, Cambridge's stance remains unchanged (Feb 22, 2022)
"We will have updated information on our mask order next week," said Cambridge Communication Director Lee Gianetti on Friday.

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Feb. 20 - 27, 2022 (posted Feb 20, 2022)

Cambridge teachers rally for a three-year contract (Feb 17, 2022, updated Feb 19)

What you need to know about renting apartments in Massachusetts (Feb 17, 2022, subscribers only)

More of the same on tap for Mass. housing market in 2022 (Dec 30, 2021, updated Feb 19, subscribers only)

Cambridge assembles working group for fare-free bus pilot (Feb 14, 2022)

Black-owned business issued Cambridge's first adult-use marijuana license (Feb 14, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Feb 14-20, 2022 (posted Feb 13, 2022)

Cambridge: Should cash from ARPA funds go directly to struggling residents? (Feb 10, 2022)

New plans revealed for trail connecting Minuteman Bikeway to Mystic River Path (Feb 9, 2022)

CAMBRIDGE ON MY MIND: A writer and environmental crusader rolled into one (Feb 9, 2022 by Steve Nadis)

Once slated to close, Cambridge's Brattle Square Florist returns to family that opened it 105 years ago (Feb 8, 2022)

Public input sought in Cambridge city manager search (Feb 8, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Feb 7-13, 2022 (posted Feb 7, 2022)

Cambridge City Council embarks on manager, auditor and clerk searches (Feb 5, 2022)

Housing panel holding on to transfer fee bill (Feb 3, 2022)

Cambridge City Council embark on manager, auditor and clerk searches (Feb 3, 2022)

Cambridge School Committee elevates Dr. Victoria Greer from interim to permanent (Feb 2, 2022, updated Feb 6)

Cambridge Scholarship Fund turns 30, has awarded $2.9M (Feb 2, 2022)

PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes during and after Saturday's blizzard (Feb 1, 2022)

In Cambridge, Porter Square bike-lane project gets mixed reception (Feb 1, 2022, updated Feb 3)

---

Cambridge Police Department Announces Four Promotions
Promoted Officers Round Out New Command Staff

Mar 28, 2022 – The Cambridge Police Department on Friday announced the promotions of four members to its revamped leadership team.

At a special ceremony held at the Robert W. Healy Public Safety Facility, City Manager Police Louis A. DePasquale and Police Commissioner Christine Elow promoted Deputy Superintendent Frederick Cabral to the rank of Superintendent of Support Services (the second-highest rank in the department) and Lieutenants Anthony Macone, Steven Magalhaes, and Peter Vellucci to Deputy Superintendent.

Following the retirement of Superintendent Leonard DiPietro, Superintendent Robert Lowe will now oversee the Operations Division. The following commanding officers will report directly to Superintendent Lowe:

• Day Operations: Deputy Rick Riley
• Night Operations: Deputy John Boyle
• Night Operations: Deputy Macone

Superintendent Cabral will now oversee the Support Services Division. Reporting to him will be:

• Administration: Deputy Vellucci
• Criminal Investigations: Deputy Pauline Wells
• Family and Social Justice Section: Deputy Magalhaes

Deputy Daniel Wagner will continue to report directly to the Commissioner’s Office.

Superintendent Frederick Cabral
Frederick Cabral was promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Support Services. Superintendent Cabral was raised in Cambridge, graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin, and joined the Cambridge Police Department in 2003. He has served in a variety of units within the department, including Patrol Operations, the Community Relations Unit and the Family and Social Justice Section. Most recently, Cabral oversaw the Criminal Investigations Section and Family and Social Justice Section as Deputy Superintendent.

Superintendent Cabral holds a bachelor’s degree in crime law and sociology from Suffolk University.

Deputy Superintendent Anthony Macone
Anthony Macone was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent, Night Operations. Deputy Macone has 32 years of law enforcement experience with 10 years as a supervisor. He joined the Cambridge Police Department in 2004 and has worked in patrol operations and the Family and Social Justice Section. Most recently, he worked as a Lieutenant in Night Operations.

Deputy Macone holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College.

Deputy Superintendent Steven Magalhaes
Steven Magalhaes was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent, Family and Social Justice Section. Deputy Magalhaes is an 18 year veteran of the Cambridge Police Department, including five years as a supervisor. After working as a patrol officer, he served as a Juvenile Detective for nine years before being promoted to a Sergeant. As a supervisor, he has worked in patrol operations and the Family and Social Justice Section.

Deputy Magalhaes holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Suffolk University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Deputy Superintendent Peter Vellucci
A lifelong resident of Cambridge, Peter Vellucci was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent, Administration. Deputy Vellucci has served in the City of Cambridge since 2005, including the last five years as a supervisor. Most recently, he was the Commander for the Traffic Enforcement Unit and Special Response Team.

Deputy Vellucci holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College.

Photos and videos from Friday’s promotional ceremony are available on www.facebook.com/cambridgepolice.

Life on the (Fresh) Pond - Mar 25, 2022

Monthly Updates from City of Cambridge DPW Recycling Division

What's the latest with recycling?

For more than 30 years, Cambridge DPW has been providing recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic containers, glass containers and aluminum/tin.Recycling is critical for preserving our environment, keeping supply chains moving, and reducing costs to the City. And, recycling is mandatory in Massachusetts.

Every few months we hear from residents about a news story saying recycling doesn't work. So, we want to get the record straight. Sometimes the news report says recycling doesn't work anywhere because it wasn't working in a remote Oregon community. However, Massachusetts is much different than Oregon. Our recycling is strong and is not going anywhere. If anything, all signs point to a stronger recycling market despite the China National Sword policy change in 2017.

The facts are:

• In 2021 the cost to trash waste was more than double the cost to recycle. Briefly, some communities may have been paid for their recycling!
• Environmentally, recycling is a win-win. Recycling reduces the extraction of raw materials, such as virgin pulp, resin, aluminum, and other resources.
• Recycling from Cambridge is sent to the Casella Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Charlestown. In this video, you can see how the different materials are sorted at the MRF.
• At the midpoint of this video, you can see how and where recyclables are processed and turned into new products.

City of Cambridge Earns $97,500 Grant

Thanks to the Cambridge community's efforts to recycle, compost, and reduce waste, the City was awarded $97,500 through MassDEP's Recycling Dividends Program. Thank you, Cambridge! The grant will help the City expand recycling and compost programs, and increase education and outreach.

What's recyclable, anyway?

Now that we've established that recycling is important, let's explore what is and isn't accepted:

Papers

• Recyclable: Envelopes, cardboard boxes, pizza boxes, junk mail, magazines, soft-cover books, and newspapers.
• Not recyclable: Paper cartons, paper ice cream containers, paper take-out containers, paper plates, paper towels or napkins (they go in the compost), shredded paper (too small to make it through the sorting process).

Plastic Containers

The rule to determine if a plastic is recyclable is that it must be both rigid and a container to be recycled. Disregard the numbers on the plastic.

• Recyclable: Plastic tubs, cups, bottles, jugs, clamshell containers, and some bulky rigid plastics (i.e. laundry basket).
• Not recyclable: Plastic bags, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, plastic food bags, wrappers, utensils, or hangers.

Aluminum & Tin

• Recyclable: Aluminum and tin cans, aluminum foil and pie plates.
• Not recyclable: Pots/Pans or other scrap metal items (these items are accepted at the Recycle Center though!).

Glass Containers

• Recyclable: Bottles and single use glass jars.
• Not recyclable: Light bulbs, mirrors, ceramics, and other non-food service glass.

For all recyclables, do not bag the recycling in plastic bags and be sure to remove all food residue. The item doesn't need to be perfect, but it should be 98% free of residue. And, remember caps on for all containers.

Use the DPW's Get Rid of It Right tool to look up specific items. Or, visit CambridgeMA.Gov/Services/Recycling for flyers and more info on recycling to help educate your friends and neighbors.

Cambridge Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) 

Since 1991, the City's RAC has been advising and supporting the City's recycling and waste reduction efforts. At present, the RAC has 18 members and meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 8am. All meetings are open to the public. Topics discussed in the meetings include the City's waste programs (i.e. compost, recycling, textiles recovery, mattress recycling, and more), upcoming projects or potentially new ideas, and how to encourage and assist residents, businesses and the City to improve waste reduction.

Every three years, the City Manager seeks applicants for the RAC. This summer, the City will be seeking applicants; stay tuned to this newsletter for more info. If you'd like to be notified of upcoming RAC agendas, please email us.

Reduce & Reuse Tips

Tip #1: What to do with plastic bags?
As mentioned earlier, plastic bags of all kinds are not accepted in curbside recycling. This rule is universal throughout Massachusetts (if not, nationally!). Instead of trashing them, we can find ways to reduce and reuse them. In order to reduce, we must look at what we consume. Bringing reusable bags to the store for both produce and the groceries is a great start (or skip bags altogether!). Other plastic bags could be reused for various things. For instance, one resident emailed us a tip about saving and reusing bags from newspapers or bread (for dog poop) or from frozen waffles (to store leftovers).

Recently, someone asked if biodegradable dog poop bags may be better than reusing a plastic bag. In this instance, it's likely better (if considering the lifecycle environmental analysis) to reuse the plastic bag than to buy biodegradable dog poop bags. If you still have plastic bags to dispose of after reducing and reusing, bring clean and dry bags to the Recycling Center. Here are the kinds of plastic bags and film (like bubble wrap and shipping pillows) that are accepted.

Tip #2: What is trophy recycling?
Every so often we learn of a special new form of recycling. The recycling of trophies was definitely not something we envisioned finding, but someone shared this with us. Based in Madison, WI, this trophy recycling shop does awesome work to either recycle or donate rebuilt trophies. Just be sure to send them only items they can truly recycle or donate.

BONUS Content

A former Cambridge resident sent a PDF of a news clipping from 1969/1970. Two decades before the City of Cambridge began a formal recycling program, Priscilla Ellis helped collect newspapers in the Agassiz neighborhood with the help of the Salvation Army. It's incredibly humbling learning of initiatives such as this. Cambridge residents have always gone above and beyond. We are inspired by actions such as this. If you have any amazing examples of waste reduction in the community, please send to us so we may share it!

Upcoming Dates

• Sun, 3/27: No Frills All Fun Clothing Swap.
• Fri, 4/1: Yard waste collection resumes.
• Sat, 4/9: Household Hazardous Waste day, 50 Mooney Street.
• Sat, 5/7: Finished Compost Giveaway, Location TBD.
• Tues, 5/10: Second community meeting about new trash carts.

Email us to share other waste-related events!

Join Our Mailing List!

What Are We Reading?

This app is preventing food waste by connecting consumers to surplus food at restaurants (Boston Globe)

Used Solar Panels Are Powering the Developing World (Bloomberg)

How Malaysia Got in on the Secondhand Clothing Boom (NYTimes)

New Jersey Governor Signs Recycled Content Bill Into Law (Waste Advantage)

Download the Zero Waste Cambridge App

With the Zero Waste Cambridge App you can:

• Set reminders and view calendars for trash, recycling, compost collection, and street cleaning.
• Get alerts for collection day delays due to holidays or weather events
• Use the Get Rid of It Right tool to find out how to dispose of waste
• Test your recycling skills with an interactive waste sorting game—fun for kids and adults!

Download the app for iOS or Android or find it online here.     DPW on Facebook     DPW on Twitter

Cambridge Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Saturday, April 9

Mar 24, 2022 – The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Cambridge for 2022 will be held on Saturday, April 9, from 9:00am – 1:00pm, at 50 Mooney Street. Additional 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Collection dates include June 11, August 27, and November 5.

Accepted items include: 

• Batteries: Vehicle* & Non-Alkaline*
• Car Fluids: Antifreeze, Brake, Engine Degreaser, Transmission
• Car Tires (max four per household)
• Chemicals: Cleaners, Glues, Removers, Photography & Swimming Pool
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs*
• Mercury Items: Thermometers & Thermostats*
• Paints: Oil-Based & Latex
• Poisons: Insecticides, Pesticides & Weed Killers
• Prescription Medicines (accepted year-round at Cambridge Police Dept., 125 Sixth St.)
• Propane Cylinders (20 lbs. or less only)
• Waste Fuels: Antifreeze, Gasoline, Kerosene, Sterno & Motor Oil
  (motor oil also accepted year-round at DPW)
• Fire Extinguishers

Items not accepted include:

• NO Alkaline Batteries
• NO Ammunition, Fireworks & Explosives (contact Cambridge Fire Dept. at 617-349-3300)
• NO Asbestos (requires proper disposal)
• NO Bleach or Ammonia
• NO Commercial/Industrial Waste
• NO Construction Debris
• NO Empty Aerosol Cans
• NO Compressed Gas Cylinders
• NO Infectious or Biological Waste
• NO Radioactive Waste
• NO Smoke Detectors
• NO Syringes (contact Cambridge Public Health Dept. at 617-665-3848)

* The Cambridge Recycling Center located at 147 Hampshire Street, accepts non-alkaline batteries, fluorescent bulbs, mercury items and motor oil. Cans of latex paint may be dried out and set out for curbside trash collection, with the lids off. Let evaporate outside or add kitty litter to speed drying. Hours of operation for the Recycling Center are Tuesday, 4:00-7:30pm, Thursday, 4:00-7:30pm, and Saturday, 9:00am-4:00pm. Learn more at Cambridgema.gov/hazardouswaste.

Mar 8, 2022 – Government Operations Committee - City Manager search (updated Mar 23)

This meeting of the City Council's Government Operations, Rules & Claims Committee focused on revisions to the proposed calendar for the City Manager search process, some discussion of how the Screening Committee that would select the priority candidates and finalists will be formed, and finalizing the job listing (Leadership Profile).

Cambridge City Manager Search

2022 Cambridge City Manager Leadership Profile (final revision of job posting)

Revised City Manager Search Timeline
(approx. 3-week delay from original timeline)

	Steps	Activity	Description	Dates	Status
Phase 1: 1/17/22 - 3/9/22 Position Assessment, Community Engagement, and leadership profile development	Step 1	Create dedicated email and City webpage for City Manager search process	Randi Frank Consulting, LLC will create and monitor a dedicated email for recruitment and to solicit stakeholder feedback. A dedicated webpage on the City's website will be posted with information regarding the search.	1/17-1/30/22	Complete
	Step 2	Conduct staff & City Council interviews	Randi Frank Consulting, LLC, assisted by the City’s appointed search liaison, will conduct interviews with the Mayor, City Council members, Personnel Director, City's Senior Staff, employee groups, employee unions, distribute an employee survey, etc. to collect information to develop a comprehensive leadership profile.	1/19-2/4/22	Complete
	Step 3	Conduct focus groups and other community engagement as related to developing a leadership profile and community vision for the next City Manager	Randi Frank, LLC will conduct town hall style meetings where residents will be invited to participate in a discussion of what they would like to see in the next City Manager. coUrbanize will develop an extensive online community engagement feedback mechanism. Cortico will conduct 20 targeted focus groups (up to 90 minutes each), all with the purpose of collecting information to develop a leadership profile.	2/7-2/25/22	Complete
	Step 4	Employee Town Hall w/Randi Frank, LLC	Meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from employees on what they would like to see in the next City Manager, this meeting will not be public.	2/15/22 5- 7pm	Complete
	Step 5	Government Operations Meeting: Resident Town Hall	Public meeting for the purpose of gathering feedback from residents on what they would like to see in the next City Manager	2/16/22 6- 8pm	Complete
	Step 6	Leadership profile completed	Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a Leadership Profile to help inform applicant recruitment and screening processes.	3/9/22	Complete
	Step 7	Stakeholder engagement report	Using feedback obtained in steps 2-5, Randi Frank, LLC using engagement data from coUrbanize and Cortico will develop a stakeholder engagement report for use by the City Council and incoming City Manager.	2/27/22	In progress
Phase 2: 3/10 - 4/10/22 Position announcement, Advertising, Candidate Recruitment and Outreach	Step 1	Position announced/posted	Randi Frank, LLC shall place the position in the appropriate online publications, including International City and County Management Assoc., National Forum for Black Administrators, the International Hispanic Network, and other websites where potential candidates might look for career opportunities. In addition to public sector publications and websites, outreach should include LinkedIn and other private sector resources.
	Step 2	Applicant recruitment period	In addition to the job being posted on the above mentioned publications, Randi Frank, LLC shall recruit from their database of contacts, and conduct outreach to potential contacts.
	Step 3	Screening committee identified	The Government Operations Committee will identify and announce an applicant screening committee to review applicants resumes, and do the initial candidate screening.
Phase 3: 4/10/2022 - 4/22/22 Candidate Evaluation and Screening by Executive Search Firm	Step 1	Candidate credential review	Randi Frank shall review and evaluate candidates' credentials, considering the criteria outlined in the leadership profile.
	Step 2	Candidate interview & reference collection	-Randi Frank, LLC shall interview the most highly qualified candidates virtually to fully grasp their qualifications and experience, as well as their interpersonal skills. This is an hour long interview, asking specific questions about their experience and skill set. -Randi Frank, LLC shall gather formal and informal references (two per candidate of those deemed "highly qualified") and an internet search of each candidate will be conducted.
Phase 4: 4/22/22 - 5/3/22 Presentation of Recommended Candidates	Step 1	Recruitment report	Randi Frank, LLC will prepare a Recruitment Report that presents the credentials of those candidates most qualified for the position. A binder which contains the candidate's cover letter and resume shall be prepared, along with a "mini" resume for each candidate, so that each candidate's credentials are presented in a uniform way. NOTE: the screening committee will be provided with a log of ALL candidates who applied, and all resumes can be reviewed if desired.
	Step 2	Screening Committee initial meeting (amended)	Randi Frank, LLC will meet with the screening committee to review the recruitment report and expand upon the information provided. The report will be provided to committee members 2-3 days in advance of this meeting, giving the screening committee the opportunity to fully review it. In addition to the written report, Randi Frank, LLC will spend 2-3 hours bringing the candidates to life by reviewing the virtual interviews and providing excerpts from 2 references. NOTE: at this meeting, the interviewing process will be finalized, including the discussion of any specific components of the Screening Committee deems appropriate	Potential dates: May 3rd May 4th (Randi in Cambridge on May 2nd)	Previous dates: Week of 4/24
Phase 5: 5/4/22 - 5/31/22 Interview Process Screening Committee	Step 1	Develop interview questions	Randi Frank, LLC will provide the Screening Committee with interview books that consist of the recruitment report, the credentials each candidate submits, a set of questions with room for interviewers to make notes, and an evaluation sheet to assist interviewers in assessing each candidate's skills and abilities.
	Step 2	Conduct interviews	The Screening Committee will conduct an interview of the 8-10 selected priority candidates, from which they shall select 3-4 finalists for presentation to the City Council	Potential dates: 5/12 and 5/13	Previous dates: 5/2 & 5/3
	Step 3	Reference checks etc.	Once candidates are selected, references will be contacted, employment & education credentials verified, review search results on Google, and social media activity.
Phase 6: 6/1/22 - 6/10/22 Interview Process Community & City Council	Step 1	Community interviews	Randi Frank, LLC will offer community interviews with finalists as a means for the community to interact with and get to know the finalists in an informal setting. At this interview, finalists would give a brief overview of themselves and answer questions from the audience. Consultant will also work with the Personnel Department to coordinate a tour of Cambridge facilities and interviews with department heads and a final interview with City Councillors. Randi Frank, LLC will be present for all of the interviews, serving as a resource and facilitator.	Potential dates: June 1st and 2nd	Previous dates: 5/22 & 5/24
	Step 2	City Council interviews	A public interview of all finalists will be held in a special meeting of the City Council.	Potential dates: June 1st and 2nd	Previous dates: 5/22 & 5/24
	Step 3	Site visits (if desired)	If site visits are desired, this step can be utilized
	Step 4	Selection of finalist	The City Council will vote for a selected candidate in a public meeting.
Phase 7: 6/11/22 - 6/20/22 Appointment of Candidate	Step 1	Salary & benefit negotiations
	Step 2	Notification of final appointment

Outreach Efforts for Cambridge City Manager Search

Description	Advertisement	Contact Methods
Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Mgmt		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
UVA Senior Executive Institute		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
Harvard Business School		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
MIT Sloan Center		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
Yale School of Management		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
Historically Black Colleges & Universities
· Spelman College		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Howard University		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Xavier University of Louisiana		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Hampton University		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Morehouse College		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Tuskegee University		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
· Florida A&M University		Email and call as needed, ask them to send to their alumni
National Association of Chief Executive Officers		Email leadership
American Society of Association Executives		Email leadership
National Association of Nonprofit Orgnizations & Executives		Email leadership
American Association of University Administrators		Email leadership
Association of School Business Officials		Email leadership - plus chapter if available
American College of Healthcare Executives	Free advertisement	Email leadership
National Association of Health Services Executives - for Black Executives		Email leadership
National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials		Email leadership
GARE- Govt Alliance on Race & Equity		Sheila-HR Director is a member and will send to email list of members

Screening Committee composition (from Jan 26 meeting):

(4) City Council members

(3) Resident representatives (who have demonstrated advocacy in support of community needs)*

(2) Business related representatives (with demonstrated partnership experience, ideally from a large and a small business)

(1) Representative from the Cambridge School Committee or a senior School Department administrative representative

(1) Public Safety representative (Police/Fire departments)

(1) Person with demonstrated knowledge of municipal finance

(1) Health and Human Services/Public Health representative

(1) Representative with knowledge of City Planning and Development (experience in urban design and transportation issues preferred)

(1) Higher education/institutional partner

(1) Public art and/or recreational representative

(1) Affordable housing advocate

(1) Non-profit community representative

(1) Representative who advocates for the quality of our community’s civic and social wellbeing

---

Mar 21 communication from Chair Mallon of Gov't Operation Committee:
Dear City Council colleagues,

I am pleased to share the following updates on the City Manager search. We have since moved on from the community engagement portion of the search timeline, which culminated in the creation of the leadership profile, or job description. (As discussed at last week’s Government Operations meeting, we have made a slight adjustment to the timeline, but are still on track to complete our search by mid-June.) During the month of February we received community and employee feedback through:

• Employee Town Hall

• Employee Survey

• Department Head Meetings with Randi Frank

• 15 minute Employee drop-in sessions with Randi Frank

• Resident Town Hall

• 20 focus groups through Cortico

• Over 4,000 unique pieces of feedback from 700+ residents and stakeholders on the coUrbanize site

A first draft of the leadership profile was presented to the (gov ops committee members?) and public at the Mar 2nd Government Operations, Rules, and Claims committee meeting, where committee members suggested feedback and edits. To allow enough time for these edits to be made, a follow-up committee meeting was scheduled for Mar 9th and the final leadership profile was presented and approved. This editing process ultimately moved the timeline back by one week, but we are currently in the process of recruiting applicants with the profile. To capture a wide variety of applicants, both with traditional and non-traditional experience, Randi Frank LLC is distributing the leadership profile to a wide array of organizations around the country and world. For a complete list, click here.

While Randi Frank and her team receive applications, we need to identify an Initial Screening Committee to review candidates during the first round of interviews. The (Initial) Screening Committee will be made up of 15-19 individuals who are interested in playing yet another vital role in the City Manager search process, and ultimately help decide who moves on as a finalist. For those who need it, financial assistance, language translation (ESOL/ASL), and a brief interview skills workshop will all be available through our search partner, Randi Frank LLC. Those who are interested will need to be available from 9am – 5pm on the following dates:

Wednesday, May 4
Thursday, May 12
Friday, May 13

Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm on Thursday, Mar 31st.

Please access the application form here.

I encourage you all to share the self-nomination form with your networks and community as we want to capture a diverse array of Cambridge voices to be part of this next step in the process.

I will continue to keep you informed and updated on the progress of the search. As always, you can check the City’s dedicated webpage and subscribe to the coUrbanize site for updates sent right to your inbox.

Thank you, Alanna Mallon, Vice Mayor

Anyone care to further explain this contribution from “City of Cambridge (CWO)” to Monica Cannon-Grant shown in her indictment for fraud?

There's also this embarrassing detail (“VIB” refers to “Violence in Boston”, the organization Monica Cannon-Grant and her husband Clark Grant used in their alleged fraud):

Sun, Mar 20, 2022. Middlesex Canal Walk - Billerica to Chelmsford. 1:30pm. Billerica to Chelmsford walk along canal to Chelmsford plaque near 121 Riverneck Road. Sites visited on the tour will include the recently restored guard lock, the anchor stone for the floating towpath that bridged the Concord River, and many stretches of the watered canal. Meet at the Middlesex Canal Museum and Visitors’ Center 71 Faulkner Street, North Billerica, MA 01862. Note: There may be wet conditions along part of the route that may necessitate high boots or a shortened route. The walk will be led by Robert Winters with the assistance of others. [Unfortunately, this is not an AMC listing due to continuing problems with the Local Walks/Hikes Committee.]

Note: We had 26 people and a dog on the walk and everyone had a good time (including me). - RW

Nominations Sought for 2022 Outstanding City of Cambridge Employee Awards
Submission deadline is Monday, April 11. In-person ceremony scheduled for Friday, May 13.

Mar 15, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking nominations for the 2022 Outstanding City Employee Awards program which recognizes employees for exemplary performance and contributions that go above and beyond job requirements.

Cambridge city government is made up of dedicated employees who strive to provide a high level of quality services to all our residents. The annual awards ceremony provides a special opportunity to give extra recognition to a number of exemplary individuals who will be honored. This event will be held on Friday, May 13, at 10:00am, at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue.

Criteria for determining outstanding performance include:

• Demonstrated strong leadership and a high level of commitment to the city and its residents;
• Demonstrated outstanding customer service to the public and/or fellow employees;
• Developed an innovative or creative solution to a problem;
• Made superior contribution to the success of a project, completing work on time and within budget;
• Donated significant time to activities that benefit the Cambridge community;
• Encouraged and valued community involvement;
• Demonstrated an exceptional ability to work in a multicultural organization;
• Consistently contributed to better city operations.

All City employees are eligible for nomination. Anyone who lives or works in Cambridge may nominate one or more City employees for recognition. Please submit a separate nomination form or letter for each employee. An employee may not nominate themself or their own supervisor or department head for recognition.

Nominations are due by Monday, April 11, 2022 and can be submitted online through the related news story at www.cambridgema.gov. Alternatively, a signed nomination letter may be submitted via email to Maryellen Carvello in the City Manager’s Office, mcarvello@cambridgema.gov, to the Personnel Department via fax to 617-349-4312, or in-person or via email to the to the Personnel Department, Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd floor.

For more information, contact Maryellen Carvello at mcarvello@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4300.

Department of Public Health updates COVID-19 death definition
Revised data capture more accurately the acute impact of COVID in the Commonwealth

Mar 10, 2022 – Beginning Monday, March 14, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) will update the criteria used for identifying COVID-19 deaths to align with guidance from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Currently, the COVID death definition includes anyone who has COVID listed as a cause of death on their death certificate, and any individual who has had a COVID-19 diagnosis within 60 days but does not have COVID listed as a cause of death on their death certificate. The updated definition reduces this timeframe from 60 days to 30 days for individuals without a COVID diagnosis on their death certificate.

The revision follows the recommendation of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to create a standardized approach for states to use for counting COVID-19 deaths. Several other states are adopting this definition.

Massachusetts has applied this new definition retroactively to the start of the pandemic in March 2020. As a result, 4,081 deaths in Massachusetts that were previously counted as associated with COVID will be removed. In addition, approximately 400 deaths not previously counted but identified through a manual process of matching death certificates with medical records will be added to the COVID-19 death count. The state’s overall COVID death count, therefore, will decline by 3,700.

Full statement from the Mass. Department of Public Health

An Inconvenient Truth about the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA), a.k.a. “Useful Idiots”

Feb 27, 2022 – While much of the world is responding in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, a statement from the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA) contained this little jewel in its supposed condemnation of the Russian invasion: “DSA reaffirms our call for the US to withdraw from NATO and to end the imperialist expansionism that set the stage for this conflict.” They are basically saying that the USA is the bad guy and that Putin had good cause for the invasion. I really think that Cambridge voters should think about this when DSA-endorsed candidates come knocking and asking for your vote.

Some examples of DSA-endorsed Cambridge local candidates: Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, Quinton Zondervan, Mike Connolly, Ayanna Pressley

In Somerville, the list includes: Tessa Bridge, Willie Burnley, Charlotte Kelly, Becca Miller, JT Scott, Eve Seitchik, Ben Ewen-Campen

[Candidates not currently elected in italics]

Volunteer Opportunities - Cambridge Boards & Commissions

Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board Vacancies

Feb 24, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking to fill vacancies on the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) advisory board.

CCPD works to increase access to all aspects of Cambridge community life for people with disabilities. CCPD raises awareness of disability issues and promotes equal opportunity for people with a range of abilities, including physical, mental, and sensory. CCPD also provides information, referrals, guidance, and technical assistance to individuals and their families, employers, public agencies, businesses and private non-profit organizations.

The CCPD board has 11 members who serve as volunteers for three-year terms. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.

CCPD Board Members:

• Must be Cambridge residents
• Represent different disabilities, diverse cultures and races, and all areas of Cambridge.
• Attend monthly meetings, currently held virtually on the second Thursday of every month at 5:30pm
• Take part in Working Groups and work on projects as needed
• Work with other members and the office staff to carry out the CCPD Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.96)

Individuals interested in being considered for the CCPD Advisory Board can apply online at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. When applying, please submit:

• a cover letter
• a résumé or summary of relevant experience that includes disability-related issues or projects that interest you.

Paper applications can be picked up at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue during regular business hours. If you need help filling out your application or have any questions, please contact CCPD at:

• ccpd@cambridgema.gov
• 617-349-4692 (voice)
• 711 (relay)

The deadline for submitting applications is March 28, 2022.

Tempest Tossed

Feb 21, 2022 – I have been looking over various articles and other references about Cambridge lately, and one thought keeps recurring to me - and has to do with definitions and unilateralism.

I have to confess that even though I have been in Cambridge (at the same address) for 44 years now, I actually grew up in New York City - Whitestone, Queens. Where I grew up may have been viewed as suburban by some people, but it was definitely within New York City and, like most areas of NYC, characterized not by large lots and palatial mansions, but by relatively small lots and what many people used to call “starter homes” even though many of them are now on to their 3rd generation of family occupants. Virtually all of the open lots have long since been built upon, and even that farm across from my junior high school (yes, we still had a working farm all the way through the time I was in college) has now become a housing development.

When we moved (in my infancy) from Astoria to Whitestone, it was largely driven by my father’s unwillingness to be a “cliff dweller” - what he used to call people who lived in apartment buildings. There were definitely some apartment buildings in Whitestone, but it was mainly those much-maligned single-family homes. That’s where I spent the next two decades. After living for a short while in a trailer in Flagstaff, Arizona, I found my way to Cambridge and became a cliff-dweller - just a 3-family cliff, mind you, but a big change from what I was accustomed to - with housemates, the sounds of other building residents coming and going, complaints about noise, and getting along with the landlord. After 8 years I became the landlord and with that came lots of other concerns - mortgages, real estate taxes, utilities, boilers, shoring up porch foundations, fixing plumbing problems, tenant relations - the whole nine yards.

But I digress.

It often seems to me that those advocating for one position or another see Cambridge as some kind of island on which all problems can and should be solved entirely within the island, and often by pushing hard against the tide of economics. If the demand for housing - largely driven by the influx of higher wage tech employees - causes home prices (and rents) to rise steeply, the “solution” offered is to create an entirely separate “affordable” housing system entirely within the island or to build ferociously to get everyone on the island who likes Island Life. I do, in fact, agree with some of that - especially when it comes to elderly people on fixed incomes and people who were born and raised here and want to stay close to family. Unlike many others (whether they openly acknowledge this or not), I am not a fan of “social housing” in general. I think there’s a lot of value - financial and personal - in actually owning your own home. I often think that City planners and advocates in Cambridge put almost no emphasis on ownership - perhaps due to other political beliefs (hint, hint).

One of my biggest beefs with “Envision” is that it didn’t really set any targets or measures of success when it comes to “affordable housing”, i.e. housing divorced from market housing. It just wanted more, more, more.

I have been a mathematician for most of my life, and one thing just about every mathematician knows is the importance of good definitions. The relative softness of the definitions of “affordable housing”, “subsidized housing”, “social housing”, etc. has always been an annoyance to me, and I think much of the definitions are politically motivated. After all, something like “100% affordable housing” sells a lot better than historical terms like “housing project” or “public housing”. A rose is a rose is a rose.

An even more fundamental definition for me is how cities and urban areas are defined. The aforementioned Island of Cambridge is actually not an island. It's part of an entire metropolitan area consisting of a lot of cities and towns - most notably our Big Sister to the south. One of the things I stated over and over and over again (remember the Dave Clark Five?) during the Envision process was that the proposed significant residential development in Union Square, Somerville would likely have a greater effect on housing costs in Cambridge than most of the other policies and proposals being discussed. I still believe that, but I suppose we'll have to wait until all those housing units are finished and available to find out. The point, however, is not just that a thousand housing units in Somerville will affect costs in Cambridge, it’s that ultimately the only way good housing options will come about is to adjust the boundaries of the island.

Many of my friends growing up eventually found jobs “in the city” - which in New York-ese means Manhattan (an actual island, though 4 of the 5 boroughs of New York are actually on islands, including Queens). Other friends who had lived in Manhattan eventually settled in parts of Brooklyn and even across the Hudson in New Jersey. That’s what it took to find the kind of housing they wanted (including some great live/work space for artists). It helped a lot that public transportation in and around NYC was extensive and pretty dependable at all hours of the day and night. My friends continue to identify as New Yorkers, and some of the places they moved have become pretty fabulous - which, I suppose, may also translate into eventually being less affordable which has often been the fate of the risk-takers and urban homesteaders.

It was often said that if you couldn’t find what you wanted at a reasonable cost in Cambridge, you could find something in Somerville or Arlington. Now that radius has expanded to West Medford, Everett, Chelsea, and beyond. The question is not simply whether you can find what you want at a good price in Cambridge. It's really a question of whether you can find something close to what you want at a reasonable cost with reasonable transportation options. And sometimes those options may not be available on the island.

Robert Winters

A Central Square Plea

Dear Mayor Siddiqui, Cambridge City Council, and City Manager,

The announcement of your Cambridge Nightlife Grant is really emblematic of the detachment the Council has had throughout this pandemic. Restaurants and Hospitality have faced massive declines in revenue and steep increases of debt. We've jumped through pointless covid theatrical measures like distancing, forced plexi-glass, prolonged limits on capacity, prolonged limits on seating mostly for naught. The working class of this city served the upper echelon who protected themselves while small business owners gave up their dreams and livelihoods in the name of public health. While some government programs helped in the short term initiatives like PPP-loans were no more than a short lifeline to keep staff employed or the lights on. EIDL loans were similar ... a drowning person will reach for anything to pull them from death ... but in the end these programs are just another rock on the backs of a dying industry ... dying mostly in states like Massachusetts and especially in cities like Cambridge. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund came and went and in Central Sq only 11% of the restaurants got any funds at all.

Many of us saw the writing on the wall and rallied for our restaurant friends and family. I personally was out in the streets through the entirety of the pandemic with my BID brothers and sisters supporting their thankless effort, as well as building tables, patios, a stage, and doing whatever was needed of me while my own business and livelihood evaporated. I remember having Quinton Zondervan through his aide threaten to “take my building for transient uses after I go bankrupt” while I frantically painted the wood paneling of Starlight to satisfy a very late fire department request. I remember Councilor Jivan Sobrino-Wheeler all but promised me I could resume construction if only I acquiesced to having my hotel be used as a homeless shelter. I remember the first round of aid scraps tossed to desperate owners who scrambled to put paperwork together to satisfy this Council's obsessive and arrogant attempt to balance equity when we were all on our last leg. Empathy has never been one of the Council’s strong suits and this latest attempt through so called “Nightlife Grant” is just as insulting, vacant, and bereft of any substantive assistance the industry needs. $2.5M out of $60+ million in ARPA funds is not equity or justice ... it is a token box checking exercise in the worst traditions of this City.

The restaurant revitalization fund isn't getting refilled and the industry that is the second largest in Massachusetts will have to forge ahead knowing that this Council, like our State and Federal Government, looked at our collective worth and found us all to be worthless; an amenity to be discarded; “essential” but also not. It hurts more than any of you luckily will ever understand.

I ask that you strip the ridiculous hoops you've put in place for this latest round and put in place the only caveat that if you received RRF funds you cannot apply. As a token of my appreciation I nor any business I'm affiliated with will not apply; even though I received not a cent from the Fed, lost well over $7M over 2020-21, and did so paying my staff a living wage, carrying them ALL through this pandemic, and came literally within days of losing my home ... and not because of some virus but because of your reaction to it. Your continued overreaction furthers the pain whether it be declaration of “we are back to 2020” or “the vaccines don't work” as our esteemed Vice Mayor and councilors stated only a few short weeks ago.

The restaurants of Cambridge deserve more of you. They deserve to be made whole. Just like the children of this city deserve to be freed of your paranoia and politics. The damage you've fostered will last generations and many of us will never forget. While we fought for our lives and the lives of our neighbors you insulted us, measured us, judged us, while many of you hid in your homes in front of a zoom screen.

Peace and Love,
Patrick W. Barrett

Cambridge Announces $2.5 Million Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant Program
Feb 3, 2022 – The City of Cambridge announced a new Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant program today which will award $2,500,000 to eligible Cambridge venues.

These grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues (e.g. movie theaters, performance venues, galleries) heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and entertainment venues citywide will be able to apply for grant awards of $10,000 for allowable business expenses such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, utilities, goods and equipment, and outdoor dining infrastructure. Applications will be accepted from February 3 through February 28, 2022 at 8:00pm and are available at https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.

“The uncertainty of the last two years has made operations difficult for restaurants and nightlife venues, and I am glad we are able to provide some relief at this pivotal time of the pandemic,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “These grants, which will prioritize some of our hardest hit businesses, will help restaurants and nightlife venues that have a long road to recovery.”

The Restaurant and Nightlife Relief grants will be awarded based on criteria which will prioritize businesses owned by people of color, women, and other historically marginalized groups, businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and businesses that have seen a severe decrease in sales from pre-pandemic levels.

“Cambridge’s restaurants and nightlife venues are a vital part of our community and these sectors have been among the hardest hit by this pandemic,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “Their economic recovery is critical to our city and I’m proud to launch this new grant program that builds upon the $4,800,000 in relief funds that the City of Cambridge has awarded to local businesses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The City anticipates funding an additional $2,500,000 in small business relief grants for other sectors impacted by the pandemic later this year.

For more information about eligibility, exclusions, and the application for these programs, please visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/business.

Those with questions or in need of assistance can call 617-349-4654 or email smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov. Translation and interpretation services are available upon request.

RW Note: I just learned yesterday that Classic GraphX in Central Square will be closing and the end of February. The lingering effects of this pandemic on so many beloved businesses has been devastating.

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.

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 31 - Feb 6, 2022 (posted Jan 31, 2022)

Blizzard hits Cambridge with deep snow, high winds (Jan 31, 2022)

A primer on Cambridge's snow-removal ordinance (Jan 29, 2022)

Record snowfalls: Here are the largest single-day snowstorms in Massachusetts history (Jan 28, 2022, updated Jan 31)

Life slowly returns to Cambridge's 'nonprofit row' (Jan 28, 2022)

Want to start an in-home food business? Here's what you need to know (Jan 26, 2022)

David Mugar dies, added fireworks to July 4 celebration, had local roots (Jan 26, 2022)

LETTER: Revisiting the Cambridge City Council's policy order 109 (Jan 26, 2022)
This is a letter written by John Roberts, Nancy Murray, Denise Bergman, Kathy Roberts, Jude Glaubman, Chris Affleck and signed by over 100 Cambridge residents who were supportive of the controversial May 21, 2021 City Council Order #6 that called for the City to boycott all Hewlett Packard products “over their role in abetting apartheid in the Middle East”. That Order was amended and approved the following week, but apparently these letter-writers are still unhappy and won't be happy until something is enacted more along the lines of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) Movement. [Wikipedia page] [Comments and additional details here]

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 24-30, 2022 (Jan 24, 2022)

A $10M renovation to Cambridge City Hall wraps in June (Jan 20, 2022)

EV charging stations coming to Cambridge neighborhoods (Jan 18, 2022)

Cambridge appoints Christine Elow as permanent police commissioner (Jan 17, 2022, updated Jan 19)

Furnishing Hope helps Boston families rebuild after plight with homelessness (Jan 17, 2022, updated Jan 24)

Cambridge councillors want advisory committee for bicycle infrastructure (Jan 17, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 17-23, 2022 (Jan 17, 2022)

585 Third Street project will enliven the Kendall Square area (Jan 13, 2022 by Kim Massenburg)

Lydia Edwards will represent Cambridge in state Senate, voters decide (Jan 12, 2022)

For special Senate election, Cambridge voters head to polls today (Cambridge Chronicle, Jan 11, 2022)
Note: This is only for Ward 2, Precincts 2 and 3; Ward 4, Precincts 1 and 3; and all of Ward 5.

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan 10 -16, 2022 (Jan 10, 2022)

Mass. school mask mandate extended through Feb. 28 (Jan 10, 2022)

State debuts digital COVID-19 vaccine passports (Jan 10, 2022)

OPINION: 'Whatever' zoning in Cambridge (Jan 9, 2022 by Cambridge Citizens Coalition)

A look into Cambridge’s delightfully quirky music venue: The Lilypad (Jan 9, 2022)

As he enters retirement, Timothy Toomey on civility, a councillor's duty (Jan 7, 2022 - subscribers only)

Cambridge program cultivates fellowship among teens, officers and fraternity (Jan 6, 2022)

Cambridge expands mask mandate in response to COVID surge (Jan 5, 2022)

Cambridge's below-freezing inauguration ushers in City Council's 2022-23 session (Jan 4, 2022)

Cause behind 3-alarm fire in Cambridge remains under investigation (Jan 4, 2022)

Cambridge delays students' return, carves out time for COVID-19 testing (Jan 3, 2022)

The Chronicle Companion: Week of Jan. 3 - 9, 2022 (Jan 3, 2022)

San Fransicko (CSPAN, Oct 21, 2021)

[recommended by a friend, and a worthwhile and thought-provoking way to spend your next 55 minutes]

Michael Shellenberger, president of Berkeley-based Environmental Progress, argued that progressives are destroying America’s cities due to their acceptance of lawlessness on the part of those who progressive leaders claim to be helping. This virtual event was hosted by the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.

Volunteer Opportunities - Cambridge Boards & Commissions

Members Sought for Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal
Application Deadline Extended to February 14, 2022

Jan 31, 2022 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) to potentially fill either full member position(s) and/or associate member position(s).

BZA members must be residents of the City of Cambridge. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. It is a City of Cambridge goal to expand and deepen community engagement with a focus on strengthening the diversity and inclusion of its various boards and commissions.

Made up of five members and up to seven associate members, the Board of Zoning Appeal reviews applications for special permits and applications for variances from the terms of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance, in accordance with M.G.L. c.40A and the Zoning Ordinance. The BZA also hears and decides appeals of orders and determinations made by the Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department pursuant to M.G.L. c.40A, §8 and the Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the BZA reviews applications for comprehensive permits, pursuant to M.G.L. c.40B. In evaluating applications and petitions, the Board conducts public hearings and votes on the application or petition’s conformance with the provisions of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.

The Board of Zoning Appeal meets twice each month on Thursday evenings for approximately 3-4 hours. Until further notice, all board and commission meetings are being held virtually via the Zoom platform. The Board of Zoning Appeal is subject to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c.30A, §§18-25, and all deliberations of the Board occur at public meetings. The meetings are also audio recorded and may be video recorded. As part of their time commitment, Board members are expected to review application and petition materials prior to each meeting. Materials may include development plans, impact studies, narrative descriptions, provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, information from city departments, written comments from the public, and other documents.

Ideal candidates would possess the ability to participate in a collaborative process, work with other Board members to consider diverse ideas, apply the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance to the facts presented in applications and petitions, and reach a decision. Members should also have strong attentiveness and listening skills. While there is no requirement for a technical background, interest and understanding of development, architecture, urban design, and zoning is desirable.

Individuals interested in being considered should apply by using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply and finding “Board of Zoning Appeal” in the list of Current Vacancies. A cover letter and résumé or summary of applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting applications was extended to Feb 14, 2022.

Editor's Note: One of the most damaging results of last November's vote re: charter change is that appointees to several City boards, most notably the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Historical Commission, and probably all of the neighborhood conservation district commissions may now be subject to an inquisition by a controlling majority of city councillors.

City of Cambridge Lifts Snow Emergency Parking Ban
Ban lifted as of 6:00pm on Sunday, January 30

Jan 30, 2022 – The Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect will be lifted in the City of Cambridge as of 6:00pm on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Residents parked in one of the City’s Snow Emergency Off-Street Parking locations should exit within 2 hours after the ban has been lifted to avoid being charged.

If travel is required, please clear all snow off of vehicles, including the roof, prior to driving, use extra caution, and leave additional distance between other vehicles and snow crews.

Property owners should remove snow from sidewalks next to their property or business by 1:00pm today as City Ordinance requires sidewalks to be cleared of snow within 12 hours of daytime snowfall and before 1:00pm when it has fallen overnight. Property owners must also remove or melt all ice within 6 hours of the time it forms. There is a $50 fine for each day of non-compliance. Residents and property owners are asked to promptly clear snow and remove ice next to their property, and corner properties are reminded that they are required to shovel and clear ramps at corners near their properties to help make crossing safer for all. Uncleared sidewalks can be reported online at cambridgema.gov/commonwealthconnect or by using the Commonwealth Connect app for iPhone/Android. Additionally, the City is encouraging residents and businesses to clear snow from the nearest fire hydrants and catch basins.

Property owners are asked that when shoveling their sidewalks to please maintain a minimum of 36 inches clear width so that people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices (also parents using strollers, etc.) can navigate the sidewalk. The Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) requests that a 48-inch clear width be created when possible – this gives an extra measure of safety. Additionally, CCPD urges residents and businesses to pay particular attention to the corners, where one sidewalk meets another – shovel the full length and width of curb ramps, so that pedestrians with disabilities can get to the crosswalks. Business owners are requested, if there is a disability parking space on the street near your storefront, to please take the extra time to shovel a clear path to that space, so that your customers with disabilities can visit your establishment. In particular, shovel a space wide enough so that vans with lifts can deploy the lift onto the sidewalk.

Power outages should be directly reported to Eversource at 800-592-2000 and downed wires in Cambridge should be reported to 911.

The public can follow updates on Twitter at @CambMA. The City uses the hashtag #CambMASnow on Twitter to help the public follow the conversation. In addition to following updates on the City’s website and social media, members of the public are encouraged to sign-up to receive notification of snow emergency parking bans at: CambridgeMA.GOV/Snow.

 
Holding back the plows!

 
The traditional blessing of the snow shovellers

---

City of Cambridge Declares Snow Emergency Parking Ban
Ban goes into effect at 11pm on Friday, January 28, 2022

Jan 28, 2022 – A Snow Emergency Parking Ban will go into effect in the City of Cambridge beginning at 11:00pm on Friday, January 28, 2022. Vehicles parked on streets that are signed “No Parking During Snow Emergency” will be ticketed and towed until the ban is lifted. To assist residents in parking their vehicles, free parking is provided at a number of off-street parking facilities beginning at 6:00pm on Friday, January 28, 2022. To find off-street parking facilities that provide free parking during snow emergencies, visit www.CambridgeMA.gov/Snow.

This free parking program is available only to Cambridge residents with Resident Parking Permits issued by the Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation. Vehicles must exit the off-street parking facilities within 2 hours of the snow emergency parking ban being lifted.

To receive snow emergency parking ban alerts via email, text message, and/or phone announcement, please subscribe to the City’s CodeRED system.

Updated information will be available at CambridgeMA.GOV/Snow throughout the storm. In addition, the public is encouraged to follow updates on Twitter at @CambMA and on Facebook at CambridgeMA.GOV. The City will be utilizing the hashtag #CambMASnow on Twitter to help the public follow messages regarding the storm.

Building Better Affordable Housing - Walden Square Sure to draw a reaction. A video by Federico Muchnik.

Federico Muchnik also produced a memorable video about the demise of The Tasty in Harvard Square

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

1941	Corcoran, John	Crane, Ed	Hogan, William	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Morton, Marcus	Pill, Hyman	Sennott, Francis	Sullivan, Michael
1943	Cassidy, James	Corcoran, John	Gerould, Russell	Lynch, John D.	Morton, Marcus	Neville, Michael	Pill, Hyman	Sennott, Francis	Sullivan, Michael
1945	Casey, James	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Neville, Michael	Pill, Hyman	Sullivan, Michael	Swan, W. Donnison
1947	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Lynch, John D.	Neville, Michael	Pill, Hyman	Sennott, Francis	Sullivan, Michael	Swan, W. Donnison
1949	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Higley, Chester	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Pill, Hyman	Sullivan, Edward	Swan, W. Donnison
1951	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Higley, Chester	Lynch, John D.	Pill, Hyman	Sennott, Francis	Sullivan, Edward	Swan, W. Donnison
1951.1 vacancy	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Higley, Chester	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Pill, Hyman	Sullivan, Edward	Swan, W. Donnison
1953	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Foley, John	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Morton, Marcus	Pill, Hyman	Sullivan, Edward	Watson, Charles
1955	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Pill, Hyman	Sullivan, Edward	Vellucci, Alfred	Watson, Charles	Wise, Pearl
1957	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Sullivan, Edward	Vellucci, Alfred	Watson, Charles	Wheeler, Cornelia	Wise, Pearl
1959	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Lynch, John D.	McNamara, Thomas	Sullivan, Walter	Trodden, Andrew	Vellucci, Alfred	Wheeler, Cornelia	Wise, Pearl
1961	Belin, Gaspard d'Andelot	Crane, Ed	DeGuglielmo, Joseph	Goldberg, Bernard	Hayes, Daniel	Sullivan, Walter	Trodden, Andrew	Vellucci, Alfred	Wise, Pearl
1963	Coates, Thomas	Crane, Ed	Goldberg, Bernard	Hayes, Daniel	Mahoney, Thomas	Sullivan, Walter	Trodden, Andrew	Vellucci, Alfred	Wheeler, Cornelia
1965	Coates, Thomas	Crane, Ed	Goldberg, Bernard	Hayes, Daniel	Maher, William	Mahoney, Thomas	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wheeler, Cornelia
1967	Ackermann, Barbara	Crane, Ed	Danehy, Thomas	Goldberg, Bernard	Hayes, Daniel	Mahoney, Thomas	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wheeler, Cornelia
1969	Ackermann, Barbara	Clinton, Daniel	Coates, Thomas	Crane, Ed	Danehy, Thomas	Mahoney, Thomas	Moncrieff, Robert	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred
1971	Ackermann, Barbara	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Moncrieff, Robert	Owens, Henry	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred
1973	Ackermann, Barbara	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Leonard	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wylie, David
1975	Ackermann, Barbara	Clem, David	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Leonard	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred
1977	Crane, Kevin	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Frisoli, Lawrence	Graham, Saundra	Preusser, Mary Ellen	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wylie, David
1979	Crane, Kevin	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Leonard	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wylie, David
1981	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Leonard	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wylie, David
1983	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Leonard	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wolf, Alice
1983.1 vacancy	Clinton, Daniel	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	LaRosa, Alfred	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Wolf, Alice
1985	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Walsh, William	Wolf, Alice
1987	Danehy, Thomas	Duehay, Francis	Graham, Saundra	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, David	Sullivan, Walter	Vellucci, Alfred	Walsh, William	Wolf, Alice
1989	Cyr, Ed	Duehay, Francis	Myers, Jonathan	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Walter	Toomey, Tim	Walsh, William	Wolf, Alice
1991	Cyr, Ed	Duehay, Francis	Myers, Jonathan	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Walter	Toomey, Tim	Walsh, William	Wolf, Alice
1993	Born, Kathleen Leahy	Duehay, Francis	Myers, Jonathan	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim	Triantafillou, Katherine	Walsh, William
1993.1 vacancy	Born, Kathleen Leahy	Duehay, Francis	Galluccio, Anthony	Myers, Jonathan	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim	Triantafillou, Katherine
1995	Born, Kathleen Leahy	Davis, Henrietta	Duehay, Francis	Galluccio, Anthony	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim	Triantafillou, Katherine
1997	Born, Kathleen Leahy	Davis, Henrietta	Duehay, Francis	Galluccio, Anthony	Reeves, Kenneth	Russell, Sheila	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim	Triantafillou, Katherine
1999	Born, Kathleen Leahy	Braude, Jim	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Galluccio, Anthony	Maher, David	Reeves, Kenneth	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim
2001	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Galluccio, Anthony	Maher, David	Murphy, Brian	Reeves, Kenneth	Simmons, E. Denise	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim
2003	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Galluccio, Anthony	Maher, David	Murphy, Brian	Reeves, Kenneth	Simmons, E. Denise	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim
2005	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Galluccio, Anthony	Kelley, Craig	Murphy, Brian	Reeves, Kenneth	Simmons, E. Denise	Sullivan, Michael	Toomey, Tim
2005.1 vacancy	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Galluccio, Anthony	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Murphy, Brian	Reeves, Kenneth	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim
2007	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Murphy, Brian	Reeves, Kenneth	Seidel, Sam	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim
2007.1 vacancy	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Reeves, Kenneth	Seidel, Sam	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim	Ward, Larry
2009	Cheung, Leland	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Reeves, Kenneth	Seidel, Sam	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim
2011	Cheung, Leland	Davis, Henrietta	Decker, Marjorie	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Reeves, Kenneth	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim	vanBeuzekom, Minka
2013	Benzan, Dennis	Carlone, Dennis	Cheung, Leland	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Mazen, Nadeem	McGovern, Marc	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim
2015	Carlone, Dennis	Cheung, Leland	Devereux, Jan	Kelley, Craig	Maher, David	Mazen, Nadeem	McGovern, Marc	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim
2017	Carlone, Dennis	Devereux, Jan	Kelley, Craig	Mallon, Alanna	McGovern, Marc	Siddiqui, Sumbul	Simmons, E. Denise	Toomey, Tim	Zondervan, Quinton
2019	Carlone, Dennis	Mallon, Alanna	McGovern, Marc	Nolan, Patricia	Siddiqui, Sumbul	Simmons, E. Denise	Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan	Toomey, Tim	Zondervan, Quinton
2021	Azeem, Burhan	Carlone, Dennis	Mallon, Alanna	McGovern, Marc	Nolan, Patricia	Siddiqui, Sumbul	Simmons, E. Denise	Toner, Paul F.	Zondervan, Quinton

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

1941	Brooks, William	Cassidy, James	Conant, Cora Butler	Fitzgerald, James	Robart, Ralph	Wood, Russell	Corcoran, John
1943	Conant, Cora Butler	Foley, John	Gummere, Richard	Kelleher, Margaret	Reardon, Robert	Wood, Russell	Corcoran, John
1945	Conant, Cora Butler	Dewey, Bradley	Kelleher, Margaret	O'Neill, Thomas P. "Tip"	Reardon, Robert	Wood, Russell	Lynch, John D.
1947	Cassidy, James	Dewey, Bradley	Kelleher, Margaret	Mahoney, Thomas	Minot, Elizabeth	Reardon, Robert	Neville, Michael
1949	Amory, Robert	Cassidy, James	Fitzgerald, James	Mahoney, Thomas	McCrehan, Francis	Wise, Pearl	Crane, Edward
1951	Cremens, John	Fitzgerald, James	Mahoney, Thomas	McCrehan, Francis	Vellucci, Alfred	Wise, Pearl	DeGuglielmo, Joseph
1953	Campbell, John	Corcoran, Paul	McCrehan, Francis	Shaplin, Judson	Vellucci, Alfred	Wise, Pearl	Foley, John
1955	Fitzgerald, James	Galluccio, Anthony	Maynard, Joseph	Ogden, Catherine	Shaplin, Judson	Sullivan, John Briston	Sullivan, Edward
1957	Fitzgerald, James	Galluccio, Anthony	Hayes, Daniel	Ogden, Catherine	Shaplin, Judson	Sullivan, Edward	McNamara, Thomas
1959	Barnes, William	Fitzgerald, James	Galluccio, Anthony	Hayes, Daniel	Ogden, Catherine	Solomons, Gustave	Crane, Edward
1961	Ackermann, Barbara	Fitzgerald, James	Galluccio, Anthony	Maynard, Joseph	Olesen, George	Solomons, Gustave	Crane, Edward
1963	Ackermann, Barbara	Duehay, Francis	Fitzgerald, James	McMahon, Edward	Olesen, George	Solomons, Gustave	Crane, Edward
1965	Ackermann, Barbara	Duehay, Francis	Fitzgerald, James	McMahon, Edward	Olesen, George	Solomons, Gustave	Hayes, Daniel
1965.1 vacancy	Ackermann, Barbara	Duehay, Francis	Fitzgerald, James	Good, John A.P.	Olesen, George	Solomons, Gustave	Hayes, Daniel
1967	Clinton, Daniel	Duehay, Francis	Fitzgerald, James	Good, John A.P.	Solomons, Gustave	Wylie, David	Sullivan, Walter
1969	Butler, Lorraine	Duehay, Francis	Fantini, Donald	Fitzgerald, James	Maynard, Joseph	Wylie, David	Vellucci, Alfred
1971	Fantini, Donald	Fitzgerald, James	Gesell, Peter	Maynard, Joseph	Pierce, Charles	Wylie, David	Ackermann, Barbara
1973	Fitzgerald, James	Gesell, Peter	Koocher, Glenn	Maynard, Joseph	Pierce, Charles	Wolf, Alice	Sullivan, Walter
1975	Berman, Sara Mae	Fantini, Donald	Fitzgerald, James	Koocher, Glenn	Maynard, Joseph	Wolf, Alice	Vellucci, Alfred
1977	Berman, Sara Mae	Fantini, Donald	Holway, David	Koocher, Glenn	Maynard, Joseph	Wolf, Alice	Danehy, Thomas
1979	Attles, Henrietta	Berman, Sara Mae	Fantini, Donald	Koocher, Glenn	Maynard, Joseph	Wolf, Alice	Duehay, Francis
1981	Attles, Henrietta	Berman, Sara Mae	Fantini, Alfred	Koocher, Glenn	Maynard, Joseph	Sullivan, Jane	Vellucci, Alfred
1983	Cooper, Frances	Fantini, Alfred	Koocher, Glenn	Leib, Rena	Maynard, Joseph	Sullivan, Jane	Russell, Leonard
1983.1 vacancy	Cooper, Frances	Fantini, Alfred	Koocher, Glenn	Leib, Rena	Maynard, Joseph	Sullivan, Jane	Duehay, Francis
1985	Cooper, Frances	Fantini, Alfred	Garcia, Sara	Maynard, Joseph	Sullivan, Jane	Weinstein, Larry	Sullivan, Walter
1985.1 vacancy	Cooper, Frances	Fantini, Alfred	Garcia, Sara	Sullivan, Jane	Toomey, Tim	Weinstein, Larry	Sullivan, Walter
1987	Cooper, Frances	Davis, Henrietta	Fantini, Alfred	Rafferty, James	Toomey, Tim	Weinstein, Larry	Vellucci, Alfred
1989	Cooper, Frances	Davis, Henrietta	Fantini, Alfred	Rafferty, James	Vellucci, Alfred	Weinstein, Larry	Wolf, Alice
1991	Davis, Henrietta	Fantini, Alfred	Maher, David	Rafferty, James	Simmons, E. Denise	Weinstein, Larry	Reeves, Kenneth
1993	Davis, Henrietta	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Harris, Robin	Maher, David	Simmons, E. Denise	Reeves, Kenneth
1995	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Maher, David	Segat, Susana	Simmons, E. Denise	Turkel, Alice	Russell, Sheila
1997	Grassi, Joseph	Harris, Robin	Maher, David	Segat, Susana	Simmons, E. Denise	Turkel, Alice	Duehay, Francis
1999	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Segat, Susana	Simmons, E. Denise	Turkel, Alice	Walser, Nancy	Galluccio, Anthony
2001	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Harding, Richard	Price, Alan	Turkel, Alice	Walser, Nancy	Sullivan, Michael
2003	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Harding, Richard	Lummis, Ben	McGovern, Marc	Walser, Nancy	Sullivan, Michael
2005	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	Harding, Richard	Nolan, Patricia	Schuster, Luc	Walser, Nancy	Reeves, Kenneth
2007	Fantini, Alfred	Grassi, Joseph	McGovern, Marc	Nolan, Patricia	Schuster, Luc	Tauber, Nancy	Simmons, E. Denise
2009	Fantini, Alfred	Harding, Richard	McGovern, Marc	Nolan, Patricia	Tauber, Nancy	Turkel, Alice	Maher, David
2011	Fantini, Alfred	Harding, Richard	McGovern, Marc	Nolan, Patricia	Osborne, Mervan	Turkel, Alice	Davis, Henrietta
2013	Cronin, Fran Albin	Fantini, Alfred	Harding, Richard	Kelly, Kathleen	Nolan, Patricia	Osborne, Mervan	Maher, David
2015	Bowman, Manikka	Dexter, Emily	Fantini, Alfred	Harding, Richard	Kelly, Kathleen	Nolan, Patricia	Simmons, E. Denise
2017	Bowman, Manikka	Dexter, Emily	Fantini, Alfred	Kelly, Kathleen	Kimbrough, Laurance	Nolan, Patricia	McGovern, Marc
2019	Bowman, Manikka	Dexter, Emily	Fantini, Alfred	Rojas Villarreal, Jose Luis	Weinstein, Rachel	Wilson, Ayesha	Siddiqui, Sumbul
2019.1 vacancy	Bowman, Manikka	Fantini, Alfred	Rojas Villarreal, Jose Luis	Weinstein, David	Weinstein, Rachel	Wilson, Ayesha	Siddiqui, Sumbul
2021	Bhambi, Akriti	Fantini, Alfred	Rojas Villarreal, Jose Luis	Weinstein, David	Weinstein, Rachel	Wilson, Ayesha	Siddiqui, Sumbul

Recycling Updates - January 2022

New Big Belly Installations

In November & December, DPW installed 33 new Big Belly public area trash & recycle bins on Cambridge Street between Inman Square and Lechmere. This increases the total number of public area recycle bins by 26.

The new Big Belly units are part of the City Manager and DPW's efforts to better control rodent populations and increase recycling diversion.

Since 2018, the number of public area recycle bins has increased from 225 to 300. Furthermore, we have increased the number of permanent (as opposed to seasonal) public area recycle bins at parks. Together, this allows the City to increase recycling by approximately 15 tons per year.

Standardized Trash Cart

Stay tuned to our February newsletter where we plan to announce the first community meetings about the new City-provided trash carts. The standard trash carts will be provided to all residential households on the City's trash program beginning in Spring 2022.

Christmas Tree Collection & Clearing Snow to the Curb

Christmas tree collection will take place January 3-14, 2022. Simply place your bare tree at the curb next to trash, recycle and compost carts on your collection day.

REMEMBER: No tree stands, lights, tinsel, or other decorations on trees will be accepted. Bare trees only. No bags.

If you miss the curbside collection, you can bring your bare tree to the Recycling Center during open hours. The last day to drop-off a Christmas tree is Saturday, January 29, 2022.

During the winter, our collection crews need your help. Clearing snow from between your waste carts to the street is critical in helping our collection crews finish their work and get home safely.

Your Waste Collection Schedule for 2022

Did you know your personalized waste collection schedule is available online? Since 2018, each year we’ve posted the year's waste collection schedule on our website, including yard waste and Christmas tree collection dates, holiday delays, and household hazardous waste events. Visit CambridgeMA.Gov/Recycle to view or print your collection schedule. You can also sign up for waste collection reminders here.

While you’re on our website… check out the Get Rid of It Right lookup tool, the textiles and mattress scheduling tool, the street cleaning calendar and more!

Reduce & Reuse Tips

Tip #1: How to manage lithium-Ion batteries:
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can be found in smartphones, tablets, laptops, ear buds, toys, power tools, scooters, hoverboards and e-cigarettes. When a lot of pressure is applied (i.e. compaction from trash/recycle truck), the battery may short circuit and catch fire. There are several stories of recycling facilities catching fire due to improperly disposed of batteries. As a result of a fire at a Tulsa recycling facility, recycling had to be suspended until the facility was fixed. Please be mindful and drop-off any items containing lithium-Ion batteries at the Recycle Center.

Tip #2: Want to dive deep into a podcast on waste?
MassRecycle is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to promoting and realizing the vital environmental, social and economic benefits created by reducing, reusing and recycling waste materials, and by increasing the utilization of recycled products. Each month, MassRecycle generates a new podcast on a waste topic. Some of our favorites include:

• Gleaning: Saving and Sharing Food
• How to Recycle Plastic Bags
• Recycling Bin Rejects
• Simplify the Holidays & Reduce Waste

Upcoming Dates

• Mon, 1/3/22-1/14/22: Christmas tree recycling collection
• Sat, 1/29: Last day to drop-off Christmas tree at Recycle Center
• Fri, 4/1: Yard waste collection resumes
• Sat, 4/9: Household Hazardous Waste Day, Location TBD

Email us to share other waste-related events!

Join the Recycling Mailing List!

What Are We Reading?

Calif. targets food waste as climate issue (Associated Press)

How to Organize Your Fridge To Reduce Waste (NY Times)

Disposables to Reusables: Businesses Can Save $5B a Year (SustainableBrands)

Beyond reusing and recycling: How the US could actually reduce plastic production (Grist)