[ROLL CALL]
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IT'S FIVE 30 WITH A QUORUM BEING PRESENT.
I WANTED TO CALL TONIGHT'S SEPTEMBER 20, NOT 20 14TH, 2026, REGULAR MEETING OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL.
TO ORDER THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS PRESENT.
PRESENT, VICE PRESENT, COUNCILOR FLAHERTY.
HERE PRESENT, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN.
YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED AS PRESENT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IF YOU CAN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PER CHAPTER TWO OF THE ACTS OF 2025, ADOPTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE CITY IS AUTHORIZED TO USE REMOTE PARTICIPATION AT MEETINGS OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, WE'VE SET UP ZOOM TELECONFERENCE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN ALSO VIEW THE MEETING VIA THE CITY'S OPEN MEETING PORTAL OR ON THE CITY'S CABLE.
CHANNEL 22 TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MUST SIGN UP AT WWW.CAMBRIDGEMA.GOV/PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD TO THE CITY CLERK AT CITY CLERK@CAMBRIDGEMA.GOV.
WE WELCOME YOUR PARTICIPATION.
FOLKS USUALLY CAN SIGN UP UNTIL 5:30 PM PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDS THIS MEETING AND MAKES IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR FUTURE VIEWING.
IN ADDITION, THIRD PARTIES MAY ALSO BE AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING THIS MEETING.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE BODY? YES, COUNCILLOR NOLAN.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS LATER, BUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT AT THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE, OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 28TH, THERE WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT TAX RATE HEARING.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY DIDN'T GET NOTICE OF IT IN, IN TIME OR FELT THAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD BE HAPPENING AND THAT WILL BE AT THE SEPTEMBER 28TH, UH, MEETING, UH, IN THAT TAX RATE IS SET EVERY YEAR AND WILL IMPACT AND WE WILL, UH, UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE TO TELL BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TAX RATES.
WE HAVE COUNCILOR SIMMONS AND THEN COUNCILLOR ZI.
THIS WEEKEND WE HAD TWO FESTIVALS THAT WENT EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.
ONE WAS THE COSMOS AND DAMION COUNCIL.
FLAHERTY WAS THERE, IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
IT WAS VERY NICE, 101 YEARS OF CELEBRATING, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUT LOUD.
AND WE ALSO HAD THE CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL.
ANOTHER WONDERFUL EVENT IN THE RAIN.
UM, I HEAR THE RAIN MAKES THINGS GROW.
I'M NOT ANY TALLER, BUT I DID GET WET.
I THINK IT'S WORTHY TO JUST MENTION THAT BECAUSE SO MUCH WORK WENT INTO IT, AND SO, UH, THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE A CITY THAT ALLOWS THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE OPEN STUDIOS.
UM, BETWEEN, UH, 12 AND SIX ACROSS THE CITY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES, SEE THEIR ART, AND ALSO THERE'S DANAY PARK FAMILY DAY.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH OF THOSE EVENTS.
THERE'S ALSO A MEETING ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THE 17TH AT 6:00 PM ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THE BIKE LANES ON OUTER HURON, UM, ON OUTER HURON.
SO THAT WILL BE BY ZOOM ONLY AT 6:00 PM THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? I HAVE A QUICK ONE.
UH, SEPTEMBER IS MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR MONTH, AND SO ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, MY OFFICE, UH, WITH, UH, THE CAMBRIDGE PORT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND, UH, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS WE'RE HOSTING A CAT CAMBRIDGE CAT TOUR AND MEOW FEST.
SO IF YOU HAVE A CAT AND YOU'D LIKE TO SHOW YOUR CAT, UM, PLEASE REGISTER.
UH, YOU HAVE UNTIL, UM, THE END OF THIS WEEK AND THEN MEOW FEST, UH, WILL BE, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE TOUR.
THE TOUR STARTS AT TWO MEETING AT DANA PARK, AND THEN MEOW FEST WILL BE AFTER THE TOUR AND THERE'LL BE FREE FOOD RESOURCES, UH, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY HAS ALREADY SIGNED UP, SO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
UH, SO THOSE ARE IT FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
COMMENT MAY BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 30 A SECTION 20 G, AND CITY COUNCIL RULES 20 3D AND 37.ONCE YOU FINISH SPEAKING, THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE CALLED, INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO
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ALLOCATE THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TIME TO OTHER SPEAKERS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ON RIGHT NOW.WE HAVE 21 SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LAUREN CHUA, FOLLOWED BY ANI ABI.
LAUREN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE.
GO AHEAD, LAUREN, IF YOU CAN TURN THE MIC ON, JUST PRESS THE BUTTON AND YOU'LL SEE A GREEN LIGHT.
I AM AT 5 6 5 SOMERVILLE SOMERVILLE AVE IN SOMERVILLE.
UM, I AM EMPLOYED AT MIT AS A GRADUATE STUDENT, AND I'M SPEAKING TO, UH, POLICY ORDER.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNSELORS AND CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, AS PRESIDENT OF UE LOCAL 2 56, THE MIT GRADUATE STUDENT UNION THAT REPRESENTS THE 3000 GRADUATE WORKERS WHO TEACH AND DO RESEARCH AT MIT.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MIT AND THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THAT FUTURE THAT MIT SEEMS TO BE CHOOSING FROM THEIR ACTIONS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH US.
I FEAR WHAT THE FUTURE OF 3000 GRADUATE WORKERS IN CAMBRIDGE LOOKS LIKE WITHOUT A FAIR CONTRACT.
QUICKLY SET AND PACE THIS FALL.
WHEN WE STARTED NEGOTIATING WITH MIT IN APRIL, OUR MEMBERS UNITED AROUND THE VISION OF AN MIT.
THAT WAS A FAIR AND SECURE WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT WORKERS WOULD BE PROTECTED, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.
AND THEN MIT WOULD COMMIT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND IN POLICY TO ITS RESEARCHERS AND TEACHERS IN THE FACE OF FUNDING CUTS AND BROADER UNCERTAINTY AND HIGHER EDUCATION, A TAX ON INTERNATIONAL WORKERS, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND MORE.
INSTEAD, MIT HAS COME TO THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH CONCESSIONARY PROPOSALS REGARDING OUR UNION, OUR HEALTHCARE, AND INSTEAD, MIT HAS ALSO REFUSED TO COMMIT TO INTERNATIONAL WORKER, UH, PROTECTIONS.
WE, AS THE GRADUATE WORKERS WHO MAKE IT RUN, WANT TO SETTLE A FAIR AND JUST CONTRACT WHEN THAT MEETS THE MOMENT.
WE CANNOT HAVE A CONTRACT WITH CONCESSIONS.
WE CANNOT HAVE A CONTRACT WITHOUT STRONG INTERNATIONAL WORKER PROTECTIONS, AND WE CANNOT HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WEAKENS OUR UNION SECURITY AND WE CERTAINLY CAN'T HAVE ONE WITH HEALTHCARE.
THE BURDENS OF THAT COST ONTO WORKERS.
SO WE ARE CALLING ON MIT TO STOP TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES AND HEINOUS ATTACKS ON HIGHER EDUCATION IMMIGRANTS AND WORKING PEOPLE AS A WHOLE, AND TO RATHER WORK WITH ITS GRADUATE STUDENTS TO LOOK AFTER THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, WORKERS, FACULTY, AND STAFF ON CAMPUS, NOT THE WHIMS OF A BILLIONAIRE ADMINISTRATION.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS POLICY ORDER AND I HOPE YOU APPROVE IT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANI AVE, FOLLOWED BY BALTASAR DENNIS.
I'M A CAMBRIDGE RESIDENT AND A FIFTH YEAR PIECE.
I'M A FIFTH YEAR PHD STUDENT IN THE MATERIALS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT MIT.
UM, I'M ALSO THE RECORDING SECRETARY OF THE MIT GRAD STUDENT UNION.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF POLICY ORDER THREE.
UM, SO OUR FIRST UNION CONTRACT, WHICH EXPIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR, REALLY SECURED HISTORIC PROTECTIONS FOR GRAD WORKERS AT MIT SINCE ITS RATIFICATION IN 2023, FROM REAL RECOURSE FOR HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION TO CODIFIED HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS TO DE DENTAL INSURANCE.
UM, GRAD WORKERS GAINED RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS THAT THEY'D BEEN DENIED IN SOME CASES FOR DECADES.
AND THE REASON WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO ENFORCE ALL OF THOSE HARD FOUGHT PROTECTIONS IS BECAUSE WE WON A UNION SHOP AGREEMENT, WHICH MEANS GRAD WORKERS COVERED BY THE CONTRACT CONTRIBUTE DUES TO ENFORCE IT.
NOW WE'RE NEGOTIATING FOR OUR SECOND CONTRACT UNDER THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS ATTACKED UNIONS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS FROM THE OUTSET AND IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES, INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH THE GRAD STUDENTS WHO HELP MAKE MIT RUN, UH, THE MIT ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO THREATEN CUTS TO OUR PREVIOUS CONTRACT, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, INCLUDING THE CRITICAL UNION SHOP AGREEMENT THAT UNDERLIES THE STRENGTH OF OUR UNION.
WE KNOW THAT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS TO UNIONS AND UNIONIZED WORKERS WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR UNION SHOP, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S THE NORM.
AND RIGHT TO WORK STATES, RIGHT TO WORK LAWS WHICH ARE ROOTED IN THE SHAMEFUL LEGACY OF JIM CROW ARE THE SAME LAWS THAT MIT HAS CITED AS AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.
AND IF MIT SUCCEEDS IN UNDERCUTTING THE SECURITY OF A 3000 MEMBER UNION, OTHER EMPLOYERS WILL TAKE NOTE AND SEEK TO REPLICATE THEIR SUCCESS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY YOUR INTERVENTION TO CALL AN MIT TO REVERSE THESE CUTS TO UNION SHOP AND TO SETTLE A FAIR CONTRACT WILL HAVE CRITICAL IMPLICATIONS, NOT ONLY FOR OUR CONTRACT FIGHT, BUT FOR LABOR STANDARDS ACROSS CAMBRIDGE AND PERHAPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S WHY I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS POLICY ORDER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TSAR DENNIS, FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN LES TSAR.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I'M A RESIDENT AT 92 A GORE STREET IN EAST CAMBRIDGE.
UM, I'M ALSO AN INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE WORKER AT MIT COMING FROM PORTUGAL.
I CAME TO CAMBRIDGE THREE YEARS AGO AND I FELT VERY WELCOMED, LIKE THOUSANDS OF
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OTHER GRAD WORKERS IN THE AREA.HOWEVER, SINCE THE TIMES ARE DIFFERENT, WE ALL REMEMBER VERY VIVIDLY REMAINS OER BEING TAKEN FROM OUR STREETS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND WE KNOW HOW WE FELT.
THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER WALKING OUTTA THE HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT.
COMING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT WAS DIFFERENT.
CAMBRIDGE FELT DIFFERENT NATURALLY WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS BARGAINING CRC, UH, CYCLE.
WE HAD AS ONE OF OUR MAIN PRIORITIES, ENSHRINING STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS SO THAT ALL INTERNATIONAL WORKERS HAVE REAL GUARANTEES THAT WE CAN RELY ON.
WE HOPED AND EXPECTED THAT THIS WOULD BE A TOPIC OF GREATER ALIGNMENT WITH MIT, WHO SHOULD HAVE A SHARED CONCERN TO PROTECT HIS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
AT HIS TIME, WE WERE SURPRISED TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
IN PARTICULAR, WE PROPOSED STRICT RULES FOR SHARING DATA WITH THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRING LEGAL PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED.
WE PROPOSED REMOTE APPOINTMENT RULES THAT WOULD ALLOW, UH, GRAD WORKERS THAT WOULD BE STUCK OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY TO CONTINUE THEIR DEGREES.
WE PROPOSED AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH NEW FEES AND LEGAL EMERGENCIES, AND WE ASKED MIT NOT TO COOPERATE WITH ICE ON CAMPUS AND TO HAVE PROTOCOLS FOR THAT EVENTUALITY TO ALL OF THESE.
UM, MIT NOT ONLY REJECTED OUR PROPOSALS, BUT ALSO OFFERED NO MEANINGFUL COUNTERS LEAVING US TO RELY ON THEIR PROMISES ALONE.
BUT HOW CAN WE, IF THEY ARE, WILL UNWILLING TO CODIFY THOSE PROMISES IN OUR CONTRACT? UM, THIS HAS ALSO BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FOR INTERNATIONALS WITH THE CHANGES IN DURATION OF STATE RULE AND CHANGES TO THE CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING RULES THAT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO PURSUE INTERNSHIPS.
SO I URGE THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE POLICY ORDER AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BENJAMIN VALEZ, FOLLOWED BY KRISTEN PRIVOS.
THEN SUZANNE, ER BENJAMIN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HELLO, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN VALEZ.
I LIVE RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL AT 50 MAGAZINE STREET, AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF POLICY ORDER NUMBER THREE, CALLING ON MIT TO SETTLE ON A FAIR CONTRACT WITH ITS GRADUATE WORKERS.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF FOLKS IN THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES, THEIR HEALTHCARE NEEDS IS NOT WHAT IMMEDIATELY COMES TO MIND.
BUT I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH BOTH AS A BIOLOGIST AND AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES WITH A BUNCH OF DOCTORS, THAT PREVENTATIVE HEALTH IS CRUCIAL AND IS VERY MUCH IN THE FRONT OF MIND OF MIT GRAD STUDENTS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICALS AS STRESSFUL AND CHAOTIC PHD TIMELINES.
I MEAN, WE LITERALLY JUST HAD A SCARE INVOLVING A DANGEROUS CHEMICAL EXPOSURE TWO WEEKS AGO.
BUT EVEN KNOWING ALL OF THAT, MIT HAS DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE ITS OWN BOTTOM LINE OVER THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF ITS WORKERS.
ON MAY 11TH, MIT PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO UN UNILATERALLY MAKE OUR HEALTH COVERAGE WORSE WHENEVER THEY WANT.
FURTHER ON JULY 21ST, THEY CONFIRMED THEY'RE SEEKING THE POWER TO MOVE GUARANTEED BENEFITS WE ALREADY HAVE.
THIS IS THE SAME INSTITUTION WHOSE ENDOWMENT GREW BY 11.4% TO $27.4 BILLION LAST YEAR.
THE SAME INSTITUTION THAT PAID ITS FORMER PRESIDENT $1.8 MILLION LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NO LONGER PRESIDENT, WHILE IT'S, AND THEN IT ALSO, IT FURTHER PAID THEIR TOP 500 ADMINISTRATORS, A COMBINED TOTAL OF $13.7 MILLION COMBINED.
THE SAME INSTITUTION ALSO BOUGHT $3 MILLION WORTH OF AI CAMERAS LAST YEAR.
MOVING THESE COSTS, MOVING THE COST OF HEALTHCARE ONTO ITS WORKERS IS WHAT MIT HAS CHOSEN, BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO START CHOOSING BETWEEN OPTIONS LIKE SUFFERING THROUGH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND PAYING RENT.
THESE ARE NOT ABSTRACT ISSUES.
ACCORDING TO MIT'S OWN COST OF LIVING CALCULATOR, WE CURRENTLY MAKE ONLY 76% OF THE LIVING WAGE FOR BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE.
THIS PUTS US UNDER TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL STRAIN, ESPECIALLY IF OUR HEALTHCARE COSTS GO UP.
QUALITY HEALTHCARE IS A PRIORITY FOR EVERY MIT GRAD WORKER, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
SO TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, I WANNA URGE YOU GUYS TO, UM, VOTE FOR THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY IF ONE OF THE RICHEST UNIVERSITIES ON THE PLANET CAN'T HOLD THE STANDARD OF ENSURING THE FOLKS THAT ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO DO THEIR JOB, WHO CAN PLEASE, UH, HELP US HOLD 'EM ACCOUNTABLE BY CALLING ON THEM TO AGREE TO OUR REASONABLE PROPOSALS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTEN PRIVOS, FOLLOWED BY SUZANNE B THEN ANSEL GARCIA LANGLEY.
KRISTEN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I LIVE AT SEVEN LAWRENCE STREET HERE IN CAMBRIDGE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF POLICY ORDER NUMBER TWO.
I'M A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND A MEMBER OF THE PLATELET DISORDER SUPPORT ASSOCIATION FOR WHICH I RUN A SUPPORT GROUP FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN NEW ENGLAND.
I ALSO HAVE IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA OR I-T-P-I-T-P IS A RARE AUTOIMMUNE BLEEDING DISORDER IN WHICH THE BODY MISTAKENLY DESTROYS ITS OWN PLATELETS, THE CELLS THAT C CLOT OUR BLOOD.
AS A RESULT, PEOPLE WITH ITP CAN EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT BRUISING AND PROLONGED OR SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING, BUT THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS ARE REALLY ONLY ONE PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE WITH THIS DISEASE.
FOR MANY OF US, ITP IS MARKED BY FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND ISOLATION, WHICH IS WHY AWARENESS MATTERS SO MUCH.
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ITP HERE IN CAMBRIDGE TWO YEARS AGO, AND I FEEL INCREDIBLY PROUD AND LUCKY TO CALL THIS CITY HOME.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ACCESS TO EXCELLENT HEALTHCARE THAT
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ALLOWED ME TO RECEIVE A SWIFT DIAGNOSIS BEFORE I HAD A SERIOUS BLEEDING EVENT.IMPORTANTLY, CAMBRIDGE IS ALSO HOME TO SOME OF THE BIOPHARM COMPANIES WORKING ON THE INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE CHANGING WHAT LIFE WITH ITP CAN LOOK LIKE.
THE MEDICAL INNOVATION HAPPENING HERE HAS GIVEN PATIENTS LIKE ME OPTIONS, HOPE, AND IN MANY WAYS PIECES OF OUR LIVES BACK.
WHEN WE REQUEST A LIGHT CITY HALL PURPLE, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE IN CAMBRIDGE AND AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE LIVING QUIETLY WITH THIS RARE DISEASE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE WORKING EVERY DAY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND CHANGE THIS EXPERIENCE FOR US, FOR A CONDITION THAT CAN FEEL SO INVISIBLE AND ISOLATING.
SEEING THE HEART OF OUR CITY ILLUMINATED IN PURPLE ON SEPTEMBER 25TH WOULD SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS POLICY ORDER.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUZANNE B FOLLOWED BY ANSEL GARCIA LANGLEY.
IF YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UH, SUZANNE BLEIER FIVE FULLER PLACE, AND I'M GONNA SPEAK TO A COUPLE THINGS TONIGHT.
ONE IS I DO SUPPORT MIT STAFF AND WOULD HOPE THAT MIT WOULD ALSO BUILD MORE HOUSING FOR ITS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS.
THAT'S CRITICAL TO MIT ITSELF AND TO THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE.
SECONDLY, I REALLY SUPPORT WHATEVER YOU CAN DO WITH PERMITS OR OTHERWISE TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UH, MY FAMILY WERE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT.
AND, UH, THE STRUGGLES THAT THIS, THESE GROUPS ARE FACING IS CRITICAL.
AND THIS MIGHT INCLUDE EVEN PERMITTING, UM, LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HAVE SPACES IN PARKING AREAS OUTSIDE BANKS OR CANNABIS STORES JUST SO WE CAN FIND A PLACE FOR THEM.
'CAUSE THE LEASE COSTS ARE, ARE INSANELY EXPENSIVE IN HARVARD SQUARE AND ELSEWHERE.
FINALLY, I SUPPORT THE CITY MOVE AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION VIS-A-VIS THE PRESERVATION OF KEY PARTS OF OUR UNIVERSE, INCLUDING, UH, HERE IN THE STATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE LOSING POTENTIALLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT NATIVE AMERICAN AND OTHER, UH, PLACES.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ALSO.
I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT FINDING WAYS THAT WE AS A CITY CAN SUPPORT, UM, THE BROADER GROUP OF INTERESTS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS IS IMPORTANT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANSEL GARCIA LANGLEY, FOLLOWED BY SINA SERENA LAMB.
ANSEL, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI, MY NAME IS ANSEL GARCIA LANGLEY.
AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF POLICY ORDER THREE.
I WANT TO ADD TO WHAT MY FELLOW WORKERS HAVE ALREADY SHARED BY TALKING ABOUT WHAT OUR UNION MEANS TO ME IN PRACTICE.
AS A DEPARTMENT CHIEF STEWARD, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HELPING MY FELLOW GRAD WORKERS NAVIGATE CONFLICTS RELATED TO THE WORK WE DO AT MIT.
WE COME TO MIT BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR RESEARCH AND TEACHING.
MY OWN WORK IS ON SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO PROTECT COASTAL COMMUNITIES FROM INCREASINGLY SEVERE STORMS IN THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO WORK IN AN AMAZING LAB WITH A FANTASTIC ADVISOR, BUT NOT EVERYONE GETS SO LUCKY.
THROUGH MY WORK AS A STEWARD, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN GRAD WORKERS ARE UNJUSTLY KICKED FROM THE RESEARCH POSITIONS, WHICH IS WHY PROTECTIONS LIKE JUST CAUSE ARE SO FUNDAMENTAL.
GRAD WORKERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON LUCK OR HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH AN INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISOR TO KNOW THAT THEY'LL BE TREATED FAIRLY.
OUR CONTRACT IS WORKERS' RIGHTS, A PROCESS AND SOMEONE STANDING BESIDE THEM WHEN THEY NEED SUPPORT.
BUT THERE'S AN IRONY IN MY STANDING HERE TODAY.
I'M CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH A FELLOWSHIP, ALTHOUGH I DO THE SAME GRAD RESEARCH, WORK ALONG THE SAME COLLEAGUES AND HELP OTHER GRAD WORKERS EXERCISE THEIR CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.
AS A FELLOW, I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MANY OF THOSE SAME PROTECTIONS MYSELF DUE TO MIT'S FELLOW EXCLUSION.
OUR UNION IS FIGHTING TO INCLUDE FELLOWS LIKE ME IN THESE PROTECTIONS.
BUT MI T IS VEHEMENTLY VEHEMENTLY REFUSED TO EVEN DISCUSS OR INCLUSION.
WHETHER A GRAD WORKER HAS BASIC WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON THE SOURCE OF THEIR FUNDING.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS POLICY ORDER THREE AND STAND WITH US IN DEMANDING A FAIR CONTRACT THAT PROTECTS ALL GRAD WORKERS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SINA SRI LAMB.
APOLOGIES IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME, FOLLOWED BY VALERIE BONDS, THEN DANIEL SHEN SINA.
MY ADDRESS IS 64 WILLOW STREET IN CAMBRIDGE.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MIT GRADUATE STUDENT UNION, AND I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF POLICY ORDER.
ACCORDING TO MIT'S OWN LIVING WAGE CALCULATOR, GRADUATE WORKERS EARN 75% OF THE LIVING WAGE IN CAMBRIDGE.
THAT MEANS THAT MANY OF US THAT WORK AT MIT CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY WITHOUT MAKING SACRIFICES ON OTHER ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES, OUR SAVINGS, OUR FUTURE, OUR HEALTH.
THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY EVER INCREASING HOUSING COSTS, EVEN IN MIT'S OWN GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING, WHICH HAS INCREASED IN AVERAGE OF 4% EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
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HAS PROPOSED RAISES THAT MATCH THE COST OF LIVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR, FOR OUT-OF-POCKET HEALTHCARE EXPENSES, FULLY FUNDED DEPENDENT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.AND FOR THIS TO BE COVERED BY MIT'S CONSIDERABLE, CONSIDERABLE ENDOWMENT, THIS WOULD BRING GRAD WORKERS TO A LIVING WAGE AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN RETURN, MIT HAS OFFERED US A MEASLY RAISE OF 2.75% IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 2.5% THE YEAR AFTER, WHICH WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE PAY CUT IN COMPARISON TO THE RATE OF INFLATION.
BEYOND THAT, MIT HAS ALSO PROPOSED STRIKING OUR NO REDUCTION IN PAY CLAUSE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW MIT TO UNILATERALLY REDUCE ALL STIPENDS TO THE GENERAL MINIMUM AS AN ACTUAL PAY CUT.
MIT HAS REJECTED ALL ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS, ARGUING THAT OUR PROPOSALS WOULD COMPROMISE THE STABILITY OF THEIR $27 BILLION ENDOWMENT.
OUR PROPOSALS WOULD ONLY BE 0.6% OF MIT'S TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET.
WE ARE CALLING ON MIT TO SUPPORT ITS GRADUATE WORKERS, THE BASIS OF MIT'S TEACHING AND RE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE.
AND THE REASON WHY MIT IS THE RESPECTED SUCCESSFUL INSTITUTION THAT IT IS TODAY.
GRADUATE WORKERS ALSO DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE IN THE CITY THAT WE ALL WORK.
THAT IS WHY I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS POLICY ORDER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VALERIE BONDS, FOLLOWED BY DANIEL SHEN, THEN ZAMIRA JOHNSON.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
I LIVE AT A 12 MEMORIAL DRIVE HERE IN CAMBRIDGEPORT AND I SUPPORT THE, UH, UNIONS.
UH, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT UNIONS ARE IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES.
I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT SOME CHEMICALS THAT ARE BEING TESTED AT MIT EXPOSE THEIR WORKERS AND I'M WONDERING WHAT OUR CITY IS DOING TO PROTECT ITS, UH, MEMBERS, ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ANY OF THESE CHEMICAL RESEARCHERS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AT, UM, MIT.
I CERTAINLY SUPPORT, UH, TURNING LIGHTS ON PURPLE, UH, AND I SUPPORT THE, UM, CONTROL OF FIREWORKS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CITY.
UH, ANY ILLEGAL FIREWORKS THAT ARE EXPOSING ANY AREA OF OUR CITY, NOT JUST AREA FOUR, BUT OTHER AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHERE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ARE TAKING PLACE.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO, UH, SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAROLYN HUNTER.
UH, A RECOGNIZED, UM, CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEE, A SUPERIOR, UH, EDUCATOR AT CAMBRIDGE AND LATIN HIGH SCHOOL AND A A WELL-KNOWN ADVOCATE, UH, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS FOR CAMBRIDGE.
I REALLY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA REGARDING HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY OR EDUCATION OR SENIOR HEALTH, BUT I DO, UH, THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DANIEL SHUN, FOLLOWED BY, UH, JOHNSON.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE WAITING, DANIEL, TWO MINUTES PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I LIVE AT 20 CORNELIUS WAY OVER IN KENDALL.
I'M ALSO THE CHIEF STEWARD FOR THE MIT GRADUATE STUDENT UNION, UM, AND ALSO A GRADUATE STUDENT WORKER AT MIT.
I'M SPEAKING TO POLICY ORDER THREE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH MIT SINCE MAY OF THIS YEAR, AND SEVERAL KEY ISSUES REMAIN ON THINGS LIKE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS AND OUR WORKPLACE RIGHTS.
BUT I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO USE THIS TIME TO SPEAK TO OUR UNION SHOP AS, UM, PREVIOUS SPEAKER ANI ALSO SPOKE TO.
SO I'VE BEEN AT MIT FOR A WHILE AND I ORGANIZED WITH HUNDREDS OF WORKERS FIVE YEARS AGO TO FORM OUR UNION.
IN AN ELECTION WE WON THAT VOTE TWO TO ONE.
THERE WERE OVER 1700 GRAD WORKERS THAT VOTED YES TO FORM OUR UNION, AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY WERE ABLE TO WIN A SONG CONTRACT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIT HELD OUT THEN DURING THAT FIRST SET OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AS THEY ARE NOW, IS THIS QUESTION OF UNION SHOP.
UM, TO REITERATE, UNION SHOP IS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYONE IN THE UNION BENEFITS FROM THE CONTRACT AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS A UNION.
AND SO EVERYONE CHIPS IN TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FUNCTIONING ORGANIZATION THAT CAN DEFEND OUR WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND OUR DEMOCRACY.
THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO PLACES WITH AN OPEN SHOP WHERE DUES PAYMENT IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY AND UNIONS, UH, ARE SUBSEQUENTLY MUCH WEAKER FOR THAT.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING, FRANKLY, THAT MIT KEEPS MAKING US RE-LITIGATE THIS QUESTION EVERY THREE YEAR, THREE YEARS WHEN OUR CONTRACT IS UP FOR RENEGOTIATION AND IT'S REALLY UNDEMOCRATIC AND FRANKLY ALIGNED WITH SOME OF THE WORST EXCESSES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO UNDERMINE THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS AND THEIR VOICE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
OUR MEMBERS ARE READY TO STRIKE TO WIN A FAIR CONTRACT IF MIT CONTINUES TO STALL AND REFUSE TO SETTLE A FAIR AGREEMENT THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE A STRONG UNION TO SUPPORT OUR UNION SHOP, UM, IN A CONTRACT WITH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THOUSANDS OF GRAD
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WORKERS AND, UH, TEACHING AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AT MIT.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING OUR CONTRACT CAMPAIGN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE PICKET LINE IF IT COMES DOWN TO IT AND WE HAVE TO GO ON STRIKE.
UH, FINALLY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE, OUR, UH, FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR OUR UNION AND SHOUT OUT AS WELL TO SEIU 30 T BJ WHO REPRESENTS THE FACILITIES WORKERS, MIT WHO ARE ALSO NEGOTIATING FOR A FAIR CONTRACT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ZAMIRA OR ZA I'M APOLOGIES IF I'M MIS MISPRONOUNCING JOHNSON.
I'M AT 27 RE STREET, JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM HERE.
AND I'M A THIRD YEAR PHD STUDENT AND GRAD WORKER AT MIT.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF POLICY ORDER THREE, BUILDING ON THE WONDERFUL POINTS THAT MY COWORKERS HAVE MADE US AS GRAD WORKERS COME TO MIT AND MOVE TO CAMBRIDGE TO DO EXEMPLARY RESEARCH AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE OF EDUCATION AND ADVANCEMENT THAT CAMBRIDGE AS A CITY IS CONNECTED TO.
AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE COME HERE TO BECOME LABOR LAWYERS, BUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND OVER THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF OUR UNION, MIT AS AN ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE AND UNHEALTHY TO BE A GRAD STUDENT AT MIT.
AND THEN THEY TRIED TO PUNISH US AND DISRESPECT US FOR ASKING FOR RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION AS THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE MIT WHAT IT IS.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONVEY PLAINLY HOW MUCH EFFORT EVERY GRAD WORKER HERE HAS PUT IN TO GO THROUGH THE BARGAINING PROCESS AND HOW LITTLE RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION MIT HAS GIVEN US.
AND MIT WANTS TO USE OUR STATUS AS STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS.
I WANT TO CONVEY PLAINLY HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CARE ABOUT WORKERS' RIGHTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR CITY TAKE EVERY ACTION THAT THEY CAN TO DEMONSTRATE VISIBLE SOLIDARITY WITH M-I-T-G-S-U.
BECAUSE IF MIT HAS THEIR WAY WITH TAKING OUR RIGHTS AWAY, IT WILL SPREAD TO EVERY OTHER MAJOR RESEARCH INSTITUTION IN CAMBRIDGE.
AND OUR UNIONS ARE ENDEAVORING TO TAKE THE TANGIBLE ACTION TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS INJUSTICE.
AND I HOPE THAT CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE MOVES TO STAND WITH US.
I THINK YOU'RE NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL PLUMMER, FOLLOWED BY MARYLEE MEYER.
RACHEL, TWO MINUTES PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I'M A RESIDENT AT 10 WENDELL STREET AND I'M THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT CAMBRIDGE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE OR CEOC.
AND I'M TESTIFYING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF POLICY ORDER 12 AND THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
AT CEOC, WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF FEDERAL CHANGES TO THE SNAP PROGRAM, EXPANDED WORK REQUIREMENTS, LIMIT LIMITS TO IMMIGRANT ELIGIBILITY, MORE PAPERWORK, AND A GREATER SHARE OF COST DUMPS ONTO STATES HAVE CAUSED MANY RESIDENTS TO LOSE THEIR SNAP BENEFITS SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR.
SNAP PARTICIPATION HAS DECLINED 15% IN CAMBRIDGE.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP, BUT JUST COULD NOT BREAK THROUGH THE RED TAPE AND PAPERWORK BURDEN.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE SAME CHANGES ARE GOING INTO EFFECT FOR MASS HEALTH IN THE COMING MONTHS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLICATED WORK REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
NEW IMMIGRATION STATUS RESTRICTIONS WILL ALSO BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE STATE.
200,000 RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO LOSE THEIR MASS HEALTH COVERAGE.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THE CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WE ARE STANDING UP A COALITION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT'LL BE MOBILIZED TO RESPOND TO THIS CRISIS TO KEEP AS MANY PEOPLE ON SNAP AND MASS HEALTH AS POSSIBLE.
WE HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THE CITY MANAGER.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
AND ON POLICY ORDER 12, WE ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO URGE THE HEALY DRISCOLL ADMINISTRATION TO HIRE ADDITIONAL CASEWORKERS AT DTA.
NOT ONLY HAVE THE FEDERAL CHANGES I MENTIONED MADE MAINTAINING SNAP BENEFITS MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, BUT THE UNDERSTAFFING AT DTA, THE STATE AGENCY THAT ADMINISTERS SNAP HAS MADE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE AGENCY NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.
ONLY 30% OF CALLS ON A GIVEN DAY GET THROUGH TO DTA.
SO PLEASE SUPPORT POLICY ORDER NUMBER 12.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARYLEE MEYER, FOLLOWED BY TINA OU, THEN ELAINE ZA MARYLEE.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI, MARYLEE MEYER 10 DANA STREET, AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO WISH, UH, CAROLYN HUNTER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, PLEASE SUPPORT THE NATIONAL, HIS, UH, HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT, WHICH IS BEING DISMANTLED TO ALLOW TRUMP'S VANITY PRODUCTS OF PROJECTS AS HE DESTROYS OUR MATERIAL CULTURE AND WORLD IDENTITY.
WHILE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES IN OUR NA UM, NATION'S CAPITAL, INDEED EVERYWHERE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN, UM, OUR OVERSIGHT OF, UM, MULTI ERA MULTICULTURAL STORIES, REMINDING AMERICANS WHERE THEY COME CAME FROM AND HOW PATTERNS GREW IN THIS 250TH YEAR.
THOSE THAT, UM, INCLUDE NATIVE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN AND EVEN A SMITHSONIAN, IT IS TERRIFYING, UM, HOW FAST THE PRESIDENT
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IS IGNORING PROTOCOL AND NATIONAL GUIDELINES.OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY, UM, UM, AFFECTING OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY, IDENTITY, UH, WITHOUT RESPECT, COMPROMISE OR NUANCE, NOT SUPPORTING THE BASIC GUIDE, UM, GUARDRAILS AS TANTAMOUNT TO BEING TONE DEAF IN ITS IMPLICATIONS THAT YOU DON'T MIND THE DAMAGE OF THE REFLECTING POOL, THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EAST WING, THE ARCH BLOCKING THE, UM, LINCOLN MEMORIAL WITHOUT PERMITS BROUGHT PERMISSION OR VIEW THAT YOU DON'T MIND GILDED STATUES, THE ROADS GARDENS REPLACED BY A TERRORIST WITHOUT CHECKING WITH THE CARETAKERS.
PLEASE EDUCATE THE TONE DEAF, SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION ACT.
ONCE LANDMARKS ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE FOR GOOD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TINA OU, FOLLOWED BY ELAINE OSA, THEN HANNAH MUELLER.
MY NAME IS TINA OU AND I LIVE AT ONE 13 AND A HALF PLEASANT STREET.
I'M TESTIFYING TONIGHT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CEOC TO SPEAK ON A FEW ITEMS. FIRST ON CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER TWO, REGARDING THE FEDERAL CHANGES TO SNAP AND MASS HEALTH.
WE KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LOST THEIR SNAP BENEFITS BECAUSE OF CONFUSION OVER REQUIREMENTS, FEAR OF APPLYING OR RENEWING DUE DUE TO IMMIGRATION STATUS AND THE ALL MOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK OF GETTING THROUGH TO DTA.
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE GOING FORWARD UNLESS WE IMPLEMENT A LARGE SCALE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, ALONG WITH ACCESSIBLE HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME THE BARRIERS.
ADDITIONALLY, CHANGES TO MASS HEALTH FOCUSED ON IMMIGRATION STATUS AND NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS STARTING IN JANUARY WILL BE ANOTHER BLOW TO SO MANY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
CEOC HAS BEEN WORKING ON THESE ISSUES FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S TOO LARGE AN AN EFFORT ENDEAVOR TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT ALONE.
WHEN THE CITY MANAGER REACHED OUT TO OFFER CITY RESOURCES AND THE CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION JOINED IN, WE KNEW THAT WE COULD CONDUCT THE KIND OF EFFORT NECESSARY TO LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.
LAST TUESDAY, WE CONVENED A MEETING WHERE OVER 30 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION AND CITY DEPARTMENT STAFF CAME FORWARD TO ASK WHAT THEY COULD DO.
THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO FIGHT BACK AND SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLES AND KEEP THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT WILL TAKE RESOURCES FOR STAFFING MATERIALS TO DO THIS, AND WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THAT.
I'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO PLEASE VOTE TO ACCEPT THE CPA'S COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO KEEP THE FUNDING FORMULA AT 80% FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND LASTLY, ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT POLICY ORDER NUMBER 12 TO ENCOURAGE GOVERNOR HEALY TO PRIORITIZE THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL DTA WORKERS SO THAT THE LOG JAM OF CALLS AND REQUESTS CAN BE PROCESSED IN A TIMELY FASHION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH IC, FOLLOWED BY MINUS PATEL, THEN CHRISTOPHER CASA HANNAH.
I THOUGHT I WAS SKIPPING SOMEONE.
ELAINE OSA FOLLOWED BY HANNAH ELAINE.
I LIVE AT FORT PLEASANT PLACE.
I'M SPEAKING TO TWO OF THE CITY MANAGER'S ITEMS. AS A MEMBER OF THE C UH, COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CPA RECOMMENDATION TO MAINTAIN ITS AFFORDABLE FUNDING FORMULA AT 80% AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 10% HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND 10% OPEN SPACE THIS YEAR.
THE CPA STAFF, AGAIN CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE OUTREACH AND RECEIVED MANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE OVERWHELMING RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS WERE TO MAINTAIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 80%.
THE CPA COMMITTEE ALSO HEARD FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS PROPOSALS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE, WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT ARE PRESENTED IN TONIGHT'S REPORT.
AND THEY REPRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, CITYWIDE PROGRAMMING, WHICH I THINK YOU'LL FIND INTERESTING.
THE OTHER ITEM I WANNA JOIN WITH CEO CS, THE CHAIR OF THE CAMBRIDGE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD TO URGE THE SUPPORT FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION ON THE $500,000 FOR THE COORDINATED CITYWIDE RESPONSE TO THE NEW FEDERAL CHANGES WHOSE SOLE GOAL IS TO CREATE BURDENS AND CONFUSE AND DISCOURAGE ELIGIBLE PEOPLE FROM APPLYING FOR SERVICES THAT THEY REQUIRE.
THIS WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CAMBRIDGE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AS IT WILL BE TO EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH MAIK, FOLLOWED BY VENICE PATEL, THEN CHRISTOPHER CASA.
I'M A GRADUATE WORKER AT MIT AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF CAMBRIDGE FOR EIGHT OR NINE YEARS NOW.
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26 PORTER ROAD IN PORTER SQUARE.I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF POLICY ORDER NUMBER THREE.
I WAS AT MIT, UM, BEFORE WE HAD A FIRST UNION CONTRACT.
AND WHEN WE WON AN EXCELLENT FIRST CONTRACT, IT ABSOLUTELY TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF ALL STUDENTS AT MIT STUDENTS ARE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, SAFER, AND SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY IN A CITY WITH A VERY COST, VERY HIGH COST OF LIVING AS WE ALL KNOW.
UM, NOW THREE YEARS LATER, WE'RE NEGOTIATING OUR SECOND CONTRACT AND SINCE DAY ONE, IT'S BEEN CLEAR THAT MIT WANTS TO TAKE THIS AWAY FROM US EVERY MONTH.
THIS SUMMER, MITT HAS ONLY OFFERED US TWO, TWO HOUR LONG SESSIONS OF BARGAINING EACH MONTH.
AND MIT HAS MADE IT CLEAR TO US THAT THEY DON'T WANT A CONTRACT, THEY DON'T RESPECT OUR WORKERS AND OUR CHOICE TO STAY UNIONIZED WORKERS.
AS WE'VE SEEN WITH OUR UNION SIBLINGS AS CIU 32 BJ REPRESENTING THE FACILITIES WORKERS ON CAMPUS, MIT HAS CHOSEN TO CLAIM ITS INABILITY TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING CUTS AND PRESSURES ON THEIR MULTIMILLION BILLION, MULTI-BILLION, SORRY, B BILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENT.
UM, MIT WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR UNION SHOP, REPLACING IT WITH AN OPEN SHOP THIS WOULD SLASH THE SIZE OF OUR UNION AND SLASH THE AMOUNT OF UNIONIZED WORKERS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE.
WHEN WE FIRST WON OUR UNION SHOP THREE YEARS AGO, IT SET A PRECEDENT, UM, ACROSS THE CITY, THE STATE, AND THE NATION.
AND IF WE LOSE UNION SHOP, IT WILL SIMILARLY SET, UM, A PRECEDENT THAT WILL WEAKEN UNIONS HERE AND EVERYWHERE.
MANY OF THE WORKERS IN CAMBRIDGE ARE MIT GRADUATE STUDENTS.
UM, MANY OF THEM ARE GRADUATE WORKERS AT OTHER PLACES, AND MANY OF THEM ARE WORKERS IN GENERAL OR JUST UNIONIZED WORKERS IN GENERAL.
AND I HOPE YOU HELP US FIGHT FOR ALL OF THEM TODAY.
THANK YOU AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE AND HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY LAUREN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NESS PATEL, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTOPHER CASSA.
THEN KENNETH REEVES NESS HAS NOT JOINED.
CHRIS CASSA, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
FIRST I WANNA WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAROLYN HUNTER.
UH, EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T MET HER, I REALLY RESPECT HER WORK AND FOR ADVOCACY, MISS THE APARTHEID MOVEMENT AND ALSO HER WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.
UM, BUT I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ABOUT, UH, CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA ITEM RELATED TO THE DECREASE IN TRAFFIC CITATIONS OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND SPECIFICALLY HOW IT RELATES TO OUR WORK TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR PEOPLE TO WALK AND BIKING CAMBRIDGE.
UM, MUCH OF THE CITY'S WORK ON ROAD SAFETY HAS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL DESIGN OF THE STREETS, MAKING IT SAFER TO CROSS IN A CROSSWALK, BUILDING PROTECTED BIKE LANES, BUILDING BETTER INTERSECTIONS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN THOUGH THOSE ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED, WHEN THOSE ARE FINISHED, THEY CAN STILL BE OBSTRUCTED BY DANGEROUS DRIVERS WHO ARE EITHER GOING INTO THEM OR BLOCKING THEM.
AND THAT WORK REALLY NEEDS TO BE, UM, ENFORCED.
WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STAYING OUTTA THOSE FACILITIES AND THAT THEY'RE RESPECTING THE RULES OF THE ROAD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE ON OUR STREETS.
UM, PART OF THE WORK THAT I DO IN THE GROUP IS I READ A LOT OF THE EMAILS THAT WE GET AND WE RE YOU KNOW, WE ROUTINELY RECEIVE EMAILS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD FRIGHTENING CLOSE CALLS.
THEY OFTEN INVOLVE A LOVED ONE, A PARTNER, A CHILD THAT THEY WERE BIKING WITH, AND THAT IT IS JUST REALLY DISTRESSING TO RECEIVE THOSE.
WE, WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS WRITE TO US SAYING THEY'VE SEEN DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR HAPPEN IN FRONT OF A POLICE OFFICER AND THAT THE POLICE OFFICER DIDN'T RESPOND AND THEY'RE REALLY UPSET ABOUT IT.
UH, AND OF COURSE THE HARDEST MESSAGES COME FROM PEOPLE WHO, WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY SERIOUS CASH, EITHER, UH, GRIEVING COMMUNITY OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TAKE THIS BACK TO THIS SPECIFIC, UM, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
WE SAW THERE'S A 57% DECREASE AND IN, IN THE CITATIONS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACTUALLY GET THIS BACK ON TRACK AND ENFORCE THE RULES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE OUT THERE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KENNETH REEVES, FOLLOWED BY HEATHER HOFFMAN AND SAM RODRIGUEZ.
KEN REEVES, THREE 40 HARVARD STREET, PRESIDENT OF THE CAMBRIDGE NACP, AS WELL AS A TAXPAYER.
UM, MY COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE RELATIVE TO ZONING AND ZONING AMENDMENT, WHEREVER THEY APPEAR IN YOUR AGENDA.
UH, THERE IS GREAT CONCERN THAT THE MULTIFAMILY ZONING, WHICH HAS PASSED THROUGHOUT THE CITY,
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IS HAVING OUTCOMES THAT WERE NOT ANTICIPATED.MANY OF US THOUGHT, WELL, IT'S BAD, BUT MAYBE THEY'LL BUILD IT BEHIND THE HOUSE.
WE DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GONNA TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE AND GIVE US A WHOLE NEW VILLAGE.
AND SO, UH, URBAN RENEWAL WAS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THIS ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT.
SO THERE IS A GREAT DESIRE FOR REVIEW AND, AND, AND FOR, UH, ADDRESSING THE OUTCOMES BEFORE THEY DESTROY US COMPLETELY.
I CAN BE DRAMATIC, BUT THIS IS NOT, UH, FUNNY DRAMA.
THIS IS REAL DRAMA BECAUSE WE ARE IMPACTING THE BASIC REALITIES OF OUR CITY IN THE NAME OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHO THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GOING TO.
AND, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WE'RE DESTROYING WHAT WE HAVE.
AND SO I JUST WOULD IMPLORE ALL OF THE COUNSELORS TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE IMPACTS TO ZONING, THAT OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TENDS NOT TO LET THE COUNSELORS KNOW THAT ONCE YOU LET CERTAIN CATS OUT THE BAG, THAT IT IS ALL OVER.
AND WE'RE FEELING THAT WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NOT THE GREATEST AWARENESS OF THIS.
THE OTHER THING, ON BEHALF OF THE N-A-A-C-P, YOU KNOW, THE CAMBRIDGE, UH, CENSUS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS HAS BEEN GOING DOWN YEAR BY YEAR.
AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIS ZONING ON THE AFRICAN MARY COMMUNITY IS EXTRAORDINARY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEATHER HOFFMAN, AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER WILL BE SAM RODRIGUEZ.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HELLO, HEATHER HOFFMAN, TWO 13 HURLEY STREET.
LET ME AGREE WITH THE PRECEDING SPEAKER, UM, AND ALSO WITH A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHAT MARYLEE MEYER SAID ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT, WHAT RACHEL PLUMMER SAID ABOUT SNAP AND MASS HEALTH.
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE DAY, LIKE HAVING FOOD.
UM, A DIFFERENT THING THAT'S ON THE, THE AGENDA SAYING WE CAN'T DO IT IS HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER PEOPLE CAN PEE.
I WILL GIVE THE FOUNDRY AS AN EXAMPLE OF A PLACE THAT IS FULL OF GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS THAT SEEM TO WORK.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ZA ABOUT PAULA CRANE.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME SAY HOW MUCH RESPECT I HAVE FOR THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT YOU COULDN'T GET ANYBODY ELSE TO BE INTERESTED IN, UM, IN RUNNING SUCH A FINE OFFICE.
BUT I AM VERY GLAD THAT MS. CRANE IS WILLING TO DO IT.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE CPA IN GENERAL, I LIKE THE CHOICES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN OPEN SPACE.
I'M KIND OF AMAZED THAT THEY'RE EVEN IN CAMBRIDGE SO OFTEN THEY AREN'T ESPECIALLY OPEN SPACE.
AND, UM, WITH RESPECT TO A COUPLE OF THINGS TALKING ABOUT BELONGING AND COMMUNITY MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR MONTH AND, UM, AND SUCH, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT, AND THIS IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH ALL OF THE STUFF IN THE LITIGATION THAT YOU CONTINUE TO TOUT ABOUT TREATING PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE SAM RODRIGUEZ, FOLLOWED BY JAMES WILLIAMSON, THEN DAN TOTTEN.
SAM, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS SAMUEL GOMES RODRIGUEZ JR.
EMPLOYEE OF NORTHEAST SECURITY AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, A MEMBER OF 32 B-J-S-E-I-U.
MY FELLOW WORKERS AND I ARE CURRENTLY BARGAINING A CONTRACT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE WISH TO BE TREATED NOT AS TOOLS, BUT AS HUMAN BEINGS.
WE ARE HERE TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE ARE DEMANDING OF OUR BOSSES, THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHT OF HEALTHCARE AND THE DIGNITY OF RECEIVING AN INCREASED LIVABLE WAGE.
ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CITY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH OUR UNIONS ARE BASED HAVE ALREADY
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RECEIVED HEALTHCARE, FULLY PAID FOR BY THE BOSSES AND INCREASED WAGES.I ASK WHY ARE WE DEAD LAST TO RECEIVE THESE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS? DO WE NOT WORK AS HARD AS THIS AS OUR SECURITY COMRADES ACROSS THE NATION? DO WE NOT ALL HAVE FAMILIES WE WISH TO LOVE AND TO CARE FOR? DO WE NOT ALL HAVE OUR OWN HEALTH TO WORRY ABOUT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD, TO CARE FOR OUR CLIENTS AND TO CONTINUE TO LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES? THE ANSWER IS YES.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING PAYCHECK, TO PAYCHECK AND HAND TO MOUTH DUE TO LOW UNLIVABLE WAGES.
WE SAY NO MORE TO SKIPPING TRIPS TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AND FUNDS.
WE SAY NO MORE TO HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN.
WE EITHER TO PAY FOR BILLS, RENT, GROCERIES, OR MEDICATION.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING WITHOUT HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THEY IS CHEAPER TO LIVE WITH CHRONIC PAIN.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING WITHOUT HEALTHCARE BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER TO LIVE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING WITHOUT HEALTHCARE BECAUSE IT IS CHEAPER TO LIVE WITH DISEASE.
WE SAY NO MORE TO LIVING WITHOUT HEALTHCARE BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER TO DIE.
AND WE ASK, WILL YOU STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH US AND HELP US FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS AND OUR DIGNITY BY VOTING FOR POLICY ORDER ONE.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW SECURITY, SECURITY OFFICERS, AIRPORT WORKERS, AND MYSELF.
YOU SEND US THE REMAINDER IF YOU HAVE ANY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES WILLIAMSON, FOLLOWED BY DAN TOTTEN.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, FIRST OF ALL ON THE POLICY ORDER, I THINK IT IS, THAT'S PROPOSING TO, UH, ELECT THE MAYOR.
I REALLY WISH YOU ALL WOULD GET SERIOUS ABOUT SHIFTING POWER AND, UH, AND, UH, CONSIDER ELECTING THE CITY MANAGER.
UM, AT, AT LEAST DO THE THOUGHT EXPERIMENT.
WHY DON'T WE ELECT THE CITY MANAGER? UH, THE WHOLE, UH, CHARTER REFORM PROCESS WAS, I BELIEVE, RIGGED TO AVOID, UH, A A SERIOUS, UH, STEP TOWARDS SHIFTING POWER TOWARD THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
SO WE REMAIN WITH WE, WE REMAIN WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
HOW ABOUT WE ELECT THE CITY MANAGER? THINK ABOUT IT.
UM, THE, THE OTHER THING, THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO SPEAK TO OTHER THAN THAT IS THE, UH, CITATIONS ISSUE.
THE REAL PROBLEM AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND I'M OUT IN THE CITY ALL THE TIME, IS THE LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF RULES FOR BICYCLISTS.
UM, THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS SITUATION IN THIS CITY JUST OUTSIDE AN ELDERLY DISABLED BUILDING.
IN NORTH CAMBRIDGE WHERE I LIVE, THERE IS A, UH, AN AN, AN INTERSECTION WITH A DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN PHASE.
IT'S OPPOSITE CHURCHILL AVE IN NORTH CAMBRIDGE ON NORTH MASS AVE.
I HAVE NEVER ONCE SEEN A BICYCLIST EVER STOP AT THAT RED LIGHT.
UM, WHEN, WHEN IT'S IN THE PEDESTRIAN PHASE, JUST A HALF A BLOCK FROM AN ELDERLY DISABLED BUILDING WITH LIKE 198 UNITS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THERE IS ZERO ENFORCEMENT AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THE DATA THAT REALLY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ENFORCEMENT OF RULES FOR BICYCLISTS IN THE CITY.
NOW, MAYBE P POLICE OFFICERS COULD BE MOVED OVER TO THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, HIRE SOME MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
THE BUDGET KEEPS GOING UP, BUT THE ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER WILL BE DAN TOTTEN.
DAN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS DAN TOTTEN.
I LIVE AT 54 BISHOP ALLEN DRIVE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, ON BEHALF OF YOUR UFCW SIBLINGS AT LAMPLIGHTER, I WANNA WISH BOTH 32 BJ AND THE M-I-T-G-S-U THE BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR STRUGGLES.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANY SOLIDARITY ASKS AND YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND US IF YOU EVER NEED A BEER.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK TONIGHT MOSTLY ON THE QUESTION OF ELECTING THE MAYOR.
UH, PICKING UP ON JAMES' THREAD A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE I THINK HE'S RIGHT, THAT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT WE SPENT YEARS ON AND A LOT OF MONEY ON AT AS THE CITY WAS ESSENTIALLY RIGGED, IT WAS A WASTE OF THE, OF THE TIME, OF THE PEOPLE WHO SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE ALL OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS WERE THROWN IN THE TRASH UNCEREMONIOUSLY BY MOST OF THIS COUNCIL.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT VOTE THAT WAY, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
AND NOW WE'RE ONLY COMING BACK AND STARTING TO EXPLORE SOME OF THOSE IDEAS LIKE THE SORTITION THAT WE'RE EXPLORED IN THAT.
AND SO IT BRINGS US BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THE MAYOR? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS NOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.
IF YOU LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE, YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE FOR OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH,
[00:50:01]
RIGHT? AND A LOT OF US FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ELECT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, INCLUDING SOME OF YOU, RIGHT? BUT THERE'S THIS OTHER TRAP, RIGHT? THE TRAP IS THAT YOU COULD MOVE TO, UH, AN ELECTED CEREMONIAL MAYOR, I'LL REFER TO IT AS, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY JUST MEAN THAT THE VOTERS GET TO VOTE FOR THE, THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.BUT THAT'S EFFECTIVELY WHAT YOU ARE.
AND I, I THINK, THINK THAT'S A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME.
I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE WASTE OF, I THINK IT'S, IT'S WORSE THAN DOING NOTHING BECAUSE IT SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE VOTERS THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA, WE'RE GONNA LET YOU MAKE A CEREMONIAL CHOICE THAT WON'T ACTUALLY IMPACT THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHEN A HOMELESS SHELTER CLOSES OR WHEN WE DON'T FUND PRESCHOOL.
AND THAT'S ALL THE EXECUTIVE WHO'S UNELECTED AND NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS.
SO I ASK YOU TONIGHT, DON'T WASTE THE VOTE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE'S TIME, ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CALL CENTER, BUT DON'T SWITCH AN ELECTED, UH, CEREMONIAL MAYOR.
THAT IS ALL THAT WE'RE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON A MOTION BY COUNCIL MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON MOTION BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
MADAM MAYOR, WE, YES, COUNCILLOR
[POLICY ORDERS]
SIMMONS, LET'S MOVE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO BRING FORWARD POLICY ORDERS ONE AND THREE IN DEFERENCE TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE.WE WE'RE NOT GONNA, WITH THE, UH, LENGTH OF ITEMS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA BE, IT MAY BE QUITE LATE BEFORE WE GET THERE.
SO I WANTED TO SUSPEND THE RULES, BRING THOSE ITEMS FORWARD, BOTH THEM, ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO GO HOME.
SO COUNSELOR SIMMONS IS MOVING TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE POLICY ORDERS ONE AND THREE RIGHT NOW.
SO ON SUSPENSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER ONE.
THIS IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS 32 B-J-S-E-A-U, SECURITY OFFICERS AND LOGAN AIRPORT SERVICE OFF WORKERS.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN, COUNCILLOR, SABRINA WHEELER, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
UH, I BRING THIS FLOOR, MY COLLEAGUES, TO DO WHAT WE USUALLY DO, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, WHICH IS SAYING TO THE, TO LOGAN AIRPORT, WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND BE TO TREAT THEM FAIRLY.
THEY NEED TO HAVE A REASONABLE, NOT EVEN A REASON, A LIVING WAGE IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANNA THANK EACH OF THEM FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
AND I THINK WHAT THEY SAID IN PUBLIC COMMENT TELLS THE STORY, PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE MEDICINE, YOU KNOW, OR, OR PAY THE RENT, BUY THINGS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, OR PAY THE RENT.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO IN A CITY IN WORKING FOR LOOK AND AIRPORT.
NOT THAT I'M GONNA BE DIS ON LOGAN AIRPORT TONIGHT, BUT JUST TO JUST BRING THAT FORWARD.
NO ONE SHOULD BE BAKING FOR SCRAPS OR WORKING THREE JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND SO I'M HOPING, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN AND COUNCILOR SABR, THE WHEELER FOR SIGNING ON.
OUR VALUES AND OUR VALUES ARE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE PAID A FAIR WAGE FOR WORK DONE.
AND SO I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL, UM, SUPPORT THIS POLICY ORDER, BUT THAT I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR TO MY CO MAKERS OR WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO, MADAM MAYOR.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE FOR THIS GREAT COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN.
WE'LL GO TO YOU AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
UM, I JUST ECHO THE, THE COMMENTS MADE BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
UM, YOU REALLY, ON BOTH OF THESE ORDERS, I KNOW ONLY ONE NUMBER ONE IS IN FRONT OF US.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING, WE HAVE SOME ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, UM, ABOUT SNAP.
RIGHT? AND, AND WE DO A LOT OF WORK HERE.
CONSULAR, ZUBIE AND I ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK NOW THROUGH THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON FOOD INSECURITY AND, AND POVERTY IN THE CITY.
AND, UM, SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS AND OUR STUDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO FEED THEMSELVES NECESSARILY.
AND SO, AND HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DIFFICULT CHOICES.
SO, UM, WHETHER IT'S OUR SECURITY WORKERS, UH, AT OUR UNIVERSITIES AS AS, AS WELL AS AT LOGAN OR OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE VALUABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY DESERVE, UM, THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT BOTH OF THESE ORDERS.
WE'LL HAVE, THERE'S ONE BEFORE US RIGHT NOW, SO JUST SPEAK TO THAT ONE FIRST.
NO, I WOULD, UH, ECHO THE OTHER TWO SPONSORS AND SAY IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS HARD FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND AIRPORT WORKERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN CAMBRIDGE IN OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
SO I HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
COUNCILOR ZUBIE, I'D LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? COUNCILOR NOLAN.
AND WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT ONE, LIVING
[00:55:01]
WAGE SAYS IT ALL.HEALTHCARE FOR ALL SAYS IT ALL.
LOVE TO BE ADDED AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO SET A STANDARD FOR THE COUNTRY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE STAND BEHIND FOR ALL WORKERS.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ADD COUNSELOR ZUBI AND COUNCILLOR NOLAN TO THE POLICY ORDER.
TH THOSE COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN ADDED.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, UH, DEFINITELY SUPPORT, UH, THE, THE ORDER.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS AND THE CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD WILL GO AHEAD AND, UH, ADOPT POLICY ORDER NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED.
POLICY ORDER NUMBER ONE AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED WILL GO TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER THREE.
THIS IS AT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT, THE UE 2 56 GRADUATE WORKERS AT MIT AND THEIR EFFORTS TO SECURE A FAIR CONTRACT.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILOR SABRINA WHEELER, COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN, VICE MAYOR Z AND COUNCILLOR ZUBY, COUNCILLOR, SABRINA WHEELER.
I'LL GO TO YOU FIRST AS A, THE MAIN SPONSOR.
UM, JUST BRIEFLY 'CAUSE I THINK THE FOLKS IN PUBLIC COMMENT SAID IT MUCH BETTER THAN, UH, I COULD AND WASN'T PLANNING ON PULLING THIS MYSELF.
UH, I THINK THESE ARE BASIC WORKER PROTECTIONS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN, UH, IMMIGRANT WORKERS ARE UNDER ATTACK.
AND I HOPE MIT CAN AGREE TO THESE CONTRACT, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THESE WORKERS AND HOPE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS THIS EVENING.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, TO COUNCIL SABINA WHEELER, MCGOVERN, ZE AND ZUBIE, THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THIS POLICY ORDER.
AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO OUR VALUES AS A CITY.
YOU KNOW, YEARS AGO, UH, BACK IN THE DARK AGES, AS MY CHILDREN OFTEN SAY, WE VOTED TO HAVE A LIVING WAGE AND WE SHOULD DEMAND SUPPORT AND STAND BY ANY ORGANIZATION, PARTICULARLY, UM, EMPLOYEES, UH, UH, UNIONIZED EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID FAIRLY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
I AM PROUD TO, UM, SUPPORT IT AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA SAY SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR, UH, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DEMAND OF OUR CITY, OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES A LIVING WAGE.
AND TO DEMAND THAT ALSO OF, UM, CERTAINLY OUR UNIVERSITIES AND THAT, UH, I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL STRUGGLE AND THE ATTACKS THAT THEY'RE UNDER, UNDER THIS HORRIFIC ADMINISTRATION IN DC.
UM, BUT STILL NEED TO STEP UP AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THEIR WORKERS THE WAY WE TRY TO DO RIGHT BY OUR WORKERS.
AND SO, AGAIN, HAPPY TO BE ON THIS ORDER.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO BE ADDED? YES.
I MEAN, IT ALL GOES DOWN TO LIVING WAGE HEALTHCARE, PEOPLE HAVING INABILITY TO LIVE WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND NOT HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES BETWEEN, I MEAN, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, OFTEN STUDENTS ARE THE ONES IN THIS CITY USING OUR FOOD BANKS 'CAUSE THEY, THEY NEED THAT.
SO YES, WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.
GO AHEAD AND ADD COUNCILLOR SIMMONS AND COUNCILLOR NOLAN TO POLICY NUMBER THREE.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS AND COUNCILLOR NOLAN HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE POLICY ORDER.
I THANK YOU TO THE CO-SPONSORS.
UH, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THIS POLICY ORDER AS AMENDED.
POLICY WERE NUMBER THREE IS ADOPTED.
[SUBMISSION OF THE RECORD]
GO BACK TO THE SUBMISSION OF THE RECORD.WE HAVE FIVE SETS OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 2ND, THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 9TH, THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 9TH, THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MAY 11TH, AND THEN THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 18TH ON A MOTION BY COUNCILLOR NOLAN TO ADOPT THESE MINUTES AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.
THOSE REPORTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE.
[RECONSIDERATION]
ON TO RECONSIDERATION.COUNSELOR NOLAN HAS FILED RECONSIDERATION FOR THE POLICY ORDER 2026 DASH ONE 40, WHICH IS THAT, THAT THE CITY MANAGER BE HEREBY, IS REQUESTED TO WORK WITH THE CITY SOLICITOR AND THE LICENSE COMMISSION TO DRAFT AND SUBMIT A HOME RULE PETITION TO AUTHORIZE ONE ADDITIONAL SECTION 15, ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES LICENSE NOT TO BE DRUNK ON THE PREMISES.
COUNCILOR NOLAN, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU NOW.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO PULL FORWARD COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.
NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS ABOUT THE RA, MY, UH, MEMO ABOUT RECONSIDERATION.
SO COUNSELOR NOLAN MOVES SUSPENSION TO BRING FORWARD A COMMUNICATION REPORTS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.
NUMBER FOUR, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[01:00:01]
WITH US WITH THE RECONSIDERATION REQUEST.I WON'T, UM, READ THE ENTIRE MEMO, BUT I AM ASKING US TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE.
AS EXPLAINED IN THE, UH, COMMUNICATION MEMO SINCE AFTER THE VOTE, WHICH I DID SUPPORT, UM, ALL OF US HAD SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, WITH SOME VARIOUS MEETINGS AND LOBBYING ABOUT THIS.
I DID HEAR SOME CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE VOTE AND THOUGHT I SHOULD DIG A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE PROPOSAL.
SO I SPENT SOME TIME, THE LAST FEW WEEKS I DID FILE FOR RECONSIDERATION.
I SPENT SOME TIME IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS REACHING OUT TO CITY STAFF AND A CO AND SOME LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSED AD HOC LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY FOR ALCOHOL LICENSING.
LOOK, IN FULL DISCLOSURE, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ANY, UM, UH, CAPS ON WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO HAVE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY FOR ON-PREMISES.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE SOME FOR OFF-PREMISES, BUT WE DO.
UM, I JUST FELT THAT CITY STAFF HAVE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR THIS VOTE ON BOTH THE PROCESS AND HOW TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE HOLISTICALLY, WHICH COULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO HEAR.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE VERY PRESSED FOR TIME AT THE SUMMER MEETING WHEN THIS VOTE INITIALLY TOOK PLACE.
WE HAD NOT DONE OUR USUAL PRACTICE OF DISCUSSING THE CONTEXT GATHERING INPUT FROM MOST AFFECTED STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I DO HOPE WE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE WITH ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AND EXPERTISE.
THE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER INCLUDE THE SPECIFICS OF THE ORDER, THE HOME RULE PETITION APPROACH, AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITY IMPACTS OF ADDITIONAL STATE ISSUED LICENSES BEING REQUESTED.
AND SPEAKING WITH BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
I HEARD THEIR POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VOTE THAT MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE SUPPORTED AS IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IS THAT WE WOULD BE HANDING A LICENSE WORTH AT LEAST SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ALREADY HAS A MALT UH, WINE LICENSE.
AND AS WE CONSIDERED THIS IDEA, WITHOUT HAVING TOLD ALL THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS THE CITY THAT WE WERE DOING THAT, I SPOKE WITH TWO OWNERS WHO HAVE ALL ALCOHOL LICENSES, WHO PAID MORE THAN $300,000 FOR THEM.
AND WHEN I ASKED, WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT HOW I VOTED ABOUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE CITY GETTING A LICENSE FOR SOMEONE FOR FREE, ONE DIRECT QUOTE WAS, YOU ARE REALLY DOING THAT.
THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING THAT.
THAT SEEMS UNFAIR WHEN I HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO I THINK OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY COULD ASK THE COUNSEL FOR THIS LICENSE, OR COULDN'T, OR DIDN'T THINK TO HIRE A LAWYER TO PROMOTE A HOME RULE FOR THEM.
AND THAT MADE ME JUST UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THE EQUITY OF THIS.
SO AGAIN, PERSONALLY, I'D GET RID OF ALL CAPS.
AND BEFORE WE DO THIS FOR ONE PERSON, IT SEEMS TO BE GOOD GOVERNANCE TO OFFER SIMILAR PRIVILEGE TO ALL IN THE CITY IN SIMILAR POSITIONS.
BOSTON HAD PETITIONED THE STATE TO ALLOW FOR MORE THAN 200 ON-PREMISES LICENSES, WHICH THEY DID FOR EQUITY.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE INCLUDED OFF-PREMISES.
AND SO I WOULD SUPPORT CAMBRIDGE CONSIDERING HOW TO DISTRIBUTE ANY NEW LICENSES THAT WE ARE GRANTED EQUITABLY.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S WHY I FILED THIS.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL IN THE, UM, IN THE MEMO, BUT I YIELD TO MAYOR SIDIKI.
SO BASICALLY THE VOTE IS AS FOLLOWS.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO RE RECONSIDER THE MATTER, YOU WOULD VOTE YES.
IF YOU WOULDN'T LIKE TO CONSIDER THE MATTER, YOU'D VOTE NO.
IF IT GETS RECONSIDERED, THEN WE CAN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO ASK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILOR NOLAN HAS, UM, LISTED OUT IN HER COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.
SO FOR NOW, WE'LL, I'LL JUST GO TO SOME COUNSELORS.
UM, JUST BEFORE ON THE RECONSIDERATION VOTE, UM, SO I ALSO HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS.
I SPOKE TO, UH, ATTORNEY SULLIVAN, WHO'S, WHO'S REPRESENTING THE, THE PETITIONER.
HE'S GOING THROUGH THIS SITUATION IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY, AND THEY WENT FORWARD AND ASKED FOR, UM, I THINK HE SAID FOUR SORT OF GENERAL LICENSES TO DO THIS EXACT THING, NOT FOR SPECIFIC BUSINESSES, BUT FOR GENERAL LICENSES.
AND THE HOUSE ALREADY SAID NO TO THAT.
THEY SAID, WE NEED TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHO IS GETTING THESE LICENSES.
WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A BLANKET.
SO I'M NOT GONNA VOTE FOR RECONSIDERATION.
UM, I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BUSINESS AS THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY, AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR NOLAN ON LOOKING FOR A WAY TO SORT OF LIFT THE CAP IN GENERAL AND LOOK AT IF THERE ARE OTHER BUSINESSES IN CAMBRIDGE THAT ALSO WANT TO DO THIS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIST THEM WHEN WE GO TO THE STATE.
AND SO WE SHOULD DO THAT AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT I, I'M NOT, I DON'T WANNA HOLD UP THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS THAT'S IN SOME DIRE STRAITS RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, I AGREE WITH, WE SHOULD DO THIS AT SOME POINT, BUT I WILL VOTE NO ON RECONSIDERATION ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
THANKS MADAM MAYOR, THROUGH YOU.
I WAS GONNA ASK THE CITY MANAGER AND LAW DEPARTMENT, UH, ABOUT THIS.
I, UH, FRANKLY, I THINK AGREE WITH THE LARGER POINT OF GETTING RID OF THE CAPS.
AND THEN ON THIS SPECIFICALLY, IF THE LAW DEPARTMENT FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS MORE TIME TO REVIEW THIS AND WE SHOULD PULL IT BACK, I'M HAPPY TO PULL IT BACK.
IF THE LAW DEPARTMENT SAYS WE'RE FINE WITH IT AS IS, I AM FINE WITH IT TO GO AHEAD AS WELL.
SO I'M, UH, CURIOUS WHAT CITY STAFF HAS TO
[01:05:01]
SAY HERE.SO SOLICITORS COMING UP, UH, GOOD EVENING THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, STAFF DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A OPINION ON THE POLICY SIDE OF THIS.
UM, IT'S REALLY UP TO THE COUNCIL WHETHER TO RECONSIDER AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO WITH THIS POLICY ORDER AND SENDING, UM, A HOME RULE PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR THIS SPEC SPECIFIC BUSINESS.
WE, UH, BOTH, UM, CHAIR OF THE LICENSE COMMISSION, NICOLE MIRATI FERRE, WHO IS ON THE ZOOM.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER OR IF SHE WANTS TO JUMP IN, UM, YOU KNOW, HER AND I, UM, CAN GIVE SOME FACTUAL INFORMATION, UH, TO THE COUNCIL THAT MIGHT HELP IN YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, HAPPY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN RESPONSE IF THE COUNCIL WISHES TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILOR NOLAN RAISED IN HER COMMUNICATION.
IF, IF THE COUNCIL, UH, PASSES AN ORDER TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I SAID THIS WHEN THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS WHEN THIS WAS BEFORE THE COUNCIL BEFORE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT END UP BEING THAT YOU HEAR FROM MORE BUSINESSES WANTING THE SAME TYPE OF HOME RULE PETITION FOR THEIR PARTICULAR BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED, AND I I STILL MIGHT, UH, THAT AN OPTION WOULD BE A PETITION ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN REFERENCED FROM ANOTHER COMMUNITY WHERE THE CITY COULD TRY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LICENSES AVAILABLE TO ANY APPLICANT.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE SAID TO THAT EXAMPLE.
I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE INCREASED, UM, THE NUMBER OF LICENSES THEY HAVE FOR VARIOUS LICENSE TYPES.
UM, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME, UM, COMMUNICATION OR, UH, IN THE HOME RULE PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE OF WHY THERE'S A PUBLIC INTEREST IN INCREASING THE NUMBER.
UM, PERHAPS THAT WAS MISSING FROM THIS OTHER COMMUNITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THAT.
UM, SO I THINK, I THINK I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
IF THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW.
I GUESS THE QUESTION, LIKE, THE QUESTION I HAVE IS IF THERE'S A LEGAL QUESTION ABOUT THIS THAT NEEDS MORE RESEARCH, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE THE LEGAL UNDERSTANDING, IT'S MORE OF A POLICY QUESTION ABOUT IF WE'RE DOING ONE BUSINESS OR MULTIPLE BUSINESSES.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, I I, THERE'S NO LEGAL REASON YOU CAN'T MOVE THIS HOME RULE PETITION FORWARD, UM, OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF ASK OF THE LEGISLATURE.
SO IT IS MORE OF A POLICY, UH, CONSIDERATION FOR THE COUNCIL COUNCILOR.
UM, THAT DOESN'T MAKE THIS EASIER UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, UH, I AM DOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FOR ONE BUSINESS DOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
FOUR BUSINESSES, LEG COUNSELOR, I THINK MCGOVERN AND NOLAN BOTH AGREED ON THIS CAP.
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
SO DOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT FOR ALL BUSINESSES, IN WHICH CASE I THINK I'M, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON RECONSIDERATION.
IF THERE ARE OTHER BUSINESSES, FOUR OTHER BUSINESSES, WE CAN DO A SEPARATE THING.
WE CAN DO A HOME RULE PETITION TO LIFT THE CAP ENTIRELY.
UM, BUT IF THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY A LEGAL QUESTION HERE, I I DON'T SEE THE REASON TO RECONSIDER AT THIS MOMENT.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR ZUBI AND THEN COUNCILLOR ZUI.
YEAH, THROUGH YOU MADAM CHAIR.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN'S POINT ON SUBMITTING JUST FOR MULTIPLE LICENSES, BUT AT GETTING REJECTED FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, DO YOU ANTICIPATE SEEING THAT KIND OF THING IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POLICY ORDER ASKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UH, THANK YOU.
SO WHEN YOU SAY ASKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO YOU MEAN A PETITION TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF LICENSES GENERALLY VERSUS, OKAY.
I I WAS AWARE OF SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BOSTON WITH ON PREMISES TO EXPAND THE NUMBER ALLOWED.
UM, IT'S, AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK I SAID PUBLIC INTEREST, BUT THE CORRECT TERM IS PUBLIC NEED.
I, YOU DO HAVE TO SHOW THE LEGISLATURE THERE'S A PUBLIC NEED FOR GRANTING ADDITIONAL LICENSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO PERHAPS THAT PETITION THAT COUNCILOR MCGOVERN REFERRED TO DIDN'T IN THE CO UH, LEGISLATURE'S EYES SATISFY THAT REQUIREMENT OF PUBLIC NEED.
UM, SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO LOOK MORE INTO THAT AND COMPARE THAT HOME RULE PETITION AND THE ACTION THE LEGISLATURE TOOK AND SPEAK WITH ATTORNEY SULLIVAN TO GET, UM, INFORMATION FROM HIM TO FIND OUT MORE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A MORE INFORMED ANSWER OF WHAT THE LIKELIHOOD WOULD BE IF, UM, IF WE,
[01:10:01]
IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO DO THAT AND COUNCILOR ZUBIE AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WOULD RECONSIDERATION ON THIS SPECIFIC, UH, THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT WE PASSED, BE WORTHWHILE IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY SULLIVAN AND OTHERWISE? UH, THANK YOU THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, IF RECONSIDERATION PASSES THERE, THAT WOULD GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIALLY A, UM, REVISED POLICY ORDER THAT ASKS MORE GENERALLY FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THOSE OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT BE SUCCESSFUL.YEAH, I, THIS IS DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING SITUATION.
I'M OPEN TO RECONSIDERATION, BUT DEFINITELY WOULD WANT MORE CONTEXT ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT COUNCILOR MCGOVERN RAISED AND COUNCILOR NOLAN.
'CAUSE I THINK THEY BOTH BRING UP VERY VALID POINTS.
UM, BUT LARGELY THE, THE MAIN POINTS AROUND THE QUOTAS AND ALL THAT I'D ALSO SUPPORT.
I, I THINK WE SHOULD RECONSIDER THIS.
I THINK WE MADE THE WRONG DECISION.
I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO ADVANTAGE ONE BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT ALREADY HAS A MOLT AND WINE LICENSE.
I, I, I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY PHARAOH'S FOOD TOWN WANTS TO REMAIN IN THAT LOCATION.
UM, AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED A GROCERY IN THAT LOCATION.
BUT I, I THINK IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO ADVANTAGE THIS ONE BUSINESS.
AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY BAD PRECEDENT THAT WILL OPEN PANDORA'S BOX.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE JUST THE BEGINNING OF LOTS OF REQUESTS FOR FULL ALCOHOL LICENSES.
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PULL BACK, RECONSIDER AND, UH, RETHINK THIS DECISION.
UM, I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING SOMETHING AND CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THAT, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, A LOT OF US WOULD SUPPORT REMOVING THE LIQUOR LICENSE LIMIT.
THE STATE HOUSE IS NOT INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, RIGHT? UM, THE STATE HOUSE, IF WE SENT LIKE, HEY, CAN WE GET 20 MORE, RIGHT? THE STATE HOUSE IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES BROADLY IN GENERAL HAS NOT SHOWN INTEREST IN DOING THAT.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A CASE HERE IS LIKE ONE PERSON WANTS ONE FOR ONE SPECIFIC CASE, AND THEY HAVE MADE A STRONG CASE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT IF WE RECONSIDER THIS AND DON'T DO THIS, THAT BUSINESS GETS HURT.
AND DOES ANYONE ELSE BENEFIT? I'M NOT SURE.
I MEAN, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT LIKE WE SHOULD OPEN IT WIDE AND TRY TO GET LIKE SIX MORE PEOPLE WHO ALSO WANTED TO SEND SPECIFIC PETITIONS TO US.
BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG EXTENDED PROCESS AND LIKE, WE CAN DO THAT ANYWAYS AFTERWARDS, RIGHT? LIKE, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A, LIKE THE STATE HOUSE DOES NOT GIVE US THE OPTION OF LIKE, HEY, CAN WE GET 10 MORE THAT WE WILL EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTE? THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A REALISTIC OPTION UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
AND SO I FEEL LIKE, UH, IT, LIKE, IDEALLY THERE WOULD BE A LOT BETTER WAYS TO DO THIS, BUT GIVEN THE, MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS OUR, LIKE THIS IS THE BEST OUT OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
SO, UM, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE HAS ANY FEEDBACK.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? I GUESS I HAD TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
UH, AND THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD, UM, TO THE COMMISSIONER ON THE ZOOM.
I'M JUST CURIOUS AROUND, UM, HOW MANY, HOW OFTEN YOU ALL HEAR FROM PEOPLE ABOUT, UM, GETTING ALL ALCOHOL LICENSES? THANK YOU.
THROUGH, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
UM, THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S, IT, IT REALLY DEPENDS.
UH, SOMETIMES IN A YEAR WE CAN GET TWO PHONE CALLS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY LICENSES AVAILABLE OR SOMETIMES IT CAN BE MORE OFTEN.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT AFTER, UH, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THIS, WE GOT ONE PHONE CALL FROM ANOTHER BUSINESS ASKING IF THERE WERE ANY ALL ALCOHOL AVAILABLE.
I THINK THEY JUST KIND OF HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT THERE WAS AN ALL ALCOHOL HAPPENING.
UM, SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET INQUIRIES, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD TELL YOU THAT WE GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES, BUT I THINK ALSO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LIMIT AND A QUOTA.
COMMISSIONER TO, UH, THE CITY SOLICITOR WAS WONDERING WHAT YOUR OPINION, UH, WAS ON THE, THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND CONTROL OF THE LICENSEE LINE IN THE HOME RULE, UH, TO YOU MADAM MAYOR.
SO ATTACHED TO THE POLICY ORDER THAT IS NOW UP FOR RECONSIDERATION, UM, THERE IS A
[01:15:01]
SAMPLE HOME RULE PETITION THAT WAS ATTACHED.UM, THE POLICY ORDER, AS YOU WILL RECALL, ASKED FOR STAFF TO WORK ON PREPARING A, A HOME RULE PETITION.
SO, UM, YOU ALL THE COUNCIL LEFT OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SUGGESTED CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED POLICY, UM, HOME RULE PETITION, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT WAS ATTACHED AND IS PROPOSED, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT, OR IT MAKES REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THIS SITE, UH, 3 36 RANGE AVE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH JUST A START RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THE, UM, BUSINESS HOPES TO MOVE BACK AT THE COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT THEY DID, UM, BUILD IN SOME LANGUAGE IN HERE TO THIS PETITION THAT IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE BACK, UM, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
UM, AND SO THE LANGUAGE WAS IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY ARE DISPLACED DUE TO REDEVELOPMENT, LEASE TERMINATION OR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE LICENSEE, UH, I THINK WHEN, AND WE HAVEN'T FULLY EVALUATED THIS, BUT IF THE, UH, RECONSIDERATION DOESN'T PASS AND WE COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL WITH A HOME RULE PETITION THAT WE PROPOSE FOR THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON AND SEND TO THE LEGISLATURE, I WOULD HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THAT SECTION FOUR TO, TO CLARIFY THAT LANGUAGE AND TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT, UM, AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE LICENSEE'S CONTROL THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO TRANSFER THE LICENSE TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
SO JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MOVING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD, I'LL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I DO THINK, UM, I'LL PROBABLY, I WILL VOTE TO RECONSIDER BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND, UM, THERE ARE SOME UN UNINTENDED, UH, MAYBE CONSEQUENCES HERE.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT MOTION THAT COUNCILOR NOLAN HAS PASSED, WILL, WILL, UM, PASS.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, IT SEEMS, UH, CITY SOLICITOR, YOU'LL, REGARDLESS, YOU'LL BE COMING BACK TO US WITH YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS HOME RULE.
UM, AND SO, UM, I THINK THERE WILL BE ANOTHER TIME TO DISCUSS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY APPROVE, UM, SOMETHING, CORRECT, CORRECT, YES.
UM, BECAUSE THE POLICY ORDER ORDERED THAT THE MANAGER WORK WITH THE SOLICITOR AND THE LICENSE COMMISSION TO DRAFT AND SUBMIT A HOME RULE PETITION.
SO THE VOTE THAT THE COUNCIL TOOK ON THIS POLICY ORDER WASN'T ACTUALLY TO FORWARD A HOME RULE PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE.
SO WE WILL BE BACK IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE WHO WA WANTED TO BE HEARD ON COUNCILOR NOLAN'S MOTION.
AND SO A YES VOTE WOULD BE TO RECONSIDER A NO VOTE TO WOULD BE NOT TO COUNCILOR ZUBE? YES.
AND YOU HAVE FOUR, FOUR MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND FIVE RECORDED IN THE NEGATIVE RECONSIDERATION FAILS.
SO WE WILL THEN NOW GO AHEAD TO PLACING THE COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THAT COMMUNICATION AND REPORT FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS IS PLACED ON FILE.
COUNSELOR NOLAN? I'M JUST NOT SURE.
DO WE HAVE TO ALSO SEPARATELY MOVE TO PLACE THE RECONSIDERATION ITSELF ON FILE? I THINK WE'RE OKAY.
[CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA]
ON TO THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA.I HAVE COUNCILOR NOLAN, AND THEN COUNCILLOR ZUBI.
AND I'LL SEE IF I'M, I ASSUME SOMEONE ELSE WILL PULL A COUPLE OTHERS, IF NOT, COME BACK TO ME.
AND, OH, AND NUMBER 24 AND 25, WE CAN GO TO COUNCIL ZUBIE AND THEN COUNCILLOR, SABRINA WHEELER.
SO, SO FAR, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE PULLED TWO, I'LL PULL NUMBER THREE.
FOR THE CPA APPROPRIATIONS, WE'VE PULLED NUMBER 11, 18, 20 24, 25.
[01:20:01]
AND COUNSELOR NOLAN, YOU PULLED NUMBER 18, RIGHT? UH, YES.ANYONE ELSE? COUNSELOR MCGOVERN.
SO, JUST FOR THE RECORD BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE ROLL CALL ON THE BALANCE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, WE'VE JUST PULLED 2 3 11 12 18, 19, 20, 24, AND 25.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD ON COUNCILLOR SIMMONS' MOTION TO DO A ROLL CALL ON THE BALANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCILOR ZUBE? YES.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE BALANCE OF THE CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEMS IS ADOPTED.
WE'RE GOING TO CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONG, CITY MANAGER RELATIVE TO APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT STABILIZATION FUND TO THE GRANT FUND, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS, OTHER ORDINARY MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT TO SUPPORT A CITYWIDE RESPONSE TO FEDERAL CHANGES AFFECTING SNAP AND MASS HEALTH BENEFITS UNDER THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT COUNCIL.
AND JUST A REMINDER TO FOLKS, YOU'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK TWO QUESTIONS, UH, AND WE CAN COME BACK IN THE NEXT ROUND IF YOU HAVE MORE.
I DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS APP APPROPRIATION AND WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, CEOC, FOR BUILDING THIS OUT.
I DO ALSO JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS FOR THE PUBLIC TOO, BECAUSE OUR OWN NUMBERS ARE SHOWING THAT SNAP ENROLLMENT IS DOWN 15% SINCE THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AND THE CITY'S OWN DATA IS ACTUALLY SHOWING THAT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T LOSING ELIGIBILITY.
IT'S 77% OF DTA CALLS GETTING DISCONNECTED BEFORE ANYONE ANSWERS.
IT'S 70% OF DENIALS BEING PROCEDURAL.
AND THAT'S HOPEFULLY WHAT SOME OF THIS, UH, APPROPRIATION WILL HELP FUND.
I DO WANNA NOTE THOSE, SOME THOUGHTS.
UM, AND A QUESTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DRAWN FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT STABILIZATION FUND.
UM, IT SAID THAT IN THE REPORT.
AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FUND WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FIRST FROM THE SITUATION IF IT CHANGED FOR OUR MIXED STATUS HOUSEHOLDS AND EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS.
AND THE LAST UPDATE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR TIMELINE ON WHERE THE, THE HUD LITIGATION STANDS.
AND FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
SO, QUICK QUESTION THROUGH YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER, CAN WE GET A CURRENT RUNNING BALANCE OF THAT FUND? WHAT TONIGHT'S APPROPRIATION WOULD LEAVE? AND IF THE CITY'S OPEN TO MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO SU TO SUPPORT THE, TO CONTINUALLY FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THIS FUND, ESPECIALLY, UM, IF WE WERE TO NEED IT FOR HELP WITH EMERGENCY HOUSING NEEDS? STATE MANAGER, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
UM, THE CURRENT, UH, BALANCE IN THE FEDERAL GRANT STABILIZATION FUND IS $3.1 MILLION.
UH, AND SO, UH, WE'VE GOT A LIST OF WHAT WE'VE DRAWN OUT OF THAT FUND.
UH, SO FAR AFTER THIS $500,000 APPROPRIATION, WE WOULD HAVE $2.675 MILLION REMAINING.
UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, HOUSING, UH, PARTICULARLY BOTH THE HUD CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM AND THEN THE EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS.
UH, WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PLANNING FOR, UH, BOTH OF THOSE.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE IN LITIGATION WITH HUD OVER THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM.
UM, THAT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE RUNNING BASED ON THE EXISTING ALLOCATIONS, BUT THERE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM CHANGES THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH.
UM, AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ABOUT HOW TO ENSURE THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE HOUSED.
UM, I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM THIS CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, INSOFAR AS THE CURRENT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES IN THE FEDERAL GRANT STABILIZATION FUND, I THINK WE FEEL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
UM, AND CERTAINLY IN THE FUTURE, UM, WE STILL HAVE A NUMBER OF YEARS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO GO.
UM, IF IT WERE THE CASE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO COME BACK AND, UH, LOOK AT ADDITIONAL FUNDING, I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO THAT CONVERSATION.
AND JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AGAIN THAT THIS FUND IS SUPER CRUCIAL FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO SUPPORT THIS AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE EMERGENCY HOUSING NEEDS ARE NOT LEFT OUT ALL YIELD.
[01:25:01]
I'LL JUST SAY THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, REALLY GLAD THAT, UH, WE ARE DOING THIS, UH, FOR AND ALL FOR THE UPDATES WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE SUMMER, UM, AS THE IMPACTS OF THE ONE BIG, UM, BEAUTIFUL BILL, UH, ACT HAVE CONTINUED TO UNFOLD.I'LL JUST ALSO QUICKLY WANTED TO EXPRESS, UH, APPRECIATION FOR THE FOLKS WHO WERE INVOLVED.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS C-C-C-C-F AND CHRISTINA TURNER, RACHEL PLUMMER, TINA FROM COC, ALONG WITH, UM, MANY OF THE OTHER, UH, NONPROFIT PARTNERS WHO'VE BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THE WORK.
UH, I THINK THEY'VE BEEN COORDINATING AND THEIR PERSISTENCE REALLY, UM, HAS BEEN INVALUABLE AS RESIDENTS FACE THESE JUST REALLY COMPLEX CHALLENGES, UH, ACCESSING SNAP AND, UM, MATH, HEALTH, MASS HEALTH.
AND, UH, I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVENING ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.
AND SO I WANNA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE CITY MANAGER, UM, AND THE OFFICE, HIS OFFICE'S EFFORT IN MAKING THAT EFFECTIVE CITYWIDE COORDINATION HAPPEN.
UH, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY THE ROLE THAT WE SHOULD BE PLAYING AS A CITY, UM, NOT JUST ON FOOD INSECURITY, RIGHT? BUT ACROSS MANY, UH, ISSUES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I KNOW COUNCILLOR ZUI, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
UM, I ALSO WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I I, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE IS, HAS THE $250,000 THAT WE ALLOCATED EARLIER FOR SNAP BENEFITS, HAS THAT BEEN DISTRIBUTED, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR? YES.
UH, SO WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, SO $500,000, I, I REAL IS A, A LOT FOR OUTREACH AND I REALLY, UH, SUPPORT, UH, OR I LIKE, HONOR THE WORK OF THE CEOC IN HELPING TO, UM, MANAGE THIS.
UM, BUT SO WITH THAT $500,000, WILL THEY BE ADDING A LOT OF STAFF? IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING FUNNELS THROUGH C-E-O-C-I.
I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WONDERING IS DO WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR FOOD? I, I REALIZE A LOT OF THE FOCUS OF THIS WILL BE TO REALLY GET PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR MASS HEALTH BENEFITS.
'CAUSE UM, UH, IT MAY COST US $28.8 MILLION OTHERWISE.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, TELL ME MORE ABOUT HOW THE 500,000 WILL BE SPENT AND WHETHER WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT FOOD AS WELL, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.
THERE IS TREMENDOUS NEED IN THE FOOD, FOOD PANTRY NETWORK FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF.
UM, I THINK THIS ALLOCATION IS REALLY FOCUSED ON COORDINATING A RESPONSE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE TO STAY ENROLLED IN BOTH SNAP AND MEDICAID.
UM, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE REALIZED, ESPECIALLY AS WE'VE SEEN THE PROJECTIONS OF ENROLLMENT DROPS, IS JUST HOW MANY FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE AT RISK, UM, DOLLARS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE REAL NEEDS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CITY.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK RIGHT NOW AT A 15% DROP, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING $3 MILLION A YEAR OF LESS SNAP BENEFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IF WE WERE CONSERVATIVELY TO PROJECT OUT ANOTHER 15% DECLINE, THAT'S $6 MILLION OF SNAP FUNDING THAT FAMILIES IN CAMBRIDGE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.
UH, ON THE MASS HEALTH SIDE, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE 28 TO $30 MILLION WORTH OF FUNDING FOR MEDICAL CARE.
UM, AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NOT GETTING ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES OR TAKING ON DIRECT MEDICAL DEBT.
UM, AND SO I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS $500,000 IS A, UM, IS AN AMOUNT THAT WE THINK WILL BE, UM, VERY WELL LEVERAGED COMPARED TO HOW MUCH MONEY IN FEDERAL, UH, BENEFITS, UH, WE COULD KEEP PEOPLE ON.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THAT FOCUS, ESPECIALLY IMMEDIATELY IS TO, UH, IS TO SUPPORT INCREASED CASEWORKERS WHO CAN NAVIGATE, UH, FOR, UM, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ON BENEFITS.
UM, BUT I THINK WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WE, AS WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO COORDINATE ACROSS A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, THERE MAY BE EITHER ADDITIONAL CASEWORKERS THAT, THAT WE WILL NEED TO HIRE OR ADDITIONAL, UH, SERVICES THAT WE WANNA OFFER.
AND SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ALL OF THAT $5,000 ALLOCATED, BUT I THINK WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD STARTING POINT.
ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE? YES, COUNCILOR FLAHERTY.
WELL, I, I THINK THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY QUESTION.
MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS 500,000 ENOUGH? 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS MONEY IS OUTRAGED AND MM-HMM
TRANSLATION AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT WE'RE ASSISTING PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN THE PROGRAM SO WE CAN GET THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
BUT DO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF? DO WE HAVE THE BOOTS
[01:30:01]
ON THE GROUND TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE PROPERLY AND CORRECTLY APPLYING TO MAKE CERTAIN THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS COME BACK TO CAMBRIDGE SO WE CAN LEAVE ALLEVIATE THAT BURDEN? DO WE NEED MORE MONEY? IS REALLY MY QUESTION, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, I THINK WE'LL KNOW MORE AS WE, AS WE GET THIS STOOD UP.
UM, AND SO I THINK WE DIDN'T WANT TO ASK FOR TOO MUCH AND THEN END UP REALIZING THAT WE, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY NEED ALL OF THAT.
UM, SO I THINK THIS IS A STARTING POINT.
UM, BUT CERTAINLY IF, IF WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF SUCCESS, IF WE'RE SEEING GREATER NEED IN THE COMMUNITY, GREATER RESPONSE, UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASEWORKERS TO SUPPORT THAT DEMAND, UM, I THINK WE WOULD, WE WOULD COME BACK WITH MORE DATA ABOUT HOW MANY CALLS WE'RE GETTING, UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ENROLL.
AND, AND WE'D HAVE A, I THINK, CLEANER, UH, REQUEST, UM, TO COME BACK WITH.
SO, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY THAT LIKE WE, WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT I ALSO WOULD WANT TO COME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION LATER IF WE WERE GONNA REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MY ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD BE DON'T WAIT.
THIS IS A PRECI PRECIPITOUS DROP.
AND IF THIS FEDERAL DOLLAR IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY OF CAMPUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE, UH, WE'RE ENCOUNTERING THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE ARE, I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT OUR POPULATION IS COVERAGE AND WE GET THAT, GET THOSE BENEFITS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS, COUNCILOR SIMMONS.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, AS WE TALK, FIRST OF ALL, UH, THROUGH YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND, AND THE ATTENTION YOU'VE PAID TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY WHILE WE HAVE, UM, PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT ARE, SEEM TO BE HELL BENT ON MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET LESS AND LESS, UM, WHILE THEY BUILD AN ADDITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SOME OTHER RIDICULOUS THINGS.
MY QUESTION THOUGH, UM, AS WE DO THIS, AND I CERTAINLY WILL, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT IT.
I MEAN, I THINK IT JUST NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON FILE, DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
ONE QUESTION I DO HAVE IS YOU HAVE GOING, KIND OF THINKING BACK TO THE 25, I WANNA THINK IT WAS THE 25 AND 26 REPORT WE GOT FROM THE RATING AGENCY STANDARDS AND POROUS FITCH, I THINK I SAID THAT WRONG.
FITCH FINCH, WHATEVER THEY CALL THEMSELVES, UM, THEY HAD A LINE, WASN'T MORE THAN A LINE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAPPY TO, TO GIVE THIS AAA RATE BOND TRIPLE A RATING TO THE CITY.
AND WE KNOW THAT AAA RATING MEANS THAT WE CAN BORROW MONEY AT A LOWER RATE, BUT THEY ALSO, AND IT WASN'T MUCH THAT THEY SAID IS, YOU KNOW, CAMBRIDGE HAS A VERY VOCAL AND, UH, PRO CONSTITUENCY, AND WE, WE HAVE, WE JUST WANT CAMBRIDGE TO BE MINDFUL AS THEY DRAW, DRAW DOWN ON THE UNEXPECTED FUND BALANCE.
AND SO AS YOU THINK THROUGH THAT, I JUST WANNA SAY OUT, OUT LOUD, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO BE REMAIN SOLVENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PAY OFF THE DEBTS THAT WE HAVE AND THE DEBTS THAT WE MAY INCUR, AS WELL AS TRYING TO MEET THE NEED THAT'S COMING TO US, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR OWN DOING OR BAD MONEY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A, ANYWAYS.
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? SO I JUST WANNA RAISE THAT CONCERN AND CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH HOW YOU ARE GOING TO INSULATE US, UM, GOING FORWARD? BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS OF THIS, AND I SUSPECT THIS IS NOT GONNA END.
HOW DO WE, HOW, HOW DO YOU INSULATE US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THAT AAA RE THAT TRIP? I'M GONNA SAY IT WRONG, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
SO THAT WE CAN BORROW MONEY TO FUND THE THINGS THAT WE WANT, THE FUNDS THAT, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND THE NEEDS THAT ARE BEING UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERMINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THROUGH YOU.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE TRYING TO WALK THAT BALANCE, UM, BETWEEN RECOGNIZING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN, UM, THINGS THAT WE SEE AS REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND, AND I THINK CERTAINLY LIKE THE FEDERAL STABILIZATION FUND, THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MM-HMM
PUTTING INTO, UM, ADDRESSING SOME OF THE GAPS THAT ARE BEING CREATED BY OUR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, I THINK THAT GOES ON THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WE, WE SORT OF SEE AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
UM, I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS, IS THE RIGHT ONE FOR US TO WRESTLE WITH ON, UM, WHERE DO WE JUSTIFY ONE INVESTMENT VERSUS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY WE ALL WANNA DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE, UM, THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND
[01:35:01]
WHERE'S THE CASE, WHY THIS EXPENSE OR THIS INITIATIVE, UM, RISES TO THE TOP.UM, AND I THINK THE BROADER, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BROADER DYNAMIC AS WE GET INTO THE FY 20, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA SET THE TAX RATE FOR FY 27 MM-HMM
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FY 28 BUDGET.
UM, BUT TO YOUR POINT, A LOT OF THAT IS ALSO GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH ALL OF OUR EXISTING SPENDING, FINDING EFFICIENCIES, UH, FINDING WAYS FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER ALL OF THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE WANNA DELIVER MM-HMM
UM, BUT, UM, BUT ALSO MANAGING WITHIN, UH, OUR MEANS.
COUNCILOR SIMMONS, THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND VERY QUICKLY, UH, PLEASE LET THE CITY COUNCIL KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, MAYBE A LITTLE EARLY.
I THINK YOU STARTED NOVEMBER, MAYBE I'M WRONG.
BUT AS YOU START TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT, THERE ARE GONNA BE MORE NEEDS TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CAN FORECAST THAT, UM, LETTING US KNOW IF IT'S GONNA HAVE ANY IMPACT ON SETTING THE RATE IS GONNA HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYER.
UH, AT THE LAST, UH, LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION AROUND INCREASING WHAT WE WERE GOING TO ASK, PARTICULARLY FROM THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, AND I KNOW WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE CAP, UM, PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE, WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS COMING.
SO TO WHAT DEGREE WE CAN FORECAST, AGAIN, FORECAST THIS TO THE TAXPAYER TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE HARD TIMES.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO TO SOFTEN THE BLOW, BUT ALSO TO INFORM US THAT IT'S COMING SO THAT WE CAN BE FULLY ENGAGED AND INFORMED.
ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON THE APPROPRIATION AND PLACING THE COMMUNICATION ON FILE? HEARING NONE, WE'LL DO THE ROLL CALL.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED AND COMMUNICATION NUMBER TWO, THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA HAS BEEN PLACED ON FILE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM EAN WONG CITY MANAGER RELATIVE TO THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT.
WANNA JUST THANK, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THE SCENES, UH, HERE TO, UH, GET THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, BEFORE US.
UH, THANK THE, UH, COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE.
UM, WE HAVE THE CHAIR TAHA JENNINGS HERE, SO IF YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS, UH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO, UH, WE HAVE TO TAKE ROLL CALLS ON, UH, FOUR OF THESE, UH, VOTES.
UH, THERE'S MULTIPLE PARTS TO EACH VOTE.
UH, AND SO WANTED TO PULL IT FOR THAT REASON.
AND THEN ALSO FOR, UH, YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I DO WANT TO TAKE A, JUST A QUICK MOMENT TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED PASSING OF A LONGTIME CPA COMMITTEE MEMBER KEVIN FOSTER.
UH, HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SINCE AT LEAST 2012, AND HE ALWAYS PUSHED A GROUP TO THANK AND OPERATE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS EQUITY AND BEING A VOICE FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T ALWAYS REPRESENTED OR HEARD.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE AND HIS WORK TO REALLY MAKE THE COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE.
UM, HE WILL BE MISSED, BUT THE POSITIVE IMPACTS HE HAD ON THE COMMUNITY, I'M SURE WILL LAST A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THANK THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR VOLUNTEERING, THEIR TIME AND WORK AND EFFORT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK, UH, DEPUTY BUDGET DIRECTOR DANIEL LISS FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR COORDINATING THIS YEAR'S PROCESS, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, UH, FOR REALLY PROVIDING A LOT OF EXPERTISE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
UH, THE CPA OR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW, HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR CITY PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, SINCE 2002, UH, MORE THAN $324 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, AND IT, WHAT IT USES FUNDS FROM, UH, LOCAL, UH, PROPERTY TAX SURCHARGE AND STATE FUNDS.
AND OVER, UM, SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE AS WELL.
UM, FOR FY 27, WE ARE RECOMMENDING, UH, $23,750,000 IN TOTAL, UH, 19 MILLION TO AFFORDABLE
[01:40:01]
HOUSE FOR, TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST, 2,375,000, UH, FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND 2,375,000 TO OPEN SPACE PROJECTS.UM, WITHIN THOSE THREE CATEGORIES, AT LEAST 10% OF UH, CPA FUNDS HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED.
SO, UH, FOR YEARS THE CITY HAS MAINTAINED, UH, 80% FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND 10% FOR BOTH HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AS WELL IN THE, UH, BOOK OF PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL.
AND, UM, OTHER THAN THAT, BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE STAFF ALSO AVAILABLE TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE, BUT AS YOU NOTED MADAM MAYOR, THERE ARE A SERIES OF VOTES TO TAKE.
WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE 80%, 10% ALLOCATIONS FOR EACH OF THE FUNDING CATEGORIES BEING, UH, STATE, UH, FUNDS, LOCAL SURCHARGE FUNDS, AND FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON ALL YOUR, ALL THE WORK THE CPA COMMITTEE HAS DONE, AND I APPLAUD YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, AGAIN, I I'M AWARE THAT NOT ONLY IS THIS OFTEN SEED MONEY, BUT IT LEVERAGES OTHER MONEY.
SO IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT, UM, ALMOST 200 AND WELL, $60 MILLION HAS GONE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING SINCE 2002, CREATING 3015 UNITS.
AND THAT HAS LEVERAGED $600 MILLION, UM, TO BUILD THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND, UM, AGAIN, WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND O OPEN SPACE PROJECTS, $32.3 MILLION SINCE 2002 HAS BEEN INVESTED.
AND I, I SAW THAT MONEY LEVERAGED AT MAGAZINE BEACH.
YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, SO FOR, YOU KNOW, AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE CITY WOULD PUT IN LIKE A HALF FOR A THIRD OR JUST EVEN ANYTHING IT, AND, AND THE STATE WAS INSPIRED TO MATCH THE MONEY OR, OR GIVE MORE OR TO TAKE ON THE PROJECT.
SO I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SOURCE OF FUNDING.
I AM PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED THAT THE GIFT OF THE WIND, THIS WILL MAKE POSSIBLE THE RESTORATION OF THE GIFT OF THE WIND AT PORTER.
THE PORTER SQUARE MBTA STATION.
UM, IT'LL HELP TO PRESERVE THE ODD FELLOWS HALL FACADE RESTORATION, WHICH I KNOW IS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM, BUT $500 TOWARDS THAT LARGER PROJECT.
AND IT WILL ALSO HELP TO FUND ANOTHER PROJECT CLOSE TO MY HEART, WHICH IS THE A DA ACCESSIBILITY OF ST.
AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH IN CAMBRIDGEPORT WITH A GRANT OF 250,000.
AND THEN YOU'LL BE FIXING THE BEL FREE OR THE CITY WILL OF CITY HALL.
SO I, I JUST, UM, I THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, TAHA AND I, UM, AGAIN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
FABULOUS, FABULOUS WORK YIELDING AMAZING RESULTS FOR THE CITY.
UH, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR THREE, YOU TO MR. JENNINGS.
UH, I, I WANNA CONCUR MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILOR ZZI.
I WAS, IT, IT'S IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO.
I KNOW IT'S NO HARD, IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT.
UH, I'M TRYING TO READ VERY QUICKLY.
THERE WERE, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO ST.
AUGUSTINE'S, BUT MY COLLEAGUE HAS DONE THAT.
UH, THERE WERE TWO OTHER ITEMS. I WANNA SEE IF I CAN FIND THEM VERY QUICKLY.
THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE CEMETERY AND I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT IT MEANT.
AND I WENT ONLINE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS THAT WE, I LOVE CEMETERY.
JUST SO YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA HAVE A PARTY THERE.
UM, WHAT IS THAT PARTICULAR, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING TO? AND I'M, I'M, IT'S B ONE.
THE, YOUR CEMETERY LODGE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU YES, I, I'M SORRY.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE CEMETERY STAINED GLASS WINDOW IS.
AND SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO, TO, I'M HAPPY TO SEE IT HAPPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW.
I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T VISUALIZE.
IS IT, IS IT IN THE CAMBRIDGE CEMETERY? UM, UH, THROUGH YOU MAYOR, UM, SIDIKI ON PAGE 20 OF THE, UM, PACKAGE, SO IT'S ON PAGE 20 OF THE REPORT, THERE IS A WRITEUP AT THE TOP THAT TALKS ABOUT, UM, THE GOTHIC STYLE BUILDING.
SO IT'S THE LITTLE CHAPEL, THE HISTORIC CHAPEL THAT'S ON IN CAMBRIDGE CEMETERY, AND THEN IT'S WINDOWS WITHIN THAT CHAPEL.
SO IT IS NOT A CHAPEL THAT'S, UM, UTILIZED, BUT IT IS.
UM, SO IT'S AN AMAZING HISTORIC BUILDING.
CHARLIE SULLIVAN PROBABLY KNOWS MORE, BUT, UM, THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF
[01:45:01]
THE PROJECT ON PAGE 20 OF THE REPORT.I SAW IT, BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BUILDING.
THROUGH YOU TO, UM, WHOEVER YOU ARE, MS. WATKINS.
I, I SAW THAT, BUT I SAID THAT CAN'T BE IT.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE STAINED GLASS WINDOW IS, BUT, OKAY.
SO THAT'S, YOU WILL, WHEN IT'S DONE, IT'LL BE BEAUTIFUL.
AND THERE WAS ONE, UM, RELATIVE TO, UM, BLACK HISTORY, AND AGAIN, I VERY QUICKLY, I CAN'T FIND IT.
UM, I THINK IT WAS AROUND ARCHIVING.
CAN YOU SPEAK, CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THAT? THAT ONE'S ON PAGE 19.
I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT ONE PERSONALLY, BUT THAT IS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE OF THE REPORT IS THE WRITEUP OF THAT ONE.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, WHEATFIELD FIELD, IT'S, IT SAYS THE, THE REQUESTER WAS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, HOYT FIELD IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMITTEE IN PARTICULAR.
YOU HEARD, UH, FORMER MAYOR KEN REEVES TALK ABOUT IT.
IT, THERE'S CERTAIN PLACES THAT WE KIND OF HOLD ON AND THINK OF AS OUR OWN, OUR WITH OUR NUMBERS DIMINISHING OR NOT.
IT'S A PLACE THAT WE KIND OF GATHER BECAUSE IT HOLDS A LOT OF HISTORY FOR A LOT OF US.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, UH, DID WE KIND OF, ARE WE INFORMING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THERE? AND IT WAS, IT, IS IT IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING AND HOW IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE KNOW, BUT IT'D BE IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW AS WELL THROUGH YOU.
MADAM MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE HAVE, UM, SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE ON THE LINE WHO CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
UM, BUT THIS IS WHERE THERE'S A PROCESS HASN'T BEGUN FOR HOYT FIELD JUST YET.
WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD UP FUNDING FOR IT.
SO I THINK IT SAYS IN THE DESCRIPTION, THE TOTAL PROJECT COST, UH, IS PROBABLY MORE THAN THIS.
OR WE ANTICIPATE FUTURE, UM, FUNDING REQUEST FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, SO THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, AS WE GEAR UP FOR THAT PROCESS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LINING UP FUNDING TO SUPPORT IT.
UH, THROUGH YOU MADAM, VERY QUICKLY THROUGH DIRECTOR JENNINGS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I'M PLEASED.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT IT IS AND IS, I MEAN, NOT WHAT IT IS SO MUCH IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION.
I MEAN, WE, WE, I THINK THE TARBELL SCHOOLS IN THERE, WHICH I WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, UM, THE CARIBBEAN, UH, BLACK CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY.
SO I, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE DOING IT, AND KIND OF BRING THEM ALONG.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS? YES.
COUNCILOR HEAD, COUNCILOR NOLAN, AND THEN COUNCILLOR SABRINA WHEELER.
UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, THANKS.
I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORK, AND WHEN YOU ACTUALLY REVIEW THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS INVOLVED IN THE RANGE OF THE OPEN SPACE AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE'S A REALLY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS THAT GOES THROUGH A RANGE OF THINGS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO I THINK WHAT I WANNA DO IS, ONE, APPRECIATE IT THAT IT DOES REPRESENT, I THINK, VERY DIFFERENT, UH, SEGMENTS OF THE CITY AND DIFFERENT LEVEL PROJECTS.
UM, WE CAN ALWAYS BE DOING MORE, BUT THESE DO SEEM TO BE ONES THAT, UM, I THINK THE CITY WOULD, WOULD, SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN.
AND THE, THE, JUST THIS SUMMARY NOTE, AND THEN IT'S BACKED UP AS, AS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORTS.
SO THE, THE, I'M EN ENCOURAGING FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT TO ACTUALLY JUST LOOK AT THE, THE LIST OF THINGS WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A, A LONG HAUL AND, AND APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK THAT, UH, THE COMMITTEE DOES TO GET TO THIS POINT.
UH, I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT I THINK THIS MARKS 25 YEARS OF CAMBRIDGE HAVING THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT.
CAMBRIDGE VOTERS, UH, VOTED TO ADOPT IT IN 2001.
I APPRECIATE THE, THIS, YOU KNOW, QUARTER CENTURY OF FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OPEN SPACE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND APPRECIATE THE FORESIGHT OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS 25 YEARS AGO VOTING TO ADOPT THAT AND TO TAX THEMSELVES MORE THE, THE ONE ON THE BALLOT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE ALL VOTE TO INCREASE OUR TAXES EVER SO SLIGHTLY SO THAT WE CAN FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE THAT SAME YEAR, BOSTON VOTERS REJECTED IT AND HAVING A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THERE'S STILL DOZENS OF COMMUNITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT, BUT I THINK IT IS JUST A, AN IMPORTANT REMINDER OF, UH, THAT WHEN CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS ARE GIVEN THE CHANCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, KEEPING A LITTLE MORE FOR THEMSELVES OR PUTTING INTO A COLLECTIVE PROJECT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOR COMMUNITY GOALS, THEY CHOOSE TO, TO CONTRIBUTE AND TO BUILD.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR US ON THE, THE COUNCIL AND FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, THAT BECAUSE OF THE FORESIGHT OF RESIDENTS 25 YEARS AGO, WE'VE INVESTED SO MUCH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
I YIELD BACK, COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY A THANK YOU THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, TO THE COMMITTEE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR
[01:50:01]
SELECTING THE GIFT OF THE WIND PROJECT.THAT'S, UH, BEEN A, A SORT OF A SORE SPOT IN PORTER SQUARE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
AND I THINK EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN THERE SEES A DECAY IN WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
BUT IT, IT'S, I THINK THE SELECTION OF THIS AS A, AS A PROJECT WITH THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT AND TO INVEST THE MONEY THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN, THAT IS A, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S SYMBOLIC FOR THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE THAT WE'RE THINKING OF ART AND WE'RE THINKING OF HOW PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES.
PEOPLE COMMUTE IN PORTER SQUARE EVERY DAY SEE THIS, AND RATHER THAN LIFT PEOPLE SPIRITS UP RECENTLY, IT'S PROBABLY MADE PEOPLE FEEL LESS EACH DAY WHEN THEY SEE IT.
AND THEY SAY, WHY AREN'T WE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF ART.
AND THE FACT THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS SELECTED THIS AND IS GONNA EXPEND THE DOLLARS AND TAKE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THAT, UH, SIMPLY TO MAKE, UH, A MOMENT IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE IN PORTER SQUARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER, I THINK IS A, UH, IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS CITY LEADERS.
SO I CONGRATULATE YOU AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING IT BECAUSE I ENJOY LOOKING AT IT WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT'S WELL DONE.
SO I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE WHO HAD WANTED TO BE HEARD.
SO, UM, WE BEAR WITH ME AS I I SAY THEM.
SO THE FIRST VOTE, ONE A, UH, THIS IS, UH, SO BASICALLY THE FULL VOTE, UM, WOULD BE TO ALLOCATE 80% OF THE FY 2027 CPA LOCAL FUND REVENUES, WHICH WOULD BE 16,000,200 AND, UH, $200,000 TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND APPROPRIATED TO THE CAMBRIDGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST.
SO WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL IN DOING THAT.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED THE AFFIRMATIVE, MADAM MAYOR.
UH, JUST FOR, UM, CLARIFICATION, YOU ACTUALLY ONLY NEED TO TAKE THE FOUR VOTES AS LONG AS YOU READ THE CONTENTS UNDER EACH VOTE.
SO WE COULD TAKE A ROLL CALL ON JUST VOTE ONE TO, UH, ALLOCATE FISCAL YEAR LOCAL FUNDS, AND THEN YOU COULD READ OFF 80% FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 10% FOR THESE PROJECTS AND SIMILAR DOWN THE LIST.
SO I'LL JUST, DO YOU, YOU'RE SAYING I CAN DO THEM ALL TOGETHER? YES.
SO, BUT AS LONG AS YOU JUST READ THROUGH WHAT IS UNDER EACH VOTE.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT FOR VOTE, UH, NUMBER ONE B AND C.
SO NUMBER B WOULD BE VOTING TO ADOPT 10% OF THE FY 2027 CP, A LOCAL FUND REVENUES, WHICH IS 2,000,020 $5,000 ALLOCATED TO HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AS FOLLOWS.
AND I, I'LL READ ALL OF THIS LIST, RIGHT? YEAH.
NUMBER ONE IS $43,000 APPROPRIATED TO THE CEMETERY LODGE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS NUMBER TWO, $200,000 APPROPRIATED TO THE CITY HALL
NUMBER FIVE, HALF A MILLION APPROPRIATED TO ODDFELLOWS HALL FACADE RESTORATION, WHICH IS THAT THE DANCE COMPLEX NUMBER SIX $650,000 APPROPRIATED TO PRESERVATION GRANTS.
NUMBER SEVEN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS APPROPRIATED TO THE PRESERVATION PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR.
NUMBER EIGHT, 250,000 APPROPRIATED ESTATE, AUGUSTINE CHURCH ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS NUMBER NINE $32,280 APPROPRIATED TO VITAL RECORDS CONSERVATION.
AND THEN NUMBER 10, $59,720 TO BE RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE.
WE CAN GO TO VOTE ROLL VOTE C OR WE ARE DOING A SEPARATE, WE CAN DO B AND C THEN WE'LL DO, WE'LL DO C I'LL JUST READ C NOW.
SO VOTE ONE C IS THAT WE'LL ALLOCATE 10% OF THE FY 2027 CPA LOCAL FUND REVENUES, WHICH IS 202 MILLION, EXCUSE ME, AND $25,000 ALLOCATED TO OPEN SPACE AS FOLLOWS.
$97,000 APPROPRIATED TO ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION LOI FOR RESERV RESERVATION NUMBER TWO $65,000 APPROPRIATED TO EXPANDING NATIVE SPECIES AT HELL'S HALF ACRE AND TREE CARE
[01:55:01]
ALONG MEMORIAL DRIVE.NUMBER THREE 1,000,430 $3,000 APPROPRIATED TO HOYT.
FIELD NUMBER FOUR $30,000 APPROPRIATED TO SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE LYNCH FAMILY SKATE PARK NUMBER FIVE, $400,000 APPROPRIATED TO WILDER LEE PARK.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON B AND C.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
SO $20,250,000 HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED, UM, FOR VOTE ONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO VOTE TWO, WHICH IS THE 2026 STATE MATCHING FUNDS.
SO WE HAVE THREE ROLL CALLS HERE.
VOTE TWO A IS 80% OF FY 2026 STATE MATCH REVENUES, WHICH IN THE FORM OF 2,000,004 AND TWO 2 MILLION AND $400,000 BE ALLOCATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND APPROPRIATE TO THE CAMBRIDGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST.
NUMBER OF VOTE TWO B IS 10% OF FY 2026 STATE MATCH REVENUES THE FORM OF $300,000 A BE ALLOCATED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS FOLLOWS.
NUMBER ONE, $50,000 APPROPRIATED TO BLACK CAMBRIDGE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS NUMBER TWO, $250,000 APPROPRIATED TO THE TARBELL SCHOOL FACADE RESTORATION AT THE COMMU CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND THEN VOTE TWO C, WHICH IS 10% OF THE FY 2026 STATE MATCH REVENUES, THE FORM OF $300,000.
ALEC BE ALLOCATED TO OPEN SPACE AND APPROPRIATED TO WILDER LEE PARK.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
UM, IN STATE MATCHING FUNDS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
WE'LL GO TO VOTE NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CPA FUND BALANCE.
SO VOTE THREE A IS 80% OF CPA FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS 400 THOU $400,000 IS ALLOCATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST AND APPROPRIATED TO THE CAMBRIDGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST.
VOTE THREE B IS 10% OF THE CPA FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS $50,000, IS ALLOCATED TO HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AS FOLLOWS AND APPROPRIATE TO CITY HALL WINTER WEATHERIZATION NUMBER VOTE THREE C IS 10% OF CPA FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS $50,000 IS ALLOCATED TO OPEN SPACE AND APPROPRIATE OF A WILDER LEE PARK.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
HALF A MILLION HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS PART OF THE CPA FUND BALANCE.
WE'LL GO TO THE FINAL VOTE, WHICH IS NUMBER OF VOTE FOUR A.
THIS IS THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CPA FUND BALANCE FOR ADMINISTRATION.
THIS IS $15,000 APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COALITION MEMBERSHIP DUES.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED THE AFFIRMATIVE.
$15,000 HAS BEEN ADOPTED AS PART OF THE CPA FUND BALANCE.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PLACE THAT COMMUNICATION NUMBER THREE WITH CITY MANAGER MANAGER.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE ON FILE.
THAT COMMUNICATION IS PLACED ON FILE.
WE'RE, UH, MOVING ON TO NUMBER 11 IN THE CITY MANAGER'S AGENDA, WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONG, CITY MANAGER, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AMEND THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE'S AUTHORIZED REVOLVING FUND ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A NEW REVOLVING FUND FOR THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION TO SERVE THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL ENERGY USE.
COUNCILLOR NOLAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UM, REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE.
UM, IT'S, UH, JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, WE DID DO A VIRTUAL PPA, WHICH IS A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT JUST TO TRY TO ACCELERATE
[02:00:01]
OUR OWN, UH, PURCHASING OF CLEAN ENERGY IN THE FORM OF A SOLAR FARM IN ILLINOIS, IN A WIND FARM IN NORTH DAKOTA.AND I THINK THIS ALLOWS US TO ADD TO THE EXISTING FUNDS.
UM, I DO, UH, WHAT WHAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW US TO DO IS SET UP THE FUND IN ORDER TO RECEIVE, UM, THE OVERAGE OR THE UNDERAGE FROM THE VIRTUAL PPAS AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S CONFIRMATION OF THAT FROM THE FOLKS AT THE TABLE.
UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ARE, WHEN WOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE REVENUE FROM THEM? I KNOW THAT, THAT, UH, THOSE, UH, FIELD, THE FIELD IS IN, IN PROCESS NOW, I BELIEVE.
SO I, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN ARE, DO WE EXPECT TO SEE REVENUE? AND I KNOW THAT THE RECOMMENDATION, WHICH I SUPPORT IS TO, SINCE WE HAVE THIS BEFORE US, TO NOT SEND IT TO ORDINANCE, BUT TO, UH, PASS IT TO A SECOND READING TONIGHT.
IS THERE A REASON WHY WE'RE BEHIND ON APPROVING THIS? AND WE ACTUALLY NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY POWER WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY ORDAIN IT TONIGHT.
SO IF, IF AN EMERGENCY EXISTS, WE ARE ALLOWED TO SUSPEND OUR RULES.
I BELIEVE IF, IF THE CITY SOLICITOR IS STILL HERE.
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THE TIMING OF THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO GET THIS IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT AND, AND HOW QUICKLY WE NEED THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA ADD ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING THIS NOW, NOW IS THE TIME.
UM, SO TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION, COUNCIL NOLAN, UM, THIS REVOLVING FUND IS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OPERATIONS ELECTRICITY USE.
AND, UM, WE'VE SIGNED A VIRTUAL POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE WIND PROJECT, THE BOWMAN WIND PROJECT.
UM, IT DID, IT ACTUALLY STARTED OPERATING A LITTLE SOONER THAN WE HAD EXPECTED.
SO IT STARTED OPERATING LAST DECEMBER, ACTUALLY.
UM, WE'VE BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS FOR IT.
WE ACTUALLY JUST RECEIVED OUR FIRST REVENUE FROM THE SYSTEM.
I THINK IT COVERED MONTH OF JULY, POSSIBLY.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS, SINCE IT'S ALREADY IN PLAY, BASICALLY GET ALL THE FUNDS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
SO WE CAN TAKE TO BASICALLY MOVE TO, FROM THE REVENUE, TAKE THE REVENUE FIRST, AND THEN, UM, THAT WOULD BE PRIMARY.
AND THEN CITY FUNDS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WOULD THEN BE THE SECONDARY, UM, SOURCE OF PAYMENT.
THE SECOND THING THAT WE'RE DOING ALSO IS WE HAVE SEVERAL ONSITE, UM, PV SYSTEMS THAT THE CITY HAS CONSTRUCTED.
AND THE BOWMAN PROJECT GIVES US MORE THAN ENOUGH WRECKS THAT WE NEED TO FULLY OFFSET OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTRICITY USE.
SO WHAT WE'VE JUST STARTED DOING IS SELLING THE RECS IN THE LOCAL MARKET FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES.
AND WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST, UM, CHECK FOR THOSE AS WELL.
JUST CAME IN, I THINK LAST WEEK.
AND, UM, THAT BASICALLY ENABLES US TO HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF, THE SAME OFFSETTING OF OUR ELECTRICITY.
BUT THAT ONE HAS A HIGH VALUE IN THE MARKETPLACE BECAUSE MASSACHUSETTS IS A REGULATED MARKET.
AND, UM, SO THERE ARE UTILITIES AND SUPPLIERS WHO ARE LOOKING TO, FOR THOSE, UM, THEY'RE SRE THEY'RE CALLED SOLARX.
SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON THAT I WOULD SAY IS ALSO, WE HAVE THE MONEY COMING IN AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALL AVAILABLE TO SPEND IT.
AT, AT SOME POINT WE'LL HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION.
'CAUSE WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CANNOT CLAIM CREDIT FOR THAT SOLAR ENERGY THAT WE ARE GENERATING HERE, BECAUSE WE CANNOT DOUBLE COUNT IT.
AND WE, LAST I LOOKED AT OUR REPORT, WE'RE ONLY PRODUCING 5% ON 6.5% ON SITE OF SOLAR, OF CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION ON SITE.
SO WE'RE USING THIS, UH, WIND FARM, BUT THAT'S ALSO FUNDING.
I THOUGHT THAT ENERGY WAS ALSO USED FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY AGGREGATION PROGRAM.
SO I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT DOUBLE COUNTING AND THAT, AND, AND WE ARE WAY, WAY BEHIND AS A CITY ON OUR GOAL OF, ON SOLAR GENERATION IN THE CITY BASED ON OUR NET INTERACTION PLAN.
SO I'M JUST, I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED, SINCE IT'S ALREADY RECEIVING REVENUE, IF THE SENSE OF THE CITY WOULD BE, WE SHOULD ACTUALLY ORDAIN TONIGHT OR JUST PASS TO A SECOND.
DIRECTOR CASS, UM, THROUGH YOU.
I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PASS IT TO A SECOND READING, CORRECT? YES.
SO IT WASN'T TO TRY TO ORDAIN TONIGHT, BUT IT WAS TO PASS IT TO A SECOND READING WITHOUT GOING TO ORDINANCE.
[02:05:01]
ZUI.SO I SUPPORT THAT AND AT SOME POINT WANNA UNDERSTAND THE FULL IMPLICATION OF SELLING OUR RECS.
UM, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL.
I JUST WONDERED, ONE, WHAT ARE THE ANTICIPATED REVENUES LIKE ANNUALLY? AND TWO, IT'S NOTE, YOU NOTE THAT THE EXPENDITURES WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT REDUCTION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS, OH, WE'LL, WE'LL YOU'LL BE USING THE EXPENDITURES TO MONITOR, BUT WILL IT ALSO BE USED TO SUPPORT GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PROJECTS? OR, WELL, YEAH, SO YEAH.
MORE ABOUT THE REVENUES, MORE ABOUT THE EXPENDITURES.
SO THE, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC FIGURE OF REVENUES RIGHT NOW.
UM, I KNOW THAT WITH OUR ONSITE SYSTEMS, WE COULD BE GENERATING 150 TO $200,000 A YEAR.
UM, FOR THE VPPA, I DON'T HAVE THAT FIGURE IN FRONT OF ME AND I COULD PROVIDE IT.
UM, AND I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR, UH, YOUR OTHER QUESTION.
SO YOU NOTE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE USING THE MONEY TO SUPPORT MONITORING, BUT WILL IT ALSO HELP TO SUPPORT REDUCING, UH, PROJECTS THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS? SO AT THIS POINT, IT IS NOT INTENDED TO, BECAUSE IT'S PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE VPPA.
THE VPPA ITSELF IS REDUCING OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
UH, IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY SAYING THAT EVERY, EVERY PIECE OF ELECTRICITY THAT THE CITY USES FOR OUR LIGHTS, FOR STREET LIGHTS, FOR PARK LIGHTS IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY.
SO IT'S FULLY OFFSET THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOR THOSE COUNCILOR
I, I THINK I'LL JUST, THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED.
UH, ANYWAY, THAT'S A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER FOR NOW.
OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? HEARING? NONE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR NOLAN TO PASS THIS, UH, REVOLVING FUND ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A NEW REVOLVING FUND FOR THE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION TO SERVE THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL ENERGY USE TO THE SECOND READING.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THAT, UM, ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PASSED TO A SECOND READING, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PLACE THAT COMMUNICATION ON FILE ON AMO.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THAT COMMUNICATION WAS PLACED ON FILE.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONG, CITY MANAGER RELATIVE TO AWAITING REPORT.
ITEM NUMBER 26 DASH 27, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER DIRECT STAFF TO EXAMINE WHETHER THE CITY CAN ENACT AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION IN CAMBRIDGE WITH ONE OR MORE SINGLE STALL RESTROOMS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE SINGLE STALL RESTROOM WITH GENDER NEUTRAL SIGNAGE.
COUNSELOR MCGOVERN, UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM SOLICITOR, UH, FOR THE REPORT.
I'M NOT THRILLED WITH THE ANSWER, BUT THAT'S NOT ON YOU.
IT'S, UH, I KNOW THAT, UH, I GUESS WE CAN'T, UM, REQUIRE THIS IN, IN, IN ORDINANCE, BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOMETHING, I KNOW IN, IN THE REPORT IT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT ISD WILL TALK WITH, WITH FOLKS AND MAKE THEM AWARE THAT, UM, THIS IS AN OPTION FOR THEM.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN BETWEEN A REQUIREMENT AND JUST A, HEY, YOU MIGHT WANNA THINK ABOUT THIS.
UM, IS THERE A BEST PRACTICE STANDARD? IS THERE A, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE FOLKS IN THE TRANS COMMUNITY, UM, AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN, UH, THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY AT THIS POINT, TO, TO, TO NOT FEEL, UM, EITHER, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION ABOUT WHICH BATHROOM THEY ENTER AND WHAT, UH, THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE FOR THEM.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WASN'T, YOU KNOW, THIS WASN'T JUST LIKE A NICE THING TO DO.
LIKE, I THINK THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT.
SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS AT OUR DISPOSAL? I THINK YOU THREE MADAM MAYOR I'LL START AND, UM, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LAZARO MIGHT HAVE MORE TO ADD, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE A REQUIREMENT IN PLACE, SO WE CAN'T HAVE A REGULATION OR AN ORDINANCE.
UM, THERE MIGHT BE OTHER WAYS THOUGH, OF GETTING THE, THE MESSAGE OUT TO, UH, CONTRACTORS OR DEVELOPERS OR, UM,
[02:10:01]
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE COMING IN WITH PLANS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, BUILD THESE PLACES.PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS I HERE REALLY IT AIMED AT RESTAURANTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN PARTNER WITH, UH, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMISSION TO, AS WELL AS MAYBE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION IN CDD, UM, TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION THAT ISD CAN LIKELY HELP PUT TOGETHER TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THOSE WHO MIGHT BE MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
COUNCILOR MCGOVERN, UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
I, I'D APPRECIATE IT IF WE COULD JUST MAYBE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE, WHAT WE CAN DO LEGALLY WITH AN ORDINANCE, HOW ELSE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, UH, ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO, TO THINK ABOUT THIS, THIS ISSUE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS MATTER? HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PLACE CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER 12 ON FILE.
THOSE AGAINST, SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS PLACED ON FILE.
WE'RE GOING ON TO CITY MANAGER.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM EON WONG CITY MANAGER RELATIVE TO THE 2025 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT.
CONSER NOLAN, YOU PULLED THIS.
JUST HAD A, A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE THIS, THIS REPORT TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL, UM, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE RELIED ON OVER TIME TO, UH, LOOK AT HOW IT IS THAT IT'S JUST OUR, OUR LARGER PROPERTIES ARE DEALING WITH THIS QUESTION OF MODE SHARE.
AND PARTICULARLY WITH THIS, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING, UM, SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE VEHICLES.
AS I, AS I READ IT, IT SEEMS THAT WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION, IT'S KIND OF MORE STEADY STATE BECAUSE THE, THE TDM PROPERTIES, SO THE TRANS TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE THE LARGER PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, DID SEE, UH, LESS OR HAVE SEEN SOMETIMES LESS, UM, SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE.
BUT THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF REMOTE WORK, IF I'M READING THAT CORRECTLY.
THAT, UM, SO THAT, I, I, I THINK THAT THE COUPLE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS HOW ARE, HOW DO WE SEE WITH THE FUTURE OF THIS MOVING FORWARD OF HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE, UM, BLENDING OUR WORK ON TRANSIT? 'CAUSE THAT'S CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT, THAT DOES INCREASE.
AND CERTAINLY THE FOLKS LIVING IN CAMBRIDGE ARE USING THAT MORE THAN THE FOLKS WHO ARE JUST A WORKFORCE IN CAMBRIDGE.
AND THEN SEPARATELY FROM THE, UM, AT THE END, THERE'S MANY CHARTS ABOUT MODE SHARE FOR PEOPLE AND ALSO WHERE THEY PARK THEIR VEHICLES AND LOCATIONS.
AND THAT IS ONLY FOR THE, THE TDM PROPERTIES.
THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER PLACES IN THE REPORT WHERE THERE IS RESIDENT SURVEYS OR A LARGER GROUP OF THE CAMBRIDGE WORKFORCE AND CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS.
BUT NOT FOR THAT SECTION OF THE REPORT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE EVER DONE OR COULD EXPECT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE? IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AS, AS QUESTIONS, AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T SEND THESE EARLIER TODAY, SO I KNOW YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS.
UM, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, UM, THE, I'M GONNA START WITH THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST, IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, I AM NOT AWARE OF A DATA SOURCE THAT WE HAVE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO LOOK AT, UM, PARKING LOCATIONS FOR, UH, RESIDENTS CITYWIDE.
UM, IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE THAT WE HAVE THIS, EVEN THE SMALL WINDOW INTO WHERE RESIDENTS ARE PARKING.
UM, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE? OKAY, GREAT.
IT MEANS, OBVIOUSLY THAT MAKES TOTAL SENSE ONLY BECAUSE TDM PROPERTIES ARE LARGE BUILDINGS.
SO THEY'RE GENERALLY PARKING, UM, IN THE, THE ONSITE GARAGE OR THE LOTS.
UM, THE FIRST QUESTION WAS ABOUT, UH, REDUCTION IN, UM, SOV RATES OVER TIME, UH, AND HOW THEY, UM, MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY MOVES TO HYBRID WORK AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
AND, AND HOW WE'RE DOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON OUR GOAL OF REDUCING SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLE USE.
'CAUSE IT'S STILL 45% OF OF FOLKS WHO ARE USING IT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, YOU KNOW, MUCH LESS ON FRIDAY, BUT THAT'S 'CAUSE THEY'RE REMOTE.
SO, UM, THE, I I THINK WE'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THE EFFECTS OF HYBRID WORK ARE GONNA BE, UH, IN THE FUTURE ON, UM, ON THE MODE SHARE KIND OF SPLIT.
UM, PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO LIVE AND WHERE TO WORK, PARTLY BASED ON, UM, THEIR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS OF COURSE.
AND SO WHEN ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS IS WORKING REMOTELY, THAT CAN HAVE AN EFFECT ON WHERE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LIVE AND WORK.
SO I, I THINK THERE'S SOME SORT OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SEE YET.
UM, THE, UH, THE OTHER THING TO MENTION I THINK IS THE NET ZERO TRANS, OR SORRY, THE, IT HAS A NEW NAME, THE ZERO EMISSION TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
UM, WHICH IS LOOKING NOT JUST AT PTDM PROPERTIES, BUT CITYWIDE, UH, AND, UH, FINDING, UM, OPTIONS FOR REDUCING SOV TRAVEL THAT ACTUALLY WORK
[02:15:01]
FOR PEOPLE.UM, SO I THINK ONCE THAT BEGINS TO BE IMPLEMENTED, WILL MAYBE SEE MORE MOVEMENT ON THE CITYWIDE NUMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR NOLAN.
AND OBVIOUSLY I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PROGRESS ON THAT CITYWIDE FREE, AFFORDABLE, FREQUENT RELIABLE SHUTTLE THAT GOES ACROSS THE CITY, COMBINING ALL OF THE SHUTTLES FROM VARIOUS PLAYERS.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
I KNOW IS, IS BEING STUDIED, I BELIEVE.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE WILL LEAVE THEIR CARS AT HOME ONLY WHEN THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS THAT THEY VIEW AS VIABLE.
SO, SO THOSE WERE THE QUESTIONS AGAIN.
I WAS, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE IT AND WOULD LOVE TO, UM, I'LL PROBABLY SEND A FEW FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT HERE.
'CAUSE I REALIZE THEY MAY BE MORE SPECIFIC THAN IS FAIR TO ASK HERE.
BUT, UH, THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF OUR, OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD INTO AN, AN ERA OF REDUCING THE ANCY VEHICLE AND MAKING IT A MORE LIVABLE PLACE FOR ALL.
SO I YIELD, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR SUI AND THEN COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
UM, SO MY BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS WAS, UM, MOST OF ALL, WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO, IF, IF WE WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE MORE GREENER TRANSPORTATION MODES, MODES, THEY SAID WE NEED BETTER, MORE FREQUENT, MORE RELIABLE AND EXPANDED BUSES AND TRAINS.
SO, UM, WE'VE GOTTA CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PHIL ANG TO WORK WITH US.
AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MBTA TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE, UM, BETTER SYSTEMS HERE SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN RELY ON MASS TRANSIT.
I WANTED TO ASK, I, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT I JUST WANTED, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS STUDY? THANK YOU, UH, THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
UM, I THINK THE, THE BIG TAKEAWAYS THAT I HAD FROM THE STUDY THIS YEAR ARE, UM, THE SMALL DECREASE IN REMOTE WORK DAYS, UM, FROM 24 TO 25.
UM, AND, UH, KIND OF SMALL INCREASES IN DRIVING ALONE AND TRANSIT, SORT OF COMPENSATING FOR THAT.
UM, AT LEAST IN THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY.
UM, LIKE YOU, COUNCILLOR ZI, I, UH, WANNA NOTE THAT IMPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE FOR REDUCING DRIVING ALONE.
UM,
UM, SO, UH, AFTER THE TRACK IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE MBTA COMPLETED IN 2024, UM, WE SAW A JUMP FROM 26% OF RESIDENT WORK TRIPS BEING USED, UH, OR BEING THROUGH TRANSIT TO 31% THIS YEAR.
UM, WHICH IS QUITE A BIG JUMP.
UH, AND I THINK PROBABLY REFLECTS THE, THE BETTER TRANSPORT, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
UM, ONE SMALL, ONE MORE SMALL THING.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT THE, UH, THAT WALKING IS THE MOST POPULAR MODE FOR PATRONS, UM, OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, UH, WITH ABOUT 48% OF PATRONS ARRIVING, UM, BY WALKING.
I THOUGHT THAT I FOUND THAT REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING THAT, UM, AND THAT MAKES SENSE.
UH, BECAUSE I THINK MOSTLY BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD TO PARK.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOS LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
I KNOW MY HUSBAND AND I, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
UM, SO I, I, MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE, DOES THE CITY, THE CITY DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN EITHER OF THESE SURVEYS? AND HOW DO WE TRACK, UH, CITY STAFF TRANSPORTATION PATTERNS? BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE 2000 EMPLOYEES.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY, WE, WE LOVE CITY STAFF, BUT I THINK WE MANY LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GETTING TO WORK AND WHERE THEY'RE PARKING, SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THEM.
UM, COUNCILLOR SUZIE, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE A COUPLE CITY PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE PTDM PROGRAM.
SO SOME PROPERTIES ARE, UM, SOME CITY EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED BY PTDM BENEFITS, AND WE DO HAVE, WE DO TRACK HOW THEY GET TO WORK.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, EVERY TWO YEARS THE STATE REQUIRES US TO DO A DEP RIDESHARE SURVEY, WHICH IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT LARGE EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO DO.
SO WE DO TRACK FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES HOW THEY GET TO WORK.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THIS COMING YEAR WE WILL BE STARTING, UM, THAT SURVEY AGAIN.
SO WE'LL HAVE NEW INFORMATION.
THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE I, I JUST THINK AGAIN, UH, IT, IT SEEMS THAT ABOUT 40% OF THE
[02:20:02]
PDM PEOPLE ARE DRIVING.WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVING AND COMMUTING.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO, UM, PLANT, MAKE SURE THEY CAN PARK SOMEWHERE.
'CAUSE UH, I THINK THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR SOME TIME UNTIL WE HAVE SHARED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND BETTER MASS TRANSIT.
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH PEOPLE WILL NEED A PLACE TO PARK.
WE WILL GO NEXT TO COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION, I MIGHT HAVE THIS WRONG, BUT I REMEMBER READING THIS AND SEEING THAT MAYBE THERE WAS 79, 79 PROPERTIES UNDER THE, UH, TDMP AND 11 OF THEM WERE NOT MAKE MEETING THEIR COMMITMENTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PROPERTY DOESN'T MEET ITS COMMITMENTS? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, OUR FIRST, UH, ATTEMPT AT LEAST, UH, WHENEVER THERE'S A COMPLIANCE ISSUE IS, UM, TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, UM, TO BRING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE.
UM, SOMETIMES THAT LOOKS LIKE JUST HELPING THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE TDM MEASURES THAT ARE ALREADY REQUIRED BY THEIR PTDM PLAN OR BY THEIR SPECIAL PERMIT.
UM, IN SOME CASES IT MEANS DEVELOPING NEW TDM MEASURES THAT WILL, UM, KIND OF EXPAND THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FOLKS WHO ARE TRAVELING TO THAT SITE.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS, UM, THROUGH BOTH THE PTDM ORDINANCE AND THROUGH THE SPECIAL PERMIT PROCESS.
UM, BUT WE SO FAR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER IN ORDER TO DECREASE THE SOV RATE OVER TIME.
UM, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD TO USE THOSE.
SEVERITY AND, UH, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU COULD FIX THE T MAYBE THAT WOULD, UH, SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS, BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT WITHIN YOUR SCOPE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES, OR ABILITY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR REFERENCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS REPORT BEFORE WE MOVE ON? HEARING NONE.
GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON PLACING CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 18 ON FILE.
THOSE AGAIN SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER 18 IS PLACED ON FILE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER AGENDA IN NUMBER 19.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM YIAN WONG CITY MANAGER RELATIVE TO A WAITING REPORT.
ITEM NUMBER 26 DASH 45 REGARDING REVIEW OF DECLINE IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNSELOR SABRINA WHEELER.
AND THEN I'LL GO TO THE VICE MAYOR, UH, NEXT COUNCILLOR, SABRINA WHEELER.
THANKS MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THIS AND THANKS FOR THE REPORT BACK AND, UM, SORT OF OVERVIEW OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TRENDS HERE.
UM, THE ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS YET, OR RED LIGHT CAMERAS YET 'CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
STATE GOVERNMENT, UM, LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE DID AUTHORIZE THE INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS, UH, FOR SCHOOL BUSES TO CATCH DRIVERS WHO ILLEGALLY PASS HALTED SCHOOL BUSES WITH THEIR STOP SIGN OUT.
I THINK WE PASSED A POLICY ORDER AROUND THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ARE SCHOOL BUSES HAVE ADOPTED YET, DO YOU KNOW? AND ARE THERE DATA TRENDS AROUND THAT? UH, THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, UNLESS, YOU KNOW, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY ON THAT.
STANDBY THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE LATEST UPDATE ON THAT.
UM, SOMETIME AGO I DID HAVE A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH FOLKS AT THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE KIND OF DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AROUND HOW TO, UM, IMPLEMENT THAT TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR FULL RANGE OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN, I CAN SPEAK TO THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ABOUT AND ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION AROUND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY AROUND INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE'VE CONTINUED TO SEE SOME OF THE, THE MOST DANGEROUS CRASHES, UH, INCLUDING ON CITY STREETS WHERE WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE KILLED IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
AND THEN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO IT WAS ON DCR CONTROLLED LAND, BUT IN CAMBRIDGE, UH, UH, A MIT PROFESSOR AND CYCLIST KILLED AT AN INTERSECTION THERE.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO ASK HOW THE, THE CITY, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZES HIGH RISK INTERSECTIONS.
UM, ESPECIALLY FROM A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN, BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND DESIGN AND, AND TURN HARDENING AROUND INTERSECTIONS, BUT PARTICULARLY FROM AN ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, JUST HOW WE PRIORITIZE ENFORCEMENT AROUND, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGH SPEEDS, FAILURE TO YIELD RUNNING RED LIGHTS, ILLEGAL RIGHT TURNS, ESPECIALLY BY LARGER VEHICLES, TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ONES.
HOW WE SORT OF PRIORITIZE THE MOST, UH, DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS AND HOW WE'RE USING DATA AROUND THAT TO, TO NARROW IN ON THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE SEE THE
[02:25:01]
MOST CRASHES OR THE MOST ILLEGAL TURNS.UM, AND IF THERE ARE MORE THINGS WE COULD DO TO BE, YOU KNOW, REALLY HONING IN ON THOSE, UH, DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS, UH, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, I'M GONNA HAVE, UH, MY EXPERT TRAFFIC LIEUTENANT, UH, ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO THE DEPARTMENT HAS A FULL-TIME TRAFFIC ANALYST THAT, UM, GOES THROUGH ALL THE CRASH REPORTS THAT ARE TAKEN IN, IN THE CITY AND USING THAT DATA, WE BREAK IT DOWN BY STREET ADDRESS INTERSECTION AND ALSO THE DEVICES INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION AS WELL.
UM, BECAUSE IN THE CITY IT'S NOT JUST, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S COULD BE PEDESTRIAN VERSUS MOTOR VEHICLE, MOTOR VEHICLE MOTOR, THE COMBINATION OF DEVICES IT COULD BE IN THE CITY GOES ON.
UM, WE THEN TAKE THAT DATA AND THEY CAN CREATE MAPS FOR US AND THE, THEY'RE COLOR CODED MAPS AND, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER YOU SEE THE DARK RED IS BASICALLY WHERE YOU SEE THE AREAS OF MOST CONCERN.
AND THEY'RE JUST, IT'S CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE LONGEST ROADWAYS MASS HOUR FROM WALDEN UP TO THE ARLINGTON LINE, INMAN SQUARE AREA OF HAMPSHIRE STREET, UM, CAMBRIDGE STREET, BASICALLY FROM THIRD STREET DOWN TO WINDSOR STREET.
THOSE SUCH AREAS, UM, OFFICERS DO, DO ENFORCEMENT IN THOSE, WHAT WE CALL HIGH ACCIDENTS, UH, AREAS.
AND THERE'S A 86 ALPHA CALLED DIRECTED ENFORCEMENT THAT THEY CAN CALL OFF ON TO SHOW THEY'RE ADDRESSING THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS.
UM, I KNOW CURRENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON AT HAMRE PROSPECT, WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS THEY'RE PUTTING IN A SEPARATED BIKE LANE.
AND THERE, THERE ARE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.
ALL THOSE AREAS AS WELL ALSO HAVE BIKE LANES ON THEM, UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALSO ADDRESS, CLEARING OUT THE CARS AND THE BIKE LANES.
BUT, UM, BASICALLY IT'S, IT IS SOMETHING, AND I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER RECENTLY HAS HAD THIS TRAFFIC ANALYST PREPARE REPORTS FOR HER COMMAND STAFF MEETINGS SO THAT THE HIGHER UPS IN THE DEPARTMENT CAN LOOK, SEE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE, AND THEN USE THEM IN PATROL OPERATIONS TO USE THE RESOURCES OF BOTH PATROL AND THE TRAFFIC UNIT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
COUNCILOR, ANOTHER THANK YOU, THAT'S HELPFUL.
UH, I MAY HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS OFFLINE, UM, BUT I'LL YIELD FOR NOW SO MY COLLEAGUES CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION IN YOUR REPORT.
UM, IT STARTS WITH 2021 AND, UM, MY THOUGHT WAS THAT, UM, I KNOW THERE WAS A DIP IN, YOU KNOW, GENERAL DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DURING THE COVID YEARS, AND IT'S REAL REBOUNDED A LITTLE BIT SINCE THEN.
I LOOKED AT THE, UM, OPEN DATA ONLINE AND, UM, IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NUMBERS, BUT I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD ASK, UM, BEFORE 2019 OR, YOU KNOW, 2019 AND BEFORE THAT I SAW MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS THAN EVEN NOW.
UH, DOES THAT MATCH THE STORY OR, UH, OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD AS WELL THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR? YES.
SO THE, THE NUMBERS WERE ON A DECLINE THEN COVID HIT SINCE THEN.
THEY BASICALLY HAD NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.
COVID IN 21, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY GRANT FUNDING FROM OGR.
SINCE THEN, UH, 2022, WE'VE RECEIVED THE MUNICIPAL ROAD SAFETY GRANT, WHICH HAS ALLOWED US ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
UM, THAT CRIME, SORRY, THAT TRAFFIC ANALYST I JUST DISCUSSED, UH, FOUND A HIGH COLLISION RATE AT BRATTLE AND SPARKS THAT AREA THERE WHERE CRAIGIE STREET IS, AND WE UTILIZED THOSE FUNDS TO SIGN OFFICERS THERE TO ADDRESS THE CRASH RATE BETWEEN BICYCLISTS AND MOTOR VEHICLES, THAT AREA.
BUT AS FAR AS THE TREND AND THE NUMBERS GO, YES, FROM 19 TO 20 WENT DOWN, 21 WENT UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN SINCE THEN THEY'VE SORT OF GONE UP AND PLATEAUED.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE RATIONALE FOR WHY THEY'RE STILL LOWER THAN P 2019 LEVELS? I UNDERSTAND LIKE, YOU KNOW, THESE GRANTS OR OTHER THINGS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND LIKE, I DON'T THINK THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, HAS DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAN IT DID IN 20 17 20 18.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD GO MORE INTO WHY YOU THINK THAT THERE'S STILL, UM, AGAIN, MAYBE THE NUMBERS ON THE OPEN DATA PORTAL ARE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT I SEE ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW CITATIONS PER YEAR THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
OUR DATA TRENDS MATCH THOSE OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND WE ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN MOST OF THEM.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES IN THE CITY DO APPEAR TO BE WORKING.
SPEEDING IS THE MOST COMPLAINT ABOUT THING IN THE CITY.
BUT THROUGH OUR SPEED TRAILER DATA AND THE DATA AT DOT, WE'RE NOT SEEING SPEEDING, UH, AS MUCH AS PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.
AND WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE GO OUT AND ADDRESS THIS, SO PART OF IT IS THE COMMUNITY INTERACTION ASPECT OF IT.
WE'LL SEND THE OFFICERS DOWN TO RUN LIDAR NEIGHBOR WILL COME OUT AND SAY, HEY, I'M THE ONE THAT COMPLAINED.
THIS HAPPENED RIGHT OVER HERE ON CLINTON STREET, ACTUALLY.
[02:30:01]
WITH THEM SHOWING THEM THE LIDAR, WHAT THE NUMBERS WERE ON THERE, AND THEY WERE SURPRISED AT WHAT THEIR PERCEPTION WAS AND HOW FAST IT WAS GOING.WE'VE ALSO DONE THIS ON MASS AB AS WELL.
UM, BUT ULTIMATELY WHY THE NUMBERS WENT DOWN IS WE, IF WE COULD PINPOINT IT TO ONE THING, WE COULD ADDRESS IT.
BUT WE THINK IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.
AND PART OF IT IS THE WAY THESE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES HAVE GONE, IT'S CUT DOWN ON THE ABILITY TO TAKE RISK, UH, SUCH AS RUNNING A RED LIGHT BECAUSE TRAFFIC'S CONGESTED TRAFFIC, CALMING WISE TO PREVENT TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC.
NOW, THE OTHER THING IS THE CITY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF, WITH THE WAY THE ROADS ARE DONE, GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SPEED UP THAT'S REALLY BEEN TAKEN AWAY ON MOST OF THE MAIN ROADS.
UM, BROADWAY, THEY'RE CURRENTLY DOING CONSTRUCTION THERE, PUTTING IN BIKE LANES AND PUTTING IN, UH, SHIPS IN THE ROAD.
AND, UM, THEY DID IT UP ON GARDEN STREET AS WELL.
UM, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, IF IT'S FOR THOSE REASONS, THAT'S LIKE A COMPELLING POSITIVE REASON, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CITY'S GETTING SAFER.
UM, AND I THINK THAT I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, MAYBE NOT FOR THIS SORT OF CONVERSATION, BUT JUST, UH, THE, THE REASON I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED IS THAT LIKE, IF WE JUST SAW THESE NUMBERS IN CAMBRIDGE, LIKE IT WOULD BE LIKE, OKAY, LIKE THERE'S CAMBRIDGE SPECIFIC STORY HERE, OR EVEN IF JUST OTHER CITIES THAT WERE ALSO MAKING ROAD CHANGES, AND YET IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE A NATIONAL TREND THAT LIKE, CITATIONS DROPPED IN 20 19, 20 20, THEY ROSE BACK A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, 10 OR LIKE 30 OR 40% OF WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE.
AND SO THAT JUST MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, DID WE, YOU KNOW, DEPRIORITIZE ENFORCEMENT AND THEN PEOPLE ARE NOW LIKE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT IN A WAY THAT I, I DON'T WANT US TO MAKE THAT THE NORM, BUT IT FEELS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFERENT EXPLANATION.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, OH, AT SOME POINT OR ANOTHER WE CAN HAVE A LONGER CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
WE HAVE COUNCILOR GOVERNED, AND THEN COUNCILLOR ZUI, AND THEN COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE REPORT.
UM, AND I LIEUTENANT, I DO, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE TAKEN IN TRAFFIC CALMING, YOU KNOW, I KNOW PEOPLE COMPLAIN BECAUSE IT, YOU CAN'T GET AROUND AS FAST AS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TRAFFIC AND YOU CAN'T GET ACROSS TOWN AS FAST AS MAYBE YOU USED TO.
THE BENEFIT OF THAT, THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING SLOWER AND IT'S SAFER.
UM, BUT A COUPLE THINGS I I, I WANTED TO MENTION, AND THIS IS MAYBE NOT JUST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT EVERYBODY UP THERE, UM, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS I HEAR A LOT, AND, AND I'VE WITNESSED THIS MYSELF, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT THE POLI THE POLICE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? AND WE DON'T WANT POLICE ON EVERY STREET CORNER, RIGHT? YOU GUYS ARE OUT DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND YOU CAN'T BE MONITORING WHO'S DOUBLE PARKED OR, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER ALL THE TIME.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND, AND REPORTED, AND I'VE SEEN IT WHERE THERE'S BEEN A VIOLATION WITH A POLICE OFFER OFFICER PRESENT, AND THEN THAT DOESN'T GET RESPONDED TO.
AND I THINK THAT CREATES SOME FRUSTRATION FOR PEOPLE.
UM, AND SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT OFFICERS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SEE A VIOLATION, THEY SHOULDN'T ENFORCE IT.
BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S THREE MAIN THINGS WE HAVE TO DO AS A CITY.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ENFORCEMENT, AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, I THINK WE TRIED WITH THE EDUCATION WE MADE THOSE BOOKS, THE RIGHTS OF THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY EVER GOT ONE OR WHERE THEY SAW THEM.
THERE'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED CASES SITTING SOMEWHERE.
UM, BUT, UM, I DO THINK IN GENERAL, AS FOR THE CITY, MR. MANAGER, WE DO NEED TO DO SOME KIND OF CITYWIDE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ABOUT ROAD SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY, RIGHT? UM, NOT JUST DRIVERS, BUT DRIVERS ARE DRIVING, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES THAT CAN KILL PEOPLE, UM, TO REALLY EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT BEING MORE COURTEOUS, SLOWING DOWN, BEING MORE CONSIDERATE, PAYING MORE ATTENTION.
UM, WE DO NEED SOME, I THINK WE NEED SOME SORT OF CITYWIDE LIKE MOTIVATIONAL KIND OF, UH, ACTION OR, OR, OR CAMPAIGN.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD, I, I WAS GONNA ASK, I MENTIONED THIS, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR, FOR, UM, FOR, UH, FOR BROOKE THAT MS. MCKENNA THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, NOT THAT I'VE EVER DONE THIS, BUT IF YOU DOUBLE PARK ON BOYLESTON STREET IN BOSTON TO, LET'S JUST SAY LET SOMEBODY RUN IN YOUR KID, RUN INTO THE APPLE STORE, UM, YOU'RE NOT THERE FOR MORE THAN FOUR SECONDS BEFORE A, UH, A VAN FROM THE BOSTON TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT PULLS UP BEHIND YOU WITH A LITTLE LIGHT ON AND A LOUDSPEAKER THAT SAYS, MOVE YOUR CAR.
[02:35:01]
YOU KNOW, DO WE, WE DON'T DO THAT.AT LEAST I'VE NEVER SEEN US DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, DO WE NEED, BECAUSE THE POLICE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AND HAVE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO, CAN WE CREATE SOME OTHER WAY? BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE PARKING IN BIKE LANES, DOUBLE PARKING, CLOGGING UP THE STREETS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T RESPOND FAST ENOUGH TO GIVE 'EM A TICKET.
BUT IS THERE SOME OTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO TO MOVE THOSE PEOPLE ALONG AND, AND, AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT? THREE, MADAM MAYOR? WELL, I'M EXCITED TO, TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE GONNA BE INTRODUCING, UM, AUTOMATED PARKING ENFORCEMENT, UM, YOU GUYS WONDERFULLY GOT THAT PASSED THROUGH THE, UM, THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE HOME RULE THAT WE NEEDED.
AND WITH THAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN DO THE TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT THAT IS SO CHALLENGING TO DO IN PERSON, WHETHER IT WAS BY A PARKING CONTROL OFFICER IN MY DEPARTMENT OR BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH ARE THOSE SHORTER TERM VIOLATIONS LIKE A BIKE LANE OR A DOUBLE PARKING.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE HIGH INCIDENT LOCATIONS, INSTALL THE CAMERAS THAT ISSUE THE TICKETS, UM, AND THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY WILL BE, UH, A, A BETTER WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE REALLY CHALLENGING IN PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, GET THERE BECAUSE IT'S, THEY'RE ONLY GONNA BE VIOLATING FOR FIVE MINUTES, BUT IT'S A REALLY IMPACTFUL THING THAT THEY'RE DOING.
COUNCILOR MCGOVERN, UH, THANK YOU.
AND SO YEAH, MY, MY TIME'S UP, BUT I'LL, I'LL JUST, I DO HOPE WE DO ALSO MAYBE AT ANOTHER TIME REALLY TALK ABOUT SOME KIND OF CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN AROUND RULES OF THE ROAD AND JUST EVERYBODY TAKING A BREATH AND BEING A LITTLE MORE CONSIDERATE OF ONE ANOTHER.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY, BUT WE HAVE TO PROMOTE IT AND REALLY GET BEHIND IT.
WE HAVE COUNCILLOR ZUI NEXT, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR FLAHERTY.
UM, BUILDING ON WHAT COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN WAS SAYING, I, UM, I AGREE WE NEED TO, I, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE INVESTING IN SAFER CROSSWALKS, UH, CRE, SAFER BIKE LANES, UM, BUT NOW WE REALLY NEED TO, I THINK ENFORCEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
AND I, AND I WAS LOOKING, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF CITATIONS, MY, MY QUESTION WAS GONNA BE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA USE THAT QUESTION, IS WHETHER IT INCLUDES WARNINGS.
BUT THEN SOMEONE SENT ME THE AUGUST 26 TRAFFIC CITATIONS FOR THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO IN AUGUST CYCLISTS THERE WERE 53 CITATIONS, BUT 49 WERE WARNINGS, FOUR WERE CIVIL FINES, AND THEY COLLECTED $80.
AND THEN WITH CARS, THERE WERE 266 CITATIONS, BUT 207 OF THOSE WERE WARNINGS.
35 HAD, WERE CIVIL FINES, 24 CRIMINAL, AND WE RAISE $3,265.
SO THIS JUST MAKES ME THINK, I THINK WE, I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT EXPECT, YOU KNOW, WHAT BEHAVIOR WE EXPECT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE, UM, GIVING MORE CIVIL FINES FOR, UH, TO ENSURE, UM, PARKING THAT, THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING OUR RULES.
AND I'M SORRY, I JUST LOST THIS GREAT MEMO.
UM, I, I GOT THIS IDEA FROM A FRIEND.
WILL THE CPD CREATE A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON DANGEROUS TURNING SPEEDS, FAILURE TO YIELD RED LIGHTS AND ILLEGAL RIGHT TURNS, ESPECIALLY BY LARGER VEHICLES.
WHAT SUPPORT COULD CPD, WHAT, WHAT DO THEY NEED TO RUN IT REGULARLY AT THE HIGHEST RISK RISK INTERSECTIONS IDENTIFIED THROUGH CRASH DATA? SO I JUST, I FEEL LIKE WHAT THE TRANS, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS DOING IS, LIKE, YOU'RE DOING A LOT.
I I REALLY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER WORK, AND I KNOW IT, IT SEEMS LIKE ENFORCEMENT, UM, ISN'T, UH, AS IT'S CONSIDERED OLD SCHOOL, BUT I ACTUALLY FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S RELEVANT.
I THINK IF PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHAT THEY CAN'T DO, AND IF WE'RE CLEAR, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
SO IN YOUR REPORT, YOU KNOW THAT THERE, THERE'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF STAFFING SHORTAGE AND, UH, YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE IN PATROL OPERATIONS AND THAT YOU'RE HOPING, UH, TO INCREASE THAT, MAYBE TO SHIFT RESOURCES.
SO I JUST, I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ONE, WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT DEVELOPING SUCH A PROGRAM, UH, OF ENFORCEMENTS ENFORCEMENT FOCUSED ON THESE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS WHERE LIKE BAD THINGS HAPPEN? AND TWO, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN YOUR PATROL OPERATIONS, AND HOW MANY MORE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE INTERSECTIONS AND ENFORCE TRAFFIC? WELL, I CAN START THAT TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
[02:40:01]
UH, WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED, IT'S MORE THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT, WE JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET AT.UM, IT'S NOT, I DON'T WANNA GO OVER THAT NUMBER, I JUST WANNA GET TO THAT NUMBER.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN SERIOUS STAFFING ISSUES FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND WITH THIS NEW, UM, UH, ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF HIRING, WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THERE, UH, SOONER THAN, THAN WE THOUGHT WE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO.
SO IN, IN THAT SENSE, UM, THAT'S GONNA PUT US IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO DO MORE ENFORCEMENT FOR SURE.
AND THOSE TRAFFIC QUESTIONS I'M GONNA GIVE TO THIS GUY THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, WHEN YOU DISCUSS A PROGRAM, ARE YOU JUST LIKE A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE TARGETED ENFORCEMENT AT THESE LOCATIONS? CONSI YEAH, I'M TALKING ABOUT TARGETED ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE A AGAIN, UH, WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE TWO TIMES I'VE CAMPAIGNED, THE MOST COMMON REFRAIN I HEARD WAS THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE.
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE CROSSING THE STREET.
THEY, UH, IT'S, IT'S SO THE WILD WEST OUT THERE.
SO I THINK ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.
AND I KNOW THE POLICE HAVE, YOU HAVE OVER WHAT, LIKE TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY, THIRTY, FORTY STAFF CAN'T MORE BE PUT ON PATROLLING? I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE, I BELIEVE IT'S CLOSER TO POSSIBLY 200, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE STAFFING IS.
BUT THE DEDICATED ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN IS SOMETHING WE'D ABSOLUTELY BE OPEN TO DISCUSSING OR WORKING ON WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, SO YES, WE'D BE OPEN TO IT, UM, GIVEN WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION.
AND I GUESS VERY SIMPLY THE ANSWER IS YES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YES, WE'D BE OPEN TO, BUT IT'S ALSO, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO SAY IT'S ALSO OFFICES HAVE DISCRETION AROUND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WHEN THEY PULL PEOPLE OVER, THEY DO HAVE DISCRETION.
I MEAN, WE CAN, WE CAN'T FORCE THEM TO WRITE A MONEY FINE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPAIGNS WHERE THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT.
AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD THANK YOU.
AND I YIELD, WE WILL GO TO COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, AND THEN COUNCILLOR NOLAN DOES A TIME CHECK.
IT'S 8:12 PM COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY.
SO LIEUTENANT, I WAS SORT OF, I THINK THAT KIND OF ANSWERS MY QUESTION, AND THIS PROBABLY ISN'T EVEN A FAIR QUESTION, BUT WITH THE EXPLOSION AND THE ANTICIPATED, UM, EXPLOSION OF THE USE OF MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES, UH, YOU MADE A GOOD POINT.
I THINK WITH THE INTERSECTION OF BRATTLE AND SPARKS, I KNOW IT WELL, IT'S DANGEROUS.
HAVING A COP THERE MADE A GREAT, UH, CHANGE.
AND I THINK IT WAS EXCELLENT USE OF RESOURCES.
I KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN, BUT CONCEPTUALLY THERE'S PROBABLY ISN'T A FAIR QUESTION FOR YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT CONCEPTUALLY, HOW DO WE, HOW AS A CITY WILL WE BE ABLE TO, UM, DO A ROBUST ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES, ALL BICYCLES, ALL AUTOMOBILE, UM, EVERY TYPE OF MODE OF TRANSIT.
UH, WHAT WOULD THAT REQUIRE? WOULD IT REQUIRE A, UH, A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MICRO MOBILITY DEVICES? UH, IS IT, IS IT SO MUCH OF A LIFT THAT IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PLAN FOR? BECAUSE I MEAN, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL ZUI NOTED, AND AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, TRANSPORTATION IN CAMBRIDGE IS A REAL CHALLENGE THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
SO THERE'S A MICRO MOBILITY COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S CALLED ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL.
WE CHANGED ITS NAME, BUT, UM, I SIT ON IT WITH DOT AND WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, WITH THE DISABILITIES COMMISSION.
AND, UM, WE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AS WELL, THE CURRENT RULES, WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THIS NEW LAW TO BE SIGNED IN.
RIGHT? SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING COULD CHANGE AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WOULD DO IT, RIGHT? CURRENTLY, WE, WE ARE ADDRESSING THE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LONGEST TIME IN THE CITY IT WAS MOTOR VEHICLE VERSUS BICYCLIST AND THEIR NEEDS AND WANTS AND THEM FIGHTING.
WELL, THE EESS SCOOTERS HAVE UNITED THEM.
AND SO, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND CURRENTLY ACCORDING TO THAT CITATION PORTAL DATA, WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE CITING THESE E SCOOTERS.
SO WE ARE ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS, UM, THROUGH A MIX OF EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND SO BASICALLY A VERY SHORT, VERY SUCCINCT WAY OF SAYING, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET REGARDING MICRO MOBILITY AND WHAT'S COMING.
ONCE WE DO, THEN WE CAN KIND OF REGROUP WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND COME UP WITH A PLAN AND GIVE THE COUNCIL SUGGESTIONS
[02:45:01]
OR ADVISEMENTS OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED.UM, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF THE IMPACT THAT THESE NEW MOBILITY DEVICES ARE HAVING ON THE CITY, YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE COMMUTING AND HOW THEY'RE ON SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES IN TRAFFIC ALL AROUND THE CITY, MAINLY THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
AND WITH THE STUDENTS COMING BACK, WE'RE GONNA SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT AS WELL.
UM, THROUGH YOU MAYOR, I, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION.
UM, I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, UH, ESPECIALLY SAFETY, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS JUST ONE PIECE OF A MUCH BIGGER PICTURE THAT I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK ON, INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND DESIGN.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE IS, UH, MORE PROACTIVE THINKING WE'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY ABOUT MICRO MOBILITY.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK THE REGULATIONS HAVE REALLY LAGGED.
UM, AND I THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO BE CONSIDERING, UM, HOW WE SET THE STAGE FOR SOME OF THE STATE LEVEL CONVERSATIONS THAT ALSO NEED TO HAPPEN, UM, BUT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
UM, AND THEN I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER MCKENNA, UM, HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE UPDATE, UM, ON BOTH, UH, SPEED HUMPS, UM, AND WHICH I KNOW AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPEED IS A, IS A BIG FACTOR.
AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IF WE CAN, THIS IS KIND OF GOING BEYOND WHAT'S THE IN THE PACKET.
SO I'LL LET YOU BRIEFLY CHIME IN AND THEN WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
UM, VERY QUICKLY, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE LAUNCHED OUR SPEED HUMP PROGRAM LAST YEAR AND WE ARE CONTINUING THAT AND LOOKING FOR OUTSIDE SOURCES OF FUNDING TO ENHANCE THAT AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALREADY, OR YOU HAVE AS THE COUNCIL, UM, SHOWED YOUR SUPPORT, UH, AT THE, FOR CHANGES AT THE STATE LEVEL AROUND AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT FOR, UM, FOR RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND SPEED.
AND I THINK FOR US, UH, CONTINUING TO PUSH ON THAT IS A, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT, UM, TO ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO AUTOMATICALLY, THEN THE MORE THE RESOURCES CAN GO TO OTHER THINGS LIKE MICRO MOBILITY AND UM, AND THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT AREN'T COVERED BY AUTOMATIC AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT.
COUNCILOR FLAHERTY, YOU SAID, I THINK IT'S A FAIR ANSWER AND WE CAN MOVE ON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILOR NOLAN.
UM, YES, THE STATE IS, HAS A BILL IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE WAITING TO REFILE OUR HOME RULE BASED ON WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HELD IN ADVANCE AND A DEFINITE, UH, WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HOW, OF HOW SOON WE'LL SEE THE PARKING VIOLATION TICKETING BE ABLE TO BE IN PLACE.
AND SHOUT OUT TO WILL BROWNSBURG, WHO REALLY SHEPHERDED THIS THROUGH THE SENATE, WHICH IT WAS LAGGING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS UNTIL HIS STAFF TOOK IT ON.
AND I HAD ABOUT 17 CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM TO MAKE SURE HE GOT IT OVER THE FINISH LINE AFTER THE COUNCIL HAD PASSED THAT.
I KNOW, I'M SURE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT GOT SICK OF HEARING FROM ME ABOUT THIS, SO REALLY GLAD.
BUT DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT'LL ACTUALLY BE IN PLACE? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU GAVE US A MEMO ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA TRY A FEW DIFFERENT ONES THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
WE'RE DEEP IN THE PLANNING OF THAT AND, UM, THE NEXT STEP WILL BE COMING FOR THE SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE APPROVAL SHORTLY.
UH, A LOT OF THE POINTS HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN, UM, MADE, OH, ONE QUESTION IS THAT THE MEMO TALKS ABOUT THE DATA SHOWS THAT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, CPD HAS ISSUED MORE CITATIONS IN THE SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES.
I DON'T EXPECT THE ANSWERS NOW, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO JUST GET A FOLLOW UP TO SAY HOW THAT WAS CALCULATED AND, AND MEASURED BECAUSE, UM, IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD TO KNOW HOW WE COMPARE SINCE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE THE DATA, UM, AND IT SHOULD BE DONE BASED ON, UM, CARS AND WORKFORCE, YOU KNOW, IS IS, IS IT CORRECTED FOR ACT? IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT DATA THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR, I CAN TELL YOU WHERE WE GOT THE NUMBERS FROM.
IT'S THAT, THAT CITATION PORTAL THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, IT'S STATE WEBSITE.
AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE MUNICIPALITIES SPECIFICALLY WITH LIKE BOSTON AND STATE.
THEY BREAK IT DOWN BY BARRACKS AND DISTRICT EVEN.
SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THE, WHAT, WHAT CITATION INFORMATION HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE STATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON THIS PORTAL.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE GOT IT FROM.
AS FAR AS THE SIZE OF THE DEPARTMENTS, THAT'D BE SOMETHING ELSE WE COULD LOOK INTO AS WELL.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT ARE THE SAME SOURCE WE GOT THOSE NUMBERS FROM, FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
YEAH, IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD TO KNOW IF THEY'RE CORRECTED FOR POPULATION BECAUSE, OR FOR MILES TRAVELED OR HOWEVER IT IS, BECAUSE YOU WANT A BASELINE, YOU WANNA BE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.
SO IF, IF WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, GREAT.
I DON'T WANNA CREATE EXTRA WORK.
UM, I DO HAVE, UH, SO THANKS FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, WE KNOW THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS, I KNOW THE INTERSECTIONS, WE'VE GONE OVER SOME OF THE DISTRACTED DRIVING, BUT IT'S, IT'S DEALING WITH AND PROACTIVELY UNDERSTANDING HOW THESE LARGE TRUCKS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY ARE, UM, HOW IT IS THAT WE CAN DO HARM REDUCTION AND MITIGATION.
SO DO WE HAVE A, A A SENSE OF WHAT, HOW WE'RE WORKING ON THAT THROUGH MADAM MAYOR? UM, WE ARE LOOKING AS PART OF OUR INTERSECTION SAFETY,
[02:50:01]
UM, PROGRAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, UH, HOW TO TURN HARDENING AT CORNERS TO, TO DO EXACTLY THAT, TO SLOW DOWN HOW THE TURNS ARE MAKING.AND, AND VERY SOON IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, YOU'LL START TO SEE, UM, AT OUR HIGHER CRASH LOCATIONS, WHEREVER THE GEOMETRY ALLOWS, UM, THEY'RE, UH, BLACK AND YELLOW, WE CALL THEM BUMBLEBEES, UM, THAT ARE, ARE, ARE PUT OUT IN A WAY THAT WILL SLOW SIGNIFICANTLY SLOW VEHICLES, UM, INCLUDING LARGER VEHICLES AS THEY'RE MAKING TURNS.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT COMING UP SHORTLY.
UM, FOR ALL THE WORK ON THIS, I KNOW WE'VE KIND OF BEEN PEPPERING YOU WITH, WITH QUESTIONS AND WE, WE DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS THAT WE GET TO MORE SAFETY.
AND I WANNA ECHO WHAT SEVERAL OF US HAVE ALSO SAID IS THE MORE WE CAN GET EDUCATION OUT THERE FOR ALL USERS OF THE ROADS, THAT THAT THE RULES OF THE ROAD IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD DOCUMENT.
'CAUSE IT DOES LAY OUT WHEN IT IS THAT YOU SHOULD DO A CERTAIN THING, BUT FOR DRIVER, FOR PEDESTRIAN, FOR CYCLISTS.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF, OF E MOBILITY, THE SOONER WE CAN GET TO UNDERSTANDING THAT, 'CAUSE ESPECIALLY NOW WITH STUDENTS BACK, WE DEFINITELY SEE IT, UM, UH, MANY OF THE, THE USERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT, FOR INSTANCE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE GOING THE WRONG WAY IN A BIKE LANE.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR NOLAN, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS HEARING? NONE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PLACE CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 19 ON FILE.
THOSE AGAIN SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER 19 IS PLACED ON FILE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONG, CITY MANAGER REGARDING WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE REPORTING FROM THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT COUNCIL, ZU, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.
SAW THAT THERE WAS ZERO DETAINERS AND ZERO WARRANTS.
I, I DO WANNA NOTE ONE ENTRY THOUGH, UM, IN JULY, AN ICE OFFICER HAD CALLED AHEAD OF A HOME VISIT TO CONFIRM THERE HAD BEEN NO QUOTE, DANGEROUS INCIDENTS AT THE ADDRESS BEFORE GOING.
AND I, I DEFINITELY CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THAT MIGHT CALL, GET THAT MIGHT CALL MIGHT GET ANSWERED ON REFLEX.
UM, BUT JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO TREAT THAT WITH THE SAME MINDFULNESS AND, UH, CAUTION BECAUSE WE HAVE AGREED THAT WE CANNOT COOPERATE WITH ICE AND IN, IN SOME WAYS THIS IS OUR OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO ICE.
ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS? HEARING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A VOICE VOTE ON PLACING CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER 19 ON FILE.
CITY MANAGER AGENDA NUMBER 19 IS PLACED ON FILE.
THIS IS A COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONG, CITY MANAGER REGARDING THE CAMBRIDGE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
COUNCILOR NOLAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
I THINK SINCE THE NEXT COMMUNICATION NUMBER 25 IS VERY SIMILAR, I'D LIKE TO SUSPEND THE RULES JUST SO WE CAN, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TALK AND DISCUSS BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
COUNCILOR NOLAN IS MOVING TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE THESE MATTERS TOGETHER.
THOSE AGAIN? SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE HAVE 25 AS WELL BEFORE US, WHICH IS TRANSMITTED FROM IAN WONGS, ANY MANAGER RELATIVE TO APPOINTMENTS TO THE JOINT CHILDCARE ACCESS TASK FORCE.
I I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS.
AND ALSO, FIRST I WANTED TO START OUT THANKING YOUR OFFICE, MAYOR SIDIKI.
'CAUSE I KNOW THIS HAS TAKEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, OF TIME AND EFFORT, BUT ALSO ENERGY AND PASSION ON THE PART OF YOUR OFFICE.
UM, A FEW DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND ALSO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
AND ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF, UH, CHERYL IS STILL HERE.
BUT, UM, IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A JOINT EFFORT.
AND I KNOW OUR, OUR, OUR DCM, UH,
THIS IS A MILESTONE THAT IS OCCASIONED BY A COUPLE YEARS OF WORK BUILDING ON OUR EFFORTS TO INCREASE CHILDCARE ACCESS.
WHAT IT ALSO HAS DONE TO REMIND US ALL IS THIS CAME OUT OF A CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES.
WE HAVE THE SOCIAL HOUSING TASK FORCE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN LAUNCHED.
THIS IS ONE THAT IS LAUNCHED WITH FOR THE CHILDCARE ACCESS AND EXPANSION TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE, ONE OF THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
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A HIGH QUALITY, AVAILABLE, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS AS YOUNG AS WE CAN GO.RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DOING IT FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS.
WE HAVE IT FOR MOST THREE YEAR OLDS, BUT NOT ALSO THE, THE CHARGE FOR THIS, UH, TASK FORCE, WHICH I AM REALLY HAPPY TO BE CO-CHAIRING WITH, UH, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN AND ALSO WITH, UH, MAYOR SIDIKI LEADING US AS WELL.
I, I THINK THE ONLY QUESTIONS IS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT, THAT, UH, THE CITY WANTS TO SAY AS WE LAUNCH THIS EFFORT AND HOW IT IS THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD? OR, UH, MAYOR SIDIKI OR COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN, IF YOU WANTED TO, UM, TO ADD TO THIS.
'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND IT REALLY IS, UM, INCREDIBLY EXCITING TO THINK THAT WE WILL BE DOING THIS IN LAUNCHING THIS.
DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? UH, YES.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, THROUGH YOU.
YEAH, JUST TO ECHO THIS IS, THIS IS EXCITING.
IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AROUND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION HAS BEEN SO LONG AND GOING ON FOR SO MANY YEARS IN THE CITY.
AND TO THINK JUST WITHIN THE LAST FIVE, YOU KNOW, OR SO, WE'RE NOW MOVING TO, UM, YOU KNOW, FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLDS AND, AND, AND I MEAN, ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS AND, AND SOME THREE AND A HALF YEAR OLDS, UM, BEING SERVED AND NOW POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, THREE YEAR OLDS, WHICH, UH, IS EVEN BEFORE KIDS ENTER SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT PROGRAM, BUT ONE IN WHICH WE CAN, WE CAN HELP AND ASSIST MORE FAMILIES AND, AND, AND MORE CHILDREN.
I, I TOO WANT TO THANK, UH, MADAM MAYOR.
I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND COUNCILOR NOLAN AND, AND, AND PATRICK ON YOUR STAFF WHO REALLY BEEN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, GREAT AT ORGANIZING THIS AND PULLING THIS TOGETHER.
IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
AND I'LL JUST ECHO THE APPRECIATION AND SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL, UH, BEEN EXCITED TO WORK AROUND.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE LONG UNDERSTOOD, UH, THAT THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF A CHILD'S LIFE ARE SO, UH, IMPORTANT.
AND WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO LEAD, I THINK, ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
AND, UH, OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IS A, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT COMMITMENT, AS WELL AS OUR OTHER PROGRAMS, UM, AROUND EXTENDED DAY AND SUMMER, UH, CARE TO FAMILIES WITH THE GREATEST, UH, FINANCIAL NEED.
AND SO GETTING THIS TASK FORCE TOGETHER WILL PROVIDE US WITH, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN BY, UH, EXPANDED ACCESS.
AND SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH, UH, COUNCILLOR NOLAN AND MCGOVERN ON THIS AND, UH, TO KEEP THE ENTIRE BODY UPDATED ON THE PROGRESS.
AND SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF, UM, WHO'S WHO'VE BEEN IN INVOLVED AS CITY MANAGER AND DR. OLSON AND, UH, A CM KINI.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT TO YOU ALL TO SAY ANY FEW WORDS YOU, YOU'D LIKE, UH, SURE.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO, UM, THE MAYOR, UH, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN, UH, COUNCILOR NOLAN AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE BROADER PRIORITIZATION.
UM, I DO THINK THIS BUILDS ON A LOT OF THE REALLY GREAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SO LONG, AND THAT LED TO THE ROLLOUT OF THE UNIVERSAL PRE-K PROGRAM.
UM, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY, UH, FAMILIES WHO ARE STILL INCREDIBLY BURDENED, UH, BY THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF CHILDCARE.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BOTH FOR, UH, OUR FAMILIES, UM, BUT ALSO FOR, FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY, UH, PROGRAMMING.
UM, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS TASK FORCE, I THINK THERE'S BOTH REALLY IMPORTANT IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS AND PROGRAM DESIGN DISCUSSIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD AND ALSO DECISIONS AS WE THINK ABOUT, UM, WHERE TO EXPAND AND HOW TO BUILD OUT A WORK PLAN, UM, FOR THE COMING YEARS.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS GETTING STARTED, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, KINI.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, CHERYL, WHO I BELIEVE IS ONLINE, AND MICHELLE GODFREY, UM, FROM OUR TEAM, THEY'VE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK, UM, IN THIS AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNCIL TO KNOW IS THAT WHEN THE FOCUS ON INFANTS AND TODDLERS DIDN'T JUST SORT OF COME OUT OF, UH, STAFF CONVERSATION AND ISOLATION FROM THE COMMUNITY, UH, THIS IS AN AREA UPON REFLECTION AND, AND CONVERSATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS THAT WE CLEARLY ARTICULATED A NEED.
AND SO AS WE MOVE INTO THIS WORK, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO BE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO WORKING ON A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, UM, INFORMED US ON.
AND SO, UM, IT IS OUR GOAL ON OUR TENT TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THAT CAMBRIDGE HAS DONE IN TERMS OF EARLY EDUCATION, EXPANDING ACCESS TO ALL FAMILIES.
I'M NOT SURE IF CHERYL WAS ON, IF SHE WANTS TO ADD A COMMENT.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO ADD OTHER THAN TO SHARE THE EXCITEMENT THAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT.
THE CITY'S MADE SUCH TREMENDOUS, UM, COMMITMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN THE CAMBRIDGE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AND WE ARE SERVING MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
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OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED THIS EVENING, UM, FAMILIES OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS STILL STRUGGLE TO FIND AND AFFORD HIGH QUALITY CARE.SO I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED, UH, TO JOIN MANY, UM, ON, ON THIS CALL AND AROUND, AROUND YOUR TABLE, UM, TO TACKLE THIS, UM, AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THESE FAMILIES.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO NOW, WE'LL DO A, UM, VOICE VOTE ON THE FIRST, UH, COMMUNICATION.
UM, SO THAT'S COMMUNICATION NUMBER 24 TO PLACE THAT ON FILE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
CITY MANAGER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24 IS PLACED ON FILE FOR CITY MANAGER.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL AND APPROVING THE APPOINTMENTS AND THEN PLACING THE CMA ON FILE.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
WE ARE DONE WITH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AGENDA.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO POLICY ORDERS.
WE'VE DISPOSED OF ONE AND THREE.
PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MADAM MAYOR COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
SO YOU'RE PULLING NUMBER SEVEN.
AND THEN I'LL PULL, UM, NUMBER NINE AND 11.
I JUST WANTED TO PULL, UH, 10 AND 12, JUST TO BE ADDED.
COUNCIL, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, YOU DID PULL NUMBER FOUR, RIGHT? SHE DID.
SO FOR THE RECORD, WE'VE PULLED NUMBER FOUR.
WE'VE PULLED NUMBER SEVEN, WE'VE PULLED NUMBER NINE.
WE PULLED NUMBER 10, 11, AND 12.
AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON ADOPTING ITEMS NUMBER TWO, FIVE, SIX, AND EIGHT WITH THE ADOPTION COUNCILOR ZUBIE.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE BOUNDS OF THE POLICY ORDERS ADOPTED.
WE'LL GO TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER FOUR.
THIS IS THAT THE CITY MANAGERS REQUESTED TO CONFER WITH THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED JULY 4TH RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE CHERRY STREET, HARVARD STREET, AND FLETCHER MAYNARD ACADEMY AREA TO ENSURE THAT THIS SPOT NOT BE UTILIZED FOR THE ILLEGAL USE OF FIREWORKS.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILLOR SIMMONS AND COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES, UM, ZUBIE AND SABRINA WHEELER BROUGHT IN AN AMENDMENT AROUND EARLIER TODAY.
UM, AND I'LL LET THEM, LET THEM SPEAK TO THEIR AMENDMENT, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND THEN I'LL SPEAK.
BUT LET ME ALSO YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR FLARED, IF HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING NOW, COUNCILOR FLAHERTY.
I, I NOTICED THE AMENDMENT TOO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M HAVING SOME, UM, DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE RATIONALE, THE AMENDMENT, BECAUSE THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A, UH, CROWD CONTROL AND A NUISANCE, UM, UM, FUNCTION OF THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S THEIR VISIBILITY, I THINK THAT, UM, IS EFFECTIVE IN THESE SITUATIONS.
UH, SO I, I'M, I'M HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THE RATIONALE TO, UH, ELIMINATE THEM BY AMENDMENT FROM THE POLICY ORDER.
SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR IT, WHAT THE RATIONALE IS.
BUT, SO I, I YIELD AT THIS MOMENT, SIMMONS MAD MAYOR.
I YIELD TO COUNCIL SABRINA WHEELER AND THEN TO COUNCIL ZUBE.
SO THESE AMENDMENTS ARE FROM COUNCILOR ZUBE AND COUNCILOR SABRINA WHEELER.
COUNCILOR ZUBE, DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? YEAH.
UH, I, I DO WANNA THANK COUNCILOR SIMMONS AND FLAHERTY FOR FILING THIS.
I, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAVIGATE, AND I DO WANNA EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, WORKING TOWARDS EXPLORING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING HERE.
SO THE AMENDMENT THAT IS ON EVERYONE'S DESKS, UH, THAT I PROPOSED WITH SABRINA WHEELER, IS ASKING FOR A COORDINATED RESPONSE LED BY THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT
[03:05:01]
AND ENGAGEMENT WITH HEART.IT, IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I, I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE, THE USE OF THOSE FIREWORKS, UM, SHOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, TO BE ABLE TO ENACT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THE POLICE MIGHT COME AND GO, AND THE FIREWORKS MIGHT COME AND GO.
AND I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CREATE ROOM FOR A SHIFT IN THAT BEHAVIOR AND NOT NECESSARILY SOLELY BEING REACTIVE.
I'LL DEFER TO COUNSELOR SABRINA WHEELER, IF HE HAS ANYTHING HE WANTS TO ADD.
YEAH, SO THE QUESTIONS, UM, FROM THE SPONSORS, AND I WOULD ECHO COUNCILOR IAN THANKING FOR THINKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND PUTTING IT IN TO THE, THE RATIONALE FOR THE AMENDMENTS.
I THINK IT, IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THAT THE ACTIVITY HERE, FIREWORKS IS NOT VIOLENT.
THERE'S NO SUGGESTION THAT IT'S VIOLENT.
THERE'S NO SUGGESTION THAT IT'S RELATED TO A VIOLENT ACTIVITY.
AND TO GO ALONG WITH THE CITY'S APPROACH OF TRYING TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND BEHAVIORS THAT AREN'T VIOLENT, THERE'S NOT A, A WEAPON INVOLVED HERE.
THERE'S NOT A GUN, THERE'S NOT A KNIFE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT BE THE MEANS OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT HERE.
UM, AND ALSO TO THE POINT ABOUT IT ELIMINATING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T DO THAT.
WE, UM, KEPT THE LANGUAGE FROM THE ORIGINAL POLICY ORDER THAT TALKS ABOUT O OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS.
IF THERE IS A PART HERE WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, RELEVANT, THEY WOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THAT UN OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS.
UH, IT'S JUST SUGGESTING THAT THE LEAD IN THIS BE THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, SINCE THIS IS, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREE, IS A NONVIOLENT ISSUE.
ONE OF THE WAREHOUSES TALKS ABOUT THE POLICE RESPONDING AND THEN THE ACTIVITY STARTING UP AGAIN WHEN THE POLICE LEAVE.
IT'S SORT OF SAYING THE APPROACH RIGHT NOW ISN'T, ISN'T WORKING, SUGGESTING THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A NONVIOLENT ACTIVITY, THE LEAD SHOULD BE THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE IS A PART WHERE THE POLICE SHOULD BE INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS CAN BE INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT JUST THAT THE LEAD DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
I GO BACK, SO THESE ARE THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE US.
WE WILL HAVE TO VOTE THEM UP OR DOWN.
AND THEN, UM, THEN THERE WOULD BE ADOPTION OF THE PO.
SO, DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE US FROM THE BODY.
UM, I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR SIMMONS AND FLAHERTY.
I, I, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO, I THINK THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND HEART SHOULD BE INVOLVED.
IT WOULD BE GREAT THAT THEY WOULD BE INVOLVED.
I AGREE THAT THIS ISN'T VIOLENT ACTION.
SO COUNCILOR SABRINA WHEELER, I LIKE, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT I, I THINK, I THINK, UH, PEOPLE WILL BE MORE RESPONSIVE IF, IF THE POLICE ARE PRESENT.
SO I, I THINK THEY, THEY NEED TO BE THE, THE LEAD DEPARTMENT THERE WORKING IN MAYBE IN COLLABORATION WITH THIS COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND HEART COUNSELOR.
BEFORE WE GO BACK TO COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, ANYONE ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, UM, GIVEN THAT THIS IS, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THINK LIKE FIREWORKS AND, AND WHATNOT.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN HOPING FOR, FOR A WHILE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE CARE TEAM IS NOT A 24 HOUR.
I MEAN, MOST OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AT NIGHT AND OVER THE 4TH OF JULY, UH, HOLIDAY.
SO, UM, I THINK INVOLVING, I THINK IN THE ORIGINAL ORDER, IT SAYS, UM, NOT JUST THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT DOES SAY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, OF WHICH, UH, THE CAMBRIDGE, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT WOULD, WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT, UH, IN THAT AREA.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY COULD NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND IF THESE CALLS COME IN AT 10 11, 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT OVER A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, UM, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I, I ALSO THINK THAT THE, WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE, WE HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE MORE FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY BUILDING AND, UM, RELATIONSHIPS THAT I, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE, THE FOLKS WHO ARE, UH, INVOLVED IN THIS.
SO I, I CERTAINLY DON'T, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NAME THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS, AS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE IT, IT IS A, YOU KNOW, IT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT VIOLENT, AND I AGREE WITH THAT.
IT, IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, ISSUE TOO.
SO I, I, UH, I I WOULD NOT WANT TO, UM, STRIKE THEM FROM, FROM THE ORDINANCE.
ONE THING I DID WANNA SAY, UM, IS THAT LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE KIND OF THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I THINK ARE THE MOST INVOLVED, UM, ARE CAMBRIDGE FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS,
[03:10:01]
EMERGENCY MEDICAL STAFF, REALLY CAMBRIDGE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.SO THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL, UM, I KNOW THERE'S A BLANKET RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, UH, SECTION.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, I AGREE THAT I THINK IF WE JUST LISTED ALL OF THEM OUT TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED JULY 4TH RESPONSE RESPONSE PLAN, I THINK THAT WOULD GET AT SOME OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONCERN.
'CAUSE INHERENTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, THERE IS SOME CIVIL ENFORCEMENT HERE THAT DOES HAPPEN, UM, TO POSSESS.
THERE'S NO JAIL TIME FOR, FOR POSSESSING FIREWORKS.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, SOMEONE GETS HURT.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A LOT OF, I THINK ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED.
SO I AM TOTALLY FINE WITH COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT BEING LISTED.
UM, BUT I ALSO, I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY LIST, ACTUALLY INHERENTLY THE, WHAT IT HAPPENS NOW IS MULTIPLE, UH, APARTMENTS, NOT JUST THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE.
UM, IT'S PARTICULARLY ECC, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, WHEN THEY DO GET CALLS ABOUT FIREWORKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T, I WAS CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? YES.
I WAS TRYING TO SEND THIS TO NAOMI TO SHOW IT TO HER, AND I CAN SEND IT ALONG TO MY COLLEAGUES SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING,
WHAT HAPPENS AT 10 O'CLOCK AFTER THE REGULAR, UM, FIREWORKS, YOUNG PEOPLE THAT LIVE THAT ARE INVITED BY THE GENTLEMAN THAT LIVES AT THE CORNER OF CHERRY STREET AND HARVARD FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS THROUGH COMMISSIONER HAAS, COMMISSIONER BRANDVILLE BARD, COMMISSIONER ELO, AND NOW WITH COMMISSIONER WELLS, THEY START AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT FIRING OFF THOSE FIREWORKS.
AND IT GOES TO TWO IN THE MORNING.
THEY ARE IN THE FLETCHER MAIN ACADEMY SCHOOLY YARD.
SO WHO KNOWS, IT'S HARD TO, SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, 'CAUSE THEY DON'T CLEAN UP BEHIND THEMSELVES, THE DPW HAS TO COME DOWN THE DAY AFTER.
BUT WHAT'S THE HARDSHIP? IS THE HARDSHIP IS YOUNG PE PEOPLE THAT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN.
THIS IS GOING ON TO 2:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
SO I'LL CALL THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE IF YOU GO DOWN THERE, THERE'S ABOUT 40 PEOPLE ON THE STREET.
THEY DON'T LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO JUST IMAGINE, IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT LISTENING TO, OH, THANK YOU FOR BEING MY, BRINGING MY PHONE BACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN PLAY IT JUST SO YOU CAN HEAR IT.
OH, I STOPPED IT MAGNIFY 10 TIMES TWO IN THE MORNING, AND I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING AND CAN'T STOP.
AND THIS GOES ON TILL 2:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
SO I'VE TALKED TO THE, UM, PRINCIPAL OVER, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR PROPERTY.
WE AROUND PARK, BUT IT'S TWO 2:00 AM THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE THAT I KNOW OF.
DOES ANYONE PLAY SHOOTING FIREWORKS IN YOUR 2:00 AM ANYONE? 2:00 AM SOMEONE SHOOTING SAY WHAT? CAMBRIDGE AND RIVERSIDE AT 2:00 AM BUT IT'S LOUD.
IT'S, IT'S UP THE STREET FROM A NUMBER.
I MEAN, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE FIVE, I WOULD SAY FAMILY RELATED HOUSING.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT, 'CAUSE IT SAYS THAT THEY, THAT, THAT, UM, CAMBRIDGE, SOMEBODY SHOULD FOLLOW THE LEAD.
UH, THAT'S WHY I DON'T SUPPORT IT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT LEADING A CONVERSATION ABOUT ENGAGING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I'VE TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS ABOUT IT, AND EVERY YEAR THEY SAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO STOP THIS? AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE INVOLVED, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, TO SAY, HOW DO WE GAIN CONTROL OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
[03:15:01]
IN SUCH A WAY THAT OUR QUIET AND PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OVER A HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS NOT DISTURBED BY PEOPLE THAT DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.SO I RESPECTFULLY, UM, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS.
I MEAN, I GOT KIND OF LATE IN THE EVENING, SO I, WE DIDN'T GET TO HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE MORE OF A RAPPORT.
SO IT'S NOT AGAINST YOU PERSONALLY, IT'S ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS JUST TIRED AND, AND SO I HEAR COMMUNITY SAFETY, BUT FOR ME, WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING, WHY ISN'T THE POLICE DOING SOMETHING? SO WHEN THEY DON'T SEE THAT, THEY THINK THEY'RE TURNING A DEAF EAR AND A BLIND EYE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
ANYONE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN ON THIS MATTER, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE I GO BACK TO COUNCILOR SABINA WHEELER, SEEING NO ONE COUNCILOR AT COUNCILOR SABINA WHEELER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SORT OF CLARIFY A BIT.
THE, THE AMENDMENT HERE IS NOT ABOUT THIS NOT BEING AN ISSUE.
LOUD NOISES, DISRUPTING SLEEP AND, AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AN ISSUE.
THE AMENDMENT IS ABOUT, UH, WHICH DEPARTMENT WE'RE SAYING THE LEAD AND THE POLICY ORDER SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT APPROACH HASN'T BEEN WORKING.
WE WANT MORE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS JUST SAYING, LET'S, LET'S TRY SOMETHING IN ADDITION TO THAT.
LET'S ALSO ASK THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
IT'S NOT SAYING DON'T INVOLVE THE, THE POLICE WHATSOEVER.
DON'T WITH EVER, IF THE POLICY ORDER HONESTLY HAD JUST SAID THAT THE CITY MANAGER WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO, TO WORK ON THIS, LIKE WOULD'VE VOTED FOR THIS EASILY.
FIREWORKS, NOISE OR LOUD NOISES ARE A BAD ISSUE.
WHAT I, I GUESS STRUGGLE WITH IS, IS SAYING THE CURRENT APPROACH WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE ISN'T WORKING.
LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT OTHER THINGS.
LET'S TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS.
I'D ALSO BE FOUND WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT JUST SAYS ANY RELEVANT DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN OTHER CITY STAFF.
I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SAYING, HEY, THE CURRENT APPROACH ISN'T WORKING.
LET'S TRY THE CURRENT APPROACH SOME MORE.
DOES SOMEBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK? DOES ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, I HAD COUNSELOR NOLAN NEXT.
I MEAN, IT'S IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TOO.
IT, IT DEPENDS, BUT CERTAINLY
UM, SO PARTICULARLY RIGHT NEAR DHE PARK, UM, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE, BUT CLEARLY WE NEED TO DO THIS.
SO I DO THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO CALL OUT THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
'CAUSE THEY WILL, THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN IT AND OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.
I, I THINK THE KEY IS TO GET US ALL ON BOARD TO HAVE EVERYBODY WORK ON THIS.
AND I ALSO NOTE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONE WHO IS OFTEN INVOLVED AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD END UP, UH, CREATING SOME ISSUES THAT WE NEED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S EXPERTISE ON.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL GO BACK TO COUNCIL SIMMONS ONE MORE TIME, AND THEN I SUGGEST WE DO A VOTE.
MADAM MAYOR, IN THE 1, 2, 3, IN THE FIRST ORDER, IT STRIKES CAMBRIDGE POLICE ALTOGETHER.
AND THEN IT SAYS, CONFER WITH THE COMMUNITY.
DEPART, IT SAYS CONFER WITH THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THAT'S CARE AND HEART, WHICH IS NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THAT'S PART OF IT.
AND IT SAYS HEART AND HEART WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL POLICY ORDERS.
SO IT WAS A, IT KIND OF TOOK ME OFF A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN AGAIN, IN THE LAST ORDER IT SAYS CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT STRIKES THAT STRIKES HIM OUT AGAIN.
AND IF THE WAY I READ IT, IT WOULD, SEEMS LIKE YOU DON'T WANT THE CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I KINDA KNOW MY COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK IF THEY SAW THIS CONVENING AND DIDN'T SEE THEM, THEY WOULD CALL IT OUT.
SO, I, I, IT JUST CONCERNS ME.
UM, SO I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO BE HEARD ON THIS.
SO I SUGGEST WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UM, DO A ROLL CALL ON ADOPTING THE AMENDMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE POLICY ORDER.
DEPENDING ON WHERE THE AMENDMENTS GO.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, MY OPINION IS THAT WE'RE GONNA END UP IN THE SAME PLACE WITH OR WITHOUT THESE AMENDMENTS.
UH, I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND CAMBRIDGE PD SHOULD WORK TOGETHER.
AND SO I'LL VOTE ON THESE AMENDMENTS, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY DO THE SAME THING.
AND IF WE WANTED TO LIST OUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS LATER, I CAN, I'D BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT TOO.
SO, MADAM MAYOR, I'M GONNA CHARTER, RIGHT? OKAY.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS HAS EXERCISED HER CHARTER RIGHT ON POLICY ORDER NUMBER FOUR.
WE WILL GO TO POLICY RULE NUMBER SEVEN.
THIS IS TO PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 14TH AS BLESSED SACRAMENT DRILL TEAM AND COLOR GUARD DAY IN CAMBRIDGE.
AND ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO ON RECORD CELEBRATING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT DRILL TEAM AND COLOR GUARD, AND RECOGNIZING ITS
[03:20:01]
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS, HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND NINE DECADES OF COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT, THROUGH DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY.THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILLOR ZUZI AND MYSELF, COUNCILOR SIMMONS.
I WILL GO TO JUST THE LEAD SPONSOR AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
UM, MAYOR SIDIKI, I THINK WE HAVE, UM, A GOOD CONTINGENT OF THE, UM, THE BLESSED SACRAMENT COLOR GUARD RIGHT HERE TODAY.
WE SHOULD HAVE, WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS MUCH EARLIER AS WELL.
UM, BUT I, I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS LIKE SUCH A HAPPY POLICY ORDER BECAUSE WE'RE CELEBRATING SOMETHING WONDERFUL 90 YEARS OF THIS, UM, DRILL TEAM, UM, PERFORMING, UH, PRACTICING.
UH, AND SO I JUST, LET ME JUST SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY.
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT BEGAN THIS IN 1936 WITH AN ALL FEMALE PARISH DRILL TEAM CREATED TO PROVIDE RECREATION, DISCIPLINE, FELLOWSHIP, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GIRLS FROM CAMBRIDGEPORT.
AND THEN IT BECAME ONE OF THE STRONGEST DRILL TRAIN TEAMS IN ALL OF GREATER BOSTON.
SO THEY WERE KNOWN AS A CHAMPIONSHIP DRILL TEAM IN EIGHT, IN 19 44, 45, 47, 48, AND 49.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN, UH, THEY BECAME A REGULAR FINALIST AT THE WINTER GUARD INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
THEY WON THE INDEPENDENT WORLD CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1990 AND EARNED NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL MEDALIST AND FINALIST PLACEMENTS OVER THE FOLLOWING DECADES.
SO THIS REALLY IS AN AMAZING DRILL TEAM.
UM, IT'S STILL GOING STRONG, YOU KNOW, BLESSED SACRAMENT, UM, THE, THE, THE TEAM MOVE FROM THE BLESSED SACRAMENT WHEN THE CHURCH, UH, TURNED INTO CONDOS, UH, WHAT, LIKE A DECADE AGO.
BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING STRONG AND THEY ARE COMPETING AND PRACTICING SOMETIMES IN MEDFORD, SOMETIMES IN LYNN, SOMETIMES IN DORCHESTER.
BUT I THINK IT'S A, A BEAUTIFUL STORY OF, UM, UH, A TEAM THAT HAS PROVIDED, UM, FELLOWSHIP AND EXERCISE AND COMMUNITY TO SO MANY OVER THE YEARS.
AND, UM, AND SO I THINK THE IDEA OF CELEBRATING THEM AND PROCLAIMING TODAY AS BLESSED SACRAMENT DRILL TEAM AND COLOR GUARD DAY IN CAMBRIDGE IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL THING.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN THIS.
I'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
FIRST I WANT TO BE, UM, BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, AS A DRILL TEAM MOM
UH, BUT WE BEAT BROOKLINE A LOT OF TIMES.
UH, AND THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS MY PROUDEST MELT MOMENT.
MY CHILDREN WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE RANKS, STARTING WITH THE LITTLE GUYS ALL THE WAY, UH, TO SENIORS.
I HAD THE HOLES IN THE WALLS TO RESEMBLE ALL THE RIFLES THAT I HAD.
THREE DAUGHTERS THAT BURNED DRILL TEAM.
ONE WAS A RIFLE, ONE WAS A FLAG, AND ONE WAS FLAG RIFLE SABER.
UH, AND THEY'RE NOT SHARPENED SABER, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
UH, YOU KNOW, BUT IT DID PUT A FEW HOLES IN THE CEILING, KNOCKED OUT A FEW WINDOWS, UH, LEFT PERMANENT DENTS.
'CAUSE WHY BOTHER? 'CAUSE THEY'RE GOING, THEY WERE GOING KEEP, UH, PRACTICING.
AND IT'S SO FUNNY BECAUSE EVEN NOW, WE JUST RECENTLY, THE GIRLS WERE TOGETHER AND THEY CAN'T LISTEN TO MUSIC AND HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR HAND WITHOUT SPINNING IT.
YOU, WE, ARE WE TOGETHER ON THAT? YOU KNOW, ONCE, ONCE IN COLOR GUARD, ALWAYS IN COLOR GUARD.
I MEAN, THEY PRACTICED SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS HOLIDAYS SOMETIMES.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUS SACKMAN THREW US OUT BECAUSE WE WERE WRECKING THEIR FLOOR.
BUT
UM, EVERYONE GOT ALONG VERY WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE YEAR THAT SOME ONE GROUP, I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE IT WAS, GOT REALLY CRANKY WITH BLESSED SACK, UH, BECAUSE WE WERE JUST SO GOOD.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD.
UH, BUT IT WAS, IT'S WONDERFUL.
I AM SO PLEASED THAT THE DRILL TEAM IS STILL GOING ON.
UM, MY DAUGHTER, TWO OF MY DAUGHTERS KEEP TALKING ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE I'LL COME BACK, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT.
SO I'M JUST REALLY PROUD THAT WE ARE MOVING STRONG AND MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S A WONDERFUL THING FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN TO PARTICIPATE IN, WAS MOSTLY MEN.
MY GIRLS PARTICIPATED WITH MR. ZAPPALA.
[03:25:02]
HIS POOR WIFE HAD FELT FOR HERUH, BUT HE WAS, HE WAS JUST SO COMMITTED TO THE WHOLE PROCESS OF COLOR GUARD.
I'M, I PRAY THAT THE, THIS POLICY ORDER WILL GO FORWARD.
UM, I'M SURE IT, IT WILL BE, AND MAYBE SOMETIME YOU'LL COME AND GIVE US A LITTLE, UM, DEMONSTRATION OF WHAT COLOR GUARD IS.
AND THE CEILINGS ARE HIGH ENOUGH.
WE PROBABLY WON'T KNOCK OUT ANY, UM, LIGHT BULBS.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND, UH, A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD COUNCILLOR SIMMONS TO THE POLICY ORDER.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO AYES HAVE IT.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS IS ADDED TO THE POLICY ORDER.
WITH THAT HEARING FROM NO ONE ELSE, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE POLICY ORDER AS AMENDED.
THOSE AGAIN, SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
POLICY ORDER NUMBER SEVEN AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER NINE.
THIS IS THAT THE CITY MANAGERS REQUESTED TO WORK WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE AND STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING AND LICENSING PROCESS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
THIS WAS FILED BY MYSELF, VICE ZIM, COUNCILLOR NOLAN.
I WOULD LOVE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TAKE UP THE, UH, SECOND COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS, WHICH I SUBMITTED, AND A MOTION BY COUNCILOR NOLAN TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
THE AYES HAVE IT, THAT COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITIES OFFICERS AS BEFORE US, UH, I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SAY THAT, UH, WE KNOW PERMITTING IS A BIG AREA OF CITY SERVICE DELIVERY, BUT ISN'T ALWAYS THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO DO BUSINESS IN CAMBRIDGE.
UM, I THINK I COULD SPEAK FOR MANY OF US.
UH, WHEN I SAY THAT THE SUMMER UPDATE WE RECEIVED ON THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PERMITTING PROCESS WAS, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I'M, UH, GRATEFUL THAT STAFF'S PUT IN A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT.
BUT WHILE WE'VE MADE REAL PROGRESS ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL PERMITTING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS POLICY ORDER SPEAKS TO.
AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES, UM, COUNSELOR NOLAN AND VICE MAYOR WHO JOINED IN CO-SPONSORING THIS.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD, UM, BECAUSE SOME OF IT'S ALREADY STARTED THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOMBERG HARVARD CITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, WHICH IS MORE OF WHAT MY COMMUNICATION SPEAKS TO.
AND FOR BRIEF CONTEXT, EARLIER THIS YEAR, I WAS INVITED TO JOIN A CLASS OF 46 MAYORS REPRESENTING CITIES ACROSS 15 COUNTRIES AS PART OF THE PROGRAM'S 10TH COHORT.
AND EACH PARTICIPATING CITIES ASKED TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC PROBLEM TO FOCUS ON, AND WE SELECTED SMALL BUSINESS PERMITTING AS ONE OF OUR CORE CHALLENGES.
AND SO IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE PUT TOGETHER A CORE TEAM ALONG WITH A LARGER CROSS DEPARTMENTAL TEAM TO WORK ON THE ISSUE.
AND OVER THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, WE'LL BE RECEIVING PROGRAMMING, SUPPORT, COACHING, AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THIS WORK FROM BLOOMBERG.
UH, AND IT'S ALL AIMED AT TAKING A DATA-DRIVEN STRUCTURED APPROACH TO IMPROVING AND STREAMLINING THE PERMITTING AND LICENSING PROCESS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO THIS POLICY ORDER JUST HELPS US ENSURE THAT THE EFFORT CONTINUES IN A COORDINATED WAY ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND, UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROGRESS WE CAN ALL MAKE TOGETHER ON THIS.
SO I'LL YIELD TO MY CO-SPONSORS, UH, COUNSELOR NOLAN, AND THEN COUNCILOR ZZI.
YEAH, I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE, UM, COMMUNICATION, UH, FROM BLOOMBERG TRULY LAYS OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
AND ALSO SO MANY OF US WHO DO READ THE NEWS AT THIS LEVEL, THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER NEWS GOING ON, BUT THE PERMITTING IS SUCH A KEY PART OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SEEKING TO ACCELERATE THE BUILDING OF BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO MAKE IT, MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD WITHOUT OBVIOUS YOU.
AND WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE SAFETY THAT HAD LED TO MANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW.
SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY OVERDUE AND, AND, AND REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT WILL BE DONE BOTH ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE AND NOW ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT WE TALK THE TALK OF WHAT WE BELIEVE GOVERNMENT CAN BE, WHICH IS AN A, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE TURN TO FOR REALLY EFFICIENT AND, UM, EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THE, THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING ANYTHING I CAN TO, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
[03:30:01]
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS AND TOTALLY JAZZED ABOUT THE BLOOMBERG CITIES, UH, FOCUSING ON THIS FOR THE CITY.COUNCILLOR ZUZI, UH, AGAIN, KUDOS TO YOU.
I JUST ALSO FEEL LIKE THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMERCIAL VIABILITY.
SO, UM, I'M THRILLED THAT YOU'LL BE WORKING ON THIS AS A PROJECT.
THAT DEFINITELY WILL HAVE PROGRESS.
I THINK, UM, THAT ANYONE WHO, EVERYONE WHO'S WANTED TO SPEAK HAS SPOKEN, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON ADOPTING THE ORDER AND PLACING THE COMMUNICATION ON FILE.
THOSE AGAIN, SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
POLICY RULE NUMBER NINE IS ADOPTED AND THE COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS, NUMBER TWO IS PLACED ON FILE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO POLICY RULE NUMBER 10.
THIS IS AT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT, PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING SECTION 1 0 6 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT.
THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILOR ZUI AND MYSELF, AND IT WAS PULLED BY COUNCILOR NOLAN.
COUNCILOR ZUI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? YEAH, I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST SAY A FEW THINGS.
UM, AGAIN, THERE ARE OVER 600 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, OVER 5 MILLION AMERICANS OVERALL, THAT ARE CHALLENGING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S, UM, EFFORTS TO, UM, WEAKEN SECTION 1 0 6 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT.
UH, JOIN US, UH, TONIGHT IN, UH, SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, WE CAN'T HAVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRAMPLING ON OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES DEMOLISHING THE EAST WING, BUILDING A BALLROOM, PLANNING TO PAINT THE EISENHOWER EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING, PLANNING TO BUILD THIS 250 FOOT ARCH NEAR ARLINGTON CEMETERY, AND, AND NOW THREATENING TO TEAR DOWN THE KENNEDY CENTER, WHICH MAY GO BANKRUPT TOMORROW.
YES, I DID PULL PARTLY TO BE ADDED, BUT ALSO IT, IT IS JUST YET ANOTHER ONE OF THESE COMPLETELY SHOCKING WAYS THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HOLD DEAR IS BEING SHREDDED.
AND, AND THIS SECTION, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILLOR SUZI AND, UM, THE MAYOR FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
'CAUSE I HADN'T REALIZED THERE WAS THAT SPECIFIC SECTION THAT WAS BEING EVISCERATED, BE I HAD KNOWN ABOUT MANY OF THE, UM, AREAS THAT MAKE THE NEWS, BUT THERE'S SO MANY OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 'CAUSE THIS GOES AT NATURAL PARKS AS WELL AS BUILDINGS.
ANY HISTORIC, AND THE COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THAT WORKED REALLY HARD TO PRESERVE SOME OF THEIR SPACES IS, I, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, WE, WE HAVE TO KEEP BEING SHOCKED BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT MEANS WE'RE JUST ACCEPTING WHAT HAPPENS.
AND SO THAT'S HOW I SEE THIS, THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP BEING SHOCKED, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE THAT A COUNCIL RESOLUTION FROM CAMBRIDGE MASS TO THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.
AND YET IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE STAND UP.
AND COUNCILOR NOLAN, YOU WANTED TO BE ADDED.
SO ON THE MOTION BY COUNCILOR NOLAN TO BE ADDED TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER 10, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAIN, THOSE AGAIN SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE POLICY.
ORDER NUMBER 10 AS AMENDED AND ON A VOICE VOTE.
THE POLICY RULE NUMBER 10, AS AMENDED AS ADOPTED, WE'RE GOING ONTO POLICY RULE NUMBER 11.
THIS IS THAT THE CITY SOLICITOR ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF A SUITABLE LAW FIRM IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY'S CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, AND WITH APPROVAL OF THE CITY SOLICITOR TO NEGOTIATE AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT WITH PAULA AND CRANE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THIS WAS FILED BY MYSELF, COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, AND COUNCILLOR ZUZI.
I WANNA START BY THANKING EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH PROCESS PROCESSES, UM, CITY STAFF, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, WHO SPONSORED THE ORDER, AND REALLY THE ENTIRE BODY FOR FOLLOWING ALONG FROM WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY.
UM, WE WENT THROUGH TWO SEARCH PROCESSES, AND I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ORDER KIND OF SPEAKS TO, UH, THAT, UH, BUT I THINK THROUGHOUT IT ALL, CLERK PAULA CRANE HAS BEEN, UM, STEADFAST IN HER ROLE AS ACTING, UH, INTERIM CLERK, UH, NOT JUST ONCE, BUT THREE TIMES SINCE 2019.
AND WE KNOW THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE DOES, UH, A LOT OF WORK, NOT ONLY IN THIS CHAMBER, BUT IN INTERFACING WITH THE PUBLIC EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND CLERK CRANE HAS, UH, ENSURED THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED NO INTERRUPTIONS THROUGH TRANSITIONS, VACANCIES AND DEPARTURES OF PAST CLERKS, AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE RECENT TRANSITION TO OUR NEW AGENDA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, UM, AS WELL.
[03:35:01]
DISRUPTIVE, UH, WITHOUT HER, UH, BEING INVOLVED.SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S, UM, A LOT OF DEDICATION THAT'S COME FROM, UH, CLERK, UH, CRANE.
AND I THINK, UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO EXTEND THIS NEXT STEP TOWARD FORMALIZING HER ROLE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UM, IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, A FEW WORDS, THEY'RE WELCOME TO MM-HMM
YES, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED, UH, AS A SPONSOR.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE A VERY LUCKY BODY TO HAVE, UH, PAULA CRANE AS OUR CLERK.
AND, UM, I PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, AS A NEWER MEMBER HERE, DIDN'T REALIZE HOW LUCKY WE ALL WERE.
UH, BUT IT, IT BECAME VERY APPARENT TO ME AT OUR INAUGURATION WHEN SHE PARAPHRASED, UH, THE REMARKS BY JOHN F. KENNEDY WHEN HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
UH, AND HE MADE AN ADDRESS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS ELECTED, UH, THE CITY ON A HILL ADDRESS.
AND SHE PARAPHRASED THAT IN HER OPENING REMARKS IN OUR INAUGURATION.
AND I WAS, I, I WAS SO IMPRESSED AND ASTOUNDED BY THE DEPTH OF HER UNDERSTANDING AND THE SOLEMNITY WITH WHICH SHE HANDLED THAT ENTIRE PROCESS.
AND FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD, WATCHING HER WORK ETHIC, WATCHING HER COMMITMENT TO EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY, TO THIS BODY, COLLECTIVELY TO THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE, TO HER JOB, UH, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER AS OUR INTERIM CLERK, AND TO, TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HER AS OUR PERMANENT CLERK, I THINK IS A GIFT TO ALL OF US.
AND, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR, AND I, I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THIS, UH, POLICY ORDER.
AND I JUST, UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT SHE'S DONE FOR ME AND FOR ALL OF US, UH, AND FOR THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AS A CLERK.
WE HAVE COUNCILLOR NOLAN, AND THEN I'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
I, UH, FULLY SUPPORT THIS, IF IT MAKES SENSE TO ADD, JUST TO SHOW HOW STRONGLY I SUPPORT IT.
I, I THINK WHAT I ALSO WANNA DO IS APPRECIATE THE TRANSPARENCY THAT IS EVIDENCED HERE, THAT WE'RE BEING VERY CLEAR AND OPEN ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SEARCHES.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THAT IT'S, UH, IF I'M READING THIS, THE, THE FOUR FOLKS ON THIS WERE THE ONES WHO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE.
THAT'S A, A, A CHALLENGING THING TO DO, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO THROUGH IT AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, IT, IT ENDED UP BEING MUCH LONGER THAN YOU INITIALLY ANTICIPATED.
UM, SO I, I, I WANT TO THANK PEOPLE FOR THAT TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE WAY THAT WE, UH, HOPEFULLY IMPROVE TRUST IN, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS.
AND, AND ALSO THANK OF COURSE, INTERIM CLERK CRANE FOR AGREEING TO STEP UP.
I KNOW WE'RE A REALLY FUN, BUT ALSO FEISTY AND SOMETIMES PRETTY CHALLENGING BUNCH TO WORK WITH.
AND, UH, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE WILL BE, UH, SEEING TOGETHER AND WORKING TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, THAT YOU MAKE US BETTER FOR HOW WE, HOW WE CONDUCT BUSINESS HERE.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR SIMMONS, AND THEN COUNCILOR ZUBI.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, UH, THROUGH YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, UH, AS YOU, WE, WE OFFER THIS RESPECTFULLY AND WITH FULL ENTHUSIASM AND, AND SUPPORT.
UH, TWO THINGS I WANNA SAY VERY QUICKLY.
I WANNA FIRST THANK, UH, CLERK CRANE FOR DOING THIS JOB.
SHE STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF BRILLIANT WOMEN, UH, ANNA AND MEN, MARGARET DRURY, DONNA LOPEZ, ANTHONY WILSON, JUST TO NAME A FEW, UH, JUST STOOD, STOOD UP TO DO A JOB THAT WE DON'T DO.
AND, AND MRS. LEBLA HER AS WELL.
THE CLERK DOES MARRIAGES, DEATHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS.
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I'M MISSING.
BIRTHS, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS, UM, KEEPS THE RECORD OF THE CITY.
AND THE RECORD OF THE CITY IS EXTRAORDINARY.
IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HIRED AN ARCHIVIST JUST TO START TO COLLECT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW PAULA DOES IT.
SHE MIGHT GO HOME AND, YOU KNOW, SAY A FEW CURSE WORDS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NO EASY GROUP TO WORK WITH FOR SURE.
AND SO, I, I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT SHE HAS STOOD IN THE GAP TO DO THIS JOB.
STOOD STANDS UP TO DO THIS JOB, KNOWING SHE HAS, SHE, SHE'S DOING THIS WHEN SHE HAS A SISTER THAT NEEDS HER SUPPORT, AND SHE'S BEEN THERE TO DO THAT, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR JOB DONE AND GET OUR JOB DONE RIGHT.
[03:40:01]
SAY THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO DO IT.
UM, I, I MIGHT HAVE TO GET YOU THERAPY, BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO DO IT.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE NAOMI STEFFAN, WHO HAS GUIDED US THROUGH THREE SEARCH PROCESSES.
UM, IT'S NOT EASY TO, TO DO THIS PROCESS OF HIRING SOMEONE THAT, YOU KNOW, RECEIVING THE APPLICATIONS, MAKING THE APPOINTMENTS, ARRANGING FOR THE INTERVIEWS, ARRANGING FOR FOLLOW UP INTERVIEWS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE DID OUR VERY BEST.
AND, AND I, I CHAIRED THE, FOR THE FIRST ONE, MAYOR SIDIKI, THE SECOND ONE, AND WE PUT ALL OUR BEST EFFORTS IN, AND YOU KNOW WHY IT FAILED, BECAUSE WE HAD THE BEST PERSON ALL THE TIME.
SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY, UM, SUPPORT, UH, CLERK CRANE.
UM, I HOPE WE DON'T MAKE YOUR JOB ANY MORE CHALLENGING THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A NINE ZERO VOTE ON THIS.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR ZUBIE AND THEN COUNCILOR MCGOVERN.
THANK YOU THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
I, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR AS WELL.
I DEFINITELY HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO GET TO KNOW CLERK CRANE AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS STUCK OUT TO ME IN THE NINE MONTHS I'VE BEEN IN THIS WORK IS YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR GROUNDED REASSURANCE.
UM, YOU'RE ALWAYS AROUND READY TO HELP FOLKS, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE ON YOUR PLATE OUTSIDE OF ALL OF THAT.
SO I, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT GROUNDED PRESENCE IN THIS SPACE.
AND TO THANK YOU AS WELL TO YOU, NAOMI.
'CAUSE I KNOW THESE PROCESSES AREN'T EASY, AND I HONESTLY COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER THAN COUNCILOR SIMMONS.
WELL, YOU'LL, WE'LL GO TO COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN.
UH, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE ARE HIRING FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS, IT'S OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO DO THESE NATIONAL SEARCHES AND, YOU KNOW, BUT SOMETIMES THE BEST PERSON IS SITTING RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE,
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS, UH, THE CASE IN, IN, IN THIS SITUATION.
UM, I ALWAYS TELL THIS, THIS STORY ABOUT, AND THIS GOES TO COUNSELOR FLAHERTY'S, POINT OF THE DEDICATE YOUR DEDICATION.
I'VE TOLD THIS A MILLION TIMES, BUT IT JUST SUCH EXEMPLIFIES, I THINK WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THIS JOB IS, I REMEMBER WE ALL A COUPLE YEARS AGO, ALL GOT AN EMAIL ON A FRIDAY FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO SAID, I'M GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW.
I FORGOT TO PICK UP MY MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
WHAT DO I DO? AND THIS WAS LIKE FOUR O'CLOCK, YOU KNOW, WE CLOSED AT 12 AND YOU DROVE IN OPEN CITY HALL, MET HIM HERE, DID THE PAPERWORK, AND MADE SURE THAT HE HAD HIS MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE SO HE COULD GET MARRIED.
HOPEFULLY HE'S STILL MARRIED,
UM, BUT THAT I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, YOU GET, I I, I DON'T WANNA DISPARAGE ANY OTHER LARGER CITIES, BUT LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU GET THAT? DO YOU GET THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, CHICAGO, YOU KNOW, OTHER PLACES AROUND? I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE, PROBABLY NOT.
SO JUST, UM, AGAIN, I, I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS FOR EVERYBODY FOR YOU STEPPING UP AND BEING WILLING TO DO THIS, UM, AND TAKING THIS ON, GIVEN, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS.
AND, UM, BUT, UH, WE COULDN'T F YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER PERSON.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU AS ALWAYS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AROUND FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
COUNSELOR ZUZI, WELCOME CLERK CRANE, AND I HOPE YOU LIKE THE JOB.
COUNCILOR SABRINA WHEELER, AND THEN VICE MAYOR Z.
SIMILARLY, IT'LL BE BRIEF, BUT YEAH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, STEPPING UP, LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.
THERE'S SOME PARTS OF THIS POSITION THAT ARE VERY PUBLIC, INCLUDING THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THE WEDDINGS AND SOME THAT ARE MORE BEHIND THE SCENES, INCLUDING THE ARCHIVING AND ALL OF THE, THE CERTIFICATES THAT GO OUT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR, FOR DOING ALL OF IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HAVE YOU AROUND YOU BACK.
UM, WELL, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I WAS NOT PART OF THE SEARCH PROCESS, SO I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE CANDIDATES, ALTHOUGH I'VE BEEN PART OF PRIOR SEARCH PROCESSES.
UM, AND I WAS GOING TO SAY, I WAS ALMOST NERVOUS TO ASK PAULA IF SHE WAS GOING TO APPLY, BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WE'D BE MORE LUCKY TO HAVE HER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY HARD JOB BOTH DEALING WITH US AND OUR LAST MINUTE POLICY ORDERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT ALSO SO MUCH OF THE JOB IS BEING THE FRONT DOOR TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I, AT LEAST I KNOW AND I FORGET ABOUT FROM TIME TO TIME, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE SO FOCUSED ON THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THIS ROOM.
UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL THE OTHER TIME WHEN, UH, PAUL WAS HELPING ME GET ALL OF MY MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE SIGNED AND HANDED IN, MADE SURE THAT THEY WERE HERE AND WHEN I NEEDED THEM.
UM, AND EVERY DAY
I FEEL LIKE, UH, IT'S JUST AN HONOR FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO THIS JOB.
AND HONESTLY, JUST, UH, VERY EXCITED THAT YOU WERE EXCITED ENOUGH TO DO IT MORE THAN, UH, ANYTHING ELSE.
I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, MELISSA AND MEGAN AS WELL, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THERE TO YOUR TOPICS, BUT I COULD BE ABLE TO
[03:45:01]
SEE THEM.THEY WERE ALL, THEY WERE BOTH ON THE SEARCH COMMITTEE ALONG WITH MATT NELSON AND, UM, ESKA AND MATT.
UM, I THINK THAT WAS ALL OF EVERYONE.
AND OF COURSE NAOMI WHO HELPED WITH SO MUCH WITH BOTH PROCESSES.
SO SHOUT OUT ANOTHER, SHOUT OUT TO NAOMI AS WELL.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO THE PO.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
UM, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND, UM, START THE, UM, EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT PROCESS, UM, AND VOTE ON THE POLICY ORDER AS AMENDED FOUR NUMBER 11.
THOSE AGAINST SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
POLICY ORDER NUMBER 11, AS AMENDED IS ADOPTED, WE GO TO POLICY ORDER NUMBER 12.
THIS IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL URGE, THE HEALY DRISCOLL ADMINISTRATION AND THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT TO PRIORITIZE THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL DTA CASEWORKERS TO ENSURE THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE AND, AND MAINTAIN BENEFITS AND TAKING OTHER STEPS NEEDED TO END THE SNAP ACCESS CRISIS.
THIS WAS FILED BY MYSELF, COUNCIL ZUBIE, COUNCILOR MCGOVERN, AND VICE MAYOR AZI.
I'LL, I KNOW COUNCILOR NOLAN, YOU PULLED IT.
AS I SAID, I, I PULLED IT TO BE, TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS.
WE HEARD EARLIER IN THE MEETING ABOUT THE, THE NEED FOR EXACTLY THIS TYPE OF ACTION AT THE STATE LEVEL IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I PULLED IT TO ADD MY NAME TO IT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE WEIGHT OF THAT, WHATEVER THAT MATTERS IS, IS THERE NO, ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS, I'LL JUST SAY, UH, REALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
AND I THINK WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERY DECISION MADE AT THE FEDERAL, UH, LEVEL, BUT WE CAN CONTROL HOW WE RESPOND.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, AT THE CITY LEVEL.
BUT WE ALSO NEED THE STATE, UH, TO ACT.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY ORDER IS TO CALL OUR STATE PARTNERS TO ACTION.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD COUNCILLOR NOLAN TO THE POLICY ORDER ON A VOICE VOTE.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE POLICY OR ORDER AS AMENDED.
POLICY RULE NUMBER 12 IS ADOPTED.
[UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
THE CALENDAR, WE HAVE TWO ITEMS UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS.SO GO TO NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS CAMBRIDGE STREET ACTIVE USE ZONING PETITION.
THIS WAS PASSED TO A SECOND READING AS AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTION IN THE COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 3RD.
I, UM, GIVEN THE HOUR AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE SPENT ON
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY, BUT IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ADOPTION COUNSELOR AS AMENDED MCGOVERN, UH, MOVES TO, UH, ORDAINED THE CAMBRIDGE STREET ACTIVE USE ZONING PETITION AS AMENDED.
AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE CAMBRIDGE STREET ACTIVE USE ZONING PETITION.
AS AMENDED IS ORDAINED, WE WILL GO TO NUMBER TWO WITH THE, WHICH IS THE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE ACTIVE USE ZONING PETITION.
THIS WAS ALSO PASSED TO A SECOND READING ON AUGUST 3RD, AND IS ELIGIBLE TO BE ORDAINED.
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH MORE TO SAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO ORDAIN, THE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE ACTIVE USE ZONING PETITION.
SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL ON THAT MOTION.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE ACTIVE USE.
SO IN PETITION HAS BEEN AS AMENDED, HAS BEEN ORDAINED.
I KNOW OUR FAVORITE THING, JUST TO BE SURE.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO MOVE RECONSIDERATION.
HOPING THE SAME, CANNOT NOT PREVAIL, PREVAIL ON THE, THE PREVIOUS TWO VOTES.
SO ON SUSPENSION, WE'LL DO A RULE, UH, DO A VOICE VOTE.
AND THEN ON THE RECONSIDERATION, WE'LL DO A, UM, A, A ROLL CALL.
SO A NOVO WE'LL CLOSE THE MATTER.
[03:50:02]
COUNCILOR ZUBIE.AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE NEGATIVE.
SO WE'VE DISPOSED OF RECONSIDERATION, WE MOVE ON TO APPLICATIONS
[APPLICATIONS]
AND PETITIONS.COUNCILLOR NOLAN MOVES THAT WE ADOPT ALL FOUR APPLICATIONS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
AND YOU HAVE NINE MEMBERS RECORDED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ALL APPLICATIONS AND PETITIONS.
ALL FOUR OF THEM HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
[COMMUNICATIONS]
ON TO COMMUNICATIONS.THERE ARE 52 COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL ON FILE.
SIMMONS MAKES A MOTION TO PLACE ALL COMMUNICATIONS ON FILE.
THOSE 52 COMMUNICATIONS ARE PLACED ON FILE.
[RESOLUTIONS]
RESOLUTIONS.I THINK COUNCILOR ZUI, DID YOU WANNA WITHDRAW ONE? YES.
YEAH, WE NEED TO RE UM, WE NEED TO WITHDRAW NUMBER EIGHT.
BECAUSE, WE'LL, WE DID A, WE'LL, A POLICY ORDER AND HEARING NONE FROM NO ONE ELSE.
GO AHEAD AND, UH, ADOPT THE BALANCE OF THE RESOLUTIONS ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR MCGOVERN, MAKING THEM UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
THE BALANCE OF THE RESOLUTIONS BEEN ADOPTED, MAKING THEM UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
WE'RE AT NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH WAS HONORING THE BLESSED SACRAMENT DRILL TEAM AND COLOR GUARD.
UH, WE'RE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO WITHDRAW FROM COUNCILLOR EY TO WITHDRAW THE RESOLUTION BECAUSE WE, IT ARE, IT CAME IN AS A POLICY ORDER, SO WE DON'T NEED IT BEFORE US, UM, ON THE MOTION TO WITHDRAW.
THOSE AGAIN? SAY NO, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THAT NUMBER EIGHT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
WE'LL GO ON TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
[COMMITTEE REPORTS]
WE HAVE FIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS.PLEASURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORTS AND PLACE ON FILE.
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS MOVES TO ACCEPT THE FIVE REPORTS AND PLACE THEM ON FILE.
THOSE COMMITTEE REPORTS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE.
[ROUNDTABLE/WORKING MEETING SUBMISSION OF THE RECORD]
ROUND TAIL BROWN TABLE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 6TH.GO AHEAD ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR NOLAN TO ADOPT THESE TO PLACE THESE, UH, MINUTES, UH, ON FILE, EXCEPT THE REPORTS ON FILE.
WILL ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE MINUTES, UH, HAVE BEEN THE REPORT'S BEEN ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE.
WE NOW MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS
[COMMUNICATIONS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS]
AND REPORTS FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.WE'VE, UH, ACTUALLY DISPOSED OF TWO OF THEM, AND SO PLEASURE OF, OF THE CITY ON FILE.
COUNCILOR NOLAN WILL PULL NUMBER FIVE.
ANYONE ELSE ON OTHERS PLACE AND FILE THE BALANCE.
HEARING NONE WILL GO AHEAD AND PLACE THE BALANCE, UM, ON FILE.
AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE BALANCE HAS BEEN PLACED ON FILE.
WE HAVE, WE'LL GO TO NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS A COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILLORS NOLAN ZUBI REGARDING A PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR BUDGET RELATED FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
COUNCILLOR NOLAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
UH, COUNCILLOR ZUBI AND I, UM, ARE SUBMITTING THIS AND I PULLED IT JUST TO REMIND ALLISSA, ALL OF US THAT WE ARE STARTING THE, UH, BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST BARELY STARTED THIS ONE.
AND THE, THE KEY DATE THAT WE MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, THE TAX RATE HEARING, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING ON THE 28TH LAST YEAR, IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS, UH, ONE THAT THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T HAVE AS, AS MUCH NOTICE ABOUT.
SO THIS, THIS TIME WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY DOES HAVE NOTICE ABOUT.
HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO SEVERAL, UM, WHILE THEY'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL JOINT ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS THAT I KNOW THE OFFICE OF MAYOR SIDIKI IS WORKING ON THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THIS FALL SO THAT WE ARE IN A, IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET TOGETHER WITH THE CITY PER THE CHARTER.
CHANGES THAT, UH, SPECIFY MANY OF THESE EARLIER IN, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND INPUT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
[03:55:01]
YOU HAVE THE MEMO BEFORE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE SEVERAL MEETINGS IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.WE ALSO STILL HAVE TO DETERMINE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO DISCUSS CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PRIORITIES.
OUR EXPECTATION FOR THAT IS WE WILL, OF COURSE BE BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT WE DID ALREADY.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BRING IN RADICAL CHANGES SINCE THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD GOVERNANCE.
IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD FISCAL, UH, PRACTICE EITHER.
BUT IT WILL ALLOW US TO JUST REVIEW WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES.
AND THEN THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS OVER FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE, THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ALL HAD THAT ON OUR CALENDARS, THAT THEY'RE PRETTY IMPORTANT MEETINGS COMING UP IN THE FALL.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO, HAS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR WANTS TO ADD TO IT.
ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADD HEARING NONE? WE'LL GO AHEAD ON A VOICE.
VOTE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILOR NOLAN TO PLACE COMMUNICATION FROM OTHER CITY OFFICERS.
NUMBER FIVE HAS BEEN PLACED ON FILE.
[LATE AGENDA ITEMS REQUIRING SUSPENSION OF THE RULES PER RULE 36A]
ON TO LATE RESOLUTIONS AND LATE POLICY ORDERS.WE DO HAVE A FEW ITEMS, SO THAT REQUIRE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES ON A MOTION BY COUNSELOR FLAHERTY TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO BRING FORWARD THESE LATE ITEMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, THIS IS A, THERE'S A LATE RESOLUTION FOR LEUKEMIA AWARENESS MONTH 2026, AND THERE'S A RESOLUTION FOR THE RANGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
SO 120 EIGHTH ANNUAL REUNION DINNER.
WOULD LIKE MY COLLEAGUES WHO SPONSOR THESE SAY ANYTHING? UH, JUST BRIEFLY, JUST BRIEFLY, MADAM MAYOR, UH, THIS, THE ANNUAL REUNION IS THIS IS COMING UPON US AND WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE IT.
SO I WAS BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE RANGE, THE RANGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN CELEBRATING, ACKNOWLEDGING AND LIFTING UP THEIR MEMBERSHIPS, WHICH IS MEMBERS, ME, THOSE THAT HAD ATTENDED RANGE.
AND THEY'VE ADDED CAMBRIDGE RANGE, WELL, CAMBRIDGE HIGH AND LATIN AS WELL.
THEY'LL BE ACKNOWLEDGING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH A PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD AND A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT, A NUMBER OF US, NOT ALL, BUT A NUMBER OF US DID ATTEND CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND, UH, IN THE WORK THAT THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE TWO SCHOOLS OR THE THREE SCHOOLS, CAMBRIDGE, DR AND LATIN, CAMBRIDGE HIGH AND LATIN AND CAMBRIDGE, DR AND LATIN, BE APPROPRIATELY ACKNOWLEDGED.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF LEUKEMIA, LEUKEMIA ISN'T, UH, IS A DISEASE THAT TOUCHES MANY PEOPLE.
MY DAUGHTER DIED THREE YEARS AGO FROM IT.
UM, WE KNOW I'M NOT GONNA CALL OUT PEOPLE 'CAUSE THEY MAY NOT WANNA BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THIS WAY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO US, WHOSE FAMILY IS SUFFERING FROM THIS HORRIFIC DISEASE.
AND SO WE CAN JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY LIGHTING THE HALL AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IN READ.
I THINK THAT WE GO A LONG WAY AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL NOTICED AND SEEN AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS HORRIFIC DISEASE.
THANK YOU COUNCILLOR SIMMONS FOR BRINGING BOTH FORWARD.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, DO A VOICE FOR IT ON ADOPTING BOTH OF THE LATE RESOLUTIONS.
THOSE TWO LATE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED AND THEY'RE UNANIMOUS UPON ADOPTION.
[LATE POLICY ORDERS]
ORDER, UH, AS WELL THAT THE CITY MANAGERS REQUESTED TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE CITY STAFF TO ILLUMINATE CITY HALL IN TEAL ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, OR ON ANOTHER DATE IN SEPTEMBER, MOST SUITABLE FOR CITY STAFF IN OBSERVANCE OF OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.THIS WAS FILED BY COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY, COUNCILLOR SIMMONS, COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY YIELD.
SO I, THIS WAS A REQUEST BY A, UH, A COMPANY THAT'S LOCATED HERE IN CAMBRIDGE AND KENDALL SQUARE.
AND IT'S A, UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
IT TOUCHES EVERY FAMILY, UH, MANY CLOSE TO US.
AND I JUST ASK IT TO BE ADOPTED TO COUNCILLOR SIMMONS.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THAT FORWARD.
WE'LL GO AHEAD ON A VOICE, VOTE ON A MOTION BY COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY TO ADOPT THE POLICY ORDER.
WE'RE DONE WITH OUR LATE, LATE, UH, POLICY ORDER AND RESOLUTIONS.
WE'LL GO AHEAD ON A MOTION BY VICE MAYOR TO ADJOURN.