[14:30] >>> regular meeting.

[14:31] Thes order to business is roll

[14:33] call of members present.

[14:36] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi.

[14:37] Present.

[14:39] Vice mayor azeem.

[14:40] Present.

[14:41] Councilor flaherty.

[14:43] Present.

[14:45] Councilor Mcgovern.

[14:45] Absent.

[14:46] Councilor nolan.

[14:47] Present.

[14:49] Councilor simmons.

[14:50] Absent.

[14:52] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler.

[14:53] Present.

[14:54] Councilor zusy.

[14:55] Present.

[14:56] Mayor siddiqui.

[14:57] Present.

[14:59] You have two members recorded as

[15:01] absent and seven recorded as

[15:02] present.

[15:04] >> Mayor Siddiqui: please join

[15:06] me in the pledge of allegiance

[15:07] and pause for a moment of

[15:08] silence.

[15:09] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[15:11] of the united states of america,

[15:13] and to the republic for which it

[15:14] stands, one nation under GOD,

[15:16] indivisible with liberty and

[15:25] justice for all.

[15:33] >> Mayor Siddiqui: chapter two

[15:35] of the acts of 2025, adopted by

[15:37] massachusetts general court and

[15:39] approved by the governor, the

[15:43] city is authorized to use remote

[15:45] participation of meetings at the

[15:46] cambridge city council.

[15:48] In addition to having members

[15:49] participate remotely, we set up

[15:51] teleconference for public

[15:53] comment.

[15:55] Or on the city's cable channel

[15:56] 22.

[16:01] To speak, you have to sign up at

[16:01] website.

[16:03] you can also email written

[16:04] comments for the record to the

[16:10] city clerk and city clerk.

[16:12] We welcome your participation

[16:13] and you can sign up until 6:00

[16:13] P.M.

[16:16] Please note the city video

[16:17] records this meeting and makes

[16:20] it available for visual viewing.

[16:23] Third parties MAY also be audio

[16:24] recording this meetinged I want

[16:26] to also announce that as of

[16:29] JANUARY 26th, 2026, the city

[16:32] will transition 23r the current

[16:33] agenda management software to

[16:35] one meetingats its official

[16:37] management system as part of our

[16:40] ongoing transparency,

[16:41] accessibility and public

[16:47] engagement.

[16:48] We will provide a comment future

[16:49] available.

[16:52] [Indiscernible]

[16:55] JANUARY 2026 council meeting.

[16:58] Enhanced system that allows

[16:59] residents to submit

[17:01] communications directly through

[17:05] the portal for agenda items.

[17:07] Comments MAY be part of the

[17:08] public record, in accordance

[17:09] with open meeting law

[17:11] requirements.

[17:13] It provides a much more

[17:17] streamlined user-friendly

[17:17] experience, while offering

[17:20] commitment to participation.

[17:21] Instructions will be existing

[17:23] city councilor and city clerk

[17:24] web pages and will be included

[17:28] with all city councilor with

[17:28] calendar events.

[17:30] For questions, please contact

[17:37] the city clerk's office.

[17:39] We now move on to public

[17:40] comment.

[17:41] Public comment MAY be made in

[17:46] accordance with city council

[17:47] rules.

[17:49] Once you finish speaking, the

[17:50] next speaker will be called.

[17:54] not permitted -- you're not

[17:56] permitted to allocate your time

[17:57] to other speakers.

[18:00] We ask you to say your name and

[18:01] the agenda item you're speaking

[18:01] on.

[18:03] We have about 33 speakers signed

[18:04] up.

[18:05] Per our rules, each speaker will

[18:07] have two minutes.

[18:14] We'll now go to the speakers.

[18:16] >> Clerk: clerk, if you can call

[18:17] them.

[18:18] I'm having you're right this

[18:22] minute.

[18:25] >> would you like me to call?

[18:26] >> Clerk: yes.

[18:27] I should be in shortly.

[18:28] You can call for now.

[18:33] >> Mayor Siddiqui: first speaker

[18:36] is henry whartz.

[18:37] I don't see henry.

[18:38] You're on zoom?

[18:39] Go ahead.

[18:43] >> yes, sorry.

[18:45] Henry, 106 berkshire street, one

[18:47] block away from cambridge

[18:48] street.

[18:51] I'm speaking on behalf of those

[18:54] in cambridge about the propose

[18:54] ed

[18:59] cambridge street.

[19:00] This proposal should be allowed

[19:04] to expire.

[19:06] Each referring to the impact of

[19:07] this rezoning on you are

[19:08] neighborhood and city.

[19:10] Of course, it will permit the

[19:11] construction of many new

[19:18] buildings along cambridge the

[19:20] there is no doubt about that.

[19:22] The issue is who will live here

[19:24] and who will be forced out of

[19:24] the city because of their

[19:28] current homes.

[19:30] People make less than 50% of the

[19:33] area median income are the most

[19:39] burdened by housing costs.

[19:41] That's about 30% of cambridge

[19:41] households.

[19:42] none of these people will be

[19:44] able to move into new units,

[19:45] none.

[19:48] New buildings.

[19:51] A few units will be 100% --

[19:52] buildings with ten or more units

[19:55] will be 80% market rate.

[20:03] And people below 50% of the ami

[20:06] who most need housing won't be

[20:07] eligible because they don't have

[20:09] vouchers because at this time,

[20:12] there are no available vouchers

[20:13] given the high cost of land and

[20:17] construction in cambridge,

[20:18] households need to have incomes

[20:21] in the range of $200,000 to

[20:25] afford new market rate housing.

[20:27] Our new neighborhoods will be

[20:35] the people our new neighbors

[20:37] will be the people making over

[20:38] $200,000 because the low it

[20:39] moderate income people now

[20:42] living in these units won't be

[20:43] able to afford.

[20:45] The net result will be

[20:47] displacement and gentrification.

[20:49] Please don't pass this letter.

[20:50] Thank you.

[20:51] >> Clerk: thank you.

[20:58] Our next speaker is lee farris.

[20:59] Lee has not joined us.

[21:00] We are going to richard,

[21:04] followed by susan.

[21:05] You have two minutes.

[21:15] Please go ahead.

[21:17] If you can press the button,

[21:18] you'll see a green light.

[21:21] >> hello.

[21:27] [Indiscernible]

[21:36] [Poor audio]

[21:38] -- does not apply to cambridge

[21:44] street and mass ave.

[21:45] -- P.A. Zoning.

[21:47] If this passes.

[21:54] [Indiscernible]

[21:59] [Poor audio]

[22:11] [Audio difficulties]

[22:14] -- so the result will be --

[22:22] [Indiscernible]

[22:24] -- and this was an oversight.

[22:31] i think all the councilors, and

[22:34] this cap cannot be fixed.

[22:47] [Poor audio]

[24:58] [Indiscernible]

[25:00] Please show us the evidence.

[25:01] It's six stories high along

[25:03] cambridge street will not

[25:04] produce enough housing.

[25:05] Safety.

[25:06] The cambridge fire department

[25:07] claims that the equipment

[25:11] available should not exceed 60

[25:12] feet and beyond that.

[25:13] Fire personnel will be subject

[25:14] to great danger.

[25:16] Have you looked into this?

[25:18] Project review.

[25:19] Zoning should require that

[25:20] whatever specification is

[25:22] required binding project review

[25:24] for commercial buildings should

[25:25] apply as well to residential

[25:27] buildings.

[25:29] Small independent retail.

[25:30] The backbone of neighborhood

[25:33] connectivity.

[25:35] Displaced with live retail.

[25:36] What is going to be done about

[25:37] that?

[25:40] In conclusion, this petition is

[25:41] ruined.

[25:43] There's not been enough input.

[25:44] It is not what we want.

[25:46] It can and must be improved.

[25:48] What about a two-month process

[25:50] that notefies all people living

[25:51] near cambridge street, provides

[25:54] written material before an oral

[25:56] with facts defending the

[25:58] petition goals.

[25:59] Along cambridge street notifying

[26:01] people, and a meeting time for

[26:03] in-person.

[26:05] >> Clerk: your time has expired.

[26:06] Please email the remainder of

[26:07] your comments.

[26:19] Our next speaker.

[26:20] Shelley, you have two minutes.

[26:21] Please go ahead.

[26:22] >> thank you very much.

[26:24] shelly raymond 201 franklin

[26:25] street cambridge.

[26:26] That is central square.

[26:28] I have seen central square

[26:30] become all big.

[26:33] Our beloved bookstore and 10,000

[26:34] villages is gone.

[26:35] Harvard square is long gone.

[26:37] Inman square is now the only

[26:39] place I can go to to gather

[26:39] here.

[26:43] The hardware store, some of the

[26:45] small restaurants.

[26:46] Christina's, a little spice

[26:46] place.

[26:53] Those are precious retail

[26:56] outlets.

[26:57] They lose their spaces and we

[26:59] get target and cvs.

[27:02] It will be devastating.

[27:04] As other speakers have said, the

[27:06] process is really flawed.

[27:07] There's not been community

[27:08] input.

[27:14] There hasn't been a chance for

[27:15] residents and businesses to

[27:16] reply, to get their voices

[27:17] heard.

[27:18] I was on cambridge street

[27:20] earlier today at the little

[27:22] coffee houses, and all those

[27:28] businesses will be in trouble if

[27:30] they have to succumb to this

[27:31] upzoning.

[27:33] Open space is another problem.

[27:35] It will give too little open

[27:38] space with too little value.

[27:40] 5-feet setbacks and no side

[27:40] setbacks, which is in the

[27:42] proposal.

[27:44] Provides almost inaccessible

[27:47] patches that aren't useful to

[27:51] building residents and are just

[27:52] the we need open space.

[27:53] We need green space.

[27:56] We need setbacks and oxygen to

[27:56] breathe.

[27:58] Cambridge is a wonderful place

[27:59] and we do need more housing,

[28:03] fewer -- more housing, more

[28:07] social housing, and low-income

[28:08] housing would really serve our

[28:09] community well.

[28:10] I really hope to see it.

[28:12] I've been here since 1970 and I

[28:14] don't want to give up on this

[28:15] wonderful city.

[28:15] Thank you.

[28:16] >> Clerk: thank you.

[28:33] Our next speaker.

[28:34] Mairlyn meyer.

[28:35] >> hi, mairlyn meyer.

[28:37] There are two issues.

[28:39] Now I have no neighbors.

[28:40] The original first step to inl

[28:42] did you irk reservation

[28:42] guidelines.

[28:54] Now setting for development.

[28:56] The goal is to make buildings

[28:58] easier with design, height and

[28:59] shape.

[29:01] We have more casual expertise

[29:01] experience preservation

[29:10] orientation in an effort to do

[29:11] bidding.

[29:13] We can't lose historical site

[29:14] and context.

[29:18] This new change, the up zoning

[29:20] petitions of the process again,

[29:21] loses to pro-developers at the

[29:25] expense of those who live here.

[29:30] The mass ave -- zoning maps for

[29:31] luxury housing.

[29:33] Please allow cambridge street to

[29:36] address its shortcomings by

[29:38] letting it upzoning expire for

[29:39] better city plan.

[29:41] We need to address lab street

[29:47] trees scul -- minuscule by

[29:48] setbacks and fire safety.

[29:50] Projects smaller than 25,000

[29:52] square feet need review.

[29:54] We have a nexus study addressing

[29:56] inclusionary and affordable

[29:56] housing itself.

[29:59] We need to protect small

[30:01] businesses against evictions.

[30:02] Is any of cambridge street in a

[30:05] c-1 district?

[30:07] Do zoning totals align with

[30:09] affordable housing goals?

[30:13] The expiring petition is not a

[30:14] relitigation, but an opportunity

[30:17] to address innate flaws with a

[30:21] new council, and keep ed at,

[30:23] quote, wanting to own this, out

[30:25] of the final product.

[30:27] Please let this expire for a

[30:27] better cohesionive result.

[30:30] Thank you.

[30:31] >> Clerk: thank you.

[30:34] We're going to go back to lee

[30:35] farris.

[30:39] We'll go back to jim monte verde

[30:40] verde.

[30:40] Two minutes.

[30:42] Please go ahead.

[30:42] >> thanks.

[30:44] Can you hear me?

[30:46] >> I can.

[30:48] >> speaking for the cambridge

[30:49] alliance.

[30:51] I ask councilors to let the

[30:52] petition expire.

[30:59] Why?

[31:02] [Poor audio]

[31:03] -- buildings with no

[31:05] inclusionary units, as well as

[31:08] no active ground floor.

[31:10] When zoning was passed last year

[31:11] the requirement of 4 plus 2

[31:19] amendment that inclusionary in

[31:20] buildings of four floors.

[31:21] Turns out it was only for one

[31:24] zone, not the B.A. Zone like

[31:26] cambridge.

[31:29] As council has heard,

[31:30] construction costs go up 30%

[31:35] starting with the first floor.

[31:40] Ders -- [Indiscernible]

[31:42] No inclusion ground floor as

[31:46] currently written.

[31:49] -- inclusionary are a key reason

[31:50] pthey support the petition.

[31:53] They said there would be very

[31:53] few.

[31:54] I'm also concerned about the

[31:55] displacement that would result

[31:58] from this petition.

[32:01] Unlike north mass ave, north of

[32:03] cambridge street already is

[32:04] three floors tall with naturally

[32:06] occurring affordable housing

[32:07] over retail.

[32:10] Cdd has not produced any numbers

[32:12] for how many units would be lost

[32:14] causing displacement.

[32:17] Cdd has also not shown the total

[32:19] number of units that will be

[32:22] created and has only shown the

[32:24] net units.

[32:25] That means we can't see the

[32:26] amount of displacement on

[32:33] cambridge street for the result.

[32:35] These cannot be addressed in the

[32:37] current petition, so I ask

[32:38] councilors to let it expire.

[32:40] Then I hope to see a robust

[32:42] community process taking no more

[32:44] than two months, take place, and

[32:46] then we can have the petitions

[32:46] that we all deserve.

[32:48] Thank you.

[32:56] >> Clerk: thank you.

[32:57] Next speaker.

[32:57] Two minutes.

[33:03] >> good evening.

[33:04] I ask you let the cambridge

[33:06] street zoning proposal expire

[33:09] and require it be revised with

[33:10] benefit of robust open and

[33:12] public review process.

[33:14] The cambridge street study

[33:16] identified a building height of

[33:19] six stories along the street and

[33:21] inman square, eight stories as

[33:21] proposed.

[33:23] This height change should be

[33:25] vetted in a public review

[33:25] process like the cambridge

[33:28] street study and based on

[33:31] professional recommendations.

[33:35] The pro lacks design review

[33:36] process threshold proposal

[33:38] should be revised to acquire a

[33:41] project review of all the

[33:43] buildings on cambridge street to

[33:45] maintain and enhance its unique

[33:47] character and cohesiveness.

[33:49] Likewise, the zoning proposal

[33:51] needs improvement to allow

[33:54] existing retail uses to continue

[33:56] in any reconstruction, retail

[33:59] character of the street.

[34:02] Please let the zoning proposal

[34:04] -- the proposal expire, so that

[34:06] it can be improved through a

[34:08] public renew and comment.

[34:10] Thank you.

[34:11] >> Clerk: thank you.

[34:14] Our next speaker is young kim

[34:16] followed by louise, then harry

[34:16] walker.

[34:17] You have two minutes.

[34:25] Please go ahead.

[34:31] [Indiscernible]

[34:32] >> speaking of the second

[34:33] reading of the cambridge street

[34:36] petition.

[34:39] Procedural grounds.

[34:41] Before further upzoning,

[34:43] cambridge street and central

[34:46] square, councilors should

[34:48] acquire consolidated city-wide

[34:51] review of housing growth since

[34:55] the aho family zoning --

[34:57] [Indiscernible]

[35:03] Not one petition at a time.

[35:05] The last release of affordable

[35:08] housing annual update shows

[35:08] widening necessary.

[35:13] The fiscal 24 update --

[35:25] [Indiscernible]

[35:27] The fiscal 24 update the fiscal

[35:32] year shows only about nine

[35:37] million in fiscal 25 while the

[35:41] petitions and that shop drop has

[35:43] not been addressed in the zoning

[35:44] review.

[35:49] Why did it go up by 30 or 40,

[35:52] and drop back down to 90 to next

[35:57] year.

[35:59] I'm not a housing expert so I

[36:00] can't explain.

[36:04] Maybe you can.

[36:08] Council should not cutting away

[36:12] corridor without first examining

[36:14] community city-wide impact.

[36:24] Procedurally, [Indiscernible]

[36:25] -- [Indiscernible]

[36:28] and to the city clerk at the

[36:31] closing moments of DECEMBER 22.

[36:33] But I have not heard.

[36:36] >> Clerk: your time has expired.

[36:38] That ends the remainder of your

[36:38] comments.

[36:39] Thank you.

[36:42] Our next speaker is louise

[36:43] renden, followed by helen walker

[36:46] then gert trud -- ger trud.

[36:51] Luis?

[36:53] If you can unmute yourself.

[36:54] >> can you hear me?

[36:55] >> Clerk: we can.

[36:59] Please go ahead.

[37:01] >> I urge you to take a no vote

[37:03] on this until the city evaluated

[37:05] the impacts of the ambitious

[37:06] zoning changes made over the

[37:08] past seven years.

[37:09] These zoning changes were aimed

[37:11] at increasing supply of rental

[37:13] and ownership housing in order

[37:15] to lower rental rates and sales

[37:15] prices.

[37:19] Have they achieved those goals?

[37:21] Dramatic changes thed often have

[37:22] unintended consequences for

[37:24] neighborhoods, the environment,

[37:26] and city finances.

[37:27] Measuring the results of these

[37:29] policies is critical to ensure

[37:32] that zoning changes result in

[37:34] building housing residents need

[37:35] and can afford.

[37:38] Many questions must be asked

[37:39] before further zoning changes

[37:41] are made and the following data

[37:43] should be evaluated in order to

[37:45] support this upzoning proposal

[37:47] and inform modification to

[37:49] ordinances like multifamily

[37:50] housing that's already been

[37:51] adopted.

[37:53] Councilors should request data

[37:55] and evaluation of building

[37:56] permits issued between 2020 and

[38:01] 2025 for residential units,

[38:03] including net units added by

[38:05] affordable housing overlay,

[38:07] inclusionary zoning, and market

[38:09] rate categories, and proposed

[38:11] rental and sale prices of these

[38:12] units.

[38:15] Recent data on residential

[38:19] permits show 67 units 2025.

[38:23] 565 in 2024, and 109 in 2023.

[38:25] Why are there such wide

[38:29] variances?

[38:30] Occupancy grant the during the

[38:31] same period for permitted

[38:33] projects by affordable and

[38:35] market rate units, showing those

[38:36] units that have been built

[38:37] should be evaluated.

[38:39] Also, reach out to affordable

[38:41] and market rate housing

[38:42] developers experienced in

[38:43] building here to understand

[38:45] their challenges and the ways

[38:47] the city might support building

[38:51] housing to fit our needs.

[38:52] >> Clerk: thank you.

[38:56] Our next speaker is helen walker

[39:02] followed by -- gertrude.

[39:03] >> can you hear me?

[39:04] >> Clerk: yes, ma'am.

[39:05] Please go ahead.

[39:07] >> helen walker.

[39:09] Thank you for the chance to

[39:11] speak about the cambridge street

[39:12] zoning petition.

[39:14] The cambridge street pets from

[39:16] content specifics inattention,

[39:18] just as the mass ave petition

[39:19] suffered from procedural

[39:20] inattention.

[39:22] With the mass ave petition,

[39:24] council is told the text is not

[39:25] in the agenda packets, so

[39:28] council revoted.

[39:30] Actually, there was a text with

[39:32] many edits in undisclosed

[39:34] location no one knew about.

[39:37] Yet text no one voted on

[39:38] appeared under the record

[39:39] version.

[39:41] With cambridge street, there was

[39:43] already a consulting planet

[39:46] process and record document

[39:48] mixed use residential to six

[39:51] stories, with setbacks after

[39:52] five stories.

[39:54] A sure sign that even six was

[39:55] considered a bit too high, with

[39:58] measures outlined.

[40:01] All this vanished into thin air,

[40:04] and where are the amendments the

[40:06] community keeps requesting?

[40:07] Inclusionary units required over

[40:09] four stories.

[40:11] Project review threshold and

[40:13] projects over four stories.

[40:15] Protection for existing ground

[40:16] floor business, preferential

[40:17] treatment for small business,

[40:19] open space comparable to all

[40:22] other residential districts, at

[40:26] least 15%, mostly create --

[40:27] limits on new lands near

[40:29] housing.

[40:31] Please let current zoning

[40:33] petition expire, begin a brief

[40:34] two-week consulting process to

[40:36] consider the outstanding issues,

[40:38] and create a new zoning petition

[40:39] the community can support.

[40:40] Thank you.

[40:41] >> Clerk: thank you.

[40:44] Our next speaker is gertrude

[40:47] goodman, followed by jerry and

[40:47] then neil.

[40:50] Gertrude, two minutes.

[40:51] Please go ahead.

[40:58] [Indiscernible]

[41:00] >> I'm going to ask you to --

[41:04] [Indiscernible]

[41:06] -- this particular piece of

[41:08] ordinance or whatever you it.

[41:12] The rest is a review of what's

[41:16] going on.

[41:18] 15-story high-rise on the corner

[41:21] of prospect of cambridge street

[41:22] disintegrating into the earth.

[41:26] Most of you people know the

[41:26] HRIOs.

[41:28] Pyou know they are not taking

[41:29] care of my building or other

[41:30] buildings.

[41:31] It's time to start thinking

[41:33] about -- six story.

[41:35] [Indiscernible]

[41:48] [Poor audio]

[41:49] >> I've been in the building for

[41:52] 33 years.

[41:53] [Indiscernible]

[41:55] We need housing, and the city is

[41:59] not helping us.

[42:00] Inclusionary won't help us to do

[42:02] that either.

[42:06] [Indiscernible]

[42:09] You need to do it reasonably.

[42:11] [Poor audio]

[42:12] -- good relationship with the

[42:14] people of inman square.

[42:15] Some of those people have been

[42:20] there.

[42:21] Stuck getting into section

[42:38] eight.

[42:41] [Poor audio]

[42:43] -- do not have the access other

[42:47] people have at $200,000.

[42:50] $2,000.

[42:52] [Poor audio]

[42:53] [Indiscernible]

[42:54] >> Clerk: thank you.

[42:58] Our next speaker is jerry

[43:01] followed by neil, then david.

[43:02] Jerry evening.

[43:05] My name is jerry and I'm a

[43:06] consultant to the foundation for

[43:09] civic leadership, which owns the

[43:12] building at 4345 auburn street.

[43:14] I'm speaking tonight on behalf

[43:15] of ian simmons, the PRESIDENT Of

[43:17] the foundation, who wanted to be

[43:20] here, but had a long-standing

[43:21] family commitment and is unable

[43:24] to make it.

[43:26] Fcl respectfully opposes the

[43:28] landmarking designation of 43

[43:32] and 45 to encourage him to vote

[43:33] against it.

[43:35] For over two decades, the

[43:37] building served as low-cost

[43:39] civic space for cambridge

[43:41] residents, and students.

[43:42] From the day we purchase the

[43:44] property, we have viewed it as a

[43:46] longtime civic development, a

[43:48] place meant to adapt and grow,

[43:50] so it can continue to serve

[43:52] future generations in cambridge.

[43:55] Because the building sits within

[43:56] harvard square conservation

[43:59] district, any significant

[44:01] changes require a certificate of

[44:02] appropriateness.

[44:04] In our view, the existing

[44:05] process provides a strong and

[44:08] appropriate balance between

[44:10] preservation and progress.

[44:12] We have appreciated our

[44:14] interactions with the chc staff

[44:16] during the landmark study, and a

[44:17] report provides excellent

[44:18] guidelines that we intend to

[44:22] build upon.

[44:23] We continue to work closely with

[44:25] the staff in the city.

[44:27] However, our landmark

[44:28] designation will create

[44:30] unnecessary hurdles for a small

[44:32] nonprofit, seeking to carry out

[44:34] responsible improvements.

[44:36] It could also limit our ability

[44:38] to consider future uses that

[44:41] advance the broader civic goals

[44:42] around housing density and

[44:45] transit.

[44:46] The historic significance does

[44:48] not meet the threshold typically

[44:50] seen in cambridge landmark

[44:51] designations.

[44:53] In fact, its greatest value lies

[44:58] in civic activity it supports

[45:02] today.

[45:04] Restore its architectural and

[45:05] historical features.

[45:05] Thank you very much.

[45:06] >> Clerk: thank you.

[45:09] Our next speaker.

[45:11] Followed by david.

[45:12] You have two minutes.

[45:16] Please go ahead.

[45:18] >> can you hear me now?

[45:19] >> Clerk: we can.

[45:20] Please go ahead.

[45:21] >> thank you very much.

[45:24] My name is neil rohr.

[45:27] i live at 655 concord avenue,

[45:29] and I'm here to speak on

[45:31] regarding charter right number

[45:31] two.

[45:35] First, I'd like to congratulate

[45:36] mayor siddiqui and vice mayor

[45:39] azeem on their appointments as

[45:41] mayor and vice mayor.

[45:44] Very proud that we have them in

[45:45] leadership.

[45:49] I want to thank the co-sponsors,

[45:52] councilor azeem, nolan and zusy.

[45:55] And ied expect this order will

[45:56] receive a 9-0 vote.

[45:59] Now in the order summerville is

[46:01] referred to, I think it's an

[46:03] excellent example.

[46:04] The people I speak to there say

[46:10] that in transit areas, it has

[46:13] cut down on difficulty finding

[46:15] on-street parking, and cut down

[46:16] somewhat on traffic.

[46:18] We really need this in

[46:18] cambridge.

[46:22] I think people on both sides of

[46:24] the issue of too much building,

[46:28] zoning changes, or too much for

[46:31] the city, do support limiting

[46:34] the competition for parking and

[46:36] decreasing traffic.

[46:38] So I would hope that you would

[46:41] pass this unanimously and move

[46:42] forward on it.

[46:43] The purpose of this parking

[46:45] permit restriction is to limit

[46:48] the impacts on new housing

[46:49] developments, to on street

[46:53] parking permit parking capacity

[46:55] and traffic congestion.

[46:57] You might also want to add guest

[46:59] permits to the parking permits.

[47:07] I live in an area which is going

[47:11] it see new housing.

[47:13] We need to get this in place so

[47:16] there isn't even worse situation

[47:17] of parking and traffic.

[47:20] Thank you very much.

[47:21] >> Clerk: thank you.

[47:23] Our next speaker.

[47:27] Speaker number 15 is david

[47:29] halperin, followed by felix and

[47:30] james.

[47:31] You have two minutes.

[47:32] Please go ahead.

[47:35] >> good evening, david halperin

[47:37] 14shtion valentine street.

[47:39] I'd like to express my support

[47:41] for cambridge street zoning.

[47:42] First of all, I'd like it

[47:45] correct for the record that any

[47:47] development would real require

[47:48] inclusionary.

[47:52] In addition to other roirmentds,

[47:53] inclusionary kicks in on a

[47:55] building that has more than

[47:57] 10,000 feet of first floor area

[47:58] -- requirements.

[48:01] A building of six stories is

[48:01] nonunits.

[48:03] It would still not be feasible

[48:05] under 10,000 square feet.

[48:07] So we will continue to get

[48:09] inclusionary display.

[48:12] And we need all the tools in our

[48:13] toolbox to talk about housing

[48:14] crisis.

[48:15] You know, continuing with the

[48:18] status quo.

[48:21] We have seen for years and years

[48:22] and years cambridge has

[48:23] underbuilt.

[48:26] You know, we have the aho for

[48:28] 100% of affordable housing, and

[48:30] that is wonderful.

[48:31] I could not support that more,

[48:33] but we're only going to get so

[48:35] many tax credit grants.

[48:37] We're following behind on our

[48:38] affordable housing goals, so we

[48:41] need to get inclusionary working

[48:43] social housing working.

[48:46] We in the tool box.

[48:48] -- we need every tool in the

[48:49] tool box.

[48:51] Additionally, I want to live in

[48:52] a vibrant city.

[48:53] One of the things I like about

[48:56] cambridge is the density and the

[48:58] benefits that come with that,

[49:01] and bringing more people to the

[49:01] retail.

[49:03] People are worried that this is

[49:04] going to cause huge amounts of

[49:05] redevelopment.

[49:08] But as we've seen so far from

[49:09] previous buildings, that you're

[49:11] going to get a building here and

[49:12] there.

[49:13] The economics of that are not

[49:14] actually that good.

[49:16] It's better to make it possible

[49:18] from my perspective than to

[49:21] continue to, you know, limit to

[49:23] six.

[49:25] You can already build six for

[49:26] not seeing that development on

[49:28] cambridge street.

[49:31] Please ordain this petition.

[49:34] Thank you very much.

[49:35] >> Clerk: thank you.

[49:39] Our next speaker is felix

[49:43] supreme courtls -- sprecles.

[49:46] Please go ahead.

[49:48] >> dear councilors, having --

[49:50] [Indiscernible]

[49:55] [Poor audio]

[49:57] -- sentiments expressed by other

[49:58] residents.

[49:59] I'm hoping the third time is a

[50:01] charm and will result in a

[50:01] different outcome.

[50:03] First, let me be clear I support

[50:05] more housing in cambridge,

[50:08] especially for many lower income

[50:15] residents, which is a priority.

[50:16] It's different than the

[50:18] cambridge street proposal of

[50:18] 2023-24.

[50:20] In future public hearings, you

[50:23] include not only the voices of

[50:25] residents, but those of business

[50:27] owners the length of cambridge

[50:28] street within effort to reach

[50:32] out and solicit their voices.

[50:33] Here are some of my concerns.

[50:38] Zoning should require binding

[50:40] special project review that is

[50:44] required for nonresidential

[50:47] buildings of 20,000 square feet.

[50:51] This brings special attention --

[50:53] things have learned -- that

[50:57] speaks to issues such as traffic

[50:57] parksing, quality of life

[51:01] issues.

[51:02] [Poor audio]

[51:09] Dertion ders [Indiscernible]

[51:11] -- do not qualify as open space.

[51:19] Residents -- should be limited

[51:22] to -- .

[51:23] [Poor audio]

[51:34] [Indiscernible]

[51:34] So much.

[51:36] This is not a full list of my

[51:36] concerns.

[51:38] I will include them in another

[51:39] message.

[51:39] I appreciate your concern.

[51:41] Thank you.

[51:42] >> Clerk: thank you.

[51:43] Our next speaker is james.

[51:47] Followed by mark truant, then

[51:48] alan.

[51:49] James, you have two minutes.

[51:51] Please go ahead.

[51:51] >> thank you.

[51:55] This is james alt, 2003

[51:57] pemberton street.

[51:58] I'd like to thank the returning

[52:00] councilors and welcome the new

[52:01] councilors to continuing the

[52:03] work on the years' long plan to

[52:05] alleviate the consequences of

[52:07] our decades' long housing

[52:07] shortage.

[52:08] The cambridge street zoning

[52:10] proposal we're now considering

[52:12] will continue the work of

[52:13] removing existing barriers to

[52:16] more housing that's more

[52:17] affordable, to more of our

[52:17] neighbors.

[52:19] Since the early days of this

[52:21] effort, starting with the

[52:22] affordable housing overlay, it

[52:24] has become increasingly clear

[52:26] that zoning reform is making

[52:27] possible housing constructions

[52:30] that could not and did not

[52:36] happen previously.

[52:38] Amthough the multizoning family

[52:39] amendments that use the same

[52:41] approach, have been in effect

[52:42] for less than a year.

[52:44] So nothing has been built yet.

[52:45] We're seeing proposals and plans

[52:49] for zero to eight households to

[52:51] provide housing for 30 to 70

[52:53] households with some including

[52:56] small retail spaces that MAY

[53:00] help local businesses.

[53:02] The unpopularity of the economic

[53:05] and social hubs that are former

[53:08] draconian zoning code has helped

[53:08] create is evidence -- evident in

[53:11] the results of the last few city

[53:12] elections, especially in the

[53:14] face of last year's repeal

[53:15] slate.

[53:16] Despite this, we're hearing

[53:18] calls for further barriers to

[53:21] housing and ends for special

[53:22] conditions for special

[53:24] neighborhoods of the city.

[53:27] The exclusionary foundations of

[53:28] our prior says are being exposed

[53:31] yet again.

[53:33] Ignoring the benefits the zoning

[53:34] reform has brought and can

[53:35] continue to bring to the

[53:38] majority of the city in which

[53:39] two-thirds of residents are

[53:41] renting their homes, and many

[53:43] cannot afford are still

[53:45] increasing rents, let alone

[53:46] multimillion dollar purchase

[53:47] prices.

[53:50] Please proceed to pass this

[53:50] proposal this evening.

[53:52] Thank you very much.

[53:53] >> Clerk: thank you.

[53:55] Our next speaker is mark

[53:59] followed by alan, then erika.

[54:07] You have two minutes.

[54:08] >> 32 warren street in

[54:09] cambridge.

[54:10] I've been a resident of

[54:12] cambridge for 40 years.

[54:14] Actually I own property on one

[54:20] street that is in this B.A. Zone

[54:21] that's at issue.

[54:27] and I would like to say that I

[54:29] second all the really great

[54:32] comments that my fellow citizens

[54:36] have made, asking to let this

[54:41] expire because I don't -- it

[54:48] would be very -- [Indiscernible]

[54:52] [Poor audio]

[54:56] >> I kept coming up here -- bank

[55:00] account -- person -- as gertrude

[55:03] so well put, it's just not going

[55:05] to create the kind of housing

[55:11] that people want.

[55:16] My girlfriend from italy in 1925

[55:21] -- poor audio]

[55:24] S ders mussolini and the

[55:24] fascists.

[55:26] My grandfather was a socialist.

[55:33] I'm just sad that -- affordable

[55:35] housing is not my grandfather's

[55:38] socialism.

[55:42] We can't afford --

[55:45] [Indiscernible]

[55:52] [Poor audio]

[55:53] >> do it the right way.

[55:53] Thank you.

[55:54] >> Clerk: thank you.

[55:57] Our next speaker is alan,

[56:00] followed by aeshg a, then

[56:05] alexander -- allen.

[56:06] Allen, two minutes.

[56:09] You can turn the mic on.

[56:09] >> sorry.

[56:12] Hi, everybody.

[56:15] I'm allen on cambridge street.

[56:18] I'm speak as a on the cambridge.

[56:23] I also came here -- my earth if

[56:26] a also came here in the 1930s

[56:27] from mussolini.

[56:30] One of the wonderful things is

[56:31] that you don't have to show your

[56:32] papers.

[56:33] You can live and go wherever you

[56:34] want.

[56:35] That is one of the things that

[56:38] made it a free country for him.

[56:39] I didn't have a huge point with

[56:42] that.

[56:43] But what I want to say is I

[56:45] lived in union square for six

[56:46] years.

[56:47] i worked in union square for six

[56:49] years.

[56:51] It was one of those natural

[56:52] occurring affordable housing

[56:53] places.

[56:57] It was a small building.

[56:58] The landlord kicked us out

[57:00] because she was going to

[57:00] renovate.

[57:02] It turned into an airbnb.

[57:04] It's no longer housing available

[57:06] to the community.

[57:08] Housing is coming online to

[57:08] replace that?

[57:10] What housing is allowing people

[57:12] to come in and live in inman

[57:12] square?

[57:15] What housing is coming in to

[57:16] allow people to live the as the

[57:18] old housing stock gets taken off

[57:18] line?

[57:20] I've not seen a lot for that.

[57:22] We need as much housing as we

[57:23] can get.

[57:25] Cambridge street zoning is a

[57:27] good tool on the table to get us

[57:29] a lot of housing in the corridor

[57:32] areas, which are less sensitive.

[57:34] I think cambridge street zoning,

[57:37] you should pass it.

[57:39] Stop, slow down, get it right.

[57:41] I've not heard a lot of clarity

[57:42] about what getting it right

[57:45] means, other than doing less of

[57:45] it.

[57:49] If you do less of it, go ahead,

[57:50] but you might as well do less

[57:51] right now.

[57:51] You should do more right now.

[57:57] I think -- [Indiscernible]

[58:00] [Poor audio]

[58:01] >> Clerk: thank you.

[58:03] Our next speaker is speaker

[58:06] number 20, erika.

[58:09] Followed by alexander westman.

[58:12] Then denise jocelyn.

[58:13] Erics two minutes.

[58:13] -

[58:14] go ahead.

[58:15] >> hi, good evening.

[58:16] i'm here to urge everyone to

[58:18] pass the cambridge street

[58:19] upzoning.

[58:22] I have lived in cambridge for 11

[58:24] years, but recently had to move

[58:26] out due to increasing rent

[58:28] costs.

[58:29] So I want to support the

[58:31] cambridge street upzoning

[58:33] because like alan said, with he

[58:34] need more housing to come

[58:36] online.

[58:38] Especially in the corridors and

[58:39] squares.

[58:43] This proposal came from a lot of

[58:46] community engagement with broad

[58:47] support.

[58:51] And we are currently behind our

[58:55] 2030 goals of more housing.

[58:57] Despite housing affordability

[58:59] being a tough issue in this

[59:01] week's annual survey, we are

[59:03] behind these housing production

[59:05] goals.

[59:07] And it will help us meet total

[59:10] housing production in affordable

[59:10] housingy zoning.

[59:14] This zoning -- housing zoning.

[59:17] This zoning will also allow more

[59:20] environmentally friendly

[59:23] neighborhoods because it allows

[59:24] residents to live in more

[59:27] transit oriented homes, rather

[59:29] than driving further away, and

[59:31] more residents will sustain

[59:33] local small businesses to keep

[59:35] these corridors vibrant.

[59:35] So thank you.

[59:38] I want to urge you to pass this

[59:38] upzoning proposal.

[59:40] Thank you.

[59:41] >> Clerk: thank you.

[59:44] Our next speaker is alexander

[59:48] followed by denise jocelyn.

[59:49] Alexander, you have two minutes.

[59:56] Please go ahead.

[59:58] >> hello.

[59:59] I'm alexander.

[1:00:00] I've been a resident of

[1:00:02] cambridge now for 16 years,

[1:00:07] which is my entire adult life

[1:00:09] housing is expensive in

[1:00:10] cambridge because people want to

[1:00:12] live in cambridge because there

[1:00:14] are good high-paying jobs here,

[1:00:15] and there's insufficient

[1:00:16] housing.

[1:00:17] It is that simple.

[1:00:19] The tendency of new construction

[1:00:21] to be high cost is a consequence

[1:00:22] of the reality that housing

[1:00:25] costs are high, not the other

[1:00:26] way around.

[1:00:27] Building new housing is the only

[1:00:29] solution to this problem.

[1:00:30] As long as the cambridge economy

[1:00:34] does well, and cambridge remains

[1:00:36] a desirable place to live,

[1:00:37] high-income residents will

[1:00:39] continue to outcompete lower

[1:00:40] income residents for the

[1:00:42] available housing stock.

[1:00:44] And the only solution to that

[1:00:47] problem is building new housing.

[1:00:49] Building housing obviously

[1:00:51] brings challenges.

[1:00:52] A lot of people are concerned

[1:00:54] about transportation, about

[1:00:56] parking, and socially.

[1:00:58] And the clear solution to that

[1:00:59] problem is to build housing

[1:01:05] densely, and to or corridors and

[1:01:09] near transit centers.

[1:01:11] If cambridge is to build more

[1:01:12] housing, and the solution to

[1:01:14] this problem is more housing,

[1:01:17] which I think most people agree,

[1:01:20] but a lot of people say not here

[1:01:22] or not in this way.

[1:01:24] But if we want to build more

[1:01:27] housing, where should we build

[1:01:29] it if not in the corridors and

[1:01:30] near public transit?

[1:01:32] That is the obvious place to

[1:01:33] build it.

[1:01:34] That is the best place to build

[1:01:34] it.

[1:01:37] We need to pass this upzoning to

[1:01:40] enable cambridge to grow, and

[1:01:45] allow the housing supply

[1:01:49] problems -- sorry.

[1:01:51] I kind of trailed off.

[1:01:54] I think it's really the only

[1:01:55] solution to cambridge housing.

[1:01:56] Thank you.

[1:01:56] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:02:04] Our next speaker.

[1:02:06] Then mark.

[1:02:07] For those waiting, speaker

[1:02:08] number 22.

[1:02:09] Denise, you have the floor.

[1:02:10] Two minutes.

[1:02:12] Please go ahead.

[1:02:16] >> good evening, denise joseph,

[1:02:17] the executive director of the

[1:02:18] harvard business association.

[1:02:20] First of all, congratulations to

[1:02:22] mayor siddiqui, vice mayor azeem

[1:02:26] and all the councilors.

[1:02:32] Speaking tonight on po-206-02, I

[1:02:34] want to thank councilor simmons

[1:02:36] and councilor flaherty for

[1:02:37] supporting this council order,

[1:02:40] which requests a city manager

[1:02:43] immediately convene and staff a

[1:02:43] standing coordination group,

[1:02:45] which includes the cambridge

[1:02:48] office of tourism, relevant city

[1:02:49] departments, representatives of

[1:02:51] the city's business associations

[1:02:54] to support regular communication

[1:02:56] advanced planning, and alignment

[1:02:58] of tourism pro neighborhood

[1:03:03] economic activity.

[1:03:04] This also act that the city

[1:03:06] manager direct the city

[1:03:07] solicitor and community

[1:03:09] development department to review

[1:03:10] and report back to the council

[1:03:13] on the legal parameters related

[1:03:16] to city funding and tourism

[1:03:17] destination, marketing district

[1:03:20] restrictions, as well as

[1:03:22] oversight and accountability,

[1:03:24] related to the operation of the

[1:03:26] visitor information kiosk and

[1:03:28] related governance expectations.

[1:03:30] On behalf of the business

[1:03:32] association's directors,

[1:03:36] officers, and members, we

[1:03:38] sincerely ask this council for

[1:03:39] the full support.

[1:03:39] And thank you for your

[1:03:42] consideration.

[1:03:43] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:03:48] Our next speaker.

[1:03:49] Followed by mark keebler, then

[1:03:51] bill.

[1:03:52] You have two minutes.

[1:03:54] Please go ahead.

[1:03:57] Ar.

[1:03:59] -- itamar.

[1:03:59] >> hi.

[1:04:02] My name is itamar turner.

[1:04:04] I'm here to speak on cambridge

[1:04:11] as well as union square.

[1:04:13] We need more housing for

[1:04:14] multiple reasons.

[1:04:15] People talk about affordability.

[1:04:17] Even if you don't believe more

[1:04:19] housing will make things more

[1:04:21] affordable, inclusionary will

[1:04:22] make a difference.

[1:04:25] 20% of 50 units is more than 20%

[1:04:26] of 10 units.

[1:04:28] If you build taller buildings,

[1:04:32] you will have more tenants.

[1:04:34] But beyond that, we have bigger

[1:04:36] trends outside of our particular

[1:04:39] city and state.

[1:04:42] So there's a recent survey where

[1:04:43] they talked to people across the

[1:04:46] united states, who are trans,

[1:04:56] nonbinary, and -- 43 trans and

[1:04:58] nonbinary people move to other

[1:05:01] states.

[1:05:02] [Indiscernible]

[1:05:03] 5% of lgbtq people's.

[1:05:04] That's a lot of people.

[1:05:07] I've talked to people who are

[1:05:08] doing everything in different

[1:05:12] countries.

[1:05:14] Massachusetts is a pretty

[1:05:15] attractive place to live in,

[1:05:17] except it's really expensive to

[1:05:19] live here, and also don't have

[1:05:20] enough housing.

[1:05:23] Don't have enough physical

[1:05:23] units.

[1:05:25] So we just need more physical

[1:05:27] housing for people who would

[1:05:29] really benefit significantly for

[1:05:32] moving there, and we have this

[1:05:34] is one of many ways we should be

[1:05:35] doing this.

[1:05:42] More broadly changes in general,

[1:05:47] we need to build societal --

[1:05:49] part of that means, and our

[1:05:51] state does not learn how to

[1:05:52] build housing.

[1:05:53] We need to build more.

[1:05:56] Inclusionary units, make those

[1:05:58] affordable.

[1:05:59] That's part of the solution.

[1:06:03] Thank you.

[1:06:04] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:06:07] Our next speaker is mark

[1:06:08] keebler.

[1:06:11] Mark, two minutes.

[1:06:14] If you can turn on the mic.

[1:06:15] >> hi.

[1:06:16] Thank you.

[1:06:18] Good evening, councilors.

[1:06:20] My name is mark keibler.

[1:06:23] I live at 52 portage street.

[1:06:25] I'd like to welcome the new

[1:06:25] councilors.

[1:06:27] Thank you for your time and all

[1:06:29] the work you put into these

[1:06:30] planning proposals.

[1:06:32] So I'm also here tonight to

[1:06:33] support the cambridge street

[1:06:35] rezoning, and I'd like to

[1:06:37] emphasize why I believe this

[1:06:38] ordinance represents good

[1:06:39] policy.

[1:06:41] Cambridge has spent years

[1:06:43] engaging residents through

[1:06:45] envision cambridge and our

[1:06:51] cambridge streetss.

[1:06:52] The city is following through on

[1:06:53] these commitments.

[1:06:55] Where it makes sense along signs

[1:06:57] of corridors, places in

[1:06:58] neighborhood business.

[1:07:00] So this proposal --

[1:07:02] [Indiscernible]

[1:07:04] It is tied directly to public

[1:07:06] benefits.

[1:07:07] Better street design,

[1:07:11] inclusionary housing.

[1:07:13] The daily life of the people who

[1:07:14] live and spend time on cambridge

[1:07:19] street.

[1:07:21] Support with businesses.

[1:07:22] So a few blocks on cambridge

[1:07:26] street.

[1:07:31] The length of this ordinance.

[1:07:33] More families who have the

[1:07:35] chance to stay in cambridge and

[1:07:36] frankly, the chance for me to

[1:07:38] stay here with greater peace of

[1:07:43] mind.

[1:07:46] That means new support for local

[1:07:47] businesses, and lifestyle.

[1:07:49] People have the opportunity for

[1:07:52] car-free living.

[1:07:54] This council has done incredible

[1:07:57] work on housing in recent years.

[1:07:59] On friday, in cambridge --

[1:08:04] [Indiscernible]

[1:08:06] [Poor audio]

[1:08:07] Yearly increase at 7%.

[1:08:09] We've done a lot.

[1:08:11] I feel we shouldn't drop limits.

[1:08:13] I'd like to urge you to support

[1:08:13] this rezoning.

[1:08:14] Thank you.

[1:08:15] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:08:21] Our next speaker is bob lytton.

[1:08:22] Bob, two minutes.

[1:08:24] >> thank you so much for your

[1:08:24] time.

[1:08:26] I apologize for not thrk in

[1:08:27] person.

[1:08:29] I have personal obligations.

[1:08:31] -- for not being there in

[1:08:32] person.

[1:08:34] I support cambridge street.

[1:08:36] I do not believe new building or

[1:08:37] development should happen on

[1:08:38] cambridge street.

[1:08:40] In fact, I very much supported

[1:08:42] more housing, deeply affordable

[1:08:43] housing.

[1:08:46] Since it's been alluded to

[1:08:47] specifically refugees and people

[1:08:49] most vulnerable in our community

[1:08:50] and abroad.

[1:08:51] I appreciate that cambridge

[1:08:53] street is a corridor in our

[1:08:55] community, and we should provide

[1:08:56] ways to facilitate the creation

[1:08:58] of new housing, while respecting

[1:09:00] those who live, work and play in

[1:09:01] the area.

[1:09:03] Many of my neighbors have

[1:09:05] expressed concerns about the

[1:09:06] neighborhood and housing and

[1:09:07] details.

[1:09:09] I'm very disappointed in those

[1:09:10] so-called cambridge residents.

[1:09:12] Paint public participants as

[1:09:14] being anti-housing development

[1:09:15] and status quo.

[1:09:17] They and me have common sense,

[1:09:18] and community interest in mind

[1:09:21] and detailed perspective.

[1:09:22] Me personally, represent those

[1:09:29] who appreciate -- on those who

[1:09:29] public meeting.

[1:09:32] I had the privilege of being

[1:09:36] raised by an immigrant parent.

[1:09:37] It often comes from.

[1:09:39] That is what is motivating these

[1:09:40] concerns in public comments.

[1:09:47] I encourage council to --

[1:09:48] [Indiscernible]

[1:09:49] And be proud of what our

[1:09:50] community is and will be.

[1:09:53] I also want to note that a

[1:09:55] comprehensive public records

[1:09:56] equest for communications and

[1:09:57] development workers of the city.

[1:09:59] I was given anest a matter of

[1:10:01] fact 637 for records that would

[1:10:03] have the public better

[1:10:04] understand the various data with

[1:10:05] this proposal.

[1:10:07] I would encourage council to dig

[1:10:09] into the available information,

[1:10:10] ask hard questions about what is

[1:10:12] and isn't possible, and support

[1:10:13] the public officer and his

[1:10:15] discretion to waive the

[1:10:16] associated fees on this and

[1:10:18] other public record that's would

[1:10:20] help the cambridge public

[1:10:20] participate and be better

[1:10:22] informed about the possiblities

[1:10:23] under consideration.

[1:10:25] Please be transparent and

[1:10:27] proactive in communicating the

[1:10:30] hows and whys in this and other

[1:10:30] petitions.

[1:10:34] >> Clerk: our next speak every.

[1:10:36] -- speaker.

[1:10:38] Dana, then followed by debbie

[1:10:39] shapiro.

[1:10:40] Dana, two minutes.

[1:10:42] >> long time, no see.

[1:10:45] To the cambridge city council, I

[1:10:47] live on cambridge street.

[1:10:49] Now I live in central square.

[1:10:51] I am speaking in strong support

[1:10:52] of the cambridge street zoning

[1:10:53] petition currently before you.

[1:10:59] I will be to give a voice to the

[1:11:04] great majority of recent voters

[1:11:05] one of the most important

[1:11:08] effective means for enabling

[1:11:09] affordability, which is focusing

[1:11:10] development on corridors and

[1:11:11] squares.

[1:11:12] This proposal, if the results of

[1:11:14] years of community process and

[1:11:15] planning.

[1:11:18] It reflects extensive engagement

[1:11:19] like the community development

[1:11:22] department and unanimous,

[1:11:23] informed, and positive

[1:11:26] recommendation before the

[1:11:28] planning board on OCTOBER 21st.

[1:11:30] Tonight, I'm calling for to you

[1:11:32] do well by people renters like

[1:11:33] myself, and to do well by

[1:11:35] process.

[1:11:37] The most important priority of

[1:11:39] our council should reflect the

[1:11:40] single most important priority

[1:11:42] of our residents, which is

[1:11:44] addressing our severe housing

[1:11:45] crisis.

[1:11:49] Virtually, we agree badly needed

[1:11:50] homes for our people in those

[1:11:51] places that can support it most,

[1:11:55] which is major corridors near

[1:11:57] transit, and close to local

[1:11:59] businesses.

[1:12:01] This is an opportunity for our

[1:12:03] new council to demonstrate

[1:12:05] whether it is content to talk

[1:12:08] the talk about this, or whether

[1:12:10] it's willing to walk the walk on

[1:12:11] this crucial priority because

[1:12:13] cambridge street is exactly such

[1:12:15] a corridor.

[1:12:18] Housing along these corridors

[1:12:20] allow residents to live near

[1:12:22] t-stops and have an option to

[1:12:23] not own a car.

[1:12:27] They provide need density

[1:12:28] without conjesting our streets

[1:12:30] from personal experience having

[1:12:31] lived on cambridge street

[1:12:33] without needing to own a car.

[1:12:34] This type of housing is

[1:12:35] incredibly important.

[1:12:39] I strongly urge you to pass the

[1:12:39] zoning petition.

[1:12:41] Thank you.

[1:12:44] >> Clerk: our next speaker.

[1:12:46] Debbie, you have two minutes.

[1:12:50] Please go ahead.

[1:12:52] Debbie, if you can unmute

[1:12:52] yourself.

[1:13:00] You have the floor.

[1:13:01] >> ok.

[1:13:02] Hi, I'm debbie snap.

[1:13:05] I live at 404 broadway on the

[1:13:06] corner of goodman road --

[1:13:07] shapiro.

[1:13:09] I lived here almost 40 years.

[1:13:12] I want to comment on the

[1:13:13] restricting eligibility for

[1:13:16] street resident parking

[1:13:17] permanent ordinance.

[1:13:21] I think it's a great idea.

[1:13:22] It's a great way to deal with

[1:13:25] the parking issues that are

[1:13:26] coming,ss.

[1:13:28] I'd like to propose that this

[1:13:30] restrict -- increases.

[1:13:31] I'd like to proposal that this

[1:13:36] be restricted to broadway where

[1:13:38] parking is being eliminated to

[1:13:40] create bike lanes.

[1:13:41] Right now the parking spots are

[1:13:43] 80% filled during the day, and

[1:13:44] that's before 60% of the spots

[1:13:46] go away in favor of bike lanes.

[1:13:49] At the same time, there are four

[1:13:50] multiunit developments in

[1:13:51] progress.

[1:13:53] Three on ellory street and one

[1:13:54] on broadway.

[1:13:57] That is about 170 new apartments

[1:14:01] within a two-block area,

[1:14:02] nondesignated parking.

[1:14:03] Consider many of these units

[1:14:05] will more than likely be

[1:14:06] resident and potentially more

[1:14:07] than one car.

[1:14:09] That's going to create an

[1:14:10] unsustainable parking situation.

[1:14:13] Broadway is no more season that

[1:14:14] three-quarters of a mile to the

[1:14:16] t stop.

[1:14:17] Half a mile.

[1:14:19] This is no more and even closer

[1:14:21] to the mass ave bus line.

[1:14:25] So striks could -- restriction

[1:14:26] could help head off what I see

[1:14:28] as a predictable parking

[1:14:29] disaster in cambridge and I urge

[1:14:32] you -- ordinance.

[1:14:34] Thank you.

[1:14:35] >> Clerk: our next speaker is

[1:14:40] andrew.

[1:14:42] Andrew.

[1:14:44] >> good afternoon, city council.

[1:14:47] I live at 229 prospect and inman

[1:14:49] square.

[1:14:51] I ask this council to appoint

[1:14:51] updates to cambridge street

[1:14:53] zoning.

[1:14:55] In NOVEMBER 2024, I went out of

[1:14:58] my apartment to go to the

[1:14:59] pharmacist, pick up gloves and

[1:15:01] got an ice cream of the all of

[1:15:02] those are within a five-minute

[1:15:04] walk of my apartment.

[1:15:07] As I grew up in suburban

[1:15:08] pennsylvania where the nearest

[1:15:10] grocery store was 15-minute

[1:15:12] drive away, the ability was

[1:15:13] astounding.

[1:15:14] The fact residnces and

[1:15:16] businesses are intermingled and

[1:15:19] comingled what drove me to move

[1:15:19] here and start.

[1:15:21] This is why I support the zoning

[1:15:22] change so not only more people

[1:15:24] would be able to live in this

[1:15:26] great city to live the life I do

[1:15:29] now, but so all the shops on

[1:15:30] cambridge street can flourish

[1:15:30] and grow.

[1:15:32] Every time I walk down cambridge

[1:15:33] street I notice many of the

[1:15:35] store fronts.

[1:15:36] Cambridge street does not have

[1:15:38] the public transit support to

[1:15:40] bring in customers from across

[1:15:41] the region.

[1:15:42] Since bike lanes have been

[1:15:43] delayed, they will bring

[1:15:45] customers from across the city.

[1:15:46] Therefore, it stands to reason

[1:15:47] the best way to support local

[1:15:49] businesses in east cambridge is

[1:15:51] to create a larger local

[1:15:54] customer base, to incentivize

[1:15:58] east cambridge residents.

[1:15:59] Future economic and community

[1:16:00] development.

[1:16:02] To combat rising rents and cost

[1:16:04] of living by not increasing

[1:16:05] housing stock would only

[1:16:06] exacerbate those issues.

[1:16:07] There are many people who wish

[1:16:09] to live here, people who wish to

[1:16:12] continue living here, use our

[1:16:13] local business, and live the

[1:16:15] life they wanted.

[1:16:17] This is why I and this support

[1:16:18] the zoning changes to cambridge

[1:16:20] street because it is right for

[1:16:20] our neighborhoods.

[1:16:22] It is right for our businesses,

[1:16:23] and it's right for our city.

[1:16:25] Thank you very much.

[1:16:25] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:16:33] Our next speaker.

[1:16:34] You have two minutes.

[1:16:35] Please go ahead.

[1:16:37] >> hi.

[1:16:38] Happy new year.

[1:16:42] Congratulations to all the new

[1:16:45] city councilors and everyone.

[1:16:49] i am a renter in central square.

[1:16:51] I'm calling in support of the

[1:16:52] cambridge street zoning plan

[1:16:54] that is before you.

[1:16:57] First, I just wanted to talk

[1:16:58] about people.

[1:17:00] It's easy to get lost in

[1:17:03] complicated zoning disputes to

[1:17:04] date.

[1:17:07] But we all know people that have

[1:17:08] pride to stay in cambridge, and

[1:17:10] haven't been able to.

[1:17:14] Thinking about a good friend of

[1:17:16] my wife, high school in the area

[1:17:19] and grew up in the boston area.

[1:17:21] Is an artist, and was living on

[1:17:26] I think just off inman square.

[1:17:28] Really loved living in the

[1:17:28] neighborhood.

[1:17:30] It was great she was nearby

[1:17:33] after a breakup, to find a place

[1:17:36] that she could afford to live on

[1:17:39] her own in inman square.

[1:17:40] We're in cambridge.

[1:17:42] So she had to move out of state.

[1:17:43] She lives in providence and now

[1:17:47] commutes into boston to work

[1:17:48] each day.

[1:17:50] I think we owe it to our

[1:17:52] residents so more of our friends

[1:17:54] more of our family, more of the

[1:17:55] people we love are able to stay

[1:17:57] in the city.

[1:18:00] Second, I want to echo what

[1:18:01] others have said about

[1:18:03] inclusionary zoning.

[1:18:05] More than I think around 40% of

[1:18:06] inclusionary zoning tenants

[1:18:12] receive vouchers after this

[1:18:12] policy the it will create more

[1:18:14] homes for people.

[1:18:16] I also want to talk about the

[1:18:18] details of this policy, the

[1:18:20] highest heights are right next

[1:18:25] to the district on wekster and

[1:18:28] windsor -- webster.

[1:18:30] I think as a city, we need to

[1:18:33] allow those places to grow and

[1:18:33] evolve.

[1:18:35] I don't think we should lock in

[1:18:37] on abuses near inman square.

[1:18:39] So I hope you pass this

[1:18:39] petition.

[1:18:40] Thank you.

[1:18:41] Have a good night.

[1:18:42] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:18:46] Our next speaker is dan totten.

[1:18:50] Followed by daniel, then zion.

[1:18:51] Dan two, minutes.

[1:18:52] >> hi.

[1:18:55] My name is dan totten.

[1:18:57] I live on bishop.

[1:18:59] I want to wish you a happy new

[1:19:00] year.

[1:19:01] Congratulations to the two

[1:19:02] councilors on their

[1:19:03] inauguration.

[1:19:05] For six years, I was a city

[1:19:07] employee who worked out of this

[1:19:08] building each day many of us

[1:19:10] like to consider this to be the

[1:19:12] people's house, and have major

[1:19:13] concerns about further turning

[1:19:15] it into a ite of surveillance

[1:19:16] and control.

[1:19:18] We need to maintain welcoming

[1:19:20] atmosphere, so the most

[1:19:21] vulnerable residents feel

[1:19:22] comfortable coming in, seeking

[1:19:25] support and participating in

[1:19:26] civic life.

[1:19:27] In recent years, significant

[1:19:28] security measures have already

[1:19:29] been implemented.

[1:19:31] There are cameras everywhere and

[1:19:32] staff wear badges around their

[1:19:33] necks.

[1:19:35] There's nothing wrong with using

[1:19:36] other existing measures.

[1:19:38] My issues with the last ordered

[1:19:39] clause, which asked for

[1:19:41] recommended improvements and

[1:19:43] propose implementation timeline.

[1:19:45] It comes across -- inviting the

[1:19:47] city manager to do whatever he

[1:19:48] wants on a rapid timeline

[1:19:51] without any public input.

[1:19:54] [Poor audio]

[1:19:56] [Indiscernible]

[1:19:58] -- security technology provide

[1:20:02] zero specificity bag searches,

[1:20:04] police.

[1:20:05] What's to stop?

[1:20:07] If has metal detectors, what

[1:20:08] about schools where city

[1:20:09] employees also work.

[1:20:11] Are city councilors more serving

[1:20:13] of protection than librarians or

[1:20:14] other workers who also interact

[1:20:17] with the public daily?

[1:20:18] Numerous studies have shown

[1:20:20] metal detectors are nothing more

[1:20:22] than security theater that

[1:20:23] provide an illusion of building

[1:20:25] security while having a

[1:20:25] significant chilling effect on

[1:20:27] the welcoming atmosphere of the

[1:20:29] building.

[1:20:32] This order cites five incidents

[1:20:33] over 48 years over hundreds of

[1:20:34] cities.

[1:20:36] I think this is cherry-picked

[1:20:37] data that's being used to

[1:20:39] justify predetermining

[1:20:39] conclusion.

[1:20:41] And I think this order treats

[1:20:43] violence as something that

[1:20:44] enters city hall from the

[1:20:45] outside, rather than examining

[1:20:48] how city hall itself perpetuates

[1:20:52] violence by displacement.

[1:20:53] Thank you very much.

[1:20:55] >> Clerk: our next speaker is

[1:20:57] donna summerville, followed by

[1:21:03] zion, then james.

[1:21:06] >> mayor siddiqui, vice mayor

[1:21:08] azeerjs city council and the

[1:21:09] public.

[1:21:10] -- azeem.

[1:21:13] I'd like to ask you --

[1:21:14] [Poor audio]

[1:21:24] [Indiscernible]

[1:21:25] >> Mayor Siddiqui: if there's no

[1:21:28] one else on the agenda, we must

[1:21:30] make a motion to allow for

[1:21:32] further comment on an item

[1:21:35] that's not before us.

[1:21:39] Motion from the body.

[1:21:44] Motion by councilor al-zubi to

[1:21:47] allow donald summerfield it

[1:21:49] speak on it agenda item that's

[1:21:50] not before us.

[1:21:52] We'll have to do roll call.

[1:21:55] Yes.

[1:21:59] Just hold tight if you can.

[1:22:00] Sos before us.

[1:22:01] Councilor simmons, would you

[1:22:03] like it speak to the motion.

[1:22:04] >> Councilor Simmons: thank you,

[1:22:05] MADAM Chair.

[1:22:09] I'm always eager to allow for

[1:22:10] public comment on items that are

[1:22:11] not before us.

[1:22:14] However, what's unfortunate

[1:22:15] about when that happens.

[1:22:17] There MAY have been someone that

[1:22:19] wants to speak to or support, or

[1:22:21] speak against that particular

[1:22:22] item.

[1:22:24] And we have cut that off because

[1:22:25] it's not on the agenda.

[1:22:28] So as much as I respect

[1:22:30] MR. Summerfield a great deal, as

[1:22:32] much as I with like to say yes,

[1:22:34] it's not on agenda.

[1:22:35] I'm going to have to vote no.

[1:22:37] The reason being is it could be

[1:22:38] a topic that's very important to

[1:22:39] other people.

[1:22:42] No notice of that, so they will

[1:22:43] have been denied that

[1:22:44] opportunity.

[1:22:45] I yield the floor.

[1:22:46] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I have the

[1:22:49] city council.

[1:22:50] Anyone who would like to speak

[1:22:53] on this?

[1:22:55] >> I'll say the same.

[1:22:57] I typically the to do this

[1:23:00] because I think we don't want to

[1:23:03] set a precedent where if we have

[1:23:05] the rule, then it's the rule for

[1:23:06] everyone.

[1:23:08] It's really hard, whether we

[1:23:11] draw -- I've known

[1:23:15] MR. Summerfield for a long time.

[1:23:22] [Indiscernible]

[1:23:23] I think it's something we need

[1:23:26] to think about.

[1:23:27] If we want to change the rule,

[1:23:31] we can.

[1:23:33] But I typically don't vote for

[1:23:34] this because again, I think it

[1:23:36] sets up an expectation where how

[1:23:37] do I draw the line?

[1:23:39] How does council draw the line

[1:23:41] on who gets to do this and who

[1:23:41] doesn't?

[1:23:44] What is the point of the rule?

[1:23:45] People are always free to email

[1:23:46] us on any subject.

[1:23:48] If they want something to be put

[1:23:49] on the agenda, and it's

[1:23:52] something that can feel free to

[1:23:54] talk to a do that.

[1:23:56] I think we have to be careful in

[1:23:57] terms of consistency.

[1:24:00] That's all.

[1:24:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui:.

[1:24:01] Thank you.

[1:24:05] MADAM Mayor.

[1:24:07] >> Clerk: his speech is related

[1:24:08] to the item.

[1:24:09] It's regarding affordable

[1:24:12] housing.

[1:24:42] [Indiscernible]

[1:24:43] [Indiscernible]

[1:24:45] [Poor audio]

[1:24:46] >> it's ok.

[1:24:47] We'll figure it out.

[1:24:50] We'll get back to you.

[1:24:55] So there's a motion before us.

[1:25:18] [Poor audio]

[1:25:20] >> maybe give him an opportunity

[1:25:22] to clarify when it comes to

[1:25:23] affordable housing, it would be

[1:25:26] worthwhile.

[1:25:31] >> Mayor Siddiqui: so -- not on

[1:25:32] the agenda.

[1:25:34] So that's why I ascertain that

[1:25:37] motion.

[1:25:38] Please do the roll call and see

[1:25:38] what happens.

[1:25:39] Thank you.

[1:25:42] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi.

[1:25:43] Yes.

[1:25:44] Vice mayor azeem.

[1:25:47] Present.

[1:25:48] Councilor flaherty.

[1:25:49] Present.

[1:25:50] councilor Mcgovern.

[1:25:52] No.

[1:25:53] Councilor nolan.

[1:25:54] Yes.

[1:25:55] Councilor simmons.

[1:25:55] No.

[1:25:57] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler.

[1:25:58] No.

[1:26:03] Councilor zusy.

[1:26:04] Present.

[1:26:04] -

[1:26:07] mayor siddiqui.

[1:26:07] Yes.

[1:26:08] You have three members recorded

[1:26:10] in the affirmative, three

[1:26:13] recorded in the negative and

[1:26:17] three recorded as present.

[1:26:18] >> Mayor Siddiqui: so the motion

[1:26:21] fails.

[1:26:24] [Indiscernible]

[1:26:27] [Poor audio]

[1:26:32] Followed by james williamson.

[1:26:33] >> MADAM Mayor.

[1:26:34] >> Mayor Siddiqui: yes.

[1:26:36] >> Councilor McGovern: if

[1:26:38] MR. Summerfield wants to speak,

[1:26:39] if MR. Summerfield could relate

[1:26:41] his affordable housing comments

[1:26:44] to the cambridge street upzoning

[1:26:46] that, he then could speak, in

[1:26:47] which case we could give him

[1:26:52] that opportunity, right?

[1:27:00] We voted no.

[1:27:01] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I don't want

[1:27:04] to make this difficult, but the

[1:27:06] conversation is starting to --

[1:27:08] this is not on the agenda.

[1:27:10] In the future, if there are not

[1:27:12] any public speakers, we need to

[1:27:13] make sure the item is

[1:27:16] referenced.

[1:27:17] So if you're referencing the

[1:27:22] item --

[1:27:23] [Poor audio]

[1:27:26] [Indiscernible]

[1:27:28] That was not made clear to

[1:27:30] anyone.

[1:27:31] >> Councilor Simmons: thank you,

[1:27:33] MADAM Chair.

[1:27:35] I understand where you're going

[1:27:36] with this.

[1:27:38] Where we are standing on the

[1:27:41] final line of saying this is

[1:27:41] appropriate.

[1:27:43] The problem now is that we took

[1:27:48] a vote that it was not before us

[1:27:48] us.

[1:27:50] And now I feel like we've sort

[1:27:52] of manipulating or modifying to

[1:27:56] make it fit to say thank you to

[1:27:58] my colleague, because everyone

[1:28:00] here wants to support public

[1:28:01] comment.

[1:28:05] So I would rather respectfully

[1:28:07] ask that the vote be taken.

[1:28:10] As my colleague has mentioned,

[1:28:12] most of us have office hours.

[1:28:15] Everyone can write if there's

[1:28:16] more than one.

[1:28:17] There's ample opportunity to

[1:28:19] bring something up that is not

[1:28:20] on the agenda.

[1:28:22] My fear is that it veers off.

[1:28:24] We've opened the door.

[1:28:25] So where the vote was taken.

[1:28:27] I let the vote stand.

[1:28:29] I yield the floor.

[1:28:30] >> Mayor Siddiqui:.

[1:28:31] I appreciate the comment.

[1:28:34] Councilor simmons.

[1:28:37] As chair, I allow two minutes,

[1:28:39] comment.

[1:28:41] >> I'd like to comment on the

[1:28:43] cambridge street zoning.

[1:28:45] I'm neither for nor against it,

[1:28:48] but I'm for more housing.

[1:28:51] Members of the public, staff,

[1:28:54] city councilors, mayor siddiqui,

[1:28:57] vice-mayor azeem, my name is don

[1:28:58] summerfield.

[1:29:00] I'm lucky to have affordable

[1:29:02] housing at that.

[1:29:03] I frequently pass by someone on

[1:29:05] the street that doesn't have

[1:29:08] shelter, a sidewalk, or a bank

[1:29:10] lobby doesn't count as -- it's

[1:29:12] especially hard for that

[1:29:13] 90-year-old woman I see

[1:29:15] sometimes on the subway when

[1:29:17] there was a hearing for the

[1:29:19] affordable housing overlay.

[1:29:23] A person as the building might

[1:29:25] shadow his tomato plants.

[1:29:27] The person in need of housing

[1:29:29] might disagree on more tomatoes

[1:29:30] or a house.

[1:29:35] It's a very ugly situation.

[1:29:38] At risk, especially those with

[1:29:39] psychiatric issues.

[1:29:41] I pass by people everywhere

[1:29:42] hearing voices.

[1:29:45] A warming center is a start, but

[1:29:47] we need more housing.

[1:29:51] I think the city should open a

[1:29:53] gym at the cambridge overflow

[1:29:55] warming center in inclement

[1:29:56] weather.

[1:30:00] Thank you.

[1:30:01] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:30:04] Our next speaker is diane

[1:30:06] followed by james williamson.

[1:30:07] Then heather hoffman.

[1:30:09] You have two minutes.

[1:30:16] Please go ahead.

[1:30:19] >> I'm zion.

[1:30:20] I want to welcome the new

[1:30:22] councilors.

[1:30:26] [Poor audio]

[1:30:27] Given new councilors --

[1:30:31] [Indiscernible]

[1:30:34] Ed yo]

[1:30:36] -- something I would not want to

[1:30:38] have anyone live through.

[1:30:42] There were changes.

[1:30:45] The decision to go out.

[1:30:46] [Poor audio]

[1:31:00] [Indiscernible]

[1:31:01] -- accessibility issues and

[1:31:02] restrictions.

[1:31:15] [Indiscernible]

[1:31:24] [Poor audio]

[1:31:31] [Indiscernible]

[1:31:33] -- councilors actions to reflect

[1:31:35] that.

[1:31:42] [Indiscernible]

[1:32:00] [Poor audio]

[1:32:07] [Indiscernible]

[1:32:09] -- there are six cars honking

[1:32:10] and waiting.

[1:32:11] Having loading zones or space

[1:32:13] for deliveries.

[1:32:13] Thank you.

[1:32:14] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:32:18] Our next speaker is james

[1:32:20] jamison followed by heather

[1:32:23] hoffman, then jack muller.

[1:32:25] Please go ahead.

[1:32:26] >> can you hear me?

[1:32:27] Thank you.

[1:32:29] James williamson, churchill ave

[1:32:31] in north cambridge.

[1:32:34] I want to speak to the landlord

[1:32:38] petition for this stickney

[1:32:42] house.

[1:32:46] Are they sticking it to us.

[1:32:49] To me, having lived here for

[1:32:51] over 50 years, and I think there

[1:32:52] are people who, you know, you

[1:32:56] have to be over 95 years old to

[1:32:59] have been born before the

[1:33:02] addition to the house in

[1:33:07] question was added in 1928.

[1:33:10] That addition, some of you MAY

[1:33:11] remember when the number one bus

[1:33:15] went down bow street.

[1:33:17] That is maybe my first early

[1:33:18] connection to this addition to

[1:33:22] the building.

[1:33:23] That brick addition is theful

[1:33:26] part of how this building has

[1:33:26] evolved.

[1:33:28] It's unique.

[1:33:30] It gives it distinctive

[1:33:33] character that matters a lot,

[1:33:35] and is being ignored in this

[1:33:37] landmark designation petition in

[1:33:39] order to try and persuade the

[1:33:45] owner it's going to be ok.

[1:33:46] We're going to let you do more

[1:33:48] or less of what you want.

[1:33:50] That addition doesn't matter.

[1:33:51] The addition to the white house,

[1:33:54] the east wing was basically

[1:33:57] built out in, I think, 1942.

[1:33:59] That is at least 15 years after

[1:34:02] this addition was built by an

[1:34:06] architect, who had worked with

[1:34:07] Mccain and white.

[1:34:08] So how do you feel about the

[1:34:10] tearing down of the addition to

[1:34:11] the white house?

[1:34:11] Does it matter?

[1:34:13] Not important?

[1:34:15] There's an important ballroom

[1:34:22] being built there.

[1:34:24] There's I think it doesn't

[1:34:25] matter.

[1:34:27] I think it should be rejected as

[1:34:28] it's currently formulated.

[1:34:29] >> Clerk: thank you, james.

[1:34:31] That's the remainder of your

[1:34:32] comments.

[1:34:34] Next speaker is heather hoffman,

[1:34:36] followed by jack.

[1:34:37] Heather, you have two minutes.

[1:34:41] Please go ahead.

[1:34:43] >> hello, heather hoffman.

[1:34:45] 213 hurley street.

[1:34:49] I want to -- everything dan

[1:34:49] totten said.

[1:34:51] I work in public buildings.

[1:34:53] They vary in their welcomeness.

[1:34:55] I prefer the ones that welcome

[1:35:02] me.

[1:35:04] With respect to all the

[1:35:05] litigation we're involved with.

[1:35:10] And also, the absolute

[1:35:10] convincing assurance that we

[1:35:17] will beat patrick baird's

[1:35:18] lawsuit and inclusionary zoning

[1:35:19] will continue in all of its

[1:35:26] glory I say, talk about that.

[1:35:28] Then talk about what happens if

[1:35:31] this lawsuit goes the way the

[1:35:37] cambridge building montero

[1:35:37] lawsuits went.

[1:35:42] With respect to the city

[1:35:48] council's I have some

[1:35:48] suggestions for things you

[1:35:52] should take up.

[1:35:53] Evaluate the new charter.

[1:35:56] Tons of people don't even snow

[1:35:59] we have one.

[1:36:01] What changes need to be made,

[1:36:03] including for example, the

[1:36:07] inauguration.

[1:36:09] Also, looking at deadlines for

[1:36:11] ordinances such as inclusionary

[1:36:14] zoning to be reviewed.

[1:36:16] We should also be looking at all

[1:36:18] the ramifications with all this

[1:36:20] new zoning, and looking at

[1:36:22] makinging it so the pedestrians

[1:36:23] can get around with all the

[1:36:26] construction, neighborhood

[1:36:29] long-term planning, transport

[1:36:30] transportation.

[1:36:31] For finance, how about taking a

[1:36:32] look at what it's going to talk

[1:36:34] us in texas?

[1:36:38] And finally, cambridge street

[1:36:38] zoning.

[1:36:39] Let it expire.

[1:36:42] I sent you a letter, which I

[1:36:45] almost never do.

[1:36:46] Please read it.

[1:36:50] Thank you.

[1:36:52] >> Clerk: our final speaker is

[1:36:53] jack.

[1:36:54] Please go ahead.

[1:36:59] >> thank you.

[1:37:02] [Indiscernible]

[1:37:04] >> not to be redundant because I

[1:37:05] think my fellow citizen

[1:37:15] expressed my position -- housing

[1:37:17] mission ordinance.

[1:37:20] [Indiscernible]

[1:37:40] [Poor audio]

[1:38:01] [Indiscernible]

[1:38:04] [Poor audio]

[1:38:33] [Indiscernible]

[1:38:34] [Poor audio]

[1:38:52] [Indiscernible]

[1:38:53] >> Clerk: thank you.

[1:38:54] MADAM Mayor, that is all that

[1:38:56] were signed up to speak.

[1:38:57] >> Mayor Siddiqui: that

[1:39:05] concludes comment.

[1:39:06] I'll ask azeem to close with

[1:39:06] comment.

[1:39:09] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi.

[1:39:09] Yes.

[1:39:14] Vice mayor azeem.

[1:39:14] Yes.

[1:39:15] Councilor flaherty.

[1:39:15] Yes.

[1:39:16] Councilor Mcgovern.

[1:39:16] Yes.

[1:39:17] Councilor nolan.

[1:39:17] Yes.

[1:39:18] councilor simmons.

[1:39:18] Yes.

[1:39:19] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler.

[1:39:21] Yes.

[1:39:22] Councilor zusy.

[1:39:23] Mayor siddiqui.

[1:39:23] Yes.

[1:39:25] You have nine members recorded

[1:39:26] in the affirmative.

[1:39:37] >> Mayor Siddiqui:.

[1:39:41] [Poor audio]

[1:39:43] >> MADAM Chair.

[1:39:45] >> councilor simmons.

[1:39:46] >> Councilor Simmons: number two

[1:39:48] and five please.

[1:39:50] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[1:39:50] simmons number two.

[1:39:52] Number five.

[1:39:54] >> mayor siddiqui.

[1:39:56] Councilor nolan.

[1:39:58] >> Councilor Nolan: number four.

[1:40:01] >> Mayor Siddiqui: number four.

[1:40:07] Councilor al azeem.

[1:40:08] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: I'd like

[1:40:12] to pull number one.

[1:40:16] >> vice mayor azeem.

[1:40:18] >> Vice Mayor Azeem:.

[1:40:22] Three.

[1:40:22] [Poor audio]

[1:40:28] [Indiscernible]

[1:40:30] -- include an update on court

[1:40:31] cases.

[1:40:32] City manager.

[1:40:34] >> City Manager: thank you so

[1:40:35] much, mayor siddiqui.

[1:40:37] Welcome to our new councilors.

[1:40:41] Good to see you all.

[1:40:44] This is the first return.

[1:40:46] I want to ensure that we have an

[1:40:49] updated picture of the

[1:40:50] litigation we're involved in as

[1:40:53] a city for two city councilors.

[1:40:55] Please reach out to city

[1:40:56] solicitor.

[1:41:00] We're happy to of any special

[1:41:02] cases of special interest to the

[1:41:03] city.

[1:41:04] We certainly welcome any

[1:41:05] questions tonight as well.

[1:41:07] We don't have any significant

[1:41:08] updates to date.

[1:41:10] The more significant in terms of

[1:41:11] the cases.

[1:41:13] The most significant ongoing

[1:41:17] case remains the lawsuit

[1:41:19] regarding hub continuing care

[1:41:19] funding.

[1:41:21] We expect a clearer picture in

[1:41:22] the coming weeks, and we will

[1:41:24] communicate as soon as we have a

[1:41:25] more definitive ruling from the

[1:41:28] court.

[1:41:29] Similarly, there is no

[1:41:31] substantive action on the

[1:41:32] federal budget bill needed to

[1:41:33] pass before the JANUARY 30th

[1:41:36] deadline.

[1:41:38] There is one glimmer of good

[1:41:40] news, which is both the house

[1:41:41] and the senate have passed

[1:41:46] budgets that have likely held

[1:41:48] concrete significant -- the

[1:41:49] initial proposal would have gone

[1:41:52] down by 20% or almost $50

[1:41:53] billion.

[1:41:57] While much of the day statements

[1:41:59] from grants of the last year,

[1:42:01] pwhile still not entirely clear

[1:42:03] how priorities in research

[1:42:09] pfunding directives change: the

[1:42:10] overall level of research

[1:42:12] funding has been protected.

[1:42:13] We continue to monitor the

[1:42:14] federal budget.

[1:42:16] We expect to have a clearer

[1:42:17] picture by our next council

[1:42:19] meeting on JANUARY 26th.

[1:42:20] That will be five days before

[1:42:23] the JANUARY 30th exploration of

[1:42:24] the last federal budget

[1:42:30] scomention.

[1:42:31] So we'll make sure there's an

[1:42:38] update in two weeks.

[1:42:41] I also wanted to reflect on the

[1:42:42] shooting in minneapolis.

[1:42:44] The lack of policy federal

[1:42:46] procedure, theical us and knee

[1:42:47] jerk response of federal

[1:42:50] leadership and surging of

[1:42:52] actions are making everyone in

[1:42:55] our community and amore safe.

[1:42:57] This is incredibly disturbing.

[1:42:58] There have been actions at the

[1:43:01] city and state level that we've

[1:43:06] seen the last couple of days.

[1:43:08] St. Paul issued a cease and

[1:43:10] desist to homeland security to

[1:43:11] stop the use of city-owned

[1:43:15] parking lots and property for

[1:43:16] federal civil immigration

[1:43:17] actions.

[1:43:19] Similarly, stiff minneapolis

[1:43:20] issued an executive order and

[1:43:22] asked to provide a more

[1:43:25] standardized -- private property

[1:43:26] owners and wish to mark their

[1:43:28] properties off limits to

[1:43:31] immigration actions.

[1:43:34] Aso, just a couple of hours ago

[1:43:36] state and senate officials in

[1:43:37] illinois and minnesota have

[1:43:40] filed a federal lawsuit against

[1:43:42] the trump administration,

[1:43:43] clearly of mass deployment of

[1:43:45] immigration agents in the

[1:43:46] absence of congressional

[1:43:47] authorization violates the

[1:43:50] constitution and infringes on

[1:43:51] states rights.

[1:43:53] These lawsuits are seek

[1:43:55] significant on the current

[1:43:58] practices of federal agents.

[1:44:00] Working with city council.

[1:44:02] Better understand the lawsuits

[1:44:04] that have been filed.

[1:44:06] We just started a review.

[1:44:08] They will be filed in court

[1:44:08] today.

[1:44:12] And as we have litigation

[1:44:14] options, we'll be in close

[1:44:16] coordination with the state

[1:44:18] attorney general's office, as we

[1:44:20] determine potential next steps,

[1:44:22] potential legal steps.

[1:44:24] Over the last year, we have

[1:44:25] worked very closely with the

[1:44:28] city council and the city's

[1:44:31] ordinance, education.

[1:44:33] We support great are legal

[1:44:34] support for immigrants just a

[1:44:35] couple of days ago.

[1:44:38] We were putting out a call for

[1:44:43] volunteers to work with --

[1:44:46] [Indiscernible]

[1:44:48] Federal housing vouchers housing

[1:44:49] vouchers.

[1:44:50] So I'm very appreciative of the

[1:44:53] work that has happened that the

[1:44:55] city council and across so many

[1:44:57] city departments and partners.

[1:44:59] In 2026, we continue to look for

[1:45:01] ways it stand up for our values

[1:45:02] and take actions to protect our

[1:45:03] community.

[1:45:07] So I'll take questions and thank

[1:45:11] you very much.

[1:45:13] >> Councilor Zusy: through,

[1:45:14] mayor.

[1:45:19] To jump into the city of --

[1:45:21] [Indiscernible]

[1:45:25] [Poor audio]

[1:45:27] -- denied their injunctive

[1:45:28] release in this case.

[1:45:30] How are we documenting for

[1:45:33] future or irreparable harm just

[1:45:34] in preparation for further

[1:45:35] setbacks from the federal

[1:45:35] administration.

[1:45:37] It seems clear we're going to

[1:45:41] need stronger evidence.

[1:45:43] >> City Manager: sure.

[1:45:44] Through you, mayored qismt I

[1:45:46] would defer to the city

[1:45:46] solicitor.

[1:45:48] And the city solicitor.

[1:45:50] I think there's a lot of

[1:45:52] similarities in the chelsea and

[1:45:54] summerville case and other

[1:45:55] sanctuary cities cases that

[1:45:57] we've listed.

[1:45:58] But happy for them to provide an

[1:46:01] overview and looking forward to

[1:46:06] discussion.

[1:46:07] >> thank you.

[1:46:11] Through you, MADAM Mayor.

[1:46:13] Someone in chelsea filed a case

[1:46:15] really early on after the

[1:46:17] sanctuary jurisdiction order was

[1:46:18] issued.

[1:46:19] And then a little time after

[1:46:22] that.

[1:46:25] Other jurisdictions starting

[1:46:26] with the lead plaintiff being

[1:46:28] san francisco, filed a similar

[1:46:31] case over on the west coast.

[1:46:35] And we did not initially join

[1:46:37] the case that the san francisco

[1:46:39] case was amended.

[1:46:41] And we joined additional

[1:46:42] plaintiff when the case was

[1:46:44] amended, when the case was

[1:46:45] amended.

[1:46:50] And what we -- what the basis of

[1:46:53] the harm of that case was to

[1:46:56] show being harmed and the other

[1:46:59] counties and cities involved are

[1:47:01] being harmed, was the economic

[1:47:05] harm.

[1:47:08] So the sanctuary executive

[1:47:09] orders talk about eliminating

[1:47:11] funding for sanctuary

[1:47:12] jurisdictions.

[1:47:14] So we worked with our finance

[1:47:15] team and actually with every

[1:47:16] department in the city that

[1:47:18] receives federal funding, and

[1:47:20] did a really thorough analysis

[1:47:22] of all the funding that comes in

[1:47:24] in.

[1:47:27] Before that case, the finance

[1:47:29] had started working on making

[1:47:31] sure they had a clear picture of

[1:47:33] what our city federal funding

[1:47:34] looks like.

[1:47:36] But that really forced us to

[1:47:40] kick it gear and do a really

[1:47:42] thorough analysis of where --

[1:47:43] make sure we capture every

[1:47:45] department and all the federal

[1:47:45] funding.

[1:47:47] That is what we submitted, along

[1:47:48] with the other plaintiffs to

[1:47:55] show that this was harm that

[1:47:57] would happen to the city.

[1:48:03] And it's not speculative because

[1:48:09] just the fact of funding being

[1:48:11] cut off because of our sanctuary

[1:48:11] policies.

[1:48:17] There is uncertainty.

[1:48:25] And -- [Indiscernible]

[1:48:38] when we cut funding and the

[1:48:46] court found that we were showing

[1:48:48] they did not get a preliminary

[1:48:57] in order their favor.

[1:48:59] Some of it MAY be because of

[1:49:00] jurisdictions.

[1:49:01] Some of it MAY be that they

[1:49:03] filed so early, that they hadn't

[1:49:08] had the full amount of time full

[1:49:10] amount of time whether that

[1:49:11] impacts where they are going at

[1:49:13] this time.

[1:49:14] We are continuing to work

[1:49:16] closely with all city

[1:49:17] departments and particularly,

[1:49:19] finance on the federal funding

[1:49:21] picture.

[1:49:27] And additionally, as things

[1:49:30] develop, if there are other

[1:49:32] types of federal are impacting

[1:49:34] the city to be able to

[1:49:36] articulate that harm as well.

[1:49:39] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[1:49:41] al-zubi.

[1:49:43] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: -- case

[1:49:45] relating to housing and

[1:49:46] homelessness.

[1:49:48] How much do we have of a dollar

[1:49:50] amount for continuing of care

[1:49:53] funding that we've secured?

[1:49:54] >> thank you.

[1:49:57] Through you, MADAM Mayor.

[1:49:59] So I can speak generally that we

[1:50:02] receive around six million in

[1:50:03] continuum of care funds.

[1:50:07] And so that the king county case

[1:50:09] as an injunction in place that

[1:50:19] is ensuring that we get that we

[1:50:21] get that we brought along with

[1:50:22] the national alliance to end

[1:50:27] homelessness.

[1:50:29] That's for the next fiscal year

[1:50:29] of funding.

[1:50:31] I think that's also around $6

[1:50:33] million.

[1:50:37] >> through you, mayor siddiqui.

[1:50:44] I think this has been one of the

[1:50:45] challenges with the

[1:50:46] administration they are going

[1:50:47] after the funding on a lot of

[1:50:49] angles and we end up in court on

[1:50:50] a number of different actions.

[1:50:51] King county was about the

[1:50:55] initial conditions that were

[1:51:01] being shared, which largely if

[1:51:03] they were implemented could mean

[1:51:06] hud could disqualify us from

[1:51:07] future grants.

[1:51:09] So that case, I think we

[1:51:11] essentially have an injunction

[1:51:11] on.

[1:51:14] The case that I was referencing

[1:51:15] that we're currently in the

[1:51:17] middle of litigating is

[1:51:21] regarding hud having changed the

[1:51:29] continuum of care, essentially

[1:51:32] moving the existing 90% funding

[1:51:33] year over year supportive

[1:51:35] hosing to 30%, and trying to

[1:51:37] move the other 30% of funding

[1:51:39] into new programs in accelerated

[1:51:42] time frame that I think really

[1:51:43] was not plausible to develop new

[1:51:45] programs in.

[1:51:47] So our court case on that front

[1:51:52] with a number of other cities

[1:51:53] and states was a number of

[1:51:55] things including the fact that

[1:51:56] the federal government didn't

[1:51:57] follow the appropriate process

[1:51:59] that they needed to and a number

[1:52:00] of other things.

[1:52:12] So how this shakes out whether

[1:52:14] there's a full injunction.

[1:52:21] I think one of the challenges

[1:52:27] from a legal perspective to stop

[1:52:29] actions from taking place.

[1:52:31] I think it's not easy for the

[1:52:32] federal government to do things

[1:52:39] proactively.

[1:52:41] Because the existing programs

[1:52:43] should stay in place, and this

[1:52:44] coming year should lock like

[1:52:50] last year, I think there's this

[1:52:50] challenge where the court is not

[1:52:57] necessarily used to what she did

[1:52:59] pis not legal but what you must

[1:53:01] do now is do this program in

[1:53:02] this certain way.

[1:53:05] So you can imagine how for

[1:53:10] instance if we can't reduce 90%

[1:53:11] to 30%.

[1:53:14] What if we reduced 30% and

[1:53:15] that's where we're waiting to

[1:53:18] see how the court is going to

[1:53:21] rule.

[1:53:24] >> through you.

[1:53:26] The conditions that hud was

[1:53:28] trying to impose for those

[1:53:37] specifics.

[1:53:38] >> thank you, MADAM Mayor.

[1:53:41] I don't have them all at the tip

[1:53:43] of my fingers, but they all have

[1:53:45] conditions on cooperating with

[1:53:47] immigration actions and

[1:53:53] prohibiting dei initiatives

[1:53:56] prohibiting programs or using

[1:54:00] funds for gender ideology in the

[1:54:02] federal government's words.

[1:54:08] An issue we felt we needed to

[1:54:09] take action is, we would argue

[1:54:13] that funds that are used to

[1:54:17] fight homelessnessed to provide

[1:54:20] permanent support of housing are

[1:54:23] not being used for immigration

[1:54:25] enforcement or gender ideology,

[1:54:28] or diversity, equity and

[1:54:29] inclusion initiatives.

[1:54:30] They are being used to house

[1:54:31] people.

[1:54:31] But the federal government's

[1:54:33] interpretation of those

[1:54:40] conditions, we know from things

[1:54:42] that have been said in the media

[1:54:44] and the PRESIDENT Are broader

[1:54:46] and differ from our

[1:54:46] interpretations.

[1:54:47] So the potential enforcement if

[1:54:51] we interpret conditions

[1:54:51] differently than the federal

[1:54:56] government is the reason we felt

[1:54:57] we were compelled to take action

[1:55:00] to challenge those conditions.

[1:55:04] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor.

[1:55:05] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: the last

[1:55:07] question to the other

[1:55:08] councilors.

[1:55:10] State council, churches --

[1:55:15] [[Indiscernible]

[1:55:16] -- other funding partners,

[1:55:18] organizations can absorb the

[1:55:19] differences if snap is

[1:55:24] ultimately cut and contingency

[1:55:27] plans in place?

[1:55:29] We saw a test of that this past

[1:55:30] fall.

[1:55:32] Ideally, you would want to be

[1:55:33] proactive about potential future

[1:55:39] setbacks on that.

[1:55:40] >> City Manager: sorry.

[1:55:41] Can you repeat the question,

[1:55:44] mayor siddiqui.

[1:55:48] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: happy to.

[1:55:50] Are we prepared for possible

[1:55:51] setbacks if they decide to

[1:55:52] attack this again?

[1:55:54] In other words, can we absorb

[1:55:56] some of the differences if snap

[1:55:57] is cut again?

[1:55:58] Because it's what we saw happen

[1:55:59] this past NOVEMBER.

[1:56:02] And I want to make sure we're

[1:56:03] taking steps to be proactive in

[1:56:06] case that were to happen again.

[1:56:07] >> City Manager: through you,

[1:56:11] mayor siddiqui.

[1:56:12] The challenge in terms of being

[1:56:15] able to commit to fully funding

[1:56:18] any potential deficit in the

[1:56:20] snap funding is just a scale of

[1:56:21] the funding.

[1:56:24] I think the other challenge is

[1:56:26] the uncertainty of some of the

[1:56:28] policy rollout that's been

[1:56:28] placed.

[1:56:28] -

[1:56:30] I think there's both a scare

[1:56:32] challenge and an uncertainty

[1:56:32] challenge.

[1:56:33] So I think if you go back to

[1:56:36] that period when the government

[1:56:38] was shut down, and all of this

[1:56:41] was happening, there was both a

[1:56:46] challenge where the total

[1:56:48] monthly amount going out for

[1:56:50] benefits of snap I think is $2

[1:56:52] million a month within just the

[1:56:53] city of cambridge for about

[1:56:56] 10,000 people who are on snap

[1:57:00] benefits.

[1:57:02] i'll have to check, but that's

[1:57:03] about right from the

[1:57:04] conversations we're havingment

[1:57:06] it's incredibly difficult for us

[1:57:08] to absorbs pal level.

[1:57:09] The second challenge that we

[1:57:12] have was how we respond when a

[1:57:14] lot of this is getting tied up

[1:57:17] in court cases, and we had a

[1:57:19] short horizon where people were

[1:57:21] going to be up against that

[1:57:25] monthly time period where their

[1:57:27] snap benefit was supposed to be

[1:57:28] provided, but it wasn't clear

[1:57:29] whether the federal government

[1:57:30] was going to reopen at any point

[1:57:37] in time.

[1:57:38] It could have been a period of

[1:57:40] days, weeks or months people

[1:57:42] would be without snap benefits.

[1:57:44] Making those decisions was

[1:57:44] incredibly difficult when you

[1:57:47] think about us needing to make

[1:57:51] much more firmer commitments.

[1:57:53] Even with that uncertainty, even

[1:57:55] with that scare challenge, as a

[1:57:58] city, we didn't feel like doing

[1:58:01] nothing, was something that we

[1:58:03] could stomach.

[1:58:05] And so council, for the quick

[1:58:08] action that we were able to take

[1:58:10] for the partners that we had

[1:58:11] with the cambridge community

[1:58:18] foundation and public schools,

[1:58:21] the housing authority, our

[1:58:23] senior organizations,

[1:58:25] summerville, cambridge elder

[1:58:26] services.

[1:58:28] I think we MAY be in that

[1:58:29] similar situation where we MAY

[1:58:32] be navigating a lot of policy

[1:58:32] uncertainty.

[1:58:41] To the extent that does come a

[1:58:44] firm resolution, a firm cut with

[1:58:45] the council and the community

[1:58:46] about how much we could think

[1:58:47] about.

[1:58:49] But I think that's ultimately a

[1:58:51] number of conversations that we

[1:58:53] are going to have, as we come up

[1:59:02] against the fy 27 budget

[1:59:04] programs we are concerned about

[1:59:06] that MAY disappear.

[1:59:08] The court cases have allowed us

[1:59:10] to maintain the status quo for

[1:59:10] longer.

[1:59:12] That seems to be where the hud

[1:59:14] continuum of care is going to go

[1:59:20] in court.

[1:59:25] Even if we got -- I think it's

[1:59:26] very likely we MAY end up in the

[1:59:28] same conversation as we come

[1:59:32] into fiscal year 28.

[1:59:35] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor al

[1:59:35] zuby?

[1:59:36] >> Councilor Al-Zubi:.

[1:59:37] Thank you.

[1:59:38] I think it's really important

[1:59:41] for us to consider a robust

[1:59:43] contingency plan, considering

[1:59:44] the administration is --

[1:59:45] [Indiscernible]

[1:59:47] I yield.

[1:59:51] >> Mayor Siddiqui: owe any

[1:59:52] questions?

[1:59:54] Councilor nolan?

[1:59:56] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[1:59:59] Through, mayor siddiqui, to the

[2:00:00] citys thank you for this update.

[2:00:01] Thank you for the questions.

[2:00:02] In the beginning, you mentioned

[2:00:04] the steps that many of the other

[2:00:05] cities are taking.

[2:00:06] We have done an extraordinary

[2:00:09] amount of work here to ensure we

[2:00:12] do everything we possibly can to

[2:00:13] within obviously, our legal

[2:00:15] authority to safeguard our

[2:00:15] residents.

[2:00:22] However, there were some

[2:00:22] policies mentioned.

[2:00:24] I don't think the federal

[2:00:25] administration is using our

[2:00:26] parking lots for anything.

[2:00:28] If there is anything in that

[2:00:29] initial round you're hearing

[2:00:31] from other cities that we can

[2:00:33] add on to and aensure everything

[2:00:35] we possibly can to keep our

[2:00:37] residents safe, I think it would

[2:00:38] be really important for you to

[2:00:39] work with the mayor to ensure

[2:00:42] the council raise in on any of

[2:00:42] that.

[2:00:43] If they have any question on

[2:00:49] these lawsuits.

[2:00:50] I really hope the city has heard

[2:00:52] we are trying to do everything

[2:00:55] we, can and the law department

[2:00:56] is way overworked.

[2:00:58] I hope that there's some folks

[2:01:00] within the city who are coming

[2:01:01] through to help us because it's

[2:01:03] clearly a strain on us

[2:01:04] psychologically and probably

[2:01:06] financially in terms of the work

[2:01:07] that doesn't get done, as I know

[2:01:11] I have certainly bugged the

[2:01:13] solicitor for a number of other

[2:01:17] things.

[2:01:20] If we need additional support

[2:01:20] for that.

[2:01:22] It's important to do for

[2:01:23] defending our freedom and also

[2:01:25] our residents.

[2:01:30] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor?

[2:01:32] >> to the city manager and city

[2:01:41] solicitor.

[2:01:43] [Indiscernible]

[2:01:44] I think I pronounced that

[2:01:45] correctly.

[2:01:47] It's on page ten of the summary.

[2:01:49] This is a case, in my view, that

[2:01:54] is such a massive departure

[2:01:56] constitutional --

[2:01:59] [Poor audio]

[2:02:02] The city has filed an amicus

[2:02:02] brief.

[2:02:04] And I understand and recognize

[2:02:06] however worked the city

[2:02:07] manager's office is, that this

[2:02:09] is such, in my view, an

[2:02:11] incredibly important

[2:02:14] constitutional case where the

[2:02:15] plaintiffs did seek and receive

[2:02:20] a temporary restraining order

[2:02:23] and joining ice from conducting

[2:02:24] stops.

[2:02:25] Unlawful stops based on racial

[2:02:28] profiling, rather than

[2:02:31] individualized reasonable

[2:02:35] suspicion of unlawful presence

[2:02:37] in the country.

[2:02:38] And the application of this

[2:02:40] precedent is remarkable.

[2:02:46] This is one of those cases that

[2:02:49] stands out to me as one that

[2:02:51] seriously the tack on our

[2:02:53] constitutional practice and our

[2:02:56] liberty, rights and protections

[2:02:58] athat have been around since the

[2:02:59] founding of this country and is

[2:03:01] an aattack on the fourth

[2:03:02] amendment.

[2:03:05] And I note also in the status

[2:03:10] report that justice -- on the

[2:03:12] supreme court has said that or

[2:03:15] has indicated and of the opinion

[2:03:16] if the case eventually reaches

[2:03:17] the supreme court, that the

[2:03:20] supreme court will likely

[2:03:24] reverse any permanent injunctive

[2:03:25] similar to the temporary relief

[2:03:27] that the district court

[2:03:28] previously ordered.

[2:03:32] It's remarkable, in my view.

[2:03:35] I know how overworked the city

[2:03:36] solicitor's office is.

[2:03:38] But in my mind, this is one of

[2:03:40] those cases that can create such

[2:03:43] a dangerous precedent for

[2:03:44] application throughout our

[2:03:51] country, in this state, in the,

[2:03:53] to individuals being racially

[2:03:54] profiled in many of our

[2:03:55] neighborhoods.

[2:03:57] So to the extent that there is

[2:03:59] any available elbow grease in

[2:04:03] the city solicitor's office, I

[2:04:06] would ask that if you have it,

[2:04:08] maybe you can spend it and file

[2:04:12] or join an amicus brief with the

[2:04:13] city of boston.

[2:04:15] I really do believe this is one

[2:04:17] of those cases that is so

[2:04:19] remarkable, and the response by

[2:04:21] the supreme court just at this

[2:04:24] stage of the litigation is so

[2:04:26] remarkable, that it requires, in

[2:04:31] my view, a strong sort of

[2:04:33] argument on our point.

[2:04:34] So that's all I just ask.

[2:04:38] Thank you.

[2:04:40] >> City Manager: through you,

[2:04:41] mayor siddiqui.

[2:04:43] Thank you councilor flaherty for

[2:04:46] your the I couldn't agree more.

[2:04:49] As this -- for your remarks.

[2:04:51] I couldn't agree more.

[2:04:53] We were organizing across a

[2:04:55] number of different cities, and

[2:04:59] had put out to the same effect,

[2:05:00] essentially, this was during the

[2:05:03] time when especially in many of

[2:05:05] our communities, chelsea lynn.

[2:05:06] They are experiencing this kind

[2:05:10] of action.

[2:05:12] Ice enforcement that was really

[2:05:14] targeted on individuals, not

[2:05:16] with any record or targeting,

[2:05:17] but sort of just sweeping up

[2:05:19] people who looked a certain way,

[2:05:22] were in a certain place.

[2:05:26] And it really put out a

[2:05:27] statement essentially arguing

[2:05:29] this was unconstitutional.

[2:05:31] So very dismayed as well when

[2:05:36] the supreme court essentially --

[2:05:40] [Indiscernible]

[2:05:42] Injunctioned owe docket.

[2:05:44] [Poor audio]

[2:05:49] [Indiscernible]

[2:05:52] -- talk us through the amicus

[2:05:52] briefs.

[2:05:54] Certainly, as a plaintiff when

[2:05:55] there's a clear harm in our

[2:05:59] case.

[2:06:00] Sometimes there's a desire to

[2:06:02] get amicus briefs.

[2:06:03] But I think talking through the

[2:06:07] process might be useful.

[2:06:09] >> Mayor Siddiqui: city

[2:06:09] solicitor?

[2:06:10] >> thank you.

[2:06:12] Through you, MADAM Mayor and

[2:06:14] point well taken on the

[2:06:16] importance of this case.

[2:06:18] Just before the meeting tonight,

[2:06:19] starting to read the new

[2:06:21] complaint that was filed today

[2:06:23] by minnesota, st. Paul and

[2:06:24] minneapolis with many of the

[2:06:26] same issues, alleged in that

[2:06:28] complaint happening right now on

[2:06:35] the ground in those cities.

[2:06:37] So we have been working with a

[2:06:40] fews, looking at cases where we

[2:06:45] might be able to join and

[2:06:46] support the case in a brief.

[2:06:47] We have been in close connection

[2:06:50] with a number of other sanctuary

[2:06:51] jurisdiction cities here in the

[2:06:53] state and across the country,

[2:06:55] through some of our municipal

[2:06:57] lawyers, bar associations.

[2:06:58] We have been working with the

[2:06:59] public rights project, which has

[2:07:07] been taking the lead in this

[2:07:09] litigation and municipalities.

[2:07:10] There are other groups as well,

[2:07:12] from even back during the first

[2:07:14] trump presidency when the city

[2:07:16] participated in some amicus

[2:07:17] briefs where we have had people

[2:07:19] who we worked with then.

[2:07:21] We reached back out when new

[2:07:23] briefs come up, and asked if

[2:07:24] this city is interested in

[2:07:25] joining.

[2:07:27] Then some issues where we hadn't

[2:07:29] heard that anyone is, you know,

[2:07:32] in the process of working on a

[2:07:33] brief.

[2:07:35] But we have initiated briefs,

[2:07:37] and we've partnered with some

[2:07:40] law firms to see that through.

[2:07:43] So it's been a real bit of both

[2:07:45] working our networks and taking

[2:07:48] initiative, and primarily

[2:07:50] partnering with others, who have

[2:07:52] done the lion's share of the

[2:07:56] writing of these briefs.

[2:07:59] And I discussed any possible

[2:08:00] opportunities with the city

[2:08:01] manager before we sign on.

[2:08:04] We keep the council updated

[2:08:05] sometimes through an additional

[2:08:07] email, just to let you know

[2:08:09] something that happened right

[2:08:13] away, or through this every

[2:08:15] other week litigation tracker

[2:08:16] update.

[2:08:18] I'm always happy to hear from

[2:08:19] the council.

[2:08:20] If you're aware of a particular

[2:08:23] case and issue and want us to

[2:08:24] look at that, and see about

[2:08:26] taking some more action.

[2:08:30] >> Mayor Siddiqui: ok.

[2:08:33] >> thank you, MADAM For that.

[2:08:34] >> Councilor Flaherty: I should

[2:08:36] note for the record, I know

[2:08:37] exactly how much work it is to

[2:08:39] draft an amicus brief to the

[2:08:40] united states supreme court.

[2:08:41] It's overwhelming work.

[2:08:43] I congratulate you for your

[2:08:46] efforts, and I congratulate you

[2:08:48] for seeking partners at large

[2:08:51] firms here in boston, pro bono

[2:08:53] activities, maybe harvard law

[2:08:54] school, boston college law

[2:08:57] school, my alma mater might be

[2:08:59] willing to work on this as well.

[2:09:01] Maybe we can work on developing

[2:09:03] networks to assist in these

[2:09:03] efforts.

[2:09:05] But this is the one.

[2:09:06] This case really is the one.

[2:09:08] This is the federal government

[2:09:09] and the united states supreme

[2:09:13] court saying, in effect, the

[2:09:16] that racial profiling is ok.

[2:09:18] I think we can all agree that

[2:09:19] it's not.

[2:09:21] If we have a chance to fight on

[2:09:22] this one, maybe we should pick

[2:09:23] this fight.

[2:09:24] Listen, thank you so much.

[2:09:27] I appreciate it, MADAM Mayor.

[2:09:31] >> Councilors thank you for your

[2:09:36] -- [Indiscernible]

[2:09:40] >> Mayor Siddiqui: --

[2:09:43] [Poor audio]

[2:09:54] [Indiscernible]

[2:09:56] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi.

[2:09:57] Yes.

[2:09:58] Vice mayor azeem.

[2:09:58] Yes.

[2:09:59] Councilor flaherty.

[2:10:00] yes.

[2:10:01] Councilor Mcgovern.

[2:10:01] Yes.

[2:10:02] Councilor nolan.

[2:10:03] Yes.

[2:10:04] Councilor simmons.

[2:10:05] Yes.

[2:10:07] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler.

[2:10:08] Yes.

[2:10:09] Councilor zusy.

[2:10:10] Yes.

[2:10:11] Mayor siddiqui.

[2:10:11] Yes.

[2:10:13] You have nine members recorded

[2:10:15] in the affirmative.

[2:10:19] >> Mayor Siddiqui: seeing none

[2:10:20] -- agenda item number two.

[2:10:22] This is communication --

[2:10:26] [Indiscernible]

[2:10:30] [Poor audio]

[2:10:31] Councilor simmons?

[2:10:32] >> Councilor Simmons: thank you,

[2:10:33] MADAM Chair.

[2:10:39] I want to thank you for this

[2:10:44] police advisory board.

[2:10:45] Just a few things.

[2:10:46] It's not a criticism.

[2:10:48] As many of you know the police

[2:10:49] advisory board was established

[2:10:50] in 1984.

[2:10:53] One reason why I raise that is

[2:10:54] because in the description of

[2:10:56] the police advisory board, does

[2:10:57] it speak to that?

[2:10:59] I think it's an important thing

[2:11:01] to note why we have this police

[2:11:02] review advisory board.

[2:11:04] We have a couple of new members.

[2:11:05] We have people tuning in.

[2:11:07] They have no idea.

[2:11:09] So I just want to make a

[2:11:10] recommendation that there might

[2:11:13] be some item that talks about

[2:11:16] historical backdrop, to tell

[2:11:18] people, here's this police

[2:11:18] review.

[2:11:21] We're pointing people to it.

[2:11:23] They can refer to why these

[2:11:24] people are being appointed.

[2:11:26] They never got their

[2:11:26] credentials.

[2:11:27] Let's talk a little bit about

[2:11:29] their credentials.

[2:11:31] There was a time when we

[2:11:32] recommended members.

[2:11:34] You would give us their resume.

[2:11:36] Now you give us a little bit of

[2:11:37] a synopsis.

[2:11:39] Not that I took issue with that,

[2:11:41] but I don't really get a sense

[2:11:42] of who they are.

[2:11:46] I know who they are in regards

[2:11:47] to being appointed to the police

[2:11:49] review advisory board maybe

[2:11:51] because we don't quite have the

[2:11:53] history of why.

[2:11:55] I think it would be important,

[2:11:57] as long as the resume is not as

[2:12:04] long as the enpsych low media --

[2:12:06] encyclopedia.

[2:12:08] Because having been around and I

[2:12:09] know a little bit about the

[2:12:11] formation of the police review

[2:12:12] advisory board.

[2:12:14] I did take note of all the

[2:12:16] expertise of the people -- that

[2:12:18] the people have.

[2:12:20] What I'm look little bit more

[2:12:22] balance in terms of just the

[2:12:24] ordinary citizen that might also

[2:12:27] be interested to have an option

[2:12:29] to serve, but they don't have,

[2:12:35] say, experience.

[2:12:36] Professional decade of

[2:12:38] experience and human services.

[2:12:39] I feel that we're moving, and

[2:12:47] it's not a bad continuing that's

[2:12:49] for almost exclusively highly

[2:12:50] educated people with years of

[2:12:50] experience.

[2:12:52] I'm looking for some folks who

[2:12:56] MAY not have as much experience,

[2:12:58] but would be able to give their

[2:13:01] time, talent, and intellect to

[2:13:03] the board if invited.

[2:13:07] So I'm looking to us for our

[2:13:09] community engagement efforts.

[2:13:10] Whatever you call them.

[2:13:12] The community engagement team

[2:13:13] that go out it knock on doors

[2:13:16] and let people know we're doing

[2:13:18] various things, that we really

[2:13:18] go and look.

[2:13:21] Let's go to the town court.

[2:13:24] Let's go to apartment gardens.

[2:13:25] Let's go.

[2:13:27] I'm certain if there were people

[2:13:28] that knew these opportunities

[2:13:32] were available, MAY not have 10,

[2:13:35] 15 years in human services, but

[2:13:37] have a lot of basic neighborhood

[2:13:38] knowledge.

[2:13:39] Basic knowledge in areas that

[2:13:40] would be just as important to

[2:13:45] have a police advisory board.

[2:13:47] I just want to mention that.

[2:13:48] I'm looking for a little bit

[2:13:51] more balance.

[2:13:53] We talk about community

[2:13:54] engagement on all levels.

[2:13:57] So let's be more cognizant about

[2:14:03] who we bring on, so it's not

[2:14:05] skewed in one direction.

[2:14:07] The last time I'll say that.

[2:14:09] If you do get shun who has a lot

[2:14:12] of learned knowledge, community

[2:14:13] knowledge, a group of highly

[2:14:15] educated MAY not come back

[2:14:17] because I feel like I don't have

[2:14:17] the B.A.

[2:14:21] I don't

[2:14:21] .

[2:14:23] >> Mayor Simmons: I want us to

[2:14:26] be more cognizant so we have a

[2:14:27] broad representation on our

[2:14:28] boards and commissions.

[2:14:30] Thank you, MADAM Chair.

[2:14:35] I yield the floor.

[2:14:38] >> Chair: thank you, count lor

[2:14:39] simmons.

[2:14:41] >> through you, mayor and good

[2:14:42] evening councillors.

[2:14:46] I want to start by introducing

[2:14:46] myself.

[2:14:48] I serve as the executive

[2:14:49] secretary for the advisory

[2:14:50] board.

[2:14:52] I also oversee the human rights

[2:14:54] commission and the commission on

[2:14:58] immigrant right and citizenship.

[2:15:03] thank you, councilor sim mons

[2:15:04] for the questions.

[2:15:07] I'm happy to touch base on.

[2:15:12] I apoll jiez for not including

[2:15:13] the resumes.

[2:15:14] The board members work hard to

[2:15:16] make sure the pool of applicants

[2:15:18] who are rechtive of our

[2:15:19] community, which is difficult

[2:15:21] because we pulled that off when

[2:15:25] everyone was enjoying time off.

[2:15:28] We looked at what is the vision

[2:15:30] of the board now that it's under

[2:15:32] new leadership and specifically

[2:15:35] for people that can help us with

[2:15:36] community engagement, which is a

[2:15:38] focal point right now.

[2:15:39] As well as, committed to

[2:15:41] training which I'm trying to

[2:15:44] remain consistent and across the

[2:15:48] board as we work with the police

[2:15:48] department.

[2:15:52] We thought the two applicants

[2:15:53] that move forward with

[2:15:55] appointments really are

[2:15:56] committed to that and fully

[2:15:58] understand the mission.

[2:16:00] One is a long time cambridge

[2:16:01] resident and the other is newer

[2:16:05] to cambridge but had what we

[2:16:08] found

[2:16:10] experience.

[2:16:12] It's difficult to find because

[2:16:13] we are looking to find that

[2:16:17] neutrality in the space, which

[2:16:22] we understand is difficult but

[2:16:27] we're excited about the two

[2:16:27] applicants.

[2:16:29] >> I thought about sitting from

[2:16:32] that perch having peoples names.

[2:16:34] When I knew you I didn't know

[2:16:35] you.

[2:16:36] This is very helpful.

[2:16:39] I applaud the work you do.

[2:16:42] I know you work overtime, all

[2:16:45] the time and every time to have

[2:16:45] representation.

[2:16:48] We look for people that look

[2:16:50] like us or act like us.

[2:16:52] I suggest to the work you do,

[2:16:54] which is a lot and great, how do

[2:16:56] we say who is not here.

[2:16:58] What type of person do we not

[2:17:00] have and how that might round

[2:17:02] out the board and really grow

[2:17:03] our community engagement.

[2:17:05] Again, this is not at all a

[2:17:06] slight to the work you do.

[2:17:08] I know you work really hard and

[2:17:10] have a cute baby at home you're

[2:17:12] trying to take care of.

[2:17:14] It's how do we utilize other

[2:17:20] ways to get people that don't

[2:17:23] typically serve on these boards

[2:17:24] and commissions.

[2:17:26] No criticism to the work you do

[2:17:27] just looking at opportunity and

[2:17:28] options to have a broader

[2:17:30] representation of people from

[2:17:32] other neighborhoods that we

[2:17:32] don't.

[2:17:34] I expect if we were to do a grid

[2:17:37] we were trending in a certain

[2:17:39] direction and not in the other

[2:17:41] direction that speaks to

[2:17:44] diversity and breath and depth.

[2:17:46] I yield the floor.

[2:17:46] >> Chair: thank you.

[2:17:48] Councilor nolan.

[2:17:50] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[2:17:53] Through you, mayor, and to the

[2:17:53] staff.

[2:17:56] I want to 100% build on what

[2:17:59] councilor simons just said

[2:18:01] thchlt is a review advisory

[2:18:01] board working with the police

[2:18:04] department on training and

[2:18:05] through the city and is

[2:18:06] critically important when we

[2:18:08] look boo complaints that are

[2:18:10] filed.

[2:18:11] It's critically important as the

[2:18:14] councilor says, there's lots of

[2:18:16] ways to define diversity.

[2:18:17] These resumes in some ways are

[2:18:19] really impressive.

[2:18:21] And yet, as has been said, if

[2:18:24] you have very different life

[2:18:26] experience and who is much --

[2:18:28] I'm interested in making sure

[2:18:30] residents here are very much

[2:18:32] willing to look a scans at any

[2:18:33] official report and make sure

[2:18:35] they approach it from the

[2:18:39] perspective of residents across

[2:19:05] the city.

[2:19:07] Opposed to just accepting

[2:19:10] anything that goes forward.

[2:19:11] I want to -- I'm glad the

[2:19:15] councilor raised it and I fully

[2:19:17] support her request that we look

[2:19:21] seriously at how it is that we

[2:19:22] are providing recommendations

[2:19:23] for these.

[2:19:27] I have no reason to pose these

[2:19:29] necessarily but I would much

[2:19:30] prefer we had assurance some

[2:19:33] members of the board were in a

[2:19:34] completely different mindset

[2:20:01] than what might be assumed here.

[2:20:03] Do we have a full report of the

[2:20:07] last ten years of all cases

[2:20:07] adjudicated?

[2:20:11] If not, how quickly can we get

[2:20:11] that?

[2:20:14] >> thank you for question.

[2:20:17] That is something that we

[2:20:19] continue since we've been in the

[2:20:20] new transition that's just on my

[2:20:23] to do to bring back.

[2:20:26] I think getting these

[2:20:28] appointments since there is

[2:20:28] quorum.

[2:20:29] That's absolutely something we

[2:20:30] will continue doing and are

[2:20:34] aware is required by the

[2:20:34] ordinance.

[2:20:35] >> Chair: councilor nolan.

[2:20:36] >> Councilor Nolan: thanks.

[2:20:37] Look, there's all this talk

[2:20:39] about what is in ordinance and

[2:20:41] what isn't filed.

[2:20:43] This is critically important.

[2:20:45] We care enough about it we send

[2:20:46] it.

[2:20:47] We are getting kudos across the

[2:20:50] country and I for one have no

[2:20:51] knowledge whether we deserve the

[2:20:53] kudos because I have no idea of

[2:20:55] how it's viewed by the general

[2:20:56] person on the street because we

[2:20:58] don't get those reports.

[2:20:59] I recognize and I should have

[2:21:03] said through you, mayor, I

[2:21:05] recognize they are new and I'm

[2:21:06] glad you're working at it.

[2:21:08] If this is several years of

[2:21:09] boards, not speaking to you but

[2:21:12] to the fact we have not gotten

[2:21:14] what is -- not just legally

[2:21:15] required but almost morally

[2:21:17] required to make sure we're

[2:21:17] moving forward.

[2:21:19] The last time I checked one of

[2:21:21] the concerns, having talked to

[2:21:23] several people who filed

[2:21:24] complaints honestly, is they

[2:21:27] were not sustained and felt

[2:21:30] totally not listened to by the

[2:21:32] parb, because they felt the

[2:21:35] people were predesupposed to

[2:21:35] defend everything.

[2:21:37] That's not something we want to

[2:21:40] see in other areas of

[2:21:41] government.

[2:21:44] I hope moving forward we can

[2:21:48] ensure folks dr the data is

[2:21:48] already there.

[2:21:58] Thank you.

[2:21:59] >>>the issue of what the

[2:22:02] ordinance is I think we can take

[2:22:05] up but do folks have questions

[2:22:34] about the specific appointments?

[2:22:36] >> all of the meetings are

[2:22:37] public meetings.

[2:22:38] There is documentation in terms

[2:22:41] of what's been on the agenda and

[2:22:43] decisions that have come before

[2:22:43] prav.

[2:22:47] Your points are well taken and

[2:22:49] there's good work to do.

[2:22:51] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I see no

[2:22:51] further commentary from

[2:22:52] colleagues.

[2:22:56] I will entertain a motion to

[2:22:58] approve the appointments and

[2:23:01] place the matter on file.

[2:23:10] On a motion by>> councilor

[2:23:10] azeem?

[2:23:11] >> yea.

[2:23:12] >> Clerk: councilor carlone,>>

[2:23:13] yes.

[2:23:14] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[2:23:15] >> yes.

[2:23:17] >> Clerk: councilor similarmons?

[2:23:18] >> yes.

[2:23:18] >> councilor sobrinho-wheeler?

[2:23:20] >> yes.

[2:23:22] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[2:23:23] >> yes.

[2:23:24] >> Clerk: mayor?

[2:23:24] >> yes.

[2:23:25] >> Mayor Siddiqui: it is

[2:23:28] approved and placed on file.

[2:23:29] Agenda item three.

[2:23:31] A communication transmitted from

[2:23:34] the city manager relative to the

[2:23:37] appointment of members

[2:23:40] conservation district

[2:23:41] commission.

[2:23:46] Vice mayor you have the floor.

[2:23:46] >> Councilor Azeem: thank you.

[2:23:49] We have newly appointed powers

[2:23:51] to review -- appointments by the

[2:23:52] city manager to different boards

[2:23:53] and things like that.

[2:23:55] I wanted to say the only people

[2:23:58] I know on this are people given

[2:24:01] in public comment disagreeing

[2:24:02] with different housing

[2:24:03] initiatives the city council has

[2:24:05] done and I think that's fine.

[2:24:05] That's democracy.

[2:24:07] There are a lot of opinions.

[2:24:09] I know in the past some people

[2:24:11] have brought up concerns if

[2:24:12] someone has a different opinion

[2:24:14] than they do, has given public

[2:24:14] comment.

[2:24:16] I want to say I think that's

[2:24:17] fine.

[2:24:19] The only people I know here that

[2:24:21] very difficult politics.

[2:24:24] It's a democracy and we need

[2:24:25] points representedment happy to

[2:24:27] vote for this but wanted to do

[2:24:28] acknowledge that.

[2:24:29] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[2:24:29] vice mayor.

[2:24:31] Any comments?

[2:24:34] hearing none on a motion by vice

[2:24:36] mayor to approve the

[2:24:38] appointments and place the

[2:24:40] communication on file.

[2:24:41] Roll call.

[2:24:43] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[2:24:43] >> yes.

[2:24:46] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[2:24:46] >> yes.

[2:24:49] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[2:24:49] >> yes.

[2:24:50] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[2:24:51] >> yes.

[2:24:53] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[2:24:55] >> yes.

[2:25:00] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[2:25:01] >> councilor sobrinho-wheeler>>

[2:25:01] yes.

[2:25:03] >>yes councilor siddiqui?

[2:25:04] >> yes.

[2:25:05] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[2:25:05] >> yes.

[2:25:07] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the item is

[2:25:09] placed on file.

[2:25:12] Communication from city manager

[2:25:18] relative to designation for

[2:25:20] [Indiscernible] On the street.

[2:25:23] Councilor you have the floor.

[2:25:23] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[2:25:25] This is relative to

[2:25:27] recommendation for final

[2:25:29] landmark designation report.

[2:25:32] As usual, a report that has lots

[2:25:33] of data and information on it

[2:25:34] which I always learn something

[2:25:36] about the history of whatever it

[2:25:37] is in cambridge.

[2:25:40] Not just usually the building

[2:25:41] but the neighborhood and also

[2:25:44] what was going on at the city at

[2:25:46] the time.

[2:25:48] I'm excited always to read that.

[2:25:50] I'm also excited about the

[2:25:51] plans.

[2:25:53] The owner is dedicated and

[2:25:54] committed to having a center

[2:25:57] that will enhance the city.

[2:25:58] That will benefit the square and

[2:26:01] that will preserve the building.

[2:26:02] As noted it's part of the

[2:26:05] harvard square conservation

[2:26:06] district.

[2:26:08] There's lots of restrictions and

[2:26:09] rules and regulation that is

[2:26:13] have to be followed by it.

[2:26:15] I wanted to say that that

[2:26:18] history is important and for me

[2:26:21] to landmark seems something that

[2:26:22] I cannot support.

[2:26:25] Because this is a project that

[2:26:28] is desperately overdue, I think,

[2:26:30] in the square.

[2:26:31] I toured the building.

[2:26:32] It was offered to everyone to

[2:26:33] say see the building.

[2:26:36] There is work that needs to be

[2:26:40] done and to landmark would be

[2:27:12] highly restrictive.

[2:27:13] The reason I feel comfortable

[2:27:15] in that is the harvard square

[2:27:16] conservation district has some

[2:27:18] and the owner said it's going to

[2:27:19] continue to be a nonprofit

[2:27:19] center.

[2:27:21] It's going to be used for the

[2:27:24] benefit of the community.

[2:27:25] It is clearly going to bring

[2:27:26] into the square exactly what we

[2:27:29] need in terms of civic

[2:27:29] engagement.

[2:27:30] I'm happy.

[2:27:33] I would love for this to be done

[2:27:35] as soon as possible.

[2:27:37] It is for that reason I will

[2:27:41] not support the landmark

[2:27:42] recommendation of the

[2:27:45] commission.

[2:27:47] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:27:52] al-zubi and then vice mayor and

[2:27:53] then councilor simmons.

[2:27:54] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: I would

[2:27:56] like more time to folks directly

[2:27:57] involved, as well as, process

[2:27:58] the report before the vote.

[2:28:02] I want to make a motion to

[2:28:03] charter right.

[2:28:03] >> Mayor Siddiqui: so councilor

[2:28:05] al-zubi exercises her charter

[2:28:06] right.

[2:28:10] Move to next item on the city

[2:28:11] manager's agenda.

[2:28:15] We don't get to vote on that.

[2:28:15] City manager item five.

[2:28:19] This is transmitting

[2:28:21] communication there city manager

[2:28:23] relative to $100,000 received

[2:28:25] from the broadband institute to

[2:28:29] the grant fund and other

[2:28:30] maintenance.

[2:28:31] [Indiscernible] Support local

[2:28:35] and provide voices to resident

[2:28:37] DECEMBER in distribution

[2:28:40] [Indiscernible] And hot spots

[2:28:44] to -- digital navigator serving

[2:28:47] individuals in cambridge public

[2:28:47] schools.

[2:28:51] Councilor simmons you have the

[2:28:52] floor.

[2:28:52] >> thank you.

[2:28:54] We have the director on the

[2:28:54] screen.

[2:28:57] I would like to give the floor

[2:28:58] to her to talk us through about

[2:29:02] how she sees the appropriation,

[2:29:03] how it's going to work.

[2:29:04] Then I have questions after I

[2:29:06] hear from her.

[2:29:08] I yield to the director.

[2:29:11] >> thank you so much.

[2:29:13] Through you, mayor.

[2:29:14] It's great to be here tonight to

[2:29:19] talk about our digital equity

[2:29:20] program and this grant.

[2:29:23] One of the things I've

[2:29:31] observed -- I've been here nine

[2:29:31] years in cambridge.

[2:29:33] Our commitment, the city's

[2:29:37] commitment to equity, innovation

[2:29:41] and creative collaborations is

[2:29:41] quite special.

[2:29:43] One of the things I wanted to

[2:29:45] mention to start off is that the

[2:29:49] city's digital equity initiative

[2:29:53] is providing access to

[2:29:57] technology and learning

[2:29:57] opportunities.

[2:29:58] It's both.

[2:30:00] It's the access to technology

[2:30:03] and building opportunities and

[2:30:04] that this has been a

[2:30:04] collaborative.

[2:30:07] I think ths one of the peshl

[2:30:08] things about this grant through

[2:30:11] the mass broadband institute is

[2:30:13] that it really has been a

[2:30:14] collaboration.

[2:30:17] This is helping to continue

[2:30:25] that.

[2:30:26] It's not only nonprofits

[2:30:29] including cctv and justice star

[2:30:33] and many others, this digital

[2:30:37] equity collaboration has always

[2:30:39] been with four city departments.

[2:30:41] Cambridge public school

[2:30:44] district, human services, I.T.,

[2:30:47] and the library.

[2:30:48] Our digital-and-a-half va tors

[2:30:52] connect residents with a wide

[2:31:00] array of services.

[2:31:03] This includings tech learning.

[2:31:06] Assisting and signing up with

[2:31:09] low cost providers, connectivity

[2:31:11] issues and connecting residents

[2:31:13] with devices they so desperately

[2:31:14] need.

[2:31:17] This includes low cost computer,

[2:31:19] free devices, combination of the

[2:31:20] two.

[2:31:53] Hot spots or related equipment.

[2:31:55] I wanted to invite our assistant

[2:31:57] director to share more about the

[2:31:59] grant.

[2:32:09] Thank you, jason.

[2:32:12] >> this grant comes from mass

[2:32:13] broadband institute.

[2:32:16] They had a program through which

[2:32:18] the city participated and worked

[2:32:22] with a consultant to create a

[2:32:45] digital equity.

[2:32:47] At the end they were invited to

[2:32:53] apply for the grant up to

[2:32:54] $100,000 to implement

[2:32:55] recommendations from that study.

[2:32:57] We did apply for the grant and

[2:33:00] were awarded it to two specific

[2:33:01] recommendations from the study

[2:33:05] that were part of the grant

[2:33:08] application were extending the

[2:33:10] digital navigators for the

[2:33:12] public library and the public

[2:33:15] schools.

[2:33:17] The other source of funding for

[2:33:20] navigators was arpa money.

[2:33:24] That funding is going to run out

[2:33:25] in MARCH.

[2:33:28] Part of this $100,000 will cover

[2:33:30] the salaries for those two

[2:33:33] positions from MARCH through the

[2:33:38] end of this regional digital

[2:33:39] navigator program in JUNE.

[2:33:45] The remainder of the $100,000 is

[2:33:50] set for refurbished or new

[2:33:54] laptops and hot spots with up to

[2:33:57] a year of service -- internet

[2:34:01] service prepaid on them.

[2:34:04] The digital navigator pilot has

[2:34:06] been distributing devices that

[2:34:09] were coming in from a different

[2:34:12] grant funding stream.

[2:34:14] Unfortunately that grant funding

[2:34:16] is ending and we're happy to use

[2:34:18] the new grant to restart

[2:34:22] distribution of laptops and

[2:34:24] hotspots.

[2:34:25] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:34:26] simmons.

[2:34:27] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[2:34:28] you, through you.

[2:34:30] Thank you for that information.

[2:34:30] Particularly when you talked

[2:34:32] about digital equity needs.

[2:34:34] Through you MADAM Chair to city

[2:34:35] manager.

[2:34:37] I'm pleased to see this program

[2:34:38] and how it's going to lend

[2:34:39] opportunity to the people that

[2:34:43] are locked out of the

[2:34:45] information portal because they

[2:34:48] don't have or understand how to

[2:34:50] take advantage of technology.

[2:34:52] That being said I want to bring

[2:34:54] you back to a couple of months

[2:34:56] ago when we talked about having

[2:34:58] seniors.

[2:35:00] Seniors who have said they had a

[2:35:03] hard time participating in and

[2:35:04] engaging with us in council

[2:35:06] because they did not have access

[2:35:07] to technology.

[2:35:09] The response back was that we

[2:35:10] couldn't afford it.

[2:35:12] I'm hoping that -- when I heard

[2:35:13] the list of organizations,

[2:35:15] departments if you will, we're

[2:35:19] working with.

[2:35:21] Ccbt, justice dot I didn't hear

[2:35:23] council on aging.

[2:35:24] Maybe it was yooefr sight.

[2:35:26] If this is an opportunity where

[2:35:27] senior citizens in particular,

[2:35:29] although they are not named her

[2:35:30] expressly, have an opportunity

[2:35:33] to be able to participate, use

[2:35:34] their digital technology that

[2:35:37] seems to be low cost or no cost

[2:35:41] through the grant, and then be

[2:35:41] train

[2:35:43] trained and be able to

[2:35:50] participate in council meetings.

[2:35:51] They've said.

[2:35:52] We don't want to come because

[2:35:54] it's too late in the evening.

[2:35:55] The city manager talked about

[2:35:57] eni will talk about this with

[2:35:59] vice mayor when we have a

[2:36:01] meeting through government ops

[2:36:02] how do we make public comment

[2:36:03] more accessible to people.

[2:36:05] This is an opportunity I hope we

[2:36:07] will not MISS Our senior

[2:36:08] citizens.

[2:36:11] Particularly those in the 11

[2:36:12] senior citizen buildings that

[2:36:13] have community room, staff

[2:36:15] infrastructure that could help

[2:36:16] them if that opportunity were to

[2:36:18] come and meet them at their

[2:36:18] door.

[2:36:21] I am pleased with this grant of

[2:36:22] money.

[2:36:24] I'm hoping and, I don't know if

[2:36:27] I address my concerns, needs,

[2:36:32] wants and desires to all of you

[2:36:34] to say as you are dispersing

[2:36:36] funds in this program, this

[2:36:38] program we look forward make

[2:36:39] suring our senior citizens that

[2:36:42] live in buildings that want to

[2:36:44] participate and cannot because

[2:36:46] they do not have digital access,

[2:36:51] we will look with an eye to yes

[2:36:55] we can make that happen in those

[2:36:56] buildings.

[2:36:57] >> Mayor Siddiqui: city

[2:36:59] manager.

[2:37:01] >> councilor, I hear that.

[2:37:03] I think one of the big

[2:37:05] challenges I hear from seniors

[2:37:08] in addition to some of the

[2:37:10] challenges with accessing city

[2:37:12] council, more and more we see

[2:37:15] life move away from mail, away

[2:37:16] from phones.

[2:37:17] If you want to pay your credit

[2:37:19] card nowadays you cannot

[2:37:21] actually call, in many cases.

[2:37:23] If you have a bill you need to

[2:37:24] pay there's not a number you can

[2:37:26] call and off times more and more

[2:37:27] when you call the number they

[2:37:30] say you must go online to pay

[2:37:31] your bill.

[2:37:33] So I think the work that this

[2:37:37] grant is supporting is

[2:37:38] incredibly importanted and for

[2:37:40] seniors looking for assistance

[2:37:41] we're excited to make sure they

[2:37:44] know this is a resource.

[2:37:47] They can access it.

[2:37:50] A lot of the distribution of

[2:37:52] devices, laptops, hotspot, I

[2:37:53] think what you are saying,

[2:37:55] councilor simmons, absolutely,

[2:37:56] it's an opportunity for people

[2:37:58] who don't want to come in the

[2:38:01] evening to be able to sign on

[2:38:03] for fr their homes like

[2:38:05] everybody else that is able to.

[2:38:08] For us to also provide digital

[2:38:09] navigators who can help people

[2:38:14] get set up, be trained, find --

[2:38:16] a little bit difficult link to

[2:38:18] find on the website.

[2:38:19] We are working on that, too, so

[2:38:21] they can navigate to public

[2:38:22] comment and speak and have their

[2:38:23] voices be heard.

[2:38:24] I think you're right on.

[2:38:26] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:38:27] simmons.

[2:38:27] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[2:38:28] you, MADAM Chair.

[2:38:29] Through you city manager vm I'm

[2:38:33] going to hold you to that.

[2:38:34] I think it's important.

[2:38:36] If I'm not clear maybe this is a

[2:38:39] question to the director.

[2:38:42] Are we asking, particularly

[2:38:45] senior citizens, go to the

[2:38:47] library or send the navigator to

[2:38:47] them.

[2:38:49] One, you have a critical mass of

[2:38:51] seniors in the building.

[2:38:53] Particularly if it's inclement

[2:38:54] weather, if it's mobility

[2:38:55] issues.

[2:38:58] If we can send the digital

[2:38:59] navigators to them that would be

[2:39:03] a big step in the right

[2:39:05] direction.

[2:39:07] >> MADAM Mayor.

[2:39:08] We do both.

[2:39:11] We do service in our libraries.

[2:39:12] I think that's important because

[2:39:15] we have seven libraries that are

[2:39:16] open many hours of the week.

[2:39:19] I think over 330 hours per week.

[2:39:20] And so that's a wonderful

[2:39:23] service to people because a lot

[2:39:26] of times people know where their

[2:39:28] neighborhood library is.

[2:39:30] They support there.

[2:39:32] We also send people out.

[2:39:33] For example, our digital

[2:39:34] navigators and we will do that

[2:39:36] through this program.

[2:39:38] Thank you.

[2:39:40] >> Councilor Simmons: through

[2:39:40] you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:39:42] Thank you director.

[2:39:44] I believe, jason, is at the

[2:39:46] central square library, is he

[2:39:47] not?

[2:39:49] >> I have not been there if n a

[2:39:50] few years.

[2:39:51] Yes.

[2:39:53] I was.

[2:39:55] >> Councilor Simmons: come

[2:39:56] back.

[2:39:57] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:39:57] simmons.

[2:39:58] >> Councilor Simmons: 237

[2:40:00] franklin is adjacent to the 45

[2:40:00] pearl street.

[2:40:01] That would be a great place to

[2:40:02] pilot.

[2:40:05] When we talked about this

[2:40:06] earlier.

[2:40:07] 150 and 237 were two buildings

[2:40:08] interested in doing that kind of

[2:40:09] thing.

[2:40:11] If we want to do a pilot using a

[2:40:13] portion of the digital

[2:40:16] navigators to give access to

[2:40:18] seniors that MAY be a good place

[2:40:19] to start.

[2:40:23] Sorry you're not there jason.

[2:40:24] Wherever you are I hope you're

[2:40:25] doing well.

[2:40:27] I yield the floor.

[2:40:28] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:40:29] simmons yields councilor

[2:40:29] al-zubi.

[2:40:30] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: through

[2:40:33] you, I strongly support this

[2:40:33] appropriation.

[2:40:35] We've seen clearly conditions

[2:40:38] have major impacts on

[2:40:39] educational outcomes and

[2:40:42] especially in the age we're in

[2:40:42] basic digital access shouldn't

[2:40:44] be a luxury.

[2:40:46] I just have one question.

[2:40:50] What is outreach and application

[2:40:52] process to connect with people

[2:40:54] and families in and equitable

[2:41:00] way going to look like?

[2:41:01] >> Mayor Siddiqui:

[2:41:01] [Indiscernible].

[2:41:02] >> thank you so much.

[2:41:04] Through you, MADAM Mayor.

[2:41:06] Jason I'm going to hand that

[2:41:08] over to you.

[2:41:10] Just one of the mentions.

[2:41:14] In addition to libraries digital

[2:41:15] navigators we have partners with

[2:41:17] C.H.A. And H.R.I.

[2:41:19] They also have navigators that

[2:41:21] focus on seniors.

[2:41:24] It's a team approach and jason,

[2:41:24] i don't know if you have any

[2:41:26] other details you want to share

[2:41:28] about the program.

[2:41:29] Thanks.

[2:41:30] >> sure.

[2:41:32] So this is the library and the

[2:41:34] public schools have their

[2:41:36] specific navigators but they are

[2:41:40] part of a lower cohort of seven

[2:41:42] navigators through the

[2:41:45] organizations in the city.

[2:41:48] Justice start, cambridge housing

[2:41:50] authority, H.R.I. Have navigator

[2:41:53] that is have been focusing on

[2:41:56] their target audiences.

[2:41:59] Folks at H.R.I. Buildings or

[2:42:00] C.H.A. Buildings.

[2:42:03] The navigator at schools is

[2:42:06] primarily working with families

[2:42:08] and youth.

[2:42:12] There are navigators at tc-tv

[2:42:14] and these navigators work across

[2:42:17] different locations.

[2:42:21] Right now there are navigator

[2:42:24] services available either

[2:42:26] through appointment or as drop

[2:42:27] in and there are specific

[2:42:29] classes that people can take.

[2:42:32] They can also sign up for a

[2:42:33] 30-minute time slot.

[2:42:35] They have a specific problem

[2:42:37] they need to work on getting

[2:42:38] solved.

[2:42:41] We do have those at the central

[2:42:44] square branch, as well, on a

[2:42:46] regular basis and we're really

[2:42:48] working to make sure that we're

[2:42:50] getting the word out through the

[2:42:53] library, through the schools,

[2:42:55] through cctv.

[2:42:56] Additionally making sure we are

[2:43:00] using the connections we have in

[2:43:03] the library with our esol

[2:43:05] program, our social worker so

[2:43:08] they are getting the word out to

[2:43:09] folks they are working with who

[2:43:11] are, you know, learning a new

[2:43:15] language or taking one of our

[2:43:17] citizenship prep courses or

[2:43:21] helping to access services

[2:43:23] through our social services.

[2:43:26] For older adults at the main

[2:43:27] library who does proactive

[2:43:31] outreach and work with seniors

[2:43:32] living in the city.

[2:43:35] Really relying on the fact that

[2:43:41] this broad spread of

[2:43:44] reach certain segments of our

[2:43:46] residents and help to amplify

[2:43:48] each others messages and

[2:43:51] hopefully hit as many folks as

[2:43:53] we can.

[2:43:53] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:43:53] al-zubi.

[2:43:54] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: I just

[2:43:57] want to say thank you for this

[2:43:58] work you're doing.

[2:43:59] I would really encourage,

[2:44:00] similar to what councilor

[2:44:01] simmons brought up on meeting

[2:44:03] people where they are at as much

[2:44:05] as you can in this work.

[2:44:07] Especially considering digital

[2:44:09] access and literacy can be tough

[2:44:09] to learn.

[2:44:12] Thank you for your work and I

[2:44:13] yield.

[2:44:14] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:44:15] zusy.

[2:44:16] >> Councilor Zusy: thank you,

[2:44:17] chair.

[2:44:19] I also am thrilled that you have

[2:44:21] received this award for $100,000

[2:44:23] to continue our services.

[2:44:26] I also am a fan of jason from

[2:44:27] the central square library.

[2:44:29] It's great to see you up there.

[2:44:32] Thank you for applying for the

[2:44:36] grant, I presume, and receiving

[2:44:36] it.

[2:44:43] I have submitted policy order in

[2:44:44] APRIL 2025 with councilor

[2:44:47] sobrinho-wheeler and azeem for

[2:44:49] an update overall about the

[2:44:55] cities digital access programs.

[2:44:56] I asked for a report back.

[2:44:59] We never got a report back.

[2:45:01] I will be resubmitting this

[2:45:02] policy order asking for a report

[2:45:03] back.

[2:45:05] what I don't understand is are

[2:45:10] you part of the solution?

[2:45:14] From research we did, again,

[2:45:18] back in APRIL 2025, M.I.T.,

[2:45:19] gogle, boston properties and

[2:45:21] the city of cambridge working

[2:45:23] with the cambridge housing

[2:45:26] authority had established free

[2:45:28] wi-fi network at new town court

[2:45:31] and washington and with arpa

[2:45:33] funds working with the C.H.A.

[2:45:35] We were providing internet to

[2:45:39] folks at the frank j. Manning

[2:45:41] apartments, washington and the

[2:45:45] newtown court apartments.

[2:45:47] C.H.A. Had a computer training

[2:45:49] program for senior residents at

[2:45:52] several C.H.A. Properties

[2:45:54] including offering free

[2:45:55] chromebooks funded by google.

[2:45:58] I'm eager to understand better

[2:45:59] and perhaps at a different time

[2:46:02] are the city's broader efforts.

[2:46:03] I want to understand how the

[2:46:06] good work that you're doing fits

[2:46:07] in with other efforts.

[2:46:10] I agree with my fellow

[2:46:13] colleagues that providing

[2:46:15] digital access is absolutely

[2:46:16] essential today.

[2:46:18] Look for another policy order

[2:46:19] from me.

[2:46:21] Thank you.

[2:46:22] I yield.

[2:46:25] >> Mayor Siddiqui: further

[2:46:26] questions about this?

[2:46:28] Hearing none.

[2:46:33] On a motion by councilor on

[2:46:35] placing the communication on

[2:46:35] file.

[2:46:36] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[2:46:37] >> yes.

[2:46:39] >> Clerk: councilor azeem?

[2:46:39] >> yes.

[2:46:41] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[2:46:42] >> yes.

[2:46:42] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[2:46:43] >> yes.

[2:46:44] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[2:46:45] >> yes.

[2:46:45] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[2:46:46] >> yes.

[2:46:47] >> Clerk: councilor

[2:46:47] sobrinho-wheeler?

[2:46:48] >> yes.

[2:46:50] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[2:46:51] >> yes.

[2:46:53] >> Clerk: councilor siddiqui?

[2:46:54] >> yes.

[2:46:56] You have nine members recorded

[2:46:57] in the affirmative.

[2:46:58] >> Mayor Siddiqui: it is

[2:47:01] approved and we place city

[2:47:04] manager item four

[2:47:07] -- five on

[2:47:09] file.

[2:47:10] Policy orders.

[2:47:10] Councilor simmons?

[2:47:11] >> Councilor Simmons: I would

[2:47:14] like to pull 1 through 4.

[2:47:14] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:47:23] simmons is pulling 1, 2, 3, and

[2:47:23] 4.

[2:47:25] >> Councilor Zusy: number five,

[2:47:25] please.

[2:47:27] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:47:29] zusy pulls number five.

[2:47:30] Seeing no one else.

[2:47:32] Go ahead and do a roll call on

[2:47:36] policy order number six.

[2:47:36] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[2:47:37] >> yes.

[2:47:39] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[2:47:40] >> yes.

[2:47:43] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[2:47:43] >> yes.

[2:47:44] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[2:47:44] >> yes.

[2:47:46] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[2:47:46] >> yes.

[2:47:49] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[2:47:49] >> yes.

[2:47:51] >> Clerk: councilor

[2:47:51] sobrinho-wheeler?

[2:47:53] >> yes.

[2:47:54] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[2:47:55] >> yes.

[2:47:56] >> Clerk: mayor?

[2:47:56] >> yes.

[2:47:57] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[2:47:59] recorded in the affirmative.

[2:48:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui: policy

[2:48:03] number six is adopted.

[2:48:03] Policy one.

[2:48:05] This is city manager is

[2:48:06] requested to direct the

[2:48:09] appropriate city departments

[2:48:09] including department of

[2:48:12] transportation to evaluate and

[2:48:15] install speed bumps on

[2:48:16] fayerweather street and

[2:48:20] particularly attention to the

[2:48:21] stretch between walnut and field

[2:48:21] street.

[2:48:22] Councilor simmons you have the

[2:48:23] floor.

[2:48:23] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[2:48:23] you.

[2:48:26] I want to acknowledge and thank

[2:48:26] my colleagues councilor flaherty

[2:48:27] and councilor McGovern for

[2:48:29] signing onto this policy order.

[2:48:32] We have done a wonderful job and

[2:48:35] worked hard to pedestrianize our

[2:48:36] neighborhoods, particularly on

[2:48:38] the fayerweather street area.

[2:48:40] There still remains concerns

[2:48:41] about safety.

[2:48:43] As you turn your attention to

[2:48:45] the first two whereas' which is

[2:48:48] residents along fayerweather

[2:48:49] street particularly the

[2:48:50] intersection with walnut and

[2:48:52] field street and adjacent to the

[2:48:54] field and new park raised

[2:48:57] concerns about vehicles

[2:49:01] accelerating and traveling as

[2:49:04] excessive speeds going onto say

[2:49:07] parking on both sides of the

[2:49:08] street, limited sight line and

[2:49:09] frequent use of children and

[2:49:12] families and elderly citizens

[2:49:14] accessing the nearby parks.

[2:49:16] This policy order is asking as

[2:49:19] it says in the order that the

[2:49:21] city manager include or speak

[2:49:22] with the department of

[2:49:23] transportation and other

[2:49:26] appropriate city departments to

[2:49:28] evaluate the situation.

[2:49:31] it should say with a view toward

[2:49:33] installing speed humps.

[2:49:34] I don't know if they call them

[2:49:37] humps instead of bumps along

[2:49:38] fayerweather street.

[2:49:39] I want to acknowledge and thank

[2:49:42] my colleagues for signing on

[2:49:45] because they, as well, have the

[2:49:48] same concerns about people

[2:49:50] saying we don't feel that safe.

[2:49:52] Can someone look at the view

[2:49:53] toward mitigating traffic.

[2:49:54] This is what this seeks to do.

[2:49:57] With that I yield the floor and

[2:49:59] give my colleagues, councilor

[2:50:01] flaherty or councilor McGovern

[2:50:02] if they would like to speak to

[2:50:03] this.

[2:50:05] I yield.

[2:50:05] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:50:07] flaherty?

[2:50:08] >>Councilor Flaherty: I would

[2:50:10] like to second everything that

[2:50:11] councilor simmons says about

[2:50:11] this.

[2:50:14] There are a lot of children in

[2:50:14] the neighborhood.

[2:50:19] It is a needed improvement.

[2:50:22] I think safety concerns are

[2:50:23] front of mind for me in all of

[2:50:24] this.

[2:50:29] I think it's improvement that we

[2:50:32] should have speed humps along

[2:50:32] fayerweather street.

[2:50:33] Thank you.

[2:50:37] I yield the floor.

[2:50:38] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[2:50:39] nolan.

[2:50:40] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[2:50:42] I think this is important for us

[2:50:45] to look at across the city.

[2:50:50] I do wonder if this order is to

[2:50:53] evaluate and install.

[2:50:54] I know the transportation

[2:50:55] department and D.P.W. Have been

[2:50:57] working to install speed humps

[2:50:58] across the entire city.

[2:51:00] I don't know if this -- how this

[2:51:03] fits in with the priorities or

[2:51:05] how others were determined or

[2:51:06] whether this has been talked

[2:51:06] about.

[2:51:09] I think the reason this is

[2:51:13] highlighted is this is near a

[2:51:15] park, near danehy park and saint

[2:51:16] peters field where there's more

[2:51:18] traffic than maybe on an average

[2:51:19] street.

[2:51:20] Assuming the conditions apply to

[2:51:23] every residential street across

[2:51:25] the city.

[2:51:26] I'm happy to support this but

[2:51:28] want to make sure we work in

[2:51:29] conjunction with the city to

[2:51:31] ensure it's done in a way it's

[2:51:32] evalwatted then installed along

[2:51:36] with the priorities set by us

[2:51:39] studying what it is that is most

[2:51:41] needed.

[2:51:43] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I'll just

[2:51:46] mention that we do have the 2025

[2:51:48] installations that happened and

[2:51:53] those were based on, you know,

[2:51:56] feedback from -- requests from

[2:51:57] residents and city council.

[2:52:01] The initial pilot happened just

[2:52:05] this fall and new locations were

[2:52:06] [Indiscernible] Using both

[2:52:09] community submitted traffic,

[2:52:13] requests, and other criteria.

[2:52:25] I think that this to me makes.

[2:52:31] See councilor simmons.

[2:52:32] >> Councilor Simmons: you're

[2:52:34] adding information relative to

[2:52:36] what we're looking at.

[2:52:36] Maybe this will help.

[2:52:39] Maybe bring this to the top of

[2:52:39] the list.

[2:52:41] I'm hoping colleagues will

[2:52:42] support it.

[2:52:42] I don't know if councilor

[2:52:45] McGovern wants to speak to it

[2:52:46] but it's really what we know we

[2:52:48] want to do.

[2:52:49] Particularly because it's in the

[2:52:51] area of saint peters field and

[2:52:51] newpark.

[2:52:53] We want to make sure families

[2:52:56] fully utilize the amenities of

[2:52:59] our parks by getting there

[2:53:00] safely whether their child is

[2:53:02] supervised or not.

[2:53:03] Again, I'm hoping this goes

[2:53:03] forward.

[2:53:07] It speaks to what we've said

[2:53:09] implicitly and explicitly we

[2:53:12] want to be able to have eyes in

[2:53:14] the city to people can travel

[2:53:15] safely.

[2:53:16] I yield.

[2:53:17] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I don't see

[2:53:17] further hands.

[2:53:21] We can adopt the order by roll

[2:53:21] call.

[2:53:23] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[2:53:24] >> yes.

[2:53:25] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[2:53:26] >> yes.

[2:53:27] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[2:53:27] >> yes.

[2:53:28] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[2:53:29] >> yes.

[2:53:31] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[2:53:32] >> yes.

[2:53:33] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[2:53:33] >> yes.

[2:53:34] >> Clerk: councilor

[2:53:35] sobrinho-wheeler?

[2:53:36] >> yes.

[2:53:37] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[2:53:38] >> yes.

[2:53:39] >> Clerk: mayor?

[2:53:39] >> yes.

[2:53:40] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[2:53:43] recorded in the affirmative.

[2:53:45] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we move to

[2:53:48] policy order number two.

[2:53:49] The city manager is asked to

[2:53:53] direct the solicitor and

[2:53:54] development department to review

[2:53:57] and report back to council on

[2:54:00] legal parameters and city

[2:54:03] funding and tourism destination

[2:54:05] marketing district restrictions

[2:54:07] and oversight of accountability

[2:54:09] operations of the visitor

[2:54:12] information kiosk and related

[2:54:14] governance expectations

[2:54:16] including alignment and city

[2:54:16] priorities.

[2:54:17] councilor simmons you have the

[2:54:18] floor.

[2:54:19] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[2:54:20] you.

[2:54:21] I want to thank councilor

[2:54:23] flaherty for supporting this

[2:54:24] order.

[2:54:26] We recently, I think this summer

[2:54:27] but I don't know.

[2:54:29] We had a presentation from the

[2:54:33] office of tourism, it was an

[2:54:34] extensive 75 slide presentation.

[2:54:35] A lot of information.

[2:54:37] Hard to sort through it all.

[2:54:40] But still a lot of questions,

[2:54:40] MADAM Mayor.

[2:54:42] I want to take a moment to

[2:54:43] explain the intent.

[2:54:44] I think it's important to be

[2:54:48] clear of what we're trying to do

[2:54:48] here.

[2:54:51] At the summer economic

[2:54:52] development hearing we heard

[2:54:55] appreciation for the office of

[2:54:55] tourism.

[2:54:56] I stand clear that I was here on

[2:54:58] the ground floor when the office

[2:54:59] of tourism was established and

[2:55:01] the role it plays in supporting

[2:55:03] cambridge's local economy.

[2:55:05] What we also heard from

[2:55:07] councilor and stake holders was

[2:55:09] a sense our tourism effort could

[2:55:11] benefit from clearer

[2:55:12] coordination.

[2:55:13] More consistent communication

[2:55:15] and more structured way of

[2:55:17] aligning goals across city

[2:55:18] department, business

[2:55:18] associations, commercial

[2:55:21] districts and our tourism

[2:55:22] partners.

[2:55:23] Cambridge is facing economic

[2:55:23] pressure.

[2:55:25] You don't have to go far to see

[2:55:27] what's going on in our city.

[2:55:31] In some ways I field when it

[2:55:35] comes to tourism and economic

[2:55:37] development we are beginning to

[2:55:39] lose ground, particularly in

[2:55:40] commercial areas.

[2:55:42] Increasing foot traffic and

[2:55:44] businesses matter more than

[2:55:44] ever.

[2:55:45] Tourism promotion is one

[2:55:47] important tool in that effort

[2:55:49] but it works best when everyone

[2:55:52] is involved in operating with

[2:55:54] shared expectation and regular

[2:55:56] channels for collaboration.

[2:55:58] This policy order is intended to

[2:56:00] help create that structure.

[2:56:01] It calls for standing

[2:56:02] coordination group.

[2:56:04] Clearer information sharing, a

[2:56:06] better understanding of existing

[2:56:07] legal constraints and regular

[2:56:09] reporting back to council so we

[2:56:11] can see what's working, what's

[2:56:13] challenging and where

[2:56:15] adjustments might be helpful.

[2:56:17] For me it's alignment.

[2:56:19] Not enforcement.

[2:56:21] Not con franation.

[2:56:22] Strengthening how we work

[2:56:23] together we can strengthen the

[2:56:25] impact of the work happening and

[2:56:27] ultimately better support the

[2:56:28] local businesses and

[2:56:28] neighborhoods that make

[2:56:32] cambridge such a vibrant place.

[2:56:33] With that I yield.

[2:56:36] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[2:56:37] councilor simmons.

[2:56:41] We go to councilor zusy.

[2:56:45] >> Councilor Zusy: thank you,

[2:56:49] chair.

[2:56:53] I think there's concerns -- I

[2:56:54] have DECEMBER 16th of the

[2:56:55] economic development.

[2:56:57] It was a great meeting and I

[2:56:59] talked about the department of

[2:57:03] tourism to produce an annual

[2:57:05] report that business

[2:57:06] associations should be invited

[2:57:09] to join the board.

[2:57:11] I suggested the business

[2:57:12] association should receive

[2:57:17] grants from the office of

[2:57:21] tourism from their funds.

[2:57:23] it was clear there needed to be

[2:57:25] greater transparency, better

[2:57:28] communication, and more

[2:57:31] collaboration between city

[2:57:34] associations and department of

[2:57:35] tourism.

[2:57:38] I feel as though they've been a

[2:57:39] mysterious organization because

[2:57:40] they've been producing annual

[2:57:44] reports but I've been impressed

[2:57:49] with candace -- I don't know how

[2:57:51] to pronounce her name -- her

[2:57:53] work and I feel as though they

[2:57:55] are joining the mitch lynn guide

[2:57:57] is going reap great benefits for

[2:57:59] the community.

[2:58:01] I think she's headed in the

[2:58:03] right direction.

[2:58:07] I do feel that the construction

[2:58:10] that is happening at the what

[2:58:12] was the pit that it's been going

[2:58:14] on for years and years and

[2:58:15] years.

[2:58:20] The kiosk and programs there.

[2:58:22] Culture house is doing a lot of

[2:58:26] good work but they really

[2:58:26] hampered.

[2:58:30] I had written earlier to

[2:58:34] deputy -- commissioner deputy

[2:58:36] city manager watkins about it

[2:58:39] will no longer be a pit but the

[2:58:41] kiosk area will be completed.

[2:58:43] We hope it will be done in

[2:58:44] NOVEMBER of 26.

[2:58:48] I think that's going to be a

[2:58:52] huge game changer for kiosk and

[2:58:54] I think it will make all the

[2:58:55] difference there.

[2:58:57] I think part of the challenge

[2:59:01] with the kiosk is not only the

[2:59:03] construction but that its

[2:59:09] mission is -- there's -- it's

[2:59:09] unclear.

[2:59:11] What was great about news is

[2:59:12] going there and seeing from all

[2:59:14] over the world and magazines

[2:59:17] from all over the world was

[2:59:18] really a transcending

[2:59:19] experience.

[2:59:21] Cambridge is the home of so many

[2:59:25] thought leaders and I think they

[2:59:29] think big in the city and the

[2:59:33] out of town business at the

[2:59:36] kiosk is a statement of

[2:59:38] cambridge thinking big.

[2:59:40] I was surprised when I visited

[2:59:43] the kiosk this weekend to find,

[2:59:45] again, there is an art show

[2:59:46] featuring boston artists.

[2:59:50] It was nice artwork but I felt

[2:59:52] like the artwork -- whatever

[2:59:54] happens to the kiosk should be

[2:59:55] local.

[2:59:57] It should have cambridge focus

[2:59:59] or else it should be sort of

[3:00:03] transport us to other places.

[3:00:05] I guess more broadly.

[3:00:07] As part of this exploration I

[3:00:09] will be thinking more about what

[3:00:12] the mission of the kiosk should

[3:00:12] be.

[3:00:16] There's been some concern about

[3:00:18] the -- it has to be quiet around

[3:00:21] the kiosk, which I think is an

[3:00:22] issue.

[3:00:24] It is sort of the commons for

[3:00:25] harvard square.

[3:00:27] It's the center for harvard

[3:00:28] square.

[3:00:30] It seem likes there should be

[3:00:31] some activity there.

[3:00:34] I think we need to rethink the

[3:00:36] mission and the culture of the

[3:00:38] kiosk but I think we're heading

[3:00:41] in the right direction and I

[3:00:44] will especially be there once

[3:00:48] construction is completed in the

[3:00:49] surrounding area.

[3:00:51] Thanks to D.P.W. For overseeing

[3:00:53] all of that work, working with

[3:00:55] the mbta.

[3:00:57] I look forward to the final

[3:00:57] completion.

[3:00:59] Thank you.

[3:01:01] I yield.

[3:01:02] >> Mayor Siddiqui: anyone else

[3:01:03] who hasn't spoken.

[3:01:04] Councilor nolan.

[3:01:04] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you,

[3:01:05] mayor.

[3:01:06] i'll be brief.

[3:01:08] I can support this idea.

[3:01:09] I appreciate we need to build

[3:01:12] ton work that was done on this

[3:01:12] issue.

[3:01:15] This asks for a report so we can

[3:01:17] coordinate and understand.

[3:01:18] It is something that I think the

[3:01:20] more we can get the reports and

[3:01:21] information the better for all

[3:01:22] of us.

[3:01:24] The coordination I'm glad to see

[3:01:25] the business associations in

[3:01:26] here.

[3:01:28] I think it MAY well be also, I'm

[3:01:30] sure this was the intent of this

[3:01:31] order, to include the

[3:01:32] institutions, as well.

[3:01:34] So much of our tourism, frank hi

[3:01:36] to the city, comes because of

[3:01:39] harvard and M.I.T.

[3:01:41] And to a lesser exstent leslie

[3:01:42] because it's smaller but they

[3:01:44] are clearly involved in how

[3:01:46] tourism dollars end up in the

[3:01:46] city.

[3:01:47] There's a decline over the last

[3:01:49] few years and concerted effort

[3:01:52] by some people to not have us be

[3:01:52] a tourist destination and we

[3:01:54] have to counter that.

[3:01:55] I can support and look forward

[3:01:56] to this being a report to work

[3:01:58] together on understanding how it

[3:02:01] is all the entities can help

[3:02:03] strengthen the city.

[3:02:06] I will note that the kiosk is

[3:02:09] one part but we also, hopefully

[3:02:10] soon, will have some

[3:02:11] organization of harvard square

[3:02:13] to dramatically increase, I

[3:02:14] think, the livability and

[3:02:16] tourism dollars spent there.

[3:02:18] Thank you, I yield.

[3:02:19] >> Mayor Siddiqui: anyone else

[3:02:22] who hasn't spoken?

[3:02:24] Hearing none we can go on and do

[3:02:27] a roll call on adopting.

[3:02:27] Councilor simmons.

[3:02:28] >> Councilor Simmons: through

[3:02:29] you to my colleague, councilor

[3:02:29] zusy.

[3:02:30] Thank you.

[3:02:32] You brought up two points I

[3:02:33] didn't I. Appreciate you

[3:02:35] bringing them up.

[3:02:36] One is culture house, in

[3:02:37] particular.

[3:02:39] I know the city manager is here.

[3:02:41] I have to tell you I'm purr

[3:02:44] plexed how we got culture house.

[3:02:45] We won the bid but I think they

[3:02:49] are out of their depth.

[3:02:51] I think that's why you see

[3:02:51] businesses.

[3:02:53] You can come to the table.

[3:02:56] I would love to hear from you on

[3:02:57] this.

[3:03:00] I'm just perplexed.

[3:03:05] Not to cast any a

[3:03:07] -- they

[3:03:09] typically don't get cambridge.

[3:03:11] Because they don't get cambridge

[3:03:13] they program outside cambridge.

[3:03:15] I don't know why, MR. City

[3:03:17] manager, if you can walk slowly

[3:03:18] if you like.

[3:03:20] I just don't understand why we

[3:03:23] even had a process when we had

[3:03:24] organizations that were local

[3:03:25] that could have done the work.

[3:03:27] It's almost like a slap in the

[3:03:28] face.

[3:03:29] Now you've got them and would

[3:03:32] someone talk to them and say,

[3:03:35] you know, you've contracted with

[3:03:36] cambridge to do something in

[3:03:37] cambridge.

[3:03:38] Boston is a lovely place.

[3:03:41] They do their own marketing.

[3:03:44] Sullivan can do their own

[3:03:46] marketing but you have to -- you

[3:03:49] watch a movie from 1955 and

[3:03:51] you'll see the out of town

[3:03:52] ticket agency.

[3:03:54] It has a history and culture.

[3:03:57] It's an icon and landmark.

[3:03:59] I'm just perplexed.

[3:04:02] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I think this

[3:04:06] order calls for [Indiscernible]

[3:04:10] it calls for parameters,

[3:04:11] oversight accountability.

[3:04:13] Questions about culture house

[3:04:15] and the kiosk.

[3:04:17] If you can provide a comment and

[3:04:19] if you need more time we'll do

[3:04:20] this.

[3:04:21] >> Councilor Simmons: if you

[3:04:22] need more time I'll be in your

[3:04:23] office tomorrow.

[3:04:24] >> Mayor Siddiqui: please guy

[3:04:24] head.

[3:04:28] >> through you, mayor.

[3:04:30] I think there's some

[3:04:31] intersection beween parts of

[3:04:35] this policy order regarding the

[3:04:39] broader work and the harvard

[3:04:43] square kiosk.

[3:04:47] I probably would argue those are

[3:04:49] somewhat distinct issues.

[3:04:53] I think to councilor simmons's

[3:04:53] commentary.

[3:04:55] Overall a very transparent, open

[3:04:57] and legal process for

[3:04:58] procurement of the harvard

[3:05:00] square kiosk.

[3:05:02] This was the second time we ran

[3:05:03] the procurement.

[3:05:05] There were a number of bidders

[3:05:07] and I think some of the bids

[3:05:11] wre just not responding to

[3:05:12] ultimately what was in the

[3:05:13] R.F.P.

[3:05:15] That made it difficult to choose

[3:05:18] certain folks that were excited

[3:05:19] about being part of the harvard

[3:05:22] square kiosk and programming it.

[3:05:24] I think there are just legal

[3:05:25] restrictions in terms of when we

[3:05:33] run an R.F.P. We put out a set

[3:05:36] of criteria and bids have to

[3:05:37] meet those.

[3:05:40] Cultural house put out a strong

[3:05:40] bid.

[3:05:42] They've been doing good work.

[3:05:43] I refer to assistant city

[3:05:45] manager peters to talk about the

[3:05:47] work they've done.

[3:05:48] But I know there MAY be

[3:05:50] disagreement in the community.

[3:05:53] i think that does happen.

[3:05:56] The community is diverse and

[3:06:00] vibrant as ours but it feels

[3:06:02] peculiar in that chamber we're

[3:06:03] criticizing one of these

[3:06:04] vendors.

[3:06:05] I'm happy to have conversations.

[3:06:07] We talked about this a little

[3:06:10] bit but happy to have some of

[3:06:13] these conversations in the right

[3:06:13] setting.

[3:06:13] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:06:14] simmons.

[3:06:15] >> Councilor Simmons: I'm going

[3:06:17] to save time.

[3:06:20] Rather than have deputy city

[3:06:24] manager peters extol the virtues

[3:06:25] of culture house.

[3:06:26] Put this on the table.

[3:06:27] You and I will have a

[3:06:29] conversation about this.

[3:06:30] What this report is asking you

[3:06:31] to do is give more information.

[3:06:33] I would ask my colleagues to

[3:06:34] read that R.F.P.

[3:06:36] Some of the problems we have are

[3:06:37] because of it.

[3:06:40] I will yield the floor.

[3:06:41] You can relax.

[3:06:48] We can take this up at another

[3:06:48] time.

[3:06:49] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I don't

[3:06:49] think anyone else would like to

[3:06:50] speak to the order.

[3:06:52] I will go ahead and do a roll

[3:06:55] call on adopting policy order

[3:06:56] two.

[3:06:56] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:06:57] >> yes.

[3:06:59] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:06:59] >> yes.

[3:07:01] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:07:01] >> yes.

[3:07:02] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:07:03] >> yes.

[3:07:04] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:07:05] >> yes.

[3:07:06] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:07:07] >> yes.

[3:07:07] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:07:08] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:07:09] >> yes.

[3:07:10] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:07:10] >> yes.

[3:07:11] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:07:12] >> yes.

[3:07:13] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:07:15] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:07:16] >> Mayor Siddiqui: policy order

[3:07:17] number two say adopted.

[3:07:20] We're going to policy order

[3:07:20] three.

[3:07:22] The city manager is requested to

[3:07:25] conduct a comprehensive review

[3:07:27] and safety and security measure

[3:07:30] of cambridge city hall including

[3:07:31] assessment of physical access

[3:07:34] control, visitor screening

[3:07:35] practices, on site security

[3:07:37] staffing and training, emergency

[3:07:39] response and evacuation

[3:07:41] protocols and use of security

[3:07:42] technologies and surveillance

[3:07:44] systems and alarm monitoring.

[3:07:45] Councilor simmons you have the

[3:07:47] floor.

[3:07:47] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[3:07:48] you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:07:51] Briefly, I think the policy

[3:07:53] order really speaks for itself.

[3:07:56] It talks about the need -- as

[3:07:57] someone who has worked in city

[3:08:01] hall a number of years and how

[3:08:03] things have gotten a little bit

[3:08:04] more dangerous.

[3:08:06] As you read through policy ored

[3:08:08] it speaks to concerns.

[3:08:10] I spent a lot of time in the

[3:08:11] building and talk to people that

[3:08:12] work here.

[3:08:14] In the area of comfort is

[3:08:15] beginning to wane because of

[3:08:18] what we've seen happen just as

[3:08:23] recently at boston city hall.

[3:08:24] I want to be clear.

[3:08:27] I'm not trying to make city hall

[3:08:27] less welcoming.

[3:08:29] I work hard personally and I

[3:08:29] think the city council in

[3:08:32] general works hard to make sure

[3:08:34] it's welcoming.

[3:08:36] We host so many different

[3:08:37] programs and opportunities

[3:08:39] because we want people to come

[3:08:41] and into the hall.

[3:08:42] I did see that there is -- let

[3:08:44] me take a step back.

[3:08:46] I want to acknowledge my

[3:08:48] colleague for signing onto this

[3:08:48] policy order.

[3:08:50] I see there is an amendment

[3:08:53] being offered.

[3:08:55] I love the opportunity if

[3:08:56] councilor sobrinho-wheeler is

[3:08:57] not here rather than take it up

[3:08:59] in his absence I'm going

[3:09:00] exercise my charter right and

[3:09:02] come back to it.

[3:09:03] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:09:03] simmons exercises her charter

[3:09:05] right on policy order three.

[3:09:07] We move to policy order number

[3:09:08] four.

[3:09:09] The city council go on regard ak

[3:09:12] no, ma'amminging 2026 as a

[3:09:14] centennial celebration of negro

[3:09:16] history week and recognizing

[3:09:18] enduring contributions to the

[3:09:19] nation's understanding of

[3:09:20] itself.

[3:09:21] This was filed by councilor

[3:09:22] simmons, councilor flaherty, and

[3:09:22] councilor McGovern.

[3:09:24] Councilor simmons you have the

[3:09:24] floor.

[3:09:25] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[3:09:25] you.

[3:09:27] I offer this policy order as it

[3:09:31] says this is a century ago in

[3:09:35] FEBRUARY of 1926 when racial

[3:09:37] segregation, political

[3:09:40] disinfranchisement were legally

[3:09:44] sanctioned and socially

[3:09:44] entrenched.

[3:09:46] I'm not a child of the south,

[3:09:48] per se, but my mother is.

[3:09:49] She would tell me stories about

[3:09:51] how signs would be put up

[3:09:53] saying, you know, whites only.

[3:09:55] She told me stories about having

[3:09:57] to ride on the back of the bus.

[3:09:59] These were vivid in her memory

[3:10:01] but there are good thing that is

[3:10:03] happened in the african american

[3:10:04] community at the time talked

[3:10:09] about is negro.

[3:10:11] My birth certificate says I'm

[3:10:11] colored.

[3:10:13] You know that but I'm black.

[3:10:14] This is an opportunity for us as

[3:10:19] a city as we look at the 2026

[3:10:20] centennial celebration of the

[3:10:21] city looking at the

[3:10:22] contributions of the individuals

[3:10:24] and how we got where we are and

[3:10:29] how we tell the story on who is

[3:10:32] back and whose sweat and labor.

[3:10:35] Not only built this city but had

[3:10:36] extraordinary contributions that

[3:10:40] have been erased, marginalized.

[3:10:42] I hope my colleagues and thank

[3:10:43] you councilor flaherty, all of

[3:10:46] us will lean in and lift this up

[3:10:49] and find ways together and

[3:10:51] individually to lift up the

[3:10:54] whole idea of 100 years of negro

[3:10:55] history week now as we know as

[3:10:57] black history month.

[3:11:00] I offer this with a sense of

[3:11:01] exuberance and excitement to

[3:11:03] tell the story of those stories

[3:11:04] who have not been told.

[3:11:06] With that I yield the floor.

[3:11:08] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:11:09] councilor simmons.

[3:11:09] Councilor flaherty.

[3:11:10] >>Councilor Flaherty: thank

[3:11:10] you.

[3:11:12] I would like to congratulate

[3:11:13] councilor simmons for drafting

[3:11:16] this policy order and it's my

[3:11:20] pleasure to second it.

[3:11:21] Someone we all know very well on

[3:11:24] this council and who is

[3:11:25] legendary in the city of

[3:11:28] cambridge, gillmore, who is 101

[3:11:30] years old, is a young man here

[3:11:32] in the city who has done more

[3:11:34] for the city than any of us in

[3:11:37] combination and collectively

[3:11:40] probably will ever do.

[3:11:42] He's the grandson of slaves.

[3:11:44] A world war two combat veteran

[3:11:49] who is highly decorated for his

[3:11:51] honor and his courage when he

[3:11:54] stormed the beaches of normandy.

[3:11:57] That have campaign he was denied

[3:11:59] access by white servicemen on a

[3:12:01] vessel returning to the states.

[3:12:04] He came back, as he likes to

[3:12:08] say, on a tug boat.

[3:12:10] When he arrived in cambridge, he

[3:12:12] sought a loan and was denied and

[3:12:14] he told that man, maybe some day

[3:12:15] you'll work for me.

[3:12:18] He then went onto found the

[3:12:19] first black-owned bank in the

[3:12:22] eastern region of the united

[3:12:24] states of america.

[3:12:27] Throughout his life has achieved

[3:12:31] incredible things in equity, in

[3:12:33] housing, in parliament.

[3:12:37] If in a very small way this

[3:12:39] policy order somehow and in some

[3:12:42] way recognizes his achievements

[3:12:45] in life then I think we'd all be

[3:12:47] pleased to celebrate that and go

[3:12:48] along with councilor simmons's

[3:12:49] policy order.

[3:12:51] Marvin gillmore, in my

[3:12:55] estimation is a hero.

[3:12:57] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:12:58] councilor flaherty.

[3:12:59] Councilor nolan.

[3:13:00] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[3:13:02] I think this is an important

[3:13:05] element to add to the way the

[3:13:08] city celebrates the history.

[3:13:13] I will say that a book written

[3:13:15] on carter woodson and the art of

[3:13:17] black teaching is a great read,

[3:13:19] if you haven't read it.

[3:13:21] He might be local.

[3:13:22] It might be a great person to

[3:13:23] have over.

[3:13:25] I heard him speak at a

[3:13:26] breakthrough greater boston

[3:13:28] event and also have read his

[3:13:30] book and recommended it to

[3:13:31] several others.

[3:13:33] it's specifically art carter

[3:13:36] woodsons impact on black

[3:13:38] education in the country

[3:13:40] starting in the 1920s and 1930s.

[3:13:41] The title of the book is

[3:13:42] referencing the fact it had to

[3:13:46] be taught in a way that would

[3:13:48] not disrupt or get the teachers

[3:13:50] in trouble but they were

[3:13:51] definitely uses woodson's work

[3:13:54] in a way that provided an

[3:13:56] education for their students

[3:13:57] that would otherwise not have

[3:13:59] been provided.

[3:14:00] Happy to support this and look

[3:14:01] forward to the city celebrating

[3:14:04] this as one of the many ways we

[3:14:06] celebrate the 250th.

[3:14:07] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:14:07] councilor nolan.

[3:14:10] Anyone else who would like to

[3:14:13] speak on this?

[3:14:16] Thank you krs for bringing this

[3:14:16] forward.

[3:14:18] Adopt the order on roll call.

[3:14:19] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:14:20] >> yes.

[3:14:22] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:14:23] >> yes.

[3:14:23] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:14:24] >> yes.

[3:14:25] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:14:25] >> yes.

[3:14:26] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:14:27] >> yes.

[3:14:27] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:14:28] >> yes.

[3:14:28] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:14:29] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:14:29] >> yes.

[3:14:30] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:14:31] >> yes.

[3:14:32] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:14:33] >> yes.

[3:14:34] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:14:36] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:14:37] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the policy

[3:14:39] order four passes.

[3:14:41] We can go to policy order five.

[3:14:45] The city manager is requested to

[3:14:47] work with relevant departments

[3:14:50] to prepare council discussion on

[3:14:52] best future uses for city-owned

[3:14:57] properties and the processes for

[3:14:58] re.Com.

[3:15:02] This was filed by choois and

[3:15:03] councilor nolan and councilor

[3:15:03] zusy.

[3:15:04] Councilor nolan then councilor

[3:15:04] zusy.

[3:15:05] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you,

[3:15:07] mayor, and thank you for

[3:15:08] co-sponsoring this.

[3:15:09] This came about because as we

[3:15:12] know it's laid out in the policy

[3:15:13] order we have had the suggestion

[3:15:14] about the properties we own

[3:15:16] around here in central square.

[3:15:18] Yet we have over the last ten

[3:15:20] years bought a number of other

[3:15:20] properties.

[3:15:21] It's really important that any

[3:15:25] of the plan wing do we do it in

[3:15:26] a comprehensive coordinated

[3:15:29] fashion instead of one off.

[3:15:33] This policy order suggests we

[3:15:35] have a round table.

[3:15:37] There's not a date but I hope

[3:15:41] this happens relatively quickly.

[3:15:43] I know D.C.M. Did see this

[3:15:47] policy order and understood the

[3:15:47] intent.

[3:15:48] Because as we move forward in

[3:15:50] the next years we know there's

[3:15:53] going to be a variety of

[3:15:54] properties we have to figure out

[3:15:57] what to do -- how to use.

[3:15:59] The intent of this, and I hope

[3:16:01] we support this strongly, is to

[3:16:03] ensure the council and community

[3:16:03] are involved.

[3:16:05] There was concern, which all of

[3:16:08] us heard about particularly on

[3:16:10] one property, the sherman street

[3:16:13] which had been known as the

[3:16:14] bella circle property.

[3:16:15] People wondering, it's under

[3:16:17] construction and we didn't know

[3:16:18] about it and council didn't

[3:16:19] know.

[3:16:20] there was confusion about wait.

[3:16:22] Is this dedicated for one use?

[3:16:24] I know I had reached out to the

[3:16:26] city and made sure no this is

[3:16:26] not yet.

[3:16:29] It MAY be the best use is one

[3:16:30] use or another but we really

[3:16:32] want to make sure that whatever

[3:16:34] is decided on all of these

[3:16:36] properties is done again and

[3:16:37] coordinated fashion for planning

[3:16:38] across the city.

[3:16:41] Also done with the council as

[3:16:42] representatives of the community

[3:16:44] involved so we can work together

[3:16:45] moving forward.

[3:16:46] That's intent.

[3:16:49] I don't have to go into detail

[3:16:50] on the various property bus

[3:16:51] there are a lot and we have to

[3:16:54] decide how we are going to use

[3:16:54] them.

[3:16:55] That's it.

[3:16:58] Thank you, again, and thank you

[3:16:58] to councilor zusy for

[3:16:59] sponsoring.

[3:17:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I'll go to

[3:17:02] councilor zusy and then I will

[3:17:02] go to councilor al-zubi.

[3:17:05] I have to use the restroom so

[3:17:07] vice mayor is able to take the

[3:17:10] floor and facilitate.

[3:17:12] Thank you.

[3:17:15] >> Councilor Zusy: thank you,

[3:17:18] chair, and chair azeem.

[3:17:19] Two in one.

[3:17:20] Councilor nolan, thank you for

[3:17:22] drafting this policy order and

[3:17:26] inviting me to be a co-sponsor.

[3:17:31] I have a question, through you,

[3:17:32] chair, really for the deputy

[3:17:35] city manager, which is it

[3:17:38] wasn't -- the city council

[3:17:40] requested a list of -- and

[3:17:41] inventory of city property.

[3:17:43] For old times I think have we

[3:17:45] received it?

[3:17:46] Through you, chair, to the

[3:17:47] deputy city manager.

[3:17:50] >> through you, chair.

[3:17:52] i know we've provided it to

[3:17:52] someone.

[3:17:53] Not sure all.

[3:17:55] As part of this report we can

[3:17:57] provide that, as well.

[3:18:00] As part of doing the round table

[3:18:04] we can provide that in a formal

[3:18:05] way.

[3:18:06] >> Councilor Zusy: excellent.

[3:18:07] Thank you.

[3:18:09] I think it will be really great

[3:18:11] to see that.

[3:18:13] I support this policy order.

[3:18:16] I do get a little worry because

[3:18:20] I think when a councilor becomes

[3:18:21] involved thinks because very

[3:18:22] political.

[3:18:25] Along with housing the community

[3:18:28] needs parks, arts and cultural

[3:18:31] spaces, parking and places for

[3:18:33] D.P.W. To park equipment.

[3:18:35] We can't forget that.

[3:18:37] Housing is important but to have

[3:18:38] a functional city we really have

[3:18:41] to have places for all these

[3:18:43] other thing, as well.

[3:18:45] I look forward to hearing back

[3:18:48] about the list of properties and

[3:18:51] look forward to this broader

[3:18:52] discussion.

[3:18:52] Thank you.

[3:18:57] I yield.

[3:18:57] >> Chair: councilor al-zubi.

[3:18:59] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: I wanted

[3:19:01] to hop in and note I strongly

[3:19:01] support this.

[3:19:04] I appreciate my colleagues

[3:19:06] bringing this on the floor.

[3:19:08] In fact, would love to

[3:19:09] co-sponsor it.

[3:19:11] I would like to note, especially

[3:19:13] now, public land belongs to all

[3:19:15] of us and should remain in

[3:19:16] public hands.

[3:19:18] Hopefully also serve the public

[3:19:19] good.

[3:19:20] From my perspective we need to

[3:19:23] focus on the use of city-owned

[3:19:25] properties to create affordable

[3:19:27] housing as an example.

[3:19:28] i look forward to this round

[3:19:31] table and hopefully working with

[3:19:32] community organizations and

[3:19:33] members, city staff,

[3:19:36] councillors, to develop concrete

[3:19:45] proposals for affordability.

[3:19:49] >> Mayor Siddiqui:

[3:19:50] [Indiscernible] Do a roll call.

[3:19:51] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:19:51] >> yes.

[3:19:52] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:19:54] >> yes.

[3:19:54] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:19:56] >> yes.

[3:19:58] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:19:58] Absent.

[3:19:59] Councilor nolan?

[3:20:00] >> yes.

[3:20:01] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:20:01] >> yes.

[3:20:02] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:20:02] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:20:03] >> yes.

[3:20:03] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:20:06] >> yes.

[3:20:07] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:20:07] >> yes.

[3:20:08] >> Clerk: you have eight members

[3:20:10] recorded in the affirmative and

[3:20:15] one recorded as absent.

[3:20:21] >> Mayor Siddiqui:

[3:20:31] [Indiscernible] Hearing none.

[3:20:34] >> I just wanted you to say my

[3:20:34] name.

[3:20:35] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you.

[3:20:37] We will do a roll call on

[3:20:38] adopting the amended --

[3:20:39] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:20:40] >> yes.

[3:20:42] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:20:43] >> yes.

[3:20:44] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:20:45] >> yes.

[3:20:46] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:20:47] >> yes.

[3:20:48] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:20:49] >> yes.

[3:20:50] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:20:50] >> yes.

[3:20:51] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:20:51] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:20:52] >> yes.

[3:20:54] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:20:55] >> yes.

[3:20:56] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:20:56] >> yes.

[3:20:58] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:21:01] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:21:02] >> Mayor Siddiqui: policy order

[3:21:05] six is filed and adopted.

[3:21:06] We are finished with the city

[3:21:07] manager's agenda.

[3:21:11] We move to calendar.

[3:21:13] There are two charter rights.

[3:21:15] I will go to the first one.

[3:21:17] This was a policy order saying

[3:21:18] that the city manager works with

[3:21:21] the government operations and

[3:21:23] civic unity committee to hold

[3:21:26] hearings to discuss new ideas to

[3:21:33] honor and remember individuals

[3:21:34] criteria for eligibility,

[3:21:37] committee structure with diverse

[3:21:39] representation of the city

[3:21:41] residents and means for

[3:21:42] recording and maintaining

[3:21:45] current and future memorials.

[3:21:48] Exercised by councilor simmons

[3:21:51] in council on DECEMBER 22nd.

[3:21:51] Councilor simmons.

[3:21:52] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[3:21:52] you.

[3:21:54] I would like to take this off as

[3:21:56] is the rule because the charter

[3:21:58] right can only stay to the next

[3:22:00] meeting to move this forward.

[3:22:02] As it is written in the policy

[3:22:03] order, this is the conversation

[3:22:07] we've been having a long time

[3:22:16] around memorials.

[3:22:19] One started people working in

[3:22:20] service or civic life.

[3:22:21] It's grown.

[3:22:23] It's grown in a way that we, in

[3:22:27] some way, cannot control it.

[3:22:29] We have memorials on one block.

[3:22:31] We'll have four signs with four

[3:22:32] different people.

[3:22:34] All very important but it's not

[3:22:36] a method or practice that we can

[3:22:36] sustain.

[3:22:38] The idea behind this policy

[3:22:40] order is to work with the city

[3:22:43] manager and to the subcommittees

[3:22:44] and city council to say is there

[3:22:46] another way to do it to be

[3:22:48] honoring so we can honor those

[3:22:50] that need to be honored but not

[3:22:53] in such a way we run out of

[3:22:54] city-owned real estate to place

[3:22:55] them up.

[3:22:57] That is what this policy order

[3:22:58] seeks to do.

[3:22:59] Let's look at it.

[3:23:00] Let's have conversations.

[3:23:02] Let's take it out to the

[3:23:06] community and come back with

[3:23:07] recommendation on how to do

[3:23:08] that.

[3:23:09] I yield the floor.

[3:23:10] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:23:10] councilor simmons.

[3:23:12] Any other comment on this?

[3:23:13] I think it's very important and

[3:23:16] there's a lot of thought and

[3:23:16] work.

[3:23:17] I look forward to discussion in

[3:23:18] government ops.

[3:23:20] We can do a roll call on

[3:23:22] adopting the order.

[3:23:23] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:23:23] >> yes.

[3:23:25] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:23:26] >> yes.

[3:23:27] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:23:28] >> yes.

[3:23:28] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:23:29] >> yes.

[3:23:31] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:23:31] >> yes.

[3:23:32] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:23:33] >> yes.

[3:23:34] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:23:34] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:23:35] >> yes.

[3:23:36] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:23:37] >> yes.

[3:23:38] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:23:38] >> yes.

[3:23:40] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:23:45] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:23:48] >> Mayor Siddiqui: that item

[3:23:49] passes.

[3:23:53] Calendar item two which is a

[3:23:55] policy order around restricting

[3:23:59] resident for parking permits and

[3:24:08] more transient oriented

[3:24:09] developments.

[3:24:11] I'll go to councilor simmons.

[3:24:11] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[3:24:12] you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:24:13] I exercised my charter right and

[3:24:16] I'm in the same place.

[3:24:18] On the third whereas seeking to

[3:24:20] use public transit.

[3:24:22] I think public transit is

[3:24:24] important but it's not been

[3:24:24] reliable.

[3:24:26] I know we've talked about

[3:24:27] maintaining, sustaining or

[3:24:32] adopting an idea where we pay

[3:24:33] for free transit to get folks

[3:24:34] around the city.

[3:24:37] It's a noble cause.

[3:24:39] I worry we lay so much on

[3:24:40] unpredictable means of getting

[3:24:41] around the city.

[3:24:43] Public transit being one of

[3:24:43] them.

[3:24:45] Not to throw the mbta under the

[3:24:48] bus but we know that it's been

[3:24:49] less than reliable.

[3:24:53] We offer a policy order that in

[3:24:56] part depends on a system that is

[3:24:58] not tremendously reliable for

[3:25:00] various reasons too long to go

[3:25:01] into.

[3:25:05] It gives me pause.

[3:25:08] It is before us now to be taken

[3:25:08] up.

[3:25:10] It will probably pass and I will

[3:25:14] vote for this only because it

[3:25:15] says that we are to get

[3:25:18] information back so we have some

[3:25:22] policy choices so we can make

[3:25:22] decisions.

[3:25:24] With that I will vote if favor

[3:25:27] but I just wanted to say I would

[3:25:30] like to hear from colleagues,

[3:25:33] councilor zusy, vice mayor, or

[3:25:36] councilor nolan or maybe not.

[3:25:38] The hour is moving along.

[3:25:40] But I wanted for my colleagues

[3:25:43] to understand I'm not trying to

[3:25:45] be obstructionist I just have

[3:25:47] concerns over depending on a

[3:25:48] mode of transportation or

[3:25:49] transportation operation that

[3:25:50] has been less than reliable.

[3:25:52] I yield the floor.

[3:25:54] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:25:55] councilor simmons.

[3:25:56] Councilor zusy and then

[3:25:58] councilor azeem and then

[3:25:59] councilor nolan.

[3:26:01] >> Councilor Zusy: thank you,

[3:26:01] chair.

[3:26:10] This policy order was inspired

[3:26:13] because that's scarcity of

[3:26:13] parking.

[3:26:16] We've all received letters.

[3:26:19] There are concerned about large

[3:26:22] developments around elery

[3:26:23] street.

[3:26:24] There ares parking scarcity.

[3:26:25] Most of the developments are

[3:26:28] within a half mile of the

[3:26:30] harvard square t.

[3:26:32] This would be properties where

[3:26:34] residents would not receive

[3:26:36] parking permits.

[3:26:43] The idea is that those living in

[3:26:46] tran see yent oriented

[3:26:47] developments within a half mile

[3:26:50] of the stations would be

[3:26:52] encouraged to use the mbta.

[3:26:56] It's only going to get better,

[3:26:56] councilor simmons.

[3:26:58] The buses are supposed to be

[3:27:00] getting better in the next five

[3:27:00] years.

[3:27:02] I think the red line is really

[3:27:06] getting much, much better.

[3:27:10] Our concern is that if the

[3:27:14] residents in these oriented

[3:27:16] developments are a given parking

[3:27:18] permits will add to what my

[3:27:21] friend calls parking misery in

[3:27:22] many neighborhoods.

[3:27:25] We want to continue to support

[3:27:29] investment in mass transit.

[3:27:31] Better mass transit.

[3:27:32] Encourage those who can use it

[3:27:34] to use sustainability

[3:27:34] transportation.

[3:27:38] Apparently this is working in

[3:27:41] somerville and those that are

[3:27:43] choice limited, individuals with

[3:27:45] disabilities and residents of

[3:27:49] affordable housing units are

[3:27:51] sometimes given -- are provided

[3:27:52] with exemptions.

[3:27:54] They might get a permit.

[3:27:55] There is a possibility to get a

[3:27:59] permit if you need one in the

[3:28:00] transit-oriented developments.

[3:28:02] We're adding a lot of density to

[3:28:05] the city and I know that's

[3:28:07] something most of the city -- I

[3:28:10] think the whole council supports

[3:28:13] in one way or another but we

[3:28:14] can't have all of those

[3:28:16] residents have cars, too,

[3:28:19] because -- especially if there's

[3:28:21] no parking minimum.

[3:28:23] This will help to encourage

[3:28:25] resident, again, in those

[3:28:26] transit-oriented developments so

[3:28:30] close to mbta stations to use

[3:28:33] mass transit and walk and bike

[3:28:36] and get around other ways.

[3:28:40] Car shares and other mechanisms.

[3:28:43] So that's why I think it's a

[3:28:45] great idea.

[3:28:46] I'm looking forward to hearing

[3:28:50] comments and I yield.

[3:28:51] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:28:58] azeem and then councilor nolan.

[3:28:59] >> Councilor Azeem:.

[3:28:59] Thank you.

[3:29:01] In a new development someone MAY

[3:29:02] say hey, I I don't need to be

[3:29:04] parking without making it easy

[3:29:06] for people to take the bus or

[3:29:06] train.

[3:29:08] I can use street parking.

[3:29:10] Then they take advantage of

[3:29:13] something without providing

[3:29:15] something which is off site

[3:29:15] parking.

[3:29:16] i think it's a problem and makes

[3:29:18] it harder for people already in

[3:29:20] the city and need the parking to

[3:29:21] use it.

[3:29:22] I think that's the issue we were

[3:29:23] trying to solve.

[3:29:27] An issue we come across is that

[3:29:28] under general massachusetts

[3:29:30] general law, under housing

[3:29:33] development rules we have to be

[3:29:35] fair in how we assess properties

[3:29:36] and requirements we have on

[3:29:37] them.

[3:29:39] One way to have a fair

[3:29:40] assessment is to say development

[3:29:42] that is are near transit we

[3:29:43] should have additional

[3:29:45] requirements saying that, hey,

[3:29:49] if your residents are going to

[3:29:51] bring a car, we need you to

[3:29:53] provide a parking spot for them.

[3:29:57] It's unfair for them to use

[3:29:59] on-street parking when you're

[3:30:01] not building parking for them

[3:30:02] and you're expecting them to --

[3:30:04] you're saying to us we expect

[3:30:06] them to take the t but you're

[3:30:08] trying to take advantage of the

[3:30:10] public realm and make it harder

[3:30:12] for everyone else to park and

[3:30:12] drive.

[3:30:15] That is what our expectation is.

[3:30:17] In general I share a lot of

[3:30:19] councilor simmons's concerns the

[3:30:21] mbta isn't up to snuff and isn't

[3:30:23] improving rapidly enough.

[3:30:26] I think of this as a way to

[3:30:30] properly align incentives.

[3:30:32] If someone isn't spro providing

[3:30:33] parking they expect people to

[3:30:34] get around on transit not

[3:30:36] because they are taking

[3:30:37] advantage of the system and

[3:30:38] making it harder for everyone

[3:30:39] else to park.

[3:30:40] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:30:40] nolan.

[3:30:41] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[3:30:43] Just as a reminder this is

[3:30:45] asking for what the legal

[3:30:47] options are which we don't know.

[3:30:49] I think we asked it in various

[3:30:52] forms yet we haven't gotten the

[3:30:54] full form of legal opinion to

[3:30:56] say here's what you can do.

[3:30:59] I know the city solicitor is

[3:31:00] aware of this request because

[3:31:03] the fact is we did say there's

[3:31:06] no minimum parking.

[3:31:08] It means that anybody who builds

[3:31:09] in the city has no requirements

[3:31:11] to build any parking.

[3:31:13] That does have an impact.

[3:31:15] I voted for that.

[3:31:18] I first talked about it.

[3:31:20] It makes since moving forward

[3:31:23] yet there have been real serious

[3:31:25] impact on certain people and it

[3:31:26] very much depends on the part of

[3:31:27] the city you're in.

[3:31:29] Reality is there's parts of the

[3:31:31] city it has a greater impact the

[3:31:34] utilization of on street parking

[3:31:36] is probably 90%-95%.

[3:31:38] Other areas of the city

[3:31:40] including where I live it's more

[3:31:41] like 70%.

[3:31:43] You could add 30% more cars and

[3:31:45] still get utilization that meant

[3:31:46] people can find it.

[3:31:48] I think it's important that we

[3:31:49] own that.

[3:31:50] We acknowledge it and, again, I

[3:31:51] hope we pass this.

[3:31:53] I think we need to know what are

[3:31:54] our legal options.

[3:31:57] Of course, all of us if we had a

[3:31:58] magic wand would tomorrow make

[3:32:02] this mbta and public transit

[3:32:04] completely reliable, affordable,

[3:32:08] frequent, no problems

[3:32:08] whatsoever.

[3:32:10] Over the last couple of weeks

[3:32:13] I've been on the red line and it

[3:32:15] it was amazingly fast and I've

[3:32:17] been on it when it's not so

[3:32:18] amazingly fast.

[3:32:19] I waited for a bus that was

[3:32:22] supposed to come and took longer

[3:32:23] than it should have and also got

[3:32:25] on a bus right away.

[3:32:27] We're in a situation that as a

[3:32:28] city the more we is solve this

[3:32:29] and work together we have a

[3:32:31] bunch of ways we as a city are

[3:32:32] working with public transit to

[3:32:34] try to improve that.

[3:32:36] We hopefully will do our own

[3:32:37] form of transit as we move

[3:32:40] forward with the study of how it

[3:32:41] is we improve transportation

[3:32:42] across the city.

[3:32:44] I do fully support it and

[3:32:45] acknowledge that the reason this

[3:32:47] is brought forward and thanks

[3:32:48] councilor zusy for taking the

[3:32:49] lead on this, is because we need

[3:32:51] to figure out what the options

[3:32:51] are.

[3:32:54] Once we know what they are, we

[3:32:55] can't do anything until we know

[3:32:59] what we can do legally.

[3:33:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui: I go to

[3:33:02] councilor McGovern and then

[3:33:02] councilor flaherty.

[3:33:03] >> Councilor McGovern: thank

[3:33:04] you, MADAM Mayor, through you.

[3:33:06] I do support this, as well.

[3:33:12] I won't ask to be added just for

[3:33:12] speed sake.

[3:33:15] I do really support this.

[3:33:17] I do think this has to be part

[3:33:20] of a broader picture as we start

[3:33:23] to deal with parking issues in

[3:33:24] the city.

[3:33:25] I think and residential

[3:33:27] stickers.

[3:33:30] We need to look at the fact my

[3:33:33] wife and I can register eight

[3:33:34] cars at our house because it's

[3:33:35] four per person.

[3:33:37] I think it's something we need

[3:33:39] to take another look at, as

[3:33:39] well.

[3:33:40] I appreciate this order and I

[3:33:43] will be supporting it.

[3:33:44] Thank you.

[3:33:44] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:33:45] flaherty.

[3:33:45] >>Councilor Flaherty: thank

[3:33:47] you, through you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:33:49] This is an essential order.

[3:33:52] The elimination of minimum

[3:33:54] parking requirements requires

[3:33:54] this.

[3:33:59] It requires a legal opinion.

[3:34:01] We're living in an alternate

[3:34:04] reality if we think that persons

[3:34:07] who either rent or purchase a

[3:34:10] unit in a transit-oriented

[3:34:11] building or development then

[3:34:18] just going to unilaterally

[3:34:20] advocate their own right to have

[3:34:21] a vehicle and park it publicly

[3:34:24] on the street by obtaining a

[3:34:26] parking permit from the city of

[3:34:27] cambridge, we're kidding

[3:34:28] ourselves.

[3:34:30] That will lead to further

[3:34:32] difficulties for residents and

[3:34:34] those development areas

[3:34:36] obtaining parking.

[3:34:38] I think there will be.

[3:34:41] I wish the city solicitor all

[3:34:44] the good will.

[3:34:48] There will be a challenge to

[3:34:50] this, whatever policy we enact.

[3:34:52] I fully support this.

[3:34:53] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:34:55] councilor flaherty.

[3:34:59] I think we've heard from whoever

[3:35:01] wants to be heard.

[3:35:04] We can adopt the order.

[3:35:08] On a motion by councilor zusy.

[3:35:08] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:35:09] >> yes.

[3:35:10] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:35:11] >> yes.

[3:35:13] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:35:14] >> yes.

[3:35:15] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:35:15] >> yes.

[3:35:17] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:35:18] >> yes.

[3:35:19] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:35:20] >> yes.

[3:35:21] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:35:21] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:35:22] >> yes.

[3:35:23] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:35:24] >> yes.

[3:35:25] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:35:26] >> yes.

[3:35:27] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:35:29] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:35:33] >> Mayor Siddiqui: item two is

[3:35:34] adopted.

[3:35:36] We have now a zoning petition on

[3:35:37] the table.

[3:35:40] This is the cambridge street

[3:35:40] zoning petition.

[3:35:42] It was passed to a second

[3:35:44] reading as amended in council

[3:35:45] DECEMBER 8th.

[3:35:48] It's eligible to be ordained.

[3:35:50] It was tabled last DECEMBER 22nd

[3:35:51] meeting.

[3:35:52] The petition expires

[3:35:53] JANUARY 28th.

[3:35:56] We have one more meeting which

[3:35:59] is JANUARY 26th where we can

[3:36:00] adopt this or let it expire.

[3:36:03] What is the pleasure of the city

[3:36:06] council?

[3:36:08] Vice mayor has stated he would

[3:36:10] like to leave this on the table.

[3:36:11] Councilor nolan has stated she

[3:36:13] would like us to leave this on

[3:36:15] the table.

[3:36:17] Anyone else?

[3:36:19] We will go ahead and we don't

[3:36:21] have to take any motion.

[3:36:22] I don't see a motion to take it

[3:36:23] off the table.

[3:36:25] We need five votes to take it

[3:36:26] off the table.

[3:36:29] We'll leave it on the table and

[3:36:33] talk about this JANUARY 26th.

[3:36:34] We are done with the calendar.

[3:36:38] We move onto applications and

[3:36:38] petitions.

[3:36:39] >> Councilor Simmons: move

[3:36:39] adoption.

[3:36:40] >> Mayor Siddiqui: on a motion

[3:36:42] by councilor simmons to adopt

[3:36:43] applications and petitions 1 and

[3:36:43] 2.

[3:36:45] We'll do a roll call, please.

[3:36:46] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:36:47] >> yes.

[3:36:49] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:36:50] >> yes.

[3:36:51] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:36:52] >> yes.

[3:36:53] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:36:53] >> yes.

[3:36:55] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:36:55] >> yes.

[3:36:56] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:36:58] >> yes.

[3:36:58] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:36:59] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:36:59] >> yes.

[3:37:00] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:37:02] >> yes.

[3:37:02] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:37:03] >> yes.

[3:37:04] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:37:06] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:37:08] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the two

[3:37:09] application and petitions are

[3:37:09] adopted.

[3:37:14] We'll move onto communications.

[3:37:16] There are 139 communications.

[3:37:17] >> Councilor McGovern: place on

[3:37:17] file.

[3:37:18] >> Mayor Siddiqui: on a motion

[3:37:19] by councilor McGovern to place

[3:37:21] all communications on file.

[3:37:25] We'll do a roll call.

[3:37:27] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:37:28] >> yes.

[3:37:29] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:37:30] >> yes.

[3:37:30] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:37:31] >> yes.

[3:37:32] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:37:32] >> yes.

[3:37:34] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:37:34] >> yes.

[3:37:36] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:37:36] >> yes.

[3:37:37] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:37:37] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:37:38] >> yes.

[3:37:39] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:37:40] >> yes.

[3:37:41] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:37:41] >> yes.

[3:37:42] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:37:46] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:37:47] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the 139

[3:37:48] communications are placed on

[3:37:48] file.

[3:37:51] We move onto resolutions.

[3:37:52] There's one resolution.

[3:37:55] Would anyone like to pull it?

[3:37:57] >> Councilor McGovern: move

[3:37:59] adoption making unanimous upon

[3:37:59] adoption.

[3:38:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui: on a motion

[3:38:01] by councilor McGovern we will do

[3:38:03] a roll call on adopting the

[3:38:06] resolution and making unanimous

[3:38:08] upon adoption.

[3:38:09] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:38:10] >> yes.

[3:38:12] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:38:13] >> yes.

[3:38:15] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:38:16] >> yes.

[3:38:16] Councilor McGovern?

[3:38:17] >> yes.

[3:38:19] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:38:19] >> yes.

[3:38:20] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:38:21] >> yes.

[3:38:21] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:38:22] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:38:22] >> yes.

[3:38:23] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:38:24] >> yes.

[3:38:25] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:38:26] >> yes.

[3:38:27] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:38:28] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:38:29] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the

[3:38:31] resolution is adopted.

[3:38:33] Committee reports.

[3:38:33] There's one committee report

[3:38:36] from government ops.

[3:38:37] Pleasure of the city council?

[3:38:39] If you're making a motion speak

[3:38:41] into the mic.

[3:38:41] >> Councilor Nolan: accept and

[3:38:42] place on file.

[3:38:42] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:38:44] nolan moves to accept the report

[3:38:45] and place it on file.

[3:38:47] Roll call on that.

[3:38:47] thank you.

[3:38:49] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:38:50] >> yes.

[3:38:51] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:38:52] >> yes.

[3:38:52] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:38:53] >> yes.

[3:38:54] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:38:55] >> yes.

[3:38:57] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:38:57] >> yes.

[3:38:58] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:38:59] >> yes.

[3:39:03] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:39:04] sobrinho-wheeler

[3:39:05] sobrinho-wheeler

[3:39:06] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:39:06] >> yes.

[3:39:07] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:39:07] >> yes.

[3:39:07] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:39:08] >> yes.

[3:39:09] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:39:10] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:39:12] >> the report is accepted and

[3:39:13] placed on file.

[3:39:15] We have no round table minutes.

[3:39:18] We'll go onto communications and

[3:39:21] reports from other city

[3:39:22] officers.

[3:39:28] Pleasure of the city council?

[3:39:29] On a motion by councilor simmons

[3:39:31] to place all four on file.

[3:39:31] Roll call.

[3:39:32] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:39:33] >> yes.

[3:39:34] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:39:34] >> yes.

[3:39:35] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:39:36] >> yes.

[3:39:36] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:39:37] >> yes.

[3:39:38] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:39:39] >> yes.

[3:39:40] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:39:41] >> yes.

[3:39:41] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:39:42] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:39:42] >> yes.

[3:39:43] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:39:44] >> yes.

[3:39:45] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:39:46] >> yes.

[3:39:47] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:39:49] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:39:50] >> Mayor Siddiqui: all four

[3:39:51] communications and reports for

[3:39:54] other city officers are adopted.

[3:39:58] We now move onto any late

[3:39:58] resolutions?

[3:40:00] Clerk, are there any late

[3:40:01] resolutions.

[3:40:03] >> Clerk: one late resolution.

[3:40:05] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we have one

[3:40:07] late resolution.

[3:40:09] We need to make a motion to

[3:40:10] suspend is rules.

[3:40:11] >> Councilor McGovern: so

[3:40:12] moved.

[3:40:12] >> Mayor Siddiqui: on a motion

[3:40:14] by councilor McGovern to suspend

[3:40:16] the rules to bring the late

[3:40:16] resolution forward.

[3:40:17] Roll call.

[3:40:18] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:40:19] >> yes.

[3:40:21] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:40:21] >> yes.

[3:40:22] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:40:23] >> yes.

[3:40:24] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:40:24] >> yes.

[3:40:25] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:40:26] >> yes.

[3:40:32] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:40:33] Absent.

[3:40:33] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:40:34] >> yes.

[3:40:35] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:40:36] >> yes.

[3:40:37] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:40:37] >> yes.

[3:40:39] >> Clerk: you have eight members

[3:40:40] recorded in the affirmative and

[3:40:43] one recorded as absent.

[3:40:45] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we are in

[3:40:46] suspension.

[3:40:50] We go to the resolution.

[3:40:51] Councilor McGovern.

[3:40:56] >> Councilor McGovern: I was

[3:40:58] sad to read about the passing of

[3:40:59] bob.

[3:41:01] I was talking to him a month or

[3:41:03] so ago.

[3:41:05] The resolution goes into detail

[3:41:09] about his many, many, many, many

[3:41:11] contributions to the city of

[3:41:12] cambridge.

[3:41:15] He's a kid of cambridge, born

[3:41:18] here and raised here.

[3:41:20] But the list of things he

[3:41:23] accomplished in his 92 years in

[3:41:26] this city is spectacular.

[3:41:29] Beyond all of that I just what

[3:41:33] I'm going to really MISS The

[3:41:36] most is his kindness.

[3:41:37] His smile.

[3:41:40] His guidance.

[3:41:46] Just a genuinely nice, wonderful

[3:41:49] person.

[3:41:51] Obviously at 92 he retired a

[3:41:53] little while ago but not

[3:41:53] completely.

[3:41:55] We were just at the, I think,

[3:41:58] MADAM Mayor, you were there.

[3:42:01] We were at the rotary club

[3:42:03] meeting with the high school

[3:42:04] kids.

[3:42:06] He was there.

[3:42:09] Helping to organize that even as

[3:42:12] recently as this past year.

[3:42:13] Just a remarkable person and

[3:42:17] it's a big loss for the city.

[3:42:19] I know others probably want to

[3:42:19] be added.

[3:42:21] I read today and wanted to get

[3:42:23] this in quickly.

[3:42:25] I know he's -- a lot of us knew

[3:42:27] him and he touched a lot of us

[3:42:31] and influenced a lot of our

[3:42:31] lives.

[3:42:34] This will be unanimous upon

[3:42:35] adoption anyway.

[3:42:37] But a loss for city and

[3:42:38] condolences to his family.

[3:42:39] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you

[3:42:40] for brig it forward, councilor

[3:42:41] McGovern.

[3:42:42] We'll go to councilor zusy and

[3:42:43] then councilor nolan.

[3:42:44] >> Councilor Zusy: I just wanted

[3:42:47] to say I'm thankful to councilor

[3:42:50] McGovern for drafting this

[3:42:51] excellent resolution honoring

[3:42:52] bob.

[3:42:54] I was lucky enough to know him,

[3:42:56] too, from the crick club, which

[3:42:57] he was a member of for many

[3:42:58] years.

[3:43:01] He was the executive director of

[3:43:02] the cambridge community

[3:43:04] foundation and he launched

[3:43:05] cambridge volunteers, which

[3:43:09] continues to go strong today

[3:43:11] under lori's leadership, which

[3:43:13] is another very, very important

[3:43:14] institution.

[3:43:15] I feel like the two institutions

[3:43:18] help to define cambridge in a

[3:43:23] very, very nice charitable way.

[3:43:26] We'll MISS Bob and thank you for

[3:43:28] this lovely synopsis of some of

[3:43:30] his contributions.

[3:43:32] Many contributions.

[3:43:33] Thank you.

[3:43:33] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:43:34] nolan.

[3:43:35] >> Councilor Nolan: thank you.

[3:43:35] Yes.

[3:43:36] Thank you.

[3:43:39] We missed by a few minutes.

[3:43:41] I think I submitted with the

[3:43:43] mayor a resolution similar.

[3:43:44] Councilor McGovern already has

[3:43:44] it in.

[3:43:45] Many of us.

[3:43:48] I read about it.

[3:43:48] There was the obituary appeared

[3:43:50] in the globe over the weekend.

[3:43:52] It's first time I heard about

[3:43:52] it.

[3:43:53] I reached out to a few people

[3:43:56] and said I didn't know.

[3:43:57] They hadn't known either.

[3:43:58] I think having this happen right

[3:44:00] around the holidays meant it

[3:44:02] took a while for news to filter

[3:44:05] out and cambridge day had a

[3:44:06] lovely article about him today.

[3:44:08] As the resolution points out he

[3:44:09] was the first executive director

[3:44:11] of the community foundation.

[3:44:13] He had been a teacher.

[3:44:15] Like many others my interactions

[3:44:17] with him also -- he was

[3:44:19] incredibly gracious and

[3:44:21] knowledgeable and always pushing

[3:44:22] for more to be done for the city

[3:44:24] that he loved and lived in for

[3:44:26] so long.

[3:44:27] It's a real loss to community

[3:44:29] and yet it was a treasure he was

[3:44:32] able to do all that.

[3:44:34] He also helped create the

[3:44:36] coalition of nonprofits in the

[3:44:38] city in addition to cambridge

[3:44:39] volunteers.

[3:44:40] I'm not sure if that was

[3:44:42] mentioned in this write up but

[3:44:45] he did touch so many different

[3:44:46] lives and we were lucky to have

[3:44:48] him in the city.

[3:44:49] I would ask to be added but

[3:44:51] since I know the mayor and I put

[3:44:55] it in but if it's going to be

[3:44:56] unanimous upon adoption that's

[3:44:57] fine if it's very clear.

[3:45:01] Again, thanks to everyone in the

[3:45:03] community who he touched and

[3:45:08] lucky us for having met him.

[3:45:10] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you to

[3:45:13] those who spoke and certainly

[3:45:14] condolences to the family.

[3:45:17] He lived an amazing life.

[3:45:18] Go ahead.

[3:45:18] Councilor McGovern.

[3:45:19] >> Councilor McGovern: is

[3:45:21] councilor simmons in the room.

[3:45:25] She did ask earlier she wanted

[3:45:26] to be added.

[3:45:27] >> Mayor Siddiqui: it's going

[3:45:30] to be unanimous upon adoption.

[3:45:31] >> Councilor McGovern: that's

[3:45:31] fine.

[3:45:32] >> Mayor Siddiqui: councilor

[3:45:32] nolan.

[3:45:33] >> Councilor Nolan: there was

[3:45:34] also just so folks know there

[3:45:37] will be a celebration of life on

[3:45:37] APRIL 11th.

[3:45:39] that was announced.

[3:45:40] There hasn't been one but I'm

[3:45:43] sure it will be a community

[3:45:44] event.

[3:45:46] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we'll go

[3:45:47] ahead on councilor McGovern's

[3:45:49] motion to adopt the resolution

[3:45:52] and making it unanimous upon

[3:45:52] adoption.

[3:45:52] Roll call.

[3:45:53] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:45:53] >> yes.

[3:45:55] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:45:57] >> yes.

[3:45:58] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:46:01] >> yes and MAY GOD have mercy on

[3:46:02] his soul.

[3:46:02] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:46:03] >> yes.

[3:46:03] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:46:05] >> yes.

[3:46:06] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:46:08] Councilor simmons is absent.

[3:46:08] Councilor sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:46:09] >> yes.

[3:46:10] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:46:11] >> yes.

[3:46:11] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:46:12] >> yes.

[3:46:13] >> Clerk: you have eight members

[3:46:15] recorded in the affirmative and

[3:46:16] one recorded as absent.

[3:46:17] >> Mayor Siddiqui: the late

[3:46:19] resolution is adopted.

[3:46:21] I will need to entertain a

[3:46:23] motion to suspend the rules to

[3:46:25] go back to communication and

[3:46:26] reports from other city officers

[3:46:30] number two because we actually

[3:46:32] have to accept the reports to

[3:46:34] the current legislative term and

[3:46:36] place those communication on

[3:46:36] file.

[3:46:37] So on a motion by councilor

[3:46:39] nolan to suspend the rules we'll

[3:46:40] do a roll call.

[3:46:41] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:46:41] >> yes.

[3:46:43] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:46:44] >> yes.

[3:46:44] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:46:45] >> yes.

[3:46:46] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:46:46] >> yes.

[3:46:47] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:46:49] >> yes.

[3:46:50] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:46:51] Yes.

[3:46:51] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:46:52] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:46:52] >> yes.

[3:46:53] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:46:53] >> yes.

[3:46:56] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:46:56] >> yes.

[3:46:58] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:47:00] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:47:01] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we'll go

[3:47:06] ahead and do an additional

[3:47:11] needed roll call on the awaiting

[3:47:15] reports and bringing them

[3:47:16] forward.

[3:47:17] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:47:19] >> yes.

[3:47:20] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:47:20] >> yes.

[3:47:20] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:47:21] >> yes.

[3:47:21] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:47:22] >> yes.

[3:47:23] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:47:23] >> yes.

[3:47:24] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:47:25] >> yes.

[3:47:25] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:47:26] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:47:26] >> yes.

[3:47:27] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:47:28] >> yes.

[3:47:28] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:47:29] >> yes.

[3:47:30] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:47:34] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:47:35] >> Mayor Siddiqui: reports are

[3:47:36] brought forward.

[3:47:38] We will go ahead -- there's no

[3:47:39] late policy orders.

[3:47:42] We'll go to announcements.

[3:47:44] Announcements from the body.

[3:47:45] Councilor simmons.

[3:47:47] >> Councilor Simmons: thank

[3:47:47] you.

[3:47:48] It's the chair.

[3:47:49] A couple of things.

[3:47:52] As many of you know this week --

[3:47:53] not this weekend, next weekend

[3:47:56] will be the mlk weekend.

[3:47:58] There will be helping hands,

[3:48:00] 365, I hope I'm saying that

[3:48:00] right.

[3:48:02] They will be laufrnging their

[3:48:04] program over at the central

[3:48:05] square church.

[3:48:06] There will be a lot of

[3:48:08] activities in the hall, in the

[3:48:09] senior center.

[3:48:13] I think they are using the ywca.

[3:48:16] Also there will be a program at

[3:48:19] st. Paul ame on the same day

[3:48:22] from 11:00 to 1:45.

[3:48:25] I would recommend you come.

[3:48:27] The millennium gospel choir is

[3:48:29] the most incredible in the

[3:48:30] boston area.

[3:48:31] Please come.

[3:48:33] If you don't like gospel music

[3:48:35] you should come, still.

[3:48:37] The most important thing is we

[3:48:42] just adopted an order around the

[3:48:45] 100 years of negro history week.

[3:48:48] This is a time of reflection,

[3:48:50] redemption and restoration.

[3:48:51] Ahope we launch the process by

[3:48:53] attending a number of these.

[3:48:54] These are just cambridge.

[3:48:57] If you go to our website it will

[3:49:00] mention a number of other

[3:49:02] commemorations you go to.

[3:49:03] If you're so interested there

[3:49:07] are a lot of things happening

[3:49:10] across the metro boston area, as

[3:49:11] well.

[3:49:12] Let's stay in cambridge and take

[3:49:13] part in what's happening in our

[3:49:14] own city and town.

[3:49:16] I yield the floor.

[3:49:17] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:49:18] councilor simmons.

[3:49:22] I will add that wednesday

[3:49:24] JANUARY 14th from 6:00 to 7:30

[3:49:26] at the main library there's the

[3:49:29] 51st year of the DR. Martin

[3:49:32] luther king JR. Day lecture

[3:49:32] series.

[3:49:33] Definitely come to that.

[3:49:37] We will be hearing from

[3:49:39] DR. Brennan and terry who has

[3:49:43] done a lot of really important

[3:49:44] work.

[3:49:48] Then specifically mondays

[3:49:49] iteration is from 11:00 to 2:00

[3:49:51] as you see on the flier passed

[3:49:52] around.

[3:49:54] The 16th annual mlk service in

[3:49:57] learning is mentioned.

[3:50:00] It's from 3:00 to 5:00.

[3:50:04] It will be -- definitely join.

[3:50:05] It's really important.

[3:50:07] We'll go to councilor zusy.

[3:50:08] >> Councilor Zusy: two other

[3:50:11] events for those of you that are

[3:50:15] interested in our combined sewer

[3:50:20] overflows and -- the virtual

[3:50:23] meeting on thursday JANUARY 15th

[3:50:26] at 6:00 P.M. With the mwra, city

[3:50:28] of cambridge and somerville.

[3:50:29] That will be important.

[3:50:36] Then we don't have council on

[3:50:41] monday but tuesday between 5 and

[3:50:42] 7, there's girls sport night.

[3:50:43] A great event.

[3:50:45] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:50:45] councilor zusy.

[3:50:46] Councilor flaherty.

[3:50:46] >>Councilor Flaherty: thank

[3:50:47] you, MADAM Mayor.

[3:50:50] I have an announcement.

[3:50:52] JANUARY 31st at 5:00 P.M.

[3:50:54] There will be a basketball game

[3:50:54] btween the cambridge police

[3:50:59] department defenders versus

[3:51:01] defenders the cambridge

[3:51:01] warriors.

[3:51:06] This is at the war memorial gym

[3:51:07] JANUARY 31st at 5:00 P.M.

[3:51:10] The program that will be playing

[3:51:11] the cambridge police department

[3:51:13] are the -- as I mentioned the

[3:51:15] cambridge warriors, which is a

[3:51:16] special needs team.

[3:51:19] the undefeated gold medallist

[3:51:21] cambridge warriors and they'll

[3:51:22] be representing massachusetts at

[3:51:27] the special olympic games which

[3:51:30] I believe is in -- it might be

[3:51:30] minnesota this year.

[3:51:31] I'm not sure.

[3:51:34] Tickets are $10 a person or $5

[3:51:38] for people under 15 years of

[3:51:38] age.

[3:51:41] This is a mandatory attendance

[3:51:42] for all members of the cambridge

[3:51:45] city council.

[3:51:46] Most especially councilor

[3:51:50] al-zubi who, as I know for the

[3:51:52] record, is an outstanding

[3:51:53] basketball coach and we're

[3:51:54] looking forward to having here

[3:51:57] in my company at this game.

[3:51:59] Thank you.

[3:52:00] >> Mayor Siddiqui: thank you,

[3:52:02] councilor flaherty.

[3:52:09] I think we should entertain.

[3:52:10] >>Councilor Flaherty: I'm glad

[3:52:11] you mentioned it.

[3:52:13] I have some thoughts on who can

[3:52:15] be the point guard.

[3:52:17] We'll get to that later.

[3:52:18] >> Councilor Al-Zubi: we have

[3:52:19] thoughts on who can be the

[3:52:20] shooting guard.

[3:52:22] >> Mayor Siddiqui: any other

[3:52:24] announcements for the body in?

[3:52:24] Anything else.

[3:52:28] Hearing none we'll go on a

[3:52:29] motion by councilor simmons to

[3:52:30] adjournment.

[3:52:31] Roll call.

[3:52:31] >> Clerk: councilor al-zubi?

[3:52:32] >> yes.

[3:52:34] >> Clerk: vice mayor?

[3:52:35] >> yes.

[3:52:36] >> Clerk: councilor flaherty?

[3:52:36] >> yes.

[3:52:37] >> Clerk: councilor McGovern?

[3:52:38] >> yes.

[3:52:39] >> Clerk: councilor nolan?

[3:52:40] >> yes.

[3:52:41] >> Clerk: councilor simmons?

[3:52:42] >> yes.

[3:52:42] >> Clerk: councilor

[3:52:43] sobrinho-wheeler?

[3:52:43] >> yes.

[3:52:44] >> Clerk: councilor zusy?

[3:52:44] >> yes.

[3:52:46] >> Clerk: mayor?

[3:52:46] >> yes.

[3:52:47] >> Clerk: you have nine members

[3:52:51] recorded in the affirmative.

[3:52:55] >> Mayor Siddiqui: we are

[3:52:55] adjourned.

Jan 12, 2026 5:30 PM - City Council - Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript