Councillor Henrietta Davis news-in-a-letter

Fall 2006

Energy | Transportation | WIFI | Health, Schools, and Children | Housing and Development | Other Items of Interest

Dear Friend,

Every two years, the City Council sets goals for the city. As we do this, we reach out to residents in a number of ways -- including a random household phone survey, for which we have the results. Some highlights: In the categories of "Overall Quality of Life" and "Cambridge as a Place to Live", 86% of respondents said the city was good or excellent. As for how respondents rated the top issue for them, 22% ranked housing/affordable housing/rent control as the single most important issue, followed by 19% choosing education and 11% taxes. Other issues that rated high were the condition of the streets and sidewalks, traffic and parking, and public safety. The city services that were rated excellent most often were the library (38%), the fire department (36%), and recycling (34%). What we learned from the survey will help guide the Council to set goals for the next two years. There's no doubt that affordable housing will continue to be our highest priority.

Energy

As Chair of the Cable TV, Telecommunications, and Public Utilities Committee, I have been involved in a number of issues related to city energy use and climate change. Every day, we can read in the paper about another effect that may change the way we live in New England. I am glad to say that Cambridge has a climate protection plan and a goal to reduce 1990 emission levels by 20% by 2010.

Commercial and Industrial Greenhouse Gases

Two-thirds of the greenhouse gases in Cambridge are emitted by businesses, the universities and the city's own activities. The Cambridge Climate Protection Action Committee is partnering with businesses and reaching out to enroll ÒClimate Leaders.Ó So far nine companies have pledged to do their part to reduce greenhouse gases in Cambridge, and we're hoping the universities will follow soon.

The City Takes Action on Energy

The city owns and operates about 37 buildings, including the public schools and smaller buildings like the Russell Field fieldhouse. We are taking control of our energy consumption and expenditures by setting goals for reductions. The Cambridge Rindge and Latin building uses over $500,000 per year for electricity. The city is aiming to have 20% of municipal electricity generated by a clean, renewable source by 2010.

Renewable Energy

Solar and wind are two sources of renewable power. How can a city and its residents switch to such sources? Examples: Harvard now buys a portion of its energy from Hull where there are two windmills and more expected and Whole Foods is the largest purchaser of wind energy in the entire country. Individuals are putting up solar panels. If 150 households donate to Mass. Technology Collaborative's Clean Energy Choice program, we will be able to purchase photovoltaic solar panels, possibly a demonstration project for the high school. Contact me for details.

Finally Library Construction Begins

A bid has been accepted for the construction of the new main library. Consigli Construction and J.F. White Contractors will break ground soon. The library is expected to be finished in 2009. With 60,000 square feet of new space added to the renovated original, historic, building, the long-awaited new library will total nearly 100,000 square feet. While city administrators note that this will be a "green building", they caution that at this time they will not apply for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design) certification, because of the added expense which could exceed $100,000. As the author of the city's green building policy standard, I'm disappointed in that decision and hoping that certification may come later. Having LEED-certified municipal buildings provides clear direction to other Cambridge builders that we expect them to build to that high standard. Most important, I want to be assured that the library will operate to a high degree of energy efficiency.

Green Decade Cambridge

This growing citizen environmental group is pressing the city to do as much as it can to protect our climate and to look for more ways for all parties in Cambridge to participate. To join this effort, go to www.greencambridge.org.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

In my last newsletter, I urged readers to change their light bulbs from incandescent to fluorescent. Since then, Boy Scout Troup and Crew 56, based in Cambridgeport, have partnered with NSTAR for a unique fundraising opportunity: selling CFLs. I connected Cambridge schools, public and private, with NSTAR and now about eight of them are selling energy efficient light bulbs (instead of wrapping paper, candy, etc) to raise money and to educate the public that changing to these light bulbs can save as much as 25% on a household's annual electricity bill.

TRANSPORTATION

Walden St. Bridge

After years of neglect, the Mass Highway Dept. has begun to repair the Walden Street bridge, frustrating drivers who must seek alternate routes. Director of Traffic and Parking Sue Clippinger and her department are monitoring the situation and making frequent adjustments to ease congestion. In addition, there is concern about the length of time the construction is expected to take. Keep Lechmere, Lechmere A significant effect of the North Point development in East Cambridge is that the Lechmere T station will be rebuilt and moved across the McGrath and O'Brien highway from its current location. The developers have asked that the name of the station be changed to North Point. The location of the new station is raising concern about pedestrian safety. The Community Development Dept. has redesigned pedestrian access to the new T stop.

Rubber Sidewalks

Rubber sidewalks sound kind of humorous. But when used at tree holes, they respond to tree root growth without heaving the sidewalks dramatically. I've put in a council order to see if this new technique could solve the serious tripping problem we have with brick and concrete sidewalks.

Sidewalk Maintenance

Kudos to Department of Public Works Commissioner Lisa Peterson for addressing sidewalk repair in a systematic way. The city is allocating an extra million dollars for this effort this year and I expect more will follow next year. For temporary repairs to sidewalks with a tripping hazard of 11/2 inches or more, call the DPW at 617-349-4854.

LMA, Tickets, SCM and other options

There's your car, your bike, your feet, taxis and the MBTA Ð these are the usual ways to get around town. More and more there are other transportation options. Here are a couple of examples: Tickets on the Longwood Medical Area (LMA) buses, which run to the Harvard Medical area from Harvard Square, are available for $2 apiece if purchased at Holyoke Center or from the TreasurerÕs window at City Hall. SCM, which stands for Somerville Cambridge Medford, is a transportation service that is considering expanding its current medical-ride service to add rides for disabled passengers and those over 60. And the EZ-Ride shuttle operates as a partnership between the city and private industry to provide peak hour service from Cambridgeport (Erie St. and Brookline St.) to North Station by way of Kendall. Check its website at www.ezride or call 617-839-info.

WIFI

A major initiative that I am pushing is to provide free wireless Internet service (WIFI) across the city.

How Are We Installing WIFI?

The city has been testing a system to connect computer users to the Internet. Called the Cambridge Public Internet, the system will use MESH technology and is now being tested in the Central Square area. Soon the effort will spread to Harvard Square in cooperation with that university and the Harvard Square Business Association. The vision for Harvard Square is to make the newly reconstructed Palmer St. a wired streetÐan attraction for the wired set to pull out their laptops and do what they do.

The Digital Divide

I've zeroed in on ninth graders at public high school as the group that most needs computer equipment. In cooperation with the School Committee and with the initiative of School Committee member Luc Schuster, a joint school and city committee will be set up with the hope of making sure that every ninth grader has a laptop and Internet access by September 2007.

HEALTH, SCHOOLS, AND CHILDREN

Superintendent's Contract

After a contentious negotiation over Superintendent Fowler-Finn's contract, a majority of the School Committee voted to offer him a new contract which extends his time serving the city to two more years. Even some members of the School Committee who did not vote for the contract acknowledged that the Superintendent has focused the schools on student achievement.

MCAS Goes Up

Two of our schools made the list of highest statewide performers: Cambridgeport is #1 in third-grade math and Graham and Parks was # 4 in eighth-grade science. On the secondary level, CRLS is the second most improved in tenth-grade math with 87% passing -- up from 72% last year. Also in English with 93% passing -- up from 82%. At CRLS, a majority of students not only passed in English but also tested as proficient or advanced. As an added note, CRLS has a new acting principal, Christopher Saheed, whose performance is widely praised.

Montessori is a Hit

Kindergarten registration kicked off in October with a record crowd. Of particular interest to parents was the Montessori program, which is now enrolling three, four, and five-year-olds for next fall at the Tobin School. Children are taught in multi-age level classrooms in the Montessori program. Next year it is anticipated that three classrooms of 24 each will be opened. In addition, system-wide enrollment has held fairly steady in the schools after years of double-digit decline.

Healthy Children's Task Force (HCTF)Addresses Cultural Competency

As co-chair of the HCTF, I'm pleased to report that this year's emphasis will be on how to deliver health messages and services effectively, respecting cultural differences. How often have important health messages not connected with those to whom they are directed because cultural assumptions are not taken into account? The Task Force will examine language issues, written and spoken, and other barriers.

School Food Gets Healthier

I'm so proud of our city as we introduce fresh fruits and vegetables to the school lunch. Through careful testing with students ÒChef Vin,Ó new to the Cambridge system, has developed recipes for squash and broccoli that have students cleaning their plates. Special kudos to City Sprouts, our homegrown program that is helping schools grow more of their own food. Their latest success is at the Martin Luther King and Amigos Schools on Putnam Ave., where a large concrete courtyard has been converted to a vegetable garden with a grant from Lowe's and help from the city.

Pandemic Flu

With the help of the Disability Commission and the Council on Aging, the Public Health Dept. is learning more about the needs of less able-bodied and older persons in cases of flu. To prevent pneumonia, the most serious threat from the flu, ask a doctor about a pneumonia shot. Practical Preparedness and Prevention The Public Health Dept. is taking the approach that some preparedness efforts need to be taken by everyone no matter what the possible disaster: have on hand three days worth of basic supplies per person - that's food, medicine and a gallon of water per person per day. Also, you need batteries and flashlights. Finally, you need a plan to connect with your family and a place to meet.

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

Cambridge Official Housing Policy Statement

"It is the city's policy to preserve the diversity of the community by offering a wide range of housing programs to meet the needs of very low, low, and moderate-income residents. Wherever possible such rental and homeownership housing is made permanently affordable, built in areas throughout the city, with particular emphasis on production of units of appropriate size for families with children."

Inclusionary Zoning

This zoning program approved by the City Council in 1998, has led to Ð at no cost to the city - more than 400 units of affordable housing. While city-sponsored programs develop housing that uses funding from such sources as the Community Preservation Act (CPA), inclusionary zoning requires that any developer of 10 or more units develop 15% of them as affordable. Soon to be marketed are 23 homeownership units at a former candy factory in Kendall Square. In addition, three two-bedroom rentals will be available on Russell St. in North Cambridge and 40 rental units are now occupied at the Watermark Building in East Cambridge.

Developed by the City

Small numbers of units are scattered in buildings around the city and some have been incorporated into larger projects. For example, 40 units, a mixture of homeownership and rental, are now occupied at Trolley Square in North Cambridge. In Riverside, at the Switch House, 33 home ownership units will be available in late 2007 for families of low, moderate and middle income (defined as up to 20% over area median income).

Are You Eligible for Affordable Housing?

The city's affordable housing program covers a wide range of people from very low income to those at 120% of the median. For example, a family of two will be eligible to buy a unit in Riverside at the Switch House with a maximum income of $80,760. For a family of four, the top income is $100,920. For information and to get on a list for all Cambridge affordable housing opportunities, call 617-349-4622.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Nora Theater and Underground Railway Theater

Persistence pays off! For the last 15 years, these two theater companies have been negotiating with MIT to open up in space in Central Square. Finally, the careful and complex development discussions will result in a new theater on the site of the historic Bradford Café (next to Economy Hardware) that will replicate the original faade and add a theater out of which both companies will operate. Soon Central Square will have not just one new theater but two.

First Official Dog Park

C-Dog, a group of dog advocates, and the city are pleased to report the opening this fall of a permanent dog park at Fort Washington. With the cooperation of the Historical Commission, the DPW and Community Development Dept., other potential sites are now under discussion or construction, such as at Danehy Park in West Cambridge and in Pacific Park in Cambridgeport. Aging in Place Some city residents are getting themselves together to plan to live at home as long as possible after they have retired. Modeling their effort on the Beacon Hill Village model, groups in the Agassiz neighborhood, Neighborhood 9 (near Avon Hill) and Huron Ave., among others, are planning new service models for information and referral, snow shoveling, getting to the doctor, and having a meaningful social life. The role the city is playing at this time is to host meetings of those interested in this topic and to reach out across the city to engage other neighborhoods that are not yet involved.

Getting What's Coming to You

Starting January 15, CEOC offers free tax preparation services. For information call 617-868-2900.

Cambridge Science Festival

Scheduled from April 21-29, 2007, the first Cambridge Science Festival will be sponsored by MIT, Harvard, the city, the School Dept., WGBH, and other local businesses. The themes for this first festival include energy and science in everyday life. NPR's Ira Flatow will host the Science Friday radio show from Cambridge, during the festival.

Our Watershed: Out of Town

One of the most misunderstood and under-appreciated assets of Cambridge is its water supply. While most nearby communities are served by the MWRA and get their water from the rural Quabbin reservoir, our drinking water comes from open land and reservoirs such as Hobbs Brook Reservoir in Waltham and Lincoln and from the minimal land area surrounding Fresh Pond. In fact, most of the water in Fresh Pond flows from the western suburbs to the pond. We protect the reservoir's land areas in Lincoln and Waltham through agreements with property owners in those communities as well as with outright ownership. That's why our Community Preservation Act (CPA) money is well spent when we purchase suburban acreage that will protect our water supply.