JOIN US! for the Cambridge Citizens Coalition Forum for City Council Candidate We welcome every City Council Candidate to join us at this event.
WHEN: Sunday September 26 from 4-6 PM.
WHERE: On zoom webinar
MODERATOR: Kerry Costello, a lifelong Boston resident, currently serves as the Chairperson of Jamaica Plain Community Centers, a non-profit organization. Kerry has extensive training and experience as Moderator and Facilitator for events such as this.
REGISTER in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_doT07kSmQBqDLYO6j-ndcg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Have a question you would like answered at this event? (There will be two drawn from those submitted. Email it to cccoalition1@gmail.com
WHEN: Sunday September 26 from 4-6 PM.
WHERE: On zoom webinar
MODERATOR: Kerry Costello, a lifelong Boston resident, currently serves as the Chairperson of Jamaica Plain Community Centers, a non-profit organization. Kerry has extensive training and experience as Moderator and Facilitator for events such as this.
REGISTER in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_doT07kSmQBqDLYO6j-ndcg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Have a question you would like answered at this event? (There will be two drawn from those submitted. Email it to cccoalition1@gmail.com
ACTION ITEM (important): Wednesday September 29 at 5:30: A Petition that could bring significant changes to architectural preservation efforts and Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs) is coming before the Ordinance Committee. It requires two tenants for every one homeowner on all Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) committees (replacing professionals) and removes any affordable housing developments from related design overview. It requires regular 10-year reviews of all NCDs (a two-year process in itself) during which time, a district can be terminated or greatly limited. Each NCD would require a report on both potential new housing impacts and renovation costs. This petition increases 10-fold (from 10 to 100) the number of petitioners to start the NCD process and gives 100 signers the ability to rescind an NCD. The petition additionally allows nearby business associations a role in deciding adjacent residential district guidelines and approvals. The current NCD system has worked well for Cambridge for years - from Mid-Cambridge to areas east and west, allowing important changes along with core reviews. In this new petition, the current Historical Commission staff is relegated to providing ongoing administrative and operational support but not expertise.
There are numerous potential consequences is this is enacted. Could the NCD changes stop current home renovations (bathrooms, kitchens) if nearby tenants and/or new non-professional NCD members consider the changes too disruptive, noisy, or costly? Could non-resident business owners stop residential improvements if they are seen to disrupt short term commerce? Would new NCD guidelines (focused on adding housing and addressing costs) prioritize big box designs (cheaper to build) over neighborhood-specific designs? Will smaller conservation district areas be excluded through the 100 petitioner requirements. Will this petition benefit well-organized, well-funded residents at the expense of poorer property owners? This petition, framed as “21st century values for NCDs” encourages the city to relegate our rich cultural and architectural history to the side lines, as no longer relevant or important.
EMAIL All Cambridge City Councillors at council@cambridgema.gov
SIGN UP TO SPEAK here: https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx
There are numerous potential consequences is this is enacted. Could the NCD changes stop current home renovations (bathrooms, kitchens) if nearby tenants and/or new non-professional NCD members consider the changes too disruptive, noisy, or costly? Could non-resident business owners stop residential improvements if they are seen to disrupt short term commerce? Would new NCD guidelines (focused on adding housing and addressing costs) prioritize big box designs (cheaper to build) over neighborhood-specific designs? Will smaller conservation district areas be excluded through the 100 petitioner requirements. Will this petition benefit well-organized, well-funded residents at the expense of poorer property owners? This petition, framed as “21st century values for NCDs” encourages the city to relegate our rich cultural and architectural history to the side lines, as no longer relevant or important.
EMAIL All Cambridge City Councillors at council@cambridgema.gov
SIGN UP TO SPEAK here: https://cambridgema.iqm2.com/citizens/default.aspx
JOIN US! Saturday September 25, 4:00 – 6:00 pm for Improving Cambridge Parks, Playing Fields and Green Spaces: Access and Equity in the Public Sphere. sponsored by Green Cambridge and the Cambridge Residents Alliance and co-sponsored by Cambridge Citizens Coalition, Charles River Watershed Association, Communities Responding to Extreme Weather, Cambridge Jazz Festival. Register for the meeting in advance: HERE After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting..
CCC is proud to announce our 2021 endorsees.
As the election moves forward we remain open to adding others. Join our Candidate Forum to hear from a wide range of candidates.
As the election moves forward we remain open to adding others. Join our Candidate Forum to hear from a wide range of candidates.
Read the candidate questionnaires and news about the 2021 Cambridge City Council Election: www.cccoalition.org/election.html
NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE? GO TO: bit.ly/Register2voteMA
Register to vote by October 13, 2021
VOTE BY MAIL Apply for Mail-in Ballot by Oct 19, 2021
Email: elections@cambridgema.gov Fax: 617-349-4366
Mail to the Cambridge Election Commission 51 Inman Street. 0213
Return Ballot to above address by Nov. 2
*Allow up to 7 days for ballot delivery by mail in each direction.
OTHER VOTING OPTIONS
Ballot Drop Box or Early Voting Sites: bit.lydropboxsites
Or VOTE IN PERSON ON NOVEMBER 2
Where to Vote? bit.ly/VotingPlaceMA
Register to vote by October 13, 2021
VOTE BY MAIL Apply for Mail-in Ballot by Oct 19, 2021
Email: elections@cambridgema.gov Fax: 617-349-4366
Mail to the Cambridge Election Commission 51 Inman Street. 0213
Return Ballot to above address by Nov. 2
*Allow up to 7 days for ballot delivery by mail in each direction.
OTHER VOTING OPTIONS
Ballot Drop Box or Early Voting Sites: bit.lydropboxsites
Or VOTE IN PERSON ON NOVEMBER 2
Where to Vote? bit.ly/VotingPlaceMA
Recent Cambridge Citizens Coalition Research and Opinion Pieces published in Cambridge Day
Promoting a More Livable Cambridge
Change can’t wait. We need bold, progressive polices to address our most pressing issues
POLICIES THAT MATTER ON:
1. Environmental Equity - addressing climate change can't wait! Safeguard trees and green spaces in every neighborhood.
2. Housing - stop gentrification, end exclusive single family zoning, create a real path to home ownership; add more mixed income housing
3. Smart Growth - we need a Citywide plan for smart growth (people before profits)
4. Neighborhoods are key (retain and build on naturally affordable longterm sustainable housing)
5. We live in an historic city; let's work together to preserve our rich architectural diversity.
6. Policies for equity (from Broadband and HEART to Universal Pre-K)
Recent CCC Events
... an August 2 City Hall Rally co-sponsored by 15 Cambridge groups supporting trees.
An important rally hosted by My Brothers Keeper and focused on recent gun violence (photos below) preceded the above tree rally at this same site.
Earlier, on June 17, 2021, many CCC leaders were out in support of a housing rally. the Peoples Housing Rally, opposing the misnamed Missing Middle Housing petition that sought to up-zone the whole city to add more luxury (market-based) housing in backyards and other areas (see images below).
WE ARE ALREADY IN A HOUSING CRISIS - DO WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE?!
Assault on Neighborhood Conservation Efforts
This petition has been introduced and forwarded by City Council to the Ordinance Committee. This petition ,that one could call the "Neighborhood Conservation District" (NGC) Assault Petition, was received from an individual often allied with the pro-developer political Pac calling itself "A Better Cambridge (ABC)." The petition seeks to gut Cambridge's long standing architectural preservation means, local areas established by neighbors to preserve the unique eclectic mix of housing in their area. What this petition does? It removes the right of citizens to petition the City on this matter, enabling City Council (who already must approve any new Conservation District after the study period, to stop the process before it even starts. Citizens will lose long established rights. And, Council (not citizens) can change the language of established districts, and have redefined criteria for existing Boards, from District residents who bring professional knowledge to these issues, to simply ones ownership status. Who benefits? Largely out-of-time developers, and non-resident monied investors (many of whom represent national and global financial interests), and those seeking to build large McMansions inconsistent with our long-standing local neighborhoods. Why this matters? Cambridge, founded in 1630, one of the oldest planned cities in America. Its history, and the legacy of its rich architecture matters - whether we are talking about workers cottages or more elite residences, workplaces, or one time battlegrounds. Because Cambridge neighborhoods matter, and this is just one more effort (based in part on a national drive) to end restrictions on developers and investors to build more luxury housing in this already very dense and very historic city - further gentrifying these areas, and forcing out long term lower income residents. We know that Neighborhood Conservation Districts help to keep rental and housing costs more stable, but this is not just about economic issues, and we know that our tourism economy and local businesses are dependent on our unique historical and architectural legacy; This petition is also about environmental sustainability - maintaining sound architecture. Please write City Council at: council@cambridgema.gov and CC the City Clerk at: cityclerk@cambridgema.gov
Read: the "Neighborhood Conservation District Assault Petition" at www.cccoalition.org/docsinfo.html
Read: the "Neighborhood Conservation District Assault Petition" at www.cccoalition.org/docsinfo.html
