Cambridge City Council Wants More Decision-making Power Over Development

Concerned Cambridge Citizens 

One missing element of this discussion is a struggle for power. The Cambridge City Council is mostly a cosmetic organization. They have the statutory power under the Plan E system of local government to hire a city manager and to approve curb cuts. But they seem to want some other decison-making power in order to improve their self esteem. The Planning Board says this plan would only inject more politics into the approval process. The Planning Board does little planning. It is more of an approval board.


Cambridge City Hall

[From article]
"The political theater is no place to have a thoughtful, careful discussion about whether something is within the boundaries of the law," said Planning Board member Steven Winter.

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140808217

Cambridge Planning Board: Granting council final say on special permits would politicize process
By Sara Feijo
Posted Aug. 6, 2014 @ 10:18 am
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle

Changing Cambridge, MA Government, Elections

Posted February 12, 2014 9:16 PM ET; Last updated February 21, 2014 9:55 AM ET

In his two-part statistical analysis of voting in Cambridge, (Rick Snedeker, "Let’s end Proportional Representation in Cambridge," Feb. 11, 2014; and "Exhausted votes and mandates in Cambridge's PR system," Feb. 20, 2014, Cambridge Chronicle) Mr. Snedeker fails to distinguish between the form of City government, Plan E under state law, and the method of elections. He does not mention the reason for the city government charter change in 1940. Some suggest it was corruption. Why is that subject seldom discussed by voters, officials and journalists? Especially in a one party state, even after public officials are jailed. What part of "Power corrupts." do the evolved superior Cambridge population not understand? Have the genes of Cambridge voters been cleansed of mendacity, sadism, greed and common sense? How often are integrity and common sense issues in elections?

The importance of acknowledging the reason for proportional voting is called the Fallacy of Chesterton's Fence. If you do not know the reason for a procedure, process or law, you may not repeal it. But if you understand why the rule or law exists, then you may be allowed to change it.

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/01/the-fallacy-of-chestertons-fence/

In George G. Szpiro's wonderful book, Numbers Rule, the author explains the many forms of elections tried throughout history. None of them are perfect. Some have the opposite of desired results, e.g., eliminating the best candidates. Finally Snedecker does not distinguish between low and high information voters.
Mr. Snedeker's interest in government is noble. Cambridge City government is run by people elected under one system. They are bound to act under another set of laws. How closely do these people exercise their power according to law? City Council meetings indicate the amount of lawlessness of the city government. Motions to suspend the rules are the most frequently heard motion.
There are serious dysfunctions of city, state and U.S. government mechanisms, including elections. But aside from pointing out alleged flaws in the current voting system, according to his standards, he makes no proposals to improve the system. Was this system of voting established for a reason? He does not discuss it.

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140211/NEWS/140219178/?tag=1

COLUMN: Let’s end Proportional Representation in Cambridge Part 1 of 2
By Rick Snedeker
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Feb. 11, 2014 @ 4:17 pm

* * *

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140220/NEWS/140229489/?tag=1

COLUMN: Exhausted votes and mandates in Cambridge's PR system  Part 2 of 2
By Rick Snedeker
Posted Feb. 20, 2014 @ 4:37 pm
Cambridge Chronicle

Cambridge City Council Restricted In Influencing City Employees

"some candidates seemed reluctant to interfere with the License Commission. Indeed, the Council has historically abstained from interfering with the Commission" The Plan E form of government, makes it illegal (punishment is removal and being barred from running for office) for a City Councilor to communicate directly with city employees, other than for information. They must ask the City Manager to act or not. Jane Jacobs in "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," explains popular neighborhoods attract banks. After too many banks are in place the neighborhoods become unpopular.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/11/1/city-council-square-business/

City Council Candidates Grapple with Changing Face of Square Business
By NIKKI D. ERLICK and LAURA K. RESTON,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
November 1, 2013

MA Probation Department Scandal

Brownsberger says, "Jack O'Brien was leading a new community corrections programs and I perceived that he genuinely felt that he had an important mission."

This is a pattern in government where men like Charles Rangel who started his career as a reformer of abuses by his predecessor Adam Clayton Powell Jr., became a symptom of what is wrong with the US House of Representatives.

Obama pleaded for hope and change appealing to the best of humans, but abused the trust of his supporters to mislead them and to create boondoggles which may destroy the US system of government. How can anyone tell who is a fraud and who is a decent human with integrity? That does not ensure that any person will have common sense which is just as important. But even if they are sincere what stops them from changing for "the greater good." "It is why I need more power to do more good," and then they become the problem not the solution. If you pay attention to the content and how these officials speak you can see them lying, but not everyone takes to time to scrutinize them.

Brownsberger says, "The question of how we set appropriate boundaries for legislative contacts with agencies deserves sustained attention."

That is why Cambridge MA has the Plan E form of Government, to address such abuses. Councilors are prohibited from communicating directly with city officials except for informational purposes by statute. They must go through the City Manager. They do not always respect that barrier but even when they do it does not prevent abuses. The City Manager and the councilors do favors for each other. That is how legislatures work, isn't it? Laws are passed as favors between members. "I'll vote for your bill if you vote for mine?"

When will journalists, who have serious credibility issues themselves, begin to direct attention toward integrity and toward common sense of candidates? Many Harvard and MIT affiliates have superior intelligence and knowledge. But they lack common sense. Isn't this a problem with the current US White House and TSA? You can't legislate integrity or common sense.


http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/opinions/x1392204860/Guest-commentary-A-long-nightmare-in-probation

Guest commentary: A long nightmare in probation
By Rep. Will Brownsberger
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Nov 25, 2010 @ 07:06 AM

Cambridge Official Wants to Know About Plan E


Ken Reeves is the longest serving city councilor. After 18 years he remains clueless about legal requirements of Plan E government. Instead of learning and reading the laws (he is a Harvard College, and University of Michigan Law School graduate), he wants to spend other people's money to study Plan E.

"We are at a place where we need to know what the sphere is limited to and not limited to,” Reeves said. City Councilor and state Rep. Tim Toomey said, “That’s incumbent upon us to know what the city charter is,” he said. “It’s 101 in being elected.”

Contrary to conventional wisdom (misconception) city councilors have no concept of laws Constitutions or even their own rules.

Commenting on this article, candidate Tom Stohlman says the power lies with the voters. Not when they elect spineless councilors.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1136015426/Reeves-wants-to-evaluate-Cambridges-Plan-E-form-of-government

Reeves wants to evaluate Cambridge's Plan E form of government
By Jillian Fennimore
Cambridge Chronicle
Oct 21, 2009 @ 12:25 PM

Harvard's influential PR machine actively censors this story. The Crimson and the Herald take down comments regarding the misguided faith in the integrity of the Harvard campus special cops and the Cambridge police. The Globe does not permit comments. Cambridge is a "Plan E" city run by an unelected all-powerful City Manager, who allows Harvard cops exclusive jurisdiction on their property contrary to state law. Campus cops (special state police and sworn deputies sheriff) cannot enforce City ordinances. Journalists and voters are clueless about this legal situation. Censoring the facts do not make them any less true.

http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1174693

Coed tied to killing fights graduation ban
By Joe Dwinell
Boston Herald
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Harvard Dorm Shooting Death Linked to Drugs


[A similar comment was posted under this Harvard Crimson article but it was deleted.]

Is the misguided faith in the integrity of the HUPD and the Cambridge police above questions? Cambridge is a "Plan E" city run by an unelected City Manager with all power. He is the chief law enforcement officer of the city. He allows Harvard Campus police to enjoy "exclusive jurisdiction" (a legal term) over Harvard property. That means that Harvard campus police (actually special state police officers and sworn deputies sheriff) can look the other way regarding some crimes. They can and do selectively enforce state laws. They do not have jurisdiction to enforce city ordinances. HUPD officers are responsive to requests from Harvard administrators and from Harvard faculty. This conflicts with the image of Harvard faculty, administrators and students. Nonetheless it is fact. Crimson editors and most voters are clueless about this problem. Due to lack of protection to Harvard students there was a shooting death on campus. The ultimate authority in this matter is with the City Manager. Censoring this fact does not make it less true.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=528262

Kirkland Shooting Victim Linked to Harvard Campus Drug Trade
Published On Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:10 PM
By CHRISTIAN B. FLOW and CLIFFORD M MARKS
Harvard Crimson Staff Writers