February 2021 - Neighbors - lists.buenavistasocialclub.org

FW: Politics makes strange bedfellows
by Ruth Ryals 27 Feb '21

27 Feb '21

I also posted it on portersquare.net. From: Michael Brandon <mjbrandon(a)gmail.com> Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 9:08 PM To: Harvard Square Neighborhood Association <info(a)harvardsquareneighborhood.org>, HSNA Board <HSNAboard(a)harvardsquareneighborhood.org>, HSNA Steering Committee <HSNASteering(a)harvardsquareneighborhood.org>, OHSQ <ohsq(a)googlegroups.com>, livable Cambridge open <livablecambridge(a)googlegroups.com>, Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods <association-of-cambridge-neighborhoods(a)googlegroups.com>, Denise Jillson <djillson(a)harvardsquare.com>, Marc Levy <editor(a)cambridgeday.com> Subject: Politics makes strange bedfellows Support black-owned cannabis shop in Harvard SquareCommonWealth magazine Though some, including the Harvard Square Business Association, have found reasons to oppose, we urge the community to rally behind this proposal ...

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COVID vaccine scheduling tips
by raryals 27 Feb '21

27 Feb '21

[image: Prudence Baxter] Prudence Baxter <https://nextdoor.com/profile/1094827/> • Huron Village CVS seems to be the easiest place to get appts. Be an early bird. Check first thing in the morning. Before 6. Although they also drop new appts during day. Early morning if there are slots, there's less competition for thrm. 1 hr ago 1 [image: CarlyRose Willing] CarlyRose Willing <https://nextdoor.com/profile/52431917/> • Mid-Cambridge CVS drops their appointments daily between 4am and 5:30! That’s the best place. I was lucky on the curative website to get a spot at the Springfield mall for my partner. It cost us a $80 rental car, but ultimately was worth it because of his comorbid conditions! Hope you’re able to find one soon 49 min ago -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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FW: Neighborhood Meeting next week; please confirm participants
by Ruth Ryals 26 Feb '21

26 Feb '21

Would anyone be willing to attend as a representative for Buena Vista Social Club, as I will be there (on zoom) for PSNA? It would be helpful for them to know this part of the city exists…. I would be happy to bring you up to speed on the background to this meeting. Ruth From: "Nolan, Patricia" <pnolan(a)cambridgema.gov> Date: Friday, February 26, 2021 at 9:40 AM To: "chuckhinds(a)msn.com" <chuckhinds(a)msn.com>, "beth100springstreet(a)gmail.com" <beth100springstreet(a)gmail.com>, "info(a)naeastcambridge.org" <info(a)naeastcambridge.org>, "WellingtonHarrington(a)gmail.com" <WellingtonHarrington(a)gmail.com>, "area4neighborhoodcoalition(a)gmail.com" <area4neighborhoodcoalition(a)gmail.com>, "nancyryan4(a)comcast.net" <nancyryan4(a)comcast.net>, "arleenh(a)hotmail.com" <arleenh(a)hotmail.com>, "jaking(a)mit.edu" <jaking(a)mit.edu>, "daveneiman(a)gmail.com" <daveneiman(a)gmail.com>, "cambridgeportna(a)gmail.com" <cambridgeportna(a)gmail.com>, "fritzdonov(a)aol.com" <fritzdonov(a)aol.com>, "MrLJAdkins(a)msn.com" <MrLJAdkins(a)msn.com>, "carolyn_shipley(a)yahoo.com" <carolyn_shipley(a)yahoo.com>, "psinclair(a)agassiz.org" <psinclair(a)agassiz.org>, "jlipshaw(a)gmail.com" <jlipshaw(a)gmail.com>, "hsolorzano(a)comcast.net" <hsolorzano(a)comcast.net>, Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net>, "irallen(a)comcast.com" <irallen(a)comcast.com>, "douglas_p_brown(a)yahoo.com" <douglas_p_brown(a)yahoo.com>, "fieldjuma(a)gmail.com" <fieldjuma(a)gmail.com>, "rclarey(a)aol.com" <rclarey(a)aol.com>, "jatennis(a)comcast.net" <jatennis(a)comcast.net>, "mjbrandon(a)gmail.com" <mjbrandon(a)gmail.com>, "Suzanne.Blier(a)harvardsquareneighborhood.org" <Suzanne.Blier(a)harvardsquareneighborhood.org>, "inman.square.neighborhood(a)gmail.com" <inman.square.neighborhood(a)gmail.com>, "info(a)abettercambridge.org" <info(a)abettercambridge.org>, "cambridgeneighborhoods(a)gmail.com" <cambridgeneighborhoods(a)gmail.com>, Jim Gray <james.h.gray(a)gmail.com>, Lee Farris <Lee(a)LeeFarris.net> Cc: "Scarlett, Michael" <mscarlett(a)cambridgema.gov> Subject: RE: Neighborhood Meeting next week; please confirm participants Dear Neighborhood group leader: I hope you are well and seeing the light at the end of this long pandemic tunnel. I am writing to ask for your participation in next week’s Council Committee* meeting on Thursday March 4 from 5-7 pm. Per the Governor’s and city’s orders on meetings, it will be held via remote participation, via zoom. [*Neighborhood & Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee ] This meeting will be a roundtable for us to listen to YOU. It will NOT be mostly the council or the city talking. You will not be limited to speaking during public comment – instead you will be full participants (panelists in zoom lingo) during the meeting. It is better if all groups are present, since I believe we can learn from each of you – and you might learn from each other. We want to accommodate everyone – without having so many people to make it impossible to have a good discussion. Each group is asked to designate from 1-3 people who will be panelists. PLEASE SEND YOUR DESIGNEES TO ME OR MY AIDE BEFORE THE MEETING. Panelists will be sent the zoom link prior to the meeting. Any additional group members can listen, and make public comment, as anyone can for all our meetings. The agenda is simple: Chair Nolan opens the meeting Introduction of all present – name and group CDD staff explains how they currently work with neighborhood groups - 5 minutes max Open for discussion, starting with two questions: Does your group have questions or issues or successes or concerns that might benefit from posing to the group or the city? Are there any ideas you have about how the city might better support your work? In other words, can the city make your lives as group leaders easier? Ideas here include: help with outreach, identifying more effective communication of city business, help with providing child care, Adjourn Desired outcome: some specific ideas on how neighborhood groups and the city and the council can work together. Neighborhood groups are a vital part of Cambridge’s democracy and I hope we can come away from this hearing with tangible ways for the City to better support groups. I look forward to hearing from you and working together. Sincerely, Patty NOTE: We sent an invitation to all leaders of groups listed on the city’s website. There has been some question on whether groups should be included if they are not neighborhood based. That is something to discuss at the meeting if any of you want to raise it. And if there are neighborhood groups not yet included, please advise. Patricia Nolan Cambridge City Council Chair, NLTP committee She/her/hers 857-270-0256 mobile Aide: Michael Scarlett He/him/his mscarlett(a)cambridgema.gov 617-349-9152

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Re: [Neighbors] Equity, Older Workers, Opioids & Workers’ Comp, #PathwaysToEconSecurity, and more
by Ruth Ryals 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

Someone(s) out there may find this interesting. I do, like some of my pet subjects, who is speaking, and (My God!) have we changed our viewpoint on these programs. There are some great opportunities for interns here as well. Ruth From: National Academy of Social Insurance <nasi(a)nasi.org> Reply-To: National Academy of Social Insurance <nasi(a)nasi.org> Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 3:48 PM To: Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net> Subject: Equity, Older Workers, Opioids & Workers’ Comp, #PathwaysToEconSecurity, and more Can't view the images in this message? View Online. This Month at the Academy February 2021 In this issue: The National Academy of Social Insurance congratulates Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on her nomination by the Biden-Harris Administration to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Once confirmed, Brooks-LaSure will be the second Black public servant to lead CMS, and the first woman of color. Are you familiar with the other four Black public servants, to-date, who have led the nation’s federal social insurance programs? We invite you to help the Academy recognize other Black leaders in social insurance in honor of Black History Month. Click here to view the post and add your comments. New at the Academy Don’t miss our 2021 Policy Conference next week (March 2-4)! Pathways to Economic Security: Bringing All Voices to the Table. View the full program, keynotes and other speakers, line-up of workshops (retirement security, unemployment compensation, caregiving, and more), and Pay-As-You-Wish registration options. Register today. What does an increasing focus on equity, distinct from equality, mean for our work on social insurance programs and policies? (A reflection by CEO William Arnone) Launch of New Task Force on Older Workers New fact sheet: Understanding Opioids in the Context of Workers' Compensation Unemployment Insurance Task Force highlights concerns about disproportionate distribution of precarious jobs among workers of color and women (A discussion by Policy Director Elaine Weiss) Scroll down for: Member and Associate Member Spotlight: David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics, MIT and Michael Stepner, Winner of the 2020 John Heinz Dissertation Award What We're Reading Academy Members Spotted (Melissa Boteach, William Darity, Jr., G. William Hoagland) New at the Academy Unpack the latest policy proposals being discussed by federal and state officials Don't miss the Academy's March 2 - 4 conference, Pathways to Economic Security: Bringing All Voices to the Table. Register for the conference and attend as many sessions as your schedule allows. View the full program and speakers. Conference Speakers Check out the agenda and overview of the event for more information. Contact Kristine Quinio, Director of Development and External Relations, at kquinio(a)nasi.org, with questions about the event or sponsorship inquiries. Task Force highlights concerns about disproportionate distribution of precarious jobs among workers of color and womenThe Academy’s Task Force on Unemployment Insurance (UI) explores options for comprehensive modernization of the UI program and responds to a particularly challenging moment: Millions of jobless workers across the country may lose $300 in weekly support on March 14, and two other programs providing benefits to unemployed Americans may expire in April without federal action. Elaine Weiss, Director of Policy, discusses findings from the Task Force's initial meetings, and their focus on the effects of racial and gender-based disparities not only in joblessness but in the length of time it will likely take for displaced workers to find new jobs. Read the discussion post here and see who is serving on the Task Force to-date. Understanding Opioids in the Context of Workers' Compensation The decades-long opioid crisis shines a spotlight on workers’ compensation and its role in the rising number of opioid-related overdose deaths in the workplace. Injured workers are at an overall increased risk of developing opioid-related morbidity, increasing the cost of workers’ compensation claims, impacting the economy negatively, and increasing the mortality rate of injured workers. Read our new fact sheet summarizing key research on the interrelation between work injuries, workers’ compensation, the opioid crisis, who is most at-risk, and areas for future research. Launch of Task Force on Older Workers and Retirement Security The Academy has launched a new Task Force to identify and assess options for improving retirement security for older workers who are either in physically demanding jobs, facing health challenges, or both, but who do not currently qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Academy’s new Task Force is comprised of 12 experts on Social Security benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance, retirement security, and disability policy. See the list of members. Read the press release. Member Spotlight Member David Autor and Associate Member Michael Stepner are economists studying inequality and social insurance. Michael Stepner, who completed his PhD in economics at MIT, received the Academy’s 2020 John Heinz Dissertation Award for his “Essays on Health and Social Insurance.” Later in 2020, Academy Member David Autor, MIT Ford Professor of Economics and one of Stepner’s dissertation advisors, was recognized by the Heinz Family Foundation with a special 25th Anniversary Heinz Award. The Academy’s Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Fay Lomax Cook, spoke with both scholars to learn more about their work on inequality and social insurance, their influence on each other, and big research questions for the future given the impact of COVID-19. Check out the Spotlight, or listen to the recorded conversation (30 minutes) and read a transcript of the full conversation. Stay tuned! The winner of the 2021 John Heinz Dissertation Award will be announced next week and presented at the Academy’s Pathways to Economic Security Conference on March 3rd. What We're Reading Pandemic ResponsePreliminary Research: An Evaluation of the Payroll Protection Program Using Administrative Payroll Microdata, MIT Economics Journal Article: Reparations for American Descendants of Persons Enslaved in the U.S. and their Potential Impact on SARS-CoV-2 Transmission, Social Science and Medicine Medicare and Health PolicyReport: Strengthening Medicare Financing, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Article: COVID-19 Shows Now Is The Time To Integrate Care For Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries, Health Affairs Academy Members Spotted Member Melissa Boteach discussed the role of child care in the economy, "made visible" in the Covid-19 pandemic, and the economically marginalized care workers who perform this essential work with Matthew Yglesias on Vox's 'The Weeds' podcast. Member William Darity, Jr. participated in a panel on Closing the Racial Wealth Gap and the Case for Reparation for Nonprofit Quarterly. Member G. William Hoagland was cited in a New York Times article about the potential impacts of using budget reconciliation to pass President Biden's stimulus bill. Support the Academy Share this newsletter with colleagues or others who might benefit from using the Academy's resources and invite them to join our mailing list here.Or support the Academy's work by making a donation today: The Academy is a 501(c)(3) public charity (FEID# 52-1451753), and your contribution is 100% tax-deductible. Connect with the Academy on Twitter and Facebook. This email was sent by the National Academy of Social Insurance. 1441 L Street NW Suite 530 Washington, DC 20005 United States Unsubscribe here.

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Fwd: [Porter square] FW: Please forward this to PSNA
by raryals 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net> Date: Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 11:36 AM Subject: [Porter square] FW: Please forward this to PSNA To: PSNA <portersquare(a)googlegroups.com> Yikes! I am so glad I gave up last time around and responded to an email from Beth Israel. I am aware that many do not have that option, and am furious that our governor cannot get this right. Ruth *From: *Young Kim <ycknorris(a)gmail.com> *Date: *Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 10:21 AM *To: *Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net> *Subject: *Please forward this to PSNA Hi Ruth, I have been fighting the COVID-19 appointment system all morning and I am seeing red. Here are some of people's experiences. One of the quotes are mine. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/just-as-bad-as-the-previous-week-resid… If you think this is useful, please forward it to PSNA. Thank you, Young -- View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/portersquare/topic-id/message-id -- To post to this group, send email to portersquare(a)googlegroups.com Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/portersquare To unsubscribe from this group, send email to portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Porter Square Neighbors Association" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to portersquare+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/99F234E7-4143-4681-89B8-2572… <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/portersquare/99F234E7-4143-4681-89B8-2572…> . -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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FW: Porter Pickup Site Is Seeking An Additional Site Host
by Ruth Ryals 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

From: Farmers To You <info(a)farmerstoyou.com> Reply-To: <info(a)farmerstoyou.com> Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 10:10 AM To: Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net> Subject: Porter Pickup Site Is Seeking An Additional Site Host Please help us to spread the word.‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ No images? Click here Dear Ruth,Our Porter Square pickup site is seeking an additional site host. As our site continues to grow, we are looking to provide added support for our site host Sarah during pickup on Thursdays. Please share this message with anyone who you think may be interested. As a site host, they will be able to set up an active account right away (avoid the waiting list) and receive a credit to their account each week as compensation for hosting.The Porter Square pickup site runs from 5:30 - 7pm (we will need the site hosts there from 5pm - 7:15pm) in the drive-through of the Cambridge Trust at 1720 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge. The work of a site host includes: setting up the tables & coolers, greeting families, handling bottle & bag returns, and assembling orders with last minute items like bread and ice cream.If you are interested, please contact liz(a)farmerstoyou.com for more details. Thank you, Liz, Olivia, Christine and the team at Farmers To You Login to your Farmers To You account Farmers To You, LLC P.O.Box 202 Calais, VT 05648 802-225-6383 info(a)farmerstoyou.com You're receiving this email because you are a Farmers To You partner. Share Forward Unsubscribe

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FW: Resent with Application Deadline: Members Sought for City of Cambridge Police Review & Advisory Board
by Ruth Ryals 25 Feb '21

25 Feb '21

From: <itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov> on behalf of Ini Tomeu <itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov> Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 10:38 AM To: <info(a)portersquare.net> Subject: Resent with Application Deadline: Members Sought for City of Cambridge Police Review & Advisory Board City of Cambridge Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov For Immediate Release Members Sought for City of Cambridge Police Review & Advisory Board Cambridge, MA, February 25, 2021 – Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents interested in serving on the Police Review & Advisory Board. Made up of volunteer members who serve five-year terms, the Board generally meets on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. The Police Review & Advisory Board was established by City Ordinance in 1984 to: Provide for citizen participation in reviewing Cambridge Police Department policies, practices, and procedures; Provide a prompt, impartial and fair investigation of complaints brought by individuals against members of the Cambridge Police Department; and Develop programs and strategies to promote positive police/community relations and provide opportunities for productive discussions, improved understanding, and innovative ways of resolving differences. The Board consists of five Cambridge residents who are representative of the City's racial, social, and economic composition. Board Members must be a Cambridge resident; possess a reputation for fairness, integrity, and responsibility; and demonstrate an active interest in public affairs and service. For more information about the Board, visit: www.cambridgema.gov/prab. Board Members serve as volunteers without compensation and are responsible for reviewing and evaluating completed investigations to make findings on the allegations contained in each complaint; identifying needs for changes to police department policies, procedures, or training, and reporting findings and recommended solutions to the Police Commissioner and the City Manager; and assisting in education and outreach to promote awareness and understanding of the Board and strengthen community-police relations. The application deadline is March 26, 2021. Applications can be submitted at www.Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter describing interest and a resume and applicable expertise or experience can also be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Please note that appointments are currently required due to COVID-19 pandemic protocols. To make an appointment to pick up an application, please contact the City Manager's Office at 617-349-4300 or email fgaines(a)Cambridgema.gov. -###- This email was sent to info(a)portersquare.net City of Cambridge, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Executive Office, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States Unsubscribe

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FW: City Council: A few thoughts about Ordinance to Limit Campaign Contributions
by Ruth Ryals 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

From: Carol O'Hare <carol(a)carolok.com> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 1:41 PM To: 'Heather Hoffman' <heather.m.hoffman.1957(a)gmail.com>, 'Marilyn Wellons' <marilyn.wellons(a)yahoo.com>, 'pwellons' <pwellons(a)earthlink.net>, 'Doug Brown' <douglas_p_brown(a)yahoo.com>, 'Cathie Zusy' <CathZusy(a)aol.com>, Ruth Ryals <rryals(a)comcast.net>, 'Nancy Ryan' <nancyryan4(a)comcast.net> Cc: 'Walter McDonald' <waltermcdonald40(a)gmail.com> Subject: FW: City Council: A few thoughts about Ordinance to Limit Campaign Contributions I thought you might be interested in my quickie comments, which I already sent to Lee Farris & Suzanne Blier. Carol From: Carol O'Hare [mailto:carol@carolok.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 11:48 AM To: 'council(a)cambridgema.gov' Cc: 'Wilson, Anthony' Subject: City Council: A few thoughts about Ordinance to Limit Campaign Contributions Dear Mayor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor Mallon and City Councillors: I’ve only this morning briefly reviewed the proposed campaign finance ordinance. I support publicly funded campaigns. But that’s unlikely to happen real soon. So I do support some limitation on campaign contributions. But, if the Council does proceed with this, there certainly needs to be a careful, deliberate review and revision to understand ramifications, cure ambiguities, correct sloppy drafting that will result in future hassles, hurdles and unintended consequences for all involved, including developers and contractors. I’ve included just a few examples below. Sincerely, Carol O’Hare 172 Magazine St. ↓ 1. This is an exact quote from the Definitions: “(x) Zoning change enhancing permittee’s(?) value means an increase in allowed density or height, a reduction in setbacks or parking, or an expansion of allowed uses.” Shouldn’t that include a catch-all for other value enhancements, e.g. allowing more micro-units and fewer family-size units or authorizing lower environmental standards? Is value-increase a complete measure of possible benefits for developer/contributors? What about cost-reduction? 2. More Definitions – Sloppy writing (x) Applicant means a person who or entity that has filed an application with the City of Cambridge or any city-related agency in any of the following situations: (x) Seeking to enter into a contract; (x) Seeking approval for a special permit, variance, zoning change enhancing permittee value or approval of a planned unit development; (x) Seeking to acquire real estate from, or dispose of real estate to, the city or any city-related agency; or (x) Seeking financial assistance from the city or any city-related agency. (x) City-related agency means all departments of the city, as well as any authorities and quasi-public corporations and other quasi-public entities that receive appropriations from the city. [No matter how small the appropriation is?] (x) Contractor means a person who or entity that has entered into a contract with the city or any city-related agency.(x) Contribution means a donation of money or of in-kind goods and or services as further defined in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 55, Section 1. (x) Financial assistance means any grant, loan, tax incentive, bond financing proceeds used to purchase land or fund expenses for improvements made to land or real estate, or other form of assistance that is realized by or provided to a person or entity in the amount of $50,000 or more through the authority or approval of the city or a city-related agency, including, but not limited to, tax increment financing aid, district improvement financing aid, industrial development bonds, or community development block grant aid. (x) Contract means a signed written contract in excess of $25,000 for goods or services to which the city or a city-related agency is a party, except where the agreement is required by law to be awarded pursuant to a competitive bidding process under applicable law, or where the agreement constitutes a sole source procurement under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B, Section 7. (x) For the purposes of this Ordinance, a “Business Entity” whose contributions are regulated by this ordinance means: (i) an individual including the individual’s spouse, and any child/children’ (ii) a firm; corporation; professional corporation; partnership; limited liability company; trust; organization; association; and any other manner and kind of business or other entity; (iii) any person who owns 10% or more fo the equity or ownership or income interests in a person or entity and their spouses and child/ children; (v) any person, subcontractor, subsidiary, corporation, firm, partnership, limited liability company, trust, organization or association who has received or indefeasibly acquired the right to receiver, from a person, more than $50,000 in compensation or income of any kind (including, by way of illustration, and not limitation: wages, salaries, sums paid to independent contractors, benefits, dividends, profit-sharing, pension contributions, deferred contributions, stocks, stock options or gifts, or special permits, variances or zoning changes that may impact an applicant’s personal or professional finances) in any twelve (12) month period prior to the award of, or during the term of, a contract or zoning decision subject to this ordinance and (vi) all persons who are an “affiliate” of a Business Entity. [“Affiliate” is not a defined term. In ordinary parlance could include a wide array of persons! That is overbroad.]

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FW: [livablecambridgeopen] Re: Wed. 2/24, 5pm, Support campaign finance limit at Cambridge City Council
by Ruth Ryals 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

fyi On 2/24/21, 12:32 PM, "Robert Winters" <livablecambridge(a)googlegroups.com on behalf of Robert(a)rwinters.com> wrote: Suffice to say that this is not the first time the issue of the propriety of some campaign contributions has come up in Cambridge and it won't be the last. My opinions on the matter have certainly changed over the years and they'll probably continue to evolve. That said, here are a few thoughts in response to what some have said: 1) It's important for voters to be aware of how money can influence who can be a credible candidate and whether or not there are serious conflicts of interest in play. I try to do what I can to at least point people in that direction, e.g. http://cambridgecivic.com/?p=7576 (City Council Campaign Receipts and Monthly Bank Reports – 2021). You can, of course, look all this stuff up yourself at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) site. I will warn you that you do have to be able to recognize some of the donor names in order to get the true picture. https://www.ocpf.us/ I agree with those who have pointed out that new candidates, in particular, may need money from family and friends who may be scattered in locations outside of Cambridge. I do, however, have very uneasy feelings about any candidate that has an unusually high percentage of donations from outside of Cambridge, and I can only reconcile that uneasiness in the case of new candidates who at least have developed some roots in Cambridge. By the way, The Manchurian Candidate (1962 with Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, etc.) was a great film if you have never seen it. 2) Whether you like it or not, courts have been viewing contributions as "speech" for some time and I suspect that won't change much. At the risk of ruffling feathers, I tend to agree with that viewpoint. It can take at least some money to promote a given viewpoint, and in the absence of a universal platform through which voters and politicians alike can educate themselves about things, this tends to translate into political contributions to individual candidates and various forms of political action committees (PACs). Indeed, the rise of PACs and "Independent Expenditure Political Action Committees" (IEPAC) has been shifting the focus from individual campaigns to issue-specific PACs. I haven't seen anything in the proposals before the Ordinance Committee about PACs. An unintended consequence of the proposals may be to shift power to the various IEPACS who back candidate slates. That would be, in my opinion, a giant step in the wrong direction. Can the proposals now before the Ordinance Committee be viewed as curtailment of free speech? I suspect that if it's a reasonable prohibition against contributions from a party with contract business before the City, that's probably an acceptable restriction. Would that extend to those seeking zoning relief or a more general change in zoning? That's not so clear. After all, if residents are not restricted in contributing to candidates to block a change, you can probably make a case that the proponents should have the same access. 3) Some candidates and PACS benefit greatly from the relative wealth of their political constituencies. I regularly see $1000 contributions (and sometimes twice that when a spouse also gives the maximum) from lawyers and highly paid high-tech employees. Sometimes those who focus on contributions from real estate people (as I often do) fail to note the disproportionate influence from other sectors who may also benefit greatly from City policies. 4) I'm pretty sure that any proposal to limit the amount of money a candidate can give or loan to his/her own campaign will be legally dead on arrival. Some candidates actually prefer to largely self-fund their own campaigns because begging for money is uncomfortable. Also, if you have amassed some wealth by working for years, even a large City Council campaign budget may easily be affordable - as long as you don't mind risking it all with the potential of zero return on your investment. Yeah, that's an advantage for wealthier candidates, but nobody said that life or politics was fair. 5) For those who have wondered why this conversation always seems to come up well into an election cycle and most likely too late to affect the next election, is anyone really surprised? Attention spans are often short, and even the conversation itself tends to be an election issue itself, so why should anyone be surprised when this comes up at the same time that people are starting to think about the next election? Political theater, you say? Sure. Robert Winters

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FW: [ACN] Re: [livablecambridgeopen] Wed. 2/24, 5pm, Support campaign finance limit at Cambridge City Council
by Ruth Ryals 24 Feb '21

24 Feb '21

fyi From: <livablecambridge(a)googlegroups.com> on behalf of Heather Hoffman <heather.m.hoffman.1957(a)gmail.com> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 12:39 PM Cc: Cambridge Neighborhood Association Google Group <association-of-cambridge-neighborhoods(a)googlegroups.com>, livable Cambridge open <livablecambridge(a)googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: [ACN] Re: [livablecambridgeopen] Wed. 2/24, 5pm, Support campaign finance limit at Cambridge City Council I think drawing attention to developer contributions to Councillors about to vote to enrich them or another developer will backfire because I've watched it happen. Leaving aside the people who are intending to be bribed, people always think they aren't influenced by donations like that. No one paid any attention to Lawrence Lessig's testimony that the only people who aren't influenced by gifts are sociopaths; all of us normal folks are softened up by niceness from other people. Councillors will claim that they are getting donations because people donating like how they do things, not because they expect specific favors in return, and I could probably say something really rude in agreement. Personally, I think the problem is bigger, that our city government cedes everything it can to developers and generally works for them and not for us and puts a progressive veneer over all of it, as gentrification and displacement roar along and the City's bank account overflows with all that tax m oney. What campaign finance reform could do is make it easier for people to run without spending so much time raising money, and that might bring in a different and perhaps better class of candidate. Heather Hoffman, out east where we aren't allowed to have nice things unless developers pay for them On Wed, Feb 24, 2021 at 11:31 AM Blier, Suzanne <blier(a)fas.harvard.edu> wrote: I agree with Lee that the developer piece is a big start (and well worth doing). I also think that if we as residents speak up (and write to council) before key votes on who has received funding from firms tied to this decision it would help. On money outside of Cambridge. Maybe we suggest that this is allowed ONLY for people not currently on Council (but I am not sure this is legal). Note - there is a lot of developer money coming in this way. I feel less concerned with religious donors (Moslem) or youth (Sunrise) but I do feel strongly that Cambridge elections should be for and about Cambridge donors.

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