January 2023 - Neighbors - lists.buenavistasocialclub.org

Fwd: Notice for PSNA on Charter Review meeting coming up
by RUTH RYALS 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

Ruth: I am reaching out to ask you to publicize the work of Cambridge’s Charter Review Committee. [CRC] The CRC was created as a result of the ballot question in 2021 and set up to review the city’s current charter (basically our constitution) and recommend changes to ensure that the government meets the needs of all its residents. Input is sought and on Tuesday January 24 there is a public forum/meeting at the Main Library. Spread the word - the CRC been reviewing possible changes. Should council terms be longer? Should some council members be neighbhorhood based instead of citywide? Should the budget process change? should we have a directly elected mayor? All open questions - what thoughts do you have? what opinions do you have? Come to the meeting and learn, listen and give input. Check out the flier explaining the CRC https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/charterreviewcommittee/charterres… . The committee is seeking to hear from as many individuals and groups as possible to gather feedback about what’s working and what isn’t working in the Cambridge government and it would be great to engage the Porter Square Neighborhood Association. Two public events in the next month; 1) Tuesday, January 24th at the Main Cambridge Public Library from 6-8 PM there will be refreshments 2) Saturday, February 4th from 6-8 PM held via zoom. Folk should feel free to come for as long as they are able, this will be an open opportunity to share feedback and ideas with the committee. Also, if PSNA would like a member of the CRC to attend the next event to briefly discuss the charter and provide an opportunity for feedback, just ask. The best way to stay up to date is to check out the website - https://www.cambridgema.gov/charterreview https://www.cambridgema.gov/charterreview , send an email to CharterReviewCommittee(a)Cambridgema.gov mailto:CharterReviewCommittee@Cambridgema.gov , or sign up for the newsletter here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaWwIk… . Thank you so much and please let me know if you have any questions! Patricia Nolan Cambridge City Council She/her/hers Aide: Patrick Hayes phayes(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:phayes@cambridgema.gov 617-349-4280

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Fwd: [ACN] Today, 3pm Fwd: Special City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 18 from 3-5pm
by raryals 18 Jan '23

18 Jan '23

I am forwarding this email from The Black Response; however, be mindful not to rush to judgement without all of the facts, which we will not know for a while as the investigation proceeds. See the video link below: Also note, we will discuss this tragic incident at our PSNA meeting tomorrow night. Ruth Hello everyone, As you may know, the City Manager has called for a special City Council meeting on Wednesday, January 18 from 3-5pm to “discuss protocols, processes, and training of the Cambridge Police Department” related to the police murder of Arif Sayed Faisal. It is important that we have a strong presence at this meeting so that the City does not continue to increase the police budget, and is held accountable for its commitment to fund HEART. The meeting is hybrid so you can attend at City Hall or watch it over zoom. We need people, especially Cambridge residents, to sign up for public comment. You can sign up HERE <https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityCalendar/view.aspx?guid=031017d55a674dffb67…> . https://www.cambridgema.gov/CityCalendar/view.aspx?guid=031017d55a674dffb67… Below are talking points you can use to craft a two minute comment for the meeting. You will see that there are points relevant to funding HEART as well as questions about and challenges to police protocols. Any and all of this is supportive to creating a more just Cambridge. Overall Summary Points: - Defund the Cambridge Police Department and redirect those funds into alternative responses for mental health crises (HEART), traffic enforcement and civilianizing detail, and the housing crisis (MAAP). - Demilitarize CPD by taking away their access to weaponry and funding, and not giving them body cameras to add to their catalogue of tech. Talking points about HEART for 1/18 City Council Hearing: - Make the protocols public! When are police allowed and required to shoot a person in crisis? - We don’t need the city to invest more money in policing; the city needs to invest in other options for residents to call when they need support. - Since 2020, Cambridge community members have been advocating for the City to FUND an alternative to police for people to call in times of crisis. - While it is true that the City is now talking to Cambridge HEART, and that they are promising $300,000 in one time ARPA funds, after almost three years of fighting. However, HEART still has not received one single penny from the city. ARPA money is a good start, but does not constitute a contract with the City. - Three years ago, when our community asked the city for an alternative to the police, the City of Cambridge increased the police budget by $66 million. Since then, they have continued to INCREASE the police budget. Last year’s police budget ballooned to $73 million. To compare, the city allocated only $3 million to the development of the new Community Safety Department. That funding is supposed to be enough to staff the entire department and contract with community partners like Cambridge HEART. The math really doesn’t work. - The City’s “Community Safety Department” still has no staff or publicly shared description or organizational structure. Meanwhile, HEART has 10 full time staff members, which includes seven highly trained responders. In addition to the full time staff, there are several dozen volunteers that volunteer in various capacities. HEART is operational because the community yearns for an alternative. - We demand that the City of Cambridge invest in community-led responses and put an immediate end to ANY type of police response to people in emotional distress. We demand that people receive support in the form of services when they ask for it. People in crisis should be met with services, not bullets. - It is not a point of pride that on-duty Cambridge police have only killed one person in 20 years. It should be zero, ever. Killing isn’t the only kind of harm our community has reported from the police. Surveillance, harassment, assault, emotional harm and more are frequently reported and experienced by our community. - We demand that the city works with HEART to make public its police protocols around crisis response so that community members can make an informed judgment about whether or not they wish to have the police involved in their domestic responses. Additionally, we demand an independent assessment of protocols and plan for meaningful protocol change that will not lead to police response to crisis response. - We demand an end to police killings of civilians in the City of Cambridge! - We demand investment in community safety! Divest from police and invest in communities. Other context: - In June 2020 after the police murders of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, and Tony McDade, the Cambridge city council passed policy order 149, which called for the creation of an alternative public safety program that would respond to mental health crises. Cambridge residents, particularly those who are most harmed by policing, were not included as consultants for developing this program. - Through the fall of 2020 The Black Response and other community organizers called for an open and participatory process to create an alternative response program. The city manager at the time instead chose to create a task force to design the program. This task force was run by the police and met behind closed doors. - In response, Cambridge community members, service providers, and some city officials came together in an open process to build our own community safety program. From that process, HEART was developed as a proposal. - In June 2021 the city council passed resolution 114 to fund HEART. It’s a year and a half later and we have yet to receive any funds from the city. Meanwhile the police budget has increased each year. - Since June 2021, the city has set off to develop its own Community Safety Program. HEART has advocated to have this department play a clerical role with a director, researchers, and a communications person. The objects of this department would be to: - Grant contracts with existing service providers in the city to fulfill contracts to serve and to meet the safety needs of various communities in the city. - To collect data from the service providers to measure the city’s progress toward community safety as defined by the community. - To facilitate communications between the city and the service providers and between the community and the city to ensure that the departments meet their objectives. Talking points about Police Policies: - We need to defund the police budget and redirect that money into community safety infrastructure programs such as HEART, the Mass Bail Fund and the Material Aid and Advocacy Program (MAAP). We want alternatives for mental health responses, traffic enforcement and construction details, and the housing crisis. - Funding should not come from the education budget, the housing budget, the “Community Maintenance and Development” category. Funding for community safety should come from the police budget. There should be a marked decrease from FY23 to the |FY24 budget so we can all see the true commitment to shifting from a violent police response team to a community-centered alternative. - Funding for the community safety infrastructure should not just come from the remaining ARPA funds, it should be in the city budget, paid for with city revenue. - We want to demilitarize the police, and reduce their access to technology, funds, and military tech. - Introducing body cameras adds to the growing list of military technology available to CPD. - We demand alternatives to the police! - The city needs to invest in learning from this incident to determine better ways to respond to crisis call and intervention calls. The city needs to allocate funding to community organizations to do independent investigations. The police cannot police themselves. - NO to Body cameras for the Cambridge Police Department! - First and foremost, body cameras don’t prevent police murders!. - Body cameras on the police would not have prevented the murder of Sayed Arif Faisal. - There are plenty of cameras all over the city, some already in the hands of the police department. They are on top of lamp posts and next to the shotspotter devices. Individual people have Amazon ring cameras on their doors. Individual people have their camera phones. We have enough cameras. - Body cameras for the police is a waste of money for the City of Cambridge, that can be better spent on developing better crisis response programs and funding the nonprofits that make up the community safety infrastructure (shelters, food pantries, social services, etc.). - Body cameras don’t work! - A 2017 randomized control trial <https://bwc.thelab.dc.gov/> that included over 2,000 police officers in Washington, DC, found that the effect of body cams was too small to be statistically significant: Officers who wore the cameras used force and received complaints at about the same rate as their colleagues who didn’t. - Empirical studies show that body cameras cost an inordinate amount of money to cities not just at the initial purchase phase, but through development and additional personnel to review body camera videos. - Other empirical studies show that body cameras on police officers are more often use to prosecute petty crimes rather than to hold individual police officers into account when they commit an offense. - Body cameras have been found to malfunction, not turn on, or even intentionally turned off when major police errors in judgment take place. - Who will get to access the camera data? - Post George Floyd’s death, Minneapolis Park PD said that <https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-police-bodycam-video-released-foll…> “Body cam footage is not public data.” - Footage would likely not be released until much later or would be heavily redacted to cover up misconduct by officers. - It’s police data, meaning that they can access it without needing a warrant. They can have footage on civilians stored without our consent, even if we have no pending investigations on us. We could just be crossing the street, going to school, or going to work, and now every police officer who witnesses us doing that is a literal human surveillance camera. It could exacerbate the current intimidation of the family and friends of Sayed Arif Faisal who feel they are being tailed and watched by CPD, and inappropriately approached by them at odd hours of the day. - More surveillance for CPD with body cams: - “By design, body-worn cameras point outwards into the world, often aiding police officers in monitoring communities, rather than helping communities watch police. And surveillance technology is only growing more sophisticated: At least one body cam manufacturer has pitched adding live facial recognition as a feature to police departments, OneZero reported earlier this year.” FUNDING Comparable size city police budgets versus Cambridge. Somerville has 80+k people and a 2021 police budget of $15.4 million. Cambridge had 117k people and a 2021 police budget of <https://budget.data.cambridgema.gov/#!/year/2023/operating/0/service/Public…> $73.53 million. -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: Meetings this week
by raryals 16 Jan '23

16 Jan '23

City Meetings this week: https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/01/15/attend-meetings-in-cambridge-from-j… -- Ruth Ryals raryals(a)gmail.com

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Fwd: CORRECTIONS
by RUTH RYALS 15 Jan '23

15 Jan '23

---------- Original Message ---------- From: Senator Pat Jehlen <pat(a)electpatjehlen.org> To: Ruth <rryals(a)comcast.net> Date: 01/15/2023 8:45 PM Subject: CORRECTIONS correct links for data and MLK in Cambridge CORRECTIONS!!! Several people let me know that the link for information about eligibility for housing programs was broken. Here's one that probably works: https://masshousing.com/-/media/Files/Developers/Income-Rent-Limits/2022-HU… https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… Also the time for Many Helping Hands on Monday in Cambridge is 1, not 10 am. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-mlk-day-of-service-learning-tickets-49523… https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… [Twitter] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… [Facebook] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… [Campaign Website] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a…

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Fwd: New Year News
by RUTH RYALS 15 Jan '23

15 Jan '23

There is some good info here! ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Senator Pat Jehlen <pat(a)electpatjehlen.org> Date: 01/15/2023 5:48 PM Subject: New Year News View this email in your browser https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?e=5195d574ca&u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a3d610fc&… Dear Neighbors, Belated wishes for a healthy and happy 2023! We started the new year with a 13 hour session January 3, finalizing 86 bills but leaving a lot of unfinished business for this next year. We began the new legislative session by being sworn in on January 4. After being re-elected, Senate President Spilka spoke of hope, and urged greater support for public education, from pre-K to public colleges and universities and workforce training. On January 5, I was happy to join colleagues to watch Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll be sworn in. It was great to greet the new governor in person, as the front page Globe photo showed. Among the many issues the governor pledged to tackle, I was especially glad to hear of her focus on housing, and her plan for free community college - for those over 25. Lt. Gov Driscoll is among very few leaders who spoke about older people, saying we should be able to "grow old with dignity." She was mayor of Salem https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… when it became the third city in Massachusetts to join the AARP's network of Age-Friendly Communities. (Somerville is also a member; click here https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… to see how we rate on AARP's "livability index."). Lt. Gov. Driscoll may also have been thinking of her 89 year old father, who was in the balcony. Affordable housing in Union Square: for whom? I'm happy to share the below announcement of a January 25 lottery for two "affordable" condos near Union Square. One has one bedroom, the other has three. If you know someone who's qualified and interested, they should apply by 2 pm on January 23. To apply, you must be within the income limits. You can’t apply for these condos if your income is too low. The limits are different depending on how many people there are in your household — they’re higher for larger households. If your household has just one member, you can only apply for the 1-bedroom unit. Keep reading for more about affordability. The details of this announcement helped me understand "affordability." These particular units are for people with household income at 81-110% of Area Median Income (AMI). Other units, projects, and programs are for people with less income. For example, most housing vouchers in Somerville are for people with less than 30% of AMI. The AMI for the Boston area in 2022 was $140,200. Here's a table https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… showing what "extremely low," "very low," and "low income" mean, and what people with those incomes qualify for. Many state house staff members would not qualify for the condos listed above - because their income is too low! The same is true for many human services workers. I wrote about the shortage of home care and nursing home aides https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… due to low pay in December. The Globe reported this week that non-profits can't recruit enough workers https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… - also due to low pay. The housing crisis is due to high costs - and to egregious income inequality, with pay below a living wage for some of our most essential workers. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in our District Speaking of income inequality: On Monday we remember Martin Luther King Jr. for his leadership in struggles against segregation, poverty, and war. We also should remember all the generations of millions of people who were and are part of the ongoing struggle for equality and peace. I often think of Fred Small's song, Love's Gonna Carry Us https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… : "Beware of the heroes, beware of the stars, cause the victory is hollow if it ain't really ours...They say that freedom is a constant struggle and you can't ever stop." All of our district's communities have scheduled events on Monday: Cambridge's Peace Commission holds its annual Commemoration https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… at 11 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Central Square, with a community lunch at 12:45. Cambridge's Many Helping Hands Day of Service https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… starts at 10 in Central Square West Medford Community Center holds its Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Creating the Change at 11:00 AM. The in-person free event is sold out but you can watch by clicking the link during the event MCM Live Viewing https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… . Somerville is scheduling an MLK Day of Service https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… Youth Workshop and Community Clothing Drive from 1 - 3 at The Dojo at SomerNova (15 Properzi Way). Winchester's MLK Day of Service https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… will be from 10 - 1 at the High School. Stay safe and stay in touch! [Twitter] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… [Facebook] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a… [Campaign Website] https://electpatjehlen.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1afb18c1b75b287a2a…

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Fwd: City of Cambridge Awarded $100, 000 to Develop Artist-Designed Shade Structures that Provide Cooling Comfort and Opportunities for Social Connections in Select City Hot Spots during Warmer Months
by RUTH RYALS 12 Jan '23

12 Jan '23

I think it could like a grove of trees, green and welcoming! ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Ini Tomeu <itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov> Date: 01/12/2023 4:30 PM Subject: City of Cambridge Awarded $100,000 to Develop Artist-Designed Shade Structures that Provide Cooling Comfort and Opportunities for Social Connections in Select City Hot Spots during Warmer Months City of Cambridge Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer PIO(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:pio@cambridgema.gov For Immediate Release City of Cambridge Awarded $100,000 to Develop Artist-Designed Shade Structures that Provide Cooling Comfort and Opportunities for Social Connections in Select City Hot Spots during Warmer Months Cambridge, MA, January 12, 2023 -- The City of Cambridge was recently awarded $100,000 from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s (MAPC) Accelerating Climate Resilience program to commission artists to design temporary shade pavilions for city parks. Shade structures in parks and plazas help residents stay cool on hot days and create social spaces. The city’s two-year project, Shade is Social Justice, funded by MAPC, a regional planning agency, is one of the ways Cambridge is engaging the creative perspective of artists and designers to help the community adapt to global warming. Led by Claudia Zarazua, Arts and Cultural Planning Director for the City of Cambridge, and Lillian Hsu, Public Art Director, Shade is Social Justice will expand shade in an innovative manner where it is needed most. “‘The City of Cambridge is thrilled to be part of this regional cohort of communities addressing the impact of climate change,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “Shade is Social Justice captures our innovative spirit by bringing artists and creatives as part of the solution to help residents stay cool in extreme heat events. As one of the densest communities in the metro Boston area, we understand the importance of providing cooling opportunities that are culturally attractive and that respond to the needs of the community.” Artists have a unique capacity to provide a visitor entry into complex issues. Climate change is complicated; heat is invisible. Shade is Social Justice, a pilot project, employs artists and designers to create shade structure prototypes for selected hot spots of Cambridge that also serve as places for social connection, a key ingredient in building community resilience. Artists will have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of design to prompt thought, imagination, and action on the issue of heat exposure. City staff will identify hot spots in under-resourced neighborhoods and guide the artists through the design and installation of temporary structures. Shade is Social Justice will challenge artists to design innovative solutions through material exploration, site responsiveness, and captivating communication around impacts of environmental heat. Replicability for additional neighborhoods and by other communities in the region will be one of the criteria for the designs. The Cambridge community will have opportunities to meet with the artists and be part of the design process. Once these structures are installed, the project team will co-create programming in the new shaded communal spaces in collaboration with members of the community. Examples of programming include educational events, meal distribution, vaccine clinics, cultural performances, and other activities. A call-for-artists process will open the opportunity for a wide audience of artists and designers and promote the climate preparedness work of the city. Based on qualifications, a jury will select 3 artists to develop proposals for shade structures. Shade is Social Justice is a project to demonstrate the role of artists in designing creative and equitable heat mitigation strategies for Cambridge and beyond. It uses experiential learning to engage the public in daily spaces with the challenging themes of climate change impacts while also providing much-needed shade. Shade is Social Justice is guided by the lessons from previous city cooling strategies such as CloudHouse, cooling shelters, and Untold Possibilities at the Last Minute https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=iNz98fGjAij26T-2FVbfV… , an art exhibition around climate preparedness. Serving as a temporary pavilion at Greene-Rose Heritage Park in the Port neighborhood, CloudHouse provides shade and seating in this active recreational area to help reduce the impacts of extreme heat and sun. The Shade is Social Justice project team, which includes staff from Cambridge Arts, the City’s Community Development and Public Works Departments, and Cambridge Public Health Department, will participate in a regional Resilience Community of Practice (RCOP) designed to support grantees, advance better practices to strengthen resilience, and workshop barriers to progress. -###-

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Fwd: Food drive
by Alison Mitchell 12 Jan '23

12 Jan '23

Our neighbor Jackie Spencer is organizing a food drive as part of the MLK Day of Service. Please consider donating non-perishable food items, which can be dropped off on her front porch *(30 Lancaster St)* through the end of the day Monday, Jan. 16. See the attached flyer for more info. They are particularly looking for: pasta rice cereal peanut butter tomato sauce tuna fish dried beans hot cocoa spices canned vegetables sugar cooking oil cake mix/canned frosting infant formula snacks Thanks for considering - Alison (23 Buena Vista Pk) ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Jacqueline Spencer <jkspencer3(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 4:02 PM Subject: Fwd: Food drive To: It is that time of year again when we participate in the MLK Community Day of Service and host a food drive for our community. As costs of practically everything have risen this year, food insecurity remains a serious concern impacting the health of our community. We would greatly appreciate any donations of nonperishable items you can contribute. I would also appreciate your support in reaching out to other neighbors and friends who might be willing to contribute. Please see attached letter with a list of recommended items. I am still waiting to hear which Food Pantry these items will be delivered to... but will share when I know more. I am happy to pick them up from you or feel free to drop bags off on my front porch (30 Lancaster Street) between now and the end of the day on Monday, January 16th. We all can make a difference. Thank you in advance! Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year! Jackie -- Alison Mitchell she/her 617-429-7556

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Fwd: Members Sought for Cambridge Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity
by RUTH RYALS 10 Jan '23

10 Jan '23

The City Needs You! > ---------- Original Message ---------- > From: Ini Tomeu <itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov> > Date: 01/10/2023 11:00 AM > Subject: Members Sought for Cambridge Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity > > > > > City of Cambridge > > Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer > PIO(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:pio@cambridgema.gov > > For Immediate Release > > Members Sought for Cambridge Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity > > Cambridge, MA, January 10, 2023 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking members of the community who live and/or work in Cambridge (including private sector and municipal employees, business owners, students, and others) to become a part of the Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity. The application deadline is Monday, February 13, 2023. > > The mission of the City of Cambridge Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity is to foster fairness, equity, unity, appreciation, and mutual understanding across all people and entities in Cambridge. > > The Citizens’ Committee on Civic Unity meets monthly and works to provide opportunities for constructive discussions and community events regarding race, class, religion, gender, abilities, and sexual orientation, through recognizing and raising awareness of historic, existing, and potential civic issues; providing opportunities for honest dialogue and engagement; and by building bridges across communities to better understand and connect with one another. > > The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. > > Applications can be submitted to City Manager Yi-An Huang using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=iNz98fGjAij26T-2FVbfV… . A cover letter and or letter of interest 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. The application deadline is Monday, February 13, 2023. > > If you have question about the application process, please contact Francesca Gaines in the City Manager's Office at 617-349-4300 or fgaines(a)Cambridgema.gov mailto:fgaines@Cambridgema.gov . > > -###- > > ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Ini Tomeu <itomeu(a)cambridgema.gov> Date: 01/10/2023 4:00 PM Subject: City of Cambridge Seeking Members for Cambridge Climate Committee City of Cambridge Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer PIO(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:pio@cambridgema.gov For Immediate Release City of Cambridge Seeking Members for Cambridge Climate Committee Cambridge, MA, January 10, 2023 – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking people interested in serving on the Cambridge Climate Committee. The application deadline is Monday, February 27, 2023. The Climate Committee is a volunteer group of community members who work together to provide feedback and ideas to the city on topics related to climate change. It was formerly known as the Climate Protection Action Committee. The Committee is made up of 15 members who are appointed by the City Manager. All 15 seats are currently open to applicants. Regular members generally serve a 2-year term. The Climate Committee has three roles that help the city reduce climate change impacts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase equity, and serve as a partner to and example for other communities: 1. Provide feedback and ideas to the city on ways to reduce and live with climate change while prioritizing the needs of the most at-risk populations. 2. Share information about city climate programs with community members, listen to community concerns, and raise feedback with city staff so programs effectively serve all community members. 3. Stay informed about the city’s climate goals and provide accountability and feedback on barriers and opportunities to improve effectiveness. All Climate Committee members must live or work in Cambridge. There is no age requirement. There is no requirement for a technical background to serve on the Committee; members should be interested in and understand climate change through lived or work experience. Members will have deep connections to communities in Cambridge, especially those most impacted by climate change, so that the Committee can represent the diversity of the city. The city is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All committee members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Members of the Climate Committee should be able to: * Participate in a collaborative process with other Committee members * Consider diverse ideas and perspectives * Show connections to the broader community * Be interested in learning more about the impacts of climate change * Actively contribute to meetings in dialogue with city staff and other community members * Members do not need to have technical knowledge or knowledge of the City’s plans, but should be open to learning more about these and sharing with their communities The Climate Committee currently meets on the second Thursday of each month for two hours in the evening; however this schedule may be changed to accommodate Committee needs and member schedules. The standard term is 2 years, beginning in April 2023. Members are expected to attend all meetings, and should expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours each month outside of meeting time on activities such as: * sharing information and opportunities for engagement on City climate initiatives with their communities * collecting feedback on initiatives or programs to share back with the Committee * planning events * reviewing programs/projects. The city is currently holding meetings of the Committee remotely using Zoom and may transition to hybrid or in-person meetings in the future. Individuals interested in being considered should apply using the City’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=iNz98fGjAij26T-2FVbfV… and selecting “Cambridge Climate Committee” in the list of Current Vacancies. A resume and cover letter describing why you want to join the committee, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. For more information about the application process, please contact Francesca Gaines is the City Manager's Office at 617-349-4300 or emailing fgaines(a)Cambridgema.gov mailto:fgaines@Cambridgema.gov . The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, February 27, 2023. -###- City of Cambridge Contact: Ini Tomeu, Public Information Officer PIO(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:pio@cambridgema.gov For Immediate Release Volunteers Sought to Serve on the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Cambridge, MA January 10, 2023 - Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking volunteers to serve on the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC). Cambridge welcomes immigrants and works to support their success and access to opportunity and advancement. CIRC acts as a centralizing organization in Cambridge to address immigrant rights and citizenship issues by providing information, referrals, and guidance to residents seeking assistance. CIRC also coordinates and collaborates with other city departments and external organizations and individuals that support immigrant rights and citizenship. The Commission consists of 11 members appointed to three-year terms. Meetings are typically held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., though the meeting schedule may be reassessed to accommodate Commissioners’ needs. Commissioners are expected to work with other members of the Commission and CIRC staff, including the newly established Language Justice Division, to fulfill the goals and objectives of the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.123). Commissioners should be knowledgeable about immigrant rights and citizenship, preferably with lived experience as an immigrant to the United States, and must be Cambridge residents. The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing a culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, February 6, 2023. Applications can be submitted to City Manager Yi-An Huang using the city’s online application system at Cambridgema.gov/apply https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=iNz98fGjAij26T-2FVbfV… .  A cover letter and resume, or an overview of relevant experience, can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications can also be obtained at the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. For more information, contact Jennifer Mathews at 617-349-4396 or jmathews(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:jmathews@cambridgema.gov . -###-

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Fwd: City of Cambridge Events Regarding Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting of Sayed Faisal
by RUTH RYALS 09 Jan '23

09 Jan '23

FYI ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Lee Gianetti <lgianetti(a)cambridgema.gov> To: rryals(a)comcast.net Date: 01/09/2023 12:53 PM Subject: City of Cambridge Events Regarding Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting of Sayed Faisal City of Cambridge Contact: Lee Gianetti, Director of Communications and Community Relations PIO(a)cambridgema.gov mailto:pio@cambridgema.gov For Immediate Release City of Cambridge Events Regarding Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting of Sayed Faisal Cambridge, MA, January 9, 2023 -- Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Yi-An Huang today announced that the City of Cambridge will host a community meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 6-8 p.m., at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, 102 Putnam Avenue to discuss the fatal officer-involved shooting of Sayed Faisal that occurred on January 4, 2023. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan will be present to discuss the investigation process and answer questions. Mayor Siddiqui will provide brief remarks. City Manager Huang and Police Commissioner Christine Elow will also be present to answer questions from the community. Representatives from Riverside Community Care and other health professionals will be present at the meeting and available to provide support and counseling for those who may need it. There will also be a special City Council meeting scheduled for the following week on Wednesday, January 18, from 3-5 p.m., in the Sullivan Chamber at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue to discuss protocols, processes, and training of the Cambridge Police Department. There will be public comment at this meeting. A meeting with the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association is also being planned by the Cambridge Peace Commission. -###-

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Fwd: [Porter square] Fwd: Community Engagement Meeting for prospective cannabis company
by RUTH RYALS 05 Jan '23

05 Jan '23

> All of the neighborhood is invited! > > ---------- Original Message ---------- > From: Adrienne Dean <adrienne(a)adean.law> > Date: 01/05/2023 4:07 PM > Subject: Re: Community Engagement Meeting for prospective cannabis company > > I am writing on behalf of my client, Porter Square Remedies, to coordinate with your group the date for our community engagement meeting -- 6pm on January 20th, which will be held at the prospective location - 1908 Massachusetts Avenue. > Kind Regards, > > Adrienne Dean, Esq. > Founder, A. Dean Law, P.C. > 234 Littleton Road, #1B, Westford, MA > adrienne(a)adean.law > fax: (978) 428-1287 > ph: (978) 770-8163 > > Partner, Cogent Law Group > 101 Arch St, 8th FL, Boston, MA > adean(a)cogentlaw.co mailto:adean@cogentlaw.co > > > > > This communication including all attachments may be subject to the attorney-client privilege or the attorney-work-product privilege or may be otherwise confidential. Any dissemination, copying or use of this communication by or to anyone other than the designated and intended recipient(s) is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete or destroy this communication immediately. > >

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