From: Patty <pattynolanz@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <pattynolanz@gmail.com>
Date: Friday, March 26, 2021 at 3:12 PM
To: Ruth Ryals <rryals@comcast.net>
Subject: Council updates: tis the season for healing and health

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All:

It is officially spring, and this weekend is the start of Easter season for those who celebrate Christian holidays on the Gregorian calendar, and Passover or Pesach for those who are Jewish. Our family is looking forward to a very small seder - with us, and three friends who are vaccinated. As someone who grew up in a very non traditional Catholic household, and married a fairly secular Jew, I love the home based celebrations of the Jewish holidays we do. Whichever you celebrate - Spring, Easter, Passover - may the light of the season be a harbinger of fewer covid cases and a return to socializing and being outdoors. 

This past week, we had both poignant and celebratory moments at City Hall. The most poignant was being present at a vigil in the wake of the shooting in Atlanta which left 8 people dead, six of whom were Asian-American women. We all stood in community to honor the dead, condemn the hate and pledge to stand up to hatred, discrimination and stereotypes that for too long have allowed AAPI people to be and feel devalued. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of over a century ago, our country has too often ignored the dehumanization of AAPI people and the sexualization and victimization of women. That came together in the murders in Atlanta, and our community responded with a strong display of support. 

The most celebratory moment was joining Sophia Crafts in walking the last mile of her journey covering every single street in Cambridge during the pandemic year. Sophia was a delight to meet and it was fun to share the afternoon with Marc McGovern and his two youngest children, Jivan Sobrinho Wheeler, Fred Fantini -- and to be greeted at City Hall by Mayor Siddiqui and Vice Mayor Mallon. The cake was not only delicious - it was AWESOME. 

REQUEST: I have an intern working on a project to interview people with solar roofs AND people who might be candidates for solar roof and have NOT installed any. We want to get a sense (knowing it is not a statistically significant sample) of the barriers to installing solar. If you fit either of these categories and would be interviewed (easy 7 minute survey that takes all of 15 minutes) please reply to this email and I will ask my intern Pierre to contact you.

Last week I asked for suggestions on non profits to support with my stimulus check, which I have pledged to donate. I have decided on several, but would appreciate more suggestions - so send on suggestions. As well as comments, questions, etc.

Patty

Full Council Agenda
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City Manager's Agenda:
CMA #6 - On single use plastics - The average person eats a credit card size of plastic every week. Yes - eats - as in it turns up in our bodies. We use far more - our family (even though we try to reduce plastic use) generate a full garbage pail every week of mostly plastic for recycling. 91% of plastic is not recyclable and ends up in landfills or incinerators (even though much of it says on the packaging that it can be recycled). Plastic companies fight tooth and nail against every plastic ban and have falsified research to claim plastics are not as dangerous. Our neighbor Canada is outright banning single use plastics this year. Virginia just passed a ban on single use plastic in all commonwealth institutions, including state universities. Massachusetts should do the same. In the meantime, Cambridge can do more - as a city, and in working to have all entities in the city reduce plastic use. I am in favor of a ban, and recognize that we need to work with the community - businesses, residents, institutions, non-profits, schools - so that we can all understand how to achieve that goal. We are literally drowning in plastic waste.  

CMA #7 - Curbside textile recycling - DPW has been looking to implement a curbside textile recycling program and will be making a final decision later this year. As of now, they have narrowed the search for a business to collect textiles in Cambridge down to two: HELPSY and Simple Recycling. Both take all forms of clothing and textile regardless of condition which is an important condition. I hope a program can be implemented as soon as possible and I want to make sure we understand where the textiles go and how they are processed. We should all be buying fewer textiles - and not encouraging the production of textiles meant to be thrown out so often. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend The True Cost documentary about the fashion industry. 

Policy Orders:

PO #1 - Recognizing and promoting Black and women-owned businesses - This policy order calls for the city to help promote Black-owned business month in August and Women-owned business month in October. The city should absolutely help promote these months and bring awareness to the Black-owned and women-owned businesses in Cambridge. 

PO #2 - Budget roundtable - One of the surprising differences between City Council and School Committee for me was seeing how the budget process is handled. On SC, we held several meetings - public hearings, roundtables, conversations and retreats - open to families, students, the community, staff, to discuss budget priorities and ideas for inclusion in the budget document. Those meetings in my tenure took place starting late fall, over several months, before the proposed budget document was presented. On City Council, partly since the budget encompasses so many departments, the process includes a public hearing on each department - with the smaller departments being included together in one hearing. Those meetings take place after the budget documents were prepared, which means it is challenging for the city to hear directly from the council on our priorities and ideas for inclusion. Our regular meetings often include proposals for the budget, for example last week’s great proposal to start a pilot restaurant composting program. However, I believe it would be helpful, and good governance, for us to have an opportunity to step back, reflect on our goals and communicate with the city administration PRIOR to the finalization of the budget. I hope this policy order passes and in the future the council can hold such a meeting before the budget is far along in the process. 

Ordinance committee meeting next week:

Green Roofs Petition: I am strongly in favor of this ordinance as amended by the petitioners and will work hard to have our city pass this ordinance.  

Vaccine updates

Sign up for vaccine appointments here! In just three short weeks (April 19th), everyone in the state will be eligible to sign up. More info here:

Cambridge Covid Information

Mass Covid Information

School Updates:

Cambridge schools (except the high school) are, at long last, preparing to return to full time, in person learning in April. I remain disappointed and profoundly concerned about our district’s inability to broaden the opportunity for in person learning earlier - much earlier. The fact that Brookline High School returns to in-person in two weeks and there is still no word on CRLS return pains me. The option for remote learning will continue for families who choose this option. The family enrollment portal closed last Wednesday, and these are the current projections for elementary and upper schools enrollment:

• Preschool – Grade 5: 69% in-person, 31% remote.

• Grades 6 – 8: 63% in-person, 37% remote.
• Overall enrollment Preschool – Grade 8: 3722 students in-person (66%) and 2,881 remote (34%).

Last week, the CDC announced updated guidance based on data from districts across the country, including from Massachusetts. The CDC now advises 3 feet between desks in elementary, middle, and high schools. Staff are still advised to remain 6 feet apart.

Upcoming Events

March 30th, 7:30pm: Hip Hop Her Story - Celebrate Women’s History Month with us as we honor female MCs with Hip Hop HERstory: A Discussion of Influential Women in Hip Hop!

March 31st, 6pm: VOICES - Concert series with Andrea Cruz at the library

April 6th, 9am - 1pm: Hazardous waste collection day - bring all your household hazardous waste to DPW (5o Mooney Street), click the link to see what can be dropped off. 

Trivia

Who was the first woman to address the Massachusetts State legislature? And what is her story?

Our mailing address is:
Councilor Patty Nolan 
184 Huron Ave
Cambridge, MA
02138


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City Councillor Patty Nolan · 184 Huron Ave · Cambridge, MA 02138-1326 · USA