Issues

Every candidate has a responsibility to explain their stance on the important issues affecting our city. Below are my thoughts and ideas about three important issues that I believe affect all of us as Cambridge residents. 

However, a general, broad-based answer can’t effectively address ALL the specific concerns of every individual citizen. Moreover, issues such as insufficient housing, senior living facilities or environmental concerns may affect each neighborhood differently. They cannot and should not be addressed with a single, generic solution but should be handled on a personal, one-to-one basis, and consider the unique impact on each neighborhood. 

I’m running for City Councilor because I am eager to get out there and talk to people about the issues that matter to them and how their neighborhoods are affected, so we can get to work finding a solution together. 

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Cities and towns across the country and the world are tightening their belts in these tough economic times, cutting salaries and eliminating staff. But Cambridge city councilors continue to accept pay raises, both for themselves and for their personal aides. In fact, our councilors are now among the highest paid in the country among cities with council-manager form of government and populations between 100,000 and 250,000.

If I am elected to the City Council, I plan to introduce a proposal that would promote fiscal accountability by city councilors to their constituents, and provide much-needed funding for the city of Cambridge.

Under my proposal, those elected to office this November and thereafter will be paid 10% less than current city councilors. In addition, the city budget will no longer provide for a personal aide for each councilor. 

These modest efforts will save the City of Cambridge more than $350,000 per year — money that can be used for public safety and education, and allow the city to continue providing critical public services without over-burdening taxpayers.

PUBLIC SAFETY/CRIME:  

Community Policing:  

Crime is on the rise across the nation, and across our city.

The street robbery rate in Cambridge is increasing. The only way to combat this trend and keep every area of Cambridge safe for residents and their families is by making sure that the necessary resources are provided for law enforcement. 

All around the country, cities and towns are reporting overwhelmingly positive results from using dedicated community policing. By enabling law enforcement officials to get more involved with each community, dedicated community policing  helps them develop relationships with residents in the neighborhoods, and become familiar with the normal daily activities of that community. But community policing is only possible if law enforcement is provided with adequate staffing. 

Cambridge is currently budgeted to have 272 number of officers, but there are only 264 sworn law enforcement agents on the city roster. It is vital that the police department is provided with the resources they need to keep our streets safe, and to pursue and prosecute criminals. However, it is equally critical that all available law enforcement positions are filled, and the department is operating at maximum staff levels, if it is to effectively handle all the criminal activity taking place throughout the city. 

We all want to feel safe in our own homes, and that means making intelligent, targeted investments in our security. There are new technologies to help solve crimes, such as gunshot location equipment and sophisticated surveillance equipment.  In 2008, Cambridge had homeland security cameras installed in key locations around the city, which were entirely paid for by the federal government. Unfortunately, this past February the City Council voted not to participate in the program and refused to activate the cameras.  Had the cameras been activated, numerous criminal investigations could have benefited from the footage taken from those cameras. We cannot afford to miss anymore opportunities to ensure the safety of our families and our neighborhoods.

Kids in Sports Stay out of Courts:  This shouldn’t just be a bumper sticker — it should be an anthem for Cambridge’s youth.  Another benefit of community policing is that it helps forge cooperative relationships between law enforcement officers and young people. I applaud the efforts of the recently formed Youth/Family Services Unit and the strides it has made in working with kids and their families when they start experiencing problems. Having officers interact with and mentor teenagers gives teens a chance to learn from and gain respect for police officers.  If a police officer can make a connection with a teen on the basketball court, they are far less likely to see that same teen in the future sitting in a jail cell, charged with a crime.

EDUCATION

A big round of applause is due for the school administration, the school committee and the new school superintendant. Thanks to their hard work over the past five to six years, we’re starting to see improvements in realize some successes in our school system. 

But we cannot rest here. There is still much we need to accomplish, and if we are not diligent, we could lose some of the ground we’ve gained over the last few years. We must stay focused on asking the tough questions about achievement gaps and enrollment numbers, identifying which programs lead to success, and which are unnecessary drains on school resources, and prioritizing infrastructure and capital improvements that are needed. 

If we work together, we can ensure our school system is moving forward with renewed optimism and confidence. We must continue to strengthen the partnerships between parents, schools, human services agencies, and public health officials, to make sure we are covering every possible avenue to help our children succeed.