| Issue | Stance | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Abolish Involuntary Poverty In Cambridge Over The Next Five Years | Take A Stance | |
| Cambridge Is Experiencing Serious Traffic Gridlock Morning And Evenings | Support Strongly | |
| Campaign Finance Reform | Take A Stance | |
| Community Walk And Bike Path Along The Grand Junction Railroad | Take A Stance | |
| Investment In Our Public Schools | Take A Stance | |
| Low And Medium Income Housing -- Increase In Density Or .... | Opposed | |
| Low And Moderate Income Housing -- Inclusionary Zoning Results In 25% Affordable Housing. | Opposed Strongly | |
| Net Zero Buildings | Opposed | |
| One Year Moratorium On Construction To Study Impact Of Development On Livability. | Support Strongly | |
| Plan E Charter | Take A Stance | |
| Privacy -- Police Public Safety Security Cameras | Take A Stance | |
| Public Toilets On Cambridge Common | Take A Stance | |
| Reject Dramatic Up-Zoning Changes In Central Square. | Support | |
| Terms Limits | Take A Stance | |
| The Foundry | Support | |
Candidate Info Not participating
Address:
25 Aberdeen St. #3I am a local activist and author and I live in Cambridge with my wife, Sheuli and our dog, Sounder. I first moved to the area 15 years ago to attend graduate school and have been here ever since and, in fact, I met my wife in the Central Square branch of the Cambridge Public Library. In addition to my writing and activism, I've worked in accounting in both the public sector and the telecommunications industry, and enjoyed a long, intimate relationship with the stage as a performing artist (dance/ballet) before a life-threatening accident abruptly ended my career. As a local activist, I'm obviously very concerned with the state of political affairs in this community, as well as around the country. So, in addition to writing and speaking out publicly about various issues, I see running for elected office and serving in a representative capacity as a way to extend my voice and assert my ideas and opinions into the public discourse. I believe the serious issues we face require us, for varied reasons, to seek solutions outside our current system of government and/or outside of the limited knowledgebase we currently rely on for input to our public councils. Therefore, I also view this attempt to secure public office as a way of being accountable to my responsibility to not shrink from the duty to put myself on the hot seat and to have put forth good faith efforts to come up with and implement practical solutions from within the system first. My general view of Cambridge is positive, but that the City Council is somewhat dysfunctional from a conflict existing in some members between self-interest and community interest, causing the city to suffer a crisis of leadership. As a result, I feel Cambridge is underachieving and, due to its influence as a model of municipal governance, America is therefore also underachieving. In my opinion, this is a direct result of having members who are not completely committed to the council, and/or members whose approach to government is rooted in a previous generation or, even worse, in the previous century. Cambridge deserves a more knowledgeable and informed 21st century government, and that is what I hope to contribute as a newly elected councilman.
Candidate Stances
Abolish Involuntary Poverty In Cambridge Over The Next Five Years
Take A Stance
Cambridge Is Experiencing Serious Traffic Gridlock Morning And Evenings
Support Strongly
I think such a study provides Cambridge with opportunities for design and logistics innovation that could positively impact the entire region and potentially become a model for other communities around the country, so I would like to see it done in conjunction with or as a lead into a regional study and plan. . . .
Campaign Finance Reform
Take A Stance
Community Walk And Bike Path Along The Grand Junction Railroad
Take A Stance
Investment In Our Public Schools
Take A Stance
Low And Medium Income Housing -- Increase In Density Or ....
Opposed
I Do Not believe an increase in density is necessary to support diversity and meet the housing needs of sustainable growth in Cambridge. The true objectives of increasing population density have to do with the profitability of development in the city's soaring housing market, which actually works against the interests of Cambridge's diverse population by pricing them out of the market. My belief is the city's ever- widening wealth and income gap is most responsible for the lack of affordable living options because it creates a bottle-neck of demand for low-income housing. Decreasing the wealth gap will ease the tremendous pressure on the low-income housing demand and spread it more naturally over the entire market. If density is increased, it should be allowed only for the purpose of reducing the ever-widening gap between Cambridge's rich and poor communities through minority business development and modest-income housing.
Low And Moderate Income Housing -- Inclusionary Zoning Results In 25% Affordable Housing.
Opposed Strongly
As alluded to above, the different aspects of the current housing situation in Cambridge cannot fairly be parsed out from one another as separate issues. That said, I do believe the existing stock of affordable housing within the city should be increased. But I don't believe addressing it in a piecemeal fashion is the answer. Generally, my feeling is that the only way to increase the affordability of housing is to dramatically increase the options (supply) for those individuals and families in need. Therefore, for some foreseeable short-term period I think the current ratios (or those proposed) should be inverted. That is, at least seventy-five percent (75%) to eighty percent (80%) of new home development should be dedicated to low and moderate income housing, while the remaining percentage should be middle-income construction.
Net Zero Buildings
Opposed
While I agree with the spirit of the amendment I do not believe it should be applied to all new construction and rehab projects within the city. I think smaller, less-established builders should not be exempted entirely from Net Zero standards, but should be given more flexibility with regard to their accountability because of the potential overall impact on their business and ability to procure profitable contracts. The social benefits of broader opportunities for diverse segments of the community to participate meaningfully in the local economy and have a potentially positive impact the wealth and income gap is, I believe, an equally desirable benefit that warrants consideration with regard to Net Zero construction standards. . .
One Year Moratorium On Construction To Study Impact Of Development On Livability.
Support Strongly
I support a moratorium on all new development, incuding up-zoning, until a comprehensive discussion is had around the priorities, social equality, youth development, and affordable housing.
Plan E Charter
Take A Stance
Privacy -- Police Public Safety Security Cameras
Take A Stance
Public Toilets On Cambridge Common
Take A Stance
Reject Dramatic Up-Zoning Changes In Central Square.
Support
I look forward to the ongoing discussions around this issue but I am generally opposed to per se density increases without knowing the commensurate design plans to facilitate mitigation of increased traffic, noise, riff-raff, etc. that will inevitably affect residents. The proposed monstrosities requre much greater community input and accountability before moving forward . ..
Terms Limits
Take A Stance
The Foundry
Support