Signs of the Times

The campaign has not slowed down in the past two weeks. Our first yard signs have gone out! Please reply to this email if you'd like one and I'll bike it over. I'll probably be in your neighborhood knocking doors sometime soon anyway.

I've knocked a lot of doors, but many of the best conversations have been with people passing by in the street. If you want to get to know Cambridge and the people in it, run for City Council.

Significant Delays

I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Spears earlier this month. Tony has run A.J. Spears Funeral Home, a multi-generational black-owned family business, for 40 years. He is tired. He is ready to step back, close the business and work with another funeral home. It's not easy running a funeral home--"this job kills you." (He's funny, too!)

Tony was really generous with his time, especially considering he was preparing to go before the Cambridge Historical Commission. See, the CHC has the power to unilaterally derail Tony's family's plans--the sale of the building depends on getting a permit, and the CHC can withhold that permit. Which they did, at least for another month.

In fact, in a two week span, the CHC and its related bodies delayed or denied outright over 200 units of housing [1][2][3][4], including 45 Affordable Units worth at least $45M to the City, by my count.*

I attend these meetings when I can to voice support for more housing. It's tough. Abutting homeowners, some of whom live in the buildings that launched the backlash that created Neighborhood Conservation Districts, complain about many things: lack of parking (we changed those laws but we do need parking reform), height and setbacks (we changed those laws but we do need to rezone squares and corridors too), and "the rats" that new construction brings (a solvable problem).

What they don't seem to talk about as much: historical significance, much less the historical importance of what residential buildings are for: putting roofs over heads.

Once, I spoke up about how 2-bedroom apartments can serve as functional "starter homes" for families like the one I grew up in. An NCD commissioner cut me off to ask if I shared a bedroom with my sister until I was 18 years old. These meetings seem to veer pretty far from their important goal: striking a balance on historic preservation.

I'm hoping Tony's case will be approved next month (3+ months after initial application, and that's just for demolition permit approval). It's a great project, and his family deserves to move on.

Lend a Hand

We're looking for people interested in hosting more meet-and-greets in a living room or backyard. If you have an idea for an event like that, or want to help in any way, drop me a line! The campaign can provide snacks.

And as always, campaign donations help buy more stamps and signs:

- Ned

​www.ned4cambridge.com​

*In the case of 60 Ellery St., the project was finally approved pending further changes and review by the NCD. Those 30 units will hopefully eventually move forward, including 5-6 Inclusive Units.