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<!doctype html>
<!--
Code + design by Angela Li for The Harvard Crimson.
www.thecrimson.com
www.angela.li
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<html>
<head>
<title>Cambridge City Council</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/style.css" />
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<script type="text/javascript" src="js/script.js"></script>
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<body>
<div id="slides">
<div class="slides-container">
<div class="page" id="main">
<div class="nav-link candidates-link" data-target="candidates">The candidates</div>
<div class="nav-link issues-link" data-target="issues">The issues</div>
<div class="page-content">
<div class="thclinkback">
<a href="http://thecrimson.com">
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<img class="preserve" src="img/logo.png">
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<div class="main-title-bg"></div>
<div class="main-title">
<h1>
The 2013 Cambridge City Council Elections
</h1>
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<div class="main-intro-bg"></div>
<div class="main-intro">
When Cambridge voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, they’ll pick from among 25 candidates, all of whom have different ideas about how best to negotiate University relations, fight crime, interact with the environment, legislate housing, and foster Square business in the city. Click on the tabs to examine the five women and 20 men vying to fill the Council’s nine seats: who they are and where they fall on the issues.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" id="issues">
<div class="nav-link" data-target="main">Back to main</div>
<div class="clear-issues">clear filters</div>
<div class="page-content">
<h1>The <strong>Issues</strong></h1>
<div class="issues-main">
<div class="sort-issue">
<h2>Filter by issue</h2>
<div class="issue" name="town">University Relations</div>
<div class="issue" name="crime">Crime</div>
<div class="issue" name="environment">Environment</div>
<div class="issue" name="housing">Housing</div>
<div class="issue" name="square">Square Business</div>
</div>
<div class="sort-candidate">
<h2>Filter by candidate</h2>
<div class="candidate" name="dennis-benzan">Dennis Benzan</div>
<div class="candidate" name="dennis-carlone">Dennis Carlone</div>
<div class="candidate" name="leland-cheung">Leland Cheung</div>
<div class="candidate" name="janneke-house">Janneke House</div>
<div class="candidate" name="craig-kelley">Craig A. Kelley</div>
<div class="candidate" name="james-lee">James Lee</div>
<div class="candidate" name="logan-leslie">Logan E. Leslie</div>
<div class="candidate" name="david-maher">David P. Maher</div>
<div class="candidate" name="nadeem-mazen">Nadeem Mazen</div>
<div class="candidate" name="marc-mcgovern">Marc McGovern</div>
<div class="candidate" name="gary-mello">Gary Mello</div>
<div class="candidate" name="mushtaque-mirza">Mushtaque Mirza</div>
<div class="candidate" name="gregg-moree">Gregg Moree</div>
<div class="candidate" name="ron-peden">Ronald Peden</div>
<div class="candidate" name="lesley-phillips">Lesley Phillips</div>
<div class="candidate" name="ken-reeves">Kenneth E. Reeves</div>
<div class="candidate" name="sam-seidel">Sam Seidel</div>
<div class="candidate" name="denise-simmons">E. Denise Simmons</div>
<div class="candidate" name="jefferson-smith">Jefferson Smith</div>
<div class="candidate" name="tim-toomey">Timothy J. Toomey Jr.</div>
<div class="candidate" name="minka-vanbeuzekom">Minka Y. vanBeuzekom</div>
<div class="candidate" name="luis-vasquez">Luis Vasquez</div>
<div class="candidate" name="kirsten-von-hoffmann">Kirsten von Hoffmann</div>
<div class="candidate" name="james-williamson">James Williamson</div>
<div class="candidate" name="elie-yarden">Elie Yarden</div>
</div>
<div class="issues-quotes">
<h2>What they’re saying</h2>
<div id="quotes">
<!-- THESE ARE NOT REAL QUOTES. DON’T USE THESE. -->
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="dennis-benzan">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>One thing I would like to see happening is a program of robotics in our public schools supported by MIT.</p>
<p>As residents we are honored to live in the shadows of two of the greatest learning institutions in the world, but we cannot just live in their shadows. We can't thrive as a city when we have two different populations, one wealthy and one poor. Close to 50% of the kids in the public school system live in near-poverty. We need to face these challenges.</p>
<p>There are inconveniences that come with the student population, so the least that the universities can do is giving back to the communities they live in. I think it shows good faith.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Benzan
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="dennis-benzan">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I feel we have to keep increasing our police presence, especially in the squares. I would like to see a new police station in Central or Harvard.</p> <p>My neighborhood in Cambridge, Area IV, was the first to adopt surveillance cameras in the 80s. We dealt with the cameras, but as a young person who was growing they felt uneasy. You felt your privacy was invaded.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Benzan
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="dennis-benzan">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I support the net-zero movement and I support sustainability. However, I don’t support the current draft of the Connolly petition because it works against the goal of providing affordable housing.</p> <p>A lot of pedestrians are incredibly unsafe around bikes. I propose that bikers should register their bikes and have a little plate on them, so that they may be identified. The elderly in particular have very serious complaints about bikes and how they go around the streets.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Benzan
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="dennis-benzan">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We have to urge the universities to provide housing to the highest possible percentage of graduate students, so that the overflow won’t be putting extreme pressure on the neighborhoods’ housing markets.</p> <p>The MBTA is underfunded. The Legislature has failed to prioritize it. We are a world-class city, and the fact that we have one of the worst transportation system in the country speaks to our priority. I would support making capital improvements. Whenever you jump on the red line it’s a gamble. You don’t know if you are going to get to work on time. It’s a sad state of affairs.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Benzan
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="dennis-benzan">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I operate a small business, and I make a point every day to shop at local retail stores.</p> <p>We don’t have very many latino restaurants in our city, so we need more of that. We also need more southern cuisine. [Commercial expansion] can’t come just in the form of chains like Tasty Burger or Starbucks.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Benzan
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="dennis-carlone">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>If any group, University or not, wants to build at the neighborhood edge, they have to live by a common sense of community. You have to play by what I call a neighbor bill of rights.</p><p>I am a firm believer that everybody--big corporations, businesses, and the universities--should participate in keeping Cambridge affordable.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Carlone
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="dennis-carlone">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Before coming to Cambridge I had lived in Manhattan. Interestingly I never felt threatened there. I came [to New England] for an interview and I was mugged across from the Christian Science Center. The difference in Manhattan is there were many people around. When I was mugged there was nobody there. I think good urban design can lessen safety problems.</p><p>I think there should be cameras at red lights . . . When I go to work every day, I see one to two people going through red lights. I was almost hit once.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Carlone
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="dennis-carlone">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>In 2007 the City Council said we had a climate emergency. Since then emissions have gone up by 17%. Harvard and MIT have some of the finest people in environmental engineering. If anybody has to start this dialogue [about emissions reduction] in the country, it has to be Cambridge.</p><p>I am part of a group that is promoting the net-zero emission campaign. There is a diagram realized by the City of Cambridge that shows how much of Cambridge will be underwater by 1950: 50% of it. For some reason we are not paying attention to that.</p><p>Cambridge is endowed with an unbelievable range of great old buildings. I am a real believer that you should do everything you can to save them. I think most old buildings can be integrated into redevelopment.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Carlone
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="dennis-carlone">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Cities should never sell land, only lease it. The Council has been talking about selling three parking lots to developers. Lease the land for 40 years instead, then get it back, so that it stays affordable. What happens now is that sold land goes back on the market and becomes regular housing.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Carlone
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="dennis-carlone">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I think the presence of local businesses is great benefit to a neighborhood. In fact, it raises the value of living or going to school there. I often say that every neighborhood should keep a list of the local business they want to see established: bakeries, shoe stores, and so on. That’s how you build cities. It can’t be just via the markets. It can’t be just dollars.”“When I was in grad school in the 70s there were restaurants where you could get a decent meal for three bucks. At lunch it was students and the elderly . . . Now Harvard Square has dramatically changed.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Dennis Carlone
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="leland-cheung">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>You have to recognize that our histories are intertwined and that one would not be successful without the other. So I think you can’t unbundle the image of Cambridge as a liberal, well-functioning bastion of good governance from Harvard University.</p> <p>But I am trying to get us more intertwined and build more connections between Harvard and the city because there are many people that are not affiliated with Harvard, that have no connection with Harvard. So I have been working with Harvard for the past year so we have put in place where we started broadcasting when a speaker comes to commencement or when a speaker comes to you know speak to students and that is recorded that will also be broadcast on CCTV—our local cable community challenge so that people can get exposed to that.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Leland Cheung
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="leland-cheung">
<div class="quote-body">
Last term I introduced Bridgestep, which uses analytics to analyze crime trends. So when you, or if you for example, for now if we get a number of 911 calls that are suspicious, or there has been a homeowner break in or my car has been broken into, we have the analytics, the analytics are now in place through the introduction of Bridgestep. This system will see that oh we usually get no calls for car break ins and now all of a sudden we have had three. That will automatically trigger a detective to go out and start investigating and you know talking to neighbors and figure out what is going on. I think that the challenge that I have seen when I have gone to community meetings [is that] people don’t call 911.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Leland Cheung
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="leland-cheung">
<div class="quote-body">
I think Cambridge does have a history of being a leader, we were the first to adopt stretch code, we have been continually at the forefront of requiring more energy efficient buildings to be built. I think we should obviously continue to lead in that way. I have spoken with members who were signers of the original [Net Zero/Connolly] petition who, even they, recognize that the petition as written has significant flaws, for example the requirement to purchase Reqs, they aren’t audited and they aren’t standardized. I would much rather see money invested in renewable energy sources that net add to our own local grid, serving our own local population.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Leland Cheung
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="leland-cheung">
<div class="quote-body">
This term I have been chairing neighborhood planning and trying to bring up a lot of discussions to the council and people. I think that the reality is that there is no single thing that is going to fix the housing crutch that we have in the City of Cambridge. So you need to have a plan, you need to understand the housing market and put housing on the market each year to match that vacancy rate if you want to control the price of housing and not keep pricing people outside of Cambridge and keep gentrifying to the point where only millionaires can live here and you need to do, when you build that housing, you need to build it in proportion to the diverse array of housing types that people are looking for.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Leland Cheung
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="leland-cheung">
<div class="quote-body">
So I introduced—there was this article written up in the WSJ on this—[a measure] requiring any new developer in Kendall square to set aside at least 10 percent of space for entrepreneurs and start up companies. I would like to expand that to the rest of Kendall square and I think that there are other places in Cambridge that this would be appropriate for, like Alewife and Harvard square in particular… We would like to create more space for entrepreneurs and start up companies in Harvard Square. [I have] worked very closely with developers to try [and implement this] and when they have retailing vacancy to fill it with a locally owned retailer as opposed to some big chain because economic studies have showed that locally owned businesses put a lot more money back into the community than businesses that are not locally owned, because they hire people who live here.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Leland Cheung
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="janneke-house">
<div class="quote-body">
It’s such a safe city. We don’t have the problems that Detroit has had or Washington DC. There’s certainly always more to do like bicycle police officers.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Janneke Ann House
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="janneke-house">
<div class="quote-body">
Net zero is a wonderful very worthy goal that I hope that we can get to in the future, but it’s not attainable right now.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Janneke Ann House
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="janneke-house">
<div class="quote-body">
Cambridge does a very good job with affordable housing… What Cambridge isn’t doing is middle-income housing. The goal is to get people out of affordable house and into market rate housing.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Janneke Ann House
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="janneke-house">
<div class="quote-body">
Harvard Square has lost a lot of local businesses. We’ve seen a bump in nightlife but we’ve lost a lot of local flavor. Curious George, it’s still local it’s still a great store but now it’s more of a tourist destination while the original store was a neighborhood destination. It just goes to show the changing trend in the square.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Janneke Ann House
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="craig-kelley">
<div class="quote-body">
I don’t think we as a council or as the city are very intentional about our relationship and I think Harvard has its own plans, universities last for centuries so they will interact with us as fits their plans, not that Harvard is being rude—same thing with MIT. But if we want Harvard to be a partner in this, that with the other thing, we need to be the ones to instigate that partnership—we need to be much more intentional than we have been in the past.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Craig Kelley
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="craig-kelley">
<div class="quote-body">
I am always interested in seeing more officers on foot or on bicycles rather than in cruisers—that is not necessarily the police department’s view. They have to move officers around town relatively quickly and from their perspective they may see more value in the flexibility of a vehicle compared to what someone on foot or a bicycle could do, or the equipment that is available to an officer in the cruiser versus one on the bicycle.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Craig Kelley
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="craig-kelley">
<div class="quote-body">
I think we need to be adaptive in terms of climate change. We need to help people prepare extreme weather events that are certainly coming, hurricane sandy missed Boston by five and a half hours, that is five and a half hours away from high tide, if that had happened we would have seen in Boston, water at the steps of city hall, much of Cambridge would have been flooded extensively—we are not going to be that lucky forever, people need to understand better how to prepare for these events, how to minimize the damage, and then how to recover from them. It’s going to be a city-business-resident partnership and I think we are nearly not as far along in that regard as we should be… As far as other policies—I think I would support a solar policy which would put a requirement in the zoning code for buildings of a certain square footage of a certain amount of square footage on the roof, and a certain orientation because that all affects how useful solar can be.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Craig Kelley
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="craig-kelley">
<div class="quote-body">
So we cap this for a reason. And I support the cap, every once in a while we bump it but we constantly are bumping against this idea of what is Harvard square. If it is Lansdowne street or the alley in Boston, off of Boylston street, which has got six, seven, eight bars and becomes a destination spot for everyone between the ages of 19 and 31 on Friday night—that is a different sort of square. That is not a good or a bad square, but that is a different sort of square and if you live in the Harvard square area that might not be the square that you want. The noise coming out of the bars and restaurants at night, the drunks wandering through your neighborhood, the cars and so forth getting parked are all things people would prefer to avoid. If you are a business owner and think boy my business shuts down at 11 but I think I could sell a lot more pizza at 1:30 at night if the bar were next door or if I could beer until 1:30 at night then you would think that maybe this is a good idea and I think Cambridge is always struggling to find that balance. Harvard square is this stunningly vibrant place, I don’t think we need to accommodate every or most alcohol licenses.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Craig Kelley
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="james-lee">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I think the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter is a great example of Harvard serving the community.</p> <p>Harvard, MIT, and the other universities could team up with the City to encourage startups, especially in the hi-tech and in the life sciences industries.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Lee
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="james-lee">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>What happened at the Boston marathon was very unfortunate. Those two brothers came here from the former USSR and somehow felt alienated and turned against the system. We as a community should do everything we can to help all the recent immigrants feel welcome.</p>
<p>We as community could do things like making more city services available in more languages.<p>
<p>As a principle, I say that we want a safer Cambridge, but that should not come at the expense of the curbing of privacy. We do not want a police state here in Cambridge . . . I would oppose any measure that would unduly sacrifice privacy for the sake of improved safety.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Lee
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="james-lee">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>The City could engage people in a public education campaign. We must point out how much energy we waste.<p> <p>To encourage bike use, we could do things like building more bike lanes, but that needs to be done in a way that serves all vehicles and not just bikers.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Lee
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="james-lee">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>There has been some talk about bringing back rent control. I personally do not believe rent control works. But I think that as a community we could start conversation about the government’s role in housing, so to find a solution where private developers would make profits, while keeping prices in check.</p> <p>The price of rents has gone through the roof. Cambridge has become too expensive for many people. The City should give more incentives for developers to build more affordable housing.”</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Lee
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="james-lee">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We definitely want to support local businesses. This means doing everything we can making it easy for them to operate, like easing government regulations.</p> <p>I am opposed to these large multinational retail and restaurant chains dominating and taking over Harvard Square. Maybe just having one of them somewhere is not so bad. But once we start allowing in one of them, who knows where the end is.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Lee
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="logan-leslie">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I'm going to set up an advisory committee for students. I want to get students from Harvard, MIT, Lesley, and Cambridge talking to each other and to have the city at the table as well. Ask any student today and most will not have any idea how to air a grievance or how to contact the council.</p> <p>You have people who have no affiliation with the University who want to make suggestions about how the endowment should be spent or divestment. That’s not their place to do that. Harvard’s an independent organization. I think they can do more, but I don’t have a number. -- on whether Harvard should consider diverting more capital to programs that benefit the community</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Logan Leslie
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="logan-leslie">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>People of Cambridge don’t want to walk through the Common at night and see people camped out there and wake up in the morning and have trash everywhere. That’s people not respecting the space. You have freshman coming into Harvard and they’re told not to walk through the Common at night. That’s a problem that we can fix.</p> <p>I think enforcing a no camping law in the Common is not a violation of their [homeless people’s] rights.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Logan Leslie
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="logan-leslie">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>It’ll have a negative effects on development. People take it for granted that people always want to do business here. -- on the Connolly petition that would require new developments in Cambridge to have a net-zero emission of greenhouse gases.</p> <p>Net zero is a worthy goal but I think it needs to be done incrementally.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Logan Leslie
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="logan-leslie">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We have inclusionary zoning...saying that, of new housing units, we need 15% to be affordable. There are people who want to push it to 25%. 18’s been the recommendation. I could buy 18. If it makes sense, it makes sense. It’s dynamic--it evolves. It depends on how much it’s worth. But you have to to look at its effects on development. If you already have a disincentive to development, then you make it even less profitable. 25% of zero is still zero.</p> <p>You need to increase housing stock...Increase housing stock, decrease demand, the rental rate will go down.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Logan Leslie
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="logan-leslie">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I’m a huge proponent of simplifying the zoning code. You have instances where if a landlord wants to rent out a storefront--the zoning code is so complicated that there are probably--9 times out of 10 that business is going to have to get a variance...to do business there...That place will be vacant while they’re getting a variance. We have businesses paying rent from 6 months to a year while they’re getting a lawyer to sort out the variance process.</p> <p>Personally, I like mom-and-pop places, Bartley’s Burgers and places like that...That’s part of the character of Cambridge and Harvard Square. But part of the reason for that--part of the reason we have banks everywhere, part of the reason why we have chains is that they can afford to navigate the zoning process, they can afford to pay a year’s rent on an empty storefront while they do that process. I do want to make it easier for small businesses to compete.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Logan Leslie
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="nadeem-mazen">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I think the relationship is cordial. I think the city has failed to put pressure on the universities on key issues, especially around housing issues, that would benefit especially the graduate population of these universities…I think it’s kind of a laissez- faire attitude, which is nice, but there are very productive things that can come from more direct partnership.</p> <p>I think there’s a kind of this lost art in politics of everywhere you go, everywhere you visit daily, you’re building leadership, you’re building connections and you’re not appropriating those votes… It’s certainly lost to Cambridge politics, where there’s a lot of interesting interaction in the Cambridge City Council chamber, but there’s a lot less proactive in-neighborhood, in-community, in-school, in-student group type of organizing.</p> <p>It’s a question of when Harvard students as voters take a leadership role in telling the City Council what their needs are. They will be heard.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Nadeem Mazen
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="nadeem-mazen">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I think there are two different issues that people are talking about when they’re talking about safety in Harvard and Central Square. One of them is the kind of crimes that happen all over any city and it’s a matter of patrol… Then there’s this other issue which is when people talk about "cleaning up Cambridge" as a euphemism, they often mean what are we going to do about the homeless problem...These things aren’t going to be solved in city hall. They’re going to be solved as a long-term networking project with the help of city council and all of the stakeholders involved.</p> <p>There’s not necessarily a lot of cross talk between homeless shelters and healthcare providers and other city resources on those issues. Sometimes, especially when it comes to substance abuse and harassment, this mental health and human services question is a really critical one to address in an open, productive and really consistent way. It kind of falls by the wayside until something pops up and then people start addressing this and the other violent crime issues that tend to get lumped together with it.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Nadeem Mazen
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="nadeem-mazen">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We did the animation on the Connolly petition. We’re very for net zero, and the people who are against it, tend not to have read it. When they say this is going to push developers out of town or this is going to make it so we can’t afford affordable housing and that we’re not going to be solving housing needs in Cambridge, it’s very clear that these people don’t understand the legislation. This proposed ordinance, this petition by Mike Connolly and Green Cambridge, makes very few infrastructure changes and has the option for no infrastructure changes, no on site energy…We’re talking about making a good change, that won’t be passed on to consumers, doesn’t involve infrastructure changes, won’t discourage developers and is the clear right thing to do for Cambridge.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Nadeem Mazen
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="nadeem-mazen">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We need to increase linkage fees to make more affordable housing. The other thing is that the way legislation is written is opaque… So my goal is make sure that when we write legislation to promote low and middle income housing, that it’s transparently useful legislation. It’s my goal that city councilors partner with non-profit developers to secure a partnership between non-profits and the city to secure parcels and develop affordable-only projects which currently we don’t have going.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Nadeem Mazen
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="nadeem-mazen">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>If you’re making the right type of business, if you’re doing a co-op, if you’re doing an arts and culture business, we need start-up grants that promote what the community has been begging for for 20 years. Those opportunities and those start-up businesses are there, but that city nudge and that city help isn’t there. That university cross talk and that ability to use ground floor retail owned by universities isn’t there… Developer-owned and university-owned spaces are often vacant as we wait for whatever the plan 10 years for now will be and I think that there’s a lot of opportunity to draw really interesting business into a lot of these parcels. It starts with grants. The other thing is a holistic view between the local business associations, the city councilors, local business leaders and business themselves and other stakeholders on consistent events and cross talk.</p> <p>I’ve seen first hand how challenging it is, and if we’re not going to rewrite the [licensing] laws we at least have to be proactive about educating people on how they can get throughout the system. Because right now the only people getting through the system have millions and millions of dollars to do very, very big projects and that is not the way that we’re going to increase the number of jobs, the nature of our jobs, our art and culture, our community service oriented businesses in Cambridge. It’s going to be through the smaller operations that grow from 3 to 12 people and then continue sustainably. That’s where we get the vibrancy in Cambridge, and that’s where we get the innovative spirit, and right now we’re just being stymied by regulation and complexity.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Nadeem Mazen
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="marc-mcgovern">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I’m not sure that the residents always respect the university and that the university always respects the residents... I’m a firm believer in having open and honest conversations. Historically there’s been some tension because there’s been some mistrust. There has to be a conversation.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Marc McGovern
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="marc-mcgovern">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>After any type of tragedy like [the bombings], the instinct is to put cameras everywhere… my responsibility is to be more rational than that. I am not in favor of putting cameras around the city.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Marc McGovern
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="marc-mcgovern">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I agree with that Connelly plan in theory as a goal. I’m glad the people who filed it did file it because it’s forcing people to have a conversation. I don’t favor this particular petition because it hadn’t been discussed enough. It’s one group’s idea about how to achieve and what we should do to achieve net zero efficiency.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Marc McGovern
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="marc-mcgovern">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We need build more housing. We need to increase our inclusionary zoning. The % of housing that’s considered affordable is now 15% in Cambridge. We could easily go to 20%. </p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Marc McGovern
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="marc-mcgovern">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>The mix of businesses is really important. Having small locally owned businesses and larger chain businesses is good... I’d like to see a more convenient, reasonably priced, grocery store. I love tasty burger but I miss 7-11. Where do you go to buy a coke in Harvard square or god forbid munchies at 2am? That’s a loss.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Marc McGovern
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="gary-mello">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>You should understand just how little Harvard figures in day-to-day city business. See it’s been there forever, but it’s confined in what it can do. For years now most of the university-oriented business has to do with MIT because they have the land to develop.</p> <p>What disturbs me is that that PILOT money [Payment In Lieu Of Taxes from universities] is not going to neighborhood benefits or mitigation at all. The money is going right to Cambridge city employee benefits. We do a lot of fast numbers with money when it comes in. That’s one item that I don’t like.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Gary Mello
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="gary-mello">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>In Central Square, we get the same stuff going on with drug programs and alcohol programs, and we just tolerate it indefinitely. If you are going to reduce the crime rate, you have to go to the root of the crime, which is some of these programs. We have an excess of rehab programs, and it’s all the stuff that nobody else would take. We dump it in Central Square.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Gary Mello
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="gary-mello">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We don’t have a whole lot of acreage for things like solar. There is limited application available. I’m more in favor of looking at where we can cut back.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Gary Mello
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="gary-mello">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We can’t regulate the price of housing. We lost rent control 20 years ago. Government can only do so much. We gain housing by two means. One is we find and build it ourselves and politicians are loathe to come before taxpayers saying I want another 5 million dollars for the low income people when the taxpayers are having problems paying for their own heat. The other way we do it is by inclusionary units. Inclusionary units on a given percentage will be put aside for lower income people granting the developer even more profitable units in exchange.</p> <p>The problem is a ratio of roughly 6 to 1, you are getting a lot of density and I’m afraid of it. Right now we have many projects in the pipeline. I would really like us to slow down and digest and see what we’re doing before we go crazy with large numbers of new ones.</p> <p>We’re doing a terrible job enforcing the noise and light ordinances that are already on the books. We’ve got to address those.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Gary Mello
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="gary-mello">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>It’s all about the rent. That’s undeniable. If the landlords are going to charge excessive rents you’re not going to get small businesses… It’s futile for councilors to try to control what is simply a function of rent. The property owners are going to determine who they want in there because they determine the prices they can charge.” “We’ve been very generous the last few years in the number of new licenses we’ve permitted. A certain category is the nontransferable. They’re issued one by one where an appropriate use is deemed instead of the traditional ownership liquor license where the few and privileged got their license 40 years ago and they own it, so that they can transfer it. So of these newer licenses, these nontransferable types, there are several in Harvard square in the last few years and I think they’re working.</p> <p>It makes Cambridge a really second-rate place when you can’t even find a restroom. Harvard square needs a public restroom desperately, Central Square needs it desperately, and other parts of the city as well.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Gary Mello
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="mushtaque-mirza">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Cambridge is because of Harvard, and because MIT came from Boston to Cambridge. I think we have established a great relationship with Harvard, and whatever Harvard needs, the City Council must try to meet the demand.</p> <p>I think the Harvard police should be the one that initially respond to any problem they have, and if the problem goes beyond their jurisdiction, then the Cambridge police should take over. But in my personal opinion, Harvard police is the one who should take care of the issues first.</p> <p>I think some of that money [from capital campaign] should go to Cambridge, because Cambridge has done so much for Harvard. I definitely believe that especially if Harvard can offer some money to affordable housing in Cambridge, that would be really great.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Mushtaque Mirza
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="mushtaque-mirza">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>One thing which is very visible to me is the violation of the traffic laws, because I was crossing the street, and I was hit by a car in a crossroad, so I understand what can happen to somebody’s life…Cambridge should be very vigilant about it and enforce those laws to make sure that nobody violates the traffic light, and any traffic violation cannot be tolerated.</p> <p>Another thing is fighting crime in a different way, and that is establishing community organizations in which young people should think of something to do rather than getting into gang crime.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Mushtaque Mirza
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="mushtaque-mirza">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>There is a large percentage of extraneous water that is getting into the sewer systems, like infiltration and inflow. Inflow is when the rain water goes to the drain line and if the drain line is connected to the sewer line then it goes to the water treatment plant located in Deer Island and we need to stop it and one thing that we can do is to completely separate the two sewers so that no rain water can get in the sewer line…58% of the water that gets into the waste water treatment plant in Deer Island is actually this unnecessary waste water. The water is not for the sewer, so that is something that we need to change.</p> <p>I think it needs to be implemented and be part of the city code that buildings have to take some action to use alternate energy.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Mushtaque Mirza
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="mushtaque-mirza">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>One thing is very serious, which is that for those people who qualify for affordable housing based on their income, it’s fine for them, but those who are the middle class, who do not qualify, there should be some housing for the middle-income group of people…and preference should be given to the residents who have been living in Cambridge for at least 10 years or whatever the number of years we decide.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Mushtaque Mirza
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="mushtaque-mirza">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I think we should encourage it especially in Kendall Square, as it is very important to have the high-tech industry and the bio-tech industry come there because, after all, MIT and Harvard can provide all the technological experts for those bio-tech and high-tech industries… When high-tech industry comes in, automatically small businesses come in too.</p> <p>When I came to Cambridge in 1973, we had many small drug stores. But now they’re all gone, because CVS has taken over. We have to have a public hearing and see what we can do to protect the rights of small businesses, because when Starbucks comes in, they destroy the local businesses.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Mushtaque Mirza
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="ron-peden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I don’t think Harvard contributes enough financially to Cambridge, and I don’t know that that’s something that can change. But I do think that in lieu of money there are other things that I would like to explore with the University, in the way of maybe technical expertise, some kind of business partnerships or youth development. I think there are some things that could be looked at to possibly reset the relationship with Harvard University going forward.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Ron Peden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="ron-peden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I don’t know the specifics in terms of the statistics, but I think it’s probably relative. I don’t see the Harvard campus as being a rampant crime scene. So, I think that if there’s been a decrease in crime, that’s a good thing, but I don’t know that it was such a bad situation to begin with... I think there just needs to be a greater relationship between the police and the community. It’s a proven historical fact that what’s effective when it comes to police work and reducing crime and public safety is community policing, and conversations with the police and the community.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Ron Peden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="ron-peden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I’m not against the net zero petition, I think it’s a good idea… I think it’s feasible, but I’m just not sure that it’s practical. I think that it has some negative effects that would kind of offset whatever environmental gains or advantages that we get from it...I think the net-zero initiative would work against [small business development], because I think that it wouldn’t be a level playing field. It would be more onerous on smaller businesses than it would on larger businesses to meet those standards…</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Ron Peden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="ron-peden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We need to be a place where we can encourage young people to use their ideas and talents, make resources available to them through partnerships with the City and the local banks, or as I was saying the Universities….In the twenty-five largest employers in Cambridge, you don’t find any minority representation. You look at the Kendall Business Association, you look at the Harvard Square Business Association, you won’t find any. To me, that’s a problem.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Ron Peden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="ron-peden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I just think there needs to be more low-income housing, because I think that what’s driving the housing prices and rental prices up so much is the shortage of low-income houses. I think the pressure on prices is coming from below…If you don’t have a planning perspective that looks at the community from a holistic standpoint, you won’t even consider these issues. But if you have a city-wide forum or mechanism, then all of these different interests can be a part of the planning and the development, and they can be accounted for.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Ron Peden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="lesley-phillips">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>When you have a major and ancient and somewhat inflexible institution dealing with the public, there are always problems.</p> <p>I would definitely say [the relationship] has improved… the Council’s paying more attention to both the flagship universities.</p> <p>Getting Harvard students engaged in the process [of voting] is really important.</p> <p>I would certainly like to see more reach-out to all college campuses to get more involved... I think the city council can do a little more about their reaching out... the more [students] get active in this process the better.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Lesley Phillips
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="lesley-phillips">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>[Cambridge and Boston] have really been very fortunate in having much lower crime rates than the rest of the country and other big cities, however one major crime is one major crime too many.</p> <p>More police on the spot as opposed to more surveillance cameras is certainly one of the things we can do. If we need to take a little money out of the Cambridge rainy day fund to help pay for that, it’s certainly there.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Lesley Phillips
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="lesley-phillips">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Once [the net zero petition has] reached the point where the required vetting and required public process and required public comment has been taken, I would certainly vote for it.</p> <p>There is no such thing as safe nuclear energy in my book, and we deceive ourselves to think that there is.</p> <p>Non-fossil fuel burning is necessary wherever possible. Wind energy, which has only had a little demonstration in Cambridge up until now, needs to be expanded statewide.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Lesley Phillips
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="lesley-phillips">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We’ve had a little too much runaway development, and a bit too much irresponsibility in some of our development; we need to bring it back into balance.</p> <p>Any kind of government-supported inclusive housing needs to really be looked at carefully and done equitably. I’m all for it, but it has to be done equitably and with all of the hidden costs examined.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Lesley Phillips
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="lesley-phillips">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Some of those [old businesses] are probably lost forever. I think there are plenty of community-spirited Harvard Business School graduates who would love to try to start up that kind of business again in an area like Harvard Square—let’s have the University and the City support that. We don’t need to have Harvard Square be Burlington Mall just spread out at street level instead of inside a closed gallery.</p> <p>We need a form of rent-control back, and we need it for businesses as well as for housing.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Lesley Phillips
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="sam-seidel">
<div class="quote-body">
The relationship with the university was really contentious during the 60s and 70s. Many a city Council candidate ran on the platform that bashing Harvard was the way to public office. But while I was in office, Harvard did a good job of reaching out to the council and at the very least keeping us informed of that they were doing and what they were trying to do it.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Sam Seidel
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue"crime" data-candidate="sam-seidel">
<div class="quote-body">
There was federal funding for security cameras and I voted against them partly because I was so fed up with the Bush administration. But if I am on the council I will reengage this debate.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Sam Seidel
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="sam-seidel">
<div class="quote-body">
I’m a big bike rider. Bikes are huge in Cambridge. Bikes are fun because in some ways they’re not that complicated. We need lots and lots of bike parking
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Sam Seidel
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="sam-seidel">
<div class="quote-body">
I support more units in Central Square and I think that’s a good thing that means taller buildings that requires more discussion. Those conversations can break down into acrimony but they don’t have to. And some thoughtful leadership for that will go a long way
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Sam Seidel
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="sam-seidel">
<div class="quote-body">
Rents are of course an issue. And this is a place the Harvard has played a positive role and can continue to play a positive role to help foster a rent structure that is going to make the numbers work out for a café
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Sam Seidel
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="jefferson-smith">
<div class="quote-body">
[ The student body] is a huge asset to Harvard itself and to the Cambridge community. Students and graduate students are drivers are of the economy in Cambridge and the Boston area. Students are also making Cambridge far more diverse… And, of course, the academics and innovation that happen at Harvard are huge benefits to this community and help employ people in Cambridge. There’s a social aspect to these innovations, too, that’s tremendously important.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Jefferson Smith
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="jefferson-smith">
<div class="quote-body">
I come from the school of thought—and from what I’ve learned working in public safety—that when you make incremental changes in terms of patrols and details and a larger police presence, you see a large change in behavior. It’s an excellent, precise tool that we can use in terms of safety to make sure that our presence is known. It allows crime to decrease. We’ve done this in part, but it’s a matter of being vigilant, and if we keep working we can make this situation completely reverse.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Jefferson Smith
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="jefferson-smith">
<div class="quote-body">
I’m a volunteer member on their board of directors, and I was recently elected their vice president. We focus on a lot of pragmatic environmental solutions, and this means that we’re not simply approaching this from one extreme or the other. We do our best to bring divergent viewpoints to the table and work out solutions, whether those are regulations or instate laws. A good example of this would be the Updated Bottle Bill or the Solid Waste Master Plan. [Environmental issues] are complex problems but ones that aren’t outside the realm of possibility to solve- it’s just a matter of investing the time and energy to do this so that we can reverse the trend of climate change.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Jefferson Smith
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="jefferson-smith">
<div class="quote-body">
we have a lot of developers wanting to come into Cambridge. Kendall Square is one of the most desirable square miles on the East Coast. We need to offer as much lower and median incoming housing as possible, by increasing the housing stock and increasing the rental stock. We’ll be able to level off the rental prices over here, but it’s not going to happen over night. It’ll take a few years, but if we don’t start investing now and working on a master plan for Cambridge, then we’re never going to achieve anything, and income disparity will become larger and larger.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Jefferson Smith
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="jefferson-smith">
<div class="quote-body">
A lot of the time, the landlords are holding out for longer contracts, and unfortunately that means that many of their storefronts are just not opening up. I think the city and the state have many resources that we can bring to Harvard Square to make sure that landlords are encouraged to bring local businesses or small businesses into their storefronts. That’s the very first step to making sure that we see a successful Harvard Square into the future. We want to make sure that rent’s not out of reach for folks, and to encourage the profit and t revenue associated with new businesses moving in.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Jefferson Smith
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="minka-vanbeuzekom">
<div class="quote-body">
Having so much young energetic blood, not so much engaging the civic fabric of the city because many times students don’t engage in the city, but [students] are in the stores, they’re spending money they’re out on the hubways. We’re starting to bring them into the civic fabric of the community, which is really exciting.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Minka vanBeuzekom
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="minka-vanbeuzekom">
<div class="quote-body">
Cambridge police have adopted a more analytical approach to crime solving using statistics to predict where crimes are going to happen... They’ve also been much more out in the community interacting with community members to change the dynamic and make crime reporting easier…The community-policing model is really paying off.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Minka vanBeuzekom
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="minka-vanbeuzekom">
<div class="quote-body">
Every opportunity that I can I try to drive us away from fossil fuels. And the Connolly petition is one way to do that. There are various components that make sense. There are some tricky bits. Some people say that it’s like a voodoo kind of thing but we just have to do it. We’ll work out the kinks.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Minka vanBeuzekom
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="minka-vanbeuzekom">
<div class="quote-body">
One of the reasons why I did not support MIT’s new zoning position in Kendall Square was because I wanted them to commit to building new housing. When they want something from you, that’s the time when you have the most leverage to make them promise something.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Minka vanBeuzekom
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="minka-vanbeuzekom">
<div class="quote-body">
I think Harvard is returning to roots of having small local businesses it’s not that the chain as getting pushed out but the ratio of chain to local business is going in the right direction of more local.
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Minka vanBeuzekom
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="kirsten-von-hoffmann">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Something that I’d love to do is to hold a forum for university students...students [would be] able to come in, hear from me, and I would also want to invite some of my colleagues--be it other city councillors or city staff--and have us talk about what our goals for the City of Cambridge are and after that just engage students...Just really open up a dialogue and from there try to have some projects, seminars, task forces.</p> <p>Bringing students into the conversation is a great starting point, because in my mind, students are the bridge and the vibrancy or energy that ties the city government to the schools’ administration”--on how to improve the City’s relationship with the administrative leaders of Cambridge’s institutions of higher learning. </p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Kristen Von Hoffmann
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="kirsten-von-hoffmann">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We also have [police] officers who are assigned as community liaison officers for different districts around the city. And I think it’s really important for residents to know who that officer is so that, if they have a problem, they know who they can call. I think that that would strengthen people’s sense of safety to know that they have a contact.</p><p>Women in terms of safety are at a slight disadvantage, and I would like to address that with the police department--what can we do to improve safety for young women or for women in general throughout the city? That relates both to university police as well as the Cambridge police department.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Kristen Von Hoffmann
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="kirsten-von-hoffmann">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>One of the key elements of my platform is to create a comprehensive sustainability plan for the city of Cambridge...we need to dive deeper and I think and outline what a sustainable city would look like and then weave in the planning aspect of that. Cambridge is seeing a lot more in terms of population growth. There’s a question of density and development, mitigation of the factors of climate change, traffic housing--these are all matters that in my mind connect and relate to sustainability.</p> <p>I’m in full support of the Connoly petition. It’s something that I’ve thought long and hard about and read about. I’m on the Board of Directors for Green Cambridge, which is the main organization that oversees and promotes environmental issues across the city. It’s definitely a bold, forward-thinking undertaking and I think it involves bringing a lot of important stakeholders to the table in terms of really getting into the details of what we want to be in the Connolly petition when it comes to a final cut.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Kristen Von Hoffmann
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="kirsten-von-hoffmann">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>We can’t say no to development. But we also can’t say yes to development that isn’t smart or development that’s extremely high-rise, for example. So, what is development to me? It’s that some of our buildings go a little bit higher but at the same time, as we’re building new housing, we’re doing so by building around transportation nobes like T-stops, so that people are encouraged to use that instead of purchasing a car. It’s always about this give-and-take that moves us forward in the most ideal way.</p> <p>My very first priority around housing would be around creating new three-bedroom units…I know that it’s important to people to create a space--a context--for families to grow and set down roots in Cambridge. We can’t build that culture with just building new development that accommodates young high-earning professionals. We need to balance it out and create space that allows people of different income levels to live.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Kristen Von Hoffmann
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="kirsten-von-hoffmann">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I hope to be a champion for small businesses because I think they’re an underdog right now and they need a voice on the City Council or a few voices on the City Council. </p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Kristen Von Hoffmann
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="james-williamson">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Transportation impacts [of the Allston campus] will be huge. How are people going to get back and forth across the river? What will happen to the Weeks footbridge? I don’t think the city council has demanded that the city staff think about it, but it’s a burden on them.</p><p>Are the current PILOT payments enough? Can Harvard been a collaborator in Cambridge schools? They have done a lot, but that relationship could be better. </p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Williamson
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="james-williamson">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>...we don’t have the kind of relationship between the campus and the police that we should have. We need to do some work on that.” “ I’m not sure the answer is surveillance cameras, I think it is more community police and a strengthened community between the community and students at Harvard and the police department and the Harvard campus police so that we build more trust.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Williamson
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="james-williamson">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>The biggest gains in terms of transportation aren’t going to come from bikes. Bikes are a small piece of the pie. The biggest gains for the environment will be massive improvements in trains and buses.<p> </p>By allowing the public to get on the M2 bus [to the Longwood Medical Area], that would be a contribution that Harvard can make to the public transportation system.<p></p>Automobiles are the problem, so by looking at parking and improving public transportation so people will want to take it because they know its reliable and affordable, that’s what we need. </p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Williamson
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="james-williamson">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>Harvard and MIT need to house their graduate students. It’s not the only thing that we need to do, but it’s something that Harvard and MIT have the resources to do immediately.</p> <p>We also need to look at inclusionary zoning. ...one of the members of the [Cambridge Housing] Authority said that they are finding that developers don’t even care about the additional cost of doing 15% of affordable housing, this market is so hot that people can afford to not even think about 15% affordable units. So now is the time to start taking a careful look at moving that up to an even higher number.</p> <p>In each municipality that adopts the [Community Preservation Act] CPA, they can choose up to 80% for either of those categories. None of them can go below 10%. Cambridge has chosen 80% for affordable housing, and there is a consensus in Cambridge that we should stick to that.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Williamson
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="james-williamson">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I don’t think you can necessarily not have some [national franchises], but what I want to make sure we have is a choice.</p> <p>One stop permitting, if it isn’t communicated well to people who want to start businesses who are in a position to, that needs to be developed.</p> <p>I would like to review all of the license fees. Over the years they seem to keep adding a fee for this, a fee for that. I would want to take a careful look at that in consultation with local business people and the license fee and see, “what makes sense here?” Can this be simplified? Can it be rationalized so it’s just one fee?</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
James Williamson
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="town" data-candidate="elie-yarden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>...The government isn’t looking at the total environment, but how much money can come in from outside and into Cambridge because Harvard and MIT are here. This results in commercialization, meanwhile the universities themselves are serving corporations much more than they should. The faculty resists this but the administration presses for this because it brings in more money to the university.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Elie Yarden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="crime" data-candidate="elie-yarden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>I... consider Cambridge a relatively safe city. There is no neighborhood in which I hesitate to walk.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Elie Yarden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="environment" data-candidate="elie-yarden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>...We should reduce pollution by reducing waste. The amount of waste in wealthy cities frighten me. The second thing is to eradicate poverty. I don’t think environmentally, I think ecologically. The human, urban environment is not just trees and the air, but it’s also the behavior of humans. Poverty is a waste, also. The people who live in poverty are an aspect of that waste. They are human resources. I don’t think we can do behavior modifications, but I think it’s possible for people to be more conscious. Buy less, waste less, have more time to enjoy.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Elie Yarden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="housing" data-candidate="elie-yarden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>[Regarding the first housing policy he would implement] Rent control: to make an orderly market for people who need a place to live, who need shelter. This means regulation.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Elie Yarden
</div>
</div>
<div class="quote" data-issue="square" data-candidate="elie-yarden">
<div class="quote-body">
<p>The rents have to be of such a nature that allows small businesses to supply the needs of Cambridge... Franchises are deathly. Family businesses need to come in.</p>
</div>
<div class="quote-author">
Elie Yarden
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<h1>The <strong>Candidates</strong></h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#dennis-benzan" class="modal-link">
<div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: url(img/candidates/benzan.jpg)"></div>
<div class="caption">Dennis <strong>Benzan</strong></div>
</a></li>
<li><a href="#dennis-carlone" class="modal-link">
<div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: url(img/candidates/carlone.jpg)"></div>
<div class="caption">Dennis <strong>Carlone</strong></div>
</a></li>
<li><a href="#leland-cheung" class="modal-link">
<div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: url(img/candidates/cheung.jpg)"></div>
<div class="caption">Leland <strong>Cheung</strong></div>
</a></li>
<li><a href="#janneke-house" class="modal-link">
<div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: url(img/candidates/house.jpg)"></div>
<div class="caption">Janneke <strong>House</strong></div>
</a></li>
<li><a href="#craig-kelley" class="modal-link">
<div class="thumbnail" style="background-image: url(img/candidates/kelley.jpg)"></div>
<div class="caption">Craig A. <strong>Kelley</strong></div>