McGovern looks back on term as mayor, much accomplished over past two years
As the calendar turns to 2020 and a new City Council gets ready to be sworn in, I have been reflecting on the work of the Mayor’s Office over the past two years. There were certainly some challenging times. We had divisive conversations on affordable housing in our neighborhoods and racism in our public schools, and we gathered for far too many vigils.
Despite these trials, much was accomplished. We opened the first warming center for the homeless, providing shelter to hundreds during the winter months. We launched the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, helping to support local immigrants with legal advice and representation. We brought free breakfast to every public school student and expanded free lunch to hundreds. We brought the Pathways program to Cambridge to help young adults find jobs in the trade unions to help them move from poverty to well-paying careers. We partnered with Dr. Darnisa Amante for Cambridge Digs Deep, a series of community conversation on race and white privilege in our city. We authored first-in-the-nation ordinances on surveillance and bike infrastructure, both now serving as models for other cities across the country. We created road maps for dealing with tenant displacement, the arts and substance use disorder. And maybe most importantly of all, we helped hundreds of individuals with issues from housing to jobs to addiction to hunger.
In Cambridge’s political system, once the council is elected in November, the internal race for mayor begins. While I am eager to carry on my work, I have decided to throw my support behind my colleague and friend Sumbul Siddiqui for mayor. Over and above her tremendous results in the past two elections, I believe her deep connections to the community, commitment to our most vulnerable and the leadership she has shown on the council are the ingredients for an excellent mayor. I also believe that as our city and schools continue to address issues of race in our community, having a mayor who can see these issues through a personal lens and who co-sponsored the Cambridge Digs Deep series with me will be vitally important to these conversations.
As I return to the council, my commitment to social and economic justice will not change. As a social worker of 25 years, this has been my life’s work. I will continue to address issues of affordable housing, substance use disorder, homelessness, income insecurity, immigration, early childhood education, climate and constituent services. Cambridge is an amazing city and there is a great deal to be proud of, but we also have a lot of work to do if everyone, regardless of race, class, gender, ZIP code or sexual identity has equal opportunity to access the prosperity that surrounds us. I remain committed to this work.
I want to thank my staff, past and present, for all their support on the above issues and so many more. I want to thank my colleagues for giving me this opportunity and for their hard work over the past term. I want to thank the city manager, his team and all the support staff who make our city run every day, but who rarely get the appreciation they deserve. And of course, I want to thank my family – especially Mary Anne, my wife – and my children Nicolas, William, Connor, and Addison, who have made this all possible.
I look forward to a productive next two years and will continue to work hard for the people of Cambridge.
Marc McGovern is mayor of Cambridge.
It has been a tumultuous term dotted with deep hostility of tribal proportions. If the ex-mayor is returning to his commitment to social and economic justice which he says will not change, (a lofty goal), and after the school committee debacle and the divisive affordable housing overlay fight, let’s hope the new year sparks a deep personal introspection on his part, maybe even a more nuanced approach. Along with the glamour of public recognition and ceremonial duties comes thoughtful, objective, level, deliberation and leadership, which was sorely lacking this past year.
As chair of the school committee, we lost not only Emily Dexter in a full-court press, but two others left because there is “not enough self reflection by members,… and the committee as a whole took policy disagreements personally” which didn’t afford respectful deliberation. This could also be said of the council chambers.
In his statement, the mayor states:
“The rhetoric, the personal insults and the personal attacks, we’ve got to rise above that, we can’t let the nastiness that’s happening at the national level come here,” McGovern said. “We’re good people trying to do good stuff, whether we agree with each other or not on particular policies …remember that we all want great outcomes for our kids… Let’s remember to be kind to each other, We’re here not only here as elected officials. We’re community members too.”
leadership comes from the top and by example. This has not been evident throughout the housing debate and I dare say (confirmed by others) that the mayor was thin-skinned and divisive, fanning the flames as he organized his posse. If this is what is meant by getting back to his commitments, presumably for more affordable housing which everyone wants, perhaps he and other councilors can work towards a more respectful and reasonable approach. Otherwise, the ex-mayor’s personal statement will prove to be erroneous and inconsequential. And of course, that goes for cambridge citizens at large. It will take discipline and the will to be more civil this year. As the mayor suggests, we can’t bring washington DC to the city. thank you.
Great job Marc, thanks for your hard work.