You are welcome to speak on this environmental priority at public comment at the beginning of the meeting, from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Anyone can speak for up to three minutes on any item on the agenda.

To get on the list you can call the City Council office up until 3 p.m. today at (617) 349-4280 or come to the meeting and sign up in the council chamber.

Henrietta Davis, city councillor

Dawn Baxter

It’s ironic that Marc Levy chides the Avon Hill neighbors for inaccurate (only slightly) statements when his own fact checking is so lame. (let’s talk about what “pretty much opposite” really means … yawn …) A few interviews beyond using Bliss Austin Spooner as a sole direct source would have yielded a more balanced — and  more interesting — story.

Spooner’s kids may not use the Wyman Street dead end, but other kids do. Griff, our young neighbor, learned to walk there not long ago. My grandkids play dodgeball, capture the flag and make gigantic glycerine soap bubbles with their friends there. Next time I will invite Ms. Spooner’s kids to join in. But where, exactly, does she live? She said she lived 100 yards from the curb cut — I can’t see a house that is 100 yards from the requested curb cut except the abutters, Ms. Welch, Blue’s B&B and myself — did you check that? Perhaps another aerial map would help you.

And how about some quotes from the 40 people who signed the letter to the city councillors last week or the petition some months ago? How about some words from the abutters who have not been consulted by Mr. Griffiths, which may be a procedural irregularity with regard to Avon Hill Conservation District Commission guidelines.

Mr. Levy, I invite you to stand on my porch (not even 100 yards from the proposed curb cut) and see what 28 cars plus do to traffic and parking on the street every weekday morning. Not that we take exception to the nursery school — they are good neighbors and we all try accommodate, especially in trying winter circumstances, by using Wyman Street for this short period of congestion. Maybe Mr. Griffiths should take a page from their book on how to be a good neighbor.

I would be delighted to move into the congregate senior housing that may follow the Griffith family’s residency. If you believe that, I have a bridge, you might want to buy. But it is a complete misstatement of fact and an outrageous and misleading notion.

Mr. Levy, make an effort, do your homework, please!

Sincerely,

Lisa Blout, 86 Avon Hill St.

Editor’s note: Quotes from the 40 people who have signed letters and a petition on this topic were included in the post to which Blout responds and in a Nov. 1 post. In fact, Bliss Austin Spooner has been the only person quoted as supporting the curb cut, and all quotes came from direct testimony to the City Council during public comment periods at meetings.

While it is unclear what is referred to as “a complete misstatement of fact and an outrageous and misleading notion,” the post referred to a senior housing conversion because, aside from single-family detached homes, it is the only use for property listed in city law as being allowed in A2 zoning.

As Bliss Austin Spooner said during public comment, she lives at 48 Avon Hill St., which Google Maps shows as being 348 feet from Lisa Blout’s home — indeed, more than 100 yards from the proposed curb cut on Wyman Street. Interestingly, Bliss Austin Spooner’s home is about 112 yards from the proposed curb cut as the crow flies (but a 163-yard walk).

Thank you as well to Rayburn Music for its generous loan of musical instruments to enhance the instrument petting zoo at the conclusion of the concert, and to state Sen. Pat Jehlen for her narration of the story.

Now in its 36th season, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra is a community music organization that provides a welcoming environment for players and audiences through outstanding concerts, events and social action.

Artistry and Community in Concert.

Rachel Spiller, co-founder and board member

We just completed our best holiday season in quite some time. The volume of business happily surprised us after years of challenge. Despite this unanticipated demand, our amazing staff rose to the occasion, the publishers supplied us with the books we needed and our customers showered us with much appreciated holiday cheer. We are very thankful as we head into 2012.

A number of you have asked me why sales were so good this year. Theories abound: the Borders bankruptcy, good weather and great new titles. Maybe even Occupy Harvard and the closing of Harvard Yard, which forced tourists to change their plans and visit local businesses. My guess is that all of these factors played a role, however small. Still, independent booksellers around the country are reporting similar results, even where the weather did not cooperate or there wasn’t a shuttered Borders.

One thing that we all observed was how often customers told us they were choosing to shop with us to support an independent bookstore and local business. While we often receive comments like these, the staff was struck by their frequency and the apparent conviction behind them.

This growing awareness of the importance of shopping local was probably also encouraged by an unfortunate marketing campaign by our biggest competitor, Amazon. I encourage you to read Richard Russo’s wonderful piece, “Amazon’s Jungle Logic” in The New York Times (Dec. 12), listen to Robin Young’s “Here and Now” (Dec. 15), or read this blog post by an editor of Harvard Business Review. What emerges is a picture of a predatory corporation, willfully damaging local communities and abusing their employees in support of a supposedly “efficient” business model.

We know that we have to constantly strive to deserve your patronage. Our ultimate goal is to be able to provide any book ever written, faster than any competitor. We have already taken substantial steps to implement this strategy: a new harvard.com, a bicycle delivery service and a book-making robot. I am pleased to report the latest development toward realizing our vision: an agreement with HarperCollins, under which our robot will be able to print thousands of recent works. The list includes books from such writers as Russell Banks, Doris Lessing, Joyce Carol Oates, Agatha Christie, Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. Le Guin, Dennis Lehane, Ann Patchett, Richard Wright and Howard Zinn, among many others.

For those of you who also read e-books, most titles are now available through our enhanced website. In partnership with the American Booksellers Association, we also now provide an app (available on both Android and iOS), through which you can purchase and read e-books while supporting your independent bookstore.

It is clear that the rumors of the demise of independent bookstores have been greatly exaggerated. Entrepreneurs continue to enter the industry, reimagining how the printed word is distributed to passionate readers. It has been an exciting year, but we promise you that the coming year will be even more exciting. Thanks again for your patronage and support and we look forward to seeing you in the store.

Jeff Mayersohn, owner of the Harvard Book Store

I wish to express my concerns regarding the process for choosing the mayor, and thus the chair and seventh member of the School Committee. The current system does not allow the committee to vote or have an official say in who will chair our committee. Instead, we must sit by, as does the rest of the community, while deliberations take place within the council. Although I understand the importance and sensitivity of these conversations, the longer the delay in having permanent chairs for both our bodies, the greater the challenge to our important and vital work.

As you are all aware, the Cambridge Public Schools are undergoing a significant restructuring (the Innovation Agenda, or IA).  Since the vote in March, the committee, superintendent, administration, teachers and community have been working tirelessly to move forward and prepare for the upcoming changes. There is an enormous amount of work to be done to ensure our new middle schools and our restructured elementary schools are ready for September.

Over the next two months the committee has the following meetings scheduled:

Today: Retreat to discuss districtwide goals

Jan. 17: Regular committee meeting, presentation on academic challenge at the upper schools.

Jan. 21: Public meeting/interview of the eight finalists for the for upper school dean position

Jan. 24: Budget retreat with specific focus on the Innovation Agenda

Jan. 31: Budget retreat-District budget for next fiscal year

Feb. 7: Regular committee meeting, vote on academic challenge recommendation from Jan. 17 meeting and a presentation on math and science curriculum for the new upper schools

Feb. 14: Closed-door session to discuss union contract negotiations

Although I have complete confidence in councillor Ken Reeves to serve diligently as our temporary chairman, I don’t believe it is fair to him, the committee or most importantly the school district for the committee not to have its permanent team in place for these significant decisions.

I know there is a great deal that goes into choosing a mayor, with the committee being only one component, but it is, in my opinion, chairing the committee that is the most significant role the mayor plays. Please take into consideration our schedule and the significant amount of work that lies ahead.

Thank you and please consider reconvening your body before your next scheduled meeting of Jan. 24 to select a mayor.

Thank you,

Marc McGovern, Cambridge School Committee

Second, I would like to thank my colleagues on the School Committee and the folks who work for the Cambridge Public Schools. You have taught me so much about Cambridge and education. I hope you will work together to make sure the Innovation Agenda is a success. And please focus on creating a culture of mutual trust and respect; have high expectations for yourselves and others; and always remember to think about the kids first.

I am also thankful for the many wonderful people I have met on this incredible journey. Cambridge is an amazing city, and what makes it so amazing is the people. One of the advantages of serving on the School Committee is having the opportunity to work with the professionals and volunteers who are trying to improve the education of our kids. I have been fortunate to visit all of our schools and attend countless events focused on our children, whether it is a fundraiser, sporting event, theatrical performance, meeting, graduation or ribbon-cutting ceremony. There really are some great things going on in all our schools, as well as the many out-of-school time programs throughout the city. Yes, we must figure out better ways to challenge those kids who need more of a challenge, and we must help our kids who are struggling, as well as all those in between. However, I would like to take this time to thank all of the teachers, principals, administrators, members of the School Committee and everyone else who work with our children. We spend an awful lot of time looking at what is not working, but we also need to focus on and celebrate what is working.

One of the goals of the Cambridge Public Schools is to build a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in each one of our schools, and I am convinced that positive reinforcement is an effective strategy. Since Election Day, I have talked to many people who have acknowledged their gratitude for the work I have done on the School Committee, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your positive feedback. This outpouring of appreciation and recognition has certainly taken some of the sting away and revitalized my inspiration to continue working to improve public school education. We need to instill this type of affirmation in our children and all the people who work with them, so that they will be motivated to do what they need to do to be successful.

It has been a true honor to serve on the Cambridge School Committee, and I will continue to do my part to help improve the Cambridge Public Schools.

Thank you and happy Thanksgiving.

Nancy Tauber, School Committee member

Shuttle bus service will replace train service along the Harvard to Alewife route. Representatives from the MBTA came to State House on Nov. 2 to brief legislators on the project, followed by a public presentation the same evening at Somerville High School. They assured us that they will do everything they can to reduce impact on weekend T riders. The replacement shuttle service will run more frequently than the normal red line schedule, with buses running every two minutes at its busiest times. They also promised to have customer service personnel and ample signage at each location to assist customers. In response to our concerns about people waiting outside in the middle of winter, the MBTA has assured us that the stations will remain open, allowing people to wait for the shuttle buses inside. Lastly, extra attention will be paid to snow removal at the affected stations. Several of the elected officials present at the legislative briefing pressed MBTA officials on the need for a heightened level of customer service to mitigate the inconvenience that our constituents could experience during these coming months.

The main focus of the project is to replace failing concrete slabs along the bottom of the tunnel tracks. The tracks are mounted onto concrete slabs, which are then placed on rubber disks to absorb shock and to reduce noise and vibrations. Many of these concrete slabs are badly damaged due to water filtration into the tunnel, as well as decades of deterioration. Part of the project will be to replace the damaged slabs and seal the tunnel to reduce water leaking into the tunnel. Simultaneously, they will be replacing a large amount of general track and third rails throughout the tunnel. Some of the recent train breakdowns in this area of the red line have been caused by third rail corrosion, worsened by the water leaks in the tunnel. This project will address this problem by replacing these sections of rail.

We are all committed to seeing this work completed in the least disruptive way possible, and will do our best to monitor progress and customer service throughout the project. We, the MBTA Legislative Caucus, and the MBTA would appreciate your feedback.  Should you have any questions or concerns or should you experience any issues, you can contact the MBTA Customer Support Services directly at (617) 222-3200. You can also call the MBTA toll free at 1-800-392-6100.

Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, co-chairwoman of the  MBTA Legislative Caucus

Rep. Sean Garballey, co-chairman of the  MBTA Legislative Caucus

Rep. Carl Sciortino, vice-chairman of the MBTA Legislative Caucus

I would like to thank all of those who supported me in this challenging election, especially my wonderful wife, Mary Anne, who often found herself home alone on many nights with our twin babies, as well as my older boys, Nicolas and William, who not only worked on the campaign but also put up with significant less “daddy time.” A special thanks to my campaign manager, Kathleen Kelly, who helped keep me focused and calm during some rather stressful times. Of course, significant thanks to all of you who voted for me Nov. 8 and volunteered your time and money to help me continue doing the job I love.

I would also like to thank the challengers, in what I believe was the strongest candidate field in my political experience. Joyce Gerber reminded us that although we tend to focus on what is “wrong” with the Cambridge Public Schools, there is far more that is “right” and we should always celebrate and build on our successes. John Holland, whose demand for accountability and transparency is a message that is not only vital but timely as we move forward with our restructuring. To Mr. Stead (and you will always be Mr. Stead to me), thank you for your focus on child safety and reminding us that unless children are safe in our schools, they cannot learn. Finally, to Bill Forster, thank you for your commitment to parent choice and your years of dedication to our district.

To Mervan Osborne, my congratulations. As another candidate who was elected on his first run, I know the exciting and overwhelming feelings you are having right now, but with your résumé I am certain you will ground yourself quickly in your new role, and I look forward to working with you.

To my reelected colleagues, a sincere congratulations. We all worked hard during this campaign season, but more importantly, as a committee leading up to Tuesday’s election. I am honored to continue serving with you.

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t express my surprise that my friend and colleague, Nancy Tauber, was not reelected. Of course, in any election someone must lose. I lost in my first reelection, but knowing this does not mitigate the disappointment. Over my two terms with Nancy, no one has helped me grow more as an elected official. Her counsel and leadership, often in ways that didn’t play out on camera, helped me mature and stay focused. This was particularly true during the Innovation Agenda vote, when Nancy could have put politics ahead of her values and voted against a plan she supported just to appeal to her supporters. Instead, she was courageous and showed true integrity by doing what she felt was right, despite the political cost. In a time when elected officials often care more about polls and counting votes, courage and integrity are two qualities we can use a lot more of, and her service will be missed.

We must now continue to work together and move forward. There are 6,000 children in our district who deserve the adults to deliver the promise of a world-class education. We must put the fighting and campaigning aside and do what we have done so many times before, and come together to improve the lives or our children.

My sincerest thanks again, and I am as energized and committed as ever to fulfilling my promise to be a collaborative, communicative and level-headed leader on our School Committee.

Sincerely,

Marc McGovern

The second flaw is that neighborhood preference is granted in the policy, but without any consideration of matching how many children have neighborhood preference for a given school compared with the number of seats available at the school. Also, the SES balance of children granted neighborhood preference for a given school is not considered. So, depending on where a child lives in Cambridge, she may or may not really have access to a local, integrated school. This may be a factor in families leaving Cambridge when their children become school age. Somewhat more work, but certainly a doable fix would be to create preference zones for each elementary school balanced by SES and such that every child has a good chance of enrolling in a local school. There are other possible solutions, but all improvements have been taken off the table.

My children benefit tremendously from the diversity of Cambridge students. I support integrated schools. The current policy does a great disservice when it asks parents, in the name of integration, to send their child on a bus across town to attend a school that is not integrated. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Michele Sprengnether, Cambridge Public Schools parent