McGovern seeks return as Cambridge councillor to keep working toward a more just community
My name is Marc McGovern, and I’m running for reelection to Cambridge City Council because – despite the craziness that surrounds politics these days – I still believe in the government’s ability to make tangible differences in people’s lives. Even with all the prosperity and opportunity here in Cambridge, far too many of our residents are struggling to meet their basic needs. Far too many young families are being priced out, and the days of graduating from college and being able to lay down roots are virtually gone. I believe we must do something about that.
The expansion of affordable housing in Cambridge is one of the most contentious issues facing the city today, and our upcoming election has significant implications for how it will be handled in the years to come. Everyone running for council says affordable housing is important. But we disagree on how – and how quickly – we want to meet the needs of our community. There are thousands of people who live or work in Cambridge – folks who teach our kids, work in our restaurants, collect our trash – on the affordable housing waiting list. That’s a crisis, and I believe we must deal boldly with that crisis.
I recognize that Affordable Housing Overlay zoning, including the most recently passed amendments, is controversial, but I believe these policies give us an important tool to address this complex issue. The amendments won’t solve our housing crisis overnight, but they won’t turn Cambridge into Manhattan, either. What they will do is provide our affordable-housing partners with more opportunities and flexibility to produce more 100 percent affordable homes for people, and that’s a good thing. There are places where four-, five- and six-story buildings are appropriate, but there are places where taller buildings are appropriate too, and we need to take advantage of those opportunities; after all, we won’t house those thousands by nibbling around the edges or maintaining the status quo. I lead the task force that addresses homelessness in our community, so I see the ramifications of the housing crisis every day. Housing is a human right, and we must do everything in our power to meet the needs of our community.
Housing isn’t the only issue that matters for Cambridge residents, of course. I was proud to serve on the mayor’s task force that led to universal prekindergarten coming to Cambridge next year. I worked with the city manager and our Department of Human Services to expand after-school programming and co-chaired the task force that led to the creation of the Community Safety Department, a department that will provide a non-police response to nonviolent issues in Cambridge. I also worked with the mayor and vice mayor to launch Cambridge Rise, a program to help reduce poverty.
My vision of Cambridge is one of a vibrant, diverse, international city. A place where people from different backgrounds can live together, play together and work together. I love that about our city. Our diversity is our true character, and we must preserve it. We must move Cambridge forward, not backward.
I know we aren’t going to agree on every issue, but I stand by my record of supporting policies and initiatives that improve lives. I believe in bold, compassionate leadership, and I believe I bring that to the council. You have lots of choices in this election, and with a minimum of at least three new members, experience and a proven track record matter when we have so many urgent challenges to address. With your help, I will return to the council to keep working toward the socially and economically just community we all want Cambridge to be.
I respectfully ask for your No. 1 vote on Nov. 7 or before with early voting. Thank you for your consideration. If you would like to help out these last few weeks, please email [email protected].
The writer is a Cambridge city councillor.
While the motive is laudable and supported by many, I have watched over the years HOW ideas get implemented. The general resentment by citizens is feeling disrespected at not having enough input in projects, there is often not enough concrete data and statistics supporting some of the programs voted through, and the hundreds of letters and testimony at council seem ignored. And I dare say, I suspect there is a certain amount of horse trading behind the scenes.
I found it ironic, for example that a councilor was incensed at not being apprised about the AHO 2.0, that “amendments” were orchestrated by 3-4 councilors without notification. She didn’t know about it. But that was chocked up to “open meeting laws”- that if more than a certain number of councilors get together, they are bound to having a public meeting. The number was kept small to initially avoid that.
Mr. McGovern has stated repeatedly that he was “unapologetic” in his stances. To me that reads as unwelding, dismissive, manipulating without resident engagement, siloed without looking at context… and basically cuts off dialogue as a “done deal”. There seems to be a built-in bias, even using twitter to move plans forward through surrogates.
I am looking forward to a council where ALL members listen to each other, LIKE each other, look at data and implementation– not an ideology and wish list, AND who respects the public of all persuasions.
Fear continues to be fanned instead of buckling down to look at opportunities and PLANs for city-wide implementation. That includes potential unintended consequences. I also would like a councilor who doesn’t use snark to intimidate, who doesn’t puts ALL those who have concerns into one bucket and call them NIMBYs. That doesn’t help dialogue, and tends to perpetuate the look of divisiveness and impropriety.
The current complaints against the current council and its lack of transparency, outreach
(lamented by some councilors) and untried proposals without input has perpetuated a look of untrustworthiness. Intimidating a subordinate committee as a councilor who has clout denigrates the democratic process and doesn’t allow that board to proceed with their jurisdiction. this has happened several times.
Mr. McGovern is smart, has the gift of gab, has some good ideas. But what I lament is the mode of operandi and manipulation to push ordinances through for special interests, without further consideration or outreach. I do not want councilors with hidden or overt agendas and who uses subversive means to achieve them.
Council needs to work for everyone. Where is the McGovern heard tell of from 30 yrs ago who is empathetic, helpful and inclusive? Tunnel vision has over- ridden his good deeds from yesteryear.
First comment has lot of innuendo but is light on facts. It’s fine to have an opinion – you don’t like Marc, believe me, we get it – but it’s not great to keep making vague accusations of skullduggery. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one: Marc’s voting his conscience, and you and he just disagree on some of these issues.
Marc works every day with people struggling with homelessness, poverty, substance use disorder, and other weighty issues. I think that work gives him invaluable perspective, and it does influence his priorities. That’s good.
I do agree he gets a little firey sometimes, and that’s not everyone’s style, but I think that actually comes from listening to everyone. If you listen to someone worried about where their kids will sleeping next month, and then you listen to someone worried the new affordable housing complex down the street doesn’t “fit into the neighborhood context,” it’s good to weigh those concerns differently, even as you listen to both. I *like* that when something has to give, he consistently prioritizes people’s needs (food, shelter, stability, health) over some other people’s preferences (smaller buildings, setbacks.)
That’s not disrespect. It’s leadership.
Councillor McGovern is a hero to many in Cambridge. You would be hard pressed to walk through any square with Marc and not have people coming up to say hi or thank you for helping with issues big and small, from crosswalks and parks to housing and school situations.
Marc is results-oriented, and that’s the only way to get anything done around here. Cambridge has way too much process, not too little, and that’s why we have a housing crisis. We elect leaders to solve problems, not form another study or commission to listen to endless special pleading from those opposed to reasonable solutions. We rarely hear similar special pleading from the thousands of people in need of affordable housing, so lots of people seem to think it’s ok to pretend they don’t exist.
And all of the Council knows very well, for better or often worse, that you can only have four co-sponsors on a policy order before triggering the open meeting law. It’s frustrating that some Councillors who know better still feign concern with that happens.
you make some valid points, however, councilors should represent all people and really make an attempt at listening to ALL concerns. my point is to do your homework. I’m not going to character-assassinate or play the divisive game. everyone has their strengths, but how things get across the finish line needs to be looked into occasionally. there are times when his behavior needs to be checked. He gets thin-skinned and defensive when challenged. Doesn’t help as a steady leader.
My observations of Marc are the opposite of pete’s. I’m impressed over and over when he responds to innuendo-filled, fact-light arguments on the Cambridgeport listserv. He is thoughtful and respectful, even if the person he is responding to is not.
Marc’s focus is on the most vulnerable in our community. He pragmatically fights for policies that make a difference in people’s lives. We need more people who care as much as Marc does.
pete, you may not agree with Marc, but he is a person of honesty and integrity. You say you’re not going to character-assasinate, which you immediately follow with “but,” and then some vague allegations.
pete, I think you are projecting.