Government Central
Legislative Affairs Update
by Terrence F. Smith

City Manager Addresses GAC
Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy was our guest at the January GAC meeting. In his remarks he thanked the Chamber for supporting his new contract, which extends his service to Cambridge for three years, and thanked the Cambridge business community for continuing to support improvements to the City. He balanced his remarks between good news about Cambridge and concern about the impact on Cambridge of the current troubles in the state, national and international economy. He notes that Cambridge is in better shape than most Massachusetts communities but not immune to larger economic issues.
Healy reported that the City has completed a number of major capital projects, including the new Robert Healy Public Safety Building and the refurbished War Memorial pool and athletic center. He also said that other projects will be completed, such as a major renovation to the high school and completion of the main library project. The City will also continue its ongoing program of sewer and water projects.
The Manager expressed his concern about the economy and its potential impact on Cambridge. He said that he does not preach “doom and gloom” but that he has directed his senior staff to identify cost savings for the next budget and he has identified projects that will be cut during the current and next fiscal years.
Healy said that he looks carefully at the impact on taxpayers of any increase in the property tax. Over the last several years, the tax levy increase has averaged 3.5%. His focus is addressing cost issues before asking for any major increase in revenues. He has cancelled one capital project and is looking for other opportunities to reduce spending.
Any tax increase would likely hit residential taxpayers the hardest because Cambridge residential property values have remained stable while commercial values have been volatile. The Manager mentioned that several years ago, with residential values rising faster than commercial values, a slight change in the distribution of property taxes resulted in relatively large tax increases for some residential property owners. Currently the commercial sector pays 65% of property taxes and Healy thanked the business community for its willingness to bear this tax burden and for its general support of the City’s efforts and priorities.
Following the Manager’s remarks Chamber President and CEO Kelly Thompson Clark reported on a meeting she recently attended with leaders of other business organizations and Congressman Michael Capuano. The Congressman invited this group to discuss their views on the proposed federal economic stimulus package. An electronic copy of materials from that meeting with Congressman Capuano is available by contacting Terrence F. Smith, CCC Director of Government Affairs at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org.
The Chamber thanks City Manager Robert Healy for his comments; Bill Purcell, the Executive Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics for joining us for this meeting; Genzyme, represented by Ann Stanesa, for sponsoring the GAC in 2009; and all who attended.

Changes in City Council
Vice Mayor and fourth term City Councillor Brian Murphy announced his resignation from the Council at the February 9 Council meeting. Murphy resigned to take a position with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Transportation and Construction, where he now serves as Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs.
In late February, the Election Commission certified that Larry Ward, who came in 11th in the 2007 City Council election, would be Murphy’s replacement. Councillor Ward was sworn in to office at the March 1 Council meeting. Ward has been active in Cambridge civic life for many years and has served in a number of roles in the Cambridge public schools. He has also been a leader in Cambridge Youth Soccer and holds a doctorate from Boston University. At the March 1 meeting, the Council also elected first term Councillor Sam Seidel to replace Murphy as Vice Mayor for the remainder of the current term.

Alexandria Zoning Petition Approved
In February, the Council approved a zoning petition filed by Chamber member Alexandria Real Estate Equities that will allow for 1.5 million square feet of laboratory, office and retail space along Binney Street and provide new housing, open space and community space in the neighborhood. Alexandria worked with the East Cambridge community, City officials and others in the community for more than two years in preparing this petition. The next steps will require Alexandria to go to the Planning Board for approval of a Special Permit necessary before any construction can begin.

Executive Speaker Luncheons
See page five for information on the April 14 Executive Speaker Luncheon with President & CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Susan Windham-Bannister. Also, save the date of May 19 for a Luncheon with Thomas J. Kinton, Jr., CEO & Executive Director of Massachusetts Port Authority.
The 2009 Government Affairs program is sponsored by Genzyme Corporation. For more information on GAC activities, contact Director of Government Affairs Terrence Smith at tsmith@cambridgechamber.org or (617) 876-4213. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12