Under existing zoning laws, said Cambridgeactivist Robert J. LaTremouille, the John F.Kennedy Park is zoned for office space, theCorporal Burns Playground adjacent to PeabodyTerrace is zoned for highrises, the RiversidePress Park is zoned for office buildings, and theriver banks themselves are zoned for two-familyhouses.

"It's a pretty large area," said CouncillorSheila T. Russell, who voted against the petitionwith fellow Independent Councillors William H.Walsh, Walter J. Sullivan, Jr. and Thomas W.Danehy. She said she would have preferred to seethe downzoning divided among several smallerparcels. "I have a problem with the 26 percent ofthe property owners opposing [the petition],"Russell added.

Monday was the Council's last chance to act onthe petition, and Councillor Alice K. Wolf saidits supporters on the Council debated whether tobring it to a vote, since its defeat was certain.

"I think that it's good that the citizens knowhow people are voting," said Wolf. "At leastpeople know where [the Councillors] stand and theycan take corrective action at the next election,"she said, "and if they don't, we're up a creek."

"They want downzoning in North Cambridge," saidGraham, referring to a proposed expansion of RouteTwo, which would cut into parts of Russell's andDanehy's home neighborhoods. "They're going toneed support from all of the city," she said,urging opposing Councillors to vote for downzoningoutside their neighborhoods.

Councillors Wolf and David E. Sullivanencouraged the petitioners to try again with anamended petition and campaign for it among theconstituents of Councillors who opposed themeasure on Monday.

"I personally think it's going to take a verystrong citywide movement," said Wolf. "It's goingto take something that hasn't happened yet, whichis a revolution.