Duehay remembers his early years on the citycouncil--the turbulent 1960s and early 1970s--as atime of escalating town-gown tension.
"This was a time when Harvard was expanding itsreal estate holdings into the surroundingneighborhood," Duehay says; upset with theescalating rents that accompanied Universityexpansion, local neighborhood activistscommandeered Harvard's 1970 commencement ceremonyin protest.
Dramatic demonstrations are more rare today,but Duehay says the city and the University stillhave a "love-hate relationship."
"I would say that the thing that most annoyspeople in Cambridge is the failure of theUniversities to pay taxes," Duehay says. "Theycould eliminate one source of town-gown strife inone fell swoop with paying full taxes."
As a non-profit educational institution, mostof Harvard's land is exempt from property tax.While the University makes voluntary payments inlieu of taxes, Duehay says it isn't enough.
"It would cost a lot of money, but these arepremier universities and they make a lot ofmoney," Duehay says, pausing for a moment beforehe continues, "I don't think it will happen,though."
Another town-gown debate has arisen over thecity's universities--especially MIT--attractingspinoff industries over the past two decades.
"The economic tide that is sweeping intoCambridge is enormous," Duehay says, "but notenough people will be able to take advantage ofthese new opportunities."
The growing high-tech industry in Cambridge hasbrought prosperity to many, he says, but he sayshe worries that employees of the soap, candy andsteel factories of the Cambridge of 30 years agohave been forced out.
On a more immediate level, he says, Cambridgeresidents feel threatened by University expansion.
Duehay points to Harvard's proposed KnafelCenter for the Humanities as one potentialexpansion that has enraged neighbors.
"Imagine it: All of a sudden, instead of aquiet, residential neighborhood, you'd live by abustling academic building," he says.
Despite some town-gown tensions, Duehay'sprognosis for the city is positive.
"There's a lot going on in the public sector,there's a lot going on in the business sector," hesays.
"The change in the city is visible."