Notes To Readers:
Council candidates Marjorie Decker, Vincent Dixon, Daniel Greenwood, Robert Hall, Sr., E. Denise Simmons and Laurie Taymorberry did not respond to inquiries from The Crimson.
Candidates were contacted via phone, e-mail, fax and post.
Responses were edited for length.
Anthony D. Galluccio
1. The reason I worked so hard on the Riverside re-zoning is because it presented an opportunity for a win-win situation for all involved.
2. I believe both Harvard and the City are looking for a more stable and predictable relationship. The Riverside zoning is a good model, but the negotiations were adversarial and very hard line. The goal should be to move away from the “we will give only if we get” mentality and in the past the City has had to fight for every community benefit we have received. Harvard must realize this as a deeply respected and very powerful institution, it being a community partner in our affordable housing efforts, public education, and public health initiatives without having to beg, pressure or negotiate for an ongoing relationship in these areas.
3. The PILOT program should be tied to the value of real estate as it is for Cambridge taxpayers...To be honest the current payment, about 3 percent of our annual budget is not worth our City Manager’s time and agony to negotiate. It is unfortunately incidental to our current financial position.
4. I am opposed to rent control and will be voting no on Question One.
5. The City should continue its current efforts to provide affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents... I have never supported rent control of privately owned housing and do not believe it has been effective or fair in assisting low-income residents.
6. Cambridge has a very low crime rate and well-staffed and funded police and fire services. Universities benefit greatly from both. I would like to see more New York, Giuliani-style accountability in our police department, and a more proactive approach to trends in higher crime areas.
7. The Cambridge Public Schools in general, are lacking general management principals...The School Committee must act like a board, and not as individual politicians, and set priorities for its CEO (the Superintendent)...I do believe standardized testing, while certainly not perfect, must play a more prominent role than it has in the past, and the lack of focus upon basic skills is reflected in our low-test scores.
8. I believe strongly the laws should be same city to city and think a statewide ban puts business on an equal playing field...At the end of the day, I supported the ban and believe it’s the right public health direction to be going in, but my “is government gong a bit far” antenna was at a full mast during the debate.
9. I support all-night transit and late-night licensing, as well as sidewalk eating and drinking. Let’s make Cambridge a fun world-class city. How about ice-skating on the Cambridge Common? I love the student population of this city, it adds a youthful vibrancy and international diversity to Cambridge. We should support it and allow it to thrive.
10. My favorite place to eat in Cambridge is the Midwest Grill, a Brazilian steakhouse in Inman Square.
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