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The non-profit Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund hosted its 9th Annual Benefit Concert for the Homeless at Harvard Square’s Sanders Theatre on Sept. 28, bringing supporters and recipients together.
“This year's concert features Freddy Cole, legendary jazz musician and brother of the late Nat King Cole, along with vocalist Kathy Kosins and legendary soul/jazz saxophonist Red Holloway,” said Joanne Stanway, spokesperson for CHAF.
Inside the Sanders Theatre, the mood was feisty and sonic - its yawning recesses providing much aurorean ambiance for both musician and jazz enthusiast alike; its halls gobbling up ample aura and approval greedily. Playing as if possessed, Cole and company put on a show for the ages. Pleading through every passionate note, Cole, Kosins and Holloway powerfully proclaimed that homelessness be stamped out here in Cambridge – and beyond.
Cambridge Trust CEO Joseph V. Roller II presents a big check to CHAF. Roller's leadership has been essential to the success of CHAF, said its volunteer director David Pap.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Freddy Cole and his friends perform at our benefit concert. Freddy was just inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame earlier this month, and he’s won countless awards and accolades for his unique voice and musical excellence,” said David Pap, volunteer director of CHAF, which used the concert as a focus for its fundraising efforts.
“The trio’s participation and support will help us reach our annual goal of $175,000 for 2007, which will in turn help an estimated 250 families. Right now, we’re about $25,000 shy of that goal. But if we just keep pulling together, we can end homelessness in Cambridge for good,” he said.
[The PDC-DFA members will soon release their endorsements. This article was held in anticipation of that announcement, which appears to be taking longer than we expected.--Editor]
by Christopher J. Gendron
In advance of the Nov. 6 elections, Progressive Democrats of Cambridge-Democracy in America joined and The Alewife to sponsor a Sept. 5 forum to inform the PDC-DFA's endorsement process at the Central Square's senior center.
“On behalf of the PDC and Democracy for America, I’d like to welcome everyone to the 3rd Bi-Annual City Council Candidates Forum… thank you all for coming out,” said Leslie Phillips, chair of the PDC-DFA, as she opened the debate and detailed the evening’s procedures.
Assembled before a backdrop of PDC, DFA and PDA flyers, 15 out of 16 candidates running for City Council participated in the event.
After the obligatory introductions and opening statements were delivered by all 15 candidates, the candidates were then given a chance to address several major issues affecting the city - with additional questions from the audience to follow.
Clearly, the most pressing issue had to do with the city’s lack of affordable housing for middle and lower income families. When asked how the prospective candidates might help solve the affordable housing crunch in the city, a myriad of responses followed.
“I believe that affordable housing should be my number one priority once I’m elected into office.” said incumbent Marjorie Decker. “There’s been lots of talk about improving the situation – I think one way is to provide higher paying jobs for our citizens while simultaneously minimizing the inherent tradeoffs that added urban development brings.”
David Maher, who is now filling the vacancy left by Michael A. Sullivan's resignation, said he agreed. “Affordable housing continues to be a big issue. We should implement the adoption of inclusionary zoning bonuses for developers, giving future builders a 15 percent bonus in lieu of a 15 percent allocation of total units slated as affordable housing. This could have a major impact in the city, as several hundred units are being built over the next few years.”
There was a general consensus among the group about the severity of the issue, with all agreeing that something had to be done – and soon. And in the spirit of team and good sportsmanship, all the candidates were very amicable and courteous toward one another throughout the debate. Taking great care, one by one they conscientiously stepped over Kathleen Podger’s assistance dog after waiting patiently for their turn at the mic.
“Yes, it’s a difficult problem for sure, and we may never fully close the gap with regard to affordable housing and low income families,” said Sam Seidel, who finished 10th for the nine spots on the council in 2005.
Luckily, the rental market in the city is somewhat flexible, as providing even a couple hundred units to lower income citizens would not be adequate for a city of Cambridge’s size - the real problem lies with the elderly and wait listing," he said.
Challenger Larry Ward said, “I think Cambridge has done a good job in many areas, but we as leaders still need to think innovatively when confronting these issues. Even as Harvard continues to build all around us – why can’t people who’ve grown up in the city and have supported the city own properties in the city? This is the issue that must be resolved.”
The candidates were then asked what they thought the Election committee should do to boost voter turnout, a question prompted by the fact that the municipal election turnout in 2005 was at an all-time low of just over 16 thousand voters – barely half the municipal voter turnout from a decade earlier.
“I think it’s up to us as politicians to make sure the people’s voices are being heard, that we need to make you feel confident you’re being listened to,” said Craig Kelley, now serving in his first term.
City Councillor Denise Simmons said, “I believe voter education should be an ongoing process, and we should continue to actively engage and invite churches and schools into the process which will get youngsters more involved.”
“We need to boost programs in the high school and youth centers to get the kids involved, we also need to ask registered voters why they’re not going to polls. We need to get feedback from them. I also ask: why do we always vote on Tuesdays - why not vote on Saturdays? Most people are very busy, and they can’t always make it into the polls during the week,” said Edward J. Sullivan, who is hoping to continue his family’s 72-year tradition of serving the city of Cambridge. He joined the race upon his cousin's August resignation.
City Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr., said, “I support same day voter registrations. I also want to change the dynamic of how our election commission is selected and open it up to the other parties, like the Green and Independent parties. This may help to infuse some new energy into the process.”
Ward said, “We need to bring something to the table to make our voters vote. We need to increase our youth’s awareness of the issues and their involvement in them. We need to figure out how to get these messages online to spread the word.”
We have to give people a reason to vote, get them excited about voting. It comes down to our outreach programs and being more aggressive with registering new voters. We have to get in people’s faces and ask them - hey, got a minute for democracy? We’ve got to engage people,” said Brian Murphy.
The Cambridge human rights attorney running for the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex seat in the state senate declared Aug. 28 that area schools are in need of more targeted funding.
“This week, in advance of the start of the new school year, I visited Chelsea High School’s health center. What I found there was symptomatic of our educational system across the district and across the state: we're making great strides with dedicated teachers and parents - but they need more help,” said Jeff Ross, who is campaigning to replace Jarrett T. Barrios. Barrios resigned in July from the state senate. The special election for this seat will be held on Sept. 11.
Ross said he will continue to make the Commonwealth's citizens aware that being healthy and being successful go hand in hand. “Studies show that students' ability to learn is directly impacted by their health.”
Ross said, “One of the most important steps we can take is to fully fund our health care system to ensure that families stay strong and kids have the support they need to stay in school.”
“Funding health care reform and increasing access to AIDS education, mental health, substance abuse, immunization and GLBT programs would make our schools far more effective – along with freeing up valuable school staff,” he said.
“Strong and healthy children build a strong and healthy economy,” he said.
“To achieve this, we need to invest in healthy, modern and technologically updated facilities. This is the leadership the district needs. This is the leadership I want to provide as your state senator.”
es providing much aurorean ambiance for both musician and jazz enthusiast alike; its halls gobbling up ample aura and approval greedily. Playing as if possessed, Cole and company put on a show for the ages. Pleading through every passionate note, Cole, Kosins and Holloway powerfully proclaimed that homelessness be stamped out here in Cambridge – and beyond.
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