Candidates Questionnaire - Kenneth Reeves

1. Many residents feel that their property taxes are  too high, and that because of this they cannot afford to buy a house or rent an apartment to stay in Cambridge. How can we make sure that property taxes keep the city affordable while providing the city with the tax base it needs?

The question posits that taxes are too high, and therefore people cannot afford to buy or rent

housing. I believe that people are unable to buy most often because the asking price is too high. High taxes contribute to forcing the sale of homes by working class people. Furthermore, higher rents to pay higher taxes contributes to people having to leave the city.

What is the solution? The City Council must aggressively work to change the status quo.

It is the State Legislature that has the power to adjust tax policy. The Legislature has requires 100% evaluation. This policy change has wreaked havoc through tout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The city must also reevaluate the current assessment model. In valuing residential real estate based upon its resale to be converted to condominiums is injurious as well as unfair. If you live in your house and do not presently plan to sell it, you should not be taxed on its speculative sale value as condominiums. Why not value it R& D or other non-residential use?

2. How can we make public transportation better in Cambridge and what can the City Council do to encourage residents to use public transportation?

Working with the MBTA, we can work to improve bus service (scheduling) and token Purchasing. (Harvard/Porter/Central stations) This council term we have worked to vastly improve the number of bus shelters available to bus passengers.

We must work harder to support the Commonwealth's inner ring proposal that would link the Central Square area with rail service to the North Point /Lechmere area. This would improve cross city connections.

There must be redoubled efforts to reduce car use in Cambridge. The new mayor of Los Angeles is piloting a plan whereby drivers would not drive to work 2-3 times a week. This approach has merit.

I will work hard in the next council term, if re-elected, on the issue of a pass which would allow

city residents to ride on available seats in all types shuttle buses that are permitted in the city.

3. What can the city do to make sure that future negotiations with the city's unions are fair to workers?

In general, negotiations with city collective bargaining units have been fair and have often included one time bonus payments.

 4. Cambridge is one of the centers of high-tech innovation in the country. What can the City Council do to encourage innovation and take advantage of new technology while keeping the city affordable for its residents?

The Economic Development and Training Sub-Committee which I chair, has done extensive work on the question of how to keep Cambridge as a world center of innovation, while at the same time keeping, existing residents here. We want to be home to new technologies, but not displace, our residents. I believe we can do both. We must promote affordable home ownership programs and develop housing options for teachers and human services workers. We should also use all this technology bounce to create housing for creative artists.

5. What will you do to take advantage of the unique educational resources provided by the Cambridge's universities while preventing university development that threatens working families? 

I have worked hard for sixteen years to have the city's colleges and universities be an asset to all residents of the city. Much has been done to get the attention of "gown" to respect and participate with the townspeople Neighborhood committees in Mid-Cambridge, Agassiz, Riverside and Cambridgeport have worked with (Harvard, Lesley and MIT on issues of neighborhood impact. In addition, the City Council has had recent meetings with the Presidents of Harvard, Lesley and MIT regarding good community relations.

6. What can City Council do to ensure that future development is not environmentally harmful?

The City Council can pay close attention to all significant development proposals. For example, the council is currently considering new zoning for the Concord Avenue/Alewife area. A goal must be to insure that Concord/Alewife, North Point and other locations not become "edge cities" that are overdeveloped fringe areas of the city. I am currently reviewing the Boston Society of Architects study of the Concord/Alewife area to be better able to advocate for good environmental impact.

-- Kenneth E. Reeves