On Thursday June 15, as advertised, the City Manager and the Police Commissioner attended a neighborhood meeting at the Willis Moore Youth Center adjacent to Hoyt Field.

Neighbors Ben Holzman and Greg Fine handed out an agenda listing them as co-chairs of the meeting. They stated that the purpose was to “Determine and commit to an action–plan to root out problems of violence on Howard Street.”

About sixty people attended, more than one third of whom were either cops or city officials.

The usual suspects were there. Assistant City Manager Ellen Semenoff, Cathy Hoffman, Director of the Nuclear War and Peace Commission, Traffic and Parking Director Sue Clippinger, three Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) officials, City Councilors Galluccio, Reeves and Simmons, School Committee Member Richard Harding, Holly Levin of Police Public Relations, and Ini Tomei of City Public Relations.     

At least twelve police officers—seven in uniform, two deputy commissioners, and a patrol commander were present.

Microphones, used properly, help people to hear sounds they could not ordinarily hear. Police power if used properly allows us to enjoy the pursuit of happiness.

Control the mike, control the problem

Councilor-Mayor Reeves controlled the microphone. The use of the microphone was a metaphor for the problem being discussed.     

Most of the time one or another person simply held onto the microphone after he or she was done speaking.

Reeves was the worst hog. Bad habits are hard to break. He was most willing to share the mike with the police commissioner, who sat next to him. But some of the residents were not much better.       

I arrived shortly after the meeting began. Commissioner Watson was saying that there were not eleven shots fired as reported in the Cambridge Chronicle. Rather there were eleven entry and exit wounds.     

He said that the Police Department, the Fire Department and Emergency Services responded to the calls on May 28, the night of the shooting. Then he repeated what he had already said at the June 5 City Council meeting.      

Neighbor Beth Ginsburg said she had lived on Howard Street for one year. She said that the police presence has reduced the violence. About ten residents yelled, “No!”     

Ginsburg had worked with the police department and the city manager about the problems on Howard Street. But after the shooting the community relations officer stopped returning her calls.

Commissioner Watson said that other incidents brought up by residents are not related to the shooting on May 28. “Don’t try to connect the unrelated incidents.” The murder on Berkshire Street was domestic violence. The Western Avenue incident was a stabbing. He said, “We hope to have a solution to that incident within the week.”     

The family involved in the May 28 shooting moved into the apartment in River-Howard Homes eleven years ago. There was a history of problems. The CHA moved to evict the family but failed. Six months ago they were able to begin negotiations to relocate the family.     

The Commissioner said, “There’s no law against kids hanging out. Let’s not mix apples and oranges.”     

Apples and oranges

A woman named Denise said she was threatened, intimidated, and robbed. She said some people were moving out of the neighborhood.     

Other neighbors said, they’re moving because they can’t afford to live here, not because of the violence.     

Larry Adkins, president of the Riverside Neighborhood Association (RNA), said “Let’s get on track. There’s been lots of talk. There should be prevention. People should be able to walk on the street freely without fear.”     

He added, “Having police cars present prevents crime.”     

Adkins said, “We want proper intervention. With the available technology, are resources being properly used?”     

At this point Councilor-Mayor Reeves announced, “Councilor Galluccio has joined us,” then asked the Police Commissioner about earlier calls on the day of the shooting.     

Watson said there was one response to Hoyt Field about a motor scooter and one to 7 Howard Street, the scene of the shooting. The officer who took the afternoon call engaged a person who may have been “the cause of the problem on Howard Street.”

Then at 2209, that’s 10:09 PM, there were two emergency calls about shots fired there. The lieutenant on duty said, “To the best of my recollection.” This sounded as if he had been briefed by an attorney. It sounded like the words used by William Bulger when he testified before Congress. After I heard that phrase I did not pay attention to what he said.     

Reeves asked, “How many officers responded to the call?”     

The lieutenant said, “The officer on the scene confirmed that there was a man down. That raised the level of the call.”     

Reeves asked, “And then what happened?” sounding like Perry Mason.    

Denise rejoined the discussion saying, “I love my neighborhood. I told the cops I saw people running through the King school (grounds).” She wanted to know why the police did not chase them. Some of the neighbors began shouting and did not let her speak. The city manager said, “This is second guessing.”     

One neighbor said, “No one ran.” Denise said, “Yes they did.”     

Commissioner Watson said, “We need to protect the crime scene.” That is why the police did not chase the suspects? “We did an immediate criminal investigation and tried to identify who was there. There were a lot of things going on. People gave conflicting information. We must find the essential witnesses then the detectives will follow up. This investigation is ongoing.”     

"A huge breakdown"

Reeves asked, “What is the CHA contributing to the situation? They couldn’t solve the problem at 7 Howard because there was not enough police-documented evidence. That was a huge breakdown here—85 calls in six months.”     

City Manager Healy and Commissioner Watson said, there were 85 calls dispatched, not 85 incidents.     

CHA Director Gregory P. Russ explained that they lacked sufficient evidence to go to court to get an eviction. He said there were two requirements, (1) lease violation, and (2) ability to document the violation. “If there was no one willing to testify and no evidence we could not get an eviction. That doesn’t mean we were not mindful of the problem. We entered into negotiations with the family. The family obtained counsel. We were able to remove the individual.”

The City Manager got up and walked around the room. Human Services Director Semenoff joined him.     

Russ said, “We at the CHA rely on the Cambridge police as all [Cambridge citizens] do.”     

Reeves asked, “Could it have been solved sooner?” Russ answered, “No.”     

Ann Sullivan, attorney for the CHA said, “At the eviction trial we took a busload of residents. Only two testified. The others were there to show support.… CHA, police and the family’s attorney have met since January 2006.”     

Larry Adkins said, “The flaw is relying on one account.… How can you expect a neighbor to report a next door neighbor?”

The City officials and the Police want young people to help the police investigation. But police seldom help investigations of the police. Lawyers seldom help investigations of lawyers. Doctors seldom help investigations of doctors. And most of all politicians seldom help investigations of other pols. But they all want teenagers to help police identify wanted criminals.     

Reeves said, "I knew about 7 Howard for years. There was rampant drug selling." He held onto the microphone after speaking.     

Reeves mentioned that one member of the family at 7 Howard was “handicapped.” CHA Director Russ had used the words “person with a disability.”

Here was one more example of negative stereotyping by the Councilor-Mayor toward persons with disabilities. He thinks nothing of insulting vulnerable persons, though he sees himself as a defender of homosexuals and persons of color.

     Ben Holzman, who co-chaired the meeting, said he wanted to get police out of their cars.     

School Committee member Richard Harding, who arrived late, questioned the “characterization of a gang.” There was much anger at the suggestion that a gang was operating in Cambridge.

Lots of fluff

State Senator Jarrett Barrios, as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, issued a report earlier this year referring to to gang activity in Cambridge nearby cities. But he was noticeably absent from this meeting.

Councilor Simmons came in and sat next to Mayor Reeves, who did not announce her arrival. Did he notice her?     

Cathy Hoffman, Nuclear War and Peace Commission Director made a long speech. “I’ve been listening to fears. I saw kids go by my house because a friend of theirs was dead. They are hurting. They’re in a lot of pain. The police were there with a particular agenda—to solve a crime. The world is on fire. The only thing to show should be deep love. I was so busy I didn’t have time to say hi to this person. Mothers have their problems. I thought—Where have I been? I saw some persons saying some very wise things. That’s not a police department job. What I’m interested in is an opportunity to connect more deeply with young people in my neighborhood who want to get back at somebody—those who love peace and care about this area. Let’s get to know each other.”     

No one thanked Hoffman for keeping Cambridge free from nuclear war for 20 years. No one dropped any bombs on Cambridge since the Nuclear War and Peace Commission was established in 1986.       

Reeves asked Michelle who works at the Moore Youth Center “Do the programs in this building stay open late Saturday?”      

One woman said, “We open at 6:30 PM and have a gym and a computer room.”     

Reeves asked if people who stood in the nearby alleyway would come into the Youth Center if it were open. He did not ask if they are allowed to use the lavatories.     

Larry Adkins asked, “Can the Youth Center remain open till 11 PM?” A woman answered, “No.”     

Adkins asked, “Is it open Thursday, Friday and Saturday?” The woman said, “As of June 9th it is not open Friday or Saturday.” Assistant City Manager Semenoff said, “We are evaluating Youth Center hours.”     

Michelle said, “We will not be open late.”     

Reeves asked, “Should we be? To bring up another issue, who will build relationships with kids? We can be open 24 hours but without relationships with people.” Councilor Simmons said, “It’s about relationship building.”     

Reeves asked, “Why are kids hanging out?” Simmons explained “It’s what kids want to do. It’s not one size fits all. Everybody must be treated for where they are in their life cycle.”     

Reeves asked, “If you turned on rap music would people come in for the music if we left the door open?”

Brainstorm—yuk!—take cover

In some jurisdictions the authorities play music by Barry Manilow to make them uncomfortable. No one brought up this as a way to stop kids from “hanging out.”     

Someone said, “People are not just relationships. Some play basketball, some play piano, some like rap music.” No one said that kids also like sex, drugs and acting tough.     

Commissioner Watson said, “We talked with the Somerville Police Department. The Cambridge police are fully staffed. We have a motorcycle unit. We negotiate with the police union. The City Manager gives us the resources to do the work. We work with the Riverside neighborhood and with abutters. On June 19th we will have a neighborhood walk.… Area 4 and Riverside are the only neighborhoods with walking patrols and bike patrols. We go to the community meetings.” He spoke about shifts and seasons.     

Larry Adkins asked, “Why are there dedicated patrols only in Riverside?”     

Watson said, “That’s not true. Every neighborhood gets the same. All 13 neighborhoods.”     

Adkins said, “When a police car goes by people pause until it passes. We asked for foot patrols for three years.”     

Watson said, “Foot patrols are good for building relationships. We needed to move to a mobile department. Crime is mobile. We need to put them where they are needed as quickly as possible. We have undercover officers. So we pull out our cars. We use various methods. We can’t put foot patrols everywhere. Councilor Simmons would put foot patrols in Area 4.”      City manager turns white

The City Manager said, “We have more police officers than any city in Massachusetts.” He looked at Greg Fine and growled, “What are you smiling at? By any standards there are about one police officer per square mile.”     

Alan Dobson, who is an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), asked, “Did I just hear what I thought I heard?” The room became silent.     

I cried out, “Yes, you did.” The City Manager’s complexion changed from its usual red to white.

But the Manager continued, ”The Commissioner worked in the most crime-ridden neighborhood in Chicago. He cleaned it up. My decision rests with this gentleman. It isn’t going to happen.”

A woman asked, “Should we call the police?” Watson said, “Yes.”

Reeves said, “We need an organizational forum for newer residents. I wasn’t born in Cambridge.… I came here 35 years ago. Our goal is to work with you and Commissioner Watson.” A police officer said, “We’ve got to work together.”

Councilor Simmons repeated the mantra of the Cambridge negotiation industry. “We are all on the same side.” This is clever way to eliminate criticism and dissent. Saying everyone is on the same side implies that it is the correct side, the side of good and right. Anyone who is not on the same side is wrong and bad. Sometimes it is also implied that anyone who is not on the same side is also stupid. 

Beth Ginsberg said, “We called repeatedly. We did everything we were told to do. We worked with Community Relations officers. We engaged the Council. People wanted to invite them but is dialogue helpful?”

A police officer said, “We met with CHA and abutters. Now that family is moved. Time will tell.” Will time tell without immunity?

Ginsberg said, “Your department did a fabulous job. You need to promote Boston.” Reeves handed out menus from a local restaurant.

Ben Holzman said, “Police give patrols allocated differently by address. The City Manager said everything is fine. But the situation is not fine.” The City Manager said, “Nobody used those terms saying everything is fine.” That is why I like to video tape all meetings.

The Police Commissioner said, “We can’t give you everything you want.” Can they at least provide foot massages?

Holzman asked, “What have you looked at as studies?” Watson replied, “Of the many neighborhoods we decide how to allocate resources.”

Holzman continued, “Will anything change?” Reeves said, “We need to go forward.” Watson said, “Neighborhoods count up the things per year.”

Simmons said, “We need to work together and have conversations.”

All you need is talk. All you need is talk. All you need is talk, talk. Talk is all you need! (Sung to the Beatles' All you need is love.)