Monday, December 30, 2019

Harvard University’s Harvard Square Campus to see significant destruction for the benefit of Harvard’s Expansion in the I90 Rebuild?

RE: Harvard University’s Harvard Square Campus to see significant destruction for the benefit of Harvard’s Expansion in the I90 Rebuild?


I. Introductory.
2. Two good links, which are taken from the fact sheet.
3. The report from the facebook page WITHOUT REMOVING MATTER MORE RELATED TO THE CHARLES RIVER.
4. I90 victories.


I. Introductory.

Throughout the 15 or 16  years this blog has been in place, I have restricted posts to the Charles River.

I recall, back in 2000, when we first became vaguely aware of the outrages being worked for by Cambridge and the DCR on the Charles River, I very quickly was flabbergasted to realize the very many development initiatives which had the Charles River White Geese’ habitat smack dab in the middle.  I was also amazed at the fact that I was in the middle of them.

Well, things have expanded further.  I have done a fair job of reporting on the planning for the rebuild of I90 / Mass. Pike on the Boston side of the Charles River across from the 39 year year residence of the Charles River White Geese.  My reporting has been very heavily because of the dirty tricks involved and the targeting the animals and the environment of the Charles River.

As I have reported, Harvard University OWNS I90 in the key part of that area plus owns a now abandoned and adjacent LARGE railroad yard.  The size of the core I90 rebuild area is equal to a major part of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.

My evaluation has been that this location would be the future home of Harvard Medical School so that the Medical School’s current campus would be used for expansion of the highly valuable Longwood / Harvard Medical Area (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and related facilities which could also be moved).

It  has developed that forces in the City of Cambridge are maneuvering to move part of the main Cambridge Harvard campus to the I90 rebuild location from Harvard Square, and for the City of Cambridge to PAY Harvard to move by massive increases in financial value allowed by their zoning in Cambridge.

The zoning increases would turn key parts of Harvard’s Harvard Square Cambridge campus into retail malls with a REALLY major expansion of the Harvard Square retail district.

It also happens that I was key in creating zoning which gets in the way of this nonsense.  My zoning change was focused on a question of whether the eastern end of Harvard Square would be retail or part of the adjoining residential neighborhoods.  The neighborhoods won with one negative vote on the city council and another favorable vote in the hospital.

Following is an analysis by me to a Cambridge facebook group whose leader has been trying to get more responsible development in Harvard Square.  She made the mistake of going, in accordance with advice from Bad Guys, to the Cambridge Development Department which, in turn, referred her to what appears to be a “protective” group working, as usual for such groups in Cambridge, with the Cambridge Development Department against protection.

My analysis includes a master for a leaflet / fact sheet and a copy of the relevant part of the city’s zoning map, much of which I had a major hand in creating.

Bracketed language was deleted by me from the facebook page publication because the language is far more relevant to the outrages accelerating on the Charles River. Besides, I was trying to be as nice as possible.  Since the purpose of this blog is the Charles River and since I control this blog, the language deleted from the facebook page is exactly on point with regard to our purposes.  So it is retained in this publication.

Please note that this presentation is supplemental to my detailed letter to the Cambridge City Council on the topic.  I commonly reprint such letters on this blog.  The problem with direct repeating is the massive amount of graphics which would overload my writing time and overload this blog.  26 pages including as much as six graphics per page is rather time consuming, at minimum.

2. Two good links, which are taken from the fact sheet.

For the legal language of the Proposal see link in table on page at: https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/Zoning/Amendments   (Link in table does not work when copied here.).

For our detailed Analysis recorded in the City Council records, see: http://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2164&Inline=True, pages 298 to 323, 26 pages, up to six photos per page.  Analysis IS NOT COMPLETE.

* * * * *

It would be helpful if you review the City Council letter (second above) before reading the following.  The massive amounts of photos and subordinate parts of the zoning map are very helpful in understanding this letter.  It was targeted at people very familiar on the City of Cambridge.

I am inserting many of the edits from the Zoning Map in the City Council letter here to be minimally communicative.  But PLEASE look at the City Council letter for the photographs.  I will insert explanations as appropriate.

3. The report from the facebook page WITHOUT REMOVING MATTER MORE RELATED TO THE CHARLES RIVER.

Enclosed is a fact sheet concisely presenting my updated analysis of the Harvard Square Upzoning.  Folks who want to protect Harvard Square and the rest of Cambridge from nonsense originating in the Development Department or its friends are encouraged to make copies and distribute.


As is the usual problem in development matters with Development Department and friends, it can be tricky fully evaluating the game.  Nevertheless, I have to reaffirm my belief that leadership in this effort is well intentioned.  It is normal in these matters for well meaning people to get persuaded to achieve the opposite of their goals.  The best way to ensure vaguely working for your goals is to keep away from the Development Department and its friends.  It is my hope that these further evaluations will be of assistance.

The Harvard Square Overlay District would be changed from FALSELY protective to being outwardly destructive.  The proposal turns residential and office districts in Harvard Square to Retail districts with names that are flat out lies.

The Inn at Harvard and its trees and yards could be quickly be destroyed for very massive essentially lot line to lot line construction.  That EXCELLENT building was forced on Harvard with the East Harvard Square downzoning.  Harvard did not want[ it] THAT EXCELLENT BUILDING then.  See how fast Harvard destroys the Inn at Harvard building when PAID to destroy it by the Cambridge City Council after passing this upzoning.  Planning and approvals plus?  Although Harvard may have interim uses.

* * * * *



At the top and to the extreme left in this cropped zoning map is the core of Harvard Square.  The former Inn at Harvard is immediately above “C-2B”.  Massachusetts Avenue runs through the middle of the orange area so marked.

The five historic homes are in two spots.  Three of them are located below the “O-2" marking.  Two are in the left part of this district.  One is to the left of this district.  The other two historic houses are in the district marked “A” between two larger buildings.  The street between these two areas is Mt. Auburn Street.  Putnam Avenue is the right boundary of the “A” district.  It starts at Mt. Auburn Street.  8-10 Mt. Auburn Street is the large building at the left end of the “A” district.  The street to its left is Banks Street.

* * * *

The five historical homes on Mt. Auburn Street near Putnam Street could readily be destroyed AND REPLACED WITH SOLID WALLS OF BUILDINGS PRETTY MUCH LOT LINE TO LOT LINE 35 FEET HIGH.  Similarly, there is a lot of room for similar outrages in the back end of the 8-10 Mt. Auburn lot.  All that destructive “improvement” would do severe harm to the heavily abutting residential area.  I believe the City Council chair at the hearing did say he would like to see an alcove as a break in the solid walls.  Then again, there are tiny open space requirements.  So, instead of historical buildings, we get ALCOVES in solid walls.

The destruction of historical properties on Mass. Ave., Bow, Arrow and Mt. Auburn could be delayed a decade or more TO THE EXTENT THEY HAVE lease obligations.  I am aware of at least one such obligation.  Clearly destruction of this excellent part of Harvard Square is a major target of the proposal.

* * * *


The block being discussed is the triangular area below the “C-2B” marking.  The top, longest, side of the triangle is Massachusetts Avenue.  Arrow street is the bottom side to the right.  Bow Street is the bottom side to the left.  Mt. Auburn Street is on the lower end of the “O-3" area opposite Arrow Street.  The massive residential building is above the bottom point of the triangle.  Its courtyard is clearly shown.

* * * *

The massive residential building bounded by Mass. Ave., Arrow and Bow Streets, could go VERY RAPIDLY, as these things go, greatly reducing housing in Harvard Square and impacting city wide housing needs as well.

The owners of that building could, SUBJECT ONLY TO PLANNING AND APPROVALS, empty the entire place and replace the courtyard in the middle for ALLOWED retail.  That building could hold retail from top to bottom.  Upper floors are less vulnerable for retail, but office conversion would be highly likely, at minimum.  The bottom floor could readily be converted to parking.  Escalators could be built all over the place.  Elevators are already in place.

IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THERE ARE MANY LEASES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR IN THAT BUILDING.

Note that one of the causes that the leader of this Upzoning is fighting for is housing in Harvard Square.  It is normal for victims of the Development Department and friends to achieve THE OPPOSITE of what their goals are, but it is done to the victims very sweetly.

Six churches will be zoned for retail without FAR limits and without yard requirements.  Much pressure would be placed on their congregations / parent organizations to move out and take big profits.  Two of the six churches currently have retail allowed, but not with this massive destructive increases in floor area.  They would allow PRETTY MUCH EVERY SQUARE FOOT TO BE BUILT ON, line to lot line with ALCOVES.  Open space “requirements” are tiny, ALCOVES.

* * * *


Old Cambridge Baptist Church is above the B in “C-2B”.  St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church contains the “3" in “O-3."  It has Arrow Street above it, Bow Street to its left, and Mt. Auburn Street below it.  The structure to its right running between Arrow Street and Mt. Auburn Street is part of the facility.  Recently built, it contains their school building.  On the opposite side of Mt. Auburn Street moving left and the right most structure in the C-1 district is a Hillel House facility.  I am certain to be corrected on this, but it is my understanding that Hillel Houses are collegiate equivalents of Jewish Synagogues.  This facility is about the same age as St. Paul’s school building plus.

There are three other churches in the Harvard Square Overlay District.  One is below the C-1 district at the left.  I am including it because of the games which can be played in the Overlay District to create a retail mall with front entrance on Mt. Auburn Street.  A second is off the map to the left, located between Mt. Auburn Street and the next street below it on a park which in turn is bounded on the right by JFK Street.  Moving through Brattle Square from there and left on Brattle Street is a decomissioned church which is now a retail structure.

* * * *

[And remember the hundreds of trees already destroyed on Memorial Drive with more to come.  The NINE current incumbents have an continuing explanation: THEY DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY AND THEIR FRIENDS ARE DOING.  But look at them yelling at the other guy.

[Particularly telling was the funding by the Cambridge City Council of the Charles River Poisoner for coming work for the destruction of trees project at Magazine Beach.  (Remember the algae blight?  That was created by the City Council's paid environmental worker.)] [omitted by me]

I should think the portion of the Harvard campus between Mt. Auburn Street and Mass. Ave. is particularly, BUT NOT SOLELY AT RISK.  Retail malls would be highly likely with offices above.

* * * *


The residence halls in question are located in the abutting BB and O-3 areas running from Holyoke Street (marked) to Bow Street.  The Harvard properties in the “O-3" area containing the X were agreed by the Cambridge City Council to be removed from the Harvard Square Overlay District by the Cambridge City Council during the pendency of the East Harvard Square Downzoning.  Neighborhood activists agreed to waive this victory in response to the flat out lie, “You have made your deal with the City Council.  Now you must negotiate with the Planning Board,” by a person who has been visible in the current upzoning.

* * * *

In the Mt. Auburn - Mass. Ave. area, a person involved in this upzoning BULLIED neighborhood folks in the East Harvard Square petition, “You have made your deal with the City Council.  Now you must negotiate with the planning board.”

That person kept ground work for destruction in place by killing our success in talking the city council into destruction of the Harvard Square Overlay District in Office zoned properties owned by Harvard.

OUR VICTORY WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THAT PERSON [DURING THE BULLYING].  THOSE HARVARD PROPERTIES HAD BEEN AGREED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OVERLAY DISTRICT BY THE CITY COUNCIL.[  It is highly normal for well meaning people to be lied to by friends of the Development Department.]  The neighbors conceded without value received.

How much time will it take for ancillary groups such as the Dining Clubs to give up on Harvard Square when they are being paid by the City Council to move to I90 and sell to people who would build lot line to lot line, but with alcoves, without floor area limits?

* * * *


The left hand “C-1" district is that contiguous portion of the Dining Clubs which fit the parameters of “C-1."  There are other Dining Clubs.

2 Arrow Street is marked with an N.  10 Mt. Auburn Street is below it and to the right, at the right hand corner of Banks Street and Mt. Auburn Street.  It was saved and connected to a modern structure because of my victory in front of the Rent Control Board.  This 1890's structure was found to be under Rent Control and thus not subject to demolition without permission of the Cambridge Rent Control Board.

The following areas before the subway analysis are identified above.

* * * *

The replacement of three historical buildings in the 2 Arrow project shows how useless “historical reviews” are in reality.  Not to mention the 1890's building at 10 Mt. Auburn which I kept Harvard from destroying.

With the City Council providing major payments in the zoning, once the I90 work is settled, how much of Harvard’s campus will Harvard destroy for retail malls at the same time as moving the uses in those parts of its campus to I90 in Allston?

The Inn at Harvard building, with its trees and grass, will be destroyed first and probably long before I90 is ready.  Its use has been temporary since Harvard apparently drove out the managers of the Inn at Harvard.

For the Harvard uses being moved to I90 in Allston, there could be a delay for rapid transit construction, and probably to get their moneys worth out of recent renovations.

Harvard is floating a reverse fork of the Red Line ON TOP OF THE EXISTING HARVARD STATION.  The proposal is described as a track coming from Porter.  Deep bore construction would be used in the Allston side of Harvard Station in that expansion.  The floated plans call for Harvard Station to be destroyed in the process.

The proposal would amount to a private AND VERY EXPENSIVE subway:  Harvard University Cambridge to Harvard University I90 / Allston to Harvard University Longwood Medical Area.

My preference is for a Green Line A fork off Green Line B at the BU Bridge and Comm. Ave. running through  Harvard’s I90 campus (relocated Harvard Square and Harvard Medical School uses) to the North Allston residential neighborhood and the B School.  After going under the Charles, JFK Park is designed for construction of a connecting tunnel to the tunnel from Harvard Station which was never removed.  The design of JFK Park allows construction WITHOUT DAMAGE TO TREES.

[Those plans for JFK Park were made before the DCR and the Cambridge City Council got so aggressive about destroying tree canopy in the City of Cambridge and yelling at the other guy who is much less destructive in behavior than are the MDC and Cambridge. ]

* * * *

Not in the posting at all, but, since I am documenting, here is the plan for Green Line A as submitted to MassDOT as part of the I90 rebuild analysis.  Subsequent changes in the “throat” portion of the I90 rebuild dictated by the Secretary continue the viability of this suggestion.


* * * *

Putting in this Green Line A connector would greatly take pressure off the Red Line between Park and Harvard Stations by giving an alternative to traffic to from the Back Bay.  But Harvard, as I said, has been floating a VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSAL which would amount to a private shuttle connecting three parts of Harvard.

I initially proposed this route to MassDOT as part of the I90 study.  I have two MAJOR victories for the benefit of Cambridge in the I90 study already.  One of the victories is truly major in its impact on the project.  The other, like the first, is major in its impact on Cambridge.  And, this victory of particular benefit to Cambridge reversed a vote of Development Department appointees.

Enclosed is that one page fact sheet.  Listen to friends / victims of the Development Department or consider an analysis from a person with a long record of achievement ON THE SIDE HE CLAIMS TO BE ON.

On general principals, I am also enclosing a zoning map of Harvard Square east of JFK Street.  All ‘OFFICE” and ‘RESIDENTIAL” zones, marked C and O, become lies, except for between Plympton and Banks below Mt. Auburn Street.  GAMES can be played..  For example, the Old Cambridge Baptist Church (OCBC) is all in the Harvard Square Overlay District because partially in it.  Another game which can be played is the discontinuation of streets by Cambridge for the benefit of Harvard.  Followed by merger of lots.

Areas of the Harvard Campus at the top are not in the district.  Nor are the areas other than OCBC above the C-2B and BB districts, or below the BB district to the right and below that VERY ENDANGERED AREA MARKED A.

The area marked A would become "Residence C-1" with retail and WITH LOT LINE TO LOT LINE CONSTRUCTION ALLOWED MINUS ALCOVES.

As with OCBC, the lot containing the 8-10 Mt. Auburn property in the A district at the corner of Banks extends by combined lots into the middle of private housing ON THREE SIDES.  There is even a narrow connector down to the western leg of Green Street.  Green Street is not marked.  It is parallel to Mt. Auburn running from Putnam and ending before Banks Street.  Double clicking greatly increases photo size and detail.  Double clicking is needed to see this part of the map.

CONSTRUCTION IS ENCOURAGED LOT LINE TO LOT LINE EXEMPT FROM FAR MINUS ALCOVES, 35 FEET HIGH INCLUDING ON THAT NARROW CONNECTOR.

4. I90 victories.

A little more relevant to this blog, but not to Harvard Square.

Both victories are related to the off ramp from Soldiers Field Road (the boulevard on the Boston side of the Charles) to the River Street Bridge (the next bridge west of the BU Bridge).  The ramp to that bridge from Soldiers Field Road has been a mess.

There are two lanes.  Most of the traffic goes to I90 by way of its current off ramps, to the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, and to Brookline.  The traffic is so heavy that this traffic dominates both lanes with a two lane left turn.  Significantly less traffic, but meaningful, goes to Cambridge up the right lane.  The backup onto Soldiers Field Road can be so heavy that a lot of Cambridge traffic goes to alternate routes in Cambridge.

Additionally, that left turn traffic also creates a very major traffic snarl on the inbound side of access roads to the Charles River and to  Soldiers Field Road eastbound.  The mess includes the access ramps to / from that side of the river and I90.  Needless to say, moving that traffic to the crossover I suggested creates a much simpler traffic situation and a very major improvement in the planned rebuild.

I, personally, have used the ramp from Soldiers Field Road when I lived in many parts of Cambridge, near Central Square, near Harvard Square, in North Cambridge, and in the westernmost part of Cambridge near Belmont.  Additionally a lot of traffic would go to the neighborhood west of River Street in Cambridge, with some going east of River Street.

I suggested that the left turn be closed and that this traffic be rerouted to the I90 project site and beyond to Brookline and Brighton before a hotel / industrial area east of the bridge.

This suggestion was rejected out of hand.  Supposedly because the I90 rebuild area did not extend to the River Street Bridge.  I lost contact on the dates of the working group  meetings.  The next meeting I had the particulars on and attended was a public meeting for Allston.  MassDOT had thought the matter over and created a very major change exactly where I suggested.  But they had closed the entire ramp to the River Street Bridge including the right turn to Cambridge.

My response was the only time I have ever seen a public comment interrupted by staff members.  I praised them for killing the left turn, but objected to their killing the right turn.  The meeting moderator was shocked.  Killing both turns had been supported by the representatives appointed by the Cambridge Development Department.

What killing the right turn did was reroute all the Cambridge traffic through the project site, as opposed to increasing traffic to Cambridge on the ramp by attracting people who were using alternate routes to avoid the mess on and related to the ramp. Actually, killing that right turn would increase alternate route traffic in Cambridge by making Soldiers Field Road even less attractive to get to Cambridge.

I did a lot more work to get that right turn reinstated than I did in the first place trying just to get the left turn killed.  That is the second victory mentioned in the communication in Section 3.

Here is the relevant part of the project as proposed now.

Here is a close up of the one Cambridge ramp reinstated.


Here is a close up showing the new crossover replacing the left turn (near the bottom).


Note how the crossover makes a direct connection to the new road structure being created in this area for Harvard’s RELOCATED facilities (Harvard Medical School, possible similar facilities, and former Harvard Square facilities), for I90 connections and for connection to Brighton and Brookline.  The surviving ramp is to the upper right.  The plans before my suggestion had both ramps with a much more complicated connection from the left turn into the area being created.

And to put everything in perspective, here is the official depiction of the I90 rebuild project taken from the latest public announcement.  This perspective is from near / above the Allston neighborhood of Boston.  At the upper middle is the area of Magazine Beach which has been the primary home for the Charles River White Geese for most of the last 39 years, but which the Cambridge City Council is making even less accessible for them.

This is the area where the nine members of the current Cambridge City Council are working to destroy 60 mostly excellent trees along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.  It includes the area where the Charles River Poisoner blocked drainage for poisons first introduced by Cambridge and the DCR in the 2000's and created 2019's public health emergency of algae poisoning the Charles River.  Most recently, the outgoing City Council funded the Charles River Poisoner to do “environmental” work as part of their ongoing and increasing tree and environmental destruction and ramping up of the heartless animal abuse.

The BU Bridge can be seen to the right of the Magazine Beach depiction.  Above the point where the BU Bridge touches Cambridge is the foodless ghetto to which the Charles River White Geese are currently being heartlessly confined.  That tiny ghetto and its adjoining area are subject to separate outrage plans both from the Department of Conservation and Recreation and from the Cambridge City Council / City of Cambridge.

Planned AND ACCOMPLISHED tree destruction by the Cambridge City Council and the Department of Conservation and Recreation runs from almost the BU Bridge to slightly to the left of the structure, a private boat house, seen on the Cambridge side of the Charles River about 20% of the distance from the left edge of the depiction.  The area of the destruction that the Cambridge City Council supports and/or funds is truly massive.  But they do make lovely pious words and “regulations” targeted at the other guy.


They prove their irresponsibility in many ways including the latest financial reward for the Charles River Poisoner, while they very carefully do not want to know what they are doing..

The River Street Bridge is off the depiction to the upper left.

And, as stated in section 3, the apparent warping of a well intentioned proposal for Harvard Square by friends of the Development Department would add to environmental outrages by destruction in the Harvard Square area.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

City Council Destruction of Cambridge, MA, USA, Tree Canopy Proceeds - Magazine Beach - ELECTION DAY.

City Council Destruction of Cambridge Tree Canopy Proceeds - Magazine Beach - ELECTION DAY.

The following is our letter to the Cambridge City Council and City Manager delivered on November 13, 2019 to each, the former through the City Clerk for receipt on November 18, 2019.  The index is better than the one they received.  I figured the photo of the latest tree the self-proclaimed tree protectors destroyed was more valuable on the first page in their copy..

The Cambridge City Council has had a major change, as Cambridge goes, on Election Day.  One fake environmentalist was defeated by a first time candidate who sounded good.  Pols listening to the formal presentation of results were highly surprised.  The destruction of that tree on election day shows the level of confidence by the fake environmentalists.

One piece of terminology which is distinctive in this world of hypocrisy.  Note the SECRET votes hidden in Community “Preservation” Act funding.  I do not know the details, but I presume the bureaucrats are telling some government agency that DESTROYING is CREATING, and, for that matter, the Cambridge City Council is blessing this nonsense.

Oops, two sections 3.A.(5), sorry about that.  MAJOR SECTIONS TO MAKE IT WORSE.  There are also two typos I corrected by hand which are corrected her manually.

1. Prequil.
2. Election Day Outrage
3. Selected Achieved Outrages
A. General.
B. City Council and MDC Destroy Two Excellent Trees Looming Over Magazine Beach Overpass.
(1) These Victims.
(2) Remnants of Two Looking Through the Void Created.
(3). There is now a very big hole at the overpass.
C. Other destruction already achieved by Cambridge City Council and DCR.
(1). Ornamental Next to 80 year abandoned bathhouse and above Charles River. [2533]
(2). Magnificent Mulberry above the Charles River.
(3). Destruction in Middle of Magazine Beach Park.
(4) Destruction who knows where, from area of the middle of the second SECRET CPA votes.
(5). Starvation barrier firmed up to keep Charles River White Geese from their food for most of their 38 year residence.
(5) Poisoning of the Charles River. [Ed: duplicate number on MAJOR sections,]
4. Coming outrages.
A. General.
B. The magnificent willow at the southwest corner of the playing fields / southeast corner of the park.
C. The magnificent grove overhanging the playing fields at the middle of its western edge.
D. The magnificent park in the middle of Magazine Beach of which 30 or more trees are doomed.
E. The MicroCenter Grove west of the Magazine Beach Swimming Pool.
F. The Wild Area.
G. The Goose Meadow.
5. The Solution

1. Prequel.

Several weeks ago, we provided the Cambridge City Council with the following photo of a doomed HEALTHY tree at Magazine Beach.  Photo courtesy of Phil Barber.

NINE City Councilors communicated their support of destruction of the Tree Canopy of the City of Cambridge with their silence about the imminent destruction of this healthy, mature, tree.  The markings showing in the lower left are the marks of doom.  They were very familiar during the destruction of hundreds of trees east of the BU Bridge in January 2016 BY CAMBRIDGE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION.

DESTROYED ON ELECTION DAY

2. Election Day Outrage.

Phil Barber Comments, November 6, 2019.  His photos follow.

* * * * * *

Sadly,. new photos for you. They took down the doomed maple. Must have been yesterday. As you can see from the stump, the tree was healthy, no rot. The crown broke in a storm in the last year so it was too unsightly I guess for the fabulous new Magazine Beach. Nothing like "loving" a carefully manicured imitation of nature.

* * * * * *



As Phil stated, MOST DEFINITELY A HEALTHY TREE.

This sort of outrage was normal in the hundreds of trees destroyed by Cambridge and the DCR east of the BU Bridge in January 2016. See our video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTplCCEJP7o.
Plans for destruction at Magazine Beach FILED WITH THE CAMBRIDGE CONSERVATION COMMISSION WERE PRESENTED TO THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL by letter dated June 6, 2017, AND MULTIPLE FOLLOW ON’S are posted at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html. Planned and accomplished tree destruction now is 60 or more.

The legislature destroyed the predecessor to the MDC at least in part because the MDC was so incompetently destructive of that part of the world for which it was responsible. The legislature divided the MDC properties on the Charles River between the DCR and the Department of Transportation. The MDC “planners” went to the DCR with their incompetent, destructive plans. On the Charles River, they have found a government in Cambridge of comparable mentality.
MassDOT has been the adult in the room with these two destructive entities. MassDOT has stood up to Cambridge and the DCR at valuable points when the other two were fighting for nonsensical destruction.


Having the legislature transfer ALL DCR responsibilities on the Charles River to MassDOT would give the legislature the level of responsible behavior it should have been able to get when it destroyed the MDC.


* * * * *

CAVEAT: In previous reports, we have provided ONCE AGAIN, the destruction plans filed by the DCR with the Cambridge Conservation Commission, taking those plans from our June 6, 2017 letter at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTplCCEJP7o.  This report is communicating photos of the truly reprehensible things the returning City Council has done and is working on doing.  Even reducing the photos being provided, this report exceeds twenty pages.  Please check our June 6, 2017 letter for the destruction plans filed on the first 54 outrages.

Added destruction is SECRET and, as near as we are aware, has been provided in public record TO NO EXTENT.  This previously SECRET destruction is yet another example of the traditional malfeasance and lack of fitness of the DCR to do the work it is supposedly doing.  Thus, please check the June 6, 2017 letter for the destruction plans which have not been kept totally secret.

3. Selected Achieved Outrages.

A. General.

The Cambridge City Council does a lot of lying about itself.

The City Council’s con game at Magazine Beach dates back to the May Day 2017 vote.

City Councilors stood on City Hall steps and praised their supposed environmental sainthood.  Then they went inside and voted to praise the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s irresponsible plans for Magazine Beach and to promise funds.

Funds have been provided which were blatantly destructive as the city council hypocritically proceeded with nonsense about protecting trees.

Reality has been Tree Destruction, River Poisoning and Animal Abuse.

Reality has been the election of a first time candidate who has provided very good words  The defeat of one of the NINE PROVEN IRRESPONSIBLE COUNCILORS shows, TO NO SURPRISE, that the electorate wants responsible people on the City Council.

That action by the electorate communicates exactly what anybody who understands the TRUE reality of Cambridge Politics knew.  The electorate has spoken.

Reality, however, is that returning city council incumbents loudly lie of concern for the environment and prove their lovely words so much nonsense where it counts.

B. City Council and MDC Destroy Two Excellent Trees Looming Over Magazine Beach Overpass.

(1) These Victims.

DESTROYED EXCELLENCE

(2) Remnants of Two Looking Through the Void Created.

Phil Barber                                                                                
 Ph
Phil Barber                                                         

(3). There is now a very big hole at the overpass.

Here are before photos of this excellent grove from the Memorial Drive side and the Magazine Beach side. They excellence of the grove did interfere with light when viewed from the Memorial Drive Side.


TWO TREES NEAREST OVERPASS DESTROYED
MORE DESTRUCTION PLANNED IN THIS GROVE

Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for destruction plans at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, page 19.

TWO TREES NEAREST OVERPASS DESTROYED

MORE DESTRUCTION PLANNED IN THIS GROVE


The Destruction Plans presented in our June 6, 2017 letter, http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, and frequently repeated, indicate that the Cambridge City Council and the DCR have more excellent trees to destroy even in this excellent grove.

Additionally, however, wanton destruction commonly has exceeded publicly announced plans.  One such example is the fine, NOW DESTROYED, tree next to the baseball diamond which is the lead topic of this letter.

The strongest thing the Cambridge City Council has going for it is the constant INCORRECT belief, “They would never stoop so low.”  This nonsense is created by the nonstop false claims of environmental sainthood. 

Yelling at the other guy and keeping SECRET outrages including but not limited to Magazine Beach, the river poisoning and the heartless animal abuse is a fraudulent basis for the nonstop claims of environmental sainthood.

C. Other destruction already achieved by Cambridge City Council and DCR.

Both trees on this page {ed:  next two] destroyed with part of the funds provided in the second SECRET Community “Preservation” Act destruction, with extra money SECRETLY added..  INSOFAR AS DESTRUCTION HAS NOT BEEN KEPT SECRET, Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for destruction plans. They are spread out at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, pages 19 to 43.  So much of the outrage is related to the little guys’ park and to associated trees.

We have provided photos of the remaining roots in a number of letters to the Cambridge City Council.
DE
(1). Ornamental Next to 80 year abandoned bathhouse and above Charles River. [2533]

DESTROYED


(2). Magnificent Mulberry above the Charles River.


                                Phil Barber
MAGNIFICENT MULBERRY DOMINATING PICTURE, BASE AT RIGHT

DESTROYED

(3). Destruction in Middle of Magazine Beach Park.

Before


Highlighted Trees Destroyed Photo and Edit by Phil Barber

After


                               Phil Barber


(4) Destruction who knows where, from area of the middle of the second SECRET CPA votes.

This SECRET Community “Preservation” Act money was supplemented on a separate SECRET vote by NINE city councilors.

This increased destruction count to POSSIBLY two (or more) more than previously disclosed.


                               :Phil Barber

(5). Starvation barrier firmed up to keep Charles River White Geese from their food for most of their 38 year residence. [Ed.  Duplicate number with following section.]

First SECRET Community “Preservation” Act Photo which was the basis of the vote bore no resemblance to created barrier.  Additional barrier being built as part of the middle SECRET votes which destroyed so many trees above.

                                     
             Phil Barber

NEW STARVATION BARRIER                   

The exact heartless animal barrier being created in the second SECRET Community “Preservation” Act funding is not yet certain.  From the description, it is clear that, given the animal abusers involved, it will create a heartless starvation barrier comparable to the one instituted across from the Hyatt Regency Hotel, upping the Starvation Attacks on the Charles River White Geese.

EVERY TREE ACROSS FROM THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL WAS DESTROYED.  Lots of photos in our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTplCCEJP7o

38 year resident Tourist Attraction Charles River White Geese are shown in a middle of the night video feeding here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2-xSIYrB5o., created by Ernie Sarno



The targets of the starvation barriers, the Charles River White Geese have resided in a mile long habitat on the Charles River centered of the BU Bridge for 38 years, beloved by those familiar with them.  They have admirers from Cambridge, from the suburbs, from elsewhere in the United States and even from around the world.  Commuters admire them as they carefully cross the Memorial Drive ramp to get to forbidden food under Memorial Drive.


A Group of The Abused

Charles River White Geese

Admire their loved Charles River

from the ghetto which is the last undestroyed

part of their 38 year habitat.

Videos and photo presentations of the Charles River White Geese are very frequent on the Internet.  The heartless starvation attacks by the DCR, Cambridge and friends are yet another example of the destructive incompetence from which the legislature tried to protect the Charles River when it destroyed the hated Metropolitan District Commission.

(5) Poisoning of the Charles River [ed.  Duplicate number with preceding section.]

Friends of the DCR loudly bemoaned the Algae blight created by the poisoning as it befowled the Charles in 2019.  The poisoning got frequent press coverage.

The friends of the DCR “neglected” to notice that DCR, Cambridge and the Charles River Poisoner did it.  Such “shortsightedness” keeps a truly reprehensible situation going.


                 City of Cambridge Assisted Poisoning by removing the remnants of valuable
                 vegetation destroyed as part of the anti-vegetation fetish practiced by the
                 Charles River Poisoner. December 2017.
  



            The DCR and Cambridge introduced poison “maintenance” at the Magazine Beach
            Playing Fields in the 2000's. To keep poisons out of the Charles River which should
            not even be put on the banks of the Charles River, they spent big bucks creating a
           drainage system.
  

THE CHARLES RIVER POISONER BLOCKED THE DRAINAGE  

                                Phil Barber

FIRST PART OF 2019'S CHARLES

RIVER HEALTH EMERGENCY

Infestation Commenced next to the blockage(above), then off Magazine Beach

and then spread to the rest

of the Charles.


                               Phil Barber

Sept. 2018, infestation off Magazine Beach

Playing Fields

                               Phil Barber

Sept. 2018, infestation off Magazine Beach

Playing Fields

     
                     
                              Phil Barber

Sept. 2018, infestation off Magazine Beach

Playing Fields

OFFICIALLY DECLAREDA PUBLIC HEALTHEMERGENCY  

City Council rewarded this outrage by funding the Charles River Poisoner for environmental work behind the swimming pool.

(a) To repeat her attacks on vegetation proudly displayed by Somerville but against which she has a fetish.  Attacking this  vegetation was her stated excuse for what in reality was the poisoning of  the Charles River.  Her fetish excuse was favorably quoted by City Council in its funding decision.

(b) To do initial planning which will result in the destruction of the MicroCenter grove.  Photo below.
Here is the key part of a sign posted by the DCR in the area of the blocking of poison drainage: Their euphemisms are “chemicals” and “fertilizers.”  The poisons were first introduced onto the banks of the Charles River in the Magazine Beach Playing Fields by DCR and Cambridge City Council in outrages of the 2000's which were managed by Mr. Rossi., who later served as City Manager.

Here is the key part of a sign posted by the DCR in the area of the blocking of poison drainage: Their
euphemisms are “chemicals” and “fertilizers.” The poisons were first introduced onto the banks of the Charles River in the Magazine Beach Playing Fields by DCR and Cambridge City Council in outrages of the 2000's which were managed by Mr. Rossi., who later served as City Manager.


* * * * * *

When it rains, the chemicals wash from the playing fields and toward the river.  If the phosphorus reaches the river, it can cause algae blooms that use up oxygen in the water, creating a harmful environment for fish and other wildlife.


Wetlands are the gatekeepers that prevent this from happening.  Constructed in 2009, these wetlands trap and filter out damaging fertilizers that would otherwise wash into the river.


* * * * * *

Current plans by ALL THE CONTINUING MEMBERS of the City Council and by the DCR are obviously to continue the poisons and, apparently, to expand poison use to the Magazine Beach Park and to the area behind the swimming pool.  The City Councilors claim innocence.  Golly gee, all they have done is consistently praise the DCR plans, with full  blank checks, plus sharing in funding as determined by the DCR.  The DCR is threatening to introduce poisons into the I90 rebuild on the Boston side of the Charles River.  Poison use decision is to be made after it is too late for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to prevent it, of course.

Plus, naturally, the funding / hiring of the Charles River Poisoner by ALL THE CONTINUING city councilors. All have thus made it very clear which side of the poisons those City Councilors  are on.

Here is a photo of the museum quality display created by A RESPONSIBLE ADJACENT COMMUNITY, Somerville, at the shared Alewife Reservation.  The display proudly shows vegetation being attacked by Cambridge and by the Charles River Poisoner in accordance with the two’s shared fetish.


                               Phil Barber. 
                                    
                                    The Cambridge City Council’s idea of “improvements” at Alewife was to 
                                    destroy 3.4 acres plus of, to quote many City Council pontifications, 
                                    “irreplaceable” Silver Maple Forest at Alewife..

4. Coming outrages.

A. General.

Destruction, construction and planning as stated in our letter of June 6, 2017 are posted at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, and any and all subsequent expansions of these plans or related actions should be terminated.

Continuation and expansion of the Poisoning of the River Banks of the Charles River or the Charles River by whatever euphemism, i.e. fertilizer, chemicals, etc.  Hiring the Charles River Poisoner emphasizes the contempt for the environment by the Cambridge City Council.

Abuse of resident animals either on Magazine Beach or on other parts of the Charles River or areas abutting the Charles River, including but not limited to poisoning the environment and to the installation of barriers to access to food by whatever name is convenient this time.

Some of the tree targets for THE COMING DESTRUCTION follow.

B. The magnificent willow at the southwest corner of the playing fields / southeast corner of the park.

Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for destruction plans at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, page 23.




         DOOMED, but City Councilors brag of yelling at voters
                      for destroying MUCH smaller trees
  



C. The magnificent grove overhanging the playing fields at the middle of its western edge.




DOOMED IN WHOLE OR IN PART

The story keeps changing. Two dead trees at the left have been destroyed.  Part of the nonsense coming out of the DCR is “inability” to count trees.  The ten trees in this grove have been repeatedly described as three.  



See our June 6, 2017 letter for destruction plans at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, page 28.



D. The magnificent park in the middle of Magazine Beach of which 30 or more trees are doomed.

Planned destruction includes all but one tree in the little guys parking lot in the front portion, surrounded by the curved driveway which constitutes the parking lot, which they also want to destroy.  Thus they are taking away access from less “desirables.”  Most doomed trees are much larger than the ones in the little guys parking lot.

Pattern fits the January 2016 outrage.  The City Council yelled at circuses passing through Cambridge on public highways, but “somehow” did not notice the massive destruction on Memorial Drive supported by the bureaucracy.  IN SPITE OF FREQUENTLY DAILY EMAIL REPORTS BY US which started in the Fall.

Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for destruction plans.  They are spread out at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, pages 19 to 43.  So much of the outrage is related to this park and trees associated with the park.


ABOUT 30 TREES DOOMED OR ALREADY DESTROYED  


E. The MicroCenter Grove west of the Magazine Beach Swimming Pool.

The Cambridge City Council has already, as secretly as possible, awarded a contract to the Charles River Poisoner for early planning to lead to the destruction of these six magnificent trees..

Careful viewing shows the western (right) end of the parking lot which is being moved on top of this excellent six tree grove.  The Cambridge City Council awarded the Charles River Poisoner funds as part of the third SECRET Community “Preservation” Act money distribution.

The Charles River Poisoner is directed to work on the shared vegetation destruction fetish based on which, the DCR, Cambridge and the Charles River Poisoner created the 2019 Public Health Emergency in the Charles River.

She is being paid to work on destroying the eastern (left) end of that parking lot.  Thus she AND THE CARRYOVER MEMBERS OF THE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL are creating a “need” to destroy the excellent grove.

The paid work is very clearly a direct part of the destruction of this grove.  The parking is being moved here.

The Charles River Poisoner has spent years bragging to people about the “great” things being done at Magazine Beach.

SHE KEEPS THE MASSIVE TREE DESTRUCTION, RIVER POISONING, AND HEARTLESS ANIMAL ABUSE SECRET.  

SIX ADMITTEDLY EXCELLENT TREES DOOMED

The Charles River is in the background of this photo. The returning City Councilors and the DCR want to move the parking lot on top of the six tree grove.
The eastern end of the parking being moved on top of these excellent trees is to the left between the fenced in swimming pool and the Charles River. This is the area which the Charles River Poisoner is being paid by the City Council to plan preliminary to this yet more massive and outrageous tree destruction, and is specifically being paid to further her fetish for destruction of valuable vegetation, her excuse for the Poisoning of the Charles River.
Six admittedly excellent trees are being destroyed by the continuing members of the Cambridge City Council.
Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for the destruction plans, at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, page 44. 
  


SIX ADMITTEDLY EXCELLENT TREES DOOMED


In one of the Cambridge City Council’s many SECRET votes on Magazine Beach, the only “explanation” I heard was that the Charles River Poisoner was that councilor’s “kind of activist.”
The Charles River is in the background of this photo.  The returning City Councilors and the DCR  want to move the parking lot on top of the six tree grove.

The eastern end of the parking being moved on top of these excellent trees is to the left between the fenced in swimming pool and the Charles River.  This is the area which the Charles River Poisoner is being paid by the City Council to plan preliminary to this yet more massive and outrageous tree destruction, and is specifically being paid to further her fetish for destruction of valuable vegetation, her excuse for the Poisoning of the Charles River.

Six admittedly excellent trees are being destroyed by the continuing members of the Cambridge City Council.  Please see our June 6, 2017 letter for the destruction plans, at http://focrwg.com/agenda1.html, page 44.

F. The Wild Area.

The MDC has been conducting fraudulently advertised presentations concerning future destruction.  Once again, the City Council has had nice words to say about the matter, and lacks concern for reality.

The wording of the publicity states that the work does not go east of the BU Bridge.

Slides used in at least one presentation demonstrate the publicity to be yet more fraud.  The slides show work up to and including the Wild Area east of the BU Bridge.  The slides indicate work in the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese.  Those slides were provided in an earlier Cambridge City Manager / Council letter.

The plans for the outrage inflicted in January 2016 show significant destruction in those areas which was not accomplished in January 2016.  Such “omissions’ have the usual STENCH of FRAUDULENT omission.

The plans would destroy every tree but one n in the Wild Area which graces the Boston side in its view of Cambridge, graces the view from the BU Bridge and Memorial Drive.  Significant REAL animal habitat would, as usual, be destroyed.  The plans are included in our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTplCCEJP7o.  The relevant portion runs from minute 3:44 to minute 5:29.  More general portions directly relevant now run from minute 19:45 to minute 25:45.  The City Manager mentioned is Rossi.



EVERY TREE BUT ONE TO
BE DESTROYED IN THE WILD AREA  



The white figures in the water are a group of Charles River White Geese still hunting for food in spite of the wanton starvation initiatives taken against them by the DCR and Cambridge.

EVERY TREE BETWEEN THE RAILROAD TRACK AND THE BU BOATHOUSE BUT ONE WOULD BE DESTROYED. G. The Goose Meadow.

G.  The Goose Meadow.

Similarly, this excellent tree would be destroyed in the Destroyed Nesting Area of the Charles River White Geese at the BU Bridge and the on ramp to Memorial Drive east.


MAGNIFICENT TREE DOOMED  

Once again, the plans are included in our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTplCCEJP7o.  The relevant portion runs from minute 3:44 to minute 5:29.More general portions directly relevant nowt run from minute 19:45 to minute 25:45.  The City Manager mentioned is Rossi.

Trucks removing massive amounts of dirts from the Wild Area would, of course, travel through here.  Destruction of habitat in this area has been one consistent activity associated with pretty much any and all DCR work near the area.  Habitat destruction and heartless animal abuse are routine and fully anticipated.  The Charles River White Geese are only the most visible victims of a very heartless agency.

The heartless destruction of its lands and animals is just part of the reasons why the legislature destroyed the DCR’s predecessor.


5, The Solution.

A. Implement the expressed wishes of the electorate.

B. Terminate any and all contracts and / or funding controlled by the City of Cambridge with regard to Construction or Destruction on or adjacent to Memorial Drive, Magazine Beach, the Charles River or land areas associated with the Charles River, with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and any and all other Government Agencies, Contractors or others, to include but most definitely not be limited to the Poisoner of the Charles River.

C, Order any and all governmental and / or other entities performing any and all construction, destruction, planning or other government work on Memorial Drive, Magazine Beach, the Charles River or such other land areas associated with the Charles River to Cease and Desist such activities.

D. Obtain Emergency Assistance from the Legislature to Cease and Desist any and all construction, destruction, planning or other government work on Memorial Drive, Magazine Beach, the Charles River or land areas associated with the Charles River.

E. Obtain Court Assistance to obtain orders to Cease and Desist any and all construction, destruction, planning or other work on Memorial Drive, Magazine Beach, the Charles River or land areas associated with the Charles River.

F. On an Emergency Basis, obtain Legislative approval to strip all activities and / or funding from the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Cambridge and / or the Charles River, and to transfer same to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

G. Bar the Charles River Poisoner and her ilk from any and all work in Cambridge or on the Charles River.

H. End the poisons.

I. End the heartless animal abuse.

J. Meaningfully allow the destroyed habitat to return, not carefully manicured imitations of nature falsely called “habitat.”

K. End the government destruction of Cambridge’s tree canopy.  Do not just brag about saplings while destroying, destroying, destroying mature trees.  That is fraud.

L. Get rid of the destroyers and their incompetence, whether governmental, contractor of other malfeasants.

M. Obtain such additional relief from any and all bodies as may be appropriate to protect Cambridge and the Charles River from depredations by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and / or the Charles River Poisoner.

Sincerely,


Robert J. La Trémouille
Chair [Friends of the White Geese]

* * * * *

The official record of his letter is posted in the City of Cambridge records at http://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2146&Inline=True, communication 4, pages 93 to 115.  The original uses graphics much more skillfully than is possible on this blog.  The official record is more difficult to handle.  

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Cambridge, MA, USA, Two New City Councilors Elected in City Election on November 5. One incumbent leaves involuntarily.

Cambridge, MA, USA, Two New City Councilors Elected in City Election on November 5.  One incumbent leaves involuntarily.

The terrible things in process on the Charles River are very much not a matter of ONE bad city councilor.  They are the result of NINE bad city councilors OUT OF NINE.  And there are many other issues of interest to the voters than the outrage IN PROCESS on the Charles River.

Cambridge had an election yesterday.  The election is by proportional representation, an electoral format which does result in preferential election of nine at large candidates.  One incumbent did not run for reelection.

Our congratulations go to the newly elected members, Patty Nolan and Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler.

Patty Nolan is a long time School Committee member.

Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler has posted the following Candidate Statement on Cambridge Civic Journal’s (Robert Winters)’s candidate page.  This is copied from http://vote.cambridgecivic.com/sobrinho-wheeler.htm.

* * * * *

Candidate Statement

I work with environmental programs at a nationally-recognized land policy think tank in Cambridge. My work supports land conservation projects around world, and I help land trusts, academic institutions, and community organizations find the tools they need to build sustainable communities.

Outside my day job, I'm also involved in community organizing to make Cambridge and our region more just, equitable, and resilient. I'm a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and have been involved in campaigns to support residents who face eviction, steep increases in rent, and poor living conditions like mold, lack of heat, and flooding. I've also worked with organizations like Our Revolution Cambridge, City Life/Vida Urbana, and Cambridge Bicycle Safety to create a city that works for everyone. You may have seen me testifying before the city council on issues related to tenant protections, bike safety, or efforts to create more affordable housing and stop displacement.

I’m the son of a woman who grew up on a farm in Iowa and a man who grew up in the Portuguese colony of Goa in India. As a result, I speak Portuguese, am conversational in Spanish, and have eaten a lot of sweet corn with butter.

I am a renter, an organizer, the son of an immigrant, and a democratic socialist. I live in Mid-Cambridge between Central and Harvard in a triple-decker with my three roommates.
Learn more about my campaign on my website or via Twitter.

* * * * *

Losing incumbent is Craig Kelley.


* * * * *
.

Geeky supplement.

This system of voting took more than a week when Cambridge was working with paper ballots because candidates were ruled winners or losers one at a time based on whether they could possibly still win the election at any particular point in the count.

Robert Winters of the Cambridge Civic Journal Blog had an early comment that Craig Kelley could still defeat Dennis Carlone based on votes which have still to be manually counted, a relatively small number.  (Naming Winters to avoid plagiarism.  This sort of analysis has been normal in past elections.)

On looking at the numbers based on Mr. Winters tabulation on his blog, this vote count was the final count based on which Kelley was declared the final candidate to be counted out in the “unofficial” election procedure, “unofficial” because paper ballots had yet to be counted.  This tabulation by the election commission was based on “transfers” from Burhan Azeem when it was clear that Mr. Azeem could not win.  Of Mr. Azeem’s 1340 votes when he was counted out, Kelley received 57 and Dennis Carlone received 62, for 1864 and 1923 votes respectively.

Whatever the number of so far not counted votes is, based on these numbers and with Kelley and Carlone the only two remaining candidates to receive transfers, it would be required for Kelley to get an additional allocation of 39 votes to tie Carlone, assuming Carlone gets NONE of the transfers.  The difference in proportion for two candidates who received almost the same number of transfers in the last unofficial count at this stage would be decidedly inconceivable, albeit not impossible.