June 2, 2003 Roy Bercaw Speaks to City Council

Roy Bercaw speaks to the Cambridge City Council regarding knowing the neighborhoods. He asks, Why is it necessary to consult neighborhood associations if the Planning Board members are recruited from the various neighborhoods? He notes that Ted Carpenter new appointee to the Planning Board is a member of the Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Association coordinating committee. That may be a conflict of interest he says. He objects vigorously to the proposed amendment to the Human Rights Commission ordinance which would make a separate category of persons with disabilities. It ignores persons with non physical disabilities as the Disability Commission regularly does. To increase open space in Cambridge Bercaw suggests ordering Harvard to stop all construction and to take their land by eminent domain for open space.