a memorandum regarding Cambridge Brands Curb Cut

CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL E. Denise Simmons Mayor City Councillor 2008-2009 2016-2017 October 28, 2020 Mr. Anthony Wilson Clerk of Cambridge Cambridge City Hall Re: Memo Re Cambridge Brands Curb Cut Dear Mr. Wilson: I am submitting this letter for inclusion on the November 2, 2020 City Council meeting agenda. I exercised my Charter Right on the curb cut request by Cambridge Brands during the October 19, 2020 City Council meeting, and during the October 26 City Council meeting, I referenced an email exchange between myself, Paula Yetman from Cambridge Brands, and Charles Doty from Cambridge Brands that took place following the October 19th meeting. I am submitting that email exchange as part of this communication so that my colleagues can better understand what I was referencing last week. For further clarification: during the October 19th City Council meeting, I brought forward some legitimate concerns about the level of outreach conducted by Cambridge Brands to its neighbors, as well as the overall level of civic engagement by this company during those times when they are not seeking something from the City. The reason I exercised my charter right, and the reason I have sought additional time before we vote on this matter, is because I wished to learn more about the company’s community outreach, and I have been reaching out to numerous people that live near the Cambridge Brands building. Following the October 19th Council meeting, I sent an email to Paula Yetman, the Plant Manager, as well as to Cambridge Brands attorney Charles Doty, underlining my concerns and seeking to open a dialogue with them ahead of the next Council meeting. Interestingly, Mr. Doty shared a little more with me than he intended to when he accidentally copied me on an email that was meant only for Ms. Yetman and their Cambridge Brands colleagues. In that email, he said “Good job! [Councilor Simmons] has surrendered and changed the topic in order to save face. You need to respond with humility and sweetness, telling her that Cambridge Brands looks forward to working with her and continuing to participate as an active member of the Cambridge Community and the Main Street neighborhood.” Within an hour of sending that email, both Ms. Yetman and Mr. Doty realized what had happened and sent me profusely apologetic emails saying that this email should not have been sent, that no disrespect was intended, and so on. And while I appreciate the apologies – the email that Mr. Doty had sent to me by accident reveals that he viewed this discussion as something of a game. And I want to make it clear: I don’t view these curb cut discussions, or discussions about civic engagement and the role of a responsible

corporate neighbor, as being frivolous. I do not view this as a game. Cambridge Brands has been in this community for generations, they are looking for expand, and I think that’s wonderful – but I also want to know how they fit into our community, aside from simply having a physical location here. Do they feel any ties to the community? Any obligation to recruit locally for employment? Any ties to our student population? I think those are fair questions, and those are the kinds of points I’ve been seeking clarity on. As I told Ms. Yetman in my initial email, I am not trying to prevent this company from expanding, but I do want to know more about how they view their relationship with the People of Cambridge. How do they plan to stay engaged with their neighborhood even after they receive this curb cut, if that comes to pass? I am still interested in having that conversation, and it’s something I would hope every company operating in this city is continually thinking about. Thank you. Sincerely, __________________________ City Councilor E. Denise Simmons ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 [phone removed] FAX: [phone removed] TTY/TDD: [phone removed] EMAIL: dsimmons@cambridgema.gov