Accountability is a fundamental element of a functioning Democracy.   Liberty, equality, accountability.  Liberty without equality is nothing more than privilege. Free speech without accountability leads to impunity.  Authoritarianism begins when the powerful think they can act with impunity.  Loose accountability, and you loose Democracy.   Anyone can say anything. There will be very little to no consequences.  With no accountability, how can we ensure equity and justice?   Cambridge has no mechanism to hold neither the City nor the politician and supporting city-wide organizations accountable.  No independent printed newspaper or journalists.  No checks and no balance.  We have lost our way.

Adapted from Billy Bragg , "Three Dimensions of Freedom"

A substation, among other things, transforms high voltage electricity from power generators to low voltage electricity then transmitted to homes, businesses, and other users. This station—a potential monster of a structure—is entirely inappropriate. Eversource must find an alternative solution.

1.   Background on the substation and its location
The land for the station originally belonged to Cabot, Cabot, and Forbes, who had intended to build housing on the site. Eversource purchased the property in early 2017 using a shell company as the listed buyer on the deed. Curiously, Cabot continued to seek permits for the housing for months after the purchase.
Based on a review of public filings and statements made at Council hearings, Eversource claims it has known about the need for a station since at least 2013. So why it waited until 2019 to disclose this station publicly is a mystery.

2. This is an environmental justice issue.
In the past ten years, the City has permitted millions of square feet of extra density, principally to commercial buildings and lab space. Commercial real estate developers and MIT took full advantage of the bonanza and have reaped billions in profits and increased property values. Eversource claims that the primary reason for this station is to serve 100 megawatts of expected new demand from this development—a far cry from the net-zero goals supposedly championed by the City. Like many others, we support reasonable development in Kendall Square and recognize the benefit to our neighborhoods. However, that development has also come with a hidden cost, as the buildings now need a mega electrical substation to power them. As one City Councilor put it at a hearing, it is “immoral” to let the commercial developers and MIT receive the benefit, while the nearby residents and children of Kennedy-Longfellow bear the costs. It’s just wrong.
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3. Significant health and safety concerns
Electric stations emit electromagnetic radiation. While Eversource insists that there are no adverse health effects from this radiation, the science is in dispute, and we are aware of no study testing the long-term effects on children from prolonged exposure (though “children are regarded as being more vulnerable to the effects of environmental exposures, including electromagnetic fields”). 
What is undisputed is that substations sometimes cause explosions. Moreover, when there is an explosion, it can be significant. For example, a fire at a New York City substation in December 2018 caused this “electrical arc flash.”:
Electrical Arc Flash from NYC December 2018 Substation Fire

Eversource has thus far declined to disclose the height. It has said that other stations in urban areas range between 80-100 feet, and Eversource claims that this station could be twice as big. (Notably, none of these other stations is in a residential neighborhood located next to a school). These comments and information from other sources indicate that this station could be 150 feet tall:
Renderings of Possible Substation Size:
View from Kennedy-Longfellow
View Towards Kendall Square​​

6. We must act now to have any chance at a better solution
The substation is now at a critical moment. In response to opposition from residents, the City Manager’s Office, and the Council, Eversource has agreed to consider—but not commit to—alternate sites. It has self-imposed a deadline of this fall to find a new location, or it will forge ahead with its station at Fulkerson. We must work together now if we are to avoid this calamity.
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Until Eversource finds a suitable alternative, we will never give up this fight—for our neighbors, our children, and our City. We hope you will stand with us.

This is a copy of the a letter from  the East Cambridge Planning Team and the Linden Park Neighborhood Association.  
Show your support, sign the petition :    CLICK HERE

I am passionate & persistent. I am the only candidate working to   
Take back your right to vote

• for a strong Mayor and to reduce the City Manager’s vast authority 
  
• members on and off the Planning Board

My Record

• 16 years living in Cambridge
  
• 13 years a community activist
  
• 2007-2011 board member of East Cambridge
  
• community group
  
• 2009-2011 fought Alexandria over-development
  
• 2013-2017 helped keep Foundry building for us 2013-2015 fought over-development of the
  
• East Cambridge courthouse
  
• 2013 arrested protesting killings of black men 2015 became US citizen
  
• 2015 my city council “protest campaign”: to take back our right to vote for those who really run our city
• 2016-18 Volpe, fought for Graduate Student Housing, density reduction, benefits.
• 2017 my 2nd city council bring democracy back to Cambridge, from Plan E to Democracy
• 2018-19 First Street Municipal Garage, fight to keep Public land in public hands.
• 2017-18 fought DIVCO and City administration on Gore St sewer constructions for Cambridge Crossing.
• 2018-19 fighting Eversource Fulkerson and Putnam ave substation construction and expansions.

Professional Qualifications
Boston University (electrical engineering), Cofounder, CTO, or engineer at six start-ups.

Let us put matter into context
Cambridge is not a democracy. With our “strong City Manager, weak city council” government, you are not allowed to vote for those who really run our city, the un-elected City Manager and the un- elected Planning Board. Every member of every significant Board or Commission is appointed by the City Manager. Every board relies on and is guided by city staff whose job depends on the City Manager.
You can vote for city councillors. Councillors can be elected with less than 1,000 “#1 votes” out of nearly 70,000 registered voters. Like our president, Councillors rely on their small, dedicated voter base. Our councillors represent their base of voters and donors.
The council votes one of themselves as Mayor, a “ribbon-cutter” with no meaningful power but with a bigger paycheck and many percs. The council votes “Policy Orders” which may or may not be ignored by the City Manager. The council always approves the Manager’s budget and has never fired a City Manager.
Not being elected, the City Manager & the Planning Board always approve every mega-development increasing the tax base but with:

• more traffic & less parking
• more long-time residents & families forced out
• more bad deals with developers

Your city councillors can restore control to the voters anytime. The council can:

• Create a strong Mayor
• Allow you to vote for Mayor
• Enforce term limits
• Limit campaigns to public financing
• Ban holding more than one public office ​