The Spy’s Dave Wheelan and WHCP Community Radio’s Jim Brady continue their monthly check-in with the City of Cambridge’s police chief, Justin Todd.  In this segment, Chief Todd talks about juvenile justice reform, mental health’s role in crime, and the Cambridge Police Department becoming a well-known role model for its unique community engagement programs.

This video is approximately eight minutes in length.

On March 25, the Cambridge City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 1234, which established a Land Bank Authority to “acquire, manage, maintain, and repurpose blighted, abandoned, and distressed properties,” as well as sell vacant land to stabilize neighborhoods and encourage redevelopment. City Attorney Patrick Thomas said that Cambridge would be the first Maryland municipality to create a land bank.

It’s a project that has been several years in the making. The Land Bank Authority of Cambridge, Inc., begins with $1 million of funding to start offering desperately needed affordable housing units.

“We conceptually understood the council wanted the land bank, but there was some delay about just making sure we had the staff resources to support it and really push it through,” Assistant City Manager Brandon Hesson told the Spy. “But, yeah, it did wind up taking probably way too long because you had to—all the I’s and T’s still had to be taken care of.”

The C.E.D.

However, for land banking to work in the city, the Code Enforcement Division must be operating at its best. This is something Hesson knows very well. But what is this division all about?

“So, code enforcement is property maintenance code,” he explained. “Code enforcement generally is outside property, conditions of a property. That’s the regular patrolling code enforcement that everybody thinks of.”

This division is also involved in condemning houses. Additionally, when there is a fire in town, Code Enforcement documents the damage for the homeowner. While they are technically citing the owners, they are also discussing repairs. Additionally, they are the mechanism for applying pressure to building owners who need to do such maintenance as elevator repair, so people with mobility issues can get from one floor to another. When they see unsafe conditions, Code Enforcement can get a health department or fire marshal involved.

“It needs to be stern and it needs to be strict and have guidelines, but it can also work with property owners to make progress,” said Hesson. “It takes a while. By the time something gets to court, you’ve cited that thing months ago, and then oftentimes, the court, for good reasons, will grant even more extensions. So, you’re looking at a thing that should be easily fixable in a couple of weeks, but you’re three months into this violation.”

Walking the Beat

November 2023 brought an announcement that code enforcement officers would be putting their feet to the pavement three days a week. The goal was for the three officers to enhance community standards by getting out of their cars to examine buildings in the five wards of Cambridge more closely and thoroughly.

“We’ve had a few hiccups,” Hesson admitted. “Just like any new program, you run into some hurdles. And so, of course, you figure three days a week, and then you hit the winter, and the conditions maybe aren’t really responsive for people to walk around for three days.”

The team has managed some kind of presence every week, and they’ve remained on schedule. The foot patrols have, so far, produced inconclusive results, but Hesson said the point of the initiative was to make sure the CED was in every neighborhood equally.

“It’s a way of guaranteeing that we see that we are on every single street,” he elaborated. “We focused too much on certain neighborhoods. Certain parts of this town get entirely too much scrutiny from code enforcement.”

Hesson went on to explain that what a code enforcement officer sees from the vehicle is different from what they see walking around. For example, when he himself drives along a particular route, he ends up always going in the same direction and only seeing one side of a house. On foot, he’s forced to see much more. Plus, getting out of their cars makes the officers visible to the community.

Hopes for the Future

Hesson envisions an expansion of the CED’s goals and responsibilities. “Where we hope it goes is interior inspections of rental properties on a rolling scale. So, if you own a rental home, the goal here eventually is going to be to inspect the inside of that property once every three years. Most people are going to comply easily, but a lot of this is to make sure that we’re upholding livability status standards on the inside, not just the outside.”

There is also a plan to improve the efficiency of the CED, which is why, on December 11, the Cambridge City Council voted to enter into an agreement with government software company OpenGov. It would replace the present system, which comes from Comcast.

“It’s not terrible,” said Hesson. “It’s a place to hold pictures. When I send a letter, that letter gets stored in the system. That system is old, not the best, although it does the job. And there’s no technology, like, in a vehicle.”

As an example, Hesson might drive around a neighborhood and see a couch sitting in a side yard. He would take photos and write up the infraction, and probably conduct a full property inspection while there. This would take 15 minutes. Returning to the office, he would discover that another code enforcement officer had written up the same property. If that kind of thing happened four times a day, five days a week, the time wasted would be alarming.

“The other side of this,” said Hesson, “is that everything has to be done by paper for legal reasons. We want to mail letters because we know that they go out and they have to go to the homeowner, all that other stuff. But imagine if you got a code enforcement violation and you have the ability to then reply, to tell us what you did to correct the situation. Maybe pay your fine online, things like that. There’s no way in heck that can happen with our current old system.”

According to a December 7 memo from Hesson to the mayor and city commissioners, OpenGov’s asset management and permitting and licensing modules would allow Cambridge to streamline and implement many resources, including code enforcement in the field. Now that its implementation has been approved, use of it by the city should begin in a few months.

Land Banking

“Now what we have to do is stand up a board,” said Hesson. “We’ve got to reach out to folks and get interest to see who might be interested to sit on the Land Bank Authority of Cambridge. That first board would be, as is often the case with these things, it has to do a lot of heavy lifting. This is a group that’s going to have to get bylaws going. They’re going to have to really kind of chart a course.”

This is where it gets complicated. The city will help stand up the authority, but ultimately they want it to be self-sustaining.

“We’ve got a little ways to go,” Hesson explained. “Land bank is a big monster. It’s a big house to build. And it’s kind of cool because we’ve broken ground, and the rest of it will start to happen. But you still have to make sure you’re doing it properly.”

Two forums were planned for last Sunday at Chesapeake College for Democratic and Republican candidates running in this year’s primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives in Maryland’s 1st congressional district. The Forum was sponsored by the Spy in partnership with the Eastern Shore chapters of the League of Women Voters, WHCP-FM, the APG-Star Democrat.

Sadly, only one of them actually took place. On the Democratic side, the planned discussion had to be canceled because Blessing T. Oluwadare did not appear for the forum. According to LWV policy, a forum with only one candidate is not permitted.

The Republican forum did take place, but it, too, was not ideal. The current incumbent, Congressman Andy Harris, could not attend due to a conflict in his schedule. Nonetheless, candidates Chris Bruneau and  Michael Lemon exchanged policy positions moderated by Glenna Heckathorn, the co-president of the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Shore, on a host of issues ranging from Ukraine, Israel, abortion, environmental quality of the Bay, the Key Bridge, and the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

This video is approximately one hour in length.

 

In the U.S. House yesterday, a bill supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan was finally passed after some clever maneuvering by Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill was split into parts, and a separate bill with Republican priorities was added to gain more support. This strategy worked well enough to get everything through the House.

However, not all Republicans were on board, especially for the Ukraine part. The 1st District’s Andy Harris was one of the Republicans who voted against this bill.

See how each member voted here.

 

On the evening of April 18, Cambridge government officials and members of the community gathered at the Chesapeake Intergenerational Center for an update from the board and executive director of Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. The purpose of the meeting was for CWDI to address questions, concerns, and accusations they had received lately.

It started with introducing the board members and Executive Director Matt Leonard, and then there was a presentation of the history of the project now known as Cambridge Harbor. After that, Leonard went into an explanation of the development, including its boundaries and elements such as the new boutique hotel, an expansion of Yacht Maintenance Co., and the renovated Richardson Maritime Museum. There was a discussion of the retail and food vendors that would be brought in and also the public areas set aside for the citizens of Cambridge.

Importantly, Leonard talked about why CWDI is not relying on a master developer, explaining that such an entity would want the best part of the property for its own use and convert some of the public spaces into private development. He also went over the sources of the funding CWDI has raised to date and how much money is still needed.

This led to a discussion of the tax increment financing (TIF) that CWDI wants the city and county to take out for the public improvements in Phase One of the project. The audience was assured that CWDI would keep none of the money and that neither the city nor the county would be responsible for the repayment of the loan. Also covered was the fact that CWDI will be supervising the maintenance of Cambridge Harbor indefinitely, something that many community members and officials were unaware of.

After the presentation, Leonard and the board members answered questions that had been sent in by the public. First up was the YMCA, which has expressed interest in having a new facility at Cambridge Harbor. According to CWDI, there are presently no negotiations with YMCA of the Chesapeake. However, they are a leading contender for a spot at the property because, it was claimed, the Y would bring a lot of traffic that would then shop and dine on-site.

Members of the board then insisted that they are open and transparent to the community and government but that their first loyalty is always to CWDI and its mission. They promised that any conflicts of interest are dealt with and that they are not in breach of contract. Attention was given to concerns that Cambridge Harbor will end up underwater, and the board said they are aware of this and are being careful to build far enough inland.

Finally, board member Shay Lewis-Cisco asked for patience from the community as CWDI continues its mission to develop Cambridge Harbor. Their next meeting is May 22.

 

Mayor Steve Rideout opened the meeting at 6:05 pm with all Council members present.  After approval of the agenda, the Mayor introduced Goldie Cooper, Director of New Beginnings.

Ms. Cooper made a short presentation on New Beginnings and asked for City support for the summer school program.  The Mayor asked the City Manager to look into funding some of the program and to report back at the next City Council Meeting.

The Council then had a lengthy discussion on Ordinance 1233 which was to correct a number of zoning errors, mainly changing the zoning categories from General Commercial/Residential to Downtown Waterfront Development District for the four lots at High and Washington Streets.  This Ordinance was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Committee; however, the Council had a lot of questions and after a long discussion turned down the Ordinance 3 to 2. 

Tyasia Johnson, assistant to the City Manager, had an attachment to the agenda which updated the vacancies on various Boards and Committees. The vacancies include 2 full time members of the Board of Appeals and one alternate for 3-year terms; one full time member and one alternate on the Ethics Commission for 4-year terms; and one full time member from Ward 3 to the Police Advisory Board.  People interested in these positions should contact their City Commissioner.  In addition, there was a short paragraph on changing the City’s methods and procedures on selecting members of City Commissions and the City Council decided to have a work session on the topic on April 22, 2024, at 5 pm.

George Hyde, the project engineer, submitted a written report on the West End Area Sewer Replacement, Phase 1.  At the present time, work should start April 29 on Choptank and Hambrooks intersection and proceed westerly (towards Pink’s Pond).  Road closures should be expected. It is expected to take 9 months to complete Phase 1.  This phase is expected to cost $3.8 million. 

Tom Carroll, the City Manager, made a short presentation on planned City Street paving scheduled for the next 3 months.  Almost a dozen streets are targeted and are listed in the attachments to the Council agenda.

Ida Holden, Director of Administrative Services, made a presentation on behalf of the Portia Johnson-Ennels Youth Internship Program.  This program funded by the City at $75,000 (ARPA funds) provides for a ten-week job opportunity for youths, ages 16 to 23, to work in various City government departments.  This is the second year of this program which was very successful last year. 

The Mayor then led a discussion on the replacement process for the City Manager position.  David Deutsch, a retired City Manager, has agreed to step in as acting City Manager.  The City agreed to pay him not to exceed $6,000 a month in salary plus $1,000 for travel expenses.  The Mercer Group was hired for $26,500 to conduct the search.  The Mercer Group recommended extending the salary range.

The City Manager also wrote in an attachment to the agenda that the City has extended the contract for legal services with the MacLeod group which includes Patrick Thomas and Rebecca Guay.  He also wrote that the City was completed a review of the distribution on all American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds and all organizations have complete their requirements.  Mr. Carroll noted however that the $200,000 pledged to the CWDI project for this year is on hold.  The City has given $300,000 of ARPA funds to CWDI already this year. 

There was no public comment.

Lejan Cephas made two announcements at her Commissioner Comment section.  First, she noted that she supported the CWDI project but there needed to be some changes in the overall plan.  Second, she has organized a meeting on Sunday, April 21 from 4 to 7 at Danny’s Soul Food Restaurant for people interested in purchasing a home.  She has gathered several people with real estate backgrounds to assist people in understanding the process.

The Council went into a closed meeting at 7:35 pm.

 

The House and Senate gave final approval to a $63 billion budget and companion budget reconciliation bill Friday, a move that sends both measures to Gov. Wes Moore (D).

The votes wrapped up a week of back and forth between the two chambers but ended with Republican opposition to hundreds of millions in tax and fee increases. Votes in the House highlighted the politically tricky nature of some bills as more than a half-dozen lawmakers voted on the budget but missed another on legislation containing the revenue package.

The Senate passed the budget bill by a 44-0 vote. Republicans then broke from their Democratic colleagues to vote against the companion reconciliation bill, which contains increased vehicle registration fees and tobacco taxes.

The bill did not include most of a $1.2 billion revenue package proposed by the House, including combined corporate tax reporting and iGaming. Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) applauded the pared down revenue package.

“As many know when we started this negotiation with the House, we were over a billion dollars apart,” he said. “The Senate stood their ground and came up with a budget that works for all of Marylanders and was able to take care of a lot of the priorities that we have.”

Hershey, the only Republican to speak on the reconciliation bill, said he could not vote for it because of concerns that money for transit projects was funded “on the backs of motorists.”

The Senate approved the conference committee compromise on the reconciliation bill by a vote of 33-11, mostly along party lines. Only Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore County) joined Democrats. Another Republican, Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County) was absent and back in his district as President Biden visited the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

The House voted 124-9 with no debate to approve the budget bill compromise. All nine dissenting votes were Republicans. Five are part of a conservative Republican delegate slate called Marylanders United.

Del. Robert B. Long (R-Baltimore County) was present but failed to vote on the budget. He did vote later on the companion reconciliation bill.

As in the Senate, House Republicans expressed displeasure with the companion budget reconciliation bill and its included tax and fee package.

Del. Matthew Morgan (R-St. Mary’s) questioned the “intellectual honesty” of those who voted for the budget but not for the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act.

“I plan to vote no on this. I’m sure that comes as no shocking surprise. I voted no on the budget,” said Morgan, who is chair of the Marylanders United campaign slate. “And the reconciliation bill always balances the budget. So to me, if you’re going vote yes on the budget and no on the BRFA, well, that’s a lot like going to a restaurant, ordering the meal, eating it and then not paying for it.”

Del. Jefferson L. Ghrist (R-Upper Shore), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, pushed back against assertions that Republicans who voted for one and not the other were intellectually dishonest.

Ghrist, who voted for the budget bill, said he opposed the reconciliation bill because it contained “increases in taxes and fees that do not balance this budget.”

The House voted to approve the reconciliation bill 90-35.

The vote highlighted the politically tricky nature of budget voting.

Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Lower Shore) joined 34 Republicans in voting against the reconciliation bill. Sample-Hughes, who represents a majority Black district on the Eastern Shore, has joined Republicans in opposition to other bills including the Gun Safety Act of 2023 and the Trans Health Equity Act.

Nine others failed to cast any vote on the reconciliation bill despite having voted on the budget bill roughly 10 minutes earlier.

House rules require delegates who are on the floor and in their seats to vote on bills as they come up. Earlier in the same floor session, House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) reminded delegates of the rule, as he has frequently during the previous 85 days of the legislative session.

Eight of those are Democrats who did not vote for the reconciliation bill represent potential swing districts: Dels. Brooke Grossman (Washington), Chao Wu and Natalie Ziegler (Howard and Montgomery), Gary Simmons and Heather Bagnall (Anne Arundel), Brian M. Crosby (St. Mary’s), and Andre V. Johnson Jr. and Steve Johnson (Harford).

Del. Carl L. Anderton Jr. (R-Lower Shore) also failed to vote on the bill. Anderton represents a district where a Republican primary challenge from a more conservative opponent is always possible.

By Bryan P. Sears

The prospect of an extended General Assembly session seems less likely after House and Senate fiscal leaders announced a budget compromise Wednesday.

The announcement follows a flurry of activity between the two chambers late Tuesday and early Wednesday that included budget analysts meeting as well as conversations between the chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. It also capped nearly a week of contentious meetings and briefings with reporters and included Gov. Wes Moore (D) issuing an executive order that could have extended the session 10 days beyond the scheduled April 8 final day.

“We think it’s a pretty strong deal, both sides can be satisfied,” said House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel). “It’s truly a compromise.”

Barnes and Senate Budget and Taxation Chair Guy Guzzone (D-Howard) outlined the broad strokes of the agreement during a briefing with reporters Wednesday.

“I think we’re in a great position to be saying that we are in agreement as houses,” said Guzzone, noting deals on transportation and the K-12 education plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. “Not on just the details of what we have here but broadly speaking. We have been in agreement on the big picture on the Blueprint. We both recognize the importance and the desire to fulfill our commitment. And as well, on transportation.”

The two sides are expected to finalize the agreement at a House-Senate budget conference committee meeting that was rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday afternoon. A final vote in both chambers is expected soon after.

The compromise package includes increased funding for transportation and education. The increases were more than the Senate initially offered but less than desired by the House.

“We are happy to see that a compromise has been reached and the legislative session will not be extended due to a showdown over tax hikes,” said House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany). “While we are pleased that the more broad-based and draconian tax increases have been avoided — no increases in the vehicle excise taxes, no elimination of the vehicle trade-in credit — it is important to keep in mind that new revenues do not come from the government. Any tax or fee increase comes from the pocket of hardworking Marylanders.”

Exact details of the full agreement were not immediately available late Wednesday. Even revenue expectations were presented as estimates that will need to be finalized by budget analysts in the hours ahead.

“The Maryland House and Senate have agreed to a deal in principle that would restore funding for immediate transportation needs and continue to invest in establishing a world-class education system,” Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) said in a joint statement released shortly after noon on Wednesday. “We remain committed to developing a comprehensive approach to transportation in the future this interim. The agreement also keeps Maryland competitive and primed for economic growth in the year ahead.”

Both sides mostly agreed on a spending plan for fiscal 2025 and largely left intact the $63 billion budget proposed by Moore. That budget contained no tax increases.

Barnes and others in the House said looming budget gaps of an estimated $3 billion in the coming years — driven by the Blueprint — and another $3 billion shortfall over five years for highway and road projects demanded a resolution this year.

The operating budget shortfalls in the next few years have been described by legislative analysts as something not seen since the Great Recession.

To that end, the House proposed $1.2 billion in taxes, fees, and gaming expansion. Worldwide combined corporate tax reporting and expanded gaming options made up an estimated $525 million of the proposal by fiscal 2028.

Guzzone and Senate leaders repeatedly balked. Broad-based taxes and iGaming were branded nonstarters in January.

In all, the compromise reached Wednesday cut more than $800 million from the House’s original proposal.

Over the last 90 days, Moore has been careful not to rule out taxes. Instead, he has said any proposal would have to cross “a high bar,” but has never explained that standard.

He has also been careful not to say whether or not he would prefer a final spending plan such as the Senate’s, which like his included no taxes, or the version crafted by the House.

Moore briefly acknowledged the proposed budget agreement during a news conference Wednesday afternoon as he provided updates on government response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

“I am thankful we have a completion to the process of finalizing the budget,” he said in response to a reporter’s question. “This is going to give the people of this state the certainty that they need right now and that they deserve right now.”

He said he looked forward to reviewing the “coordinated response” on the budget.

“I’ve been clear on my guidelines and my guardrails on the budgetary process. We’re now going to be going through the details. But I know I am looking forward to having something make it to my desk that I can sign and move forward on,” he said.

Here is a look at what the compromise, as currently understood, includes:

What is out 

The agreement will not contain broad tax increases such as the Fair Share Act, which would have included a worldwide corporate income tax favored by the House.

Also nixed was a proposal to add iGaming to the array of gambling options in the state. The plan would have allowed for casino-style games, some including live dealers, on phones and other electronic devices.

Money from both — about $525 million based on an earlier House estimate — would have gone to fund the K-12 education plan known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

Also off the table is a House proposal to raise $100 million by increasing the tax on car sales to 6.5%.

The compromise nixes another House proposal, a plan to raise $155 million by eliminating the trade-in sales tax exemption on vehicle sales.

Also gone is a proposal to add a fee for package deliveries including online retail orders. The proposed fee, while not in the original revenue package drafted by the House, was part of a list of potential options available as the two chambers worked toward a compromise.

Finally, House and Senate versions of tolling legislation are both off the table.

Also out: The ‘Fair Share’ Act 

And while not in the House proposal, the Senate successfully beat back an effort to pass a $1.6 billion revenue plan known as the Fair Share Act.

House and Senate versions of the bill included combined reporting; increased taxes on the wealthiest Marylanders; increased estate taxes; a surcharge on capital gains; and tax credits for some low-income earners.

“This legislative session represents a lost opportunity to finally make the Maryland tax code fairer by closing corporate tax loopholes and ensuring the wealthiest pay their fair share,” said Benjamin Orr, president of the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, a progressive think tank. “While the Maryland General Assembly is taking an important first step by addressing transportation needs, they failed to fully address revenue for other commitments to education, state workers, and the other state services that Marylanders rely on.”

Barnes said the House would continue to press for at least some portions of the proposal in future years, including corporate tax reporting.

Guzzone signaled the Senate may not be interested in revisiting the subject next year.

What is in for transportation 

The compromise package includes an increase in funding for the state’s Transportation Trust Fund. Estimates are preliminary but Barnes and Guzzone said the package will increase funding by about $250 million in the first year and, as it phases in over three years, hit $320 million-$350 million.

Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners will likely feel the pinch more than others.

The idea was to bring owners of those cars, which pay little to no gas taxes, in line with gas-powered vehicle owners. The money raised from the gas tax funds the Transportation Trust Fund.

The compromise includes a surcharge on vehicle registrations for owners of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Those fees — $250 every two years for EVs and $200 every two years for plug-in hybrids — could raise as much as $20 million, according to an estimate released by the House last month. The increased fees would be payable in installments.

Electric and hybrid vehicles are also heavier than standard cars and cause more wear and tear on roads. The compromise includes increased vehicle registration fees based on revised weight classes. It is not known if the compromise will include the full set of weight classes conceived of by the House. That original plan was expected to generate about $250 million.

The plan also includes a 75-cent fee per trip for rideshare services. The House last month estimated that the fee would raise $45 million. The surcharge is in addition to similar fees already charged in some local jurisdictions in Maryland.

“Like most residents in the region, Marylanders are grappling with historically high inflation,” a spokesperson for Uber said in a statement. “While we understand the General Assembly’s desire to fund much-needed transportation projects, this new tax, in addition to two other rideshare fees in Maryland, will likely have unintended consequences. Last year, nearly half of the trips in Baltimore and Prince George’s County started in low-income areas. These are the riders who will feel this fee the most.”

Another $30 million will come from increased fines for speeding in highway work zones. The fines were part of an administration bill and recommendations from a panel charged with lowering crashes and deaths following a 2023 fatal crash in Baltimore County that claimed the lives of six highway workers.

What is in for education 

Barnes and Guzzone agree that the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is fully funded for fiscal 2025 and 2026.

More expensive parts of the plan phase in the following two years driving the projected deficit to $3 billion.

To help shore up fiscal 2027, the compromise will send about $83 million raised from a tax increase on cigarettes and other tobacco and nicotine products. However, those projections are expected to decline. Historically, increased tobacco taxes have resulted in lower collections as some people quit smoking and others make purchases in neighboring states with lower taxes.

“Raising tobacco taxes will help encourage smokers to quit while also making key needed investments in the state budget,” said Laura Hale, Maryland director of government relations for the American Heart Association. “We applaud the leadership of committee Chairs Barnes and Guzzone in making this huge step forward for public health.”

The package will also include a temporary reallocation of money already included in the Blueprint funding for pre-K education. The lack of qualified providers means that the state has more money earmarked for the service than providers. The plan is to bank about $500 million over two years for fiscal 2027. The General Assembly will eventually have to find money for those early education services as more providers open their doors.

By Bryan P. Sears. This breaking news story has been updated. Danielle J. Brown contributed to this story.

The Spy’s Dave Wheelan and WHCP Community Radio’s Jim Brady continue their monthly check-in with the City of Cambridge’s police chief Justin Todd.  In this segment, Chief Todd talks about the ongoing fentanyl crisis and its impact on the community, juvenile crime, officer staffing levels, and preliminary public safety results for the first quarter of 2024.

This video is approximately 12 minutes in length.

“This was a hard decision for me to reach,” said Tom Carroll in an email on Tuesday, “but I do know it is the right decision to make.”

He was referring to his surprise choice to resign from his position as city manager of Cambridge, which he announced to the City Council in a closed session on March 18. Carroll made it clear in an accompanying letter that his resignation is because of his year-long issues with Cambridge Waterfront Development Inc., which has the responsibility for the proposed Cambridge Harbor endeavor. He is convinced the project cannot succeed with its present concept.

“I hope to be wrong and to see Cambridge Harbor become a story book success,” he said in the email. “But I fear that I will be correct in its lasting and long-term impacts for Cambridge unless it is fundamentally changed. I can no longer stand by while this project moves forward in its current form and with the current governance structure.”

After expressing these concerns to the City Council, he did so to CWDI’s executive director, Matt Leonard, in an October 24 letter. He summarized his concerns thusly: CWDI seemed determined not to bring in a master developer for Cambridge Harbor, the CH proposal would not allow for the site’s successful development without a large public subsidy, a proposed tax increment finance district would capture “too much tax revenue for too long from too large of an area from the city,” and there was a lack of “transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the City Council.”

“I have never seen an organization more dedicated to public entitlement than CWDI,” said Carroll.

But, after all that, what was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back for Carroll? He told the Spy there were three events that led to his decision in December to seek employment elsewhere. The first was an ethical conflict between a city council member and a CWDI attorney, and the second was Leonard’s refusal to provide a timely explanation about what a $60 million public subsidy would be for.

The third event was the publication of a December 15 memo from Leonard to the CWDI board of directors. In it, he said, “City leadership’s words and actions over the last few months could be jeopardizing the Boutique Hotel deal. That the City is viewed as, at best, unsupportive of the Cambridge Harbor project and, at worst, openly hostile to it are factors being discussed.”

Carroll called this statement “inflammatory.” Compounding matters, when he expressed his dismay to Shay Lewis-Cisco and Dion Banks, two of the city’s representatives on the CWDI board, they did not respond for weeks.

In an emailed response to the city manager’s departure, Matt Leonard wrote that it underscores the idea that “CWDI needs to be apolitical, so progress on Cambridge Harbor can continue steadily through regular political cycles and the normal turnover of public staff. That is what CWDI is currently doing—advancing its community-first mission during this disruption.”

Mayor Steve Rideout said in a press release that he and the city commissioners were “saddened” by Carroll’s decision and that his expertise would be missed. “His tenure here has been a time of significant growth and carefully considered decisions that were needed to continue the positive changes that have taken place in Cambridge since our council-manager form of government was instituted in 2015.”

Rideout acknowledged that, as with any unexpected change, the staff and community would deal with some uncertainty and questions. But he went on to say that the team Carroll had assembled during his two years in the position would continue the city’s work “effectively and efficiently.”

Carroll still has some significant work to do before vacating his office around May 17 to take on the job of city manager for Lexington, Va. First, there is the development of a budget for the coming fiscal year. Then there is the establishment of a landbank and the search for its board members.

Tom Carroll is proud of his accomplishments in Cambridge, a city he says he will miss. He expressed his admiration for its natural beauty and for its “amazing” people. And he plans to keep in touch with the friends he made here.

“This is a wonderful community with so much yet-to-be-realized potential,” he said in his letter to the city council. “I am honored to have served here with you.”