A thirty-two year old political newcomer, I am currently an environmental consultant for the U.S. Army Reserves at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. I grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and went to college at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY on a Navy ROTC scholarship where I majored in American History and received the NROTC Leadership Award. Upon graduation I served four and a half years as a Marine Corps infantry officer, where I held a wide variety of leadership positions, including the Executive Officer of the largest Company in the Corps.
While in the Marines I lived or spent extensive amounts of time in places as varied as Northern Virginia, the California High Desert and the nations of the Pacific Rim. During my travels I realized that environmental degradation was, and remains, a world-wide threat and thought that my leadership and management skills would best be used in the environmental arena rather than in the Marine Corps. Accordingly, I resigned my commission in February of 1989 and became involved in the environmental movement.
I started working for Greenpeace Action as a canvasser less than four weeks after leaving the Marines. After several weeks with Greenpeace, I realized that I did not want to make a career out of canvassing and decided that a law degree would make me the most effective in pursuing my goals of environmental and social service. Prior to entering Boston College Law School in September of 1990, I traveled extensively throughout the United States via Greyhound Bus lines, spent five weeks with Global Walk 1990 in New Mexico and Oklahoma, was arrested in Nevada for protesting nuclear testing and served in the Marine Corps Reserves.
I spent most of my efforts in law school focusing on environmental and public interest issues. I directed the school's Conservation Research Group for three years, organizing numerous conferences, seminars and public action events. One of my primary goals was to increase environmental awareness through posting relevant news articles throughout the school, writing letters to the school paper and conducting actions such as passing out warm bagels to students who did not drive solo to school in order to encourage carpooling and alternative forms of transportation.
In conjunction with students from other law schools, I formed the New England Environmental Law Society, a non-profit environmental education group of which I was the first president. I also interned with the State Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Law Enforcement, the National Parks and Conservation Association and, for two academic years, at EPA Region I Enforcement office. I graduated cum laude in 1993 and received the Susan Desmaris Award for Public Service and Leadership at graduation.
I started working as an environmental consultant to the U.S. Army Reserve in October, 1993. In this position I have had extensive experience in developing and implementing government environmental and industrial hygiene programs. I have also gained first-hand knowledge of how bureaucracies function, whether they be the Army Reserves or the City of Cambridge, and their strengths and weaknesses in implementing policies.
I have received formal training in a wide variety of areas that are relevant to the City of Cambridge, including historical preservation and the use of Geographical Information Systems as an environmental management tool. In addition to meeting the challenges of a complex regulatory world, I take great pride in the fact that I have managed the commute to my job at Fort Devens without owning my own car. I recently finished co-authoring a handbook on environmental compliance, which is scheduled for publication in January of 1996.
While my professional and educational emphasis has largely focused on environmental issues, I have also been involved in other public interest concerns. I met my wife while I was bicycling home from volunteer work at the Pine Street Inn, I was one of the first law students to volunteer for the Veterans Legal Services Project which focuses on providing legal services to homeless veterans and I have participated in several demonstrations and rallies in support of women's rights.
A life member of the Sierra Club, I am the co-chair of the Greater Boston Sierra Club's Inner City Outings program, which works with city youth agencies to provide urban children with outdoor experiences. I am on the Steering Committee of the University of Rochester's local alumni club and am a member of a wide variety of social and environmental advocacy groups such as Amnesty International and Handgun Control. I have also sponsored two children through Save the Children for the past several years.
I have lived with my wife in an apartment in Porter Square for the past three years. While we hope to close on a house in North Cambridge in mid-October, this extensive apartment living has given me great insight into concerns of both tenants and landlords concerning property use, rent payments and land use planning issues. Although housing prices are comparable or cheaper in much of the Greater Boston area, my wife and I chose to stay in Cambridge because no other town or city offers the same quality of living as Cambridge. Never one to sit on the sidelines, I am determined to serve my community and help guide it into the 21st Century in a proactive, well-reasoned way, with the long-term public interest outweighing narrower (though vocal) short-term interests.
Environmental protection is my driving concern. I have dedicated the last several years of my life to furthering environmental issues, and I shall continue to do so in the future.
I believe that government should protect the general public, now, and in the future. With my solid environmental and social convictions, capable friends and extensive personal history of dedicated public service, I am the ideal candidate to ensure that snarled traffic, exaggerated commercial development and row after row of town houses do not become the Cambridge of the 21st Century, profiting few at the expense of many.
Environment
Transportation: Move People, Not Cars. Alternative transportation is not a theory, it's a way of life. Making environmentally sound transportation, including bicycling, walking and public transportation, work with cars is a top priority for me. I will work with the state and surrounding communities to allow bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers to get where they are going as safely and as efficiently as possible. I will also encourage strong educational and enforcement measures to ensure existing and future transportation laws are understood and followed by all.
Noise: Public Spaces are for Public Use and Enjoyment. Loud cars, trucks and motorcycles shatter Cambridge's tranquillity. This unnecessary noise is unacceptable and the police should enforce noise ordinances very strictly.
Air and Water Resources: Cambridge is downstream from everyone, including itself. We must work with regional, state and federal authorities to protect and improve important natural resources- clean air and water are not optional.
City Planning
Land Use Planning: Comprehensive Planning allows Efficient Delivery of Services. Decisions involving commercial developments, residential zoning, curb cuts and traffic flow cannot be made absent a detailed vision of how Cambridge is going to move into the next century. Without solid planning, development will block streets, overwhelm schools, ruin neighborhoods and stretch emergency response and public safety services.
Community Stability: Housing for People, not For Cars. City government must work with tenants and property owners to aid as many needy tenants as reasonably possible. Land use plans, public funding and assisted loans may help some tenants stay in Cambridge, but these programs cannot help everyone. The unhappy truth is that some people will have to leave Cambridge- City Council's job is minimizing the numbers who will experience this trauma.
Development: Long Term Growth, Short Term Caution. Growth, both industrial and residential, must compliment quality of life and self-government. I absolutely refuse to let outside interests dictate Cambridge's growth. Once buildings and green spaces are gone, they are gone forever, so we must cautiously make development decisions.
Historic Preservation: Cambridge is Historic, Let's Keep it that Way. When we rip down historic buildings to make way for parking lots or shopping malls, we destroy Cambridge's fabric. While buildings do not need to be preserved merely because they are old, we need to be very, very careful when altering our historic landscape.
Government
City Services: Residents are Customers. City services must satisfy the customer to the maximum extent possible. More effective government, more investment in services or different priorities and resource allocation may help maximize delivery of services. I will tap professional and efficient city workers for suggested improvements.
Finances and Communication: Fiscal Reality and Honest Debate must Govern the Public Checkbook. I will be honest about what Cambridge can and cannot afford. I will not accept short-term solutions to long-term problems, nor will I sacrifice tomorrow's quality of life for today's tax base. If services have to be reduced or programs cut, I will do so openly, communicating with affected groups and inviting their suggested alternatives.
Public Health and Safety: Effective Services Now are cost-effective Later. Fire codes and building codes must be reasonable and enforced. Basic medical services, such as vaccinations and pre-natal care, should be available for all. Vendors who sell tobacco or alcohol to underage customers should be strictly sanctioned. Police officers should be maximized on the street and in the community, not at desk jobs or on details if public safety is not threatened. City government should work with regional and national governments and organizations to address cross-border issues.
Monitor the environmental compliance status of over 50 reserve centers throughout New England under Federal, state and Army regulatory programs; research and develop corrective action plans for areas of non-compliance; assess Army Reserve facilities for compliance issues, with emphasis on Clean Air and Clean Water Act issues, hazardous waste and hazardous material handling and industrial hygiene.
Environmental Protection Agency, 10/91-5/92; 9/92-5/93
Legal Intern- Region I Enforcement Division, Boston, MA
National Parks and Conservation Association, Summer, 1992
Legal Intern- Conservation Programs Washington, DC
Mass. Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Environmental Law EnforcementSummer, 1991
Legal Intern- Office of General Counsel, Boston, MA
United States Marine Corps 1984-1989
Infantry Officer/Executive Officer, Southern California
Boston College Law School, Newton, MA
Juris Doctor, May 1993; Admitted to Massachusetts Bar: December, 1993
G.P.A 3.33/4.0 Cum Laude
Honors: Desmarais Award for Public Service Achievement and Leadership, May, 1993
Conservation Research Group-President, 1990-1993
Expanded membership by 300%; organized weekend seminars on land trusts, mediation, and Boston Harbor development: organized major conferences on sustainable development and international environmental treaties; prepared and managed numerous research projects for outside parties; was awarded scholarship to ABA conference on environmental law.
Co-Founder and President of New England Environmental Law Society 1991-1992
Organized and incorporated this nonprofit, multi-law school organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of environmental issues; organized the NEELS Conference on Environmental Equity; testified before the state legislature.
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Bachelor of Arts, 1984 - Major: American History
Honors: Dean's List, Naval ROTC Leadership Award
City government must be responsive to the needs of all citizens and residents. Unfortunately, not everyone can get everything all of the time. When prioritizing resources and making the tough decisions of who gets what, city government must be fair, thoughtful and honest. We do no favors to anyone by pretending the pie of public services will get endlessly bigger at no cost to the taxpayer, nor do we do any favors by pretending cuts in funding or services will always have negligible impacts. A spirit of give and take, with an eye out for recurring, long term issues will help city leaders make the best decisions possible. I must stress that Cambridge can never allow itself to be held hostage by outside or resident corporations, whose interests are frequently not those of the community
Citizens help their community by remaining responsible for their actions and the actions of their government. While voting is a basic requirement for good government, responsible citizens must do more to keep their communities healthy and vibrant. Even small decisions by citizens, such as to shop at an out-of-town mall because prices are slightly cheaper, have a dramatic impact on Cambridge's tax base and development patterns. Buying goods and services from locally-owned providers, where practicable, returns money to our community and helps keep Cambridge financially healthy and stable. Letting your City Councilors, your City Manager and the city workers who provide your services know what you think of their work, whether it be good or bad, helps city leaders tailor government to the needs of city residents. If the people to whom you speak are not responsive, take the issue to a higher level.
Citizens must also try to take care of themselves where possible. City government cannot be expected to do everything. If the neighbors are having a loud party, think about calling them before calling the police to get them to quiet down. If neighborhood merchants are being irresponsible, let them know how you think they should act before bringing the matter before the city government.
A sense of teamwork must exist between Cambridge citizens and their government, a feeling I will encourage by attending local community meetings, inviting public participation in the political process and making myself as available as possible to my fellow citizens. With this city/citizen teamwork comes a pact- citizens behave responsibly, and their government responds to their concerns in an aggressive, proactive and thoughtful manner. Additionally, City Councilors and City Management must accept responsibility for everything the city does or fails to do.
Cuts in federal and state programs impact our community on an ever increasing scale. City leaders must decide what our city can afford and how to pay for it, defining how Cambridge will grow into the 21st Century. If my ideas on government and community involvement appeal to you as a blueprint for our future, support Kelley for Cambridge.
I am a member of a wide variety of environmental and social progress groups.
If the ideas I've discussed below sound good to you, vote Craig Kelley number one in November. If you want these ideas to be the building blocks for a new style of city government or if you have ideas you'd like to add, please call the Kelley for Cambridge Campaign at 354-8353 to get involved or e-mail craig@citysource.com or Votecraig@aol.com. ( Note: If your address is different from the one posted in the mail header, please include your e-mail address or telephone number in the body of your message.)
And remember, leave your checkbooks at home.