Timothy J. Toomey Jr.
For the past six years, I have had the honor and privilege to serve as your City Councillor. As I now campaign for re-election, I believe that I have been the effective, responsive and visible City Councillor you expect and deserve. My primary goal is to make government work for you rather than against you. Constituent service is, and will continue to be, my most important responsibility. I take my responsibility to serve you very seriously. With your continued support, and most importantly, your #1 vote on Tuesday, November 7, you have my long-standing promise that I will continue to be there for you in your fight for livable, safe neighborhoods.
-
- City Councillor, 1990 - Present
- Chair - Health & Hospitals Committee
- Chair - Claims Committee
- School Committee Member, 1986-1989
- State Representative - 29th Middlesex District, 1993 - Present
- Vice-Chair - Committee on Education, Arts & Humanities
- Chair - Subcommittee on Special Education
- Member - Committee on State Administration
- Former Member - Committee on Health Care
- Former Member - Committee on Government Regulations
- B.A. Political Science - Suffolk University
- Matignon High School
- Thorndike / Kennedy Grammar Schools
- Former Research Analyst for EG&G Dynatrend in Kendall Square
Like you, I am very concerned that crime in our neighborhoods has noticeably increased, despite the Police Department statistics which purport to show a decrease. Murders in East Cambridge and rapes in Cambridgeport are new and chilling events. You only have to meet people on the streets on a daily basis as I do to know that they are frightened and concerned. I have consistently demanded an increase in the cityís public safety budgets so our residents can walk our streets and feel safe from crime. And in addition to increased police protection is the critically important work being done by our various Neighborhood Crime Watches. Working with our Neighborhood Crime Watches, making our streets and playgrounds safe again is my number one priority.
As City Councillor, I have worked to ensure that large scale developments do not destroy our neighborhoods. Striking a balance between the needs of businesses. and the tax revenue they provide, and the need to maintain livable and cohesive neighborhoods in our City has been a difficult and complex problem. I feel that excess regulations and the ability, in some cases, of a small vocal minority of people to halt development has earned Cambridge an anti-business reputation. On the other hand, we can never allow ourselves to be blackmailed by large corporations.
The proposed Super Stop and Shop was a prime example of this latter situation. Stop & Shop cynically divided the people of Cambridgeport for financial gain. More despicably, they preyed on the fears of the elderly. I will not forget that Stop & Shop cared nothing about the people of Cambridgeport. I fought Stop and Shop and their corporate greed. Having done so, I have a strong commitment to ensure that a supermarket be located in Cambridgeport. This commitment will soon pay off in supermarkets that will meet the needs of Cambridgeport and Riverside. There has been some short term pain for which Stop & Shop must bear the full responsibility, but the long term result will be beneficial to all. As we approach a similar supermarket situation in North Cambridge, I will bear in mind the lessons I have learned in dealing with Stop & Shop in Cambridgeport.
Having received the endorsement of the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters for my legislative activities and having taken the Green Candidate Pledge of the Clean Water Action Alliance of Massachusetts, I have demonstrated and have been recognized for my commitment to improving the environment.
I am a co-sponsor of the Environmental Enhancement and Protection Bill (Open Space Bond Bill) which would provide $550-million in environmentally sound projects including $2-million which I proposed for the upgrade of Donnelly Field and $300,000 for renovation of both Hurley and Silva Parks. I have been the prime sponsor of increased police personnel to ensure that our streets and playgrounds are safe. My Cambridge Employee Residency Ordinance will significantly improve our automobile efficiency rate by eliminating more than 5-million annual vehicle mile trips associated with 3,000 city employees driving into the city thereby improving the quality of our air and water.
While others talk about improving the environment, Iíve acted!
I introduced to the Council a "Cambridge Residency Ordinance" requiring that City employees hired after January 1, 1996 reside in Cambridge within six months of employment. Among numerous other benefits is this ordinance's positive effects on making Cambridge a more livable City.
In 1992, the City Council approved the Cambridge Trip Reduction Ordinance. The ordinance outlines the City's plans to reduce vehicle trips traveled by municipal employees, thereby improving the Cityís automobile efficiency rate. Among the measures listed are incentives for bicycle commuting, transportation allowances for public transit, and shuttle services. My ordinance, coupled with innovative programs such as city paid public transit passes, bicycle programs and a city employee shuttle, can reduce the city vehicle mile trips significantly in the next 10 years
The City is the third largest employer in the City. My residency ordinance will significantly improve our automobile efficiency rate by eliminating more than 5-million annual vehicle mile trips associated with 3,000 city employees driving into the city. If we are really serious about this vehicle trip reduction ordinance and improving the environment for our residents, we have the perfect opportunity to show our commitment by requiring that city employees live in the city.
Additionally, the City Council has an obligation to make municipal jobs available for our residents. City employees have a greater interest to excel in their jobs if what they do affects their own quality of life and that of their neighbors on a daily basis. Currently, almost two thirds of our city employees do not live in Cambridge. I find that number staggering and unacceptable and expect most city residents would be equally appalled and outraged by that fact. My residency proposal addresses the issue the right way, gradually, over a ten year period as jobs turn over, thus reducing the impact on housing. This is an excellent opportunity to show the citizens of Cambridge that we care about them.
I have been the only City Councillor who has consistently opposed the vast, overly expensive and unnecessary expansion of the Cambridge Hospital. Certainly the Hospital needs an upgrade, but the cost of $70 million dollars to our citizens is too much to spend when the hospital is about to merge with another facility. After the merger, Cambridge Hospital will no longer be a municipal hospital, but they will have received a $70 million gift from the taxpayers who will no longer have a say in itís future. This project has to be scaled down considerably and immediately or it will unnecessarily destroy the quality of life in the neighborhood surrounding the hospital.
Conversely, I have been, and will continue to be, a strong supporter of our Neighborhood Health Centers. I believe the City can and should use its financial resources to upgrade all our Neighborhood Health Centers, expand the programs operated in these centers, and increase the outreach effort in our neighborhoods in support of this vitally important health program.
As a strong advocate in the legislature of a single-payer health insurance program, I believe that community-based health programs are the ideal mechanism to ensure that the Cityís health agenda is shaped by the people who reside in our neighborhoods
As a City Councillor, I do not have direct control over the educational curriculum of our children. However, if re-elected, I have the ability to elect the next Mayor, who serves as Chairperson of the School Committee. My choice for Mayor will have to be fully committed to solving the problems of equity within our school system with particular attention paid to increasing real and meaningful parental involvement in all aspects of our childrenís education.
As a strong advocate of the need for affordable housing, in both 1991 and 1994 I proposed a comprehensive package of reforms of rent control. In early 1994 I said, "If we don't do something about rent control now, forces outside our city will do it for us." My proposals were totally ignored by the CCA-endorsed Councillors and my prediction became painfully true. It is distressing that many so-called tenant activists gambled with the lives of our low-income, elderly and handicapped tenants for political purposes. I particularly blame all the CCA-endorsed Councillors for the loss of affordable rental protection for those who need it.
My position on affordable housing has been clear and consistent. I stand by my previous proposals and, if re-elected, will continue to work for their adoption.
- East End House Community Center
- Board of Directors
- Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee
- Former President and Treasurer
- East Cambridge Planning Team
- Friends of the East Cambridge Library
-
Endorsements
Alliance for Change
Carpenter's Union Local 40
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 2222
Recipient of the 1995 "Person of the Year" award
from the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers
Contact Our Campaign
My success depends on your continued support. Drop in to see us at our campaign headquarters at
- 730 Cambridge Street
- Cambridge, MA 02141
or call us at 864-4800
or call Tim at home 576-6483
Return to Campaign 95 Index
Return to CitySource Center