Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
October 26, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my Cambridge Matters #4 along with some of the documents that I mention in my report. They are meant to substantiate what I am saying in the report.

It appears that the work of this City Council is slowing down as we approach the Holiday Season. There is only one meeting scheduled in November and one in December. The new City Council will be sworn in at the first meeting in January 2021.

Have a Happy Halloween and PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE both in the NATIONAL AND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD elections on November 3rd or before as well as the Finals of the CITY ELECTION either in person on December 1st or by mail.

Thanks for Reading.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
October 13, 2020

Dear Readers:

This one is probably too long and leaves out too much. If you think so, you are right.

Last night’s meeting was a mess, and I had difficulty paying attention to what was being discussed while taking notes for this unofficial report. In the final analysis, we got a lot done to improve Cambridge but it was not very pretty making it happen.

With regard to the information at the end of this report about the MOU, I had to limit my concerns out of fear that what I wrote would become tedious so just understand that what is contained here is not everything I need answers from Maces Lane Community Center, Inc. and city staff.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
October 7, 2020

Dear Readers:

As there has been much misinformation being shared regarding the proposed Property Transfer Agreements and MOU for the City Sailwinds Property, I have asked the City Manager to post those documents on the City Website relating to our City Council Meeting on the 13th. I have asked him to post them today, which he has indicated he will do. I am not sure when that will be done.

Before continuing your conversations regarding the above documents, please take some time to read the material that will be available so that you can have an understanding of what they say and have a more constructive discussion of what issues are of concern to you and what are not.

I understand that some in the community know (or possibly think) that this matter will be taken up in closed session. Since the elected officials have received no such notice, I am not aware that a closed session is planned or will be requested. If you become aware of such a notice, please be sure to listen in on the discussion as to whether we will go into closed meeting or not so that you can understand why we will or why we won’t once a vote is taken on that issue.

As I believe that the development of Sailwinds is an issue that needs to be in the open except for issues allowed under the Open Meetings Act and you will have the relevant documents, I cannot think of a reason for having a closed session. Also since the first drafts of the Transfer Agreements were provided to the public at our last meeting and the MOU request was also presented, I am not sure that there is anything that is being hidden from the public.

Steve

As a non-profit organization, CAN cannot endorse or promote candidates for elective office.

Recognizing this, Commissioner Steve Rideout notified CAN that his October 5 Cambridge Matters #6 included such endorsements and would likely not be appropriate for CAN distribution. Cambridge Matters #6 can be obtained directly from Mr. Rideout.

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
September 14, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my Cambridge Matters from our meeting this past Monday. It is my unofficial summary of matters that were taken up for discussion and decision. This one is longer than most as I explain some history on what brought Proposed Ordinance 1168 to the agenda for first reading and continuation over to September 28th for 2nd reading, public hearing, and possible passage.

What I offer in the attached explanation contain my views. I know that other Commissioners have different views about the issue of part time commissioners being entitled to city health and other insurance. I invite you to make up your own mind about this issue and let your Commissioner and the Mayor know your views. If you stay silent, the City Council will act in a way that may not be in the best interest of the city, its full time staff, and its tax payers.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
September 4, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my short unofficial report on the Special Session of the Cambridge City Council that took place this morning.

In addition, I am attaching some of the documents that I mention in that report so that you can have a better understanding of the matters that were raised and discussed.

I hope that this is helpful to you.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
August 24, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached is my unofficial report on the meeting last night along with a few comments and explanations. I hope that it is helpful in explaining some of the challenges that we continue to face.

One issue of importance to all of the city is the Housing Task Force that I mention. As I indicate, I am able to appoint two representatives to the Task Force from Ward 1. If you are interested, please let me know. I am hopeful that the Task Force will take a look at all of the studies that we have done since 1969 and make some recommendations on things that we can to with, hopefully, some ideas about how we could do them.

This is an issue that continues to get studied and never resolved. Let’s try to head in that direction.

Thanks for reading. Seven more to go.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
July 27, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached are my meeting notes from last night’s meeting along with a letter from the Dorchester County NAACP regarding the upcoming election. While I have talked about the upcoming election in earlier reports, understand that everyone wants an open and honest election, and I believe that we will have that and more as a result of the planning for the upcoming election on October 17th. In order to encourage voting by every registered voter, they will be mailed a ballot at his or her address as known by the County Election Board.

We have an excellent and knowledgeable private provider in place. As the Supervisor of Elections will be mailing out ballots to every registered voter in the city; if you have moved since you last registered and have not updated that information, please do so at the county election office. If you choose to vote in person rather than by mail or by absentee ballot, the Supervisor of Elections with the assistance and approval of the Election Judges has chosen the Cambridge Center of Chesapeake College on Race Street for the place to vote. There are entrances to the building from Race Street and from the rear parking lot.

Every Candidate will be allowed to have a poll watcher to observe what is happening at the polls as well as process for the Election Judges opening the mail in ballots. Every effort is being made to ensure that every vote counts.

When you see the results of this years voting for the Mayor and City Council, remember our last election in July 2016. Four of the six races were uncontested. With each Ward having around 1750 registered voters, we had the following voting totals:

Ward 1 – Steve Rideout – 145
Ward 2 – Donald Sydnor – 50
Ward 3 – LaShon Foster – 179 to 166 for Frank Cooke = 345 total
Ward 4 – Dave Cannon 151 to 139 for Dion Banks = 290 total
Ward 5- Robbie Hanson – 60

Mayor – Victoria Jackson Stanley – 653

I hope that every race this year will be contested and that voters will be able to hear from the candidates about their positions on the important issues facing the city.

Thanks for reading.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
July 14, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached please find my informal report on last night’s meeting of the Cambridge City Council. As with all meetings there were some interesting discussions. Unlike other meetings this one went quite long.

I have tried to condense what happened to provide you with the basics of the issue and outcomes.

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
July 5, 2020

Dear Readers:

Attached please find my report on what city council has done (not all of it) over the past 6 months. To remind you of what we did from July 1-December 25 of 2019, I am also attaching my prior report to you.

I hope that they are helpful. They do not cover everything that was done but those things that I think are the most important for the management and future of the city.

Let me know if you have questions. I have taken the information from my prior Cambridge Matters reports.

Steve

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