Gregg Moree
2011 Candidate for Cambridge City Council

Home address:
25 Fairfield St.
Cambridge, MA 02140

Contact information:
Tel: 617-876-7222
website: greggmoree.wordpress.com
e-mail:gregg.moree@mail.com

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Gregg Moree for Council
25 Fairfield St.
Cambridge, MA 02140

To the people of Cambridge,
Here is what I mean when I said hydroponic greenhouse. Look, there is no dirt. The food grows on tables in trays filled with water and plant food. (Look at the green vines behind the table.) There are no germs because there is no dirt. There are no weed-killers because there are no weeds. There are no bug killers used because there are no bugs. It is all clean and protected. They get harvests every day of the year like this because it is indoors, in a greenhouse. I want the people in Cambridge to have perfect, fresh produce like this too.

If you look at Cambridge from Google maps, you can find lots of places we can put these. On the top of parking garages, on top of flat roofed buildings, or on unused lots. I want every ward in Cambridge to be able to have their own place to get fresh, perfect, ripe, delicious produce grown right here in Cambridge. All the people could have delicious tomatoes and fresh lettuce for their salad or sandwiches or cooking, all year long. Grown here, not off a truck. And the rest we can sell to supermarkets. This would be one of my gifts to the city, because I care about all of us eating well.

Respectfully,
Gregg Moree
Candidate, Cambridge City Council

Gregg Moree's position on Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy
We need to carefully think through this. Mr. Robert Healy has been our City Manager for 30 years. Did you know that Cambridge, MA is one of only 24 cities in the US that has AAA rated credit from all three ratings services? And we got that every year since 1999? I saw this in a letter (dated February 20, 2010) about Cambridge selling $33.2 million in bonds. And we kept our good credit through all the trouble the economy is in? That makes Cambridge have better credit than the United States!! Eight of our nine Councillors signed his contract in 2009. And if we retire him, who do we get that is better? I don't think any of the other 24 cities will part with theirs. And if we get someone who is NOT better, then I think we have someone worse.

How I, Gregg Moree would allocate $3.2 million dollars.
I would split it four ways between Teachers, Firefighter, Police and Emergency Medical Technicians. That means $800,000 in each direction. Teachers build our future by educating our children. Firefighters protect our homes and businesses. Police keep us safe by day and night. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) use all their training to keep us alive when we call them. Each serves us in a unique and necessary way.

Here is a list of what $800,000 can pay for For
TEACHERS--$800,000: There are these 15 schools listed in Cambridge: Amigos, Baldwin, Cambridge Rindge & Latin, Cambridgeport, Fletcher-Maynard Academy, Graham & Parks Alternative Public School, Haggerty, High School Extension Program, Kennedy-Longfellow School, King Open, Martin Luther King, Jr, Morse School, Peabody, Rindge School of Technical Arts and Tobin. I would first pay for 15 new teachers, one for each school. This is because teachers are so pressed. Having another teacher can help relieve the most-pressed classes. According to the list, new teachers in Massachusetts get $35,000 per year. That would only use $525,000. Then I would use $10,000 for each school to use to upgrade technology or teaching systems. That would use $150,000. Then I would give $5,000 to each school for teacher-directed classroom supplies. I was upset when I found out that some teachers are buying classroom supplies out of their very own wages. They can’t live on nothing! Then I would give $50,000 to buy added benefits for Cambridge teachers as a group. I want to find a useful, significant way to say thank you to our teachers. I would bargain it to get the most. I could get Dental cleaning, or legal coverage, or shoes for everybody at a good store. Teachers wear out their shoes a lot. I wonder if there is a car dealer who would help all our teachers get a better car.

For FIREMEN--$800,000: I saw in Simply Hired that the average firefighter in Cambridge MA only gets $45,000 per year. I think we need 15 new firefighters. Then I went to New-firetrucks.com and firetrucksplus.com to find more fire-fighting equipment. There is a lot we can buy for them. I would spend $75,000 on equipment and vehicles. And I would let the firemen themselves decide what they needed most. Did you know that we can buy fire equipment from other fire departments as well? And a lot of people are selling their fire trucks. Then I would spend $50,000 to buy a benefit for all the firemen as a group, whatever they decide. Maybe new shoes, too. And maybe that car dealer would like to sell some good cars to our firemen too. And vacations, I want our firemen to be able to go someplace for a vacation after they have served on a fire. They need to relax. Fighting a fire or answering a disaster is scary work!! And we expect them to do it again and again.

Then for POLICE: Our police keep us safe night and day and we don’t even thank them enough. Many times they get our frowns because we don’t want a parking ticket. We hardly think about all the times they stay up all night trying to keep thugs and criminals from breaking in and killing us or stealing our car when we sleep. I saw that the average salary for new police officers in Cambridge, MA is $48,000. Simply Hired said that. I would spend $720,000 to pay for 15 new officers. Then I would give the department $30,000 to use for added equipment. And I would spend $50,000 for a benefit for the police as a group.

For the EMTs: I saw that average EMT salary is $45,000 in Boston. Although schools, fire and police departments all come under the city, the ambulance companies are private. But I think that I would like to spend this on the Search and Rescue department. I would spend $540,000 to hire 12 EMTs and then spend $260,000 on getting them equipment. The same places that sell fire trucks also sell search and rescue equipment. Search and rescue can also act in disaster calls, or boating accidents, or saving people from drowning on the river. They can help people stuck upstairs, but fell and can’t get down. They can do so much. There are many different needs every day that need strong, life-saving people to answer.

Gregg Moree's position on the Cambridge City Charter, Plan E and proportional voting
The Cambridge City Charter has withstood over 60 years of use. Plan E allows for proportional voting. In this way everyone who wants to participate in Cambridge government gets a chance. It is fair. None of the votes are lost. People vote for their best nine choices. The top nine people win. So the city gets the top best choices of everyone.

Campaign sound bites for Gregg Moree
Gregg Moree: The man for Cambridge
Gregg Moree: Vote an honest man in

I, Gregg Moree, do not have any other side work. I count being your City Councillor as my whole job.

I, Gregg Moree, am running to be Cambridge City Councillor. I am not running for anything else.

Respectfully submitted,
Gregg J Moree
A Cambridge man; A man for Cambridge

I am Gregg Moree and I support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the US was one of the authors.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by the United States on December 10, 1948.

My uncle Joseph Sakey worked for President Franklin Roosevelt. I remember being taught this as a boy from my uncle.

This is what I found my campaign on. I am living, breathing and running for office to bring these truths to every citizen of Cambridge:

Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4.
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.
(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12.
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14.
(1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
(2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15.
(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17.
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Article 28.
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.
(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
(3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30.
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

This is a shortened version. The fuller version is at http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

I have complied with the requirements to open a separate campaign bank account and all money is accounted for and reported to the State of Massachusetts. All funds received will be used wisely and in keeping with the campaign. I will be answering the remaining questions in the following days.
Respectfully, Gregg Moree, Cambridge City Council Candidate

Quality of Life
The quality of life that Cambridge has to offer is rich in culture, experience, tradition and history. We have a serious job ahead of us to preserve all that Cambridge is in the midst of such troubled times. We must find ways to make Cambridge an emblem of what a dedicated public and responsive government can do to fully engage the lives, talents and intellect of tomorrow's generation.

Public Safety
Keeping people safe from crime is fundamental. We must keep our whole city safe. Cambridge must be known as a place where people are secure from crime, where they live their lives well and contribute to the good and happiness of all. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration says: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." I believe that means Cambridge.

Traffic, Parking, and Transportation
Traffic is often cramped in Cambridge and parking is often hard to find. Since the end goal of transportation is to get people places, I would support money-efficient ways of easing the crunch in our city and making getting around in our city more pleasurable.

Municipal Finance
Cambridge must be very careful in municipal finance. We must avoid losses and waste. We must be accountable to the people. People--all people-- pay taxes. If you own property, you pay property taxes. If you rent, you pay your landlord's property taxes. If you buy things, you pay sales tax. There is tax on the gas we put in the car. They even tax us when we go buy a cup of coffee. The job for the City of Cambridge is to get the most done with the taxes that it collects. Cambridge must avoid losses and waste, and use tax payer's funds wisely. I support finding new ways of getting things done that saves the City money and provides good benefits to the people. The city must be like us at home; pay the bills, keep the budget and keep our essential lives in order.

Government and Elections
"The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the Government" is part of article 21. What this means is the will of the people is what gives Councillors the right to act. This is what elections are about. But being an elected official is not just about voting day, it lasts every single day, and directs every decision a Councillor must make.

Plan E Charter
Plan E charter is a good charter. It has been in effect since 1938 and has been used for more than 70 years and has worked well. By using the proportional voting methods, it allows "minority groups representation in proportion to their actual strength." This keeps our election field open. I think that gives strength to the system. [Quote from http://www.cambridgema.gov/election/programsandservices/cambridgemunicipalelections/Cambridge-City-Charter/adoptionofplane.aspx]

City Manager
The City Manager is sworn to serve the City and that means all of the people. The City Manager must be serious, fair, and hard working. The Manager must get the most done for the dollar and not allow waste or fraud or loss of taxpayer money. We must have the best Manager for the job.

Staff for Councillors
Councillors have a lot to do. Too often, when people get elected, they disappear from the public. Councillors must keep good relations with the people. This is hard to do when burdened behind a desk with paperwork. So, I support having staff for Councillors so that the necessary paperwork can be done. Having staff will also give Councillors the assistance needed in researching policies, getting new projects done and promoting new programs. This will improve the quality of service the Councillor can give and allow Councillors the time they need to continue listening and interacting with the people. It is not so that Councillors can get lazy and have the staff do everything for them.

Land Use
We need to find ways to use the land we have to the fullest. We need to plan how to get the best use out of all our space.

Planning
Planning is the key to our future. When we plan to accommodate the future, the future can come to us. Planning also lets us use innovation to solve needs in our city. One thing is hydroponic greenhouses. These don't use dirt, but tables with water trays in them. We could use these on top levels of parking garages, on roofs of buildings and in other unused spaces around the city to increase our fresh produce year around, and to give jobs to people. Let's plan together today for a better tomorrow.

University Relations
I looked up seven colleges in Cambridge. Harvard is the largest and oldest with over 25,000 students. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is here with over 10,000 students. Lesley University is here with over 7,000 students. Cambridge College has over 5,000 students. The Longy School of Music has over 200 students. The Episcopal Divinity School has over 100. There is Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts on First St. I do not know how many they have.

Everything, every type of learning is here. Eating, arts, music, science, technology, teaching, public office, business. Every need that our country will have has a student here in Cambridge. Together, there are over 50,000 students attending here in Cambridge. That means that we have the responsibility of acting in mature and responsible ways toward education and our universities, because we have leaders among us. Cambridge is developing leaders for the future.

In order to do our job well, we need to support our universities and have excellent working relationships between the city and the colleges. Our country is relying on us to do a good job. In fact, our future depends on it.

To the people of Cambridge; I love you. I was born, schooled and presently live in Cambridge. I was taught to love my neighbors. All of you are my neighbors. Together we can build a better future for the City of Cambridge and for the people of Cambridge. We can do it today by taking seriously one of our precious freedoms and voting.

Sincerely and respectfully, Gregg Moree

Candidate's 2009 responses     Candidate's 2007 responses

Sept 9, 2009 Candidate Forum (video)