City Manager Matters - the day after. A letter from Steve Rideout

	From: Steve Rideout [mailto:swrideout@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2014 7:46 AM Subject: City Manager Matters - the day after Dear Cambridge Citizens and Friends of Cambridge: I waited to send this email to take some time to reflect on last evening's work session regarding the city manager proposal. It was certainly a great night for Cambridge but it is not the end of this effort to achieve better, more efficient, more effective, fairer, and economically sound government for this community. I am thankful for everyone who came last night or sent emails or spoke to the mayor or commissioners and am particularly thankful for everyone who spoke either for or against the proposal. Last night is what government is and should be about - the people letting their elected leaders know their thoughts. What I heard from most of those who spoke were reasonable and legitimate issues of concern and some of which will make any changes to our proposal even stronger than it currently is. What was being discussed last night was a proposal, and with all legislation there needs to be give and take on issues where there is legitimate disagreement. I took notes on those issues and believe that we can draft reasonable compromises that will not diminish or harm the underlying core values of what is before the commissioners for decision. At one point, for those who were not there, I briefly spoke about the differences between leadership and management. What the City of Cambridge received from 4 of our commissioners last night was leadership, and we need to remember that when the next local election takes place. Attached is a slightly modified handout I provided last evening for those who did not attend or did not get a copy last evening. For next steps, I spoke with Mr. Pinkett, who heads the local NAACP chapter for Dorchester, and offered again to meet with him and members of his organization to discuss this initiative. About a month ago I had contacted him about meeting prior to last evening, but that could not be arranged. I hope that you will send a letter to the editor of our local papers expressing your views, whatever they may be, as this discussion needs to continue so that as many people in Cambridge understand the benefits that will come to the entire community when we have a city manager on board. All the best.  Steve