[afterschool] Public comment signup open + We're killing it with emails
Also an email template was requested + there's one below.
First, wow!
The emails have been coming + it’s surpassing everything we hoped for. 15 so far, which is huge in less than 24 hours. Please keep on writing — short is fine. This is sending a strong signal about how much afterschool matters to Cambridge residents.
Second, an email template is below. I was asked to provide one, so please feel free to use it or send it on to others.
Third, you can now sign up for public comment on Monday (4/3, at 5:30pm).
For the signup form: This is policy order #59. (We finally have an official link, too.)
For timing reference: I signed up recently and am #6 in line to speak. Public comment comes near the start of the meeting (5:30pm), after roll call, pledge of allegiance (interesting), and minutes from past meetings.
Where: You’ll get an email with a zoom link. It’s from noreply@cambridgema.gov.
For those bravely doing this, feel free to text me Monday night if any issues arise (they often do) 617.270.6549.
Small note on the PO’s “waitlist dashboard” request: We’re excited that DHSP reached out to us about this, and we submitted feedback on what we’d want to include in this dashboard to make it easier for families to assess their chances to getting a spot throughout the process. Please reach out if you have any suggestions we can pass along.
Thanks again for all the hard work. Please keep the emails coming and consider doing public comment despite the timing being right during pick-up and also kind of scary.
Eugenia
Template for emails — feel free to copy/paste and feel free to ignore!
To line: CityCouncil@CambridgeMA.GOV, clerk@cambridgema.gov
CC line: schraa@gmail.com, amanda.beatty@gmail.com
Subject line: Supporting afterschool policy order #59
Body:
Dear City Councilors,
I’m writing to request that you support PO #59 calling for fully expanding afterschool in the next three years. [Describe your afterschool status - current or past.]
[Describe why afterschool matters to you and any consequences of not having it or the stress of not knowing you’ll have it.]
[If there’s a particular issue that matters to you — transparency, transport, special ed access — you can mention it here.]
I appreciate the progress that the city is making on afterschool. But this issue will remain a crisis until every family that needs afterschool can obtain it.
[Name]
[Cambridge street address]