City Council Endorses Resolution Condemning Sentinel Missile Plan

The Cambridge City Council last night unanimously passed a resolution condemning the proposed Sentinel anti-ballistic missile system planned for construction in Reading, Lynnfield and Wakefield.

The resolution, introduced by Councillor Barbara W. Ackermann, drew the support of professors from M.I.T. and Harvard. Chester Hartman, assistant professor for City Planning and a member of the Joint Center for Urban Studies, told the Council that the system would make a target of Cambridge in any war where it otherwise might not be. He also cited the growing needs of the cities for federal funds, and said that the $5-6 billion estimated cost of the ABM would drain cities of needed funds.

Speaking on the resolution, Councillor Daniel H. Hayes stressed that Cambridge is not considered a target because of the presence of M.I.T. and Harvard, but rather such technological centers are considered prizes of war to be captured with as little harm as possible. Councillor Alfred E. Vellucci, responding to Hayes said, "So any nation would consider Harvard a prize? Would they take the Harvard CRIMSON with it?"

In other action last night the Council requested City Manager James L. Sullivan to begin collective bargaining immediately with the Massachusetts Nursing Association as the representative of the nurses at the Cambridge City Hospital. Contract negotiations had been delayed because of doubts on the part of Sullivan and members of the hospital administration as to whether the MNA actually represents the nurses. The MNA authority as legal representative stems from a 1966 election in which the nurses designated them as their bargaining agent.