Cambridge City Council
Opposition Mounts to Cookies Cannabis Store in Harvard Square
Cookies, a cannabis store, was given the green light to come to Cambridge in September, but some residents are unhappy about the visibility of the real estate the dispensary will occupy in Harvard Square.
City Council Discusses Campaign Finance Reform, Use of Tear Gas in Cambridge
During a meeting on Monday night, the City Council discussed motions to reduce or limit campaign donations from donors seeking money from the city and to ban the use of tear gas in Cambridge.
‘Long Past Time’: City Council Supports Police Accountability Dashboard
The Cambridge City Council adopted a pair of motions to allocate funds toward a new records management system that aggregates police activity and toward a project to house the city’s homeless population in its meeting Monday.
Cambridge Ordinance Committee to Present Conservation District Report to Full City Council
The Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee held a public hearing to discuss the Harvard Square Conservation District Study Committee Report.
Cambridge Plans to Open Warming Center at Reduced Capacity in December
The City of Cambridge will open its warming center at a reduced capacity of 30 guests on Dec. 1 as a temporary shelter space option for homeless individuals this winter.
City Council Discusses 2022 Budget Allocations, Bike and Pedestrian Safety, and COVID-19 Cases in Cambridge
The City of Cambridge held a meeting Monday to discuss policy orders about the city budget and bike safety, as well as update residents on measures taken to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Cambridge City Council Passes Affordable Housing Overlay, Smoothing Permits for Low-Cost Units
The Cambridge City Council passed a measure that would expedite permits for affordable housing developers.
Cambridge Activists Advocate for ‘Community Safety Response Program’ as Alternative to Police Department
A group of Cambridge activists are calling for a “community safety response program” grounded in rehabilitation as an alternative to local police amid a nationwide reckoning with law enforcement.
Cambridge Delays Entering Step Two of Phase Three of Mass. Reopening Plan
The City of Cambridge announced Friday it will delay entering Step Two of Phase Three of Massachusetts’s reopening plan, after determining it would likely lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Cambridge.
Cambridge City Council Holds Special Meeting for Pandemic Updates
The City of Cambridge held a special meeting Tuesday to update residents on its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19, Policing Alternatives, and Housing Top Cambridge City Councillors’ Agendas in the Upcoming Year
As Cambridge moves into the fall and winter seasons, supporting local businesses, expanding affordable housing, and confronting racism and police violence remain top of mind for city leaders, two members of the Cambridge City Council say.
City Council Approves 18-Month Extension of City Manager’s Contract
The Cambridge City Council approved an 18-month extension of City Manager Louis A. DePasquale’s contract in a 6-3 vote at a meeting Monday evening.
Safety Advocates Hold 'Ghost Bike' Memorial Service for Square Cycling Victim
Bicycle safety activists held a memorial service for Darryl Willis, the victim of a fatal August cycling accident in Harvard Square, on Saturday.
City Council Evaluates Disaster Relief Fund, Seeks Additional Support for Minority-Owned Businesses
The Cambridge City Council unanimously approved a measure Monday evening requesting city personnel to support Black and minority business owners applying for financial assistance from the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Cambridge Will Fast-Track Pedestrian Safety Measures Following Fatal Harvard Square Crash
The city of Cambridge plans to expedite a number of planned pedestrian safety measures — including a separated bike line — following a fatal crash in Harvard Square last week.
Cambridge Ordinance Committee Recommends Affordable Housing Overlay to City Council
The Cambridge Ordinance Committee voted Wednesday evening to recommend an affordable housing overlay zoning petition to the Cambridge City Council.
Cambridge Implements Dropboxes for Mail-In Ballots Amid U.S. Postal Service Turmoil
As the September Massachusetts state primary and the November presidential election approach, Cambridge officials said they are working to address concerns from residents about the security and safety of voting amid the coronavirus pandemic and growing controversies surrounding the United States Postal Service.
Cambridge Planning Board Recommends Affordable Housing Overlay to City Council
The Cambridge Planning Board voted Tuesday to recommend an affordable housing overlay zoning petition to the Cambridge City Council.
Cambridge Police Report Shows Department Owns Military Rifles and Armored Vehicle
Among the inventory are 63 Colt M4 rifles, 11 sniper rifles, 18 MP5 submachine guns, and one Lenco Bearcat — a $350,000 armored vehicle.
Cambridge City Council Passes Policy Order Endorsing Mass. Tenant Protections Act
The Cambridge City Council passed a policy order Monday that endorses H. 3924, a bill under consideration in the Massachusetts State Legislature that promotes tenant protections and would repeal a statewide ban on rent control.
City Council Votes to Pause Hiring of Vacant Jobs in Cambridge Police Department
The Cambridge City Council voted Monday to temporarily pause the hiring of vacant positions in the Cambridge Police Department and begin filling positions in the Housing Liaison Office, Community Development Department, and Central Square Library.
In Marathon Meetings, City Council and Cambridge Residents Deliberate Over Funding for the Cambridge Police Department
After nearly five hours of public comments from Cambridge residents, discussion over the budget for the Cambridge Police Department — framed by a national debate over police brutality — became heated Wednesday when the City Council heard testimony from Police Commissioner Branville G. Bard, Jr.
Cambridge Officials Hold Virtual Vigil for George Floyd
City of Cambridge officials held a virtual vigil Monday evening in memory of George Floyd, a black man murdered by a white Minneapolis police officer last week.
Cambridge Announces Shared Street Pilot to Support Social Distancing
Cambridge will implement a pilot program allowing residents to walk, bike, and drive in both directions on select roadways, the City announced Thursday.