City Politics
Council Endorses Bill Allowing Cities to Require Payments From Large Nonprofits, Including Harvard
The Cambridge City Council voted on Tuesday to endorse a state bill that would allow the city to require large institutions like Harvard to pay 25 percent of their assessed property value through Payment in Lieu of Taxes payments.
Cambridge City Manager Huang Acknowledges ‘Difficult Trade-Offs’ Following Contentious Bike Lane Vote
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 acknowledged the many “horrendous accidents” that have impacted Cambridge’s bikers, but said the passage of a controversial proposal to extend Cambridge’s bike lane expansion deadline reflected a need to make tough decisions on the city’s most contested political issue.
CPD Facing Increased Overtime Shifts Amid Hiring Shortages
Amid staffing shortages, the Cambridge Police Department is increasingly “forcing” officers to work back-to-back shifts to cover open positions.
Cambridge City Council Calls to Keep Democracy Center Open
The Cambridge City Council passed a policy order calling on the Foundation for Civic Leadership to reconsider their decision to indefinitely close the Democracy Center — a meeting house for activists and organizers in Harvard Square – at a meeting Tuesday morning.
Fare-Free Route 1 Bus Proposal Unlikely Until Fiscal Year 2026, City Official Says
A proposal to make the Route 1 bus fare free championed by Cambridge city councilors is likely off the table until fiscal year 2026, a city official said in a Wednesday memo.
Mayor Wu Says She Respects Decision of Student Groups to Withdraw Support From Harvard Talk
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 spoke out about a canceled Harvard talk scheduled for Tuesday after 11 student groups withdrew from sponsoring the event over her decision to use police to clear a pro-Palestine encampment at Emerson College
Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons Urges Caution Against Bike Lane Expansion
Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons cautioned against the rapid expansion of bike lanes at the expense of small businesses and senior citizens.
State Legislature Limits Emergency Assistance Shelter Stays
State legislators voted Thursday to pass a bill imposing a nine-month limit on families staying in state-run Emergency Assistance Shelters effective June 1.
‘Not Easy’: Cambridge Struggles Toward Carbon Neutrality
Cambridge officials do not know whether the city is on track to meet statewide emission standards by 2030 or a self-imposed goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, according to Susanne Rasmussen.
Despite Activist Pleas, Owner Says Decision to Close Democracy Center is ‘Not Changeable’
Despite impassioned speeches and protests from community activists, leaders are moving forward with plans to indefinitely close the Democracy Center for renovations.
Allston I-90 Project ‘On a Roll’ After Federal Grant, Though Final Design Remains Contentious
The transformative $2 billion highway and transit project set to realign the Massachusetts Turnpike in Allston is under a deadline and “on a roll,” according to advocates and officials involved in planning.
Privacy Breach During School Committee Meeting Could Explain Delay in Greer Contract Talks
The Cambridge School Committee’s April 1 executive session was intended to be a highly confidential discussion about whether to extend embattled Superintendent Victoria L. Greer’s contract. Then, they noticed a parent on the call.
School Committee To Meet in Third Closed-Door Session Amid Silence on Greer’s Future
The Cambridge School Committee is meeting on Tuesday to discuss “contract negotiations with nonunion personnel” in a meeting that is expected to touch on the future of Superintendent Victoria L. Greer.
‘A Real Loss’: Starlight Square to Shut Down After Four Years of Bringing Cantabrigians Together
Starlight Square was called a place where “dreams come true,” Cambridge leaders and residents say. Now, it’s shutting down.
Neville Place, Affordable Assisted Living Facility, To Receive $5.7 Million City Loan
Cambridge’s Affordable Housing Trust will loan $5.7 million to Neville Place Assisted Living at Fresh Pond — which provides assisted living services to low-income seniors — for physical repairs to the facility.
Superintendent Greer Extends Graham & Parks Principal Contract Despite Teacher Discontent
Cambridge Public Schools Superintendent Victoria L. Greer extended Graham & Parks Elementary School Principal Kathleen M. Smith’s contract for an additional year on March 31.
Mayor Wu Taps Kevin L’Herrou For Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Liaison
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 named Kevin L’Herrou as the next Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Liaison after Frank Mendoza, his predecessor, was promoted to Deputy Director of the Office of Neighborhood Services.
Activists Demand ‘Indefinite Pause’ on Plans to Renovate Democracy Center for New Nonprofit
More than 100 activists and Cambridge residents demanded an “indefinite pause” on plans to close the Democracy Center during a tense and frequently emotional meeting Monday night.
‘We Didn’t Always Have A Housing Crisis’: Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, McGovern Talk Housing at Town Hall
Three City Council members endorsed by housing advocacy group A Better Cambridge stressed the urgency of tackling housing from all angles in a virtual town hall meeting hosted by ABC on Thursday.
Housing, Government Accountability Among Top Council Priorities for New Term
The Cambridge City Council finalized term priorities with city officials and discussed ways to improve the City’s transparency and accountability at a special meeting Thursday.
‘Alternative Measures’: How Cambridge Has Tried to Reimagine Policing
The police killing of Sayed Faisal has sparked police reforms and fueled efforts to launch unarmed policing alternatives. Now, officials and activists face the question of how all these initiatives will co-exist — and how the city will reimagine policing overall.
Boston City Councilor Breadon Slams Proposed Capital Project Budget for Allston-Brighton
Boston City Councilor Elizabeth A. Breadon slammed the city’s fiscal year 2025 capital budget allocations for Allston-Brighton in an interview Thursday.
As Cambridge Works to Improve Tenant Legal Protections, City Staff Raise Communication Concerns
As the City of Cambridge — where two-thirds of residents are tenants — works to increase legal protections for low-income tenants, city staff said the city has struggled to relay information about tenants’ rights to landlords.
Democracy Center to Close, Leaving Progressive Cambridge Groups Scrambling
The Foundation for Civic Leadership voted last week to indefinitely close The Democracy Center for renovations, leaving dozens of progressive Cambridge organizations scrambling for a new meeting space.
Cambridge Residents Slam Council Proposal to Delay Bike Lane Construction
The longstanding debate over bike lanes in Cambridge reignited Monday evening, as Cambridge residents lashed out against a proposal to extend the deadline to finish a citywide bike lane network.