City Politics
Despite Outcry, Cambridge City Council Again Rejects Significant Changes to Affordable Housing Amendments
Cambridge’s Monday City Council meeting proceeded in a familiar fashion: with a public comment portion marked by outcry over a controversial proposed expansion to the Affordable Housing Overlay and a failed effort to curtail the AHO amendments.
Adrienne Klein Draws on City Hall Experience in Cambridge Council Bid, Promises ‘Consensus-Building’ Approach
Mayoral aide Adrienne Klein is running for Cambridge City Council on a platform prioritizing affordable housing, childcare support, and increased government transparency.
Cambridge Council Candidates Clash at Forum Hosted by Harvard Grad Student Union
Fourteen candidates for Cambridge City Council gathered at Emerson Hall in Harvard Yard for a forum organized by Harvard’s graduate student union on Tuesday night.
Doubling Up: Social Worker Frantz Pierre Makes Dual Runs for Cambridge Council and School Committee
For the first time in living memory, Cambridge residents will see a candidate’s name twice on their ballots in November. That name is Frantz Pierre: a social worker and lifelong Cantabrigian who is running simultaneously for Cambridge City Council and School Committee.
Seeking to Fill Progressive Gap, Dan Totten Runs for City Council on Housing, Climate
Dan Totten is now vying for the seat of his former boss, Councilor Quinton Y. Zondervan, as one of 24 candidates in the race for City Council.
Filmmaker Federico Muchnik Runs for Cambridge Council to Safeguard the ‘Character of the City’
Federico Muchnik is running for Cambridge City Council on a platform that advocates for affordable housing with reservations to preserve the “character of the city.” His campaign was sparked by a seven-story housing development in his own neighborhood.
Marc McGovern Wants to Tackle Housing Crisis ‘Directly, Aggressively, Boldly’ in Bid for Reelection
Former mayor and incumbent candidate Marc C. McGovern is running for reelection to the Cambridge City Council on his “positive track record” and desire to improve affordable housing in the city.
Siddiqui, in Third Bid for Cambridge Council Reelection, Pledges ‘Community Resiliency’ and Affordable Housing
Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui is prioritizing “community resiliency,” affordable housing, and education in her fourth run for a seat on Cambridge’s City Council.
Cambridge Bartender Joe McGuirk Ready for Second Round, Focusing on Affordable Housing in Council Race
For the last 30 years, Joe McGuirk has tended bar in Cambridge. Now, he wants to tend to the city’s affordability crisis. After announcing his campaign for Cambridge City Council in June, McGuirk has laid out a platform prioritizing affordable housing as the city’s housing prices continue to rise.
Affordable Housing Group A Better Cambridge Endorses Nine Candidates For Cambridge City Council
Affordable housing advocacy group A Better Cambridge endorsed nine candidates for this year’s Cambridge City Council elections, the group announced last Friday.
Cambridge City Council Votes Against Changes to Affordable Housing Overlay Amendments
The Cambridge City Council voted against revising amendments to the Affordable Housing Overlay Monday evening, rejecting language that would have prioritized housing middle-income residents and altered the policy’s approach to building height.
Cambridge City Council Hopefuls Talk Affordable Housing at Second Candidate Forum
Exclusionary zoning, affordable housing, and tenant protections took center stage at this week’s second Cambridge City Council candidate forum Tuesday night at the Foundry in Kendall Square.
At First Cambridge City Council Election Forum, Candidates Clash Over Building Emissions
Sixteen candidates for the Cambridge City Council convened over Zoom Sunday evening to discuss environmental building regulations and the implementation of a new renewable energy system among a swath of pressing urban issues.
Cambridge City Council to Vote on Taller Affordable Housing Height Maximums
The Cambridge City Council is set to vote on a controversial zoning petition that would increase the maximum height restrictions for buildings with 100 percent affordable housing — allowing for development projects as high as 15 stories in some parts of the city.
‘Not a Normal Court’: Biden, Mass. Leaders Condemn Supreme Court After Anti-Affirmative Action Decision
The Biden administration, Massachusetts state officials, and local Cambridge leaders have condemned the Supreme Court’s decision to effectively ban affirmative action in higher education admissions.
Cambridge Vice Mayor Mallon Will Not Seek Reelection, Says Pandemic Brought New Challenges
Alanna M. Mallon, who has served as Cambridge’s vice mayor since 2020, will not seek reelection to the Cambridge City Council this fall. She did not cite a specific reason for her decision.
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Launches Campaign for Cambridge City Council
Last Thursday, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler took to Twitter to announce his candidacy for one of nine Cambridge City Council seats, becoming the first to enter the race.
A Crimson Commonwealth: The Harvard Alumni Who Run Massachusetts
As Harvard affiliates continue to interact with and fill the Massachusetts government, it often falls to the University’s own to create policy and settle disagreements that directly affect Harvard. How does their time at the University influence the way they approach these disputes, and what is the effect of Harvard’s impact on Massachusetts leaders?
‘It’s Way Past Time’: How Cambridge is Reconsidering its 80-Year-Old Form of Government
Last August, the Cambridge City Council appointed 15 residents to a charter review committee set to reassess the city’s form of government and recommended changes. The committee continues to grapple with its first major dilemma: Should the city be run by a mayor or a city manager?
Kenzie Bok ’11 Talks Path from Harvard Student and Teacher to City Councilor
In an interview with The Crimson, Kenzie Bok ’11 described the formative influence of her time at Harvard — both as a student and lecturer — on her career, including both her policy and her political philosophy.
Cambridge Charter Review Committee Split on City Manager Versus Mayor in Tuesday Meeting
The Cambridge Charter Review Committee met on Zoom this Tuesday to discuss changes to Cambridge’s plan of government, with members debating potential changes to the charter’s framework of city leadership.
Advocates Call for Greater Accountability for Harvard, Other Nonprofits at PILOT Hearing
The Boston City Council held a hearing to review its payment in lieu of taxes program Friday, hearing testimony from residents and advocates on drawbacks and potential updates to the program that Boston has run since 2011.
Cambridge City Council Weighs Memorial Drive Traffic Closures, Mental Health Outreach
The Cambridge City Council debated a policy order to expand Memorial Drive traffic closures and discussed an upcoming Cambridge mental health resources report at a meeting Monday.
Cambridge City Councilors Developing Proposal for Expanded After-School Program
Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Councilors Marc C. McGovern and Burhan Azeem are developing a policy order aimed at expanding after-school care, following more than a year of advocacy by Cambridge Public Schools parents.
Harvard Affiliates Criticize Lack of Campus Response to Cambridge Police Killing of Sayed Faisal
Some Harvard affiliates are disappointed by the lack of response from Harvard students to the killing of 20-year-old University of Massachusetts Boston student Sayed Faisal by Cambridge Police.