Toner Resists Calls To Resign in First Statement From City Hall

Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner resisted calls to resign in a statement at the beginning of Monday’s Cambridge City Council meeting.

Toner, who has served on the council since 2022, was charged with sexual conduct for a fee on Friday after allegedly patronizing a brothel network that operated in Cambridge.

Friday’s hearing sent shockwaves through Cambridge City Hall, with councilors immediately addressing Toner’s future on the City Council.

Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler called for his resignation, a sentiment later echoed by Massachusetts State Representative Mike L. Connolly. While the majority of the councilors denounced Toner’s actions they stopped short of calling for his resignation.

Councilor Catherine “Cathie” Zusy came to Toner’s defense, while Councilor Ayesha M. Wilson has yet to publicly address the matter.

Five minutes before the start of Monday’s council meeting, Toner addressed the charges before his colleagues for the first time.

While he did not make any direct statements on the validity of the charges themselves, Toner said he was “ashamed” of his connection to the case.

“I would like to apologize to my fellow councilors, my supporters, and the community for taking up the time of the council and the public discourse on this matter,” Toner said.

But despite his remorse, Toner rebuffed calls for his resignation.

“I am here because I have a duty to fulfill, my obligations to the voters who elected me to represent their views on the many issues before the city council,” he said.

Following the conclusion of his statement, the council formally opened the meeting and public comment, which is restricted to items on the agenda.

But Madeline Nohrnberg — a Cambridge Rindge and Latin School student and member of the Title IX Aurelia Advocates — asked to speak on Toner’s charges, a matter not on the agenda.

This led Sobrinho-Wheeler to move to suspend the rules to permit Nohrnberg to speak, a motion supported by six members of the council. Zusy and Toner voted against the motion and Mayor E. Denise Simmons voted present.

Nohrnberg, a member of the Title IX Aurelia Advocates, used her time to read the organization’s statement calling for Toner’s resignation, which the group released over the weekend.

“TIAA is deeply concerned with the recent charges brought against current City Council Member Paul F. Toner,” she said.

“We understand that it can be incredibly difficult to call for the resignation of a colleague, particularly someone with a long history of service,” she added.

Following her public address, Nohrnberg more specifically addressed the actions of elected officials in Cambridge in an interview with The Crimson.

“It’s amazing to know that we have an ally who is an elected official, obviously, Councilor Wheeler. We are very grateful for his support and for bringing about the motion to let me speak. We’re very grateful that we have Representative Connolly, who’s willing to go to bat for this issue and go to bat for students who are passionate about this issue,” Nohrnberg said.

“We’re extremely grateful that he is willing to speak out, unlike some members of the council,” she added.

— Staff writer Shawn A. Boehmer can be reached at shawn.boehmer@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @ShawnBoehmer.

— Staff writer Jack B. Reardon can be reached at jack.reardon@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @JackBReardon.