City Politics
Boston Launches Anti-Displacement Plan for Residents, Small Businesses
The City of Boston released a 41-part Anti-Displacement Action Plan last week after Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 first announced the plan at her State of the City address.
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 was charged with sexual conduct for a fee on Friday after allegedly patronizing a brothel network.
Cambridge Pilots Resident Bike Lottery Program
The program allows qualifying residents to apply for vouchers, which range from $800 to $3000 dollars, to fund the purchase of bikes. Residents with disabilities can also apply for a customized adaptive bike or electric wheelchair attachment.
Cambridge Police Begin ‘Phased Rollout’ of Officer Body Cameras
The Cambridge Police Department announced on Tuesday that it is beginning to deploy body worn cameras in a “phased rollout” after years of debate over the technology’s implementation. Training is expected to begin this week, and all officers — including command staff, supervisors, detectives, and patrol officers — are expected to be equipped with body cameras by early April.
Cambridge Has $1 Million to Spend on City Projects. Harvard Students Can Help Decide Where The Money Goes.
Since 2014, Cambridge residents have spent nearly $10 million of the city’s money on 72 initiatives of their choice through the Participatory Budgeting system.
Developers Announce Proposed Affordable Development Size Will Not Be Reduced Despite Backlash
Non-profit developers in charge of a proposed eight-story affordable housing project in the Baldwin neighborhood announced Thursday that they will not be reducing the size of the building any further despite backlash from residents who believe the complex will be too large.
Cambridge City Clerk Retires, Will Not Seek Another Term
In an interview, LeBlanc said she will be retiring in May but is thankful for the opportunity to serve Cambridge since her tenure began in May 2022.
CPS Will Continue Collecting Data on Transgender Students’ Identities, Despite Federal Changes
As the Trump administration rolls back protections for LGBTQ individuals, CPS Interim Superintendent David G. Murphy said district surveys will continue to recognize transgender and LGBTQ identities.
‘What’s the Hold Up?’: Cambridge City Councilors Disagree on Whether Central Square is Ready for Rezoning
Cambridge City Councilors voted to prioritize the rezoning of northern Massachusetts Avenue and of Cambridge Street over that of Central in a committee meeting on Tuesday amid disagreement on whether Central Square is ready for rezoning.
DPU Cuts MassSave Funding by $500 Million, Approves Gas Bill Reductions
The Department of Public Utilities ordered a reduction of the total three-year budget for the MassSave energy efficiency program by $500 million on Friday to reduce gas bills.
Eversource and Cambridge City Council to Hold Public Meeting About Energy Rates
The Cambridge City Council plans to hold a public meeting with the city’s energy provider, Eversource, to allow residents to hear from company representatives about high energy costs this winter.
Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust Makes $3 Million Increase to City Homeownership Resale Fund
The Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously to provide $800,000 in funding to help the construction of 95 affordable rental units on land formerly held by Lesley University, and added $3 million to a fund for repurchasing and rehabilitating affordable housing in a meeting on Thursday.
Proposed Massport Price Hike Could Double Fees on Ubers, Lyfts to Logan
Fees on trips to and from Boston Logan International Airport could more than double by 2027, as the Massachusetts Port Authority considers hiking rates on ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport.
Amid Debates Over Surveillance Tech, City Advocates Have Privacy Concerns About ShotSpotter
As city officials explore new technologies to secure the city, the Cambridge Police Department continues to rely on ShotSpotter — a widely-used but controversial gunshot detection system. While Cambridge has employed the technology since 2014, advocates worry that the technology impedes on residents’ privacy.
Cambridge City Council Considers Home Rule Petition To End Broker Fees
Cambridge city councilors will consider formal action to encourage the state-level elimination of broker fees, after hearing from city staff and Greater Boston Legal Services that the city is constrained in its ability to do so in a meeting on Tuesday.
‘Resilient, Unbowed, and Strong’: Cambridge Holds State of City Address
Every Monday, Cambridge residents use their two minutes of public comment in the Sullivan Chamber to inform the City Council’s decisions. But on Tuesday, decision-makers and residents sat side-by-side in the decorated hall for Cambridge’s State of the City Address.
Brighton Residents Organize Rally to Protest Proposed High School Closure
Approximately 50 parents, students, teachers and Brighton residents rallied outside the Mary Lyon Upper School on Tuesday night to protest the high school’s proposed closure, before attending a meeting with district officials inside.
DPU Orders Mass. Gas Companies to Cut Bills by 5 Percent
The companies have until Feb. 24 to file their proposals for adjustments, which will take effect on March 1. The move will afford residents some respite, with lower bills expected for the “peak season” months of March and April.
Advocates Raise Concerns As Boston PILOT Report Remains Unreleased
While property taxes comprise nearly three quarters of Boston’s revenue, nonprofits are exempt from paying this tax. Instead, the PILOT program asks large non-profits to voluntarily pay a portion of what they would have otherwise paid in property taxes. The 2024 report on contributions has yet to be released.
Mass. Department of Public Utilities to Review Energy Delivery Rates After Complaints Over Skyrocketing Bills
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities has promised to renegotiate energy delivery rates with oil and gas companies after Mass. Governor Maura T. Healey ’92 and several state legislators penned letters decrying residents’ surging heating bills.
Cambridge To Halt Funding for Transition Wellness Center Shelter as American Rescue Plan Funds Run Out
The City of Cambridge plans to halt funding to the Transition Wellness Center Shelter in June — removing the shelter’s 58 beds as the city struggles to accommodate its unhoused population. The temporary shelter was originally intended to close in 2023.
City Council Plans To Put Proposed Charter Changes on 2025 Ballot
The Cambridge City Council set a tentative timeline for residents to approve changes to the city’s charter in a Nov. 2025 ballot measure — more than three years since the city voted to update the charter on a regular basis.
Harvard Doubles PILOT Payments to Town of Southborough
Harvard will double its annual payments to the town of Southborough to $50,000 in response to a request from the city to increase their contributions to the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, the University announced in a letter last month.
In ‘Landmark’ Vote, Cambridge Ends Single-Family Zoning
The Cambridge City Council voted 8-1 to approve a proposal eliminating single family zoning city-wide in a meeting Monday night, capping off over a year of laborious dealmaking between activist residents, experts, and councilors.