Cambridge City Council
Will new Cambridge buildings get cut down to size?
It took five months, but the biggest issue of last year’s city council race landed on the council’s agenda for the first time this term, as councillors defended or decried proposed changes to last year’s residential upzoning measures. Read more Cambridge robotics team makes the podium in Greece The most immediate impact will come from […]
Public comment shouldn’t be cut short
Last week, the Cambridge City Council adopted new Rules that will further limit public participation at Council meetings. That is exactly backwards. Read more CRLS girls ultimate frisbee off to nationals this weekend One of the most common frustrations expressed since the Multifamily Housing Zoning Ordinance was adopted is that residents feel their concerns are […]
Seeking efficiency, Cambridge city councillors set limits
Three hours into last Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui faced a tricky task when presiding over Cambridge councillors: reining in debate. Read more Taste festivals return to Cambridge and Somerville “I don’t want to hear from anyone anymore,” she said dryly. The sense of irony was strong in the room. Councillors were discussing […]
The Lorax comes to Cambridge City Council
Trees were at the root of City Council’s latest zoning debate, which at one point even saw “The Lorax” invoked. Read more Let them play: Ahern is strategic for our children and public health The Council voted unanimously to consider updates to its Tree Protection Ordinance, a set of city laws that govern how and […]
Cambridge sidesteps financial headwinds, but tax hikes possible
Property taxes will need to increase by to cover the cost of Cambridge’s first billion-dollar-plus budget, passed during Monday’s City Council meeting. The amount represents a four percent increase in city operating expenses. Fiscal headwinds are blowing across the region, driven by uncertain economic conditions and a notable downturn in the biotech industry. The value […]
Cambridge police have to remove ShotSpotter. Officers aren’t happy
Two weeks ago, Cambridge City Council narrowly voted in favor of getting rid of ShotSpotter, a sensor system that records loud sounds that could be gunshots and alerts local police. The vote went against the recommendation of city manager Yi-An Huang and leadership at Cambridge Police Department (CPD), which said the technology has helped police […]
Higher parking fees on the way, and perhaps direct election of mayors
City Council appears to have settled on a fee structure for resident parking permits, for now. Read more Boosters ‘R Us and a serviceable space opera Starting next year, residents will pay $75 for an annual parking permit, up from $25, the cost since 2013. However, residents for whom $75 constitutes a financial hardship can […]
Council drops ShotSpotter in close vote
The City Council voted Monday night to pull the plug on ShotSpotter, a controversial police surveillance technology in use in Cambridge for more than a decade. The move came after extended public comment and nearly an hour of deliberation, with intense distrust of the current federal administration a factor in approving the policy order. Read more Cambridge […]
Cambridge councillors take a stand on Cuba but not foreign policy, mayoral election
Monday’s city council meeting saw a close vote in favor of asking the federal government to end its economic blockade of Cuba. But councillors disagreed on whether to offer future direction on United States foreign policy and delayed a vote on asking the electorate to consider changing how Cambridge elects mayors. Read more Films on […]
ShotSpotter vote evokes strong feelings at City Council
Hours after a shooting on Memorial Drive shook the Boston area, Cambridge City Council took up a previously scheduled vote on whether the Cambridge Police Department (CPD) should continue using ShotSpotter, a technology that identifies gunshots. Read more Protecting our engine of innovation Councillor Ayah Al-Zubi introduced a policy order to direct the city manager’s […]