public safety
ShotSpotter returns, at least temporarily
On Monday Cambridge City Councillors voted 6-3 to temporarily re-activate ShotSpotter, an acoustic gunshot detection software that was used by the Cambridge Police Department for over a decade until its use was discontinued earlier this summer. The issue, which has divided councillors and community members for months, resulted in a compromise: ShotSpotter will be reactivated […]
Safety in The Port has always been a concern for its residents
Ty Bellitti grew up in Newtown Court, a housing project in The Port, and has mostly fond memories of it. But he also understands why community residents got so angry at city officials for calling Cambridge a “safe city” at a meeting last month. Read more Megadebate convenes nine candidates for state offices “I personally […]
Somerville passes body camera policy after contentious vote
In the end, Somerville city councillors decided to take the money. After years of back and forth on having the city’s police wear body cameras, much of which was driven by the city’s repeated failures to create a civilian oversight commission and a robust policy, the city council accepted yet another promise to create that […]
Can an app get rid of parked cars in bike lanes?
A new app, Bike Bureau, offers local cyclists a way to document the perennial problem of cars parked in bike lanes. Read more MIT’s Fab Lab marks 25 years of making almost anything Here’s how it works: if a cyclist sees a car in a bike lane, they can open the Bike Bureau app on […]
City Council delays ShotSpotter vote during special meeting
Despite four dozen public commenters and hours of debate, Thursday’s special meeting of Cambridge City Council meant to address public safety concerns ended with no action when Councillor Ayah Al-Zubi used her charter right to delay a vote on a policy order to reinstate ShotSpotter. Read more Planning Board, Ordinance Committee pan Brown petition Her […]
On Broadway, bike lane debate continues
The Broadway Safety Improvement Project, the most recent development in the city’s plan to connect all of Cambridge by bike lanes, has extended the debate between bike advocates and critics. Read more Cambridge schools climate survey sees divergent responses The city plans to install separated, quick-build bike lanes — which keep cars and bicycles apart […]
Cambridge councillors right to stop ShotSpotter
Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writers. Read more Hire Full-Service Movers Across The USA The killing of Xavier Bautista has shaken Cambridge communities, and as Cambridge residents we grieve alongside his family. Too many neighbors, particularly in Cambridge’s Black and brown communities, have […]
Bautista’s defendant arraigned, charged with murder
Rayguon Brown, a 29-year-old resident of Canton, was arraigned Monday morning at the Cambridge District Court and charged with the murder of Xavier Bautista in Cambridge on July 4. Brown was also charged with “carrying a firearm without a license, being an armed career criminal and conspiring to commit murder.” Read more Remembering Brit d’Arbeloff […]
Community members criticize city officials in meeting following Bautista’s death
Cambridge residents demanded that city officials take accountability and improve public safety in the Port neighborhood following the shooting of Xavier Bautista, a Cambridge resident and Department of Public Works employee, at a July 8 meeting. Read more Goodbye for Charlie’s? Beer garden is cleaned out Over 200 attendees packed into a meeting room in […]
ShotSpotter was unlikely to pick up July 4 gunfire
Cambridge residents and government officials have raised the question about whether ShotSpotter would have allowed first responders to more quickly reach the victim of a shooting on July 4, possibly saving his life. Local police unions released a joint statement on Monday stating that the City Council’s vote to remove ShotSpotter was to blame for […]