Affordable Housing, Bike Lanes to Dominate Debate for New Cambridge City Council as Progressives Stalwarts Depart

With the Cambridge City Council set to lose two of its most progressive members, the November city elections may mark a shift to a more moderate direction for the 2022-24 term, as affordable housing and bike lanes are set to dominate Council debate.

The Crimson spoke with the three new additions to the nine-member body — Joan F. Pickett, Jivan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayesha M. Wilson — about their priorities for when they take office in January.

The expansion of Cambridge’s network of separated bike lanes has been among the most contentious issues of this election cycle.

Disagreement has centered on the city’s implementation of the amended Cycling Safety Ordinance, which requires the city to build more than 23-miles of protected bike lanes by early 2026. Three out of the six incumbent councilors voted in favor of the amended ordinance in 2020, as did Sobrino-Wheeler, who served a term on the Council before narrowly losing reelection in 2021.

Sobrinho-Wheeler, one of the original sponsors of the CSO, said he plans to continue advocating for its timely implementation, adding that the election results show a “pretty strong mandate” for these policies.

“Five of the top six vote getters were folks who have voted in support of the protected cycling safety ordinance,” he said.

But Pickett, who campaigned on opposing the expansion of separated bike lanes, said she will pursue a pause on their construction as a councilor.

Pickett said she supports “taking a much broader view than just the separated bike lanes,” adding that the city needs to do more outreach to residents and consider impacts on traffic, parking, and small businesses.

The incoming councilors also have differing opinions on how to best meet the city’s need for affordable housing.

In October, the Council passed a series of controversial amendments to the city’s 100%-Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay, increasing height limits for buildings containing only affordable housing units and paving the way for taller, denser affordable housing across the city.

Wilson and Sobrinho-Wheeler have voiced support for the amendments, and both said improving affordability is among their top priorities for the upcoming term.

“This is personal for me,” said Wilson, who grew up in the Jefferson Park Public Housing Development.

“We are truly, as folks say, ‘the tale of two cities,’” Wilson added, saying that she is “really looking into centering those who are the have-nots in our city.”

While Pickett agreed that there is a need for more affordable and middle income housing in Cambridge, she doesn’t believe that the AHO is the way to achieve it.

“​​I think the passing of the AHO amendments to that ordinance really is not a housing plan,” Pickett said, adding that the Council must take “a more holistic look at the affordable housing needs and how the city meets those needs.”

Though heated debates around affordable housing and bike lane expansion are certain to be a feature of the upcoming term, Wilson said she hopes to bring together opposing opinions and be a “centering voice that brings us all together.”

Pickett and Sobrino-Wheeler likewise said they look forward to working with their new colleagues.

“I think the dynamics on the Council are going to allow for a lot of collaboration,” Pickett said.

—Staff writer Muskaan Arshad can be reached at muskaan.arshad@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @MuskaanArshad or on Threads @muskarshad.

—Staff writer Julian J. Giordano can be reached at julian.giordano@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @jjgiordano1 or on Threads @julianjgiordano.