City Politics
Hundreds Rally to Support International Students, Cheer Harvard’s Rejection of Trump’s Demands
More than 500 Harvard affiliates and Cambridge residents gathered on the steps of Memorial Church on Thursday afternoon to rally in support of international students after the Trump administration threatened to revoke the University’s eligibility to host them.
At IOP, Mayors of Rust Belt Cities Ponder Paths for Renewal
The mayors of three Rust Belt cities across the northern U.S. came to the Institute of Politics to discuss their effort to attract jobs, capital, and people to areas that have shrunk dramatically over an era of deindustrialization, emphasizing the potential of universities and redevelopment efforts to create new growth.
Cambridge Announces Bike Lane Design Plans for Main Street Safety Improvement Project
The City of Cambridge announced design plans for the Main Street Safety Improvement Project at a virtual community meeting Tuesday evening.
City Council Proposes Amendments to Update City Charter, While Avoiding Most Contentious Ideas
City councilors approved a draft of amendments to the city charter on Monday as part of Cambridge’s first decennial charter review, even as they avoided some of the most contentious recommendations that emerged.
As Wu Seeks Reelection, Residents and Officials Praise Her First Term As Mayor of Boston
Reflecting on Michelle Wu's first term as mayor, former state officials, Boston residents, and former Wu staffers said they supported the Mayor’s first-term accomplishments, and were optimistic about her reelection bid.
Cambridge City Council To Consider Renewing Funding for Transition Wellness Center
The Cambridge City council voted to consider renewing funding for the Transition Wellness Center at Spaulding Hospital in a 5-4 vote at their Monday meeting after a heated debate and hours of public comment.
‘Harvard, We’ve Got Your Back’: Cambridge City Council Cheers On Harvard in Fight Against Trump
The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to praise Harvard’s decision to defy the Trump administration at a Monday night meeting.
City Leaders Increase Pressure on Harvard To Reject Trump With New Petition
Harvard’s leadership is used to handling demands from its faculty and students. But with the Trump administration’s latest threats, the University is feeling pressure from its hometown, too.
A Majority of Cambridge City Council Now Calling For Toner’s Resignation
Pressure is mounting on embattled Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner to yield his seat on the Council as a majority of his colleagues are now calling for his resignation.
Billionaire Investor Gerald Chan Under Scrutiny for Neglect of Historic Harvard Square Theater
Gerald L. Chan — billionaire investor, Harvard donor, and prominent Harvard Square property owner — is under fire from City officials for the 13-year vacancy of the Harvard Square Theatre.
Michelle Wu ’07 Officially Launches Re-Election Campaign For Boston Mayor
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 officially announced her re-election campaign at a Saturday event in the South End, criticizing the Trump administration and her opponent — philanthropist Joshua Kraft — in her speech.
State Rep. Marjorie Decker Calls for City Councilor Paul Toner’s Resignation
Massachusetts State Rep. Marjorie C. Decker called on Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner to resign in a Thursday statement, turning up pressure on the embattled local official to leave City Hall.
‘MegaCambridge Is Inevitable’: Cambridge City Councilor Files Policy Order to Annex Boston
The Cambridge City Council is considering annexing the City of Boston — a power grab to secure the “strategic resources” of Dunkin’ Donuts, Fenway Park, and craft beer.
Fears Over Safety of Energy Facility in Brighton Will Lead City to Adopt New Regulations
Boston’s first Battery Energy Storage System, proposed for construction in Brighton at 35 Electric Ave., has generated a wave of resident backlash to underdeveloped regulation of BESS facilities, which state officials say are necessary to achieve carbon neutrality.
Residents Call For Toner’s Resignation at City Council Meeting
For the first time since Cambridge learned of City Councilor Paul F. Toner’s criminal charges, residents were given the opportunity to publicly address the charges at Monday’s City Council meeting.
In Wake of Multifamily Zoning Ordinance, Developer Postcards Urge Residents to Sell Their Homes
A local developer’s decision to mail 1500 postcards to residents across Cambridge urging them to consider selling their homes, so a taller, higher-value one can be built seems to have given the policy’s vocal group of critics — who warned that the ordinance would be a bonanza for private developers — a small “I-told-you-so” moment.
Harvard Agrees to a 1-Year $6 Million PILOT Agreement With the City of Cambridge
Harvard University has agreed to voluntarily pay the City of Cambridge $6 million without committing to a long-term amount for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, citing federal funding uncertainties.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Criticizes Trump Administration in State of the City Address
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 fiercely defended the city against pressure from the Trump administration in her State of the City address last week — a move that Harvard professor Jacqueline Bhabha praised as the “right decision.”
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 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 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 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.