City Politics


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.


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.


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.”


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.


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.


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.


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