City of Cambridge Appoints Small Business Advisory Committee to Plan Safe Reopening Strategy

April 30, 2020 – The City of Cambridge announced today the appointment of 8 members to a new City Manager’s Small Business Advisory Committee. Representing business associations from across the City, the Advisory Committee will provide expert advice and help draft best practices that the City can incorporate into its “Small Business Back to Business” plan. This plan will also include recommendations and guidance on how to safely reopen businesses from the Cambridge Public Health Department, the City’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, and the Commonwealth’s Reopening Advisory Board.

“Cambridge’s economic recovery plan for small businesses is going to require input from a diverse array of business leaders,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale in a joint statement. “We have a long history of partnership with our business associations, and we are looking forward to collaborating on the creation of safe reopening plans to help the City and our small business community prepare for when and how to reopen. Through the work of the Committee, we will be able to adapt to a business environment that is constantly evolving due to COVID-19.”

The Advisory Committee will also assist with disseminating information on how small businesses can access relief at the local, state and federal level as well as other information critical to the local business community. It will play an essential role in fostering an open dialogue between the business community and the policy-making departments in the City.

Members of the Committee include:

• Jason Alves – Executive Director, East Cambridge Business Association
• Robyn Culbertson – Cambridge Office of Tourism
• Denise Jillson – Executive Director, Harvard Square Business Association
• David Maher – President, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce
• Michael Monestime – Executive Director, Central Square BID
• Erinn Pearson – Simply Erinn’s Unisex Salon
• Theodora Skeadas – Executive Director, Cambridge Local First
• C.A. Webb – Executive Director, Kendall Square Association

The Small Business Advisory Committee will be supported by staff from the City Manager’s Office and the Economic Development Division of the Communality Development Department, and will be consulting with other key departments, including the Public Health Department, License Commission, and Inspectional Services, Public Works, and Traffic, Parking & Transportation departments. The inaugural virtual meeting of the Committee will occur the week of May 4.

The City is committed to identifying new resources to help residents and businesses navigate this difficult time. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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City of Cambridge to Provide Thousands of Masks to Residents in Need

April 29, 2020 -- The City of Cambridge today announced a new initiative in which thousands of face masks will be distributed by members of the Cambridge Police Department to residents throughout the community beginning Thursday, April 30. The new initiative is in part made possible by a large donation of masks from the MA Chinese Community and Fo Guang Buddhist Temple to the Office of Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui.

The City of Cambridge originally began disseminating available masks to its most vulnerable populations, including residents living at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters and the Cambridge Housing Authority. This new program will allow the City to broaden its mask distribution program as a temporary emergency order requiring face coverings to be worn in all public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings in Cambridge went into effect today. The order applies to everyone over the age of five years old. A one-week grace period to provide time for residents to comply is in effect through Tuesday, May 5. The full text of this week’s emergency order can be found at https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/facecoverings.

“The City’s order requiring face coverings in public settings is intended to protect our residents – not punish them. There is clear evidence that many people who are infected will never show symptoms and may unwillingly be spreading the virus if they are not taking preventative measures like covering their face,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We have built in a one-week grace period. Following that timeframe, our Police Department will exclusively focus on education for a few weeks when encountering someone without a face covering. Their primary focus after that point will be on education. We need everyone in Cambridge to take this order seriously and do their best to comply. Face coverings are not simply about protecting the person wearing it – they are about protecting others in the community and we all must do our part.”

If a member of the public sees someone without a face covering, it could be due to an underlying health issue or exempted category. Please leave monitoring, education and any necessary enforcement to public safety officials.

“As a City and Police Department, our goal during the order is to make masks and prevention information available to as many residents in need as possible,” said Police Commissioner Branville Bard, Jr. “The priority for our police officers is to not issue fines, but rather to make residents aware of the importance of wearing a face mask and provide them one if needed.”

Masks will be made available to residents on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last and quantities will be limited to the number of residents in a household. Masks will be made available at the following locations and through various city resources:

Meal Distribution Sites
Every weekday between 11am-1pm, Cambridge Public Schools, volunteers and members of Food for Free are packing and distributing bagged breakfasts and lunches to residents at locations throughout the city. Cambridge families who are facing food challenges have been welcomed to pick up one bag per child/youth. Residents can now also pick up masks at those locations, if they have a need.

• Haggerty School: Cushing Street main entrance
• Peabody School: Rindge Avenue main entrance
• King Open School: Cambridge Street main entrance
• Morse School: Granite Street main entrance
• Dr. Martin Luther King School, Jr.: Magee Street Entrance
• Fletcher Maynard Academy: Harvard Avenue
• 35 Cambridge Park Drive: Look for the yellow school bus
• 362-364 Rindge Avenue: Look for the yellow school bus

Distribution Drive-Thrus & Dispenser Site
There will be two drive-thru mask distribution sites and a dispenser site at the Cambridge Police Department.

• Drive-thru sites will be at the Tobin Elementary School at 197 Vassal Lane in West Cambridge and Kennedy-Longfellow Elementary School at 158 Spring Street in East Cambridge. The hours will be 3-5:30pm Monday-Friday and 11am-1pm Saturday-Sunday.
• Masks will also be available in a dispenser outside the Cambridge Police Department, which is located at 125 6th Street. Officers at the front desk inside the Cambridge Police Department will also have a supply available.

Police Officers to Distribute While on Patrol
Officers in every marked Cambridge Police cruiser will have a supply of masks to distribute if they encounter residents without them during calls for service. Additionally, Homeless Outreach Officers will have an available supply and will proactively seek out and provide masks to residents who may not have access to a mask.

Residents who already have masks and/or the resources at home to make cloth masks are encouraged to defer supplies to those residents and families who are most in need.

As a reminder, face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and regular hand washing, which remain among the most effective ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The single most effective way to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus is to stay home. More information, videos, and frequently asked questions about face coverings can be found at https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/facecoverings.

The City is committed to identifying new resources to help residents and businesses navigate this difficult time. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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City of Cambridge Issues Emergency Order Requiring Use of Face Coverings

The City of Cambridge today issued an emergency order requiring that face coverings be worn in all public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings. The order takes effect at 12:01am on Wednesday, April 29, and applies to everyone over the age of five years old, with exceptions in alignment with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control or Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Violations may be punishable by a $300 fine.

“While we are grateful to those in Cambridge who have been heeding our previous mask advisory and taking this issue seriously, we are concerned about the number of residents who continue to shop, walk, run and bike throughout the city without proper face coverings,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We must all do our part in flattening the curve and make sure we are preventing the further spread of COVID-19. This mandate emphasizes the importance of wearing a face covering, not as an option, but as a requirement in our effort to combat this pandemic together.”

The order applies to everyone over five years old “without limitation, when on, in or about” public places, defined as:

• Sidewalks
• Streets
• Parks
• Plazas
• Bus stops
• Non-residential parking lots and garages
• Any other outdoor area or non-residential parking facility which is open and accessible to the general public.

The mask requirement also applies to anyone working in or visiting an essential business, as well as shoppers and consumers. Masks must remain on throughout shifts or visits to those businesses. The businesses covered under the order, include:

• Grocery stores or supermarkets
• Pharmacies
• Laundromats
• Dry cleaners
• Hardware stores
• Restaurants, cafes or similar establishments where prepared foods, meals or beverages may be purchased
• Local government buildings
• Commercial office buildings
• All essential businesses defined in Governor Baker’s March 23, 2020 Executive Order

In residential buildings of two or more units, masks will be required prior to entering any common area, including:

• Lobbies
• Hallways
• Elevators
• Stairwells
• Laundry rooms
• Garages or parking lots
• Walkways
• Yards and other outdoor common areas
• Mailrooms and other indoor common areas

Residents are reminded to serve as positive community role models by wearing their masks during this order. The Cambridge Police Department will be focused on educating violators and may issue warnings to those residents who do not cooperate. For those who willingly refuse to comply, they may be subject to a $300 fine.

The full text of the emergency order can be found here.

As a reminder, face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing and regular hand washing, which remain among the most effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. The single most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home.

The City is committed to identifying new resources to help residents and businesses navigate this difficult time. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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City of Cambridge to Allow Licensed Restaurants to Sell Groceries Directly to Consumers

Apr 27, 2020 – The City of Cambridge today issued a temporary emergency order allowing restaurants to sell groceries directly to consumers during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. The order creates a new opportunity for Cambridge residents to purchase items such as meats, vegetables, dairy, canned goods and other limited grocery items through pick-up or delivery service from local restaurants throughout the city.

“This order will help support our local restaurants and alleviate pressure on grocery stores, while also making it less stressful for Cambridge residents to find critical supplies close to home,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We know that visits to the grocery store can be stressful for many residents, and we believe this order will increase food access to various parts of the city, reduce crowds, and help people support and stay connected to their neighborhood businesses.”

Restaurants wishing to sell groceries as part of a pick-up or delivery service must provide, and receive approval of, detailed operations and safety plans for the storage and distribution of groceries to the Cambridge Department of Inspectional Services. By the close of business on Tuesday, April 28, the City will post guidelines for restaurants seeking to participate in this temporary initiative, and the online application process will be available beginning at 12:01am on Friday, May 1.

“The Central Square BID is in full support of restaurants who want to temporarily sell grocery items,” said Michael Monestime, Executive Director of the Central Square Business Improvement District. “We believe that our businesses need every tool available to help weather this storm; we also understand that grocery shopping has become challenging and this could be a way to get food items into the homes of Cambridge residents.”

View the temporary emergency order here.

The City is committed to identifying new resources to help residents and businesses navigate this difficult time. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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Field House at City of Cambridge’s Temporary Emergency Shelter to Open Tomorrow
City Expands Testing Partnership with the Broad Institute and Pro EMS

April 16, 2020 -- Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced that the second phase of the Temporary Emergency Shelter at the War Memorial Recreation Center is scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon (Friday, April 17). The Field House is an exclusive area at the shelter that will provide dining, daytime services and overnight shelter for Cambridge residents experiencing homelessness.

Staffed by Bay Cove/CASPAR, the Field House has ample space to ensure physical distancing among residents. It will not be open to the general public. Instead, it will open in stages due to the availability of testing kits. Initially, the Field House will be open to residents staying at the Warming Center who test negative for COVID-19. Next week, additional testing will take place for residents staying at the CASPAR shelter. Those individuals who test negative will then have the option of staying at the Field House.

The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT is working with Pro EMS to conduct these tests for shelter residents and staff using the same rapid testing surveillance method currently being used at the seven skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Cambridge. As more testing becomes available, the City will look to expand and provide relief for additional shelters. Residents who test positive will be transported to regional isolation centers managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“Opening the Field House at the Temporary Emergency Shelter will greatly relieve the stressors faced by homeless shelters in the City, as they need to minimize their capacity to ensure safe social distancing is observed among their residents,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We have been working on the logistics for weeks to ensure the safety of the facility’s staff and participants. We want to thank the Broad Institute and Pro EMS for making testing available for those who need to use the Field House. This will minimize any potential transmission among those who may have passed any screenings and did not exhibit symptoms, but were unknowingly carrying the virus.”

Earlier this week, a converted garage at the Temporary Emergency Shelter was the first service area to open. It is designed to support residents who need to be quarantined while they await COVID-19 test results (because they have been in contact with someone who tested positive or display symptoms consistent with COVID-19). In the event that a resident staying at the Field House exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they will be transported to a local medical facility, tested and remain in the quarantine unit at the shelter.

The War Memorial gymnasium, another dedicated area in the Temporary Emergency Shelter, was originally planned as exclusive space for residents who need to be isolated and receive treatment due to confirmed tests or symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Any COVID-19 positive cases at the Temporary Emergency Shelter will now be transported to regional isolation centers administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Commonwealth announced this week that it no longer plans to use the Freepoint Hotel at 220 Alewife Brook Parkway. The War Memorial gymnasium will remain reserved for additional capacity if the need arises; however, this space is not expected to be activated.

“Our residents experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19, and the opening of this temporary emergency shelter space will provide a safe and warm location for them to practice physical distancing during this crisis,” said Claude A. Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer. “Pro EMS, the Broad Institute and the City’s leadership are making it possible for these vulnerable residents to be tested quickly and I can’t thank them enough for their partnership.”

The City has compiled an updated list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the War Memorial shelter, as well as a dedicated phone number (617-349-9770) and email address (311@cambridgema.gov) for any questions or concerns. Please see https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/warmemorialfaqs for more information.

The City and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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Temporary Emergency Shelter at Cambridge’s War Memorial Recreation Center To Partially Open Tomorrow

April 13, 2020 – Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced today that the Temporary Emergency Shelter at the War Memorial Recreation Center located at 1640 Cambridge Street will partially open tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14. The shelter is intended to help address the urgent needs of Cambridge residents who are experiencing homelessness or unable to safely quarantine in their residence due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Since April 1, the City has been working to turn the War Memorial Recreation Center into a temporary emergency shelter that will safely house those experiencing homelessness. It offers one centralized location with distinct service areas. A converted garage at the Temporary Emergency Shelter will be the first service area to open tomorrow. It will support residents who need to be quarantined while they await COVID-19 test results (because they have been in contact with someone who tested positive or display symptoms consistent with COVID-19). Later in the week, the Field House is expected to open to residents without symptoms or exposure and who have no access to daytime services or an overnight shelter.

The War Memorial gymnasium, another dedicated area in the Temporary Emergency Shelter, was originally planned as exclusive space for residents who need to be isolated and receive treatment due to confirmed tests or symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Last Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders announced that the Commonwealth will be contracting with the Freepoint Hotel by Hilton, located at 220 Alewife Brook Parkway, to provide exclusive space for regional homeless individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. The hotel space is slated to open this week. The War Memorial gymnasium will now be reserved for additional isolation capacity if the need arises.

“As a community, we value the well-being of our residents, above all else, and we have an obligation to protect and support our most vulnerable,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “Current conditions in many of our shelters do not allow for the recommended standards for social distancing to be observed, increasing the level of risk for this vulnerable group. In other cases, some residents may not have a place to quarantine due to various complex issues. The War Memorial is an ideal location to insulate our most vulnerable residents who are in need due to the ongoing public health crisis, while providing them with ample space and various resources, including medical support, food, showers, bathrooms, changing space and other activities. We want to thank the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for opening a regional isolation facility to provide care and support to individuals experiencing homeless who test positive for COVID-19.”

The War Memorial was highly desired due to its extensive space, close proximity to the Cambridge Hospital and ample on-site accommodations. The location will be staffed 24/7 by clinical staff from the Cambridge Health Alliance, as well as area service providers and volunteers. On-site security for residents and staff will be provided by private security and the Cambridge Police.

“With the opening of this Temporary Emergency Shelter, we will decrease the spread of COVID-19 among some of our most vulnerable residents as well as spread within the larger Cambridge community,” said Dr. Assaad Sayah, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Cambridge. “The more we can do to keep all residents safely distanced and quarantined, regardless of where they call home, the greater chance we have to prevent increased illness due to this epidemic”.

The City has compiled an updated list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the War Memorial shelter, as well as a dedicated phone number and email address for any questions or concerns. Please see https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/warmemorialfaqs for more information.

The City and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

More information regarding the Commonwealth’s contract with the Freepoint Hotel can be found here.

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Health Department announces over 200 Covid-19 cases in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Cambridge

Apr 13, 2020 – The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) announced today that a total of 212 people who live and work at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Cambridge have tested positive for COVID-19.

The test results were reported over the weekend by the Broad Institute, which launched a pilot program on April 9 with the City of Cambridge and Pro EMS ambulance service to test all residents, health care workers, and staff at the seven skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in Cambridge. All facility residents and workers are being tested twice, with the initial and final tests being conducted three days apart.

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) does not currently have data on the number of residents versus workers who have tested positive nor how many of the positive cases are Cambridge residents. CPHD expects to have and report on this information in the near future.

In addition to the cases reported today at the long-term care facilities, another 256 Cambridge residents tested positive for COVID-19 between early March and April 12.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been alerted about the test results. The Cambridge Public Health Department is working with the facilities to provide guidance on “cohorting” patients, which means putting those who have tested positive together and those who have tested negative together and apart from the positive cases. CPHD is also providing strategies for crisis staffing as guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Testing all people in the assisted living and skilled nursing facility population—regardless of whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or feel ill—is the best way to assess the true prevalence of COVID-19 among people who live and work in these facilities in Cambridge.

“The goal of rapid identification of positive cases is to break the chain of transmission in these facilities and ultimately reduce the number of people who become infected,” said Claude A. Jacob, the City’s Chief Public Health Officer and Director of the Cambridge Public Health Department.

Learn more about Broad Institute COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program in Cambridge Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities.

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City of Cambridge Urges Residents to Wear Face Coverings When Leaving Their Home

In keeping with the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cambridge Public Health Department, the City of Cambridge today is strongly recommending that residents wear face coverings anytime they are outside of their home, especially in public settings in which physical distancing measures (ensuring 6 feet of space or more from others) are difficult to maintain. Those areas include grocery stores and pharmacies.

“Using simple cloth face coverings is another way we can help slow the spread of the virus, especially from those who may have the virus and do not know it.” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “Face coverings should be worn as a tool to help reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus. While face coverings may provide some help in slowing virus transmission between people interacting in proximity with one another, they do not provide guaranteed protection. Wearing a face mask is not a substitute for other precautionary measures. The most effective ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are to practice physical distancing, avoid touching your face, and washing your hands frequently.”

When wearing a face covering, residents should be aware that face coverings should:

• Fit snugly, but comfortably against the side of the face;
• Be secured with ties or ear loops;
• Include multiple layers of fabric;
• Allow for breathing without restriction (cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, persons who have trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance);
• Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape; and
• Be frequently washed using a washing machine with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. They can also be hand washed with soap and warm water and left to dry.

After wear, residents should remove facemasks/face coverings carefully, avoiding touching their nose, eyes or mouth until the face covering has been properly disposed of or placed carefully away to be washed, and the wearer should immediately wash their hands after removal.

At this time, the CDC is recommending cloth face coverings to the public as opposed to medical grade face masks. The recommendation to wear face masks does not include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks and surgical masks. These should be reserved for healthcare workers and those serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 response.

If residents do not have access to masks or are interested in learning how to make their own, the City of Cambridge encourages individuals to visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html, which provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to sew or fashion your own masks using different fabrics and common household materials.

The City continues to identify resources to reinforce Cambridge’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge Partners with Broad Institute on Pilot Project for COVID-19 Testing in Nursing Homes
Initial effort to protect most vulnerable residents could serve as model for expansion

Apr 10, 2020 – Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced that the City will partner with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard on a pilot project to test for COVID-19 in nursing facilities. Through the project, the Broad Institute will initiate screening to identify any possible infection among residents and healthcare workers in the seven nursing homes and assisted living facilities located in the City of Cambridge, with the goal of providing an early-warning system. The one-week project will begin immediately and will serve as a pilot for the rest of the Commonwealth.

All residents and health care workers in the seven facilities would be tested twice in a three-day span, regardless of whether they are symptomatic. The results would provide the City of Cambridge with rapid information about infection rates among those who are most at risk for serious illness upon contracting COVID-19.

“The research institutions in our City are at the forefront of the global effort to contain the coronavirus, and we have an extraordinary opportunity to partner with them to help protect our most vulnerable citizens,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “This pilot program will hopefully become a model for testing in nursing facilities and eventually the broader community, allowing us to better identify and contain outbreaks before they impact these facilities and the community-at-large.”

In an accompanying Emergency Order issued by the City of Cambridge today, City Manager DePasquale and Dr. Assaad J. Sayah, MD, Commissioner of Public Health, directed all Cambridge’s nursing homes to participate in the program. The seven facilities are: Cambridge Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Neville Center at Fresh Pond for Nursing & Rehabilitation, Sancta Maria Nursing Facility, Cadbury Commons, Neville Place, Cambridge House, and Youville House Assisted Living.

"We are faced with an unprecedented public health emergency, which calls for unprecedented action in taking care of those who are most vulnerable to disease and death caused by COVID-19," said Dr. Sayah. "This rapid testing program has the potential to protect Cambridge residents living in our nursing homes and effectively and efficiently determine positive cases, care for and quarantine our loved ones and their caregivers, and mitigate further spread of this virus by isolating all other home residents."

The tests will be supplied and conducted by Broad staff and samples will be obtained by trained EMTs from Pro EMS, Cambridge’s contracted ambulance provider. The samples will be tested at the Broad Institute’s lab, a state reference lab.

The City and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge to begin Accepting Applications for Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund for COVID-19
Online and phone application systems open on Monday, April 13, 2020

Apr 8, 2020 – The City of Cambridge today announced that it will begin accepting applications for the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund on Monday, April 13, 2020. The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, which was developed in response to the public health crisis created by COVID-19, has been receiving donations to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Through the generosity of the public and local corporations, the Fund so far has raised more than $3.2 million. The City of Cambridge seeks to assist as many people as possible through these funds.

Under guidelines issued by the Fund’s Trustees, the City will be prioritizing applicants who demonstrate a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis. The funds will be allocated for rent and/or utility payments or other household needs. Funds will also be allocated for mortgage payments for homes purchased through the City’s affordable homeownership programs. While residents may be eligible for 3 out of the 4 identified categories, a maximum payment per household will apply; no household will be eligible to receive more than an overall total payment of $4,000 at this time. Immigration status will not be a factor in determining applicant eligibility.

“We are deeply grateful to the individuals and companies in the Cambridge community who have come together to provide a safety net for Cambridge families in this time of need,” said Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. “I also want to recognize the diligence of my colleagues, City Manager Louis DePasquale, and his team. We are all working around the clock to implement systems to facilitate quick distribution of these funds. As we cannot predict when we will be through this pandemic, establishing the framework for supporting our community now is incredibly important. Cambridge families can be assured that every effort is being made for timely distribution of these much-needed funds as we face this unprecedented crisis”.

“I am incredibly proud of the work that has gone into rapidly designing an application process that will be used to distribute the donations to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund,” said Louis A. DePasquale, Cambridge City Manager. “I am even prouder that the City will begin issuing checks to approved applicants as soon as next week. The City has been working to protect and support the wellbeing of our community, and these monies will further support individuals and families in our community who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.”

To be eligible to receive funds, applicants must meet the following guidelines:

• Applicants must be Cambridge residents.
• Applicants must be Cambridge tenants or an owner of a home purchased through the City of Cambridge Affordable Homeownership Program.
• Applicants’ income must have been at or below 100% of the Area Median Income Prior to loss or reduction of income due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis (e.g. 100% for a 4-person household is $119,000)
• Applicants must demonstrate a loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

To support residents in applying to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, the City will launch an online application process on Monday, April 13, 2020, that allows applicants to complete their application and upload necessary documentation. There are four basic steps in the application process:

• Complete the application
• Upload supporting documents
• Sign and date a statement of verification
• Submit the application online

The City has also set up a phone system to provide support to applicants who do not have access to the internet, who have low digital literacy skills, or who have general questions about the application process. Multilingual support in seven languages besides English will be available. The phone line, 617-349-9797, will be live on Monday, April 13, 2020.

“We are extremely grateful to the City Manager, the Mayor and their staff, who have guided and supported all of this work,” said Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services. “Over 50 City staff will be engaged in trainings so that they can support applicants and participate in the application review and approval process. The work has been led by a dedicated group of staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the funds will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner.”

Donations to the Fund can continue to be made at cambridgema.gov/mayorsdisasterrelieffund.

For additional information on submitting applications to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund, visit www.Cambridgema.gov/mayorsfund.

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Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Donate $500,000 to Support Cambridge’s Temporary Emergency Shelter ..... Cambridge Institutions Donate $250,000 Each Towards War Memorial Site

Apr 6, 2020 – Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced matching donations of $250,000 each from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to cover costs associated with the creation of a Temporary Emergency Shelter at the War Memorial Recreation Center, Field House, and garage.

“Since this outbreak began, residents of Cambridge have benefited from the extraordinary generosity and partnership of the City’s leading business and academic institutions. As we grapple with the enormity of this pandemic, we know that the City must provide an appropriate safe location for our homeless community to take shelter, properly isolate or self-quarantine, and stay safe,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “We are grateful to Harvard and MIT for recognizing the critical importance of this Temporary Emergency Shelter and providing this instrumental funding.”

“In our ongoing effort to help the City of Cambridge respond to this crisis, supplying financial support to create the emergency shelter was a logical next step,” said MIT President L. Rafael Reif. “As soon as we understood the need, we knew we wanted to help — and we are pleased to partner with Harvard on this critical initiative. MIT will also continue its support of Cambridge’s nonprofits, small businesses, and residents as this crisis unfolds. The leadership of Mayor Siddiqui, City Manager DePasquale, and the City Council have been a powerful inspiration. With each passing day, it becomes more obvious that we are all interdependent, bound together as neighbors.”

"Harvard is proud to join MIT and Cambridge leaders in supporting the city's homeless residents and ensuring that they have access to appropriate housing, food, health care and mental health services during this unprecedented public health crisis," said Harvard President Larry Bacow. "From emergency housing, to PPE, to research and diagnostics, the entire Harvard community is bringing our best to respond to the many and unexpected issues that the novel coronavirus has presented - and we are honored to be working along so many committed partners in this effort in Cambridge, Greater Boston, and around the world."

Last week, the City of Cambridge announced an Emergency Order to use the War Memorial site for a Temporary Emergency Shelter. Though hotels, university dormitories, and other housing complexes were discussed and considered, local public health officials pointed to several key variables that made the War Memorial the most fitting for public health needs. Its proximity to healthcare facilities, quick activation time, physical infrastructure, variety of separable spaces, and secure off street and underground drop off access were among the most critical factors. Furthermore, the War Memorial's existing security design is easily augmentable, utilizing a combination of private security for the interior and a dedicated team of Cambridge Police Officers to provide security for the surrounding community on a 24-hour basis.

More information on the Temporary Emergency Shelter can be at: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/warmemorialfaqs

The City continues to work to identify resources to reinforce Cambridge’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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City of Cambridge Issues Emergency Temporary Eviction Enforcement Order

Apr 3, 2020 – Today, City of Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, City Manager Louis A. DePasquale, and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Assaad J. Sayah announced an Emergency Order “Establishing a Moratorium on Eviction Enforcement and Non-Essential Entry by Property Owners and Their Agents Into Occupied Dwelling Units in the City of Cambridge” for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Order applies to both residential and commercial evictions and goes into effect immediately and until further notice. It prohibits forcibly evicting tenants within the City of Cambridge in order to provide for the health, safety, and stability of those who live in and serve our community. Additionally, landlords and/or property owners are not permitted to enter a tenant’s dwelling for non-essential purposes, including the showing of property for sale or rent to potential purchasers/renters without tenant consent.

“As Mayor and City Manager, we have been consistent with our message: the health and safety of our residents is our number one priority. We need residents to stay home and prevent the spread of COVID-19. In order to comply, residents must have a place to call home. Evicting residents and commercial tenants during this time would go against our public health priorities and our decency as a community during a public health crisis. The entire City Council, as well as the City Manager and his Administration, stand with our neighbors during this difficult time,” Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale said in a joint statement.

The Eviction Moratorium does not prevent property owners from filing eviction actions, but it does prevent property owners and landlords from carrying out a forcible eviction.

The Eviction Moratorium does not protect tenants from eviction once the City determines that the public health emergency no longer exists. Therefore, tenants and homeowners should continue to make payments or work out payment plans with their landlords or lenders. A letter will be sent to rental housing owners and managers throughout the City of Cambridge with further recommendations as to suspension of rent increases, flexibility for rent payments, and other requests.

A copy of the Order may be downloaded at Cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge Thanks Biogen Foundation for $1 Million Donation to Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund

Mar 31, 2020 – On behalf of the City of Cambridge, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis DePasquale are extremely thankful to the Biogen Foundation for its $1 million donation to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund (“Fund”). Biogen and the Biogen Foundation seek to support the Fund’s efforts to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing extreme financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“Biogen’s support is instrumental in expediting our ability to reach as many people in Cambridge who have been significantly affected by the current COVID-19 crisis,” said Mayor Siddiqui. “Many of Biogen’s employees live and work in Cambridge, and it’s encouraging to see Biogen generously contribute to the Fund.”

The Mayor’s Fund will provide relief to Cambridge residents who have suffered a significant loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many companies and individuals have donated to both the Fund and other local organizations. With this donation, the Fund has raised over $3.1 million.

To contribute to the Mayor’s effort to help individuals, families, and small businesses most impacted by this public health emergency, please make a secure donation through the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund website at www.cambridgema.gov/MayorsDisasterReliefFund.

Alternatively, donations can be made payable to “Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund – COVID-19” and mailed to the address below:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund
c/o Finance Department
Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

For more information or questions, please contact Madelein McCormick, Chief of Staff for Mayor Siddiqui at MMcCormick@CambridgeMA.gov.

For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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Cambridge Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant

Mar 26, 2020 – The Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is a special program helping Cambridge’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (or HUD) eligible retail, food, personal services, and creative for-profit businesses with a grant up to $6,000 per brick and mortar business. The program provides short-term working capital assistance to enable the viability of the business and the retention of jobs during the severe interruption of business related to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social distancing. Grant applications are only available starting March 26, 2020 until May 1, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EST. This program is first come, first served but we will prioritize businesses that were more severely affected by the state and local closures. There is no guarantee that you will receive a grant.

Click here to check your business's eligibility for the program.

Grant Overview

The COVID-19 Relief Grant Program must help contribute to a small business's ability to remain open and with employee retention. Each completed grant application will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Grant applicants may apply for one or more eligible working capital assistance:

1. Paying for mortgage, rent and other bills (utilities, accounts payable)
2. Employee wages
3. Resources to get business established online (for example, a business needed to revamp website to make e-commerce or delivery available to customers)
4. Perishable inventory that was lost due to an interruption of business 

Other items may be allowed upon review by city staff and HUD. This grant cannot be used for any construction-related work for your business (e.g. painting, electrical, plumbing, or carpentry). If you are interested in a grant for new equipment or interior improvements, click here.

Businesses that are already participating in other city grant programs can still apply to the COVID-19 Relief Grant Program.

Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Guidelines & Requirements

1. Applicants must meet the HUD Eligibility Requirements in order to apply and participate in the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Click here to check your eligibility. If you are not sure if you are eligible, please contact Pardis Saffari at psaffari@cambridgema.gov to confirm.
2. Your brick and mortar business must have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 Social Distancing Measures (e.g. you closed your business, had to lay people off). Priority will be given to businesses that were required to completely close down their business by order of the Governor.
3. A DUNS number (click here to register for one)
4. Provide a copy of your lease or mortgage/tax bill
5. Provide four (4) weeks of pay roll (if grant funds will be going towards payroll)
6. Provide copies of accounts payable bills (if grant funds will be going towards loss inventory)
7. Complete the full grant application and agree to complete a post-grant survey that will be given to you six (6) months after you receive the grant.

Note: The use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law for any purpose. Although cannabis businesses are permitted in the City of Cambridge, the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant is a federally funded program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, therefore cannabis businesses are not eligible for the program.

Click here for the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Application (Smartsheet)

For More Information

If you have questions about the Small Business COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant, please contact Pardis Saffari at psaffari@cambridgema.gov.

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Cambridge City Manager and Commissioner of Public Health Issue Temporary Emergency Order Preventing the Use of Reusable Bags at Retail Establishments

Mar 23, 2020 – In a continued collective effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale and Commissioner of Public Health Assaad J. Sayah, MD, today issued a temporary emergency order that restricts customers at essential retail establishments from using reusable bags after purchasing retail products. Neither staff at essential retail establishments nor their customers are permitted to bag retail products using customers’ reusable bags at checkout. During this temporary emergency, there will be no fees associated with retail establishment bags. This order is in effect immediately.

The essential retail establishments include grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores and more as ordered by the Governor.

“This temporary emergency order is one more proactive step that the City of Cambridge is taking to ensure we can effectively halt the spread of COVID-19, protect our community, and put us back on the path to normalcy as quickly as possible,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A, DePasquale in a joint statement. “While we understand how strongly the Cambridge community cares about recycling items whenever possible, reusable checkout bags that have not been sufficiently disinfected could potentially contribute to the spread of COVID-19 among staff and customers at these establishments. This immediate action is necessary to prevent and minimize the spread of COVID-19.”

View the full emergency declaration.

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the city’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the city’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge Providing Ongoing Support for Seniors and Homeless Community During the COVID-19 Crisis

Mar 22, 2020 – Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced a series of initiatives that are available or being developed to support seniors and individuals who are homeless as part of the City of Cambridge’s ongoing response to the public health crisis created by COVID-19.

“For those of you who are seeking ways to help, please consider volunteering your time to support one of these efforts or consider donating to the City’s Disaster Relief Fund,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “This is a time to show that residents of Cambridge stand together, support those in need, and are a united community in the face of this unprecedented public health threat. Information for how to donate to the fund can be found on the city’s website.”

Homeless Outreach & Support

• With many shelter programs short staffed and no longer having the capacity to prepare meals on site, the city is in the preliminary stages of contracting with local restaurants in Central and Harvard Square to provide bag or boxed meals for lunch and for dinner to be delivered to the specified shelters and programs that have indicated a strong need for the meals. If restaurants are interested in participating in this program in the future, they should contact the Purchasing Department at purchasing@cambridgema.gov. For more, see yesterday’s announcement.
• The city is aggressively looking for alternative housing options for anyone who is reliant on a shelter and may have symptoms consistent with the flu or COVID-19.
• The Cambridge Police Department is providing an ongoing nightly presence at the city’s primary shelters at 240 Albany Street and the Warming Center, 806 Massacnusetts Avene. (Access via Green Street entrance on the other side of the building).

Senior Outreach & Resources

• For a current list of Cambridge Food Resources available during COVID-19, please review: https://twitter.com/CambMotion
• Food for Free is using volunteers to deliver food to housing developments. Food staging sites are located at the Citywide Senior Center and the Gately Youth Center, where packages are being prepared and delivered to residents’ doors.
• The city and Food for Free have set up the Cambridge Community Food Line (617-349-9155), a food item delivery service for Cambridge residents who are at high risk of food insecurity. The service will deliver a weekly bag of produce and shelf stable grocery items to eligible individuals and families until food pantries and meal programs can reopen. You qualify for this grocery delivery service if:
  • The food pantry or meal program you used has closed until further notice
  • You have lost your job or part of your income and cannot afford groceries at this time
  • You are homebound due to illness, disability, or quarantine and do not have support that can bring you food
  • You are at high risk for COVID-19 and do not have access to a regular food source

Note: The Cambridge Community Food Line will provide groceries to anyone who meets the criteria above, regardless of immigration status.

To participate, call 617-349-9155. You will be prompted to leave a voicemail with your name, number, and address. A member of our staff will call you back within 24 hours to confirm that you meet the criteria for food item delivery. If you meet the criteria, you will be added to the weekly distribution list.

It remains incredibly important for residents over the age of 60, especially those with underlying health conditions, to practice thorough personal hygiene and safe social distancing. If there is a need to leave the house to obtain groceries and other items, please find updated information on what local grocery store chains are doing to create specific shopping windows for people over 60 (please confirm with the local markets on their latest hours and visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/Seniors):

Market Basket, which has a location at 400 Somerville Ave. in Somerville, will open exclusively for people over 60 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:30am-7:00am.

Stop & Shop, which has locations on McGrath Highway and Alewife Brook Parkway, will open exclusively for people over 60 each day from 6:00am-7:30am.

Star Market, which has locations in Porter Square, on Beacon Street, on Mt. Auburn St., and on McGrath Highway, will open on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7:00am-9:00am for senior citizens and other at-risk populations, such as pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems.

Pemberton Farms, located at 2225 Massachusetts Ave. will offer daily hours from 6:00am-7:00am. for customers ages 60 and over. They can also pull and deliver groceries for nearby customers (delivery fee based on location). If interested, please email Denna at denna@pembertonfarms.com.

Whole Foods, which has three locations in Cambridge, will open for people over 60 one hour before it opens to the general public. The River Street location near Cambridge Port will open for seniors at 8:00am. The Prospect Street location near Central Square will open for seniors at 7:00am. The Fresh Pond location will open for seniors at 8:00am.

As a reminder, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, City of Cambridge Senior Centers and the Council on Aging are closed until further notice.

Please remember to be on alert for scams. Bad actors are attempting to exploit this crisis for their own financial gain, and the region is expecting an uptick in scams relating to COVID-19. Be on the lookout for high-priced or low-quality products, COVID-19 scams, false or misleading information, and fraudulent charities. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has a consumer hotline to report these scams. If you feel you’ve been approached by or the victim of a scam, please call (617) 727-8400.

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the city’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the city’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge Launches Innovative New Project with Business Community to Support Homeless Community During the COVID-19 Crisis

Mar 20, 2020 – Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale today announced an innovative new project that will begin Mon, Mar 23, 2020 and provide food to the city’s homeless community during the COVID-19 public safety crisis. With many shelter programs short staffed and no longer having the capacity to prepare meals on site, the City will begin contracting with local restaurants in Central and Harvard Square to provide bag or boxed meals for lunch and dinner. These meals will then be delivered to shelters and programs that have indicated a strong need for meals.

The Central Square Business Improvement District (BID) and the Harvard Square Business Association are identifying restaurants in their Squares that can help provide meals to the shelters in need of food next week. The City will then be seeking to identify additional restaurants for contracts and meals beyond next week.

“We want to thank the Central Square BID and the Harvard Square Business Association for their willingness to once again step up, work with their members and our staff, and help our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “By contracting with local restaurants in Central and Harvard Square, where a large majority of homeless programs are located, we are able to minimize delivery challenges, and facilitate the availability of both hot and cold meals to shelters and other sites in both Squares.”

If restaurants are interested in supporting this initiative by providing individual hot and/or cold bagged or boxed meals for distribution to the homeless population at various locations, they should contact the City of Cambridge’s Purchasing Department at purchasing@cambridgema.gov by Monday, March 23 at 9:00am. Once the City has a list of interested vendors, the Purchasing Department will send the vendors who inquire a formal solicitation of quotes for them to submit prices to Purchasing.

The City and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the city’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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City of Cambridge Announces Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund

Mar 19, 2020 – In response to the public health crisis created by COVID-19, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale have activated the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance in partnership with non-profit organizations to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing extreme financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 crisis. Secure donations can be made through the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund website at, http://www.cambridgema.gov/MayorsDisasterReliefFund.

“The COVID-19 virus has had, and will continue to have, devastating impacts on all our residents, and particularly those who are most vulnerable in our community,” said Cambridge Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale in a joint statement. “The Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund will solicit and collect contributions to extend support to residents. We need our entire community, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, to be involved in mitigating and slowing this pandemic. Please consider donating to help your neighbors during this difficult time.”

Additionally, the City of Cambridge has been working in close partnership with the Cambridge Community Foundation, which will be launching two additional funds, one to assist individuals and families, and the other to assist artists and others in the arts community who have been significantly impacted by this pandemic.

Given the magnitude of the impact of the COVID-19 on Cambridge residents, we will need to garner all resources available to help those who are in crisis due to this public health emergency.

In addition to the online donation portal at http://www.cambridgema.gov/MayorsDisasterReliefFund donations can also be mailed and made payable to “Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund – COVID-19” and sent to the address below:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund
c/o Finance Department
Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

For more information or questions, please contact Madelein McCormick, Chief of Staff, Office of Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui, at MMcCormick@CambridgeMA.gov.

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Cambridge City Manager and Commissioner of Public Health Issue Temporary Emergency Order on the Closure of Several Businesses & Activities

Mar 20, 2020 – In the continued collective effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale and Commissioner of Public Health Assaad J. Sayah, MD, today issued a temporary emergency order requiring the closure of private businesses and activities in the city, including:

• Tanning salons
• Nail salons
• Hair salons
• Barber shops
• Bodywork Therapy and massage establishments
• Tattoo and body piercing parlors
• Eyebrow threading establishments
• Martial Arts studios
• Group dance and group exercise activities
• Health clubs
• Spas
• Gyms
• Fitness clubs

“We understand the impact this temporary closure will have, not just on small business owners, but on the countless individuals in Cambridge who rely on these services and activities as part of their general wellbeing,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A, DePasquale in a joint statement. “Cambridge and other communities are taking this step to ensure we can effectively halt the spread of COVID-19, protect our community, and put us back on the path to normalcy as quickly as possible. We encourage people to continue to exercise. You can still take a walk and get fresh air, but please keep six feet between you and others.”

“As of today, Massachusetts is one of seven states in the U.S. experiencing widespread community spread of COVID-19,” said Claude Jacob, the City’s Chief Public Health Officer and Director of the Cambridge Public Health Department. “We are in a race against time to protect residents and frontline health care workers. The closures announced today reflect the gravity of the situation in our city and the state.”

Link to full emergency declaration.

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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City of Cambridge and Cambridge Public Health Department Declare Public Health Emergency,
Announce Procurement of Emergency Funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Mar 19, 2020 – In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis in the Commonwealth, the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) today declared that a state of emergency exists in the City of Cambridge related to COVID-19. The emergency declaration will facilitate and expedite the use of resources to protect persons from the impacts of COVID-19.

The City and CPHD also announced an award of $100,000 in emergency relief funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to support and expand the capacity of the city’s local public health response. This funding was made available as part of a $5 million statewide infusion of funds to local boards of health, with assurances from Governor Baker that this was a “down payment.”

The funding will be used to ensure that CPHD has sufficient resources to monitor and support COVID-19 activities in the city, including enhanced surveillance, the purchasing of additional PPE (personal protection equipment), overtime for staff and more.

“We are grateful to Governor Charlie Baker and his Administration for making this critical funding available to support public health as our city continues to respond to the challenges of COVID-19,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale in a joint statement.

“The Cambridge Public Health Department is on the front lines of this unprecedented public health crisis and these emergency funds are essential to helping contain the spread of COVID-19 in our city,” said Claude A, Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer.“ “We need to mobilize every available resource, financial and human, to keep our community healthy and to prevent further illness.”

“It is our privilege to serve the citizens of the City of Cambridge and do our best to keep them safe during these challenging times,” said Assaad J. Sayah, MD Chief Executive Officer, Cambridge Health Alliance, Commissioner of Public Health, City of Cambridge. “These funds are critical to support this mission.”

The full emergency declaration can be read here.

The City and the Public Health Department continue to work closely together to identify resources to reinforce the City’s response and preparedness activities. For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19

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Message from the City of Cambridge (COVID-19)

Mar 18, 2020 – Today, the City of Cambridge is instituting a Temporary Emergency Construction Moratorium on all construction activity on both public and private property until further notice. This is being done to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and safeguard the health of construction workers and all other workers associated with the construction industry as well as members of the public.

Full Notice (from City website):

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the State of Emergency declared and Executive Orders issued by Governor Baker, the City of Cambridge (the "City") is instituting a Temporary Emergency Construction Moratorium ("Moratorium") on all construction activity on both public and private property until further notice. This is being done to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and safeguard the health of construction workers and all other workers associated with the construction industry as well as members of the public.

During the Moratorium, the City will allow construction activity only with the explicit permission of the Commissioner of Inspectional Services (for building-related work) or the Commissioner of Public Works (for street or utility related work) provided that such activity is essential or in response to an emergency. Further guidelines are set forth below.

I. Timeline for the Temporary Emergency Construction Moratorium:

Thursday, March 19, 2020: Effective at 8:00AM, all issuance of building permits, trade permits and licenses by the Inspectional Services and Public Works Departments will cease except for essential construction work approved pursuant to the Guidelines set forth below.

Saturday, March 21, 2020: By close of business, all construction activity must cease, and construction sites may only be accessed thereafter to make the job site safe and secure.

Thursday, March 26, 2020: By close of business, all make-safe measures must be in place and all job sites must be safe and secure.

II. Guidelines for Consideration of Essential Construction Work:

Contractors may request permission for construction from either the Commissioner of Inspectional Services or the Commissioner of Public Works if the activity is essential as determined by the following guidelines:

• Emergency work in buildings or streets to address leaks or utility failures,
• Utility connections or repairs if the cessation of such work poses a health or safety hazard,
• Work essential for maintaining life-safety systems,
• Work that ensures the safety and connectivity of the transportation network,
• Emergency work necessary to make a building safe and sanitary, such as repair to a failed heating, electrical or plumbing systems,
• Work required in connection with the provision of health services related to COVID-19 at hospitals, health care facilities, health clinics and doctors' offices,
• Work associated directly with COVID-19 mitigation, such as temporary shelters, temporary health care facilities or related laboratory research,
• Work to maintain all make-safe measures previously implemented at job sites,
• Authorized building or utility work in order to render occupied buildings habitable, and
• Work determined by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services or the Commissioner of Public Works as essential but not listed above.

The Commissioner of Inspectional Services or the Commissioner of Public Works will review requests for exceptions to the Moratorium on a case-by-case basis. See contact information below.

Exceptions to the Moratorium will be granted only if they are essential for the support of public safety. New projects cannot start at this time unless they meet the above criteria and approval is given. Any active construction project must be secured by 5:00PM on Thursday, March 26, 2020. Contractors shall monitor secured job sites to make sure they remain safe and secure.

III. The following type of work is exempt from the Moratorium:

• Construction on one, two and three family residential structures already permitted, including associated building trades.

Contractors at these types of job sites are asked to limit the number of workers on site to allow safe social distancing practices as recommended by the Department of Public Health.

This Moratorium is effective only for construction work, including building trades, regulated or permitted by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services or the Commissioner of Public Works.

This Moratorium shall remain in effect until further notice.

Dated: March 18, 2020

By: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager

By: Dr. Assaad J. Sayah, M.D., Commissioner of Public Health

By: Ranjit Singanayagam, Commissioner of Inspectional Services (ranjits@cambridgema.gov; 617-349-6104)

By: Owen O'Riordan, Commissioner of Public Works (ooriordan@cambridgema.gov; 617-349-4802)

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
At Department of Inspectional Services: Sisia Daglian, Assistant Commissioner (sdaglian@cambridgema.gov; 617-349-6107)

At Department of Public Works: Kathy Watkins, City Engineer / Assistant Commissioner (kwatkins@cambridgema.gov; 617-349-4751)

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Message from the City of Cambridge (COVID-19)

Mar 16, 2020 – This is the City of Cambridge calling on behalf of Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager DePasquale. City leadership has been monitoring and actively coordinating efforts related to the City’s COVID-19 response. You can access community updates on our website CambridgeMA.Gov/COVID19.

Today, the Cambridge Public Health Department announced that four additional Cambridge residents have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of seven Cambridge residents have now tested positive for COVID-19. Four of the seven cases are linked to the Biogen leadership meeting that was held in Boston in late February. One of the individuals has been hospitalized and the other six are self-isolating at home.

The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 continues to be very high, in the United States and globally. Social distancing, handwashing, and disinfecting surfaces remains vital in protecting our families, friends, and neighbors, especially those who are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

As a result, all City offices, with the exception of the Cambridge Police Department, have been closed to the public until further notice as of 5:00pm today. As of midnight tonight, all on-premises consumption licensees are prohibited from selling alcohol to the public until at least 11:59pm on April 5, 2020. These establishments – which include restaurants, bars, hotels, night clubs, and pub brewers – are also prohibited from serving any food or drinks for on-premises consumption; only takeout and delivery of food is permitted.

Effective today, the City of Cambridge’s playgrounds are closed until further notice. Parks, fields, and courts, with the exception of playground areas, will remain open for passive use. No congregating, group activities or game playing will be allowed to encourage social distancing. Please, for your own health and the health of our community take these precautions seriously.

We will continue to share updates on our website CambridgeMA.Gov/COVID19. If residents have health-related concerns or questions, they should contact their doctor’s office. For other COVID-19 questions, please contact Massachusetts 211 and follow the City of Cambridge social media accounts.

Thank you.

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City of Cambridge COVID-19 Update of 3-16-20: New Measures Implemented

March 16, 2020 - City of Cambridge officials continue to work closely to address the rapidly evolving challenges related to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) outbreak. Effective March 16, 2020 at 5 p.m., all city offices were closed to the public until further notice as a precautionary measure to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Below are some new measures that are being implemented:

Parking Meter Payments. Effective March 17, 2020, City of Cambridge Parking Meters payments will not be required and will not be enforced until further notice.

2019 Resident and Visitor Parking Permits, which were due to expire on March 31, 2020, will continue to be honored until further notice. Once city buildings reopen, Traffic, Parking, and Transportation staff will begin processing 2020 Parking Permit applications, scheduling parking ticket hearings, and processing ticket disputes.

Police and Fire Stations. While the main lobbies to the Cambridge Police Department’s main buildings at 125 6th Street and the Central Square Substation will remain open to the public, administrative requests (e.g. fingerprinting services, LTC applications, etc.) are strongly encouraged to take place online. All Cambridge Fire Stations will not be accessible to the general public or family members and friends of fire department personnel. If immediate assistance is needed in/around the fire stations, residents should ring the nearest firehouse bell for assistance or call 911 for an emergency. Any food donations by the public will be respectfully declined by Cambridge Public Safety at this time.

Parks and Playgrounds. The City of Cambridge’s playgrounds (areas with play structures of any kind) are closed, effective March 16, until further notice. Parks, fields, and courts, with the exception of playground areas, will remain open for passive use. No congregating, group activities or game playing is allowed. Please maintain a distance of 6 feet from other people while enjoying these spaces.

On-Premise Consumption Prohibited. Per Governor Charlie Baker’s Order of 3-15-20 Prohibiting the Gathering of More Than 25 People and On-Premises Consumption of Food or Drink, effective at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all on-premises consumption licensees are prohibited from selling alcohol to the public until 11:59 p.m. on April 5, 2020. This includes: restaurants, bars, hotels, general-on-premises, clubs, war veterans’ clubs, continuing care retirement communities, pub-brewers, farmer-series pouring permits, and manufacturer’s pouring permits. These establishments are also prohibited from serving any food or drinks for on-premises consumption; only takeout and delivery of food is permitted. Hotels and lodging houses can continue to offer take-out and room service but cannot allow the on-premise consumption in an area open to the public, i.e. lounge, lobby, or restaurant area.

Please note that the Order and Advisory do not apply to off-premises consumption licensees, including grocery stores, pharmacies, package stores, direct wine shippers, and farmer-series. These licensees may continue to operate, unless either the Order or Advisory is amended to state otherwise. If you decide to remain open, we encourage social distancing (at least six feet apart) and when possible we ask that you limit the number of persons inside any of these establishments (including employees) to 25 or less. Please note that if a package store also serves food, the Governor’s Order applies to the extent that the food cannot be sold or served for the consumption on the premises; you can only offer the food for take-out or delivery purposes.

The Order does not apply to grocery stores to the extent that you may remain open but if you have a restaurant area in it, you cannot allow the on-premise consumption of food therein (you must remove/close the area). In addition, while grocery stores may remain open, we strongly encourage social distancing (at least six feet apart) and when possible we ask that you limit the number of persons inside to 25 or less.

Register for City Alerts. The City of Cambridge sends out emergency notification system that allows the City to send emergency notifications to subscribers via email, text and phone calls. This service will be used for important COVID-19 updates, and other emergencies, including evacuations, large-scale water outages, or other significant service disruptions.

If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, call the Massachusetts COVID-19 Information Line at 2-1-1. The call center is equipped to handle a high call volume.

For Cambridge related updates, visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.

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Cambridge City Council Meeting of Monday March 16, 2020 will be Held Using Remote Participation
City of Cambridge Issues Further Directions for City Council Meetings and Other Public Bodies, Boards, and Commissions

March 16, 2020 – On Thursday, March 12, 2020, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced that effective Friday, March 13 through April 30, 2020, all non-essential public meetings of the City of Cambridge are canceled. Today, the City of Cambridge announces further amendments to the policy and directions for City Council meetings and other public bodies, boards and commissions, and quasi-judicial public bodies.

“The City is working to ensure that critical services will continue to be delivered to the public. These temporary changes to Cambridge’s public meeting procedures will allow the City Council and other boards and commissions to operate safely and openly by instituting these social distancing practices. I encourage the public to check Cambridgema.gov/COVID19 regularly to keep informed of important Cambridge information,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.

Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, meetings will no longer be conducted in a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public or to applicants; however, meetings will be accessible to the public remotely and will allow for participation by the public through alternative means.

City Hall will be closed to the public as of 5:00pm on Monday, March 16, 2020. The regular meeting of the City Council on Monday March 16, 2020 will be held using remote participation.

The public is strongly encouraged to submit written testimony/comments because there will be no in-person public comment at the City Council meeting. People may submit written testimony/comments until noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to the City Clerk at: www.cambridgema.gov/remotepubliccomment

Public comment will also be available electronically via ZOOM teleconferencing for the City Council Meeting of Monday, March 16, 2020. The public comment period begins at 5:30pm. Participation by phone or computer can be found at https://zoom.us/j/9246600496. Instructions on using ZOOM technology will be posted on the City’s Open Meeting Portal.

“Given the current public health crisis, these operational adjustments are necessary to protect the general public and to be able to transact necessary business for the time being. We appreciate the public’s patience as we navigate through this together,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui.

The City of Cambridge’s Temporary Emergency Restrictions on City Public Meetings, City Events, and City Permitted Events Due to COVID-19 can be found on the City of Cambridge’s website at https://www.cambridgema.gov/PublicMeetings.

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Household Hazardous Waste Canceled; Recycle Center Closed

Due to Governor Baker's state of emergency, the City of Cambridge has canceled the March 28 Household Hazardous Waste event. The next event is scheduled for June 27, 2020. Location and more information to be shared in May/June. Furthermore, the Recycling Center at DPW is closed indefinitely. We will update the community when it reopens. For updates on when the Recycling Center will reopen, updates on waste services and other City updates as it pertains to COVID-19, please visit CambridgeMA.Gov/COVID19.

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Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale
Issue Statement Related to COVID-19 Emergency Measures

March 15, 2020 – The City of Cambridge has been deeply immersed in dealing with the containment of the Coronavirus crisis. We have closed schools, libraries, Department of Human Services Programs’ preschool and afterschool programs, youth and senior centers, and a number of other public facilities, and we have cancelled all permitted events. We will be closing City municipal buildings to the general public at 5 p.m., Monday, March 16, 2020, until further notice. City Hall will remain open for the City Council meeting, but all City departments at City Hall will be closed to the public starting at 5:00pm on Monday, March 16, 2020.

Our workforce is incredibly committed and responsive to ensuring the City can safely meet the needs of our community. We are particularly appreciative of our Public Health Department, City leadership team, and Public Safety officials in dealing with overall emergency preparedness. There have been many excellent questions raised over the last week and we wanted to address action steps we will undertake over the next week:

• Scaling the capacity of the City’s workforce and public bodies to conduct many non -public safety operations in virtual or remote environments;
• Creating and disseminating clear messaging for social distancing best practices for various populations, including out of school youth and young adults, and senior and other vulnerable populations;
• Collaborating with the non- profit ecosystem on creating a systematic approach to coordinating donations and volunteerism to assist our various community needs;
• Integrating and monitoring state and federal resources as they are committed to ensure the City is maximizing the use of all available resources to assist our residents, particularly traditionally underserved populations such as our homeless and elderly communities;
• Discussing the creation of a reserve fund for the Cambridge Health Alliance;
• Communicating regularly with supermarkets and food stores to discuss operations and supply chain challenges. Governor Baker’s statewide restrictions issued on March 15 do not apply to grocery stores or pharmacies;
• Enforcing and notifying businesses of Governor Baker’s statewide declaration that all bars and restaurants in Massachusetts will be shut down for on-premise consumption starting Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, April 6, although these establishments can continue to offer food for takeout or delivery. Retail stores can stay open as long as 25 people or fewer are present in them;
• Educating the public of the Commonwealth’s ban on gatherings of 25 people or more including all community, civic, public, leisure, and faith-based events. This ban also includes sports games with spectators, concerts, conventions, fitness centers, gyms, private clubs, and cinemas and theaters;
• Communicating with the small business and artist communities on potential resources and relief;
• Coordinating with our university and business community partners to enlist their support and cooperation and ensure coordination of response efforts; and
• Establishing an ad hoc advisory working group to assist with the City’s planning and response efforts. This advisory working group, which will report to the Public Health Commissioner, will be comprised of subject matter experts, residents, healthcare providers and City staff to support the ongoing work of the Cambridge Public Health Department. The call for volunteers will be issued the week of March 16.

Aggressive social distancing is a proven public health strategy. It is the key to saving lives and resuming our lives in the future. The City has enlisted and will continue enlisting experts in matters of infectious disease, communication and emergency response and preparedness. We will communicate regularly and strongly encourage the public to regularly visit www.cambridgema.gov/covid19 for updates and resources.

We need our entire community, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, to be involved in mitigating and slowing this pandemic. We know that the current situation will worsen before it improves. We want to ensure the public that the City’s team, your elected officials, and our community partners are thoughtfully approaching this rapidly evolving pandemic. We are committed to addressing the challenges and needs of the community today and into the future. Because of careful strong City management and sound fiscal policies set by the City Council, the City is in a financial position to strategically use our free cash reserves to support our COVID-19 pandemic response. We are here for you today and we are confident the Cambridge community will, as always, rise to the occasion to respond this challenge.

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City of Cambridge Issues Temporary Emergency Restrictions on City Public Meetings, City Events, and City Permitted Events

Mar 12, 2020 – Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced today that effective Friday, March 13 through April 30, 2020, all non-essential public meetings of the City of Cambridge are cancelled. All meetings of the City’s public bodies, boards and commissions that are governed by the state Open Meeting Law and transact official City business or approve permits, licenses or other approvals pursuant to federal, state or local laws that are scheduled to be held or are legally required to be held will continue to meet and be open to the public in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law. All City-sponsored community events, athletic events, events permitted for the use of City parks or other City-sponsored public gatherings will be cancelled or postponed to a later date. Finally, no approvals for events or gatherings requiring a permit from the City of Cambridge’s Special Events Committee will be approved, and all prior approvals for such events have been revoked. Members of the public can view the full policy on the city’s website.

“The health and well-being of our City and its residents is our top priority during this rapidly-evolving public health crisis. We are working around the clock with partners on the local and state level to control exposure, and mitigate harm. An event as unprecedented as this will test us all. I'm confident we will rise to the occasion, as our community has done before in difficult times. We ask that all residents do their part: be vigilant with hygiene, stay home if you are sick, and look out for each other, especially those most susceptible to becoming ill. We will continue to share updates as information becomes available,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui.

“The City has been closely monitoring and actively coordinating efforts related to the City’s COVID-19 response with the Mayor, the City’s Public Health Commissioner and Chief Public Health Officer, public safety departments, school department, and other relevant departments to ensure that critical services will continue to be delivered to the public. I recognize that this rapidly evolving situation is extremely stressful and members of our community are anxious about potential impacts from COVID-19. I want to ensure the community that the City of Cambridge will continue to respond in a measured and coordinated manner, and we are positioned to rapidly and flexibly respond to the community’s needs as they arise,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.

The City of Cambridge is working closing with regional municipal partners and state agencies on sharing information and coordinating community responses. Members of the Cambridge community are urged to check for updates or sign-up for alerts at www.Cambridgema.gov/COVID19.

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IMPORTANT EMERGENCY MESSAGE

Mar 12, 2020 – Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis A. DePasquale announced today that effective Friday, March 13 through April 30, 2020, all non-essential public meetings of the City of Cambridge are cancelled. All meetings of the City’s public bodies, boards and commissions that are governed by the state Open Meeting Law and transact official City business or approve permits, licenses or other approvals pursuant to federal, state or local laws that are scheduled to be held or are legally required to be held will continue to meet and be open to the public in accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law.

All City-sponsored community events, athletic events, events permitted for the use of City parks or other City-sponsored public gatherings will be cancelled or postponed to a later date. Finally, no approvals for events or gatherings requiring a permit from the City of Cambridge’s Special Events Committee will be approved, and all prior approvals for such events have been revoked. - https://camb.ma/2U7BXl0

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Cambridge Public Libraries and All Branch Locations Closed through March 29, 2020
Effective at 6pm on Friday, March 13, the City of Cambridge will close all Cambridge Public Library locations through at least March 29, 2020.

During this time, please hold onto any library materials that you have currently borrowed. Loan periods will be extended to April 15, and overdue fines will not be charged.

A decision to close the libraries is not made lightly. We appreciate your understanding during this uncertain and difficult time. We send our best wishes to the Cambridge community to stay safe and healthy. For more information, visit the Cambridge Public Library website, at CambridgeMA.gov/cpl.

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Annual Reports for Candidates Deadline - Jan 20, 2020

Depository Candidate and Committee Reporting Schedule
Statewide (Constitutional), House, Senate, District, County and Governor's Councillor Candidates, Political Action Committees (PACs), People's Committees, the State Party Committees, Mayor, and City Council Candidates in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester file the following reports with OCPF....

Depository candidates and committees also file a summary year-end report which is due on January 20th of the following year. The year-end report summarizes all deposit and expenditure activity for the year, lists any savings accounts (and balances), and provides disclosure of all in-kind contributions received or liabilities incurred during the year.

Note: Cambridge School Committee candidates must also file their year-end reports by January 20 with the Cambridge Election Commission.

All Candidates and Committees have now filed: ABC PAC (A Better Cambridge) Cambr. Bike Safety PAC CCC PAC (Cambridge Citizens Coalition) Democracy for Cambridge PAC (Cambridge Residents Alliance)     Our Revolution Cambridge PAC Akiba, Sukia Azeem, Burhan Carlone, Dennis Franklin, Charles Kelley, Craig Kopon, Derek Levy, Ilan Mallon, Alanna McGovern, Marc

McNary, Jeffery Mednick, Risa Moree, Gregg Musgrave, Adriane Nolan, Patty Pitkin, John Siddiqui, Sumbul Simmons, Denise Simon, Benjamin T. Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan C. Toomey, Tim Williams, Nicola A. Zondervan, Quinton

2019 Annual Reports (deadline Jan 20, 2020)
Candidate	From	To	Start	Receipts	Expend	Balance	Filed
ABC PAC	01/01/19	12/31/19	3,651.29	15289.15	16859.56	2080.88	01/20/20
CCC PAC	10/04/19	12/31/19	0.00	18167.22	12961.46	5205.76	01/21/20
CResA PAC	07/24/19	12/31/19	0.00	3166.77	1811.54	1355.23	01/21/20
Cambr. Bike Safety PAC	01/02/19	12/31/19	0.00	3530.00	3423.37	106.63	01/07/20
Our Revolution Cambridge PAC	10/12/19	12/31/19	0.00	1427.00	1367.00	60.00	01/07/20
Akiba, Sukia	08/02/19	12/31/19	100.00	2900.03	2820.03	180.00	01/21/20
Azeem, Burhan	05/07/19	12/31/19	0.00	14459.25	13860.37	598.88	01/05/20
Carlone, Dennis	01/01/19	12/31/19	10088.58	33141.63	35850.17	7380.04	01/04/20
Franklin, Charles	03/12/19	12/31/19	0.00	33326.60	31624.44	1702.16	01/08/20
Kelley, Craig	01/01/19	12/31/19	4161.09	39355.58	29116.32	14400.35	01/15/20
Kopon, Derek	07/02/19	12/31/19	0.00	9716.72	9716.72	0.00	01/07/20
Levy, Ilan	01/01/19	12/31/19	88.83	200.51	217.56	71.78	01/21/20
Mallon, Alanna	01/01/19	12/31/19	3587.26	41495.41	40035.94	5046.73	01/12/20
McGovern, Marc	01/01/19	12/31/19	32131.34	65463.30	81297.87	16296.77	01/13/20
McNary, Jeffery	08/02/19	12/31/19	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	01/23/20
Mednick, Risa	07/15/19	12/31/19	0.00	19618.99	16171.28	3447.71	01/20/20
Moree, Gregg	08/02/19	12/31/19	0.00	1500.00	1500.00	0.00	01/08/20
Musgrave, Adriane	01/01/19	12/31/19	498.79	40851.07	36616.54	4733.32	01/14/20
Nolan, Patty	07/02/19	12/31/19	0.00	22587.02	16495.88	6091.14	01/21/20
Pitkin, John	07/30/19	12/31/19	2012.00	12292.68	13328.57	976.11	01/20/20
Siddiqui, Sumbul	01/01/19	12/31/19	9581.51	31474.28	25619.80	15435.99	01/21/20
Simmons, Denise	01/01/19	12/31/19	4291.50	62819.75	57959.61	9151.64	01/12/20
Simon, Benjamin T.	04/02/19	12/31/19	10.00	12125.95	11114.51	1021.44	01/21/20
Sobrinho-Wheeler, Jivan C.	03/15/19	12/31/19	0.00	27478.13	25361.49	2116.64	01/10/20
Toomey, Tim	01/01/19	12/31/19	26797.26	51740.85	63345.76	15192.35	01/19/20
Williams, Nicola A.	03/18/19	12/31/19	0.00	30512.88	30815.01	(302.13)	01/20/20
Zondervan, Quinton	01/01/19	12/31/19	460.59	45820.35	45921.41	359.53	01/21/20

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Jan 16, 2020 - As expected, David Weinstein was elected at the Jan 16 Vacancy Recount to the Cambridge School Committee seat vacated by Emily Dexter (who was elected in the November 2019 municipal election but decided not to serve the term to which she was elected).

Dexter Vacancy Recount (Jan 16, 2020) - David Weinstein elected

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2020 School Committee Vacancy Recount

Jan 9, 2020 – A vacancy has been created in the School Committee due to the decision of Emily Dexter to not serve as a member of the School Committee for the term beginning January 6, 2020. Pursuant to the Cambridge Charter and Massachusetts General Law Chapter 54A, the Cambridge Election Commission will hold a Vacancy Recount to fill the seat.

This “Vacancy Recount” of Emily Dexter’s ballots will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 5:30pm in the Election Commission office, 51 Inman Street (1st Floor), Cambridge, Mass. Tanya L. Ford-Crump, the Election Commission Executive Director, has been designated as the Director of the Count for this purpose.

Eligible candidates will be invited to attend and are entitled to appoint two witnesses and two alternative witnesses provided that written notice of the names and addresses of the appointees signed by such candidate is filed with the Election Commission no later than 24 hours before this Vacancy Recount.

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Related: Cancel Culture Makes Everything Look Worse Than It Is (Meghan Daum)

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