ON THE TABLE
1. That the City Manager is requested to work with relevant City departments to raise the fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75, consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income, remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program and lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two. [Charter Right – Simmons, Feb 9, 2026; Tabled Mar 2, 2026] (PO26#32)
Removed from Table (Nolan) 6-1-0-2 (Simmons - No; Al-Zubi, Flaherty - Present) ; comments by Nolan, Simmons, Al-Zubi, McGovern, Flaherty, Azeem, Zusy, Sobrinho-Wheeler (who asserts that paying anything less than $1000 is a bargain), Siddiqui; Flaherty motion to refer to Transportation Committee; Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler object to referral; McGovern continues to assert that the program loses money; Simmons defends idea of courtesy to seniors and suggests making it opt-in; Flaherty (correctly) questions the claimed cost of the program; Zusy quotes misleading numbers from Brooke McKenna as though factual; Substitute Order (Nolan, Zusy, Sobrinho-Wheeler, McGovern) Moved 7-2 (Flaherty, Simmons - No); Flaherty Motion to refer Substitute Order to Transportation Fails 4-5 (Al-Zubi, Azeem, Flaherty, Simmons - Yes; McGovern Nolan, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Zusy, Siddiqui - No); Substitute Order Adopted 7-2 (Flaherty, Simmons - No)
Note: The revised Order calls for a $75 fee with a self-identified option to pay $25 if hardship, and with the assertion that there will be no review if anyone opts for $25. There will be no more senior exemption. It is also worth noting that 5 city councillors voted against having any discussion or questioning of the design or the inflated cost of the program or of any alternatives. No documentation of the costs associated with the Resident Permit Parking program have ever been provided.

Original Order
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

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Simmons Amended Version (Mar 9)
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to ensure that senior residents remain exempt from being charged for the permit parking fee by default, unless they voluntarily self-identify by checking a box on their permit application attesting that the $75 fee would not constitute a financial hardship, in which case they shall be charged the full fee; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

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Al-Zubi Amended Version (motion not yet made)
O-5     Feb 9, 2026  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program was raised in 2011 from $8 to $20 with a built in raise to $25 in 2013, where the rate currently stands, despite requests by council to increase the fee; and
WHEREAS: In 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requesting recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff indicated that the cost of administering the parking permit program, including printing the stickers and processing applications, is at least $75 per permit, per year, and so every dollar charged below that cost is subsidized by the general fund, which is paid by all Cambridge taxpayers; and
WHEREAS: Senior residents have previously been exempted from paying the minimal fee for the cost of a parking permit, regardless of income or financial situation at the expense of all Cambridge taxpayers, including non-drivers; and
WHEREAS: $75 per year, or just over $6 per month, for unlimited on-street parking access is a nominal fee for car-owners and amounts to less than 1% of the annual cost of owning a car, including car payments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and taxes, which is estimated at $11,500 annually; and
WHEREAS: Previously, the City Council requested a tiered fee structure for residential parking permits for income-eligible residents; however, after two years, City staff have indicated that implementing a tiered structure would include making significant adjustments to the vendor program and would likely result in much higher administrative costs, at only a marginal savings for residents; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transportation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and
WHEREAS: The cost of operating the parking permit program should be paid by users and not pushed onto all residents including those who do not own cars and the city should seek to ensure fees charged match costs; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking permit program for all residents to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program, and consider how to include a self-identified check off option so as not to increase administrative costs for a subsidized fee of $25 $0 for residents who live in affordable housing, are enrolled in a program such as SNAP, are enrolled in a program such as Medicare or are low income; and

• Remove the senior exemption for the residential parking permit program; and

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

Substitute Order Adopted 7-2 (March 30, 2026):
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The fee for participation in the Resident Parking Permit program has remained at $25 since 2013; and
WHEREAS: The City Council seeks to promote access to a variety of transportation methods and, alongside recognizing the costs that maintaining parking spots presents for the City, the Council recognizes that cars and other motor vehicles serve a critical need for many residents; and
WHEREAS: ln 2023 the City Council passed PO23#137 which led to a Joint Health and Environment and Transportation committee meeting, and PO24#39 which requested recommendations for adjusting parking permit fees to better align with the costs of operating the program; and
WHEREAS: In CM24#106 from May 2024 Cambridge DOT staff in response to the Council order stated that the cost of administering the parking permit program is at least $75 per permit per year, and recommended that the fee be raised to $75; and
WHEREAS: The current parking permit program costs approximately $3 million per year to operate, and only approximately $1 million per year is received leaving approximately a $2 million deficit annually, funds that could be used to support other investments; and
WHEREAS: The Zero Emissions Transpoitation Plan, published in October 2025, outlines SMART Goal 7, which is to reduce the number of resident parking permits issued over time, and in 2023 the City created a limit of four cars on the number of vehicles that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for; and be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to:

• Raise the fee to receive a residential parking sticker to $75, to more accurately reflect the cost of administering the program,

• Create a self-identified check-off option to allow residents, of any age, to pay just $25, for whom the $75 presents a hardship; and

• Keep the fee for visitor permits for residents without cars and handicapped permits unchanged,

• Lower the number of cars that individual residents are allowed to get a residential parking permit for from four to two; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the Transportation Committee of the City Council before June to ensure that changes are communicated prior to the next cycle of permit issuance.

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Mar 30, 2026
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The Health and Environment Committee met on March 25, 2026 to review and discuss language in Chapter 8.28 of the Cambridge Municipal Code on Tobacco Products; now and therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Health and Environment Committee recommend to the full City Council that the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Law Department to work with the Cambridge Public Health Department to amend and update language in Chapter 8.28 of the Cambridge Municipal Code as discussed in the March 25, 2026 Committee meeting.

O-2     Mar 30, 2026  amended
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
WHEREAS: The year 2030 marks the Cambridge 400 anniversary – originally settled as Newtowne in 1630 – and this milestone presents an important opportunity for the community to reflect on our shared history, examine how Cambridge has evolved, and envision a future informed by lessons from the past; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge seeks to commemorate this anniversary through welcoming and accessible programs that encourage residents to think about our history, celebrate our diversity, and incorporate curiosity, pride, and inclusivity into our daily civic life; and
WHEREAS: This effort acknowledges that Indigenous peoples have lived in the place now called Cambridge for thousands of years, and recognizes that Indigenous voices, histories, and perspectives are essential to providing accurate, contextual, and meaningful narratives for the Cambridge 400 commemoration; and
WHEREAS: Many histories have been left out of traditional historical narratives, and Cambridge 400 presents a vital opportunity to uplift stories across all neighborhoods and communities – ensuring that the commemoration reflects the full breadth of Cambridge’s lived experience; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge’s robust arts and culture ecosystem – including artists, cultural organizations, creative workers, and community arts spaces – plays a central role in shaping the city’s identity, and the Cambridge 400 commemoration presents opportunities to elevate local creativity, highlight cultural expression, and strengthen the cultural sector’s long-term vitality; and
WHEREAS: Engaging Cambridge Schools and our young people is essential to the success of a Cambridge 400 celebration, as educational partnerships and youth participation will help ensure that the commemoration is forward-looking, reflective of the city’s future, and grounded in intergenerational learning; and
WHEREAS: Major civic anniversaries in other municipalities have demonstrated significant tourism and economic development benefits, including increased visitation, strengthened support for local businesses, and expanded cultural tourism that highlights a city’s unique assets; and
WHEREAS: A thoughtfully planned Cambridge 400 initiative can showcase the city’s cultural institutions, artists, restaurants, small businesses, and commercial districts, providing broad economic benefits while ensuring that participation remains inclusive and equitable; and
WHEREAS: Cambridge’s history and influence extend far beyond our municipal boundaries, and Cambridge 400 presents an opportunity to think both locally and globally – recognizing the ways Cambridge has shaped, and been shaped by, regional, national, and international movements that led to innovations in education, science, arts, civil rights, and public policy; and
WHEREAS: Successful planning for Cambridge 400 will require coordinated engagement among City departments, community partners, cultural and educational institutions, local businesses, and a diverse cross section of residents; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to initiate the planning process for Cambridge 400 and as part of this, to convene a Cambridge 400 Advisory Committee composed of members representing the range of stakeholders whose participation is needed to guide this work; and be it further
ORDERED: That the Advisory Committee be charged with advising on recommendations for programs, events, educational initiatives, public history activities, and economic and cultural opportunities that reflect Cambridge’s full historical narrative and support an inclusive, critically engaged, and forward-looking commemoration.

O-3     Mar 30, 2026  amended
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR FLAHERTY
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing housing stability, health equity, and the overall well-being of its residents; and
WHEREAS: Older adults across the Commonwealth are increasingly at risk of housing instability due to rising costs, fixed incomes, and limited access to supportive housing resources; and
WHEREAS: House Bill 4015 and Senate Bill 475, An Act Promoting Housing Stability For Older Adults Across The Commonwealth, would expand a bridge subsidy program for low-income older adults aged 60 years and older, allowing them to access and maintain stable housing while awaiting long-term rental assistance; and
WHEREAS: This legislation would provide critical financial support by covering the gap between what older adults can afford and the cost of housing, helping to prevent homelessness and promote dignity and independence among seniors; and
WHEREAS: The Commonwealth continues to face significant disparities in health outcomes and access to care, particularly among communities of color and underserved populations; and
WHEREAS: House Bill 1416 and Senate Bill 901, An Act to Advance Health Equity, seek to improve access to quality care, invest in community-based health initiatives, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and enhance accountability in reducing health disparities; and
WHEREAS: These bills recognize the connection between stable housing and positive health outcomes, and aim to address systemic inequities that impact both; and
WHEREAS: Supporting these legislative efforts aligns with Cambridge’s longstanding commitment to equity, public health, and housing stability for all residents; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in strong support of House Bill 4015, Senate Bill 475, House Bill 1416, and Senate Bill 901; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this Order to the Cambridge State Legislative Delegation and to the Governor on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-4     Mar 30, 2026
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering S.2721/H.5217, An Act Restricting The Use Of Rodenticides In The Environment, which would significantly limit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS: Anticoagulant rodenticides are highly toxic poisons that prevent blood from clotting, causing prolonged internal bleeding and death in animals that ingest them; and
WHEREAS: These poisons do not remain contained, but instead move through the food chain as rodents consume them and are then eaten by predators, extending the impact far beyond their intended use; and
WHEREAS: The effects on animals are often prolonged and inhumane, with poisoned wildlife and pets suffering for days from internal bleeding, weakness, and disorientation before dying; and
WHEREAS: Birds of prey such as hawks, owls, and eagles, who play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance, are especially vulnerable as they rely on rodents as a primary food source; and
WHEREAS: Scientific studies have documented the scale of this crisis, including findings from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic showing that 96 percent of raptors tested had been exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides, and that 100 percent of red-tailed hawks tested showed exposure to these poisons, underscoring how pervasive contamination has become; and
WHEREAS: Local wildlife rehabilitators report that rodenticide poisoning is now one of the leading causes of rescue intakes for birds of prey, surpassing even injuries from vehicle strikes; and
WHEREAS: The impact extends beyond wildlife to domestic pets, including cats and dogs, who can be exposed directly or through secondary poisoning, placing families at risk of preventable loss and harm; and
WHEREAS: While the Commonwealth has taken steps to prohibit residential consumer use of these products, commercial use by licensed applicators remains permitted, continuing the risk of environmental contamination and harm to wildlife, pets, and public health; and
WHEREAS: In June 2025, the City of Cambridge took local action to address this issue by banning the use of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides on City owned properties and by City contractors, reflecting the City’s commitment to protecting wildlife, pets, and public health; and
WHEREAS: Safer and more sustainable alternatives to rodent control exist, including integrated pest management practices that focus on prevention, sanitation, and exclusion rather than widespread use of toxic chemicals; and
WHEREAS: This legislation would end the registration and reregistration of anticoagulant rodenticides except in limited public health emergencies, while allowing the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to establish clear standards for any necessary emergency use; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the Cambridge City Council hereby go on record in strong support of S.2721/H.5217, An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Council urges the Massachusetts Legislature to enact this legislation to protect wildlife, pets, public health, and the environment; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this order to the Cambridge state legislative delegation on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-5     Mar 30, 2026  amended
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR ZUSY
COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI
WHEREAS: Data centers are facilities that house computer servers for processing and storing data, either for a single enterprise or multiple enterprises, that serve as critical infrastructure for Internet-based storage, complex software and language models, artificial intelligence (AI) functions, and other computing needs; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has emerged as a potentially attractive location for the growing data center landscape due to favorable factors such as its proximity to developing data center projects, Massachusetts’s sales and tax use exemptions and the state’s establishment of 51 data centers thus far; and
WHEREAS: Small data centers can be established in spaces as small as one or more floors of buildings, not requiring large parcels of land, which could be available and attractive in Cambridge in light of the concentration of commercial data users; and
WHEREAS: Economic incentives, such as an increased demand for maintenance and operation staffing, to establish these new centers have limited long term profitability with projects often resulting in decreased state revenue; and
WHEREAS: The existence of data centers lower the City’s quality of life for residents, particularly by unsafely raising noise levels as a byproduct of power generators or other power supply equipment, and cooling systems in data centers consume substantial quantities of water, placing a strain on local water resources and intensifying water scarcity problems in urban jurisdictions and contributing to equity and sustainability issues; and
WHEREAS: As a result of their considerable energy demand, these centers have a significant impact on the City’s electric grid, particularly driving rate payer increases, and these centers can negatively impact the air quality in commercial and residential zones, risking the lasting health and well-being of residents; and
WHEREAS: Communities around the country have begun to take steps to limit large data centers from negatively impacting residents, ratepayers, and the environment, including Anchorage, AK; Kentucky; and Mesa, AZ; and the National League of Cities has put together resources for local governments to understand data centers and their impacts on residents; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant departments to review the current legal landscape and provide recommendations for how to regulate construction of large data centers in Cambridge and protect residents and local resources and utilities from their impact; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council in a timely manner.

O-6     Mar 30, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the City Council that National Public Health Week, organized by the American Public Health Association, is celebrated across the country from April 6-12, 2026 with an ongoing focus on creating the healthiest nation in one generation by ensuring everyone has a chance to live a long and healthy life; and
WHEREAS: As a nation, we must address the underlying societal causes of poor health, such as racism, discrimination, barriers to a quality education and good jobs, violence, and unsafe housing and workplaces; and we must better understand how race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability status affect one’s physical and mental health; and
WHEREAS: Health inequities continue to disproportionately affect communities that have historically faced discrimination and economic hardship, including people of color, elderly adults, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community; and meaningful, sustained action is required to address the structural determinants of health that perpetuate these disparities; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has demonstrated an enduring commitment to public health through community health programs, partnerships with local organizations, equitable access to health services, and investments in housing, food security, mental health, and other social determinants of well-being; and
WHEREAS: The work to build a more equitable and healthier city requires the continued collaboration of City government, community organizations, health professionals, businesses, and residents – and that National Public Health Week offers an important opportunity to renew that commitment and elevate the voices of those working on the frontlines of public health; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record proclaiming April 6-12, 2026 as Cambridge Public Health Week in special appreciation of the dedicated work of City government, community organizations, health professionals, businesses, and residents in advancing health equity and building a healthier, more resilient Cambridge; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Tracy Rose-Tynes, Interim Chief Public Health Officer at the Cambridge Public Health Department on behalf of the entire City Council.

O-7     Mar 30, 2026
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
WHEREAS: The aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind; and
WHEREAS: The experience of standing under a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe, encouraging a growing interest in science and nature, particularly among young people and visitors from outside the local community; and
WHEREAS: Light pollution has scientifically established economic and environmental consequences, which result in significant impacts on the ecology and human health of all communities; and
WHEREAS: 80 percent of the world’s population, including residents of Cambridge, live under a dome of light pollution – excessive artificial lighting at night that disrupts natural darkness – and may never experience the visual wonder or the ecological and health benefits of living under a truly dark sky; and
WHEREAS: DarkSky International, the globally recognized authority on light pollution, recognizes International Dark Sky Week to raise awareness of the effects of light pollution, provide free education, resources, and solutions to the public, and encourage the protection of and enjoyment of dark skies and responsible outdoor lighting; and
WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge is committed to environmental stewardship, science education, and the well-being of its residents – values that align directly with the goals of International Dark Sky Week – and recognizes that thoughtful lighting policy is a meaningful lever for protecting public health, conserving energy, and preserving the natural environment; now therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record proclaiming April 13-20, 2026 as International Dark Sky Week in the City of Cambridge, and calls upon all residents, businesses, institutions, and City departments to join in observing this important week by raising awareness of light pollution, adopting responsible outdoor lighting practices, and supporting the protection of our shared night sky as a precious and finite resource.