Cambridge InsideOut - April 21, 2026
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1) Outside Cambridge – Middlesex Canal walk (April 12) and exploration (April 20)
Billerica canal segment Shawsheen River Aqueduct Top of Shawsheen Aqueduct
2) Inside Cambridge – Riverview down, Mt. Auburn St. reopened
3) Sidewalks, storm drains, and bike lanes on Broadway
4) Central Square Rezoning and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority
CRA Open House at the Street Theory Collective on Tues, May 5,5:30-7:30pm
5) Retirement of Police Commissioner Christine Elow
Superintendent Pauline Wells named Acting Police Commissioner
6) Board and Commission Vacancies
Traffic Board – Really?
7) Boards & Commissions - seeking volunteers
8) Mar 23, 2026 City Council meeting
Block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning April 1, 2026 and ending March 31, 2027
City Council support of H.91 and S.2556, An Act to modernize funding for community media programming
9) Mar 30, 2026 City Council meeting
Report on Harvard Square pedestrianization
Nearly unanimous dissatisfaction expressed regarding the current vendor (Culture House) that curates the Harvard Square Kiosk
Pushing back against large data centers
Fee of the parking permit program for all residents to $75 without review of actual costs, elimination of senior exemption
10) Apr 13, 2026 City Council meeting
Appointment of Sara Rivera as an Election Commissioner for a term effective Apr 13, 2026 and expiring Mar 31, 2030
Bicycle Committee and Pedestrian Committee Appointments
City Council go on the record urging Harvard administration to end the practice of time caps for non-tenure track teaching faculty
Proposal to block implementation of reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic
Decision to install artificial turf at Ahern Field
11) History and Revival of the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA)
Ruth Romer remarks - October 1980
12) 2026 Election Prospects
13) Catching Up on the Cambridge News
14) Civic Calendar
The Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) was a prominent, non-partisan political organization in Cambridge that operated for nearly 60 years. Founded in 1945, it was instrumental in shaping the city's modern "Plan E" government structure.
While it is no longer the dominant force it once was, its legacy is central to understanding Cambridge's political history. Here is a breakdown of what the CCA was and what it did:
1. Origins and Mission
The CCA was formed by the merger of several groups, including the Committee for Plan E and the Cambridge Taxpayers Association. Its primary goals were:
Promoting "Good Government": Advancing a business-like, honest, and efficient city administration.
Supporting Plan E: This is the specific charter Cambridge uses, featuring a City Manager (appointed) and a City Council elected through Proportional Representation.
Candidate Endorsements: The CCA famously acted as a "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval." They interviewed candidates and released a slate of endorsed names, which carried significant weight with voters for decades.
2. Political Stance
The CCA was often seen as the more "liberal" or "progressive" wing of Cambridge politics during the mid-20th century. It frequently clashed with "Independent" candidates.
Key Issues: They were strong advocates for Rent Control (until it was abolished statewide in the mid-90s) and focused heavily on transparency and professional management of city services.
Base: Historically, the organization drew much of its support from the Mid-Cambridge and West Cambridge neighborhoods.
3. Decline and Current Status
The influence of the CCA began to fade in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The End of Rent Control: The loss of rent control in 1995 removed one of the organization's most unifying and mobilizing issues.
Shift in Participation: As civic engagement shifted toward smaller neighborhood groups and newer city-wide coalitions (like A Better Cambridge or the Cambridge Citizens Coalition), the CCA eventually became inactive.
How it differs from other groups
Since you are in Cambridge, you might come across names that sound similar but are different entities:
Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF): A philanthropic organization focused on grants and social equity.
Cambridge Citizens Coalition (CCC): A newer group (founded around 2017) that focuses on “pragmatic progressive” issues, often seen as a spiritual successor to the civic activism of the CCA era.
Here are a few things of potential interest at this week’s meeting:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Sara Rivera as an Election Commissioner for a term effective Apr 13, 2026 and expiring Mar 31, 2030. [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
There has been chatter in some quarters regarding Tom Stohlman not being reappointed to the Election Commission. These are mostly conspiratorial suggestions that this was due to Tom’s asking important questions in the wake of last November’s kerfuffle in the Preliminary PR Count when test ballot data was inadvertently not cleared prior to the Election Night tabulation. I seriously doubt whether that was a major factor in the appointment process. Any of the three nominated candidates would have been a good choice. Let’s also not dismiss the idea that a majority female City Council might not be thrilled with continuing an all-male Election Commission. I have more issues with those who are questioning the appointment than I do with the appointment itself (and Tom is a long-time friend), and I certainly don’t wish to see Sara Rivera’s arrival on the Election Commission clouded by manufactured controversy.
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Bicycle Committee Appointments. [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Pedestrian Committee Appointments. [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Speaking of appointments to City boards and commissions, there is a matter worthy of discussion that never gets any attention – namely the process where City staff have effectively become the appointing authority. City staff generally do the vetting of the board applicants and then forward the list of preferred appointees to the City Manager for the formal appointment. In an ideal system, City boards with actual authority should be representative of the residents of the city and not be primarily advocates for policies and preferences espoused by City staff. Issue-specific advisory committees are a somewhat different story, e.g. you wouldn’t expect a member of the Recycling Advisory Committee to be an opponent of recycling or a member of the Bicycle Committee to be hostile to the presence of bicycles on city streets. That said, advisory committees should be just that - advisory. It distresses me whenever I hear of significant actions (such as road configurations) being contingent on the blessing by one-sided boards of activists. Also, in a City with a proportional representation election system, one might think there should be some degree of proportionality and differing perspectives on most City boards and commissions.
Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Police Review & Advisory Board Quarterly Report for the period of Fall 2025 through the First Quarter of 2026. [text of report]
pulled by Al-Zubi for comments; Nolan comments; Referred to Public Safety Committee 9-0
The relatively small number of cases that have come before the PRAB certainly lends support to some of the reconfiguration of boards that was viewed by some as controversial late last year.
Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, regarding an update on the City Manager Performance Review Process. [text of report]
Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons-Absent)
Order #1. That the City Council go on the record urging Harvard administration to end the practice of time caps for non-tenure track teaching faculty and urging Harvard administration to acknowledge the labor contribution and employee status of all its researchers, regardless of funding source, and contractually recognize these researchers’ protected right to union representation. Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Al-Zubi
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler for comments and minor amendment; Zusy comment; Adopted as Amended 8-0-0-1 (Zusy-Present)
I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, as a former Mathematics Preceptor at Harvard it was the 7-year time cap that dictated my exit – though I have continued in the Harvard Extension School and the Harvard Summer School for 25 years after my exit from the teaching faculty in the Mathematics Department. I definitely would have preferred to stay, but I had other options. On the other hand, it has always been my understanding that the time cap was something favored by the faculty to prevent the Harvard administration from tamping down the number of tenured faculty in favor of non-tenured faculty willing to work for significantly less compensation and a greater teaching workload. Some other colleges have found better solutions to this dilemma. For what it’s worth, I was always happy to work for less compensation and a substantial teaching workload. It’s a job, not a country club.
Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Cambridge Department of Transportation (CDOT) and any other relevant departments to halt any further design, engineering, procurement, or construction activities related to implementing a reconfiguration of Garden Street to restore two-way motor-vehicle traffic. Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
pulled by Flaherty; comments by Al-Zubi, Brooke McKenna (wants to keep current configuration), Flaherty (objecting to “repetitive litigation” - bad public policy); Charter Right - Flaherty
This provides yet another illustration of how things can go sideways when elected officials insert themselves into the business of road design and traffic management. The Cycling Safety Ordinance and its inflexible amendments are perhaps the greatest example of bad decisions being forced by incompetent politics. The Garden Street flip-flopping is a corollary to this, but it’s not the case that we should expect better outcomes from our dysfunctional Department of Congestion, Obstruction, and Aggravation. Pick your poison – politics or Kool-Aid. When City policies are dominated by the principle of “solution in search of a problem”, keep your expectations low.
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested work with relevant City departments to provide a report on how the decision to install artificial turf at Ahern Field was made, the rationale for artificial turf, and what process was taken to ensure community concerns and public health considerations were fully addressed, and to ensure that construction will not move forward until a report is delivered. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Al-Zubi
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, McGovern, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, Zusy with proposed amendment [to be determined], Flaherty, Azeem, Al-Zubi, Yi-An Huang, Siddiqui; Zusy amendment Adopted 9-0; add’l sponsors added 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
I don’t know what’s best in terms of natural grass vs. more durable artificial turf, and I’m not really sure how PFAS becomes a health concern when you’re not Grazin’ in the Grass. Then again, I once knew a person who wouldn’t allow smoke detectors in her building when she learned that there was a trace amount of radioactive material in the detectors used for ionization.
Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Tues, Mar 10, 2026 to review and discuss the Police Department budget for FY27 before it is submitted to the City Manager, as required under Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.74.040. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #2. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Mar 11, 2026 to have a conversation regarding zoning recommendations to strengthen active use requirements on Cambridge Street and Mass Ave as a follow-up to the recently adopted zoning petitions following the Our Cambridge Street Planning Study and Mass Ave Planning Study. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Committee Report #3. The Ordinance Committee held a public hearing on Apr 6, 2026 to continue the discussion that was held at the Mar 11, 2026 hearing regarding zoning recommendations to strengthen active use requirements on Cambridge Street and Mass Ave as a follow-up on the recently adopted zoning petitions. [text of report]
pulled by McGovern; 3 Orders Adopted 9-0; Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
There are three proposed Orders in Report #3 meant to tweak the current zoning. Tweaking is good – especially as an alternative to some of more radical rezoning of recent years upon which political ambition has been built without regard for the potential consequences. - RW
Street cleaning starts Wednesday, April 1. If you’re a chronic delinquent, your 2025 Resident Permit Parking sticker expires on Tuesday. I fully expect to see a long line of miscreants at the City Hall Annex on Monday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, down the street at City Hall, we have these:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a federal update including an update on relevant court cases. [text of report]
pulled by Siddiqui; comments by Nolan, Yi-An Huang, Megan Bayer, Flaherty; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an overview of the City’s initial Artificial Intelligence efforts. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Claire Spinner, Jay Fusco (IT), Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-12 regarding Harvard Square pedestrianization. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, Flaherty, Brooke McKenna (Dept. of Congestion, Obstruction, and Aggravation), Al-Zubi; add Flaherty, Al-Zubi as sponsors; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-3 (AR25-48) regarding establishing a formal policy that clearly defines the City’s role and financial responsibilities in supporting large-scale public events hosted by Cambridge-based non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, including criteria for fee waivers. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Simmons, Al-Zubi, Matt Nelson, Siddiqui, Yi-An Huang; Placed on File 9-0
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-9 regarding and report back to the Council on (i) legal parameters related to City funding and Tourism Destination Marketing District restrictions, and (ii) oversight and accountability related to the operation of the visitor information kiosk, and related governance expectations, including alignment with City priorities. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Flaherty, McGovern, Simmons, Melissa Peters, Nolan, Al-Zubi, Siddiqui; Placed on File 9-0
Note: There was nearly unanimous dissatisfaction expressed regarding the current vendor (Culture House) that curates the Harvard Square Kiosk.
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-17 regarding proposed updates to the City’s Welcoming Community Ordinance. [text of report]
pulled by Al-Zubi; comments by Al-Zubi, Siddiqui, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Flaherty, Megan Bayer; minor scrivener's error corrected, Passed to 2nd Reading 9-0
Order #2. That the City Manager 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. Councillor Simmons, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Zusy
pulled by Zusy to be added as sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
Order #5. That the City Manager 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. Councillor Nolan, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Al-Zubi
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, Azeem, Al-Zubi; minor amendment, add Al-Zubi as sponsor; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
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]
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.
There seemed to be some movement three weeks ago toward not eliminating the senior exemption - before Mayor Siddiqui intervened by tabling the matter so that any possible amendments could instead be discussed out of public view. We could also use a more honest accounting of the actual costs of administering the permit parking program. As someone comment at last week’s meeting, the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) charges a registration fee of $50 every two years. How can the City’s Department of Congestion, Obstruction, and Aggravation (a.k.a. Transportation Department) justify triple that cost? Why can’t the fact that a motor vehicle is registered to a Cambridge address suffice? We do, after all, have access to the RMV database. Why must renewal be done every year rather than every two years?
Here you go:
Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to recommendations for the block rates for water consumption and sewer use for the period beginning April 1, 2026 and ending March 31, 2027. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, Nolan, Mark Gallagher (Water Dept.), Flaherty; Orders Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Water & Sewer Block Rates: FY17 - FY27
Water & Sewer Rate Increases: FY17-FY27
Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $900,000 from the Mitigation Revenue Stabilization Fund and the rescission of funds from two grants in the amount of $2,000,000 and $400,000 respectively to support a new off-road bridge over the Fitchburg Rail Line. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Brooke McKenna (Transportation), Nolan; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
“Funds will be used to support the design costs toward a new off-road bridge over the Fitchburg Rail Line that will connect Danehy Park to the Rindge Avenue neighborhood…”
Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a BEUDO Review Board Appointment. [text of report]
Appointment Confirmed 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to classification of the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) Review Board as special municipal employees. [text of report]
Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $5,234,379 from Free Cash to support snow operations. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, John Nardone (DPW), Sobrinho-Wheeler, TJ Shea (DPW), Flaherty, McGovern, Kathy Watkins, George Heinz (DHSP), Zusy, Siddiqui; Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $700,000 from Free Cash to support road repairs related to snow operations. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan (taken up with Mgr #5); Order Adopted 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR26-21 regarding exploration of a potential Snow Corps program. [text of report]
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler (taken up with Mgr #5); Placed on File 8-0-1 (Simmons Absent)
Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the 2025 Town Gown Reports and Presentations discussed by the Planning Board in February. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Nolan, Melissa Peters (CDD), Al-Zubi, City Manager Yi-An Huang; Placed on File 9-0
Order #2. City Council support of H.91 and S.2556, An Act to modernize funding for community media programming. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Flaherty
pulled by McGovern for comments; Order Adopted 9-0
Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department and the Transportation Department to meet with Harvard’s Office of Community Relations and the Longwood Collective (MASCO) to harmonize institutional bus protocols with public-facing commitments. Councillor Al-Zubi, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted 9-0
Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to direct relevant City departments and staff to examine and report back on whether the city can require single-stall public bathrooms to be gender-neutral. Councillor McGovern, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor Al-Zubi, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Azeem [attachment]
pulled by McGovern; comments by McGovern (w/amendments), Flaherty, Zusy, Nolan, Siddiqui; Amendments Adopted 9-0; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
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)
No Action Taken
There seemed to be some movement three weeks ago toward not eliminating the senior exemption - before Mayor Siddiqui intervened by tabling the matter so that any possible amendments could instead be discussed out of public view. We could also use a more honest accounting of the actual costs of administering the permit parking program. As someone comment at last week’s meeting, the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) charges a registration fee of $50 every two years. How can the City’s Department of Congestion, Obstruction, and Aggravation (a.k.a. Transportation Department) justify triple that cost? Why can’t the fact that a motor vehicle is registered to a Cambridge address suffice? We do, after all, have access to the RMV database. Why must renewal be done every year rather than every two years?
Unfinished Business #2. Amend section 4.50 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of permitting the use of land for the following purposes as-of-right in all zoning districts: religious purposes; educational purposes on land owned or leased by the Commonwealth or any of its agencies, subdivisions or bodies politic or by a religious sect or denomination, or by a nonprofit educational corporation; and for a child care center, school-aged child care program, family child care home, or large family child care home as defined in section 1a of Chapter 15d of Massachusetts General Laws. [Passed to 2nd Reading Mar 2, 2026; may be ordained on or after Mar 23, 2026] (ORD26#1)
pulled by Sobrinho-Wheeler; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan; Ordained 8-1 (Flaherty - No)
Committee Report #1. The Finance Committee held a public hearing on Feb 25, 2026 to receive a status update on Federal Grants (including ARPA) and the Federal Grant Stabilization Fund, as well as a discussion on establishing future Budget Priorities. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 9-0
Late Order #5. Support A Federal Earmark to Take Plans for the Boston-Cambridge Riverwalk Construction at Science Park to 25% Design. Councillor Zusy, Councillor Flaherty, Councillor Nolan (PO26#63)
Comments by Zusy, Flaherty, Nolan; Order Adopted as Amended 9-0
April 15, 2026 – Serving on a City of Cambridge board, commission or committee can be a rewarding experience and an excellent way to contribute to our community. Members have the opportunity to participate in the City’s decision-making process for a variety of topics.
The City of Cambridge is currently seeking to fill vacancies on the Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board, Public Planting Committee, and Traffic Board. The deadline to apply for each vacancy is Monday, May 18.
Apply today at Cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. If you have questions about the application process or need assistance, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 617-349-4300 or boardsandcommissions@cambridgema.gov.
Below is more detailed information on each of the current vacancies:
Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board (Application Deadline: May 18)
The CCPD Advisory Board works to increase access to all aspects of Cambridge community life for people with disabilities. The Commission raises awareness about disability issues and promotes equal opportunities for people with a range of abilities, including physical, mental, and sensory. CCPD also provides information, referrals, guidance, and technical assistance to individuals and their families, employers, public agencies, businesses and private non-profit organizations. CCPD Advisory Board members work with other board members and office staff to carry out the CCPD Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.96).
The CCPD Advisory Board, which has 11 members who serve as volunteers for three-year terms, currently meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month at 5:30pm. Members must attend monthly meetings and also take part in Working Groups and work on projects as needed.
If interested applicants have questions or require more information, please contact CCPD@cambridgema.gov, call 617-349-4692 (voice), or 711 (relay).
Public Planting Committee (Application Deadline: May 18)
This Committee is charged with the responsibility of promoting and improving the quality and diversity of plantings throughout all areas of Cambridge. This includes reviewing planting plans for new public work in the city; advising the city on effective maintenance of public plantings; supporting the role of the Urban Forestry Division of the Cambridge Public Works Department; and encouraging interest in public plantings in all neighborhoods.
The length of the term is 2 years. The Committee holds a hybrid meeting where members and the public have the option to either attend in person or virtually on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7pm. Candidates should be Cambridge residents who have an interest in urban forestry and landscape issues, and, ideally, experience in horticulture.
If interested applicants have questions or require more information, please contact David Lefcourt at dlefcourt@cambridgema.gov.
Traffic Board (Application Deadline: May 18)
The Traffic Board hears petitions brought before it regarding the adoption, alteration, or repeal of rules and regulations relating to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the City’s streets and the movement, stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles on, and their exclusion from, streets, ways, highways, roads, and parkways under the control of the City. The Traffic Board also provides advice and consultation to the City’s Traffic Director. The board members ideally will bring a range of experience within the Cambridge community and professionally to their new roles.
The length of the term is 3 years. Meetings will be held in person. Ideally, prospective Board members will care how the City’s streets operate and bring a range of experience within the Cambridge community and professionally to their roles. Cambridge residents are preferred.
If interested applicants have questions or require more information, please contact Jeff Parenti at jparenti@cambridgema.gov.
All board and commission members in Cambridge must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. Members should be Cambridge residents representing different disabilities, diverse cultures and races, and all areas of Cambridge.
Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow to Retire After More Than 30 years With Department (Apr 16, 2026)
New Walking Group Series for Older Adults Begins in May (Apr 16, 2026)
Street Closure Planned in Harvard Square for April 18 Festival (Apr 15, 2026)
Cambridge Seeking Community Members for New Commission Vacancies (Apr 15, 2026)
Apply to the 2026 Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program! (Apr 15, 2026)
Join Our Team - Cambridge Police Now Accepting Applications Through GetBadged.com (Apr 14, 2026)
Work with Young People at DHSP Programs this Summer! (Apr 14, 2026)
Community Safety Department Announces New Violence Prevention Grant Recipients; Will Host Two Community Events in Late April (Apr 13, 2026)
Apply to DHSP Afterschool Programs for the 2026-2027 School Year! Application Deadline is May 11 (Apr 13, 2026)
Reopening of Roadways Near 221 Mount Auburn Street (Apr 13, 2026)
City of Cambridge Closures and Service Information for Patriots’ Day Holiday Monday, April 20 (Apr 13, 2026)
Math Is Everywhere!: Join Our Early Childhood Math Campaign (Apr 13, 2026)
Keep Cambridge Thriving – Shop Local (Apr 13, 2026)
River Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Project: New Traffic Pattern to be Implemented (Apr 13, 2026)
Cambridge Drought Status Downgraded to Level 1 - Mild Drought (Apr 10, 2026)
Fires caused by Spontaneous Combustion (Apr 10, 2026)
Cambridge to Host Sensory Friendly Touch-A-Truck 4-22 (Apr 10, 2026)
Rise Up Cambridge Evaluation Points to Meaningful Short Term Financial Relief for Low-Income Families (Apr 8, 2026)
Cambridge Residents Eligible to Participate in Discount Rain Barrel Program (Apr 8, 2026)
Cambridge Permit Finder Dataset and Interactive Dashboard Now Available (Apr 8, 2026)
Turn 2 Foundation’s Jeter’s Leaders Program Visits CPD (Apr 8, 2026)
Nominate a Public Works Employee for Outstanding Performance by May 1 (Apr 8, 2026)
Your Firefighters at Work - First Quarter of 2026 (Apr 7, 2026)
GIS Data Download Updates (Apr 7, 2026)
Service Alert Patriots’ Day Closure (Apr 7, 2026)
All Library locations will be closed on Mon, Apr 20 for Patriots’ Day.
Lead A Cambridge Plays Event This Summer (Apr 7, 2026)
Six Years Later, Search Continues for Mitchel Iviquel (Apr 7, 2026)
Celebrate Arbor Week - Share Your Favorite Tree (Apr 7, 2026)
$67,500 Of Art For Social Justice Grants Awarded By Cambridge Arts (Apr 6, 2026)
Fire at 53 Bow Street - Floor 4 (Apr 6, 2026)
45 Artists And Organizations Awarded $185,215 In Local Cultural Council Grants By Cambridge Arts (Apr 6, 2026)
Cambridge Public Library to Host Former Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith for National Poetry Month (Apr 3, 2026)
March 2026 Edition of BridgeStat Monthly Crime Report Now Available (Apr 3, 2026)
$117,000 In Organizational Investment Grants Awarded To 13 Cambridge Nonprofits (Apr 2, 2026)
Sidewalk Repairs on Broadway Beginning Tuesday, April 7 (Apr 2, 2026)
Cambridge Celebrates Arbor Week May 4-8 (Apr 2, 2026)
Elevator Rescue from a Blind Shaft (Apr 2, 2026)
Technical Rescue - Overturned Excavator (Apr 2, 2026)
CPD Promotes 2 New Lieutenants, 5 New Sergeants (Apr 2, 2026)
Appeals Court Rejects Latest Trump-Vance Administration Attack on Funding for Solutions to Homelessness (Apr 1, 2026)
Cambridge Public Library to Host Award-Winning Author Jasmine Warga for the Curious George Lecture (Mar 31, 2026)
Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program for English Language Learners Recruiting for Fall 2026! (Mar 30, 2026)
Firefighters Rescue trapped Construction Workers (Mar 30, 2026)
Cambridge Secures Grant Funding and Will Bring 2026 FIFA World Cup Watch Parties to Neighborhoods Across the Community (Mar 30, 2026)
CPD Seeks Public Assistance with Locating Missing Person (Mar 28, 2026)
Cambridge Seeks Nominations for Outstanding City Employee Award and Brian Murphy Award for Leadership and Public Service (Mar 25, 2026)
Parks and Recreation Staff Preparing Athletic Fields for Spring Season Use (Mar 25, 2026)
Community Learning Center Students Participate in Civic Life (Mar 25, 2026)
Street Cleaning and Yard Waste Pickup Resume on Wednesday, April 1 for the 2026 Season (Mar 24, 2026)
Council on Aging Announces Changes to Lunch Meal Program Effective April 1 (Mar 24, 2026)
DPW Launches Pop-Up Recycle Events for Hard-To-Recycle Materials (Mar 23, 2026)
Apply to the CLC's Bridge to College Program! (Mar 23, 2026)
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Saturday, April 11th (Mar 20, 2026)
City of Cambridge Announces Winning Projects for 12th Participatory Budgeting Cycle (Mar 19, 2026)
New Air Supply 1 placed in service (Mar 19, 2026)
Cambridge Releases 5-Year Affordable Housing Trust Report (Mar 18, 2026)
Cambridge Public Library to Launch Coding and Web Development Workshop (Mar 18, 2026)
Library Unveils New Tech for All Initiative (Mar 17, 2026)
Cambridge GIS is on Bluesky (Mar 16, 2026)
Harvard Sq. Business Association Recognizes CPD Sergeant with Community Partnership Award (Mar 16, 2026)
Attend the Health and Human Services Job Fair on March 25! (Mar 15, 2026)
Carl Barron Achievement Awards (Mar 12, 2026)
Cambridge Public Library to Host Sacred Songs and Rituals Performance in Celebration of Greek American Heritage Month (Mar 12, 2026)
Cambridge Earns Highest Credit Rating Possible from Rating Agencies For the 27th Consecutive Year (Mar 11, 2026)
Registration Opens March 16 for Spring Programs at the War Memorial Recreation Center (Mar 11, 2026)
Commonwealth Elevates Cambridge and Northeast Region To Critical Drought Status (Mar 11, 2026)
February 2026 Edition of BridgeStat Monthly Crime Report Now Available (Mar 10, 2026)
Alewife Commercial District Assessment Released (Mar 9, 2026)
Sign Up for “Take Care,” a Virtual Weekly Informational Group for Caregivers, March 19 - April 16 (Mar 9, 2026)
Fire Headquarters Reconstruction Update - March, 2026 (Mar 9, 2026)
Turn your Clocks Ahead and Check your Smoke and CO Alarms (Mar 5, 2026)
Complete and Return Your 2026 Annual City Census (Mar 5, 2026)
Voting on Cambridge’s New Participatory Budgeting Projects Runs March 5 - 15 (Mar 4, 2026)
Gas Investigation (Mar 4, 2026)
Renewed Cambridge Women’s Heritage Project Brings Women’s Contributions Into Focus (Mar 3, 2026)
GIS Data Download Updates (Mar 3, 2026)
Annual Rabies Clinic for Dogs To Be Held April 4 (Mar 2, 2026)
Working Fire Box 45-413 - Feb 28, 2026 (Mar 2, 2026)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
3:00pm The City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will hold a public hearing to review and discuss the Residential Permit Parking Program, associated costs, and the relationship between the program, the services it provides, and the general use of the public ways in Cambridge. The hearing will also include discussion of the Policy Order passed at the Mar 30, 2026 City Council meeting, PO26#32. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
3:00pm The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing to review the Cambridge Police Department’s use of ShotSpotter technology, also known as SoundThinking, which was referred to the Public Safety Committee through the Annual Surveillance Report, CM26#44, on Mar 9, 2026. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
5:30pm City Council meeting (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
12:00pm The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing to review specific items from the Annual Surveillance Report as required under Cambridge Municipal Code Chapter 2.128, Section 2.128.060, CM26#44, submitted to the full City Council on Mar 9, 2026. (Sullivan Chamber and Zoom)
