It’s Mayor Siddiqui again

Jan 5, 2026 – At its Inaugural Meeting this morning, the Cambridge City Council unanimously elected Sumbul Siddiqui as Mayor and Burhan Azeem as Vice Mayor.

There had been rumors on social media and elsewhere that a protest was planned to disrupt the Inaugural Meeting, but this never materialized - even though there appeared to be several audience members dressed for the part.

Later in the day, the new Cambridge School Committee was inaugurated and, as its first official order of business, voted who would be the Chair of the School Committee - as specified in the newly adopted Cambridge City Charter in which the Mayor now sits as just an ordinary member of the School Committee. The vote went as follows:

There’s some kind of story behind the non-unanimous vote to elect David Weinstein as School Committee Chair, what kinds of deals were struck in exchange for the votes, and the two “Present” votes for the largely symbolic choice of Caitlin Dube as Vice Chair. Perhaps most interesting in this unfolding story is what role the teachers union (Cambridge Education Association - CEA) played in the vote and in what may unfold in the weeks and months to come. Apparently, there is a plan to install the current head of the CEA as a non-voting ex-officio member of the School Committee who may chime in at any point in their meetings - just like an elected member. It is my understanding that this was a condition for candidates receiving the endorsement of the CEA and its funding/campaign partner, the Mass. Teachers Association (MTA) - an organization that has been advocating that the right to strike be made legal in Massachusetts. - RW

How a developer’s lawsuit against Cambridge aims to topple affordable housing rules across Massachusetts

The suit takes aim at inclusionary development requirements, which have created thousands of affordable apartments in recent decades
Boston Globe, by Andrew Brinker, Dec 29, 2025

New lawsuit challenges Cambridge inclusionary zoning ordinance

By Michael P. Norton, State House News Service, Dec 3, 2025

Related: Lessons in Inclusionary Zoning - by Patrick Barrett

Urgent Legal and Policy Concerns Regarding Cambridge’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (May 1, 2025)

Follow-Up Memo on Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance Concerns Under MBTA Communities Act Compliance (June 11, 2025)

Cambridge Municipal Election – Voter Turnout: 2023 to 2025

Dec 14, 2025 – I finally got around to looking at the turnout data for the 2025 Cambridge municipal election. This involved merging A LOT of database tables to get The Big Table with all the voter histories from November 1997 through November 2025. For today’s exercise I decided to compare the voter turnout from Nov 2023 to Nov 2025 — and it tells a pretty clear story when you look at the age distribution of voters, in particular in the 26-33 age range. Most of this should be pretty self-explanatory when you look at the histograms and the differences from one election to the next.

War Chests - 2025 City Council Candidates (and Political Action Committees)

These are end-of-month Bank Reports. Some of the very large mailing expenses may not yet be included.

Total Receipts: Jan 1, 2024 - Jan 6, 2026

Percent Cambridge Receipts: Jan 1, 2024 - Jan 6, 2026

Percent Union Receipts: Jan 1, 2024 - Jan 6, 2026

Total Expenditures: Jan 1, 2024 - Jan 6, 2026

Cost Per $1 Vote - 2025 Cambridge City Council Election

School Committee Campaign Finance Reports – Jan 2024 through October 2025 (more at end of year)

Wheeling and Dealing – December 22, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting

While backroom deals are being cut to see whether Councillors McGovern or Siddiqui (or someone else) can garner the necessary majorities for who will be the next Mayor (and Vice Mayor), the curtain closes tonight on the 2024-2025 City Council. Even though the controversial super-upzonings of Cambridge Street and Mass. Ave. don’t expire until January 28, the rush is on to ram them through now to prevent any uncertainty that might arise with the election of two new city councillors. They’re even trading token amounts of permissible building heights in exchange for possible mayoral and vice mayoral votes. For what it’s worth, the jockeying for who might be the Chair of the School Committee under the rules of the new Charter is even more bizarre – with the teacher’s union wielding an obscene degree of influence.

I’m pretty sure the next two years are going to suck. Good thing I’m now streaming Turner Classic Movies because I will be needing a lot of Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Leslie Caron, Katherine Hepburn, and Barbara Stanwyck to get through the next two years.

Here are the items on this week’s agenda prior to the curtain coming down:

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 City Manager Yi-An Huang, Siddiqui, Nolan, City Solicitor Megan Bayer; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following members to the Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) effective Dec 22, 2025. [text of report]
Appointments Confirmed 8-0-1 (Simmons - Absent)

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to combined sewer overflows. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, John Nardone, Jim Wilcox (City Engineer, DPW), Toner, Zusy; Placed on File 9-0

I can never get enough information about infrastructure.

Supersize It – Regardless of the Consequences

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Massachusetts Avenue zoning petition. [CDD memo (this is for Cambridge St.)]
pulled by McGovern; comments by McGovern; Unfinished Business #3 and Charter Right #1 brought forward 9-0; McGovern - amend petition by substitution 9-0; comments by Toner, Siddiqui, Nolan (favors reduction to 11 stories, has concerns about what might happen in Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) thrown out); Megan Bayer notes if IZ thrown out then Zoning Ordinance could be amended to grant extra height/density in exchange for affordable units; comments by Zusy (favors reduction to 11 stories, quotes Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita - inaction is often the best action, also notes other recent upzonings done in rapid succession), Sobrinho-Wheeler (opposed to all reductions, continues to believe that this will yield affordable housing), Azeem (says a Special Permit will still be needed for larger developments), Wilson (need to be making extremely bold decisions), Melissa Peters (CDD), Jeff Roberts (CDD); McGovern asks about 11 vs. 12 stories; Melissa Peters, Yi-An Huang strongly favor 12 stories; McGovern justifies more height even for relatively few “affordable” units, continues to quote the Envision housing goals (made up by CDD after the fact), opposed to any height reduction; comments by Nolan re: new construction methods that less tall buildings more economically viable; comments by Zusy in favor of 11 stories, suggests that proposed zoning will make housing less affordable for those supporting the upzoning, suggests Central Square a better place for the additional height, petition needs more refinement; Wilson notes that we cannot build ourselves out of this housing crisis and that this upzoning will not yield any actual affordability; Charter Right #1 initially Passes 5-4 (PN,SS,AW,CZ,DS - Yes; BA,MM,JSW,PT - No); discussion re: substitute language; Simmons changes vote to No, so Charter Right #1 Fails 4-5 (PN,SS,AW,CZ - Yes; BA,MM,JSW,PT,DS - No); Ordained as Amended 6-3 (PN,AW,CZ - No); Reconsideration Fails 0-9; Placed on File 9-0
Due to error in posted agenda (as noted - Cambridge St. language was posted instead of Mass Ave language), Rules Suspended (hoping the same does prevail) 9-0; Reconsideration Prevails 9-0; Jeff Roberts (CDD) notes typos needed to be corrected in 17.805 (not 17.705); Petition Amended by Substitution 9-0; Petition Re-Ordained as Amended 6-3 (PN,AW,CZ - No); Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Massachusetts Avenue subdistrict (MAS-12) from a maximum of 12 stories to 11 stories with ground floor active use/retail as consistent with the recommendation of the Mass Ave Planning Study. [Charter Right – Siddiqui, Dec 15, 2025]
Brought forward along with Manager’s Agenda #6; initially Passes 5-4 (PN,SS,AW,CZ,DS - Yes; BA,MM,JSW,PT - No); discussion re: substitute language; Simmons changes vote to No, so Charter Right #1 Fails 4-5 (PN,SS,AW,CZ - Yes; BA,MM,JSW,PT,DS - No)

Unfinished Business #3. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000 17.000, and 20.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Massachusetts Avenue corridor. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Dec 8, 2025; Eligible to be Ordained Dec 22, 2025; Expires Jan 28, 2026] [Revised][Published]
Brought forward along with Manager’s Agenda #6; Ordained as Amended 6-3 (PN,AW,CZ - No)
Due to error in posted agenda (as noted - Cambridge St. language was posted instead of Mass Ave language), Rules Suspended (hoping the same does prevail) 9-0; Reconsideration Prevails 9-0; Jeff Roberts (CDD) notes typos needed to be corrected in 17.805 (not 17.705); Petition Amended by Substitution 9-0; Petition Re-Ordained as Amended 6-3 (PN,AW,CZ - No); Reconsideration Fails 0-9

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a revised Cambridge Street zoning petition. [CDD memo] [Revised Cambridge St Petition (Markup)][Revised Cambridge St Petition (Clean)][Revised Cambridge St Map][Revised Cambridge St Map Descriptions][Combined Mass Ave/Cambridge St. amendments (Markup)][Combined Mass Ave/Cambridge St. amendments (Clean)]
pulled by McGovern; Unfinished Business #4 brought forward 9-0; comments by Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan in favor of delaying this; comments by Toner, Simmons in favor of voting now; Unf. Business #4 Tabled 7-2 (PT,DS - No); Placed on File 9-0

Unfinished Business #4. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 3.000, 17.000, and 19.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Cambridge Street corridor. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Dec 8, 2025; Eligible to be Ordained Dec 22, 2025; Expires Jan 28, 2026] [Revised][Published]
Brought forward along with Manager’s Agenda #7; Tabled 7-2 (PT,DS - No)

Communications #45. Nonie Valentine, re: Pause on extreme upzoning on Mass. Ave. and Cambridge St.

I’m with Nonie on this one. We can do so much better, but that would require much better local representation than we currently have or will have in the near future.

Order #1. That the City Manager works with the Government Operations and Civic Unity Committee to hold hearings to discuss new ideas to honor and remember individuals (i.e. communal memorial garden, wall or path), criteria for eligibility, a committee structure with diverse representation of the city residents, and a means for recording and maintaining our current and future memorials.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Zusy
Comments by Nolan, Simmons; Charter Right - Simmons

Order #2. Restricting Eligibility for On-Street Resident Parking Permits in New Transit-Oriented Developments.   Councillor Zusy, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Nolan
Charter Right - Simmons

This is not a new proposal. The response from the City Solicitor has always (correctly) been that this is not a legal restriction that can be imposed by the City, though a property owner may be able to make this a requirement in a lease. That said, I am told that Somerville has imposed such a restriction, but I suppose that will last right up until the point that someone takes it to court.

Resolution #4. Congratulations to Kathleen Rawlins on her retirement from the Historical Commission.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons

Kit Rawlins has been a welcome presence with the Historical Commission for many years, and I wish her the happiest possible retirement.

Resolution #9. Congratulations to Patrol Officer Devon Brooks on his retirement from the Cambridge Police Department.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons

I have for years regularly bicycled alongside Devon on the semi-annual bike rides organized by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee, and I often encountered him while on duty. Like so many others in the Cambridge Police Department, Devon has consistently demonstrated how fortunate we are to have such a caring, effective, and good-natured local police force.

Note: The meeting ended with a personal statement by exiting Councillor Toner thanking family, friends, colleagues, and City staff. Mayor Simmons closed with an acknowledgment of Councillor Toner’s exemplary service. This was the last regular meeting for departing Councillors Paul Toner and Ayesha Wilson.

Comments?

Ball of Confusion - December 15, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting

Since it is proposed to cancel the Dec 29 meeting, this should be the next-to-last meeting of this City Council term, and next week’s meeting will likely see the rushed ordination of two massive upzonings of Cambridge Street (Inman Square to Lechmere) and N. Mass Ave. (Cambridge Common to the Arlington Line, including Porter Square). Some people (including me) are opposed simply because of the severe scale of the upzoning, and others are opposed because of the potential disruption to the rigged economics of the current iteration of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO 2.0). Be careful what you wish for. In all likelihood, the latter concern will only result in an even more massive upzoning meant to re-rig the economics of the AHO.

In my view, this current City Council has absolutely no idea what they are doing - other than delivering potential development projects to their political friends. Rigging the economics based on low information has only created a poker game with ever-increasing wagers. Increasing hunger for lost tax revenue is countered by more calls for encumbered development which then creates even more need for revenue. And so on.

Here are some of the featured items on this week’s agenda:

Boarding & Baiting

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of five members to the Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD). [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of the following people as members of the BEUDO Review Board. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appointment of Sue Walsh as a member of the Community Benefits Advisory Committee. [text of report]

Rushing to get those reports in before the end of the term and Wednesday’s Special Meeting to review the City Manager’s evaluation

Manager’s Agenda #4. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-66, regarding a dedicated position or function focused on triaging and directing senior residents to appropriate services and supports. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-64, regarding poison ivy control at Fresh Pond. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-57, regarding body-worn cameras. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-54, regarding review of current crisis prevention protocols and deployment of mental health professionals. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-49, regarding development of a policy for future private development. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-40, regarding updates to the Community Benefits Ordinance. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to AR#25-65, regarding Connectivity North of Rindge Ave. [text of report]

Road Rage

Manager’s Agenda #11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, regarding proposed parking fine increases. text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on the Roadway Safety Audit Program. [text of report]

Manager’s Agenda #13. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, transmitting an update on federal grant funding. [text of report]

I’ll see your 6 stories and raise you 12 stories

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Massachusetts Avenue subdistrict (MAS-12) from a maximum of 12 stories to 11 stories with ground floor active use/retail as consistent with the recommendation of the Mass Ave. Planning Study.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Wilson

Charter Right #1. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Inman Square zoning sub-district (CAM-10) from a maximum of 10 stories to 8 stories with ground floor active use/retail as consistent with the majority of the Cambridge Street corridor. [Charter Right – Sobrinho-Wheeler, Dec 8, 2025]

Unfinished Business #5. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 3.000, 17.000, and 19.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Cambridge Street corridor. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Dec 8, 2025; Eligible to be Ordained Dec 22, 2025] [Revised][Published]

Unfinished Business #6. An Ordinance has been received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, relative to amend the Zoning Map and Articles 2.000, 3.000, 4.000, 5.000, 6.000, 11.000 17.000, and 20.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance as follows with the intent of establishing four new zoning districts for the Massachusetts Avenue corridor. [Passed to 2nd Reading, Dec 8, 2025; Eligible to be Ordained Dec 22, 2025] [Revised][Published]

151 Communications - mainly from the usual ABC and CCC partisans worked up over the upzonings. Frankly, I don’t understand why anyone even bothers to write letters or speak at Public Comment, because nobody is listening. I also firmly believe we would all be better off if A Better (Bigger) Cambridge (ABC), the Cambridge Citizens Coalition (CCC), the Cambridge Residents Alliance (CResA), Cambridge Bike Safety (CBS) and most of the other self-serving partisan organizations in Cambridge would close up shop. They’re not helping. - RW

Comments and additional details may follow.

As the Clock Winds Down - December 8, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting

Thus begins the last month of the current City Council term, and the open question is whether the new City Council will outdo the current City Council in sheer arrogance and unwillingness to actually listen to the residents of Cambridge. There’s also that whole Mayoral Election thing going on behind the scenes. In the meantime, here are a few notable items on this week’s agenda:

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 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #2. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a request for approval to seek authorization from the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (the “IG”) for the City to use the Construction Manager at Risk (“CMaR”) procurement and construction method (the “CMaR Method”) in connection with the DPW Salt Shed Replacement Project. [text of report] [DPW Salt Shed] [CMaR details]
Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #6. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-59, regarding 25 Lowell Street. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #7. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to updates to institutional use regulations. [text of report] [markup version] [final version]
Order Adopted, Referred to Ordinance Committee and Planning Board 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #8. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to revised language for the Mass Ave Zoning Petition. [CDD memo] [markup version] [final version] [map] [description]
Amended by Substitution, Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to revised language for the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition. [CDD memo] [markup version] [final version]
Amended by Substitution, Placed on File 9-0

Committee Report #1. The Ordinance Committee held three public hearings to review and discuss two Zoning Petitions by the Cambridge City Council, the Massachusetts Avenue Zoning Petition (CM25#235) , and the Cambridge Street Zoning Petition (CM25#234). The first hearing was held on Oct 30, 2025 at 5:30pm and recessed. The Committee reconvened and recessed again on Nov 13, 2025 at 5:30pm. The Committee reconvened and adjourned on Dec 2, 2025 at 5:30pm. [text of report] [attached communications] [revised Mass Ave petition] [revised Cambridge St petition]

Order #3. That the City Manager is requested to direct the Community Development Department (CDD) and Law Department to prepare a draft of a separate zoning petition to strengthen Active Use requirements on Cambridge Street and the Porter Square PUD subdistricts for sites that redevelop as single parcels.   Councillor Siddiqui, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler
Order Adopted 9-0

Order #4. That the City Manager is requested to instruct the Community Development Department to reduce the recommendations for the Inman Square zoning sub-district (CAM-10) from a maximum of 10 stories to 8 stories with ground floor active use/retail as consistent with the majority of the Cambridge Street corridor.   Councillor Toner, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Wilson
Charter Right - Sobrinho-Wheeler

Order #1. That the City Manager is requested to work with all relevant departments, boards, and commissions to strive to publish, whenever practicable, meeting agendas and all supporting documents, presentations, and related materials sufficiently in advance of public meetings to allow residents time to review and prepare.   Mayor Simmons, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zusy
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #2. That the City Manager is requested to work with the Community Development Department and the Inspectional Services Department staff to streamline the permitting process, including but not limited to creating a central role dedicated to the permitting process, the creation of a unified online permitting portal, and standardized timelines.   Councillor Azeem, Councillor Zusy, Councillor Toner, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan
Order Adopted as Amended 9-0

Order #6. Home Rule Petition for a Real Estate Transfer Fee.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted as Amended 8-1 (Toner - No)

Order #5. Policy Order regarding Interim City Clerk position extension.   Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern
Order Adopted 9-0

Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Mayor Simmons regarding extending the Appointment of the Interim City Clerk. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Resolution #8. Condolences to the family of Moses Moore.   Mayor Simmons

Resolution #9. Thanking Ellen Semonoff for her years of service to the City of Cambridge.   Mayor Simmons

Resolution #12. Resolution thanking Ayesha Wilson for her service.   Mayor Simmons

Resolution #13. Resolution on the death of Charles Coe.   Councillor Nolan [Boston Globe obituary]

Resolution #14. Congratulations to Neal Alpert and Jen Tourtellot on their recent engagement.   Mayor Simmons

Late Resolution #16. Congratulations to Elizabeth Hudson and Will on the birth of their daughter.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Simmons

Communications & Reports #3. A communication was received from Interim City Clerk Paula M. Crane, transmitting a memorandum regarding pending Awaiting Reports that it wished to be carried forward to the newly elected City Council for their consideration in the next legislative terms. [text of report]
Placed on File 9-0

Comments?

Short and Curious - November 24, 2025 Cambridge City Council meeting

Though the agenda is short and uneventful, I suspect the personnel shakeup reported in the Harvard Crimson is liable to generate some conversation as it relates to On The Table #2. Here goes:

Manager’s Agenda #1. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-60, which requested a comprehensive report on Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, Sobrinho-Wheeler, DPW Commissioner John Nardone, Nolan; [Kevin Beutel, Health Commissioner Sam Lipson also in attendance]; Placed on File 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #2. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,000,000, from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Public Works Department Extraordinary Expenditures account. These funds will support the removal of stockpiled contaminated soil and initiate the design phase for the remediation and reconstruction of Gold Star Mothers Park. [text of report]
pulled by Zusy; comments by Zusy, John Nardone, Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins, City Manager Yi-An Huang; Order Adopted 9-0

Manager’s Agenda #3. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 25-56, regarding an update on rodent control citywide. [text of report]
pulled by Nolan; comments by Nolan, John Nardone, Rat Czar Dave Powers (Inspectional Services), Sam Lipson, Wilson, Yi-An Huang, Simmons; Anthony Tuccinardi (Inspectional Services), Toner (on coyotes); Placed on File 9-0

On The Table #2. That the City Manager is requested to explore with the Government Operations Committee whether the functions of the Peace Commission may be improved and enhanced by bringing them within another City Commission or Department, such as the Human Rights Commission, and report back in a timely manner. [Charter Right – Simmons, May 19, 2025; Tabled June 2, 2025] (PO25#76)

Late Order #2. Update on Organizational Changes to the Equity & Inclusion Department.   Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Wilson, Vice Mayor McGovern
taken up early; comments by Wilson, Nolan, Azeem, Raecia Catchings (“Chief People Officer”), Sobrinho-Wheeler (who expresses desire that City Council should have control over City personnel matters), Siddiqui, Toner, Simmons, City Solicitor Megan Bayer (raises issue of whether any of this qualifies for possible Executive Session), McGovern; remarks by City Manager Yi-An Huang on how this action came about, accountability, investments in “equity and inclusion” - defers responses to subordinates; Deidre Travis Brown (Chief of Equity and Inclusion) on duplication of effort among commissions, efficiency and effectiveness; Rae Catchings (on the “runway needed” for future actions); Zusy, Siddiqui, McGovern (wants to be added as sponsor), Nolan, Wilson, Yi-An Huang (on future restructuring and staffing changes); amendment to add McGovern and one line adopted 8-0-1 (Azeem Absent); comments by Simmons, Zusy; Order Adopted as Amended 5-3-1 (Toner, Zusy, Simmons - No; Azeem - Absent)

Committee Report #1. The Health and Environment Committee held a public hearing on Wed, Oct 29, 2025 to review and discuss energy planning in Cambridge including expanding electricity capacity, expanding renewable energy productions, BEUDO energy requirements, and thermal energy network planning and any other topics relevant to the city’s overall planning for ensuring city goals of electrification may be met. [text of report]
Report Accepted, Placed on File 7-2-0 (Azeem, Siddiqui - Absent)

Comments?

Volunteer Opportunities - Cambridge Boards & Commissions (click for details)

Cambridge Conservation Commission - deadline Friday, January 9, 2026

Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women - deadline Friday, January 9, 2026