January Update

Featuring photos from inauguration, my committee assignments, policy orders I have been working on, and a look ahead to my first community office hours

 Inauguration

MLK Day

To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr day, I attended the day of service at city hall where we made care packages and collected food to give to those in need. I also attended the 43rd annual celebration at the Central Square Library and heard the wonderful Reverend Irene Monroe speak. Finally, I attended a talk about how "not knowing" factors into racism led by Dr. Jennifer Yanco, the author of "Misremembering Dr. King". 

In these trying times, Dr. King's radicalism is needed more than ever, and I'm glad that Cambridge works hard on keeping his memory alive for all of us. I am committed to working for justice for all people, in Cambridge and beyond.

Mass Municipal Association Annual Meeting

• NYC Fossil Fuel Lawsuit- My resolution, cosponsored by Vice Mayor Devereux, put the council on record in support of the New York City lawsuit against the five major oil companies. These companies knew the impact their products would have on climate change for decades and stayed silent so they could continue to rake in the profits. Now, cities like Cambridge are facing millions of dollars in damages caused by the consequences of climate change. Just like with Big Tobacco in the 90's, it is time to make these companies pay!
• Electric Vehicles - I cosponsored Vice Mayor Devereux's policy order calling for the city to report back on the possibility of increasing the number of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations, particularly in residential neighborhoods. Besides the obvious environmental benefits which will be reaped by all residents, EV's have rapidly become as affordable as gasoline powered equivalent vehicles, and a November 2017 Union of Concerned Scientists study found that by switching from gas to electric, consumers would save an average of $770 per year because they are cheaper to maintain, and the electricity is cheaper than gasoline per mile.
• Space Savers - I cosponsored Vice Mayor Devereux's policy order (along with Councillor Siddiqui) which calls for the city to enforce the ban on space savers after snowstorms. Space savers create tension between residents and too often are misused to save parking spaces in perpetuity after a storm.
• Snow Removal - My policy order, co-sponsored by Mayor McGovern and Vice Mayor Devereux, calls on the city to consider several ideas to improve the snow removal process following a major storm, specifically in light of the ever-worsening effects of climate change. Winters have become increasingly extreme over the past few decades, and we need to make sure the city is able to keep up.
• Gore Street Construction- Co-sponsored by Councillor Siddiqui and Councillor Toomey, my policy order calls on the city to mitigate the impacts of the upcoming work being done on Gore Street and to ensure that the developer follows through on benefits verbally promised at a recent community meeting. The new development at Cambridge Crossing (formerly known as NorthPoint) requires upgrades to the city's sewer lines, and the city has settled on Gore Street as the only option. As we continue to experience one of the largest development booms in recent memory, we need to carefully consider all of the impacts that development will have on the surrounding neighborhoods.
• I-90 Allston Interchange Project- I cosponsored Mayor McGovern's policy resolution, along with Vice Mayor Devereux and Councillor Carlone, calling on the council to support former Mayor Henrietta Davis's requests for action or further study relating to the I-90 Allston Interchange Project. Though most of the construction will happen across the river, Cambridge will be impacted significantly by the project. I want to thank Mayor Davis for taking the time to write out such a thoughtful and comprehensive report. Mayor Davis's full report is available here.

• Co-chair of the Health and Environment Committee, along with Vice Mayor Devereux
• Chair of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts and Celebrations Committee
• Member of the Government Operations/Rules and Claims Committee
• Member of the Economic Development and University Relations Committee
• Member of the Human Services and Veterans Committee
• Member of the Transportation & Public Utilities Committee