Monday, April 29, 2024

Incumbent first elected in 2017 and seeking her fourth term in office

The candidate’s website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Background: Legal aid attorney | Focuses: Affordable housing, economic growth, environment


Q&A

Compiled by Matt Rocha

Siddiqui is Cambridge’s incumbent mayor. She has lived in Cambridge since her family emigrated from Pakistan when she was 2. An attorney by trade, she worked at Northeast Legal Aid and represented low-income entrepreneurs and small-business owners. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a law degree from Northwestern Pritzker.

Housing: “Density has shaped who I am, and I’m very supportive of more density in our community … I’ve also pushed the city to look at our lots. We have land that’s much easier to build affordable housing on. I’m also very supportive of AHO 2.0. Finally, we have to just really work on zoning reform in general.”

Climate policy: “I co-sponsored a policy order to improve our Community Electricity Program, a form of group electricity purchasing that allows the city to determine (and increase) the amount of renewable energy in our electricity supply. I have promoted Cambridge’s Community Energy Initiatives, which incentivize Cambridge residents, businesses and nonprofits to purchase solar panels and solar hot water systems by combining discounts, rebates and tax credits.”

Road infrastructure: “To increase bicycle ridership and decrease motor vehicle speed, I supported the Cycling Safety Ordinance … I co-sponsored a policy order to identify whether a Bluebikes station may be located near Rafferty Park …  Additionally, I co-sponsored a policy order to identify traffic-calming and safety features for the Fresh Pond Mall.”

Pet project: Siddiqui spearheaded the City Council’s recent push for universal prekindergarten in Cambridge.