As an urban planner who writes often about neighborhood change, the recent attacks on Cambridge’s Multifamily Housing Zoning Ordinance (MHZO) are not terribly surprising.
To me, they represent a darker side of human nature, a recurring impulse to hoard what we have and prevent others from enjoying it.
It often masquerades as something else — sometimes as seemingly benign concerns about setbacks or historic preservation — but its roots are in the selfish and snobbish impulse to exclude: to choose ourselves over others.
“That doesn’t belong here,” is often synonymous with “They don’t belong here.“
I would urge our city leaders to reject this self-serving instinct, and to instead stay the course: to keep our MHZO as-is — to choose more neighbors, more diversity, and more affordability as we build a more vibrant, abundant Cambridge.
Noah Harper, AICP / Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.