Health Alliance, recovered from water damage, opens a 69-bed psychiatric center serving kids
Cambridge Health Alliance will open 69 psychiatric beds for teenagers and children at its Somerville campus next week, more than doubling the health care system’s existing capacity of 27 beds for those age groups.
In Kendall and Davis squares, T tokens ride again, this time as trade-ins for meals at Life Alive cafes
Those old MBTA tokens you thought were worthless are spiking in value – briefly. Once worth one bus or subway ride, or about $1.25, for a week starting June 28 and again in August, they’re worth a meal at new Life Alive restaurants in Kendall Square and Somerville’s Davis Square, or about $11.
CHA Workforce Program gets a $100,000 boost from Cummings as it works to broaden support
The Cambridge Housing Authority’s Workforce Program that helps youths living in public housing prepare for college or a career has received a $100,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation. The grant, to be distributed over two years, will support the program while government aid has dwindled.
Bank building near Central to be city property, housing its offices and unarmed public safety
Approval to buy the handsome, circa-1904 beaux-arts style Cambridgeport Savings Bank Building near City Hall makes room for the city’s new unarmed Community Safety Department and helps solve a growing problem for municipal government: where to put everyone.
Ban on gas-powered leaf blowers must consider expense, ability of replacements, councillors hear
Some form of ban on gas-powered leaf blowers drew support during a City Council hearing, but there are pros and cons of battery-powered alternatives – including whether they can handle the amount of leaves dropped each fall in a New England city.
Local coffee shop chains are part of union surge, though not every owner seems to enjoy the taste
A wave of labor organization among Cambridge and Somerville cafés could expand this month as employees of 1369 Coffeehouse decide in a National Labor Relations Board election whether to unionize.
Budget passes with swiftly outvoted dissents, $802M outshone by selection of city manager
The city’s operating budget of $802 million was passed Monday by the City Council for the 2023 fiscal year starting July 1, representing an increase of $49 million, or 6.5 percent, over the current budget. It was an anticlimactic vote after the night’s approval of the next city manager, and one councillor suggested it not happen Monday at all.
Aid expected to fix a CHA budget gap of millions, but patient reluctance and staff shortages persist
The pandemic is still pummeling Cambridge Health Alliance financially, with patients again afraid to seek care during the current surge, and persistent staff shortages lengthening the wait for patients who do want help. Adding to the problems: assaults by teenage psychiatric patients, and monthslong delays in opening psychiatric units.
Proakis to be Watertown’s next city manager; Cambridge candidate Khumalo was in running
Watertown’s City Council voted unanimously to appoint George Proakis as its next city manager May 24. Among the other two city manager finalists was Hopkinton’s town manager, Norman Khumalo – a candidate for Cambridge city manager.
Zoning around electric cars and micro-mobility wins Planning Board support – but isn’t zoning
A measure aimed at promoting electric vehicles by increasing access to charging stations, reducing the number of cars in the city by expanding rental services and increasing use of “micro-mobility” transportation such as bicycles, electric bicycles and scooters drew support Tuesday from the Planning Board – as much as members felt they could offer.
