We have a lot of work in front of us. Together an newly elected City Council will tackle these and other issues in a collaborative and forward-thinking way.

One topic that has not received much attention this election cycle is the city’s finances – one of the city’s strengths and one that should not be overlooked or taken for granted.

We need our solidarity back. Diversity will not hold without it. Equality starts with it. As a city, we will need to transcend cultural and political boundaries.

The Cambridge Citywide Senior Center ballroom was packed Oct. 24 as more than 100 residents came to hear candidates for City Council answer questions about how they would address climate change on a local level.

Yes, more data would be great, as would more years of comparable counts. But Cambridge has been collecting bicycle data for more than 20 years, and a new report shows undeniable trends we need to keep improving.

Voting is a profound privilege and beautiful opportunity to be heard. Sadly, in Cambridge, only about 30 percent of the voting population actually cast ballots.

Measures must be taken to rein in property speculation, increase the availability of affordable housing and create a more equitable housing market in Cambridge.

Whether I and others – parents, kids, new riders – will be able to continue to get around Cambridge safely depends on the upcoming City Council election. 

Completing our bike lane network will mean fewer cars during rush hour, less carbon burned and more people who can be active every day because Cambridge has prioritized making a choice available to people of all ages and abilities.

We can be proud of Cambridge’s status as an innovation leader while demanding that more resources go toward those who have been most deeply affected by the city’s recent transformation and by broader systemic racism, classism and ableism.