What is the plan for Cambridge?
The city manager and City Council should explain what they want Cambridge to be like in the future, and offer more clarity about regional plans affecting the city.
Attend Cambridge meetings from Nov. 28-Dec. 4: Studying broadband and issues of the unhoused
Public meetings this week look at municipal broadband feasibility, the unhoused and substance issues, Alewife zoning recommendations and more.
Restaurants’ patios must be removed by Nov. 30, returning space to cars and easing snow-plowing
Restaurants citywide will soon have to pack up their makeshift street patios – some of which began to look as permanent as the restaurants themselves – as Cambridge’s city manager has turned down an appeal to keep outdoor dining throughout the winter.
Attend Cambridge meetings from Nov. 21-27: Building higher in Affordable Housing Overlay
Public meetings this week look at expanding the Affordable Housing Overlay zoning from 2020 and how to use city-owned property; getting more EV charging and a municipal “green fleet”; the findings of the East Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Study Committee; and more.
In fight against rats, additional money, urgency for weapons from electrocution to birth control
Cambridge is rallying more resources against rats, including a 500 percent expansion of “Smart Boxes” that electrocute the animals one by one and the potential purchase of a carbon monoxide machine that chokes rats to death in their dens.
Council schedules private ‘communications’ training for Wednesday
The Cambridge City Council has scheduled a “a communications training” retreat for Wednesday, without explanation of what that means.
Council quietly set to hold retreat Thursday
A City Council-staff retreat is closed to the public, officials said, because it is being classified as a “training” and is therefore exempt from Open Meeting Law.
Most property owners will again receive tax relief through a process drawing increased discontent
The majority of Cambridge property taxpayers will again see a decrease or no change in their property tax bills this year, but city councillors are making ultimatums about changing how the relief process works.
Latest in reshaping of City Hall: crisis manager, ‘chief people officer’ and community relations
New City Manager Yi-An Huang would like to add City Hall leadership positions by the end of the year, and got little pushback Monday on the plans even from hesitant city councillors. Instead, councillors reminded him of the body’s wishes for adding a potential fourth position.
Q&A with Yi-An Huang: Coordination is key to new senior level posts for City Manager’s Office
Job interviews are underway with new City Manager Yi-An Huang for two new, six-figure-salaried positions that he calls central to creating a more collaborative, cross-departmental approach to government.
