Inoculation process for elders, essential workers remains a muddle as rollout for next phase nears
Thousands of older people who live in Cambridge become eligible for Covid-19 vaccinations in two weeks, yet it’s not clear who will give the shots and how. The same is true for essential workers, second on the state list for coronavirus shots.
Green projects top participatory budgeting again during a year Covid-19 cut available funds by half
Cambridge wrapped up its annual participatory budgeting process Wednesday, awarding seven winning projects totaling $525,000. As in years past, the top proposals were about the environment; this year residents voted to bring “urban micro-forests” and “rain gardens” to the city.
As CHA hospitals fill with coronavirus patients, officials worry about vaccine rollout readiness
Cambridge Health Alliance’s two hospitals in Cambridge and Everett are jammed and may run out of space for new patients if the pressure continues to worsen in the next two weeks, while officials express concerns about preparations for a mass vaccination program.
Coronavirus rise keeps doors closed until Feb. 1 for museums, movies and other indoor places
Current coronavirus restrictions on public activities are extended until at least Feb. 1, the City of Cambridge announced Tuesday.
Task force will look at shifting police functions, but solicitor says council cannot limit weapons
An 18-member task force will look into how the city could move some police functions to other departments, but the City Council cannot decide – or limit – what weapons the department uses, according to an opinion from the city’s Law Department.
Hold on library book pickups may go longer, called after ‘dramatic uptick’ in staff Covid-19
The pause on contactless library book pickups through Jan. 18, announced Thursday by the city and causing some unrest among residents, resulted from a “dramatic uptick” in Covid-19 positives among employees and could be extended by another week.
Why are we closing libraries but not bars?
The city manager continues to allow business interests to dictate policy while withholding needed social services for residents. Science should drive city policy. We should reopen our libraries for contactless pickup.
No community events allowed through March 31; city appointments, library pickups end to Jan . 18
The city has not permitted events or gatherings through its special events process since March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and this extension will make it nearly a year.
The best of Cambridge in 2020
If the obvious worst thing about this year was the coronavirus, the best thing is just as apparent: Our response to the pandemic as a city and as individuals.
The worst of Cambridge in 2020
There’s no suspense to naming the worst thing to happen to Cambridge this year: It’s the coronavirus. But we saw plenty of other disappointments and frustrations of 2020, even if some of them were worsened by the impacts of a pandemic.
