In addition to helping choose a governor and the holders of other offices, voters in Cambridge have the opportunity Nov. 8 to weigh in on several ballot questions, several of which affect state laws.

While there’s no way to avoid many of the consequences of climate change, we can slow its progress by adopting some successful and mostly inexpensive “model laws.”

Bicyclists are calling urgently for Somerville to install more protected bike lanes since an Aug. 12 bike death, but there’s an instant driver solution that prevents some crashes.

Trump-era funding decisions have contributing to a dramatic drop in aid available through the Cambridge domestic violence shelter Transition House, the nonprofit said in an email Monday. The shelter had to cut back its services July 1.

As an electric vehicle driver and Massachusetts resident concerned about the state’s future, I want to see a strong, clean transportation bill get through the Legislature.

Public meetings this week look at hiring a next city clerk, auditor and city manager; improvements to buses and Danehy Park, and hiring diversity; adding bike lanes on Garden Street; remembering Robert’s Rules of Order; transportation zoning and housing atop the Crimson Galeria; and the state of mental health services in Cambridge.

Our need to comply with the MBTA Communities law requirements presents a perfect opportunity to set a fair and reasonable citywide standard, increase our MBTA-adjacent housing, and reestablish our progressive regional leadership in meeting our community’s housing needs.

Public meetings this week look at approvals and timelines for the next set of bike lanes and a study of their business impacts, a 400-foot tower for Kendall Square that would be the city’s tallest, a pause on office and lab development around Alewife, a possible guaranteed income program for the city’s poorest and much more.

Gig-economy employers such as Uber and Instacart, and a state bill that could free them from obligations expected for companies with full-time workers, were condemned Monday by city councillors as “trying to put the screws” to working-class people, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology drew criticism for “union-busting” in the run-up to a vote.

Imagine a company you’ve worked at for years suddenly fires you, and it has nothing to do with your performance. The company explains that you’ve gained weight and they don’t want you on staff. You feel ashamed, powerless. In Massachusetts, this is completely legal.