Public meetings this week look at making a better Central Square, how to make City Hall contracting more equitable, the economic toll of vacant spaces and the use of “micromobility” devices on city streets.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s hip-hop dance, Valentine’s, Galentine’s, Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year and Black History celebrations, operatic ballet not seen since the 1700s, “How to Steal a Presidential Election” and the arts of writing love poetry and sex scenes.

Riverside neighborhood residents already outraged by traffic pushed onto their streets were in no mood to hear about plans for a Memorial Drive “road diet” or how the state was still considering closing it Saturdays to car traffic as part of Riverbend Park.

A more progressive and energetic Democratic State Committee could begin to change the political climate so that our state party pays more attention to what working people need and less attention to what corporate lobbyists and millionaire donors want.

“One person, one vote” is our core mission as Democrats, and the party must remain a “big tent” embracing diversity if we are to defeat Maga Republicans.

In a look ahead at a week of Cambridge and Somerville events, there’s a “Groundhog Day” Improv Show, We Black Folk music festival, a fermentation workshop (with sauerkraut!) and more fun science, Celeste Ng and Jas Hammonds readings, ice skating and play premieres to go apiary for (such as for “Bumbled”).

The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza at a meeting Monday held over Zoom after the first two regular meetings of the year were disrupted by protesters.

The expert on democracy and former gubernatorial candidate would be Democratic state committeewoman for the Middlesex and Suffolk Senate District serving Cambridge, Everett and Chelsea.

A Middle East cease-fire motion passed at a meeting crowded by residents and after long, impassioned public comment. More than 1,500 emails about the resolution had come in over the previous week, and councilors said they received thousands of calls and texts.

Public meetings this week look at the return of a Middle East cease-fire resolution, bike lane installations, Lechmere Park changes and a project to put more units of affordable senior housing in the Cambridge Highlands.