The Foundry community building is expected to open to the public in the summer of 2022, but it already has an executive director in Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, who begins work full time this August.

Public meetings this week look at the future of public safety, a vision for Harvard Square, how Neighborhood Conservation Districts are created and run, and climate change-friendly buildings; check in with the DPW, city water utility and Eversource; and wade back into Middle East politics.

Architecture and design firm CambridgeSeven and contractor W.T. Rich celebrated placement of the final steel beam Tuesday on The Foundry, an East Cambridge community building expected to open in 2022. 

Public meetings this week look at a tear gas law, Alewife rezoning and whether to rein in some coronavirus reopenings; how to search for a next city manager; a cannabis shop pitched for Harvard Square; a proposed school district budget for next fiscal year; and more.

Public meetings this week look at snow removal, while the snow keeps falling; an Alewife Quadrangle zoning petition, continued; MIT plans for a grad student dorm; a possible end of zoning just for single-family housing; remaking Harvard Square’s Palmer Street; and more.

Public meetings this week look at a roadblock to socially distanced exercise; how Kendall Square evolves under the CRA’s watch; a new way to decide in-person vs. remote learning; a dog park for the Cambridge Crossing neighborhood; and the police department’s inventory list.

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.

Public meetings this week look at a massive project for Kendall Square; a long-delayed property inventory that could lead to more affordable housing; relief for schools from weekly “check-ins” for remote students; restorative justice for School Committee conflicts; and a municipal broadband study.

Public meetings this week bring renewed discussion on the future of an empty lot on Cherry Street in The Port, homelessness in Cambridge, coronavirus in public schools, Kendall Square development and allegations that Beauty’s Pizza packed in too many customers for too long.

Public meetings this week look at increasing parking permit costs, building affordable housing on an empty Cherry Street lot – finally – as well as Kendall Square’s Eversource substation design and School Committee ethics and school council supports.