Public meetings this week look at a vendor that may be ripping off the city, a vacant store registration policy, a new location for an Eversource substation, whether a Harvard Square building will get a five-story wall of LEDs, a new Riverside social center and more.

Public meetings this week look at exploring why the costs of Inman Square work have grown by $2 million, and hiring a city clerk; ideas on reducing the effects of the opioid crisis; the details underpinning a First Street Garage leasing proposal; and much, much more.

Public meetings this week look at banning some single-use plastic such as drink lids and takeaway eating utensils; remaking the CambridgeSide mall to reduce its retail while adding much more stuff; changing municipal election ballot design; and much more.

By marshaling our collective resources, we can address the impact of this rental market on our local nonprofits. The Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition wants to work with our corporate and civic leaders to find a solution.

Public meetings this week look at permanent, protected and mandatory bike lanes for planned street and sidewalk reconstruction, questions about the Central Square T stop, an appeal for Vellucci Plaza in Inman Square, licensing for a giant Alewife eatery and more.

Public meetings this week look at a tool to keep some diversity in neighborhoods facing gentrification, a proposed affordable housing overlay zoning and other tenant protection issues, as well as child immunization, green line extension designs and much more.

There are well over a dozen public meetings this week – including around a half-dozen on Tuesday alone – worthy of a look, starting with new City Council talk about a tree-cutting moratorium, proposed changes to public transportation and a survey of police cold cases.

Public meetings this week look at changes proposed by the CambridgeSide mall, decreasing retail space and adding housing and a place for the arts; a Redevelopment Authority plan to save a home for nonprofits near Central Square; school finances; and much more.

Public meetings this week look at bringing in the Transit X people movers, boosting tree plantings by rethinking a memorial planting program, school district budgeting, East Cambridge marijuana sales, new Mexican eateries and a candle issue in North Cambridge.

These aren’t just highlights of the year, but of some deep-rooted systemic changes that will – or at least could – have big payoffs in the future, sometimes just by setting an example.