First, Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

The final election counts are in:

The City Council votes confirm the earlier count, with Joan Pickett, Jivan Sobrinho-Wilson, and Ayesha Wilson  joining Burhan Azeem, Marc McGovern, Patty Nolan, Sumbul Siddiqui, Denise Simmons, and Paul Toner on Council. The new Council will be installed in early January 2024. The first key decision will be the selection of a mayor.


School Committee selection was a bit more complicated, with Andrew King and Richard Harding within a very small vote margin-and Harding finally winning by 8 votes. There could be a recount. The new Council, based on current findings will be: David Weinstein, Rachel Weinstein, Elizabeth Hudson, Caroline Hunter, José Luis Rojas Villarreal, and Richard Harding.

*********************************************************************************
Meetings this week:

Cambridge City Council - 5:30 Monday. The issues being discussed include  automated parking enforcement, city rent support for cannabis businesses (opposed by the law department), backyard chickens, the creation of an East Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District (ECNCD), woefully substandard conditions at Inman Square Apartments (owned by one of our major affordable housing developers, Homeowners Rehab Inc.) re-defining domestic partnerships, creation of a American Freedman Commission, the acquisition of a new fire truck, and creating a fire chief position.
See more HERE. Meeting Location: City Hall (795 Mass Ave). Sign up to speak live or by zoom HERE 

Several important Cambridge City Council Committee Meetings this Tuesday, November 21. 
  1. Bicycle and bike lane use data are under consideration at the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. This issue and the related divisiveness were key issues in the last election. Meeting Location: City Hall (795 Mass Ave). Sign up to speak live or by zoom HERE
  2. Expanding the power grid for the implementation of BEUDO (timeline and plans) comes up before the Health & Environment Committee also on Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. Location: City Hall (795 Mass Ave). Sign up to speak live or by zoom HERE
  3. The Charter Review Committee, which meets at 5:30 p.m. likely will be recommending a strong mayor instead of the current city manager and weak mayor system. The Committee meeting is on zoom - join here. Review the Agenda + Meeting Materials. Generally, attendees can raise hands on zoom and ask questions or comment. Email the committee at charterreviewcommittee@cambridgema.gov

--