As city councilor, I want to:

  • Represent a population that is currently overlooked
  • Look out for the future of Cambridge and usher a new generation of civic participation
  • Improve basic municipal services such as snow removal, sidewalk maintenance, traffic enforcement, synchronize traffic signals, and bike paths
  • Oppose zoning ordinances or variances that rubberstamp infill development and displaces green space
  • Invest in our neighborhoods and foster small business growth while retaining the diverse, urban, and international culture of Cambridge
  • Create more opportunities that increase homeownership while expanding open space and developing parkland for active/passive recreation activities
  • Implement diverse and cultural after school programs
  • Return good governance like transparency and open meetings

Municipal Improvement

Municipal services such as sidewalk maintenance, snow removal, traffic enforcement, and synchronization of traffic signals should be better than what they are today. Quite frankly, I am tired of smelling urine and waste on the streets and in squares. I am frustrated with the buildup of ice on sidewalks and streets as a result of poor snow removal. Drivers running red lights is far to frequent and the ability to drive through Cambridge is innately difficult as a result of traffic signals that are not synchronized.

Point One of my platform returns the focus of the city on municipal service and it aggressively improves these services through new strategies. Those strategies include:

  • Implementation of temporary employees for emergency snow removal. We have a city full of people looking for extra income. Let’s use them to help shovel out our seniors.
  • Attention to cleaning the streets and squares most susceptible to trash and waste, and concerted washing of the squares and sidewalks
  • Creation of a city ordinance that stiffens the penalties for running red lights and application of police presence at the busiest intersections to improve traffic enforcement
  • Synchronization of traffic signals to ease traffic congestion and enable driver mobility
  • Zoning

    The issue of zoning is rather contentious because some feel as though government should not intrude on one's property, while others see government oversight as critical to protecting communities against over development. My approach is balance.

  • Recommend appointees to the city manager who have the appropriate educational and professional background
  • Oppose infill that reduces green space and neighbor privacy
  • Represent the whole community and look out for poor zoning development in their neighborhoods
  • Allow homeowners to renovate their homes such as remodeling of attics without cumbersome oversight
  • Allow developers to build vertically (but no higher than 5 stories) if balanced with green space at the ground level
  • Encourage creative development of green space on roofs similar to what is seen in Chicago
  • Economic Development

    Residential property taxes account for approximately one-third of Cambridge's tax base, with commercial property taxes making up the additional two-thirds. The Fiscal Year 2007 residential tax rate in Cambridge is $7.48 per $1,000 of assessed value.

    While Cambridge is one of the strongest cities in the Commonwealth, it has struggled to retain small businesses. Businesses that had operated for more than 30 years are leaving due to the high cost of rent, taxes, and operation. It is imperative that the city adopts policies that encourage businesses to come to Cambridge and allows them to flourish so they become members of the community. Also, it is critical to protect those businesses that reflect the culture of Cambridge.

  • Implementing practices that foster small business growth such as first time entrepreneurial loan programs and loan protection for local businesses
  • Invest in neighborhoods and retain diverse, urban, and international culture of Cambridge
  • Homeownership

    According to the City of Cambridge Assessor's Office, in 2005, the median value of a single family home was $651,600; a two-family home $669,100; a three-family home $781,100; and a condominium $365,850. These prices are staggering for young professionals and recent college grads.

    Too many young people who love Cambridge leave because they cannot afford to settle down and purchase a home here. Personally, I know many couples that have fled Cambridge only because the opportunity to purchase a home was elsewhere. The high cost of living prevents more people from living here for longer periods of time and becoming active members of the community.

  • Increase the opportunities for people to purchase a home and settle down in Cambridge
  • Increase awareness of and expand housing programs that help people of all incomes purchase homes
  • Parkland and Green Space

    Cambridge is densely populated and many neighborhoods have limited access to green space or parkland. In fact, Area 4, Mid-Cambridge, and Agassiz neighborhoods have the least amount of green space per 1,000 people. Green space adds to the quality of life and the current amount of park space does not meet the demand of the population. There needs to be more parks for active recreation sports and passive recreation activities.

  • Expand open space designation to protects green space from development
  • Locate excess property and develop parkland for active and passive recreation
  • Education

    The Cambridge Public School District has improved significantly since the arrival of superintendent Thomas Fowler-Finn. While more work needs to be done, I feel hopeful and optimistic that Fowler-Finn's vision and innovations will carry our public schools to new heights.

    I believe that supporting the superintendent and committing to his plan will provide the consistency that our district needs in order to progress further. As city councilor, I will work constructively with school officials and I will promote our school district's achievements. Also, I will ask tough questions that focus on how CPSD can continue to improve.

  • Promote the achievements of the school district
  • Increase public awareness of CPSD partnerships with universities
  • Collaborate with the city manager, elected officials, and superintendent to meet our student's needs
  • Support the extension of Fowler-Finn's contract
  • Ask tough questions about school and student performance, that are free of negative, political posturing
  • Parking

    Parking is a significant problem in Cambridge and it discourages people from visiting and shopping in our community. While it is important to encourage the use of public transportation and bicycling as mush as possible, we must recognize that some situations require a car. There should be reasonable parking available in the city.

  • Increase parking by reducing taxi-only stands
  • Make better use of curbside areas
  • Establish 2 hours of free parking for city owned lots (to encourage shopping)
  • Locate an area to construct an affordable parking structure in Harvard/Central Sq.
  • Implement an automated 1-day parking permit for visitors from out of town
  • Collaborate with hotels and universities to lease parking
  • After School Programs

    After school programs play a critical role in the lives of our youth. After school programs provide an opportunity and outlet for kids to develop their skills and prepare for life’s challenges. Also, they are a great way to involve people in their community. I believe we need to invest in after school programs and make them accessible to people from all socio-economic backgrounds.

    Examples of programs that I would like to fund are:

  • Educational development, college preparation, vocational tech training
  • Career development, practical job training, work programs, computer literacy
  • Respect for foreign and diverse cultures
  • Cultivation of arts programs
  • Active recreation activities
  • Neighborhood outreach volunteerism
  • Youth biking, canoeing, and rowing
  • Creative Land Use

    While there exists a lot of blacktop, concrete, and brick, Cambridge is not fully developed. It is still possible to shape our city in a way that is functional and modern, and utilizes natural beauty. Let’s shape our city in a way that reduces waste and maximizes potential to increase the quality of life in our community. Let’s:

  • Eliminate street duplication
  • Locate areas for promenades, green areas, vending stations
  • Relocate bike parking, moving it off sidewalks and into designated bike lots
  • Designate performing venues for outdoor live music shows
  • Expand bike lanes
  • Environment

    It’s important to encourage best practices that work in collaboration with our environment. My platform builds upon Cambridge’s environmental policies.

  • Provide incentives for developers to build LEED standard homes
  • Work with the state legislature to advance environment protection initiatives in Cambridge such as expanding the bottle bill, forest preservation, and land acquisition
  • Implement incentives to make homes green
  • Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood      Association


  • Ward 6, Cambridge Democratic City      Committee


  • Progressive Democrats of      Cambridge


  • United Nations Association of      Greater Boston


  • United Food and Commercial      Workers Union


  • American Federation of Television      and Radio Artists