My opposition to AHO 2 does not mean I oppose affordable housing. 12 and 15 story building might be allowed under exceptional circumstances, but I oppose the normalization of tall buildings.
The lab construction boom is slowing. We need less construction of new lab space in favor of new home construction, especially quality affordable housing.
Develop an affordable housing plan that emphasizes mid-rise 5 and 6 story buildings on main corridors. Build gentle density housing that is in harmony with the neighborhood while adding as many new units as our infrastructure can reasonably support.
Avoid repeating the public housing mistakes of the past. Build apartments in buildings that are joyful to live in. Scale matters: for humane housing, economic and environmental justice.
Promote rent-to-own policies for low-income families.
House low income families in affordable housing situated throughout the city so that they may live in middle and high income neighborhoods .
Demand of Harvard and M.I.T. that they work in partnership with the city and follow through on their stated commitment to build more student housing.
Hold the city and developers accountable with respect to the city's design heritage.
There are alternative ways of producing affordable housing with the goal of reducing the production costs per unit. Building lower than seven stories is a lot less expensive than building higher than that, so the cost per unit is lower, too. The city should solicit ideas from builders and be willing to support realistic new approaches and ventures, and we ought to develop a long-term city-wide housing plan where all neighborhoods contribute to the city’s affordable housing needs.
TRANSPORTATION
Better balance the use of public ways so that pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and buses share the road safely and effectively.
Educate the public with rules of the road signage through a Courteous in Cambridge campaign.
Make Cambridge a 10-minute city where pedestrians can easily access their needs from any part of the city on foot in ten minutes.
Convert a selection of Quick Build bike lanes into permanent paths for cyclists and add not more than three metered parking spaces per side street.
Simplify the obstacle course look and feel that our main thoroughfares have become. Consider the needs of businesses, particularly those patronized by the elderly and physically challenged.
The way mass transit will succeed is to make it free. Establish a city-funded bus service. Current MBTA buses are too big for the type of city Cambridge is becoming. Remove the bus lanes and implement more agile, easy to maneuver around electric, half-sized shuttle buses while doubling the fleet.
Where residents are short on parking spaces, implement car-share electric vehicles for short distance, city-wide travel. For example: public housing residents gain access to EV's through a subsidized resident-based sharing plan.
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY
Demand of the owners of the most polluting buildings that they come up with a workable plan to reduce their carbon footprint as soon as possible.
Increase subsidies for homeowners moving to solar and heat pumps.
Improve the city's recycling program by adding used battery recycling drop off bins at sites across the city.
Educate residents on the "Big 3" ways individuals may choose to save energy: shorter and fewer commutes, consume less meat, and lower heating bills.
EDUCATION
Advocate for free universal pre-K and set the eligible starting age for children at 2. Educate pre-schoolers about environmentalism through a "Trees for Tots" campaign.
Implement tutoring for the Covid learning slowdown; provide children with the learning resources and education they lost during the pandemic.
Make Cambridge a "No Banned Books Here" zone through a "Free to Read" campaign that encourages open and public discourse.
Bring more arts and sports into the school system.
ARTS, CULTURE, & COMMUNITY
Develop more open spaces where people can get to know their neighbors. More parks and squares with tables and food services enable the city's multi- cultural and inclusive character to shine. Tie in the importance of community with an arts and culture and civics campaign that promotes good citizenship awareness and engagement.
Fast-track the Grand Junction Multi-use Path forresidents, students, workers and visitors to stroll, jog, or bike in, running through Cambridge, connecting the Boston University Bridge to Somerville .
Bring back the Concerts on the Common with a variety of acts ranging from classical to pop and from hip hop to jazz, blues, and experimental music.
Develop a LifeSpan program with city elders mentoring teens in civics, citizenship, participation in their government and add an arts and science component through Harvard and MIT.
Order a feasibility study for a Museum of the City of Cambridge.
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Expand the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART) and the newly established Public Safety office and strengthen their alliances with the Cambridge Police through additional funding. Look to the Framingham model which has been in place for twenty years.
More public restrooms maintained on a daily basis.
Better syringe clean-up and addiction recovery services.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Make a municipal broadband internet service available at no cost to all residents and local businesses that do not already have one. Make sure it is multi-lingual, working, and available in all public housing units.
Advocate for persons who want to start their own small, locally owned businesses by lowering taxes, subsidizing low interest loans, and providing favorable occupancy terms.
Work with small businesses to generate local wealth.
