“Everything that is happening now; the affordability crisis, the housing crisis, the transportation crisis, the utility crisis, is because building good things has become too hard.”

This was a great interview and James really got to the heart about what April Fool's jokes are all about.

Playing at a station near you!

Endorse.

It's an April Fools joke but a true one. Everything on those billboards was actually proposed in 1947. It's only a joke now because of how unbelievable it is that we'd actually do it. Let's go deep on how we broke America's first subway and how to fix it.

Had a great meeting today with members of the Winchester Select Board, School Committee, Planning Board and general neighbors. Here’s a few people who were willing to share their highlights!

Between pi day and next week, this is really the time of year where I have some of my favorite holidays

States like Massachusetts, California, and New York offer essential protections for marginalized people. But our housing policies make it so difficult for people to move here. You can't be a sanctuary for vulnerable people if you don't build the housing they need.

How many years have we been talking about offshore wind? Geothermal and Nuclear? Fixing the T? We have the GDP of Poland, the best minds, and so many skilled workers. We can do big things if we wanted to.

A lot of government work is counterintuitive and weird. Like we’re dealing with a Level 3 drought because of snow (and even though it melted)

Cities across Massachusetts can be transparent and get things done. But the statehouse decided public voting isn't necessary. That voters can't handle disagreement. They've got it completely backwards. Disagreement is a signal that something is wrong, that there's a problem that needs to be solved.

Keep going @burhanazeem.bsky.social 👏 👏

Never let anyone tell you politics doesn't matter. Change is unimaginable until it's inevitable.

When housing is too expensive and families are getting squeezed out. You need someone who can push policy change into reality. We can do this. From legalizing starter homes to granny flats, from tenant protections to investing in affordable housing, there's a lot of real solutions we can pursue.

It's pretty remarkable how policy goals of YIMBYism in California went from being a bundle of untouchable "third rail" ideas to being the bipartisan consensus of the gubernatorial field in a span of like 10 years. www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

Look I get it. I’m not from Somerville or Medford or Winchester which means the onus is on me to prove I can represent everyone. So on day one I sent a survey to actually hear about what matters to you’ll. Now we have three dozen 1:1s scheduled and I’d love to hear even more voteburhan.com/survey

Great discussion tonight at @harvardkennedy.bsky.social Housing Panel with the Politics of Race & Ethnicity (PRE) program & @burhanazeem.bsky.social Grateful for spaces that make room for nuanced conversations about housing, intersectionality and the future of our cities.

Stuck on the T. Signaling issues again! I’m going to miss my next meeting and so are hundreds of other people just trying to get where they need to be. This is what happens when we underinvest in transit for decades. We can fix this but more on that later, today I’m just frustrated.

“The city of cambridge is more credit worthy than the full faith and credit of the united states” is such a funny true sentence

Did you know that because we’re one of 20ish cities with a three AAA bond ratings Cambridge can borrow money cheaper than any developer or even the feds (2%!!)

Over the past decade, The City of Austin, Texas has permitted more housing in a typical year than the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2022 alone, Austin approved 24,227 units, about 1.5× the number permitted across Massachusetts that year.

I’ve had people laugh saying 'A better Massachusetts is possible' sounds underwhelming. But do you actually believe it? That fixing the T, solving the housing crisis, making childcare affordable is around the corner? Or is believing that we can have a government that delivers genuinely radical.

On Wednesday, I asked a room of 150+ people a question: Do you actually believe that housing will be affordable and transit will work in Massachusetts (even if kept electing good democrats for another decade)?The silence said everything.

I am so excited to support Burhan for Senate. We need people who will listen to and work with their constituents, not know-it-alls who get nothing done.

@burhanazeem.bsky.social gets stuff done. Check out his campaign and get involved!

MA needs state senators who have a real sense of urgency around the housing and affordability crises, who will stand up for our rights against this federal admin, and who are skilled at translating our core values into tangible policy progress. @burhanazeem.bsky.social is the one for the job!

Incredible ad

behind-the-scenes footage of Burhan prepping for his video shoot: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6K...

Burhan would be a great state senator. The zoning changes he helped institute in Cambridge are the kind of policies that we need statewide. Excited to see how this campaign progresses and to support his election.

Sweet. Well done @burhanazeem.bsky.social This video makes me teary about achieving what is possible given a tenacious and optimistic leader.

Burhan has been such a powerful voice for making Massachusetts affordable - making Massachusetts the kind of place that can welcome more people to such a great place to live.

So many (familiar) locations! Frank's Steak House!

So many suits! Love it.

This is a great video from someone who's consistently pushed for changes that make our community — and will make our state — more accessible to all. I'm a fan, and a supporter of his state senate run.

Why Burhan for State Senate? #mapoli ✅ Has a track record of meaningful policy changes that address affordability ✅ Puts his progressive values into action Bonus points: ✅ Mom raised him while working at Dunkin'

Check out the *incredible* campaign kickoff video from @burhanazeem.bsky.social and his team!

We love production value!

Bonus points if you can count the number of costume changes.

You'll understand our campaign more from this launch video than anything else. We gave it our heart and soul. Give it a watch.

We ended the night at $50k! Can’t wait to share all the photos and the amazing energy in the room soon.

I somehow ended up on the train that's filled with people going to @burhanazeem.bsky.social's kickoff. #mapoli

We’re getting ready for yall! Armory at 6pm

Proud to endorse @burhanazeem.bsky.social for State Senate. A first rate person & first rate political leader in #mapoli.

#CambMA #MAPoli Excited to be supporting Burhan Azeem for State Senator. His kickoff campaign event is tomorrow night. Please join me and @bmcavin.bsky.social for this event and show your support for more #housing and better #transit in Massachusetts. bsky.app/profile/burh...

No one should have to leave the place they love because it costs too much. That why I'm running & we're off to a strong start. We’ve raised $40K and got our kickoff endorsements: leading voices in housing & transit (and a 3-term Mayor). Tomorrow's the day! Join us weds 6pm at the Armory.

I make my fair share of typos (and I'm working on that!) but at least you'll know that everything you see from me was typed by hand. As we start this campaign season, I wanted to start with the basics - every video, design, or bad joke you see was written by me or someone on our team in our words.

Burhan and I don’t agree on everything, but I respect his willingness to listen and make space for a range of good faith perspectives as policy is made. I haven’t decided who I’m supporting in this race yet, but it’s exciting to see him throw his hat in the ring.

So little bit a surprise but we also sent out a little mailer to almost every voter in the district today, both announcing the campaign and getting input! The first responses are coming in! Fill it out at voteburhan.com/survey

Burhan is one of the brightest policy minds I know, leading a major upzoning for Cambridge. Whenever we chat, he has so many good ideas on how to make Massachusetts more affordable. he’s the exact kind of progressive urbanist we need in government and I strongly recommend supporting his campaign!

Yes!!! So excited for Burhan, an incredible @runforsomething.net alum who's been a transformative leader in Cambridge.