Today in “The Kids Are Alright”: The middle schoolers of Darby Vassal Uoper School here in Cambridge have a petition in support of transit lanes on Mass Ave. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

One of our city councilors posted an IG story complaining about multifamily zoning, & has been deleting all comments disagreeing w/her, regardless of how polite they are. She also blocked constituents who posted polite but critical comments, & at least one who simply asked why. Yeah, it's Zusy.

Just got canvassed by my friend @neilmillerma.bsky.social running for state rep! Neil is a great listener, and wants to hear what voters in the district are thinking and how the state house could better serve them. If you get a chance to chat with him, let him know what's on your mind!

When the city council passed an ordinance to allow more housing citywide, surely they didn't mean *my* neighborhood

Commenter re a 6 story building w/ 20% affordable (AH): "I don't think the intention of the City Council [in passing MFZ] was to allow this." I think when the CC passed MFZ, which allows 6 story buildings w/20% AH everywhere by right, their intent was to allow 6 story buildings w/20% AH by right.

Typical Cambridge Historical Commission meeting tbh

Exactly right. An all-party primary would be a bad idea even if the GOP weren't a neo-Confederate nightmare. As things are it would be madness, a totally unnecessary own goal. I know lots of people hate both major parties. Giving more power to the party you hate more is not a solution to that!

1,000% this. Theres research that shows a few pro housing voices in local meetings can sway decisions. A vocal minority is how much of the Northeast and the Nation got into our housing crisis. Those voices need to be countered. Show up… or better yet join a local board!

MA has some of the most segregated public schools in the US and I'm often asked "well isn't that because of where people live?" As though that's not also shaped by power and policy. Grateful that David Modica is bringing attention to a law that could reshape our schools and communities, if we try.

Marblehead (where I grew up) deserves the attention it’s getting from this extremely cool dude but it is unfortunately not alone in “meeting” 3A requirements in a way where no housing will actually be built. If you’re in MA, channel this moment’s energy into changing the law. #Chowder #Nomar

Also part of why people will give such wildly different answers to Qs like, "What's a decent income in the GBA?" It's not just different lifestyle expectations. Renters need to make a LOT more than all but the most recent owners to have the same standard of living.

Evergreen

For context, this is what the first fight over 3A compliance was like in Marblehead. "DON'T MALDEN MY MARBLEHEAD"

"Who knows what we’re going to learn?” was Zusy's argument for keeping open the possibility of an intentional housing production slowdown while housing needs are studied. Lots of people know we're not going to learn that our housing needs have lessened; rents and home prices tell us that.

Woof. I've been critical of this Urban Institute study since it first dropped, but it turns out that the methodological errors were even more serious than I understood. econjwatch.org/file_downloa...

Personally I do think Ed Markey is too old but I also think Seth Moulton is too Seth Moulton

Pre-emptive skyboom alert: Northeastern will be shooting up fireworks over Fenway Park between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. for its commencement.

Free AC units for Somerville residents this summer. The Cooling East Somerville program (City + Culture House + Cambridge Health Alliance) prioritizes East Somerville residents with financial need or health risk factors. Includes delivery and installation if needed.

Councilor who owns a >$2m home sends out newsletter calling it "disturbing" that multifamily developments are being proposed under the new multifamily zoning, says the new homes will be "luxury." Some of the new homes will be expensive, yes. Some will be affordable. I don't think any will be $2m.

The critics are right

Davis Square Neighborhood Council is having an election, and surprisingly you don't have to just live in Somerville to vote. Lots of North Cambridge also qualifies, down past Porter. Details here: sites.google.com/view/davissq... Map here: map.davissquarenc.org #Somerville #CambMA #CambridgeMA

Burhan has been able to raise the most so far this cycle, but he didn't start with a war chest like the other candidates. I just donated! As always the voters will decide, but I want Burhan to have the funds he needs to get his message out and make his case to voters.

Help us close the $100k gap. Voteburhan.com

Join me for lunch and let’s talk about THE UPCOMING WALL

Very hot dog meme quote in today's MASSterlist: ""This thing about ‘let's do a ballot question, and it's going to fix everything,’ it's just such nonsense, and it's insulting to me, as someone who follows public policy, that they think that they can solve problems that way,” Mariano told reporters"

We once had the best metro system in North America, then we broke it, and now we finally have the chance to fix it

Tapping the sign

The law isn't written for social media specifically. The law's definition of social media platforms could mean internet forums, personal hobby websites with comments, blogs, "citizen journalist" newspapers, etc. The only exclusions are Google Docs (or equivalent) and text messaging.

I've been pretty wedding-brained (<2 mo out!) & so when I heard about the social media bill, I figured that was why I'd missed it coming along. But it wasn't on the radar of any of my activist friends either. It was rushed. More evidence the state house *can* move quickly - when it wants to.

THREAD: The Massachusetts House just advanced a draconian and unconstitutional social media ban bill. "This legislation would have kicked Greta Thuneberg off social media before she organized her first climate protest. How does that make kids safer?" www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2026-04...

This process was bad and the policy passed is bad.

This will require _adults_ to verify their identity before using social media. Where their IDs can then be stolen by incompetent vendors, or shared with Feds, or used for privacy-violating ad targeting. Tell your MA House Rep to vote no: malegislature.gov/StateHouse/C...

🏅🏆🚴 In 2025, six of the ten most popular @ridebluebikes.bsky.social stations resided in @cambridgemass.bsky.social. Cambridge punched above its weight thanks to investment in station density and safety infrastructure.

Sometimes the good guys do win

Cambridge is built different! This was a tough winter. Repeat storms and deep freezes caused conditions and ridership to decline. Except in Cambridge. It wasn’t perfect, but our network fared a bit better than elsewhere. Thank you @cambridgemass.bsky.social DPW! Infrastructure and effort matter.

51% of MA renter households are cost burdened. Other highlights/lowlights...

I do try to stay out of the SE quadrant but otherwise I think I mix it up a fair bit, keeps it fresh

The MBTA bus fleet makes up 0.1% of statewide emissions. By contrast, 38% of emissions come from cars and trucks. Cutting service to go all-electric will mean an increase in emissions as more people drive - and that's the real problem.

For those contemplating the ballot question in Mass, this is about as tidy an explanation as you can get of the challenges this system would bring. It can benefit the party with fewer candidates, not more support.

Right now, attacks on the trans community are escalating. But when we come together, we are unstoppable. Join us next Sunday at 12 pm for a rally and canvass to celebrate the Trans Day of Visibility! RSVP: bit.ly/evan-tdov

106 affordable homes coming online next month thanks in large part to Just a Start, the Affordable Housing Overlay, and Cambridge's Affordable Housing Trust. Passing the AHO was a multi-year battle and it's fantastic to see it starting to deliver like this. www.cambridgeday.com/2026/03/18/n...

I am a huge Elizabeth Warren fan and I am so disappointed in my Senator for endorsing Platner. The standard in the Democratic party *has* to be no Nazi shit. It can't be no Nazi shit unless we like your policy platform, or unless you have a real shot at unseating Collins, or anything else.

This is an excellent thread. For what it’s worth, I think *funded* inclusionary zoning like they’re doing in the pacific northwest is great for integrating new housing construction without worsening housing scarcity. www.sightline.org/2026/03/05/o...

He's talking specifically about Cambridge's 20% inclusionary rate here, & he's right that inclusionary policies can't achieve broad housing affordability, which should be the ultimate goal. He's also right that they often backfire by killing housing production when set too high, worsening the crisis

oh look at that www.pew.org/en/research-...

🧮‼️ Be Counted! Return your census! Residents have 3 options for returning the 2026 Annual City Census: 📨 Mailing it in 📮 Place it in a drop-box 💻 Fill out the online form For more details ➡️ https://camb.ma/47HzKD9

This was such a fun, cool thing that happened in Cambridge. It sucks to lose it, but moving it is absolutely the right call. No one can assure foreign scientists and journalists they can visit the US safely now.

Oh & don't forget! You don't need to wait until we get a spare moment to ask for book recommendations. We actually have this whole thing set up for everyone

This morning in WBUR Today: Cambridge not only leaves X, but bans all city departments from using the platform Also: — Last night's election results in Mass. and beyond — Museums for All expands in Boston — Shrewsbury's record recycling grant www.wbur.org/news/2026/03... @wbur.org