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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 03/11/2025

Vote tomorrow for all eight of these candidates. Rank them 1-8 in order of your preference to preserve the progress we've made fighting the housing crisis. Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...

Slate endorsed by A Better Cambridge: Burhan Azeem, Dana Bullister, Mark McGovern, Ned Melanson, Sumbul Siddiqui, Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayesha Wilson.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 03/11/2025

Powerful letter to reflect on before you go to vote. Many candidates are running to roll back the progress Cambridge has made - they are explicitly pro-exclusionary zoning. A vote for ABC's pro-housing slate will help Cambridge go forward, not back. www.cambridgeday.com/2025/11/03/c...

I’m proud that our city has faced the resulting housing crisis realistically, and with an eye to equity and sustainability. Cambridge started with the 100% Affordable Housing Overlay, which has opened new opportunities for lower-cost housing, with over 800 homes in the pipeline.

This year, Cambridge passed a Multi-family Zoning Ordinance – a landmark law that received national attention as it created possibilities for multi-family housing citywide. Among the results of the lowered barriers in this law:

a 4-unit lot in mid-Cambridge will become home for 30 households;
a one-story retail building with three stores near Porter, fixed at that size and use since 1894, can now become three stores plus 71 homes;
a deteriorating historic structure near Harvard Sq. is on track to be restored and maintained because it can share its large lot with housing and a small hotel.

Cambridge accomplished all this with planning, deliberation and resident involvement, although not everyone’s policy preferences could be adopted. I expect there will be much more to come as we work our way out of the long-term housing shortage.

This is what some Council candidates want to repeal. We’ve seen what happens when conservatives try to take their country back. Some of our local conservatives have announced their intention to take our city back – to the exclusionary policies from the last century.

To keep Cambridge on an equitable and inclusionary path, I’m voting for the slate endorsed by A Better Cambridge: Burhan Azeem, Dana Bullister, Mark McGovern, Ned Melanson, Sumbul Siddiqui, Denise Simmons, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayesha Wilson. For Cambridge’s sake, I hope you will, too.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 28/10/2025

@ayannapressley.bsky.social is a nationwide progressive leader who's saying YES in her backyard to proven pro-housing champions! Congratulations Mayor Simmons, VM McGovern, @councillorsiddiqui.bsky.social, Ayesha Wilson, @votejivan.bsky.social, @burhanazeem.bsky.social: all 6 ABC-endorsed incumbents

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 24/10/2025

Early voting starts tomorrow! You can be first in line to vote, then join our canvasses in Central, the Port, or Cambridgeport Check our newsletter here: mailchi.mp/9f7d2039accc...

Saturday, 2pm, Old Morse Park (Cambridgeport)

Saturday, 3:30pm, Greene-Rose Heritage Park (155 Harvard St. in the Port)

Sunday, 11am, City Hall lawn, Central Square (795 Mass Ave.)

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 21/10/2025

In February, Cambridge City Council voted 8-1 to allow multifamily housing in every neighborhood. Now, 100+ new homes are moving forward, on top of 1000s advanced under the Affordable Housing Overlay and transit-oriented neighborhood plans. Get the facts, then VOTE by November 4!

NEIGHBORHOOD MULTIFAMILY UPZONING

What does Cambridge's New Upzoning, passed in February 2025, actually mean for residential neighborhoods?

A quide with facts for 2025 voters.

WHAT DOES THE NEW ZONING ACTUALLY CHANGE?
• Allows multifamily housing in all Cambridge neighborhoods (most already have multifamily homes, but new construction
was banned for decades)
• Promotes more housing, especially adding more affordable housing units built within a larger, market-rate development
• Removes barriers like minimum lot sizes, unit limits, and floor area restrictions

WHAT REMAINS UNCHANGED:
• Climate Resilience requirements
• Inclusionary Housing requirements
• Green Building requirements
• Historical Commission review
• Tree Protection Ordinance
• Building, codes fire safety, sanitary, energy
ALL CURRENT PROPOSED PROJECTS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS (3):
Three projects currently in design review with city of Cambridge utilize the multifamily housing zoning for residential neighborhoods (none under construction):
• 60 Ellery Street - demolition approved, project will include 20% inclusionary unit, 6 stories
• 84-86 Ellery Street - demolition not approved, development will repurpose existing building project will include 20% inclusionary unit, 6 stories
• Spears Funeral Home - demolition approved, construction likely 2027, project will include 20% inclusionary units, 6 stories

NEIGHBORHOOD MULTIFAMILY ZONING
OTHER BENEFITS
• Homeowner flexibility: Possible to change your home to add rental units for income or to house home caregivers (previously required difficult variances)
• Housing ladder: Helps residents transition from shared housing to family homes, from shelters to homes, and more
• Affordable housing stock: Encourages developers to build affordable units that are rented to qualified people and rents are set at 30% of household income for families.
• Housing crisis: A step forward in addressing local, regional and national housing shortage

POLITICAL REALITY
After years of meetings and community
input, the final zoning petition passed in the
council 8 to I.
• Extensive compromises negotiated by all councillors and through community engagement resulted in :
⁃ Market-rate buildings: max 4 stories
⁃ 6 stories only if: 20% inclusionary, 5,000+ sq ft lot, 30% green space, larger setbacks
⁃ Buildings over 3 stories require community meetings
• Pro-housing is a popular policy position and pro-housing candidates took 68% of the #1 votes in 2023
• In 2023, pro-housing candidates ran on supporting at least 4 stories in neighborhoods
Sources: Cambridge CDD

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 17/10/2025

Check out our latest newsletter: mailchi.mp/ed3399cec619... Then join us this weekend! Sign up below or just stop by at any of these events forms.gle/TjavP3feVvb8...

Saturday, 10/18 at 1:00pm, Punjabi Dhaba on Hampshire St

Saturday, 10/18 at 3:00pm, Silva Park on Sciarappa St

Saturday, 10/18 at 4:00pm, Alberico Park on Allston St

Saturday, 10/18 at 4:00pm, Baldwin School on Oxford St

Sunday, 10/19 at 1:00pm, Donnelly Field on York St

Sunday, 10/19 at 2:00pm, O'Neill Branch Library on Rindge Ave

Sunday, 10/19 at 2:00pm, Dana Park on Magazine St

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 16/10/2025

All Politics IS Local - shot from our North Cambridge canvass last weekend

Two men standing in front of mural showing Tip O'Neill that says All Politics is Local

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 11/10/2025

So far we've knocked on the doors of 3000 voters! With less than a month before the election, there's lots left to do. Check here for volunteer events this weekend: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Saturday, 10/11 at 11:00am, O'Neill Branch Library on Rindge Ave

Saturday, 10/11 at 2:00pm, Alberico Park on Allston St

Saturday, 10/11 at 3:00pm, Sennott Park on Broadway

Sunday, 10/12 at 2:00pm, Silva Park on Sciarappa St

Sunday, 10/12 at 3:00pm, Sennott Park on Broadway

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 03/10/2025

The pro-housing coalition endorsed by A Better Cambridge fought for affordable housing at 2072 Mass Ave. Now, the project is moving forward! Let's keep up the momentum: join us for a pro-housing canvass at 3pm on Saturday, Oct. 4. Sign up to knock doors this weekend: forms.gle/NDDNJpZk5pfL...

Text: Thankfully, candidates endorsed by A Better Cambridge formed a pro-housing majority after the 2021 election. In 2023, they updated Cambridge's 100% Affordable Housing Overlay to allow taller buildings on major corridors like Mass Ave, meaning 2072 Mass Ave can be approved "by-right" (it's not up to the BZA's discretion). The council also supported historic levels of funding for Cambridge's Affordable Housing Trust, through the commercial linkage fee and city funds.
Image: rendering of building with trees on top, one-story buildings in foreground.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 26/09/2025

Come help us keep up the momentum going telling voters about our pro-housing slate! Sign up to canvass this weekend: forms.gle/k4RV5CNGvC3w...

Which events do you want to attend? *
Saturday, 9/27 at 1:30pm, Dana Park on Magazine St
Saturday, 9/27 at 3pm,* Donnelly Field on York St (note corrected time)
Sunday, 9/28, at 1:30pm, Dana Park on Magazine St
Sunday, 9/28, at 3pm, Baldwin School on Oxford St
Sunday, 9/28 at 4pm, Baldwin School on Oxford St
I want to canvass in another neighborhood this weekend, please contact me
Not free this weekend but I'm free during the week, please contact me

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 24/09/2025

Our grassroots campaign knocked on 797 doors and spoke to 102 voters last weekend - help us reach our goal of knocking on 10,000 doors by November 4! Sign up to volunteer: forms.gle/qLcPLvFDCy1g... Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/abc20...

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 20/09/2025

Canvass TODAY and TOMORROW for our pro-housing slate! More info and sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... Hear from our volunteers in 2023 about why they canvassed. Come join us and share your "Why?" for our next newsletter!

Two volunteers Sophia and Camilla from 2023 talk about why they canvass.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 16/09/2025

A Better Cambridge endorsed eight candidates who represent the diversity of the city, bringing lived experiences as well as professional expertise to bear in support of effective solutions to Cambridge’s housing shortage. www.abettercambridge.org/endorsements...

Vote for pro-housing candidates endorsed by A Better Cambridge by election day, November 4. Burhan Azeem, Dana Bullister, Marc McGovern, Ned Melanson, Sumbul Siddique, Denise Simmins, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayesha Wilson. (pictures of all eight candidates included)

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 29/07/2025

Join North #CambMA Pro-Housing Meetup Sunday Aug 3 Organize with www.abciepac.org to elect a pro-housing city council Aug 3 Sunday 2-4pm

NORTH CAMBRIDGE PRO-HOUSING MEETUP
Organize with A Better Cambridge IEPAC to elect a pro-housing city council

Sunday, August 3 | 2-4 pm
16 Kassul Park, Cambridge

affordable housing - environmental sustainability
tenant protections - housing abundance

Questions? Ask Alex:
(617) 599-8613
alexjablokow@comcast.net

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 17/07/2025

Take a break from Cambridge Porchfest to join us in Central Square. Pass it on to your Central Sq., Port, and Cambridgeport friends - organizing meeting this SUNDAY, 6-8pm. RSVP for the address: tinyurl.com/central720 #cambma

Central Square and the Port meetup, organize to elect a pro-housing city council. Sunday, July 20, 6-8pm. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/central720

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 05/06/2025

100s of new affordable homes are going right now, all across Cambridge, thanks to volunteers and advocates. Come celebrate, and support our pro-housing campaign, on Sunday, July 13 mailchi.mp/4c8854ede94e...

Pictures of four buildings with text: From West Cambridge and the Baldwin neighborhood...
...to North Cambridge and the Port:
More than 300 new affordable units are being built right now (or are already being lived in!). Hundreds more are following right behind them, plus new multifamily housing that was legalized in February. Together, we've proven that a better world, and a better Cambridge, is possible.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 02/06/2025

The first new homes (62 of them) completed under Cambridge's 100% Affordable Housing Overlay, and elegant new mosaics too - check them out on Norfolk St! Hundreds more on the way 🏘️🛠️ Donate to help us keep building the pro-housing movement: secure.actblue.com/donate/abc20...

Two buildings (one brick and one painted blue) behind a courtyard with trees and a brick wall with a mosaic.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 15/05/2025

TONIGHT from 6:30pm onward, join the ABC social in Central Square, at 730 Tavern. Don't be a lonely bunny, hop on over to join us! g.co/kgs/63wG4dN NEXT WEEK, Tuesday night, we'll have our first election meeting of 2025, to plan our summer events. Shoot us a message if you'd like to get involved

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 09/05/2025

52 New Street was a gym+parking lot; with #CambMA Affordable #Housing Overlay (AHO), it'll be 106 affordable homes, Passive House, next to Cambridge's largest park. In 2019, the AHO failed. That fall we flipped City Council, then passed the AHO in 2020 A better world is possible #yimby #mapoli

Google Street View from November 2020. Parking lot with a small building behind it, and a garage named Sun Auto next door.

A 5-story apartment building under construction, covered in blue material, behind a park with trees and soccer goals.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 02/05/2025

From a new Cambridge-area neighbor. Tired of being devoured? Donate to our pro-housing movement secure.actblue.com/donate/abc20... so the apartments stop hunting you.

Text of poem

On apartment hunting
By Henri Antikainen

Apartment hunting is commonly misunderstood.

It is the apartment that hunts you. It is out there, with its perfect square footage, functional layout, incredibly high rent that still, everything considered, is somehow kind of a deal, one that you think you should immediately pounce on but which in fact pounces on you, as long as your credit history is impeccable and you have a three months of rent to commit, the equivalent of the aspect and smell of a slightly sick animal that stands apart of the pack, perhaps asking for predatory mercy.

Relentlessly the apartment has lied in wait, at the end of a cavern of scrolling, its eyes aglint in the dark. It devours multiple victims at once, and spits out all apart from one; it only has taste for your money, the contemporary equivalent of blood.

The apartment, having found you, its victim, lies gorged, stuffed, its small closets (if any) bulging, things coming to a still under the bed. Once a year it shifts, turns on its side, digests you further, a process also known as a rent hike.

This could go on forever, or at least until the day you die, when the apartment again emerges on the market from the cocoon that it had made of you, now a carnivorous butterfly worth multiples of what it was when you found it or rather when it found you.

It is you who made it into what it is now, though like of a lunch on a random Wednesday, no memory remains of you. It is, again, a deal.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 13/03/2025

Central Square was blessed by Keytar Bear last night @universalhub.com @cambridgeday.bsky.social Let's level up Porter Square too. More homes in the square = more neighbors hanging out = more Keytar Bear. Don't let the NIMBYs take this away from you. Keytar Bear in Porter Square! #campaignpromise

A person in a bear outfit playing keytar with street lights behind them.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 12/03/2025

Weigh in on the future of Porter Square and North Mass! Inclusionary housing, and all homes, ARE a public good -- let the city know you support at least 12 stories on Mass Ave and 18 stories in Porter by right 🧵

Illustrative draft with buildings titled: How could Porter Square evolve over the next 15 years.

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A Better Cambridge IEPAC @abciepac.org · 13/02/2025

You did it! On Monday night, City Council ended exclusionary zoning and paved the way for new homes in Cambridge's vibrant neighborhoods. All invited to celebrate at ABC's social TONIGHT 6:30pm, at 730 Tavern in Central Square. There may even be some ABC mugs for sale, to mark this milestone 🥳

Headline "Cambridge approves landmark zoning change" in NBC Boston

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