2025 Platform

Cambridge Residents Alliance 2025 Platform

Who we are

The Cambridge Residents Alliance was formed in 2012 to advocate for a livable, affordable, and diverse city by fighting the displacement and gentrification that have accompanied the city’s rapidly rising housing prices.  As neighbors and volunteer community activists, we seek to make an impact on the fields of affordable housing, human rights, urban land use, community development, civic engagement, environmental justice, education, community based concepts of public safety, and more. 

What we believe

Everyone should have a voice to shape every aspect of their environment, especially those people with historic roots in Cambridge and those communities which have been historically marginalized by class, race or place of origin. We advocate for a city government that offers support throughout a resident’s lifespan, from early childhood to old age. 

1. We believe in a commitment to SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING options citywide driven by the greatest need, as opposed to real estate market forces that see housing as a commodity to be created and sold for profit.
2. We believe that a Livable City protects the health and quality of life of all residents by creating and implementing a planned SUSTAINABLE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT that includes citywide outdoor public spaces in all neighborhoods, green spaces near housing and a healthy tree canopy, and efforts to reduce the city’s contribution to climate change. 
3. We believe that a thriving city requires planning for and implementation of dependable, accessible, balanced and varied modes of TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT AND MOBILITY, including more local investment in public forms of mass transit based on a range of needs. 
4. We believe in strong ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN CITY LIFE built on electoral representation and grassroots engagement in which all residents have full access to information about and influence on the important decisions that shape our lives, with a special focus on historically under-represented voices.  The city’s leadership must encourage local efforts to empower residents’ voices and strengthen their capacity to self-organize community-based responses to needs that are not being met.
5. We believe that Cambridge deserves robust and equitably distributed EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES that nurture all members of the community, particularly children, throughout their life and throughout the year.  This requires extensive and consistent investment in universal access for age zero to five full day education, after-school and out-of-school-time options for all students, and in maximizing adult and elder learning opportunities.  
6. We believe in PUBLIC SAFETY programs that prioritize the creation and support of unarmed civilian responses to crises, and which minimize surveillance and provide for civilian oversight. 
7. We believe in Cambridge as a SANCTUARY AND WELCOMING CITY that protects its immigrant residents against immoral and unconstitutional action by the Federal government, refusing to collaborate with threats to their full participation in all aspects of Cambridge civic life; we are committed to defending the LGBTQIA community and all individuals and families facing threats or discrimination.
8. We believe that all families in Cambridge, particularly at-risk families, should have access to CARE SYSTEMS AND INCOME ENHANCEMENT throughout the life cycle. Universal access to high-quality and enriching childcare is essential for the flourishing of younger generations in Cambridge, and a prerequisite for economic contributions by working parents. Support for quality of care should extend to affordable elder care.  

POLICIES:

     A. We believe in a commitment to SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING options citywide driven by the greatest need, as opposed to real estate market forces that see housing as a commodity to be created and sold for profit.

• Continue to require or increase the 20% units of new housing to be set aside for low-income residents in the inclusionary program.  Reject adding density and height to create 80% luxury housing without significant additional community benefits.
• Create additional stable public and non-profit low, moderate and middle-income affordable housing, including through limited-equity co-ops and investing in the Cambridge Community Land Trust.
• Support the creation of public “Social Housing” that is publicly-financed, publicly owned  permanent housing that is affordable to a range of incomes.
• Support and expand the city’s new housing voucher program. 
• Increase funding for affordable housing, including by passing a real estate transfer fee on commercial and residential sales
• Use public land only for 100% affordable housing and green or open space.
• Pass and enforce regulations to reduce displacement of tenants caused by condo conversion, AirBnB usage, unreasonable rent increases, and no-fault evictions. 
• Support tenant organizing efforts for protections and rights such as rent control/stabilization and the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.
• Establish a fully staffed and funded city Office of Housing Stability to research, collect data, develop and implement anti-displacement policies and services, including the support needed for eligible individuals to actually access Section 8 Housing or an inclusionary unit.
• Require universities and colleges, particularly MIT, to provide meaningful increases in grad student and post-doctoral housing as a condition for zoning increases, in addition to contributing a higher Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) share to support affordable housing.
• Refocus the Community Development Dept. to prioritize creative solutions to housing and land use that benefit the city’s residents, rather than enabling and promoting the plans of developers.
• Support unhoused people’s efforts for recognition and to create permanent non-congregate housing options with no preconditions for entry, voluntary supportive services and comprehensively trained staff. 
• Because lab development outcompetes market and affordable housing, prevent lab development in our squares and major corridors to reduce displacement, increase housing, and maintain small businesses.
• We seek established mechanisms for more resident involvement in decisions affecting housing policy. 
• B.We believe that a Livable City protects the health and quality of life of all residents by creating and implementing a planned SUSTAINABLE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT that includes citywide outdoor public spaces in all neighborhoods, green spaces near housing and a healthy tree canopy, and efforts to reduce the city’s contribution to climate change. 
• 1. Take the next steps toward net zero carbon emissions in Cambridge, including creating standards and providing assistance for decarbonizing new and existing residential buildings.  Reduce emissions from vehicular traffic by promoting use of public transit, walking, and biking; promoting electric vehicles (private and public, including trucks and buses); and enforcing anti-idling laws.
• 2. Establish forward thinking infrastructure standards and plans to protect residents from flooding and predicted sea-level rise. 
• 3. Protect residents from escalating heat through implementation of the Urban Forest Master Plan and the updated Tree Protection Ordinance, including increasing the fine for removing trees on private property that shade public spaces and protecting the tree canopy with state-of-the-art irrigation systems.
• 4.Support and promote a city Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and Electrify Cambridge.
• C. We believe that a thriving city requires planning for and implementation of dependable, accessible, balanced and varied modes of TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT AND MOBILITY, including more local investment in public forms of mass transit based on a range of needs.
• Work with statewide advocates and our elected Representatives and Senators to pressure the state to fully fund, modernize, and expand the services of the MBTA, including a new commuter rail stop at Alewife. 
• Develop a plan that creates a balance among the many transportation and mobility needs of residents including bicyclists, walkers, and those needing to drive, with the goal of zero fatalities, which can also support small local businesses dependent on parking, through consultation with neighborhoods and comprehensive planning.
• Provide city-funded transportation, including city shuttles, in areas of Cambridge underserved by the MBTA, and information to access university shuttles.

• D. We believe in strong ACCESS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN CITY LIFE built on electoral representation and grassroots engagement, in which all residents have full access to information about and influence on the important decisions that shape our lives, with a special focus on historically under-represented voices. 
• The city’s leadership must encourage local efforts to empower residents’ voices and strengthen their capacity to self-organize community-based responses to needs that are not being met. 
• All candidates for City Council must pledge to refuse campaign contributions from any large corporate or real estate developer interests that are seeking zoning changes or other benefits from the Cambridge City Council or city boards. This will enable voters to be more confident that councilors prioritize residents’ interests.
• Plan, fund and build the infrastructure for affordable access to high-speed internet for all residents and small businesses; a digital-equity-only response does not create true equal access for all.  
• Establish community outreach strategies and track which work best, such as establishing regular city-funded, city-wide ”community canvass” outreach methods to households to surface issues, and forums representing many community voices.
• Invest in outreach methods that support neighborhood and other groups with outreach to diverse residents to broaden and increase participation.

• E. We believe that Cambridge deserves robust and equitably distributed EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES that nurture all members of the community, particularly children, throughout their life and throughout the year.  This requires extensive and consistent investment in universal access for age zero to five full day education, after-school and out-of-school-time options for all students, and in maximizing adult and elder learning opportunities. 

• Work through DHSP to support and develop free full day universal Pre-K and to support private daycare for infants and very young children, ensuring adequate enrichment.
• Expand municipal funding and organizational support for free high-quality after-school and out-of-school-time options for all school-aged children. 
• Expand community-based education and opportunities for learning for adults, especially culturally and linguistically diverse communities and elderly residents. 
• Support coordination between Cambridge Public Libraries and other institutions for adult and childhood education on STEAM and other educational activities. 
• Increase access to the variety of university campus resources for Cambridge residents, including cultural and intellectual offerings and some access to academic courses, and incentivize university participation in city-wide enrichment and after-school programs. 

• F. We believe in PUBLIC SAFETY programs that prioritize the creation and support of unarmed civilian responses to crises, and which minimize surveillance and provide for civilian oversight.

• Provide city support to community-based and staffed non-police-based emergency response organizations, such as the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team (HEART). 
• Remove all military grade equipment (weapons and tools) from police, including tear gas.
• Reject stationary cameras and surveillance methods which target impacted communities.
• The city must remove the invasive and discriminatory ShotSpotter surveillance system.
• Shift non-criminal police-based work (crossing guards, traffic and parking enforcement, construction site details, school resource officers) to well-paying civilian jobs. 
• Implement a new independent police review board accountable to civil society, where complaints are evaluated and reported out by resident members, not police.

• G. We believe in Cambridge as a SANCTUARY AND WELCOMING CITY that protects its immigrant residents against immoral and unconstitutional action by the Federal government, refusing to collaborate with threats to their full participation in all aspects of Cambridge civic life; we are committed to defending the LGBTQIA community and all individuals and families facing threats or discrimination.
• We support strengthening protections for those being targeted by ICE from harassment or kidnapping. These could include creating warning systems, interventions, dissemination of legal information and sharing know your rights materials to help create a safer environment.
• We encourage harassment-free community spaces which celebrate or offer information about identity groups like library drag hours or  immigrant educational forums.
• We support the right to peaceful non-violent protest, including encampments, marches, and demonstrations, noting the long history of such actions in Cambridge such as the 1970 encampment by Riverside Planning Group housing activists in Harvard Yard.
• We oppose practices or policies which pit groups against each other, privileging one over the other; in the current climate, we pay special attention to incidents of Islamophobia, which target Muslim Cambridge residents as Muslims, or anti-Semitism which targets Jewish Cambridge residents as Jews.

• We believe that all families in Cambridge, particularly at-risk families, should have access to CARE SYSTEMS AND INCOME ENHANCEMENT throughout the life cycle. Universal access to high-quality and enriching childcare is essential for the flourishing of younger generations in Cambridge, and a prerequisite for economic contributions by working parents. Support for quality of care should extend to affordable elder care. 

• Offer supplemental assistance to support family resiliency and healthy child development for families at risk of interacting with the child protection system.
• Improve timely access to community-based behavioral health supports to address effects of domestic violence and childhood trauma.
• Strengthen community-based resources for families to access locally designed supports outside the child welfare system (such as home visiting programs, 2-1-1 service navigators, family resource centers), and ensure the most at-risk families are connected to these resources.
• Design and implement municipal supplemental financial support for elder care, whether in the home or in community settings.
• Continue to support the Rise Up Cambridge program, which provides $500 per month for 18 months to Cambridge families living below 250% of the Federal Poverty Line.