The COVID-19 coronavirus is spreading in the wild in Massachusetts -- and Cambridge has a duty to step up and take action to prevent it from spreading. What should local businesses -- and individuals -- be doing? The short answer is: Staying away from large groups of people, especially vulnerable populations. What does that mean for local politics? It needs to mean attending a lot fewer city council meetings in person.

Renters Matter

Coronavirus - Episode 22 - March 11th, 2020

The Super Tuesday primaries are over, and Biden has shown up in a big way. What does this mean for Bernie, Warren, and the possibility of serious investment in restoring funding to public housing? Also: Suffolk Downs, Northland in Newton, Harvard Square rezoning, Grand Junction Bike Path, and more!

Presidential Primaries, Bernie, and Housing, Oh My - Episode 21 - Mar 4, 2020

In Central Square, a fight is brewing over arts vs. housing -- all stemming from one building which is falling apart, but has been home to a dance studio for nearly 30 years.

A Fight Over Arts vs. Housing in Central Square - Episode 20 - Feb 19, 2020

More density -- in housing, commercial, arts spaces, and more -- means more of the good stuff that I want, in the place where I currently live. If you don't want that... why are you in a city?!

I Just Want More Stuff! - Episode 19 - Feb 12, 2020

Discussing commercial development and linkage fees in Cambridge.

Linkage Fee and Commercial Development - Episode 18 - Feb 5, 2020

Looking at the cost of housing in Cambridge, it's clear that buying a home has been put forever out of reach of the vast majority of people. What does that mean, and how can we work to make sure it doesn't get even further down that path?

(Never) Buying a House in Cambridge - Episode 17 - Jan 29, 2020

Overall, 2019 was a poor year for renters in Cambridge. Rent prices continued to rise; the City Council did little to take steps to either combat those rises or support renters facing them, and the one change that we could make -- targeting creating more housing for low-income tenants in the city -- was blocked by political forces that consider the risk of slightly denser homes antithetical to their position. This episode wraps up what 2019 looked like, and hopes for better in 2020.

Year End Wrap Up - No New Housing - Episode 13 - Dec 18, 2019

Over the past two years, the city has been evaluating tenant displacement in the city. The Tenant Displacement Task Force, created in 2018, has issued their final report. While the report is a step in the right direction, in many ways the city is constrained in what it can do -- and the recommendations fall short of the city seriously treating renters as first class citizens in their overall investment in protecting them from displacement. For the full tenant task force report, check out https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/officeofthemayor/2019/tenantdisplacementtaskforcefinalreport12092019.pdf?la=en ; and learn more about the task force at https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/mayorsoffice/blueribbontaskforceontenantdisplacement .

Tenant Displacement Task Force Report - Episode 12 - Dec 11, 2019

Neighborhood groups rarely represent the neighborhood. As a result, official authority conferred upon them is largely illegitimate, and they don't deserve it. I tell the story of being told that I'm simply not welcome in my local community, and what I think this means.

Neighborhood Groups Rarely Represent The Neighborhood - Episode 11 - Dec 4, 2019

An update on the Cambridgeside Galleria Zoning Petition, and a look at what it feels like to be scared for your job when you're renting.

Cambridgeside Galleria, And Getting Fired When You Rent - Episode 10 - Nov 27, 2019

Episode 9 - Nov 20, 2019 by Christopher Schmidt

Episode 9 - Nov 20, 2019

Cambridge is currently following in the footsteps of San Francisco, and the rest of Silicon Valley in the housing crisis. We need to take action now to prevent our city from losing any more of its soul.

Don't Let Cambridge Be The Next San Francisco - Episode 8 - Nov 13, 2019

With the 2019 Municipal Elections out of the way, we can now move on to the next step: figuring out what to do next.

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Renters Matter

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