All:
Happy spring. We may be through the snow of this winter, although the April 1 snowstorm of 1997 did happen… Despite heavy snowfall this winter, the Northeast Region of Massachusetts — including Cambridge — has been upgraded to Level 3, Critical Drought, which means all non-essential outdoor water use is prohibited. Even with February snowfall reaching up to three feet, it only adds about 2.5 inches of water, which is not enough to fully recharge rivers, lakes, ponds, and groundwater after months of below-average precipitation. Our reservoir levels are far below the 20 year median – hopefully spring rains will replenish so drought restrictions can be lifted.
I was at the National League of Cities conference last week – and learned from many sessions. I am vice-chair of the University communities Council, and the session I led for the group focused on the economic impact of higher education on local economies – something Cambridge knows well. Our universities are our largest employers, largest taxpayers, and largest economic drivers. The recent attacks on higher education jeopardize not only the institutions, but our economy and innovation as well. If you attended any institution of higher learning, write as an alum and ask that they stand up for academic freedom and institutional autonomy. (If you are a Harvard alum, follow and spread the word about Crimson Courage.)
The sessions I attended at NLC included some on PFAS risks, and data center energy use – both items I am working on in the council. One policy order for Monday is on ensuring we are ready and proactively considering how to regulate any data centers – more below and please email the council with support. Data centers are popping up all over the country and causing some concern. While Cambridge won’t see hyper-centers, smaller ones may want to locate here, and currently we have no way to regulate them, to ensure any new ones will not disrupt our energy or water supply. We need to be proactive.
For joy and fun this weekend: go see the show by North Cambridge Family Opera this weekend with their rendition of “Weedpatch.” Themes are relevant: how outsiders/migrants/immigrants are treated, how art can lift us up, how family and love matter. Four more shows – all at the Peabody School: Saturday, March 28 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm and Sunday, March 29 at 1:00pm and 5:00pm. I went last weekend and it is a phenomenal show. Appropriate for all ages.
We continue to address climate emission pollution – including by ensuring our city residents have access to cleaner electricity, at a lower price. Cambridge Climate Chief Julie Wormser and Climate Strategy and Implementation Manager Meghan Shaw were interviewed in this NBC Boston/NECN segment, which explains how Cambridge Community Electricity participants are saving on electricity costs and supporting renewable energy.
I also attended the legislative breakfast hosted by the Cambridge Somerville Elder Services – which reminded all of us of the need to take care of our seniors. Below are comments on a few top line items and a few quick notes for Monday’s meeting. If you have questions or comments on these or anything else, please feel free to reach out at any time.
TRIVIA QUESTION: It’s women’s history month. On November 2, 1915, Massachusetts voted on allowing women to vote – without looking it up, what was the result of that ballot question – what was the voting margin?
Patty
I learned and shared a lot at the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C. this month.
Thanks to Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services for a great breakfast and all their wonderful work for the community.
Council Updates
Health and Environment Committee
The spring schedule for the Health and Environment Committee is underway. I recently I submitted a communication to the Council of the tentative schedule for the Health and Environment Committee so that everyone has an opportunity to prepare for and comment on items beforehand. We recently had a meeting to review our Tobacco Use Ordinance. Upcoming meetings include the Net Zero Action Plan Annual Review and a general update from the Office of Sustainability. Note on the Tobacco Use Ordinance – I and the council support making it more efficient and timely to address changes in state and public health laws related to tobacco use. I do not support outlawing all tobacco use for people over the age of 21 – which some municipalities in Massachusetts have done. I understand the dangers of smoking, and don’t believe the costs of enforcement are worth it. Plus, the efforts at education have been successful – the number of people of all ages smoking is very small. From a public health perspective, alcohol and drugs are far more dangerous and used more widely than tobacco products.
Meetings on Multifamily Housing Ordinance
A year after passing the Multifamily Housing Ordinance, we have begun the annual review process, which I worked to require in the ordinance. The first meeting to look at results was the Joint Neighborhood and Long Term Planning, and Housing Committee meeting on March 25. You can see the meeting materials here. The next meeting to discuss the annual review will be on April 7 and will include City staff as well as outside experts, including a realtor, developer, and professors of urban planning, landscape architecture, housing, and transportation policy.
Please write to the Council (at council@cambridgema.gov) or come speak at the meeting (sign up here) about any of the items below.
City Council Meeting - Monday, March 30, 2026
Data Centers
Data centers are facilities that house computer servers for processing and storing data, and these facilities can negatively impact communities due to excess water and electricity impact, and environmental and quality of life impacts. Communities around the country have begun to take steps to limit large data centers from negatively impacting residents, ratepayers, and the environment. I filed a policy order this week asking City staff to review model legislation to begin to develop recommendations that can protect our community from negative impacts.
Rodenticides (SGARs)
Councillor McGovern and I have worked together for many years to limit the use of SGAR rodenticides in Cambridge. We have an internal city policy banning their use, we have worked with large property owners like Cambridge Housing Authority, Harvard, and MIT to eliminate their use on large private land, and we have consistently supported state bills for the ban of SGARs statewide. We are filing another policy order this week in support of the latest state bill restricting the use of rodenticides.
Local Events/Notes
WEEDPATCH by North Cambridge Family Opera this weekend!
Charming, fun for people of all ages, substantive, pay what you can. At the Peabody school Saturday and Sunday.
DPW launches pop-up events for hard-to-recycle materials
We are excited to launch a 3-year pilot program to host pop-up events in different neighborhoods to help residents divert batteries, e-waste, and other hard-to-recycle items from landfills. The pop-up events will accept the same materials as are accepted year-round at the DPW Recycle Center. DPW will host 10 pop-up events in 2026. The first pop-up is on Earth Day, April 22, at the Tobin School, 181 Vassal Lane in the bus loop from 4:00-7:30 p.m. To access the event by car, use Fresh Pond Parkway or Lakeview Ave. The second pop-up will be held behind the former Kennedy-Longfellow School at 104 Fulkerson St on May 20, 4:00-7:30 p.m. Future pop-up locations and dates will be announced in this newsletter and on the Recycle Center webpage. This project is funded through Participatory Budgeting after residents voted to fund the 3-year pilot program in 2025.
City of Cambridge Announces Winning Projects for 12th Participatory Budgeting Cycle
The City of Cambridge has announced the results for the twelfth Participatory Budget (PB) process. Nine projects in total were selected after 10,172 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted how to spend $1 million on capital and operating projects to improve the community. In order of ranked votes, the following nine projects won $1,032,000 in funding:
- Fixing Sidewalks, Saving Trees ($100,000)
- More Complete Streets ($200,000)
- Transportation Assistance Services ($50,000)
- Cold and Wet Weather Kits ($60,000)
- Rain and Pollinator Gardens ($100,000)
- Supporting Continuous Access to School Supplies ($12,000)
- Residential Rat Control ($110,000)
- Concrete Barriers for Bike Lanes ($150,000)
- Basketball Court Upgrades ($250,000)
Women’s History Month
The Cambridge Historical Commission Celebrates Women’s History Month. As a joint project of the Cambridge Commission on the Status of Women and the Cambridge Historical Commission (CHC), the Cambridge Women’s Heritage Project (CWHP) was created to bring women’s contributions into focus, ensuring that they are included in the City’s rich history. During Women’s History Month, the project feels especially resonant. It reminds us that history is not fixed; it is something we build, revise, and enrich. We invite you to follow the CHC on social media throughout March as we highlight some of the women and woman-focused organizations that built and strengthened our community. Visit the Cambridge Women’s Heritage Project database: https://cwhp.cambridgema.gov/
Community Friday Nights
Cambridge Youth Programs announces Community Friday Nights. Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP), a division of DHSP, is excited to announce Community Friday Nights, a weekly event series designed to bring residents of all ages together for engaging activities, meaningful connections, and opportunities to build stronger relationships within the neighborhood and across the city. Beginning on Friday, February 27, the free events will take place on Fridays at the Russell Youth and Community Center, 680 Huron Ave. from 6 – 8 p.m. Learn more.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone for reading. If there are any topics you want me to cover in future newsletters, I’m always happy for the input! As always, please feel free to reach out to my aide, Patrick (phayes@cambridgema.gov), or me for any of your City Council needs.
You can find all previous newsletters on my website. Please share with anyone you think would be interested: https://pattynolan.org/news/