+ Community and Civic Engagement

I entered public office with a deep passion for serving constituents, and that commitment has remained central to my work this term. It's been a privilege to continue providing vital connections between residents and city services. Here's a snapshot of the ways I've been able to assist:

• Legal Services & Housing: Helping residents access legal services, address housing issues, and write letters of support to the Board of Zoning.
• Small Business & Immigration: Assisting with small business concerns, immigration-related issues, and social security matters.
• Health & Housing: Supporting residents with pest control, housing searches, job readiness, and navigating street signage concerns.
• Social Services: Assisting with applications for Inclusionary Housing, unemployment insurance, and visitor parking at CHA senior buildings.

Community celebrations and placemaking remains one of the most fulfilling parts of my role. I’ve continued many of the community traditions started during my time as Mayor, while also handing off several to Mayor Simmons. This year, I was proud to maintain some of these cherished events:

• Community Iftar: In March, my office hosted the annual Cambridge Community Iftar at Cambridge Upper School in collaboration with the Mayor’s office, the NAACP Cambridge Branch, Cambridge Public Schools, and the Islamic Society of Boston. Over 700 people attended this celebration of Ramadan.
• Bollywood Night: In June, we danced the night away at Bollywood Night, with Swathi Jaisankar’s Team and Triveni School of Dance showcasing South Asian dance. Thanks to Starlight Square, the Central Square Business Association, and the Mayor's office for co-hosting!
• Monthly Coffee Hours: Throughout the year I held coffee hours throughout the year at various coffee shops across the city. These informal gatherings gave me the opportunity to hear directly from residents, listen to any concerns, and connect over coffee. Your input is invaluable as I continue to work on your behalf.

+ Pushing on Policy Priorities

As Co-Chair of the Housing Committee for a second term, I’ve continued working toward addressing the housing crisis in Cambridge. One of the most critical actions we’ve undertaken is pushing for the end of exclusionary zoning practices. This change will allow multifamily housing to be built across the city, helping to increase the housing supply and begin to tackle the housing shortage that is a barrier to many residents.

Ending exclusionary zoning is essential to alleviating the demand for housing not just in Cambridge, but in communities across the country. As we work toward this goal, I remain committed to ensuring that any development aligns with Envision Cambridge goals, prioritizing affordability and protecting our open spaces and historic landmarks.

Currently, we are in the process of discussing amendments to the original zoning petitions. In December, we held a meeting to discuss these changes, and there are a few more important meetings ahead. On January 8 at 5:30, the Ordinance Committee will reconvene to hear from community members through public comment and that session will be followed by another on January 16 at 3:00 pm to discuss the amended petitions and other information requested. You can sign up for updates here.

While ending exclusionary zoning is an important step, it is only one part of the solution. I have also been working to improve the City’s affordable housing programs, including municipally-funded housing vouchers. We are exploring potential funding sources for these programs, including the general operating budget. I have also called for city strategies to improve the experience of those living in inclusionary housing units.

As Mayor, I had the privilege of piloting Cambridge RISE, our local guaranteed income program, which has since been scaled into Rise Up Cambridge—the nation’s first non-lottery guaranteed income program, funded with $22 million in ARPA funds. This program provides $500 monthly to nearly 2,000 households with children earning under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and is currently underway.

In addition to the ongoing program, we saw exciting progress with the release of the research from the Cambridge RISE pilot. The study, which was conducted by the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted remarkable improvements in financial health, increased employment rates, and better educational outcomes for children. This research underscores the power of guaranteed income in lifting families out of poverty and fostering long-term economic stability.

We also began reviewing preliminary results from the ongoing Rise Up Cambridge program, which further confirms the positive impact guaranteed income has on participants. This study, conducted by MDRC, an independent, nonprofit social policy and research organization, will continue to document families’ experiences and contribute to the field of cash assistance research and practice. I am proud of the progress and remain committed to continuing this work.

With Rise Up payments set to end in early 2025, ensuring the program’s future is a top priority for me. In September, I introduced a policy order, unanimously passed by the City Council, urging City Manager Yi-An Huang to explore ways to fund a successor program for Rise Up. I look forward to working with the City Manager’s office and our program partners to ensure this transformative initiative continues to support families in need.

The City of Cambridge’s Charter, originally adopted in 1940, serves as a document that governs the structure and powers of our local government, elected officials, city departments and other institutions, with the goal of ensuring that we can function effectively. To keep it aligned with evolving needs of our community, the Charter is reviewed every 10 years to ensure that our government adapts to these changes.

Throughout 2023, the Charter Review Committee, made up of 15 residents and convened by the Council, met to conduct this important review. As Mayor during this time, I paid close attention to the work of this committee and after months of discussion and learning, it culminated with a set of recommendations across a number of different topics related to the Charter.

Following the committee’s work, these recommendations were presented to the City Council this year, and more recently, I was tasked with Co-Chairing the Council’s Special Committee on Charter Review. Our meetings began in December and will continue into the new year during which my colleagues and I will take a deeper dive into this process critical to fostering transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in local governance. The goal is to review the recommendations, make decisions on how to implement them, and discuss any other necessary changes that have come up independently.

+ Leading in Cambridge and Beyond

This year has been a remarkable journey of both local and national engagement, as I had the opportunity to share our work in Cambridge and learn from leaders across the globe. I participated in several key speaking engagements and leadership events that allowed me to highlight our city’s initiatives and connect with others working towards similar goals

In April, I presented at the EMPath Conference at Boston University, where I shared the findings of our guaranteed income (GI) pilot. During my presentation, I spoke about the personal stories from participants and demonstrated the tangible impact that guaranteed income has had on families' lives.

In May, I had the privilege of speaking virtually at a conference in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. This presentation focused on the successes of Cambridge’s guaranteed income programs and how these efforts could be adapted in other cities to tackle economic inequality.

Later in the summer, I was a keynote speaker at the Basic Income Conference in San Francisco, CA, where I shared the results from our guaranteed income pilot and the expanded Rise Up Cambridge program, one of the largest of its kind in the country. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with other leaders and learn from their experiences in implementing guaranteed income in their communities.

Locally, I was honored to speak to students at Harvard University’s Phillips Brooks House Association about the importance of tenant’s right to counsel in eviction court cases. Alongside Professor Esme Caramello from Harvard Law School, we discussed the legal rights of tenants and the importance of equitable access to justice for all.

I also had the opportunity to be a guest lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School’s “From Harvard Square to the Oval Office” program, where I spoke about my experiences running for office as a South Asian woman. Additionally, I engaged with undergraduates at the Institute of Politics about the significance of civic engagement and how young people can play a key role in shaping our democracy.

In March, I had the privilege of once again attending the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C., with my City Council colleagues and the Cambridge Youth Council. This event provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from other cities and explore innovative policies being implemented nationwide. I was reminded of how far we’ve come since attending my first conference as a CRLS student.

While I couldn’t attend the NLC’s Centennial City Summit in Tampa, FL, this November due to illness, I was deeply honored to be recognized at this event as an inaugural recipient of the NLC Centennial Under 40 Impact Award. This award celebrates young leaders shaping the future of local governance through impactful initiatives and public service.

I also had the opportunity to speak with students from Lead for Taiwan and UBI Taiwan about Universal Basic Income (UBI). We exchanged ideas on how UBI is being implemented in both Taiwan and Boston to address economic disparities.

Additionally, my colleagues and I connected with City Councillors from Austin, TX, to discuss their efforts around zoning reforms and how they are addressing housing challenges. The conversation was a valuable exchange of ideas on how cities can work towards solving the housing crisis and promoting affordability.

+ Other Year Highlights

In 2022, as Mayor, I established the Universal Pre-K Ad-Hoc Committee in partnership with the Office of Early Childhood Education to advance a long-anticipated initiative: providing free school-day, school-year preschool to every 4-year-old and some 3-year-olds living in Cambridge. This past fall marked the beginning of the program, officially known as the Cambridge Preschool Program. After years of discussion and planning, it was truly a highlight to see this important initiative come to fruition and begin to serve families across our city. This program represents a significant investment in the future of our youth and the community.

The City also continued to make progress with adding additional seats in our various afterschool programs through the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP), allowing us to accept more applications through the DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery. This year alone, the number of seats rose to 1,486, with over 90% of families receiving their first choice location. And with an increase in applicants from the priority group, this system has continued to grow with a focus on driving racial diversity and equity.

This year, we celebrated several important milestones in affordable housing and economic mobility in Cambridge. It was an honor to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for 52 New Street, a new development with Just-A-Start. This project will provide 106 new rental homes, including 22 one-bedroom apartments, 62 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom apartments. 52 New Street is a major milestone for Cambridge, as it is the first project permitted under the Affordable Housing Overlay. This overlay, which we worked on for many years, was one of the key initiatives I championed as Co-Chair of the Housing Committee during my first term. Additionally. I was thrilled to be at the ribbon cutting for Just-A-Start’s Economic Mobility Hub. This 70,000-square-foot, mixed-use development brings together an education and job training center, affordable housing, and pre-K.

I’m also excited to share the progress on a new program my office helped push last term: Refurbished Bikes for Cambridge Residents. In partnership with the City’s Community Development Department (CDD) and Cambridge Bike Give Back (CBGB), this program provides free refurbished bikes to income-eligible residents. It’s a small but meaningful step toward improving transportation access and sustainability in our community.

Cambridge has also made significant strides in the City’s Zero Waste Master Plan, and as part of my commitment to advancing sustainability and waste management in the city, I have been focusing on ensuring that our initiatives are both equitable and compatible with efforts to expand affordable housing. For example, in light of a recent ban on mattress disposal by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, I introduced a policy order urging the City Manager to work with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to expand the mattress recycling program to include multi-unit residential buildings, starting with affordable housing properties in our city.

+ Looking Ahead

As we wrap up a year of progress and challenges, I am filled with gratitude for the continued opportunity to serve this incredible city. The work we’ve done together is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to making Cambridge a better place for all.

Looking ahead, I am excited for what the next year will bring, knowing that together we will continue to push for meaningful change and growth. With your support, we can build on the foundation we’ve laid and tackle the challenges to come.

Thank you, Cambridge, for your trust and partnership. My door is always open, and I look forward to hearing from you as we continue to shape our city’s future.