https://preview.redd.it/vaxvpcwyqoth1.png?width=950&format=png&auto=webp&s=c696beb9903d053ebd7e8bb2f75888009b38cbce

On Monday, the City Council will consider a policy order to cancel the Outer Huron bike lanes for at least five years. This will leave a short but important gap between Fresh Pond’s existing paths and planned bike lanes on Grove Street in Belmont. We need your help keeping this network connection moving forward.

A route needs to be safe the whole way for it to be viable. Cambridge has invested in paths around Fresh Pond, but someone biking toward Belmont still encounters roughly 1,200 feet of unprotected roadway beside dangerous fast-moving traffic. The median driver is traveling at about 30mph in the City’s traffic counts!

Huron Avenue is on the Cambridge Bicycle Network Plan, and by City Council vote is required to be a fully separated facility: https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/files/cdd/transportation/bike/bikeplan/2020/finalchaptersjune2021/appendixf_networkvisionmap_20210618.pdf

Completing Outer Huron would make it easier to reach Glacken Field, the Russell Youth Center, and Fresh Pond, while preparing for a safer connection with Belmont’s planned 2028 Grove Street improvements.

We need your help writing the Council against this proposed cancellation of a safety project before Monday evening’s council meeting. If you’re using Gmail, use [this link](mailto:council@cambridgema.gov?cc=clerk@cambridgema.gov&bcc=info@cambridgebikesafety.org&subject=Vote NO on PO 8: Do not cancel Huron safe biking project) to email the council; for other email clients, use this link. (Note these will CC the clerk so this email will be on the public Council record.) If neither link works, email council@cambridgema.gov and CC info@cambridgebikesafety.org. Tell the Council to vote no on Policy Order #8, and to continue building infrastructure for safer biking.

More details and talking points below.

Talking points

You can read a detailed analysis about the project and the available parking options here or an op-ed here. Or see the following talking points.

You don’t need to cover every point. Choose one or two, and/or add your own experience, and ask the Council to reject this cancellation.

• A short gap can block an entire trip. Outer Huron has roughly 1,200 feet without separated bike lanes between existing paths and Grove Street. People deciding whether to bike must consider the least comfortable part of their route, especially when traveling with children.
• The driving speeds show why protection is needed. City traffic counts found that the median eastbound driver was traveling over 31mph and that 15% of drivers exceeded 35 mph. People should not have to ride beside traffic moving at those speeds to reach parks, recreation programs, or neighboring communities.
• Low bicycle counts are not evidence that a safe connection is unnecessary. They count people willing to ride under today’s conditions. They do not count families and other residents who avoid this stretch because it feels unsafe. We should not wait for someone to be seriously hurt before addressing a known hazard.
• This project serves destinations people use today. Glacken Field, the Russell Youth Center, Fresh Pond, and the golf course already draw people to this area. Safer access to these places is worthwhile for every user on our roads.
• Belmont is planning improvements to make this a regional connection. Belmont is planning to add bike lanes along Grove Street, planned in 2 years. Canceling this project for 5 years would leave Cambridge’s gap in place beyond that target and might discourage Belmont from making this investment.
• Use existing parking more effectively. Free daytime parking on Grove Street can help serve excess golf course visitors, while Parkside Place’s earlier parking study documented 86 vacant garage spaces, suggesting capacity to accommodate more resident vehicles. The City should protect on-street parking for residents who need it through structured parking policy, and work to support better management of golf-course parking.
• Protect access for people who need to drive. Loading space, accessible parking, and convenient drop-offs are important for the Russell Youth Center. The design preserves the youth center’s loading zone and bus stop, adds accessible spaces, and moves parking closer to the center. The City should monitor demand and make further adjustments as needed.
• Another bike lane elsewhere would not close this gap. The purpose of a network is to connect useful destinations. Substituting mileage elsewhere, or reducing the overall commitment, would leave the same obstacle for people traveling this direction.

(reposting with permission)

EAST CAMBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE

Do you have stuff to sell? Do it on:

Sunday October 4 (Rain date Sunday October 11)

https://cambridgeyahds.com/  

East Cambridge neighbors have organized a date (October 4) for a unique type of event, where people can hold a sale at their homes on the same date to make it convenient for those looking for items.  

The date is intended to help people doing a fall clear-out and also for those who might be looking for items, including affordable gifts for the holiday season. 

How it works: put the location and time of your event on this community website and then be there for people to come! https://cambridgeyahds.com/ 

And for those looking to buy (you can come from anywhere of course!), put the date on your calendars: SUNDAY OCTOBER 4

[Sharing a post from the local East Cambridge neighbors listserv]

EAST CAMBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE

Do you have stuff to sell? Do it on:

Sunday October 4 (Rain date Sunday October 11)

https://cambridgeyahds.com/  

East Cambridge neighbors have organized a date (October 4) for a unique type of event, where people can hold a sale at their homes on the same date to make it convenient for those looking for items.  

The date is intended to help people doing a fall clear-out and also for those who might be looking for items, including affordable gifts for the holiday season. 

How it works: put the location and time of your event on this community website and then be there for people to come! https://cambridgeyahds.com/ 

And for those looking to buy (you can come from anywhere of course!), put the date on your calendars.

Just caught this on the Rapid Response program (sorry if it's already been shared and I missed it)

Received this from DCR. The TLDR background: a small but very vocal group of people have been fighting against the closing of Memorial Drive during weekends claiming traffic impacts and that they are unfairly marginalized. While there are certainly people going into this process with good intentions, there are some who are using this to try to undo the decades-old benefit of the Open Streets Memorial Drive (they already succeeded in undoing the access on Saturdays). they also don't want improvements to the area that may improve the multi use path. They are claiming that they have the ultimate "say," as opposed to everyone else in the area who uses this community resource.

The intent/background is not very clear if one just reads the high-level recommendations which sound mostly benign. There is some language in the more detailed report that reflects the intent, e.g,, around prioritizing direct abutters. Also there will be an upcoming project that intends to use these recommendations that will be very important to follow.

Final thought: there are indeed some good and much-needed recommendations about improved DCR communications and ways for people to contact/provide feedback, and many of the recommendations are welcome. The concern is about ensuring that there is an understanding about the value of this resource to the community beyond a few naysayers who don't like that they can't drive on Sundays along this route.

There is an online survey (deadline May 29) and an in-person meeting. Info below.

--------------------------------------------

The public comment period for the Task Force's draft recommendations will end at the end of Friday May 29. Please submit any comments through this survey.

The next Task Force meeting will be held on Wednesday June 17 at the Cambridge Public Library, Main Branch, and you can register here for that meeting for in-person or virtual attendance.

Further information about the Task Force and previous meeting information may be found at Charles River Task Force on Equitable River Access.

Hi,

Only a few more days to vote -- I was wondering whether there were any thoughts about a couple of the candidates whom I have not seen discussed on this forum (please direct me if I missed it). I have seen endorsements for Nona Lim and Greg Husisian and "no way!" for Liu and Salem but are there thoughts about Cheron or Shankwiler?

Thanks!

[sending as an FYI]

Jewish Leaders Condemn Kristof’s New York Times Column

• May 15, 2026

Amplifying unsubstantiated claims that echo dangerous historical narratives about Jews

New York, NY — Betsy Berns Korn, Chair, and William C. Daroff, CEO, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement: 

The recent New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof on alleged Israeli prison abuses of suspected Hamas terrorists relies on claims that are weakly sourced, lacking in specificity, contested, and unsupported by evidence.

The column elevates anonymous testimony, much of it secondhand, from advocacy groups known for their bias and disputed credibility, including histories of fabrication, and allegations that remain unverified. Even former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, cited in support, later clarified that his remarks were misrepresented and did not support the article’s allegations.

A fundamental difference separates substantiated wrongdoing from allegations that are weakly sourced, contested, or unproven. In democratic societies, that distinction matters. It separates responsible reporting from distortion.

The timing of the column is questionable at best. It appeared on the eve of the release of “Silenced No More,” a report by the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. The Commission report documents Hamas’s use of sexual violence during the October 7 attacks and against hostages in captivity. It draws upon more than 10,000 photos and videos, over 1,800 hours of visual material, and over 400 testimonies, all cross-referenced and geolocated.

As evidence of Hamas’ systematic and grotesque atrocities came into public view, the Kristof column instead propagates anonymous claims that remain disputed and unverified, including unprecedented and highly improbable allegations of sadism that draw attention away from the Commission’s report and suggest a false moral equivalency.

The consequences are not abstract.

For centuries, blood libels portrayed Jews as uniquely sadistic and inhuman. When modern narratives echo those themes, they reinforce patterns that have historically fueled hatred and violence against Jews.

Spreading unproven and inflammatory claims about Jews carries real risk.

At a time of dramatically rising antisemitism worldwide, that risk is growing.

When falsehoods are spread by a seemingly credible source with global reach, they do not just misinform. They dehumanize. And that has consequences.

###

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is the recognized central coordinating body representing 50 diverse national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the positions of all member organizations.

This is a long shot but I lost a set of keys somewhere in Cambridge/Somerville today May 5, I was walking and biking all over so hard pinpoint where exactly.

If you happen to find them, if you could please return to the Cambridge Police Dept that would be so great.(or LMK where is convenient)

Thx !

Next Monday (5/4) at 10am there is another public hearing on safe streets, this time regarding the transportation department’s budget.   This hearing will cover the budget for the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Public Works Department (PWD). This will also include the Bikeshare Revolving Fund, which is managed by BTD.   Over a dozen projects have been removed from the Mayor's last budget, projects are being delayed and already one project delayed past funding deadlines. The stakes could not be higher for our movement. It’s crucial that BTD knows where their constituents want their money to go: safe street designs.  Last month, nearly 100 of you packed Boston City Hall in both a rally and flooding of the chambers to tell the city that Safe Streets Can’t Wait. Wanna catch up on how that went? Check out our video recap of the hearing here:

Watch The Video

Can’t make it? We’re still advancing strongly with our Safe Streets Can’t Wait campaign, and we’re nearing our goal of 750 letters. It’s had an impact: City Councilors are adopting our terms and phrases in their advocacy. We’re shifting the narrative and it’s because of the support of folks like you.   City Council Committee on FY27 Budget:  Transportation, Public Works, Bikeshare Revolving Fund Monday May 4, 2026, 10:00AM Iannella Chambers, Boston City Hall   More information:

Read More

Note: If you would like to testify via zoom you can sign up here:

RegisterNext Monday (5/4) at 10am there is another public hearing on safe streets, this time regarding the transportation department’s budget. This hearing will cover the budget for the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Public Works Department (PWD). This will also include the Bikeshare Revolving Fund, which is managed by BTD.Over a dozen projects have been removed from the Mayor's last budget, projects are being delayed and already one project delayed past funding deadlines. The stakes could not be higher for our movement. It’s crucial that BTD knows where their constituents want their money to go: safe street designs.Last month, nearly 100 of you packed Boston City Hall in both a rally and flooding of the chambers to tell the city that Safe Streets Can’t Wait. Wanna catch up on how that went? Check out our video recap of the hearing here: Watch The VideoCan’t make it? We’re still advancing strongly with our Safe Streets Can’t Wait campaign, and we’re nearing our goal of 750 letters. It’s had an impact: City Councilors are adopting our terms and phrases in their advocacy. We’re shifting the narrative and it’s because of the support of folks like you.City Council Committee on FY27 Budget: Transportation, Public Works, Bikeshare Revolving FundMonday May 4, 2026, 10:00AMIannella Chambers, Boston City Hall  [NB this is from an email from BCU)

Reminder: Virtual Information Session Tonight! April 29th, 6 pm. to 8 p.m.

Join us for a Cambridge Street Virtual Information Session TONIGHT, April 29, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Zoom. City staff will share design plans and present an updated project timeline. To see the slides in advance, click here. Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions live or through Zoom’s Q&A feature.  The webinar will cover: Final design for Section A, Prospect St to Willow St. Draft Design for Section C, from Fulkerson St to Second St. Early planning information for Section B, from Willow St to Fulkerson St.

Register for Virtual Information Session

Slides for Tonight's Info SessionReminder: Virtual Information SessionTonight! April 29th, 6 pm. to 8 p.m. Join us for a Cambridge Street Virtual Information Session TONIGHT, April 29, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Zoom. City staff will share design plans and present an updated project timeline. To see the slides in advance, click here.Following the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions live or through Zoom’s Q&A feature.The webinar will cover:Final design for Section A, Prospect St to Willow St.Draft Design for Section C, from Fulkerson St to Second St.Early planning information for Section B, from Willow St to Fulkerson St.Register for Virtual Information SessionSlides for Tonight's Info Session