0:00 Introduction
0:26 To those of us who follow Cambridge politics you’re a familiar face, but can you tell us a little about your background: How did you first decide to run for office?
6:33 For such an important issue where we knew an attack was coming on our vulnerable residents, why did it take a year and a half for Beacon Hill to pass the Protect Act?
14:38 In the last election you faced an extremely tight race, winning by 42 votes. What, if anything, did you take from that experience? Did you make any changes in your approach to the office or how you communicate with your constituents?
20:36 In the past, you voted and spoke out against making committee votes public, but have now changed your mind and you voted for the new joint committee transparency rules that passed the house. Can you talk about what made you change your mind?
25:00 You’ve been asked about your employment with Berman Tabacco at the last debate, and The Harvard Crimson just published an article looking further into your work there. Why do you think this continues to be an issue, and what would you say to voters concerned about your outside responsibilities and how it impacts your job as their representative?
36:39 Thank you, Representative Decker for coming on the show. Don't forget to vote on Sept. 1st in the primary!

Video of CCTA Transparency forum featuring Rep Decker and Evan Mackay    • Cambridge’s 25th Middlesex House Candidate...  
#cambridgema #mapoli #Whatsthatabout

Hi folks, here's the full interview we did with Vice Mayor and State Senate Candidate Burhan Azeem we did for our show, "What's That About?"

#cambridgema #somervillema #medfordma #cambridgecitycouncil #Whatsthatabout

0:00 Introduction
1:09 Can you talk about what made you decide to run for the Senate? When did you decide?
2:43 Did you have any concerns about leaving council before your term is up, perhaps leaving unfinished business with your voters on the table? Was the fact that Dana Bullister is inline to replace you a factor?
4:06 Question: With the amendments Clrs Flaherty and Zusy are pushing and the Brown to hamstring the AHO and MFH, do you have concerns of backsliding on housing?
5:18 Question: What’s different in your mind about representing a district
that spans from Medford and Winchester to Somerville and Cambridge?
How does it affect your campaigning and what you chose to focus on?
7:15 Question: What do you bring to the table for people of the 2nd Middlesex that the other challengers like Reps Christine Barber, Clr Mike McLaughlin and Rep Erika Uyterhoeven don’t?
10:46 Question: It seems the T always has a funding problem because they rely on funding from out-of-town legislators who don’t see the political need to fix it. Do you agree? How would you fix this?
16:22 Question: Recently, more studies have shown that middle and lower middle class are leaving Massachusetts because they can’t afford to live here. As we talked in January, you are well known in Cambridge for pushing to remove parking minimums, supporting AHO, and Multi-family Housing zoning. Do you have your eye on any specific state policies you’ll support on Beacon Hill?
19:57 Question: Would you support amending the MBTA Communities Act to mandate state-wide zoning standards near transit instead of allowing those communities to write their own standards?
21:17 Question: As a member of the State Senate, what policies will you push to address the violent anti-immigration push being perpetrated by ICE in this state?
23:16 Question: From a progressive point of view you have a lot of locally popular ideas. How do you get them through a historically ineffective senate which hasn’t moved significantly on some of the issues like improving the MBTA in years? Any thought of forming a coalition with new electees?
27:06 Question: You’ve talked extensively about improving transparency and accountability on Beacon Hill. In this area or in other positions when your stance will differ dramatically with the senate president, how will you decide to push your priorities, without getting buried on the back bench like other elected officials have claimed happened to them, including Pat Jehlen.
30:32 Question: Do you have someone in mind in the state senate or outside Beacon Hill that you look to as a role model, that you would say, “they’re doing right!”
32:16 Question: Anything else you'd like to touch on or closing
statement you'd like make?

Forum organized by the Cambridge Committee for Transparency and Accountability (CCTA) and co-sponsored by Act on Mass and CROL featuring Representative Mike Connolly and Challenger Neil Miller

Candidates were asked 8 questions relating to transparency and accountability. Each candidate was given 2 minutes to respond to each question and 1 minute follow up. #cambridgema #mapoli #26thMiddlesex #beaconhill

What's That About? June 2026: What's That About? "The Fight for Housing in Cambridge STILL isn't over" Even though Cambridge hasn't had a chance to see a lot of change yet, the forces against the new multi-family housing (MFH) and AHO zoning ordinances are trying to turn back the tide. Today on our show, we talk about how Councillors Cathie Zusy, Tim Flaherty and some random dude named Doug Brown with a petition of only 13 signatures are doing their best to gum up the works on new housing construction in Cambridge. It's gotten so serious, we had to get MFH co-sponsor Councilor Marc McGovern back on the show to explain! Also, you know we asked him about the new attempt by the Cambridge License Board to put Puritanical restrictions on Cambridge's bars and restaurants

Full Interview with Marc McGovern

Videos of all three CCTA state house transparency forums to date, filmed by CCTV, are now up on our youtube page.

Thanks to co-sponsors Act on MA and CROL for co-sponsoring. Watch this space for the next forum.

25th Middlesex House Seat: Featuring Rep Decker and Evan MacKay http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx41B_IleNnjvzjqeaL1KxA-3rRwL6SrSI?si=F1-8WUsvcDsS8DtC

Suffolk and Middlesex Senate Seat: Featuring Sen Bronwsberger and Daniel Lander http://youtube.com/post/UgkxnMmjiC86mndRnOjsyCp7zQXznlYWnpor?si=m9e-gUQOsWDB2TdM

2nd Middlesex Senate Seat: Featuring: Burhan Azeem, Christine Barber, Tom Hopcroft, Matt McLaughlin, and Erika Uyterhoeven http://youtube.com/post/UgkxmUjDu8Xd0qSs_UaTnrBP0KTC3xlJAjIG?si=gw-4xcT0qAmfGB6Y

Article on our last forum Pat Jehlen's seat. CCTV has finished the videos and we should be posting them shortly. Next forum is July 7th for the 26th Middlesex with Mike Connolly and Neil Miller.

Not sure I agree with the characterization that all these candidates are "progressives". They're definitely all "democrats".

Tonight, Tuesday June 16th all 5 candidates for 2nd the Middlesex senate seat are participating in our latest forum at the Friends Meeting Hall at 5 Longfellow Park near Harvard Square.

https://preview.redd.it/8py625lxdn7h1.png?width=2550&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6e2fbd8ca99a031e082d260572d832397684e19

Remember, the primary is on September 1st (ideally timed for move in day), don't forget to vote.

Not sure which district you’re in? Check https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator. And watch this space for more information as other primaries involving Cambridge districts are scheduled.

Really well-written coverage of the Brownsberger/ Lander forum.

Here's the first report on the debate the CCTA held on Thursday. CCTV youtube link to follow when it's posted.