Fresh Pond moratorium

A moratorium on all development at Alewife is a moratorium on affordable housing, a moratorium on transit oriented development, and a moratorium on an ecologically responsible future. It is fundamentally out of step with Cambridge values. Proposals for housing moratoria are often discussed or adopted in surrounding suburban cities and towns, and for the same reasons forwarded in this letter. We join suburbs like Brookline, Newton, Marlborough, Pembroke, among many others as part of the moratorium discussion. Cambridge has been a leader in progressive solutions to affordable housing, the environment, and transit, and we cannot set a precedent by turning our backs on that legacy.

Click here to read ABC’s full statement on the issue.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

• Attend city council on Monday, April 2nd, 5:30 PM at Cambridge City Hall and speak out against the moratorium

Members of the public may use three minutes to address the city council on agenda items. We expect moratorium supporters to come out in big numbers so we hope you’ll come out to say yes to transit-oriented affordable housing and a more sustainable future for Alewife!

• • SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE - Click here to access the city council’s public comment sign up form (form is accessible beginning 9:00 AM this Friday, March 30th)

• • Alternatively, between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Monday you can call the city council office to sign up: 617-349-4280.

• • Please also shoot me a quick email or just respond to this message to let me know if you can attend on Monday.

Given the expected turnout on both sides of this issue it’s best to sign up for public comment as early as possible! However, you can sign up in person at the beginning of Monday’s council meeting, but by then you’ll be far down the list.

• Email the City Councillors before Monday’s meeting to express your opposition - This is especially important if you cannot attend Monday’s city council meeting in person.
• • Email all nine councilors at once: [email protected]
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  • Include the city clerk to make sure your comments are included in the public testimony for Monday’s meeting: [email protected]
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  • Please also CC me ([email protected]) so we know that ABC members and supporters are reaching out!

WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL:

Feel free to use ABC’s statement of opposition to the moratorium as a reference or guide as you craft your own public testimony on this issue. However, try not to just repeat what we’ve written - comments that include personal stories will resonate the most with city councillors.

Do you struggle to afford the cost of housing in Cambridge and how do you believe further limits on affordable housing will impact your ability to stay here? Why is it important to you to live near public transit and do you believe more people should have that opportunity? Why do you appreciate living in an urban community like Cambridge instead of more suburban places like Newton? Answering these and similar questions in your testimony will help add a critical personal element to your testimony.