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Campaign Update:

Although it’s still early in the campaign season, I am holding events and meeting with members of the community to remind them what is at stake in the election. Joined by a dedicated group of volunteers, I have been talking with residents about my commitment to creating jobs, improving education, protecting affordable housing, and making sure Cambridge maintains its community feel, even as we grow.

In an historic one day record, I collected over one hundred signatures and submitted papers to get on the November 8th ballot the same day papers became available. Continuing the grassroots effort that fueled my last campaign, I hope you will join me as I use this campaign as a means of rekindling community conversations about priorities for the City Council. We are gaining a steady stream of volunteers each day and momentum continues to build as the summer stretches on.

If you are interested in helping out with my campaign efforts, please email Aaron Gunderson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Aaron at 617-453-8075.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

Summer has come and it has come with force!

Even though the Cambridge City Council is in summer recess, I haven’t stopped working to make Cambridge even better. The Council will hold its first full meeting on August 1st and I have been focused on hot-button topics ranging from potential dog-leash rules at Fresh Pond to enhancing the economic engine of Cambridge that keeps our tax rate low. In this update I'm sharing some information about Cambridge's new bike-share program, the Grand Junction railroad program proposed by MassDOT, and the historic strides Cambridge is making to ensure people take home the same pay for the same job, regardless of their married life at home.

Staying Cool During the Summer Months

Summer is in full swing in the city. To fight the heat, Cambridge is opening a cool shelter at the Citywide Senior Center Thursday and Friday July 21-22 through 8:00 p.m. and extending the hours of the Goldstar pool Thursday and Friday July 21-22 through 8:00 p.m. I hope you will take advantage of these programs to stay cool for a safe and enjoyable summer. Read more on the City Website.

Launching the Bike-share Program

I continue to be a strong advocate for bikers in my effort provide economical, environmentally friendly alternatives for commuters. In keeping a promise I made to voters during the last campaign, I brought the issue of bike-sharing before the Council last year and have been working closely with City Manager to ensure a timely roll-out ever since. On August 1st, the Council will vote on a zoning change for the bike-share program that will allow for the racks to be put in place. The bike-share program gives residents the ability to rent bikes from one of 14 solar-powered stations. Six of those stations will be located on the MIT and Harvard campuses as part of a joint initiative between universities and the city. Bike-share users will be charged a membership fee or a daily fee for use. When users are finished with the bicycle, they have the ability to return it to any of the 14 bike racks. If this program is approved at the August 1st hearing, residents should start seeing bike-share racks around the city this fall. Read more at the Chronicle.

MassDOT's Proposal a Concern to Residents

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has proposed a new project involving the Grand Junction Railway that will negatively affect residents of Cambridge. The Grand Junction Railroad runs through Cambridgeport, Kendall Square, East Cambridge and the Brickbottom area of Somerville and was purchased from CSX by MassDOT last year. MassDOT has proposed bringing as many as 24 commuter rail trains a day through Cambridge and Somerville, allowing passengers to ride the Worcester line to and from North Station. The Grand Junction railroad intersects six different roadways in both Cambridge and Somerville, including Massachusetts Avenue, Broadway, Main Street, Binney Street, Cambridge Street, and Medford Street. This proposal will impact the surge of traffic when cars, bicyclists and pedestrians are forced to stop for trains. Additionally, MassDOT’s proposal will decrease the amount of open space in the Grand Junction area, decrease local air quality, and impact thousands who live near the railroad. As the Worcester line currently takes passengers to South Station where they are able to access the Orange Line to get to Cambridge, I do not see the need to disturb the quality of life of thousands of residents. I've heard residents' concerns and will take a strong stand against this proposal. Read more at the Chronicle.

Making Historic Strides for the GLBTQ Community

Cambridge’s commitment to equality made national news last week. We are the first municipality in the country to pay its public employees a stipend to offset the cost of the federal tax on healthcare benefits for same-sex spouses. This means that in Cambridge the take home pay of an employee in a same-sex marriage will match that of an employee in a different-sex marriage doing the exact same job. Find out about what I’m doing to support GLBTQ equality and read more about the health benefits Cambridge provides at the Huffington Post.