CityView Newsletter - Winter 2025

Winter 2025

Picture of City Manager speaking at a ceremonial signing.

Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang reflects on the accomplishments of 2024, highlighting major initiatives such as the Cambridge Preschool Program and the Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team. He emphasizes the City's strong investments in affordable housing, climate action, public safety, and education, while reaffirming a commitment to transparency, accountability, and community engagement. Looking ahead to 2025, he expresses gratitude for the collaborative efforts of City staff, residents, and partners, and excitement for the opportunities to continue building a better Cambridge.

Members of the Community Safety Department’s CARE Team

Community Safety Department Makes Immediate Impact In Community Following Launch of 9-1-1 Response

The Community Safety Department’s CARE Team launched in 2024, providing an unarmed, compassionate response to mental health crises, well-being checks, and other non-criminal emergencies. By the end of the year, they responded to nearly 200 emergency calls, assisted over 150 community members, and removed 1,600 needles from public spaces, with 94% of calls requiring no police involvement. In collaboration with local organizations and the Cambridge Police Department, the CARE Team also offers case management and referrals, helping residents access shelter, addiction treatment, housing support, and other essential services.

Milestone Marked In HomeBridge Program

The City of Cambridge’s HomeBridge program recently celebrated a major milestone with its 100th home purchase, helping a local family achieve their dream of homeownership. HomeBridge provides financial assistance to eligible moderate- and middle-income buyers, enabling them to purchase homes on the open market while ensuring long-term affordability through housing restrictions. By creating new, permanently affordable homeownership opportunities across the city, the program helps families stay in Cambridge despite rising housing costs.

College Success Initiative Celebrates 10 Years

The College Success Initiative (CSI) celebrated 10 years in 2024, having supported over 360 Cambridge residents in pursuing higher education. Designed to assist historically underrepresented students, including immigrants, first-generation college-goers, and low-income individuals, CSI provides personalized support through dedicated College Success Coaches. The program helps students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, the Community Learning Center, and Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild program complete associate or bachelor’s degrees within six years.

Funding Secured for New Outreach Van to Support Unhoused Community

Opioid Settlement funds have helped enhance and expand street medicine services for the unhoused community, including purchasing a new van.

Efforts, Collaboration Continue to Expand Afterschool Options for Cambridge Families

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) is working to create a more equitable afterschool application and enrollment process while expanding access for Cambridge families. For the 2024-2025 school year, 1,486 students received an offer to a DHSP afterschool program, with 90% placed in their first choice, and a 7% increase in applicants from the income priority group. DHSP has also added 246 new seats across programs, launched an OST Expansion Study to support long-term growth, and continues to center caregiver perspectives through the Caregiver Council.

Most Read Books in Cambridge in 2024

In 2024, the Cambridge Public Library revealed the top 10 most borrowed books, with The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride leading the fiction category, while The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt topped nonfiction. The children's book Dog Man: The Scarlett Shedder was the most popular among young readers. March saw the highest number of checkouts, contributing to a total of nearly 1.1 million books borrowed that year.

Employee Profile: Archivist Brings Cambridge’s History to Life

The Cambridge Room at the city’s main library holds a treasure trove of historical archives, and since 2010, Archivist Alyssa Pacy has worked to expand its collections to better reflect Cambridge’s diverse communities, preserving overlooked stories and making them accessible to the public. Learn more about Alyssa Pacy in this profile.

Cambridge Urban Forestry Division Celebrates 2024 Milestones

In 2024, the Urban Forestry Division of Cambridge Public Works planted 1,250 new trees and removed 5,000 square feet of pavement to create better planting conditions, enhancing the city's green infrastructure. The Division maintained a strong tree survival rate, with only 3.5% mortality for spring plantings, and expanded community engagement through the revamped Cambridge Urban Forest Friends newsletter, which saw over 105% subscriber growth. Residents can support the city's urban forest by becoming an Urban Forest Friend or subscribing to the newsletter.

New Programming Now Available For Older Adults

The Cambridge Council on Aging and Public Health Department (CPHD) have offered engaging programs to support the well-being of older adults, including monthly music jams and cooking workshops. The music sessions, led by Bobby Tynes and Friends, provided a lively space for community connection, creativity, and movement, while CPHD’s collaboration with East End House introduced hands-on cooking classes focused on nutritious, accessible recipes. Both initiatives received enthusiastic feedback, highlighting their positive impact on social engagement, mood, and overall wellness.

How Cambridge Arts Cares For 280+ Public Artworks

Cambridge’s Percent-for-Art ordinance, established in 1979, has led to the city housing the largest municipal collection of contemporary public art in the region, along with the responsibility of maintaining it. The 2024 exhibition Rust Happen(s): Caring for the Public Art Collection showcased the challenges of preserving outdoor artworks, from rust and graffiti to storm damage, and highlighted the meticulous work of Cambridge Arts’ conservation team. Through stories of restored sculptures and murals, the exhibit underscored the science behind art conservation and encouraged community engagement in protecting public art.

Cambridge Fire 2024 Emergency Response Numbers at a Glance

In 2024, the Cambridge Fire Department responded to 16,182 emergency incidents, including 1,148 fires, 7,387 medical emergencies, and 237 elevator rescues. Firefighters played a critical role in major local fires, including a tragic 3-alarm fire in North Cambridge and multiple multi-alarm residential fires throughout the year. Cambridge fire companies also provided mutual aid to neighboring communities 196 times, highlighting their dedication to public safety.

Director of Clinical Support Services Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Dr. James Barrett, Director of Clinical Support Services for the Cambridge Police Department, co-authored a study published in JAMA Network Open revealing that one in five U.S. adults who die by suicide had spent at least one night in jail in the year prior. The research highlights the need for community-based suicide prevention efforts, particularly post-release. Dr. Barrett’s work with CPD and the Cambridge Health Alliance focuses on supporting individuals with mental health conditions through case management, follow-up care, and a co-response model that pairs clinicians with officers for mental health-related 911 calls.

: Sergeant Lowe (center) and Officer Grassi (left) and Gutoski (right) patrol Harvard Square.

Officers Build Relationships in Harvard and Central Square

The Cambridge Police Department’s Harvard Square/Central Square Unit builds strong relationships with businesses, residents, and associations to enhance safety and trust in these vibrant districts. Officers embedded in the squares work closely with the community to address concerns, fostering open communication and collaboration. Their presence is seen as essential to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment in both squares.

Summer Food Program Served 80,000+ Meals to Cambridge Youth

The Cambridge Summer Food Program ensures that youth ages 18 and younger have access to free, nutritious meals while school is out of session. In 2024, the program served over 80,000 meals at parks, sports leagues, summer camps, and community events across the city. Beyond meals, the program offers recreational activities and literacy support, including weekly visits from the Cambridge Book Bike, making summer a time for both nourishment and enrichment.

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