[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6668863,"mediaKeyId","2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16","parentId",2217251,"title","Council approves naming of private way “South William Way,” moves to notify post office and update addresses","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3337000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16&start=3337&end=3337","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16/thumbnail_3337000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668863/Cambridge-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-naming-of-private-way-South-William-Way-moves-to-notify-post-office-and-update-addresses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668863-428c8db598a03c612f4dafecbf888bcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180752&Signature=W2~P-LcOgUfAQGmB7YuNN8jU9dXVeZYr~AymBA3NenHmsPucstoiFegG56dcqmLaHAPGPM4qtesp02AxCRA25Mcp~xixkqNlI-Nwiqq0K75wkWPvCwl7RSEwvXHKrk7fQah0I3KS8c0uXvS3vjknyBq~VSkaQh7Q-x6RdY37IyBAYgQBaCmeYRljP9pNc1bREwm2VLmGYUAljc7XZXzayg5yXO1WX60p2WXSdnBSHr~JpdlUFeDoQkIwe2xdXK~22ndZaRsfYDfkCkdOvOKq1EIqT9Q-gwY0T49UXwFIKA0quBcKrW0ehM5oRZ7WUxSsKplwQCOTMvM1ls1HNDcjVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Cambridge, MA","date","2025-02-03T17:20:00Z","article","The Cambridge City Council voted Feb. 3 to name a private way “South William Way” to resolve address and delivery issues for several condominium units that can only be reached via a narrow access way. Residents and the city engineer described wrong deliveries and emergency-response confusion tied to current addressing. The council adopted the order and directed staff to notify the US Postal Service and other relevant agencies so addresses and mapping services can be updated.

Why it mattered: Residents said packages are frequently misdelivered and emergency responders can be delayed because the houses have Pearl Street addresses but are accessed only from William Street. Councilors and staff said the new private‑way name will improve deliveries and emergency response.

What the council did: By roll-call vote the council adopted the order and placed the city manager’s recommendation on file. The city engineer said the address-change notification list includes city departments and outside organizations tasked with updating municipal and postal records.

Next steps: The city engineer will assign addresses using the new street name and notify the Postmaster, city departments and external mapping services to update records and sources. Residents will receive formal notice with the new addressing details.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cambridge - Feb 3, 2025 5:30 PM - City Council - Regular Meeting - Feb 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council adopted an order renaming an existing private way to South William Way to resolve mail and emergency-response confusion for four units; the council voted 8–0 (one member absent) to approve the name and directed the city engineer to notify the U.S. Postal Service and other agencies.","taxTitle","Cambridge City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",3771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6668868,"Neighbors and study group press MBTA and city over asbestos in Alewife tunnel work; city asks MBTA for additional protections",4568,3517000,8085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16&start=3517&end=8085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16/thumbnail_3517000.jpg","/articles/6668868/Cambridge-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Neighbors-and-study-group-press-MBTA-and-city-over-asbestos-in-Alewife-tunnel-work-city-asks-MBTA-for-additional-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668868-59fbae7f5bb5c34476095ecb2f291bd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180752&Signature=krVpMoF7z842lPMtwfSApOujZctHwezzY8kxZ5Zmh~yocs2SZuXwL96qYMAkrE--GH2twpz4gU65xNG7UywOT4IkPfBOEhPyUgdXUi5-yxfWWuA8Fj-bMKxSiRPVOnsf7IRXqhoJz29ltDGE5vjZ-WIJXqqP2e6ybwIf3g2kFzELOUeb0RV~Okm6i3~L3MxwrBDE7DqmFKGMykYtwx5aT4SsAJOTL1OXgXFobxboAhG9aURtqgXnLU3frgc-C2GP4HRjFIC365mXIxRgZMellc7nws57gezEBsaDOGT8eduYRsd9Ecgdg8CZymXzU0I0QqcTgRXuwiXBIjmnEAC6rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and members of the Alewife Study Group urged the City Council Feb. 3 to demand strict asbestos protections for MBTA work on an access tunnel next to Russell Field and surrounding neighborhoods. Speakers said they had alerted city and state agencies to asbestos risks on the site and pressed the MBTA to use the most protective abatement methods.

City staff reported that the MBTA’s soil testing showed asbestos-containing material chiefly in the top 0–4 feet of fill and that MBTA agreed to concentrate initial excavation and mitigation measures on that layer. City staff and health department representatives said they will continue to press the MBTA for protective measures, to coordinate with the Alewife Study Group, and to await peer-reviewed results of state studies examining airborne asbestos data from comparable projects.

Why it mattered: The MBTA project is adjacent to residential areas and Russell Field. Community members expressed concern about airborne asbestos exposure during excavation and urged the MBTA to follow the city’s asbestos protection ordinance or adopt equivalent measures, including protective tenting and aggressive air monitoring.

What happened at the meeting: Council placed the city manager’s report about the Alewife/MBTA site on file and city staff said they would continue technical conversations with the MBTA, coordinate with the Alewife Study Group and evaluate peer-review findings from the state study. Several resident speakers asked the council to press for continued use of the strictest containment methods.

Next steps: City staff said they will continue meetings with the MBTA, follow up on the state study, and encourage the MBTA to adopt additional containment measures for the top layer of fill. Neighborhood advocates have requested continued involvement and federally recognized peer review of MBTA contractor studies.

","Residents and neighborhood groups pressed the MBTA and city staff about asbestos found in fill at the Alewife site for a new MBTA access tunnel. City staff said the MBTA has agreed to focus early excavation on the top layer where asbestos levels were highest and that the city will continue to press for stronger measures and community involvement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6668874,"Council amends multifamily zoning petition to require developer abutter meetings and digital notice",7749,2251000,10000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16&start=2251&end=10000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16/thumbnail_2251000.jpg","/articles/6668874/Cambridge-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Council-amends-multifamily-zoning-petition-to-require-developer-abutter-meetings-and-digital-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668874-d936108dd8dbbaf6b972424afff5c926/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180752&Signature=oQkpXlZDemsILedpqii3tdVUGZMEn~gxkUeDp2NCwHmdIurWYkl~ZlZWDT509Ldy9T~H3xb-oeGeilixrc9F4yYdrJC7zKMcR4fDvG56V59-yqTl3ANJB~bOyix-t9MW3DbMQipHZsLXoruu11xg24Mdj~esMvq72wUzSP0-0ypW63RIxEPMxanKXV7oSb~H16raW0WwwqSmNSmCtteBN6vhb~fV0xn1NMrvt~EecDPHkd-6bQLtbGODgQf51wZrAbYtyD6nkCIGkZ9mfLGAw7N2mbm03bNeWTia6NNSFJTj67uBQBkGCMeRJbk66FvKBAKxfPNFyEQlob3lHoGKZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cambridge City Council adopted an amendment on Feb. 3 to the pending multifamily housing zoning petition that requires developers seeking increased height (the Affordable Housing Overlay scheme) to hold an informational meeting for abutters before applying for building permits and to provide additional public notice.

Councilors said the change aims to give neighbors and occupants earlier, clearer information about projects that will increase building height in residential areas. The adopted change requires mailed notice to parties defined under the Zoning Act, posting to the City of Cambridge website and an on-site notice at the property; the council also amended drafting to make the requirement apply where developers seek additional stories beyond what is allowed as of right.

Why it mattered: Many residents testified during public comment about concerns with as-of-right increases in height, design impacts, solar access and infrastructure strain. Supporters of the amendment said a required informational meeting is a modest step that preserves as‑of‑right development while improving early community engagement.

What the council did: The council adopted the amendment by substitution and then approved the petition text as amended. The vote on the amendment and subsequent adoption recorded unanimous support (9–0). Staff said they will update petition language placement and proceed with the ordinance process with the new notification and meeting requirement incorporated.

Next steps: City staff will incorporate the new footnote into the petition language and return updated zoning text for the council’s continuing consideration in the ordinance process. The new requirement will be reported through standard zoning hearing procedures and included in the petition materials available online.

","The City Council approved an amendment to the multifamily zoning petition requiring developers seeking bonus height to hold a pre‑permit informational meeting for abutters and to post notification online and on-site; the amendment passed unanimously as part of a package of changes to the petition.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6668877,"Cambridge council approves license-plate readers and phone-unlocking tool, sends drone request to committee after hours of public comment",6667,810000,7477000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16&start=810&end=7477","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2217251-4d1d1000d5010eefea661a62b7a31a16/thumbnail_810000.jpg","/articles/6668877/Cambridge-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Cambridge-council-approves-license-plate-readers-and-phone-unlocking-tool-sends-drone-request-to-committee-after-hours-of-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668877-5d96603a176f49f8dcbcfeb776538ee6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180752&Signature=eHPc-58le-oul3RynKv2KiSIGWwYn9~Ghcyl-~Yer1ZMNEWm5r278IJXvpHnVee~EtpFSJS~oHCDzgXj3RLAADbiOvmApf8Xc8QepmQuq4PyFSYJaKmQlUdUdbFNM84tMBUv-pkZjVsXhruqSuJqEqN7tl7vRhrUTNNDmQ9m1LjRvt6iMcWTVkA1rMzj1klc3ZvTQJCmESPRKof~q0nOFT65AbP4m2lejlw76jQkwrQ-uesO4BfEp2zKy6ZWkaIlgnBKxy35nJ3xN~1pISjbTTZyAaV3Hj8-UDTD4wdS7Kd6bSs2brrvd1m3RF8hMCW1Z61gaXFDLtF34IYKDsjAPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cambridge City Council voted on Feb. 3 to authorize two surveillance tools for the Cambridge Police Department—automated license-plate readers and a locked-device access tool—and to send a separate request for remotely piloted aerial vehicles (drones) back to the Public Safety Committee for further review.

The votes followed a long public-comment period during which dozens of residents, students and union organizers urged the council to reject surveillance purchases. Speakers said the technologies would chill protests, enable racialized policing, and risk sharing data with federal agencies; many cited recent local incidents and national examples. Councilors and city officials, including Commissioner Paul Ilo of the Cambridge Police Department, said the tools would be limited by existing city policy and state law and argued some tools could help investigators solve violent crimes.

The vote outcome: automated license-plate readers and the locked-device access tool were approved by the council, while the drone request was referred to the Public Safety Committee for more discussion and narrower limits. Council minutes record that the motion on the two approvals passed with an affirmative vote (6 yes, 3 no) and that the drone item was not adopted that evening and instead was scheduled for committee consideration.

Why it mattered: Testimony from more than 40 people focused on concerns that the technologies would be used to monitor protests, undocumented immigrants and students. Several speakers said federal grant sources (the Urban Area Security Initiative / FEMA) tied to the drone and other requests raised further concerns about data-sharing with state or federal agencies. Supporters on the council and in the police department said the tools would be used only for qualifying criminal investigations, traffic/pedestrian safety and limited exigent situations and stressed city rules that bar facial recognition and that require reporting.

Council and police explanations: Cambridge Police Commissioner Paul Ilo and Deputy Superintendent John Boyle described how each tool would be used. They said automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) would be placed at fixed locations, capture plate images in public spaces and compare those images to investigative lists (stolen cars, AMBER alerts) with data deleted after 30 days unless retained for an active investigation. They said the phone-access technology would be used only under legal authority—warrants, exigent circumstances or owner consent—and would be restricted to specially trained investigators. Police described drones as an officer-safety and search-and-rescue tool and said they would not be used for facial recognition.

What the council did: Councilors debated the balance between civil-liberties risks and public-safety benefits. A motion to approve the ALPR and phone-unlock requests passed. The council referred the drone request to the Public Safety Committee for additional public hearings and more specific operational limits.

Next steps: The drone request will return to the Public Safety Committee for additional hearings and possible redrafting of operational limits. The council directed staff to include the approvals for ALPRs and the locked-device tool in the city’s surveillance reporting and oversight process required by city ordinance.

Context: Much of the public comment referenced recent local incidents and national examples where surveillance technologies were deployed around protests. The council’s vote followed a staff presentation, a police explanation of intended uses, and questions from councilors about data sharing, legal thresholds and enforcement.

","After more than two hours of public comment—mostly opposing new surveillance tools—the City Council voted to approve automated license-plate readers and a locked-device access tool for the Cambridge Police Department and referred a request to buy drones to the Public Safety Committee for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves naming of private way “South William Way,” moves to notify post office and update addresses

Neighbors and study group press MBTA and city over asbestos in Alewife tunnel work; city asks MBTA for additional protections

Council amends multifamily zoning petition to require developer abutter meetings and digital notice

Cambridge council approves license-plate readers and phone-unlocking tool, sends drone request to committee after hours of public comment