Living Wage Cost of Living Adjustment 2026
The Living Wage Ordinance (2.121) provides, at 2.121.030 (b), that the wage shall be upwardly adjusted each year no later than March 1st in proportion to the increase in the Annual Average Consumer Price Index for the prior calendar year for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Boston area, as published by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. For calendar year 2025, the CPI-U increased by 3.13%. Therefore, the new Living Wage as of March 1, 2026 is $20.32. This amount should be communicated to vendors subject to the Living Wage Ordinance and will be used to adjust pay for appropriate city employees. The adjustment does not affect any existing contractual agreements unless the terms of those agreements so require. Questions concerning applicability and enforcement of the ordinance should be directed to the City of Cambridge Law Department at 617-349- 4121 or the Purchasing Department at 617-349-4310
Apply to Cambridge Works to Get Paid Job Experience!
Cambridge Works, the City of Cambridge's transitional jobs program, is recruiting! The program serves Cambridge residents between the ages of 18-35 who have difficulty finding full-time jobs due to limited work experience, a gap in their work history, legal challenges, or personal issues. The next cycle of the program will begin in mid-September.
If you're looking for paid job experience and job search support, don't wait - apply today!
High COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among University Students and Employees
The City of Cambridge extends a warm welcome to returning university students and staff after a year and a half of interrupted academic life. COVID-19 vaccines and increased knowledge of measures that help control the spread of the virus will help students have a more traditional residential experience this fall. The City’s three largest academic institutions - Harvard, MIT, and Lesley - report high vaccination rates among their students and employees.
Bitter Cold Weather is Coming. Information on Shelters, Winter Warming Center, Places to Stay Warm, and Extreme Cold Safety Tips
In anticipation of the extremely cold weather this weekend, the City of Cambridge is expanding capacity at shelters and offering important safety tips. The Winter Warming Center, located in the basement of 806 Massachusetts Ave. will be open on Saturday, Feb. 4. Libraries will also be open for regular hours over the weekend. Limit outdoor time for the whole family, including pets. If you go outside, dress in layers and cover exposed skin. Wear a hat and mittens (not gloves). Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. When outside, stay active to maintain body heat and take frequent breaks from the cold.
Summer Reading: Last Day of School Celebration (O'Neill)
6/24/25: This event is still on, but will be modified due to the extreme heat.
Join us INDOORS at the O'Neill Branch to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of the summer!
We will have food (INDOORS AND OUTDOORS), games and art. No registration is required. All ages are welcome!
MassDOT Advisory: Cambridge Somerville Sidewalk Closures Along Route 28 (McGrath Highway)
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that daytime concrete sidewalk repairs are taking place on Route 28 (McGrath Highway) northbound between Third Street and Rufo Road. Pedestrian detours started on September 30 and will remain in place at all times for approximately three weeks. During this time, the outbound bus stop opposite Twin City Plaza will be relocated to 201 Monsignor O’Brien Highway, just south of Third Street.
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.
Community Visioning Workshop with the A.R.T. and ProBlak (Main)
Join the American Repertory Theater, in collaboration with the artists Dr. Rob "Problak" Gibbs and Gina Latham, for an afternoon community mural visioning workshop. Attendees will be invited to share stories, values, references, and insights that will inform the eventual development of a community mural at the A.R.T.'s new location.
The two-hour workshop is free, designed for all ages, and open to the public. Registration is encouraged but not required.