Inspectional Services
The Inspectional Services Department (ISD) is responsible for the enforcement all laws and related City ordinances that pertain to the Massachusetts State Building Code and certain articles of the State Sanitary Code. ISD also enforces the Zoning Ordinance.
Womens Business Month
The City of Cambridge will celebrate National Women's Business Month during October to recognize the importance of women-owned businesses and highlight the women entrepreneurs who contribute so much to the local Cambridge economy.
Redefining Community Engagement
In FY22, the Community Development Department (CDD) established a Community Engagement Advisory Group for staff to share best practices and reflect on strategies to make engagement more inclusive and equitable. This Group developed a handbook on inclusive and equitable engagement best practices which will be published in September 2022. The handbook, which uses an anti-racism and equity lens to approach planning, implementation, and reflection of community engagement strategies, will be used to increase participation in public processes and programs.
Open Data Review Board Vacancy
The city’s Open Data Program makes government data easily available in useful formats, and is intended to increase transparency, foster engagement among residents, and create new opportunities for collaboration between Cambridge and the public.
Members Sought for New Mass Ave Partial Construction Working Group
City Manager Yi-An Huang is seeking volunteers to serve on a new Working Group to help guide the Mass Ave Partial Construction Project on Mass Ave, from Waterhouse Street to Alewife Brook Parkway. The Working Group is anticipated to be made up of 15-20 members, representing a diverse set of interests along the Mass Ave corridor to ensure that each perspective is heard and that there is adequate representation reporting back to the larger community. The Working Group will include residents, business owners, institutional representatives, and a variety of people that use the corridor to live, work, walk, bike or take the bus.
Members Sought for Safety Improvement Project on Cambridge Street Working Group
This project will: Add separated bike lanes on Cambridge Street between Inman Square and Second Street, meeting the requirements of the City of Cambridge’s Cycling Safety Ordinance to build a network of separated bike lanes throughout the City; Make changes to the street to improve safety for all users, including for people walking, biking, taking transit, and driving; Construct new bus stops, with boarding platforms that extend further into the street, reducing bus delay and improving the experience of using and waiting for the bus.
Guidelines for Calling 911
911 is for emergencies only. 911 Dispatchers answer both 911 calls as well as general or business calls made to the Cambridge Police and Cambridge Fire business numbers (617-349-3300 for Police and 617-349-4900 for Fire) as well as other public safety non-911 numbers. Reserving 911 for emergencies enables 911 dispatchers to easily recognize and give highest priority to emergency callers while still being able to receive and promptly answer calls for service or non-emergency calls.
Clean Fleet Initiative
The Ciity continues to introduce advanced vehicle technologies into its fleet in order to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition to clean energy.
Cambridge Volunteer Fair
Looking to give back to your community? Join the Cambridge Volunteer Fair—a virtual event where you can choose from presentations and Q&A sessions with dozens of local agencies to learn about volunteer and board member opportunities.
City Manager's Message
Rising housing costs have become an ever-present challenge to everyone in our city, from young people building lives in our community, to families seeking more space for children, to seniors trying to stay close to family and friends. This issue will provide a broad overview of our key housing-related commitments, initiatives, and investments.