Ben Ewen-Campen
@benforward3.bsky.social
City Councilor, Somerville MA - Ward 3. Affordable housing, safe streets, good jobs, public transit, fighting climate change (also, biologist at Harvard Med School) https://www.benforward3.com
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
Howdy - I recently worked with a group of tenants whose building was just bought by a corporate landlord, who immediately raised the rent to levels that would displace ~everyone. We met together with new landlord - one tenant was a pre-school teacher whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack 1/
December 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Howdy - I recently worked with a group of tenants whose building was just bought by a corporate landlord, who immediately raised the rent to levels that would displace ~everyone. We met together with new landlord - one tenant was a pre-school teacher whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack 1/
🤔
Left: Governor Maura Healey states that, “if you look at the studies,” rent control halts housing construction.
Right: ChatGPT summary of academic studies, which concludes that exempting new construction doesn’t affect new building.
Left: Governor Maura Healey states that, “if you look at the studies,” rent control halts housing construction.
Right: ChatGPT summary of academic studies, which concludes that exempting new construction doesn’t affect new building.
!["I'm a 'no' because, if you look at the studies you effectively halt [housing] production," Healey told the station. "I will tell you that investors in housing have already pulled out of Massachusetts because they're concerned about rent control."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mivm3wvvlsqkjqeavkrujmwi/bafkreic2tghtdtnuaggxj26esuqcjxsicukkyzyphem4y2leuqex3uzbqa@jpeg)
December 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
🤔
Left: Governor Maura Healey states that, “if you look at the studies,” rent control halts housing construction.
Right: ChatGPT summary of academic studies, which concludes that exempting new construction doesn’t affect new building.
Left: Governor Maura Healey states that, “if you look at the studies,” rent control halts housing construction.
Right: ChatGPT summary of academic studies, which concludes that exempting new construction doesn’t affect new building.
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
concentration camps.
ICE documents reveal plan to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses
The Trump administration wants to build seven large-scale deportation hubs to speed up deportations, internal ICE documents show.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
concentration camps.
🛷Although the City does *not* officially sanction sledding behind City Hall, it is now a bit safer just in case you do :) Thank you, DPW! #SmallVictoriesWard3 #ChristmasCameEarly
December 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
🛷Although the City does *not* officially sanction sledding behind City Hall, it is now a bit safer just in case you do :) Thank you, DPW! #SmallVictoriesWard3 #ChristmasCameEarly
I’m *extremely* appreciative of the major safety improvements that have been made to the BU bridge & nearby over the last year (it’s on my daily commute year round), but the flex posts at both ends were destroyed by vehicles within days, and it’s clear something more is needed for safety here👇
December 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I’m *extremely* appreciative of the major safety improvements that have been made to the BU bridge & nearby over the last year (it’s on my daily commute year round), but the flex posts at both ends were destroyed by vehicles within days, and it’s clear something more is needed for safety here👇
Less than a week after they were installed, many of the flex posts on the BU bridge have been destroyed by vehicles. Appreciate the thought but cyclists clearly need more protection at these intersections.
December 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Less than a week after they were installed, many of the flex posts on the BU bridge have been destroyed by vehicles. Appreciate the thought but cyclists clearly need more protection at these intersections.
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
Science has named the seemingly unstoppable growth of renewable energy worldwide as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year.
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
December 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Science has named the seemingly unstoppable growth of renewable energy worldwide as the 2025 Breakthrough of the Year.
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/493Tpgx
Such a pleasure to celebrate how far the Somerville Community Land Trust has come - from an idea in a small room to real, concrete, permanently affordable housing with enormous community buy-in and support. Here’s to many more!
December 19, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Such a pleasure to celebrate how far the Somerville Community Land Trust has come - from an idea in a small room to real, concrete, permanently affordable housing with enormous community buy-in and support. Here’s to many more!
🫨 Come out tonight to celebrate the Somerville Community Land Trust! See you there
December 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
🫨 Come out tonight to celebrate the Somerville Community Land Trust! See you there
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
It’s exciting to see the new @mbta.com bus shelters coming online with lighting and real-time arrival. This is how you make a dignified bus experience.
December 17, 2025 at 11:37 PM
It’s exciting to see the new @mbta.com bus shelters coming online with lighting and real-time arrival. This is how you make a dignified bus experience.
☕️🍜🥟So psyched to welcome Somerville's newest Japanese Comfort Food Cafe Kokoro Don Cafe! I asked them how their first week went and they said "we weren't expecting such a warm welcome!" Right on the corner of School St & Summer.
December 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
☕️🍜🥟So psyched to welcome Somerville's newest Japanese Comfort Food Cafe Kokoro Don Cafe! I asked them how their first week went and they said "we weren't expecting such a warm welcome!" Right on the corner of School St & Summer.
Incredibly sad first night of Hanukkah this year, thinking about the horrific attack on Jews worshipping at Bondi Beach in Australia, and everyone affected by the senseless attack on our neighbors at Brown University. We will never let this become normal - end gun violence now.
December 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Incredibly sad first night of Hanukkah this year, thinking about the horrific attack on Jews worshipping at Bondi Beach in Australia, and everyone affected by the senseless attack on our neighbors at Brown University. We will never let this become normal - end gun violence now.
⚡️At long last! The forever-vacant Star Market is coming down (and, a 50% affordable development is going up.)
December 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
⚡️At long last! The forever-vacant Star Market is coming down (and, a 50% affordable development is going up.)
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
“Tell your children who the cowards were.”
December 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“Tell your children who the cowards were.”
Great to catch up with our newly-elected School Committee member Michele Lippens! Excited to work together for Ward 3.
December 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Great to catch up with our newly-elected School Committee member Michele Lippens! Excited to work together for Ward 3.
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
Read to the end. NPR asked why the Trump team ended a low-cost program that cured millions of tropical diseases w drugs donated by pharma. The spokesperson replied with an NPR headline—“Farewell to USAID”—and said: “What do you think farewell meant?” www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The fight to beat neglected tropical diseases was going well. 2025 could change that
The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.
www.npr.org
December 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Read to the end. NPR asked why the Trump team ended a low-cost program that cured millions of tropical diseases w drugs donated by pharma. The spokesperson replied with an NPR headline—“Farewell to USAID”—and said: “What do you think farewell meant?” www.npr.org/sections/goa...
✌️Family portrait with Big Mike @mikeconnollyma.bsky.social :)
December 10, 2025 at 11:44 PM
✌️Family portrait with Big Mike @mikeconnollyma.bsky.social :)
Impossible to overstate our gratitude to Senator Pat Jehlen, a true inspiration and friend to everyone in public service in Somerville. She’s been a fearless progressive leader here since a time when local politics looked quite literally nothing like they do today.
December 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Impossible to overstate our gratitude to Senator Pat Jehlen, a true inspiration and friend to everyone in public service in Somerville. She’s been a fearless progressive leader here since a time when local politics looked quite literally nothing like they do today.
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
December 6, 2025 at 2:41 AM
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
Boston’s recent bike lanes have successfully reduced vehicle traffic and increased the number of people biking:
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
Boston Data Show New Bike Lanes Successfully Shift Traffic, With Fewer Cars and Way More Bikes - Streetsblog Massachusetts
Mayor Wu has hard evidence that her bike lane projects are helping reduce traffic – but her administration is reluctant to share it.
mass.streetsblog.org
December 6, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Boston’s recent bike lanes have successfully reduced vehicle traffic and increased the number of people biking:
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
mass.streetsblog.org/2025/12/05/b...
❄️Somerville's Overnight Warming Center is opening for the winter on December 8. I was pleased to vote for additional funding this past year for improvements and upgrades based on feedback from clients and neighbors. Please find more information here:
www.somervillema.gov/departments/...
www.somervillema.gov/departments/...
Emergency Overnight Warming Center
www.somervillema.gov
December 4, 2025 at 2:43 PM
❄️Somerville's Overnight Warming Center is opening for the winter on December 8. I was pleased to vote for additional funding this past year for improvements and upgrades based on feedback from clients and neighbors. Please find more information here:
www.somervillema.gov/departments/...
www.somervillema.gov/departments/...
Reposted by Ben Ewen-Campen
i'd go even further and say there is a reason even nixon kept this kind of stuff to himself. you would have to go back quite a bit to find a point at which is acceptable for a president to say anything like this *in public*, to say nothing of in the oval office.
I don’t want to be pollyannish about the past, but it was basically inconceivable twenty years ago that a president would say this publicly
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 PM
i'd go even further and say there is a reason even nixon kept this kind of stuff to himself. you would have to go back quite a bit to find a point at which is acceptable for a president to say anything like this *in public*, to say nothing of in the oval office.
Unimaginable cruelty
A 6-year-old boy is missing after ICE arrested him and his dad in NYC last week and shipped them off to separate facilities. www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/02/i... @thecity.nyc @gwynnefitz.bsky.social
ICE Arrested and Separated Chinese Father From 6-Year-Old Son, Advocates Say
The father and son were detained at an ICE check-in on Nov. 26, advocates say. The son’s location is currently unknown, while the father is being held at an upstate ICE facility.
www.thecity.nyc
December 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Unimaginable cruelty