Let’s Change Cambridge
@letschangecambridge.us
Working to change local politics in Cambridge, MA: https://letschangecambridge.us
Written by Itamar Turner-Trauring, all opinions are my own and do not represent those of any organizations I am part of
#CambMA #CambridgeMA
Written by Itamar Turner-Trauring, all opinions are my own and do not represent those of any organizations I am part of
#CambMA #CambridgeMA
Specifically thinking of Orwell's Politics and the English Language: "In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible. ... Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness."
January 7, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Specifically thinking of Orwell's Politics and the English Language: "In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defence of the indefensible. ... Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness."
Note that "ICE-related shooting" is just a rehash of the Orwellian language cities and police departments use when a police officer kills someone.
Thus when Cambridge, MA police officer shot and killed Sayed Faisal, they called it an "officer-involved shooting": www.cambridgema.gov/news/2023/01...
Thus when Cambridge, MA police officer shot and killed Sayed Faisal, they called it an "officer-involved shooting": www.cambridgema.gov/news/2023/01...
It is not an "Ice-related shooting". ICE agents shot and murdered a 37-year-old unarmed woman trying to leave the scene of federal agents with guns and aggression. That's murder.
January 7, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Note that "ICE-related shooting" is just a rehash of the Orwellian language cities and police departments use when a police officer kills someone.
Thus when Cambridge, MA police officer shot and killed Sayed Faisal, they called it an "officer-involved shooting": www.cambridgema.gov/news/2023/01...
Thus when Cambridge, MA police officer shot and killed Sayed Faisal, they called it an "officer-involved shooting": www.cambridgema.gov/news/2023/01...
Oh huh, if I'd known I'd have looked for you so I'd know your face.
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Oh huh, if I'd known I'd have looked for you so I'd know your face.
Evan's almost-win scared the legislature enough to implement some transparency, like public committee votes.
The result: a bill rolling back MA climate action stalled out, despite the support of the House Speaker, because publicly voting for it was embarrassing.
A win would be even more impactful!
The result: a bill rolling back MA climate action stalled out, despite the support of the House Speaker, because publicly voting for it was embarrassing.
A win would be even more impactful!
I’m excited to announce today that I am running for State Representative for the 25th Middlesex District.
We need to have a state government that works for the many, not just the well connected few.
🧵
We need to have a state government that works for the many, not just the well connected few.
🧵
January 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Evan's almost-win scared the legislature enough to implement some transparency, like public committee votes.
The result: a bill rolling back MA climate action stalled out, despite the support of the House Speaker, because publicly voting for it was embarrassing.
A win would be even more impactful!
The result: a bill rolling back MA climate action stalled out, despite the support of the House Speaker, because publicly voting for it was embarrassing.
A win would be even more impactful!
That famous quote: "This parking lot is the hub, it’s the heart of the community."
globalnews.ca/news/7666729...
globalnews.ca/news/7666729...
January 7, 2026 at 6:04 PM
That famous quote: "This parking lot is the hub, it’s the heart of the community."
globalnews.ca/news/7666729...
globalnews.ca/news/7666729...
And that was popular enough that it showed up in the generic popular-post Reddit feed, too.
January 7, 2026 at 5:10 PM
And that was popular enough that it showed up in the generic popular-post Reddit feed, too.
We spent a huge amount of money on bodycams so that next time the police gets away with murder we will have videos of it (that won't get released). Instead of actually trying to prevent the police from killing people, because that would be an insult to our amazing police department.
Three years after the police shooting of 20-year-old Sayed Faisal spurred the use of body cameras for police officers in Cambridge, questions about the use of the devices and broader issues with police policy still remain in the city. https://bit.ly/4jv1Kia
Questions linger about policing in Cambridge three years after killing of Sayed Faisal
Cambridge police officers started wearing body cameras last year.
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
We spent a huge amount of money on bodycams so that next time the police gets away with murder we will have videos of it (that won't get released). Instead of actually trying to prevent the police from killing people, because that would be an insult to our amazing police department.
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
INBOX: Evan MacKay, who came close to knocking out Cambridge state Rep. Marjorie Decker in 2024, plans a rematch
Launches campaign Jan. 7
Launches campaign Jan. 7
January 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
INBOX: Evan MacKay, who came close to knocking out Cambridge state Rep. Marjorie Decker in 2024, plans a rematch
Launches campaign Jan. 7
Launches campaign Jan. 7
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
The MA Senate, for example, has more white guys named John or Michael than women of color.
#mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/04/m...
#mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/04/m...
Lawmakers of color have grown their ranks on Beacon Hill, but the Legislature remains disproportionately white - The Boston Globe
The Massachusetts Legislature has never been more diverse. But some fear it also may still take decades to actually reflect the quickly diversifying population it represents.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:17 PM
The MA Senate, for example, has more white guys named John or Michael than women of color.
#mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/04/m...
#mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/04/m...
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
your feed has been blessed by the 3rd rail anti-icing work train. RT if you too are anti-ice
January 5, 2026 at 2:03 PM
your feed has been blessed by the 3rd rail anti-icing work train. RT if you too are anti-ice
Was reminded that as a Massachusetts resident I can use Commonwealth Catalog to do easy interlibrary loans. And then reminded that the UI is terrible so it's easy to think that it's missing books it actually has.
After getting past that, so far it's had every book I've wanted.
After getting past that, so far it's had every book I've wanted.
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Was reminded that as a Massachusetts resident I can use Commonwealth Catalog to do easy interlibrary loans. And then reminded that the UI is terrible so it's easy to think that it's missing books it actually has.
After getting past that, so far it's had every book I've wanted.
After getting past that, so far it's had every book I've wanted.
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
This is how the #Massachusetts State Police train recruits to see the public.
This doesn't seem like a very public-service-oriented worldview!
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/15/m...
This doesn't seem like a very public-service-oriented worldview!
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/15/m...
January 4, 2026 at 10:35 PM
This is how the #Massachusetts State Police train recruits to see the public.
This doesn't seem like a very public-service-oriented worldview!
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/15/m...
This doesn't seem like a very public-service-oriented worldview!
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/15/m...
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
all I’ve got is that the idea that you can commit any act of violence and say you were just executing a warrant is chilling and also common to US police
January 3, 2026 at 2:01 PM
all I’ve got is that the idea that you can commit any act of violence and say you were just executing a warrant is chilling and also common to US police
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
New England folks, this committee includes minority members @shaheen.senate.gov (NH), @warren.senate.gov (MA), @reed.senate.gov (RI), and @blumenthal.senate.gov (CT).
U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee was not notified ahead of U.S. airstrikes on Venezuela, source tells CNN
January 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
New England folks, this committee includes minority members @shaheen.senate.gov (NH), @warren.senate.gov (MA), @reed.senate.gov (RI), and @blumenthal.senate.gov (CT).
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
storrow drive up your game look at this
January 3, 2026 at 3:30 AM
storrow drive up your game look at this
The city would also like to tell you about their love life: www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/...
January 2, 2026 at 10:02 PM
The city would also like to tell you about their love life: www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/...
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
MassDOT is hosting a virtual public meeting to introduce a project to replace the William Reid Overpass over Brookline Street in Cambridge. Cambridge residents are encouraged to attend and share feedback at the virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 6. Learn more and register: https://camb.ma/3KTMmza
January 2, 2026 at 4:22 PM
MassDOT is hosting a virtual public meeting to introduce a project to replace the William Reid Overpass over Brookline Street in Cambridge. Cambridge residents are encouraged to attend and share feedback at the virtual meeting on Tuesday, January 6. Learn more and register: https://camb.ma/3KTMmza
Reposted by Let’s Change Cambridge
any discussion of city transit improvement online ever
January 1, 2026 at 12:07 AM
any discussion of city transit improvement online ever
Maybe should've said "Dianetics" instead, oh well.
December 31, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Maybe should've said "Dianetics" instead, oh well.
A local example: the people fighting bike lanes on Broadway kept saying they were for "commuters".
I.e. the high school students and CRLS staff, who bike in massive numbers, are not _real_ Cambridge residents and therefore it's OK for them to be injured.
If you're not in a car, you're not real.
I.e. the high school students and CRLS staff, who bike in massive numbers, are not _real_ Cambridge residents and therefore it's OK for them to be injured.
If you're not in a car, you're not real.
December 31, 2025 at 7:46 PM
A local example: the people fighting bike lanes on Broadway kept saying they were for "commuters".
I.e. the high school students and CRLS staff, who bike in massive numbers, are not _real_ Cambridge residents and therefore it's OK for them to be injured.
If you're not in a car, you're not real.
I.e. the high school students and CRLS staff, who bike in massive numbers, are not _real_ Cambridge residents and therefore it's OK for them to be injured.
If you're not in a car, you're not real.
I would put it more that in US culture, people outside of a car are not seen as fully human.
For example, the NHTSA only started talking about including pedestrian safety in car safety ratings (NCAP) in the past 5 years or so. Program was originally created in 1979.
For example, the NHTSA only started talking about including pedestrian safety in car safety ratings (NCAP) in the past 5 years or so. Program was originally created in 1979.
so much of the bike infrastructure debate is shaped by the presupposition that people who drive cars need their cars, whereas people who ride bikes don’t really need them
December 31, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I would put it more that in US culture, people outside of a car are not seen as fully human.
For example, the NHTSA only started talking about including pedestrian safety in car safety ratings (NCAP) in the past 5 years or so. Program was originally created in 1979.
For example, the NHTSA only started talking about including pedestrian safety in car safety ratings (NCAP) in the past 5 years or so. Program was originally created in 1979.
I biked by James Mickens on my way to give a talk, and continued on my way suitably humbled by this reminder how much better my public speaking skills could be.
I was in the elevator at William James with Steven Pinker. It was a very normal elevator trip. There is no story other than my remarkable willpower not to tell him off.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I biked by James Mickens on my way to give a talk, and continued on my way suitably humbled by this reminder how much better my public speaking skills could be.
A thread, with examples.
This is why we need to vote out the incumbents in the legislature. They stand for nothing except for doing nothing.
This is why we need to vote out the incumbents in the legislature. They stand for nothing except for doing nothing.
Governor Healey and the Democratic supermajority in the MA Legislature can be doing far, far more than they have this year to push back against Trump and show what good progressive governance looks like. MA deserves more from them in 2026.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/29/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/12/29/m...
Mass. Democrats are pushing back against the Trump administration. There’s only so much they can do. - The Boston Globe
Much of the challenge in pushing back against the Trump administration, state leaders said, is responding to an administration making changes to everything all at once.
www.bostonglobe.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:12 AM
A thread, with examples.
This is why we need to vote out the incumbents in the legislature. They stand for nothing except for doing nothing.
This is why we need to vote out the incumbents in the legislature. They stand for nothing except for doing nothing.