CSA Sues City/Lack of Due Process for Residents

Cambridge Residents and Small Businesses File Lawsuit Against City of Cambridge Over Razing of Street Parking on Cambridge Streets

 Cambridge, MA – Cambridge Streets for All (CSA), a diverse group of stakeholders comprised of retail store owners, medical offices, restaurants, neighborhood residents and more, filed a lawsuit today against the City of Cambridge seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the Defendant City of Cambridge to rescind, restore and prevent the additional implementation of the city’s Cycling Safety Ordinance as amended in 2020. 

 The action describes a developing situation in Cambridge in which storefronts can’t serve customers because there is nowhere to park, where quiet side street neighborhoods will become de facto parking areas and loading docks, and where medical patients won’t be able to access the offices of their providers.

 “Despite a series of packed City Council meetings, the message from residents and businesses that they are being harmed has continued to fall on deaf ears, CSA determined that taking legal action against this ordinance was our only recourse to be heard,” said CSA board member and Cambridge bakery owner Lee Jenkins. “They didn’t consult local businesses and residents when they drew up these plans in the middle of a pandemic and they’re not listening to us now. We believe improved bike lane access to be an excellent goal, but not when the parking for business customers and staff, as well as for neighborhood residents and patients of local medical providers is being completely gutted, which will clog side streets where people live.” 

 “It is surprising how many people across the City are totally unaware of the mandate to install separated bike lanes. That tells me there was not enough outreach from the city nor any meaningful citizen engagement. All people want is a chance to participate in a meaningful way,”  said Joan Pickett, a homeowner in mid-Cambridge since 1998. 

 “I have lived and raised my family in Porter Square for over 25 years and have seen the area develop into a thriving neighborhood with a diverse middle-class community and business district,” said John Hanratty, Cambridge resident and homeowner. “When the city removed virtually all street parking for businesses and dedicated travel lanes for buses in North Cambridge, the installation appeared almost overnight and caught residents by surprise.”

 Hanratty continued, “After seeing the negative impact the implementation of the quick-build bike lanes has had on businesses and traffic patterns on North Mass Ave, I am extremely concerned about how the imminent plans for Porter Square will irreparably harm the vibrant business community that exists here.”

 “My business is a minority-owned barber shop that has been in business for 21 years in Cambridge,” said Harold Gilmer, owner of a barber shop on Mass Ave. “My shop, which specializes in razor cuts, has a broad clientele, the majority of whom come from outside Cambridge. More than 50% percent of my customers come by car.” 

 Gilmer added, “Past employees left because they could no longer afford paying parking tickets on top of their salary and tips. I estimate that my business has experienced about a 50% decline since installation of the quick-build bike lanes because people can no longer park near my shop.” 

 Longtime civic and environmental activist​​ and mid-Cambridge resident John Pitkin said, “For years I've witnessed how reductions in street parking have drained diversity and local business activity from Harvard Square, Inman Square and Cambridge Street. Streets make city life possible. They are essential infrastructure for residents and businesses.”

 “This is not just about Porter Square or one neighborhood. The City's plan to install cookie-cutter bike lanes across the city excludes too many people and has already done too much damage. The City needs to take a hard look at how the new lanes are actually working and come up with a fairer plan that more people can support,” Pitkin said.

Jenkins concluded, “If the City of Cambridge continues moving forward with this process, which will effectively close many small, locally-owned businesses, what do we think will happen to the vacant spaces left behind? Cambridge is already over-developed with out-of-town and deep-pocketed interests having their way with the City Council. We need the people we elect to stand up for us, but instead they’re making decisions that will shut us down.” 

Contact: 

Shauna Hamilton, shauna@sqcomms.com

Charlie Patterson, charlie@sqcomms.com