Opinion Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Cambridge

Somerville’s budget (2026 edition): Wrapping up a season with symbolic resolutions and symbolic ‘no’ votes

by Chris Dwan June 29, 2026

After approving a horribly constrained $394 million budget, the council went on to dish out a bit over $12 million in “free cash.”

OPINION

Beacon Hill’s reliance on private vendors is failing us. We need to save public services from outsourcing

by Neil Miller June 29, 2026

Our government won't work with outsourcing and an emphasis on big, one-off initiatives instead of smart budgeting. A candidate for state representative says he has a better way.

OPINION

Planners don’t know what you know, but you can tell them

by Nicholas Marchuk June 28, 2026

We suffer street-level problems quietly, knowing it’s out of our control. But what if, when we had problems such as a half-mile of missing bike lane, we let planners know?

OPINION

Somerville’s budget details (2026 edition): It’s Cut Night, when the cuts have been coming for months

by Chris Dwan June 23, 2026

With “cut night” starting at 6 p.m., the end is approaching rapidly for the 2027 fiscal year budget process in Somerville.

OPINION

First task force meeting shows Cambridge is getting serious about social housing

June 21, 2026

Presentations on social housing run throughout the summer and fall to educate residents on its features and key decision points to be voted in coming months.

OPINION

Scots’ introduction to Bunker Hill Day, from Revolutionary War reenactors to SpongeBob

by Nicholas Marchuk June 21, 2026

Are we just war and cartoons? I hope the Scottish people visiting our little slice of purgatory know that Boston, and the United States, is more.

OPINION

The bottom of ‘Swan Lake’

by Nicholas Marchuk June 14, 2026

All the talent on display in the American Repertory Theater musical “Black Swan” needs to be backed by a good story.

OPINION

Somerville’s budget details (2026 edition): School and police budgets offer plenty to puzzle through

by Chris Dwan June 10, 2026

The budget does not account for pending agreements with police unions and includes strong-arm tactics over just $600,000 for the schools.

OPINION

I am a fake Harvard student, and I think the college is worth protecting

by Nicholas Marchuk June 7, 2026

A lot of Americans resent Harvard, where – as a Boston University student and alum – I have done a lot of showing up and somehow made a place there.

OPINION

Here’s Somerville’s budget book, as a new mayor perplexes and the council steps back

by Chris Dwan June 3, 2026

Even a cursory skim of the budget book raises questions. Because of all the changes, it’s difficult to tell if investment are increased, steady or reduced.