Posts

High Waters, Higher Stakes: Why Cambridge Must Rethink Future Development

Image
High Waters, Higher Stakes: Why Cambridge Must Rethink Future Development Written in conjunction with the Cambridge Citizens Coalition The construction/relocation of infrastructure, buildings, and communities from areas that are vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and other environmental hazards is referred to as 'managed retreat.’ This concept has become a critical tool for climate change adaptation, particularly in regions facing rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity. By proactively withdrawing from high-risk areas, managed retreat aims to reduce damage, protect human lives, and minimize economic losses over the long term. It is often paired with policies to restore natural ecosystems, such as wetlands and floodplains, which can serve as buffers against flooding.  In Cambridge, managed retreat is an especially relevant strategy. As a city with a significant portion of its land located near sea level and adjacent to the Charles River, Alewife Brook (and numerous buried...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Housing Shortage – Are There Solutions?

By Phillip Sego Phillip Sego was an environmental advocate, lobbying for the Massachusetts Sierra Club from 1995 to 2015. In Cambridge, he has authored zoning petitions targeting the preservation of open space. After reading articles and comments that appeared in local newspapers, I saw that there were misunderstandings about the causes and potential solutions to the complex issue of our housing shortage. Years of research as to what is causing housing shortages around the globe, what has worked to solve these shortages, and what has failed led many to believe that some of the simplistic ideas are not sound solutions. The following isn’t necessarily meant to take sides in any debate or to offer any specific solutions, but to simply provide more background. Hopefully, the reader will be able to see the complexity of the issue and work for policy changes and long-term effective solutions. Most importantly, housing shortages aren’t confined to the Boston area. This is a global pro...
Post a Comment
Read more