Cambridge Leaders Condemn Supreme Court TPS Ruling, Cite Haitian and Syrian Families

Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Yi-An Huang issued a joint statement Monday expressing solidarity with Haitian and Syrian residents following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status, while the city also faces a newly elevated drought designation heading into the July Fourth holiday weekend.

TOWN HALL

Mayor Siddiqui and City Manager Huang released a joint statement Monday in response to the Supreme Court's ruling affecting Temporary Protected Status, acknowledging the anxiety and uncertainty that families in Cambridge's Haitian and Syrian communities are now experiencing. The statement affirmed that Cambridge stands with those who have built their lives in the city under TPS protections.

Separately, the state has elevated Cambridge and the broader Northeast region from a Level 2 – Significant Drought to a Level 3 – Critical Drought. Residents are encouraged to be mindful of water use as the summer heat continues.

City offices, libraries, and senior centers will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Curbside trash, recycling, food waste, and yard waste collection will still run on July 3. Gold Star Mothers Pool will remain open Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. and on both July 4 and July 5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents planning to watch the fireworks and Boston Pops from the Cambridge side should bring lawn chairs, beach chairs, and water.

The city also announced it has funded three new affordable housing site acquisitions completed between April and June: 16-28 Porter Street, 1648 and 1654 Massachusetts Avenue, and 729 and 735-755 Concord Avenue, all secured with nonprofit partners as Cambridge continues pursuing its affordable housing goals amid a regional housing crisis.

Additionally, the city is seeking artists to design Cool Spot shade structures — temporary, site-responsive installations providing heat relief and community gathering space. Selected artists can receive up to $95,000 in project support.

COMMUNITY & ARTS

The Cambridge Public Library kicks off July with its Brewery Book Club in partnership with Lamplighter Brewing Co. on Wednesday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at Lamplighter's back taproom, 284 Broadway. This month's read is Death of the Soccer God by Dimitry Elias Legér; copies are available at the Main Library Q&A Desk and digitally through the Libby app.

Also tomorrow, the library's O'Neill Branch hosts a Summer Reading Live Animal Story Time with Land's Sake Farm at 11 a.m., featuring a chicken-themed story time and a hands-on Chicken Circle for children of all ages. Registration is required. Note that the Wellness for Older Adults Low-Impact Fitness class at the Valente Branch scheduled for July 1 has been cancelled.

All library locations will be closed July 3 and July 4 for the holiday. The Valente Branch resumes Sunday hours from 1 to 5 p.m. throughout July and August; the Main Library remains closed Sundays until September.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"10-Day MBTA Red Line Closure Coming Soon" — A planned multi-day shutdown will affect Red Line stations in Cambridge and surrounding communities, per Cambridge Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge)

"New Theater Production Of 'Black Swan' Premieres In Cambridge" — A stage musical adaptation of the 2010 psychological thriller film is making its Cambridge debut, according to Cambridge Patch, citing CBS Boston. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge)

"🌱 Patch AM: Passenger describes terrifying moments as Cambridge duck boat suddenly flipped" — A passenger account has emerged following the duck boat incident near the Charles River that sent at least 11 people to area hospitals earlier this week, per Cambridge Patch. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/cambridge)

COMING UP

- Wed., July 1 — Brewery Book Club (Death of the Soccer God), Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, 7 p.m. - Wed., July 1 — Summer Reading Live Animal Story Time with Land's Sake Farm, O'Neill Branch, 11 a.m. (registration required) - Wed., July 1 — Baby Lapsit, Main Library, 10 a.m.; Morning Sing-Along, Main Library, 11 a.m. - Fri.–Sat., July 3–4 — All city offices, libraries, and senior centers closed for Independence Day - Tue., July 7 — CPL Nature Club Alewife Afternoon Nature Walk, O'Neill Branch, 3:30 p.m. - Wed. evenings, July–Aug. — Screen on the Green family movie nights begin