In an annual PB event in late October 2024, called “Speed Consulting”, a playful take on “speed dating”, over 40 PB Delegates met in-person with representatives from 18 City departments and divisions to explore answers to questions on the PB ideas they are researching as potential PB projects to be included on the final PB11 ballot.

Delegate questions focused on existing city policies, priorities, and the sometimes complex processes for getting projects implemented. PB Delegates asked about the cost of ideas, and their impact and feasibility. In these engaging and informative exchanges, PB Delegates received valuable advice about the possibilities for moving ideas forward. Loaded with this information, Delegates will now be combining and refining ideas into their final proposals for the city-wide ballot in March.

Speed Consulting is also beneficial for City departments! City staff heard first-hand of the myriad ideas submitted by the Cambridge community during Idea Collection, and brainstormed the interesting approaches to addressing the submitted ideas with Delegates.

Let's hear it from participants: What did PB Delegates and City staff take away from these meetings? What are the challenges?

“My biggest takeaway was just how much is involved in getting any single proposition through. You have to think about different things that the average person just wouldn’t realize. For example, bike lanes have to be a certain width because a snowplow has to be able to get through!

We also have to think about how to get city information into peoples’ hands. I got a beautiful pamphlet at Speed Consulting with a map detailing major MBTA stops and how many minutes it would take to bike, walk, or drive to them. It’s really great, but as an average person, I wouldn’t go to City Hall to pick one of these up. We need to get these resources into coffee shops or programs so people can get them.”

Brian Bosses, Wellington-Harrington resident for 10 months

Transportation, Streets, and Sidewalks Committee

Kate Thurman (right), Deputy Director, Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) and Assistant ADA Coordinator, City of Cambridge.

Danielle Jones-McLaughlin (left), PB Delegate

“Speed Consulting is one of my absolute favorite things throughout the entire year. As a staff of two, we don’t have the capacity to be everywhere so it’s helpful to know what’s on the minds of residents, where they’re experiencing issues around the city, how they’re thinking, and what it is they need that we’re not providing. It’s a real gift for me to have these authentic, creative conversations.

Gary: “This is my 10th PB process. I think it’s just cool to see every year because delegates come with really thoughtful questions; they’ve really done their homework and reviewed hundreds of ideas. They are really well prepared and come with amazing questions, ready to dig into topic that in a lot of ways, we’re thinking about too and trying to solve. As an example, folks today were talking about how to make people more aware of parks and open spaces. Really interesting questions.”

Courtney Kirk and Gary Chan, Community Development Department (CDD)

Courtney: “I was surprised to hear about all the creative ways people think about connecting to parks that are not obvious...there was a proposal for a greenhouse tonight, and while it’s a very grand idea, it gets us to challenge our minds and think about things in different ways.”

Natalie Volin, Cambridgeport 4 years and Tim Matthey, Harvard Square, 5 years

Environment Committee

Natalie: “Overall, the engagement has been really impressive, especially tonight. We have a better sense of what is feasible and what’s already being done.”

Tim: “Feasibility is a big issue so learning what programs are already in place and what rules and ordinances we have to take into account is very helpful. So much is already in place, but it’s not known. I’m not sure there’s a city that’s figured that out yet.”

“My biggest takeaway is how much thought and planning goes into something as small as park benches being added or replaced and the long-term thought that has to go into that. I also guess I just didn’t realize how much things cost.”

Maggie Cohen, Porter Square/Baldwin, 2.5 years

Melissa Miguel and Andrew Putnam, Department of Public Works (DPW)

Melissa: “I think it’s very positive because we don’t know everything. I find it very helpful to get feedback from people who...use the space every day. I can get very focused on trees, drainage, clean water, stuff like that. It’s helpful to take a step back and say, ‘hey, that’s a great idea!”

Andrew: “Like Melissa, I can get into my routine of planning and planting trees. In Speed Consulting I get a different perspective of what residents see or wish their city would do. Of course, considering that trees are always on top of the list (of proposal ideas), I think it’s a fantastic process!” :)

“I’m impressed with just how informed and seriously people take this. This is my professional work too as I work for the budget office at the state level, so it’s really cool to see my local community enjoying this, getting heard, and taken seriously for what we care about. This local level of engagement and passion is really the best. I’m so glad Cambridge is doing this.”

Bran Shim, Harvard Square, 14 years

Environment Committee

Linda Pursley, North Cambridge, 26 years

Community Resources Committee

“Speed Consulting is a great opportunity to be able to get and share accurate feedback with people, especially for proposals that can’t move forward. There are some reasons we already anticipated, like that there wouldn’t be enough staffing or building issues to make some of the ideas feasible, but to be able to confirm that with the people responsible was very helpful.

I also found out about how to find information. I found out there’s a website called finditcambridge.org that helps me find out about senior services, discounts, housing, and more.”

Phoebe: “Housing comes up so much. In our conversations we are often clarifying what’s the City, what’s non-profits, what the Housing Authority does, and the role the City plays.

I think what is most exciting is reading all the raw PB ideas to hear their creative solutions. It’s especially enjoyable to hear the ideas young people come up with. I think that’s one of the best parts of the PB process.“



Hannah: “Phoebe and I are both stewards of two previous PB winners which provide supplies to the homeless, so we’ve both seen PB work! Those supplies are a lifeline for our clients.”

Phoebe West (left), Office of the Housing Liaison and Hannah Selman (right), Multi-Service Center

Judit Senarriaga-Esteve, North Cambridge, 10 months

Transportation, Streets, and Sidewalks Committee

“This is my first time as a delegate. One of the things that surprised me is that our projects not only involve the Transportation Department but also Community Development. Protected bike lanes are not only a question of transportation, but also impact others. This collaboration is important.

I think this open dialogue between the city and residents of Cambridge is a great opportunity—a new type of governance. It’s very open and it’s amazing to see people of all ages, all backgrounds submitting their ideas. I think this is very powerful.”

You’re invited to attend the unveiling of the Native Spaces - Indigenous Street Signs Project on Friday, November 29 at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Third Street and Binney Street in East Cambridge (Parcel 6).

The City of Cambridge and members of the local Massachusett tribe will unveil newly installed street signs in East Cambridge that will be presented in both the Massachusett and English languages. This event will celebrate the completion of part of a winning project from the PB8 cycle.

All are invited to attend. In the event of poor weather, the alternate location will be held indoors at The Foundry building on Third and Rogers Street. More event information can be found via the button below or the City calendar.

Outside of PB, the City has a couple of resources that may come in handy for Cambridge community members when Idea Collection is not ongoing.

Community members can submit service requests ranging from missed curbside trash pick up, to park equipment repair, and many more via the City's SeeClickFix website!

Find It Cambridge is an online resource that helps you easily find the activities, services, and resources you are looking for in Cambridge. Our city has an amazing array of opportunities, and Find It Cambridge serves as that one-stop-shop website for those who live, work and play here.

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