City Council - Inaugural Meeting

Check, check.

Check, check, check.

Good morning. I'd like to ask everybody to find a seat, please. We'll be beginning in one minute. If you could please find your seat, we'll be beginning in one moment.

Good morning. The hour of 10 o'clock in the forenoon of the first Monday in January of the year 2026 having arrived, I, Paula Crane, Interim Cambridge City Clerk, By virtue of the power conferred upon me by the City Charter of the City of Cambridge, Chapter 43, Section 97 of the Massachusetts General Laws do, for the purposes of organization, call this meeting to order. This is the 49th inaugural committee ceremony under the Plan E form of government. At this time, I will announce each member of this council elect in order of seniority as follows. In her 13th term, Councilor-elect E. Denise Simmons.

In his sixth term, Councilor-elect Mark C. McGovern. In her fifth term, Councilor-elect Sambo Siddiqui. In her fourth term, Councilor-elect Patricia Nolan.

In his third term, Councilor-elect Burhan Azeem. In his third term, Councilor-elect Jeevan Sobrinho-Wheeler. In her second term, Councilor-elect Catherine Zusy In her first term, Councilor-elect Aya A. Al-Zubi.

In his first term, Councilor elect Timothy R. Flaherty.

Madam Clerk, I present to you the 2026-2027 City Council Elect.

At this time we ask that all who are willing and able to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance to be followed by a moment of silence. I would like to ask that you remain standing for the national anthem performed by Superintendent Pauline Wells of the Cambridge Police Department. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight For the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming, And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night

Thank you for watching! Bala Yeh-Jueh For the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Thank you. You may be seated. Good morning. My name is Paula Crane and I am the Interim City Clerk of the City of Cambridge. On behalf of the City Council elect and City Manager Eon Wong, I am very pleased to welcome those of you who are present in the Sullivan Chamber, as well as all who are watching this ceremony via cable, livestream, and over Zoom. Webster's International Dictionary defines to inaugurate in a way that reminds us of our collective responsibility in this morning's event. To inaugurate is to dedicate, consecrate,

or observe the opening or beginning formally, auspiciously, and publicly with the prospect of its continuing as a public service or beneficial agency or force. And thus, we all, from those who take their oaths of office today, to those who witnessed the beginning of the public service of the 2026-2027 City Council share in the duty and the hope of this inauguration. As interim city clerk, it is my particular duty and pleasure to serve as the presiding officer for this morning's ceremony. Assisting me today are Ms. Nicole Irwin, Clerk of Committees, and Ms. Naomi Steffen, Assistant to the City Council. State Law, Section 97 of the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 43. prescribes today's ceremony.

It is the custom of these proceedings that I now read to you in full Section 97, which is part of the Cambridge Plan E Charter. The City Council shall have and exercise all the legislative powers of the City, except as such powers are reserved by this Chapter to the School Committee and to the qualified voters of the City. The City Council, elected as aforesaid, shall meet at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of the first Monday of January following the regular municipal election and the members of the City Council shall severally make oath before the City Clerk or a Justice of the Peace to perform faithfully the duties of their respective offices. except that any member elect not present shall so make oath at the first regular meeting of the city council thereafter which they attend.

For the purposes of organization, The city clerk shall be temporary chairman until the mayor or vice chairman has qualified. Thereupon, the City Council shall, by a majority vote of all the members elected, elect a mayor and a vice chairman from its own members, and the persons elected, as such, shall likewise make oath to perform faithfully the duties of the respective offices to which they are so elected. and they may so make oath at the same meeting at which they are so elected. The organization of the city council shall take place as aforesaid, notwithstanding the absence of Death, refusal to serve, a non-election of one or more of the members, provided that a majority of all the members elected to the City Council are present and have qualified.

If the office of the Mayor or Vice Chairman becomes vacant, the City Council shall, in like manner, elect one of its members to fill such office for the unexpired term, provided that no such vacancy shall be filled So long as there is any vacancy in the council. We will now proceed to the review of the credentials. The chair designates counselors elect Azeem and McGovern as a committee of two to collect the credentials of the elected members of the 2026-2027 City Council. Please pass them up to Ms. Irwin.

I want to note that Congresswoman Clark will not be joining us today due to unforeseen circumstances. We will now proceed to the review of the credentials. Having referred the credentials submitted by the Cambridge Election Commission, I now declare that each Councilor-elect seated before you are duly qualified as elected by the voters of Cambridge to the 2026 The City Clerk will now call the roll of the members elect in order of seniority. Each member, as their name is called, will stand, answer present, and take this opportunity to to introduce their ushers. E. Denise Simmons.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. I know we often call you interim clerk, but you're actually a full clerk for us, and you've done an extraordinary job, and I want to thank you for that. Good morning, or wait a minute. My standard greeting is great morning, so I'm going to say good morning to all of you, and you can use your outside voices and say great morning. Ready? Wait! Good morning.

Great morning.

It is a great morning because we're all here celebrating each other and the work that we've done to bring us this far. To my colleagues, congratulations. It's a pleasure to serve with those that are returning, and to the newcomers, I welcome you wholeheartedly. With me this morning are my ushers. Of course, I brought my entire family, so relax. My wife, Maddie Simmons-Hayes. My sister, Valley Boudreaux. My daughter, Jada Simmons-Anonime. My granddaughter Tara Jones and I, who I forgot to put in the program, so I'm apologizing to her in public. Samadi Simmons-Mugera. and Ransom and Stepina.

My grandson, Michael Anonime, and his special friend, Alexa. I don't know anybody's name. Anyone that knows me knows I don't remember names. And very lastly, as many of you know, my last term, my service was as mayor, and I just wanted to personally and publicly thank One awesome and incredible staff. And so I'll do it quickly. Neil Alpert, Jeff Walker, Dr. Carolyn Turk, Stacy Miguel, Who am I missing? Suri, Suriani-Dewa, Sophie Young. And I want to also acknowledge the support of the Office of the City Council through Naomi Steffen. Thank you so much. And couldn't have done this job without you, Paula.

Mark C. McGovern

Thank you, Madam Clerk, President. I, too, would like to offer my thanks to everyone for being here today. Special thanks to the staff of City Hall for making this such a beautiful occasion. I am joined by my ushers, three of my four children, William, Thilo, McGovern, and my twins, Juliet McGovern and Addison McGovern. And a big shout out also in sending my love to my oldest, Nicholas Styler McGovern, who is watching from Abu Dhabi, where he now lives. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Sambul Siddiqui,

Good morning. Good morning, everyone. It's so nice to be here. I'm joined by my parents, Nazreen Bhatti, my mom. and my dad, Inam Siddiqui. Oops, I unmuted myself. A lot of loved ones in the audience whose support means so much to me. So thank you so much and it's such an honor and privilege to be here. Thank you.

Patricia M. Nolan,

Thank you so much for being here.

Burhan Azeem. Hi, everyone. It's an honor to be here.

I'm doing here today by Minister Mir.

Jeevan Sobrinho-Wheeler

And I am joined by my mom, Sarah Wheeler. And my brother, Annabeth Wheeler. Catherine Zusy

Good morning, everyone. I am very honored to be here. I am joined by my husband, Sam Kendall. My sister, Susie Zusy. and by my cousin, Sam Perry. And I'm also joined by many others who have been so important to me and to my campaign. I thank you for all of your support, and I look forward to working for all of you. Thank you.

Aya A. Alzubi.

First off, Happy New Year. Thank you to the city staff for making this event happen. I am present, and I would love to introduce some of the most beautiful souls in my life, my family, in order of Dr. Abdullah Zabi, my father, Dr. Maya Azeem, my mother. Layla Zabi, my sister. Dr. Sara Zabi, my sister. and Mohammed Zabi, my brother. I would love to also just share support for my family members in Jordan and across the globe who cannot be here today. And not to forget the lovely, lovely community members who are in this audience that I've gotten to share wonderful conversations with and that have brought me to this moment here today.

This is yours just as much as it is mine. So thank you.

Timothy R. Flaherty.

President, good morning, thank you very much. I'm joined here by extended family and friends. You met my sister Mara, she's very excited to have been elected a member of the Cambridge City Council. Thank you for that, Mara. I'm here with my mother, Lynn, and my father, Charlie, and our extended family. And my ushers today are the fabulous Lisa Natale. and the heir to the throne, Timothy Ignatius, I just want to say thank you to the staff and to everyone here. And I'm honored to be here. And I want to thank each person whose door I knocked on and someone who took a moment to speak with me. Thank you.

The City of Cambridge is fortunate to have elected representatives who all bring impressive histories of public service to their duties as members of this Council. The councilors elect before you have provided years of elected public service to the community, including... Former Mayor E. Denise Simmons with 12 overall council terms, three mayoral terms, and six terms as a school committee member. Former Mayor Mark C. McGovern with five terms on the City Council, one mayoral term, and four terms as a school committee member. Elect Patricia Nolan with three terms on the City Council and seven terms as a school committee member.

Councilor Elect Sambo Siddiqui with four terms on the city council, two mayoral terms, and two terms as a school committee member. At this time, I'd like to acknowledge Any other present or former elected officials? We have City Manager Eon Wong. Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins. State Representative Marjorie Decker. State Representative Mike Connolly. State Representative Steven Owens, State Senator Sal DiDomenico,

State Senator William Brownsburger, Clerk of Courts and former Mayor Michael Sullivan, former Mayor Ken Reeves, and former City Clerk Diane LeBlanc. If there are any other present or former elected officials who I have not seen, I welcome you as well. Monika Bowman, welcome. Today it is my duty and honor to administer the oath of those elected by the citizens of Cambridge in the November 2025 election.

I want to extend my congratulations to all the elected City Councillors, those who have served for several years, and those who have been elected by the great citizens of Cambridge for the very first time. This is your day. You have all worked very hard to get here, and it's a time for celebration with your family and friends. Each of you has your own story, why you ran for office, who inspired you, but what you all have in common is that you love your city, you love the people of Cambridge, and you want to make a positive difference in their lives. I applaud you. We will now move to the administration of the oath of office. The councillors elect will, when their names are called, proceed to the rostrum to take their oath of office. will be called to the rostrum in alphabetical order to take their respective oaths.

I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand. Come closer to here. There you go. And repeat after me. After I say I, you can insert your name.

I. I. I. Zabe.

do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith in allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And will support the Constitution thereof.

And will support the Constitution thereof. So help me God. So help me God. Aye. Aye. Aye.

do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge, as a City Councilor of the City of Cambridge, according to the best of my abilities and understanding,

According to the best of my abilities and my understandings.

Agreeably.

Agreeably.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

And the laws of this Commonwealth.

and the laws of this Commonwealth.

I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

So help me God.

Azeem. I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and you can insert your name after I. I, Burhan Azeem, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

and will support the Constitution thereof.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Aye.

Aye.

Berhan Azeem do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me All the duties incumbent upon me As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge According to the best of my abilities and understanding

according to the best of my abilities and understanding agreeably agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution through the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth and the laws of this Commonwealth

I, Burhan Azeem, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

So help me God. Congratulations. You're going to sign your oath.

Timothy Flaherty. I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and repeat after me after I say I, insert your name.

I, Timothy Flaherty, do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution. I, Timothy Flaherty, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially Discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge, according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably, to the rules and regulations of the Constitution,

to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth, I, Timothy Flaherty, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations.

Mark C. McGovern, I'll just ask you to raise your right hands and repeat after me. I, I, Mark McGovern, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance, that I will bear true faith and allegiance, to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof. I, Mark McGovern, do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge

according to the best of my abilities and understanding agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth. I do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

Patricia M. Nolan

I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Patricia Nolan, do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

And will support the Constitution thereof.

I, Patricia Nolan, do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me

All the duties incumbent upon me As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge According to the best of my abilities and understanding Agreeably

to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth.

and the laws of this Commonwealth, I, Patricia Nolan, do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. Congratulations.

Sambul Siddiqui. I do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

and support the Constitution thereof.

So help me God.

So help me God.

I, I, Sambul Siddiqui, do solemnly affirm do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully and impartially that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform All the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge, according to the best of my abilities and understanding,

according to the best of my abilities and understanding agreeably agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth and the laws of this Commonwealth

I do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

So help me God.

E. Denise Simmons,

When you've served for a very long time, you can take a license that other people do not. I did not, I did miss a few people, and I just wanted to acknowledge Estelle Dish, my senior advisor, Kathy Jordan, and of course, my right-hand guy, Joseph Nardella. Thank you all. When I first was inaugurated, she raised her right hand, so she's going to do it again symbolically. Okay. Which is one to my right?

That's one. I, E. Denise Simmons, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

So help me God.

I do solemnly swear and affirm that I will faithfully and impartially Discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge. According to the best of my abilities and understanding,

According to the best of my abilities and understanding.

Agreeably. Agreeably. To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

And the laws of this Commonwealth.

And the laws of this Commonwealth.

I, E. Denise Simmons, do solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

So help me God.

Come over here and sign. Jeevan G. Sobrinho-Wheeler. I, Jeevan Sobrinho-Wheeler, do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the constitution thereof.

And will support the constitution thereof. So help me God. So help me God. I. I, Jeevan Sobrinho-Wheeler. Do solemnly affirm. Do solemnly affirm. That I will faithfully and impartially. that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge

according to the best of my abilities and understanding according to the best of my abilities and understanding agreeably agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Constitution to the rules and regulations of the Constitution and the laws of this Commonwealth and the laws of this Commonwealth

I, Jeevan Sobrinho-Wheeler, do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God. Congratulations. I'm going to sign it. Katherine Zusy. I'll ask you to raise your right hand. Aye.

Do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

And we'll support the Constitution thereof.

So help me God.

So help me God.

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me All the duties incumbent upon me As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge As a City Councilor for the City of Cambridge According to the best of my abilities and understanding

According to the best of my abilities and understanding.

Agreeably.

Agreeably.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

And the laws of this commonwealth.

And the laws of this commonwealth.

I, Catherine Zusy, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America.

So help me God.

Thank you. You want to come over here? I will close this section of the proceedings with a slightly paraphrased excerpt from the words of President-elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy on January 9, 1961, in a speech to the Massachusetts State Legislature. For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us,

Recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state, our success or failure in whatever office we hold will be measured by the answers to four questions. First, were we truly persons of courage? Second, were we truly persons of judgment? Third, were we truly persons of integrity? And finally, were we truly persons of dedication? The requirements of Section 97 having been met, the City Council will now proceed to the election of a mayor. As presiding chair, I have made the following ruling, which I will read in full. The Chair rules that a member may change their vote at any time in the proceedings before the result of the vote is declared by the Chair. Each member, after their name is called, will indicate their choice for the office of the mayor.

A member may vote present. A member may not interrupt the calling of the roll to change their vote before all members have voted. After every member has voted, I will ask if any member wishes to change their vote. A member may change their vote at this time and may do so up until such time as the chair declares the vote to be final. When the vote is declared final, I will gavel once to indicate that the ballot is closed and then proceed to the next ballot. When a choice for mayor is made, I will gavel three times to signify that you have elected a mayor. I will now call the councilors elect in alphabetical order to proceed with the voting of the chair. If a mayor is unable to be elected, The presiding officer will entertain a motion to close the ballot with voting to resume at the regular City Council meeting of January 12, 2026.

Alzubi. Councillor Siddiqui. Alzubi votes for Councilor Siddiqui. Councilor Azeem.

Councilor McGovern.

Excuse me. Councilor Azeem votes for Councilor McGovern. Councilor Flaherty.

Zusy.

Councilor Flaherty votes for Councilor Zusy. Councilor McGovern. Councilor McGovern. Councilor McGovern votes for Councilor McGovern. Nolan. Councilor Nolan. Councilor Nolan votes for Councillor Nolan. Councilor Siddiqui.

Councilor Siddiqui.

Councilor Siddiqui votes for Councillor Siddiqui. Councilor Simmons. McGovern. Councilor Simmons votes for Councilor McGovern. Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler. Councilor Siddiqui. Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler votes for Councilor Siddiqui. Councilor Zusy. Nolan. Councillor Susi votes for Councillor Nolan. Does anybody wish to change their vote? Clerk. I will change my vote to Councilor Siddiqui. Councilor Nolan is changing her vote to Councilor Zusy. Clerk? Madam Clerk?

I'm the wrong person.

I'm sorry, Councilor Siddiqui, my mistake. Anybody else?

Madam Clerk.

Clerk.

Yes.

I would like to change my vote to Councilor Siddiqui.

Azeem is changing his vote to Councilor Siddiqui.

Clerk? Yes. I would like to change my vote to Councilor Siddiqui.

Councilor Zusi changes her vote to Councilor Zusi.

No, to Councilor Siddiqui. Sorry again.

Councilor Zusy is changing her vote to Councilor Siddiqui. Does anybody else wish to change their vote?

Madam Clerk. Madam Clerk. In the back.

Councilor Flaherty.

Yes. I'd like to change my vote to Councilor Siddiqui.

Council of Flaherty changes his vote to Councilor Siddiqui. Are there any other changes? Madam Clerk. Councilor McGovern.

Councilor Siddiqui.

Councilor McGovern is changing his vote to Councilor Siddiqui. Are there any other changes?

Madam Clerk.

Simmons.

Councilor Simmons votes, changes her vote to Councilor Siddiqui, making it unanimous upon adoption.

Councilor Simmons votes for Councilor Siddiqui, making it unanimous. I'm going to ask you to raise your right hands first and we'll take your oath. I, Sumbul Siddiqui, I, Sumbul Siddiqui, do solemnly affirm

do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will support the Constitution thereof.

and will support the constitution thereof.

So help me God.

So help me God.

I, Sambul Siddiqui, I, Sambul Siddiqui, do solemnly affirm, do solemnly affirm, that I will faithfully and impartially, that I will faithfully and impartially, discharge and perform, Discharge and perform All the duties incumbent upon me As Mayor for the City of Cambridge According to the best of my abilities and understanding Agreeably Agreeably. To the rules and regulations of the Constitution. To the rules and regulations of the Constitution. And the laws of this Commonwealth.

And the laws of this Commonwealth.

Ayes, assemble Siddiqui. I, Sumbul Siddiqui, do solemnly affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God. Congratulations.

I'm Gen Z today and doing this on my phone. I'm not Gen Z. I'm a millennial. I promise to keep these remarks under Oscar length. So I'm just so honored to be standing here with the opportunity to serve you as mayor. I want to thank my colleagues. Zalzoubi, Azeem, Flaherty, McGovern, Nolan, Simmons, Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Zusy for choosing public service and for trusting me to chair this body. Thank you to our city manager and our incredible city staff. The work of the city council only happens through collaboration and because of all of your unwavering dedication. I want to thank the members and members-elect of the school committee and the members of the Cambridge State delegation for being here today.

You are our partners in lawmaking and when we work together we expand what's possible. I want to thank all my incredible family and friends, everyone who's shaped me, my parents, Jenny, Willow, Minji, a lot of my campaign staff, Nuriel, Ian, Chrissy, Tosin, Abeer, so many volunteers, so many of my team members from the past who have shaped me so much. Thank you all so much for your support. Finally, thank you to the people of Cambridge. Those who live in and rely on the city from our local businesses, nonprofits, our first responders, and service providers to our universities, educators, institutions, and faith-based organizations. You're the heart of Cambridge and you push us to be better every day.

As we begin a new term today, we'll do so with a vision that builds on the progress we've already made as a city and with a relentless belief that we can always serve more Equitably, more boldly, more curiously, we'll build on that foundation while facing new challenges. will govern collaboratively, grounded in our shared love for this city and a commitment to putting people first. The work goes on, the cause endures, and the promise of Cambridge is alive in all of you. Thank you so much.

I will now call the councilors elect in alphabetical order to proceed with the voting of the vice chair. If a vice chair is unable to be elected, the presiding officer will entertain a motion to close the ballot with voting to resume at the regular city council meeting. of January 12, 2026. Councilor El-Zubi.

Councilor Azeem.

Councilor El-Zubi votes for Councilor Azeem. Azeem. Councilor Azeem. Councilor Azeem votes for Councilor Azeem. Councilor Flaherty. Councilor Zusy. Councilor Flaherty votes for Councilor Zusy. Councilor McGovern. Azeem. Councilor McGovern votes for Councilor Azeem. Councilor Nolan.

Councilor Nolan.

Councilor Nolan votes for Councilor Nolan. Siddiqui, Councilor Nolan, Councilor Siddiqui votes for Councilor Nolan, Councilor Simmons, Councilor Azeem, Councilor Simmons votes for Councilor Azeem, Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler,

Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler.

Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler votes for Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler. Councilor Zusy. Councilor Nolan. Councilor Zusy votes for Councilor Nolan. At this time, we have four members recorded as voting for Councilor Azeem, three members recorded as voting for Councilor Nolan, and two members voted as Councilor Zusy. Would anyone like to change their votes? Hearing none, we will go to the next ballot. Councillor Azzubi.

Councillor Azeem.

Councilor Azeem. Councilor Azeem.

Councilor Azeem.

Azeem votes for Councilor Azeem. Councilor Flaherty. Councilor Zusy. Councilor Flaherty votes for Councilor Zusy. Councilor McGovern. Councilor Azeem. Councilor McGovern votes for Councilor Azeem. Councilor Nolan. Nolan. Councilor Nolan votes for Councilor Nolan. Councilor Siddiqui. Councilor Nolan. Councilor Siddiqui votes for Councilor Nolan. Councilor Simmons. Azeem. Councilor Simmons votes for Councilor Azeem. Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler. Councilor Nolan. Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler votes for Councilor Nolan. Councilor Zusy.

Councilor Nolan.

Zusy votes for Councilor Nolan. At this time, we have four members recorded as voting for Councilor Azeem, three members recorded, I'm sorry, four members recorded as voting for Councilor Nolan, and one member recorded as voting for Councilor Zusy. Would anyone wish to change their vote?

Madame Clerk, could I change my vote? Councilor Flaherty?

Councilor Flaherty votes for our Councilor Azeem. Councilor Flaherty has changed his vote to Councilor Azeem. Would anyone wish to change their votes? At this point, we have five members recorded as voting for Councilor Azeem and four members recorded as voting for Councilor Nolan. McClure.

I'd like to change my vote to Councillor Azeem.

Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler changes his vote to Councillor Azeem. Councillor Nolan.

Yes, I'll change my vote to Councilor Azeem.

Councilor Nolan changes her vote to Councilor Azeem.

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Zusy. I'd like to change my vote to Councilor Azeem. Councilor Zusy has changed her vote to Councilor Azeem. Are there any more changes?

Clerk?

Mayor Siddiqui?

I will change to Councilor Azeem.

Mayor Siddiqui is changing her vote to Councilor Azeem. At this point, we have nine members recorded as voting for Councilor Azeem. I'm going to ask you to raise your right hand. Aye.

Aye.

Burhan Azeem. Burhan Azeem. Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

That I will bear true faith and allegiance.

That I will bear true faith and allegiance. To the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And will support the constitution thereof.

and will support the Constitution thereof. So help me God. So help me God. I, I, Burhan Azeem, do solemnly swear, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully and impartially, that I will faithfully and impartially, discharge and perform

All the duties incumbent upon me As Vice Chair for the City of Cambridge According to the best of my abilities and understanding

according to the best of my abilities and understanding.

Agreeably.

Agreeably.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution.

To the rules and regulations of the Constitution. And the laws of this Commonwealth. And the laws of this Commonwealth. Aye. Aye. Burhan Azeem. Do solemnly swear. Do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution. Of the United States of America. Of the United States of America. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. I'm going to sign this.

Two of them.

Thank you, everyone. I wasn't sure how that one was going to go, so I don't have a great speech prepared as my colleague, Mayor Siddiqui. and I do have my phone out. Sadly, I am Gen Z, so. You know, it's an honor to represent the city of Cambridge in City Hall. There's 120,000 people in our city, and in our city diversity is something we cherish. We have a lot of people from all different sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of different experiences, and also we are a city with as many different opinions. It's a very hard city in some ways to govern. We always have the world expert in the audience somewhere who's going to tell you what you're doing wrong and lots of other people who have brilliant ideas on the way that we should take our city. But that's the diversity we cherish in our city. And in our strange electoral system where we're elected at large and run against each other and also represent slightly different people, I think I see the beauty of our city.

All nine city councilors here represent a different fraction of the city in a system that you don't really get as well put in other places. and we debate fiercely, we fight fiercely, but we also come together because in all the ways that people in the city have different opinions about how our city should go, we're also quite united in our fight for affordability in our fight for a safer, for a fairer, for a more just city and for a city that lives up to our values and stands up for them. So I'm honored to have the support of my colleagues today and to be elected vice mayor. And most of all, I'm excited to have the trust of you all and to call Cambridge my home. Thank you.

Before we move on to general business, there was traditionally a moment in the program to recognize the outgoing mayor. At this time, I'd like to invite the newly elected mayor, Sambul Siddiqui, to the rostrum to present a gift to the outgoing mayor, Mayor Simmons, on behalf of the entire council.

All right, let's give it up for Mary E. Deeney Simmons.

I'll be brief because I'm standing between you and the food. I just want to say to my colleagues, thank you. It was a pleasure serving as mayor. As Mayor Siddiqui knows, Mayor McGovern knows, and those that have served in this capacity, it's not an easy job. You do it because, one, you love the people, you love the city, and you love government. And so thank you so much for all the hard work we did I know we're going to be in for another interesting, taxing, wonderfully invigorating term in 26-27. Couldn't be doing it with a better group of people. So thank you. Thank you for this acknowledgement. You don't have to worry about me banging this too hard. It's a pleasure, and for all those people that have supported me in all these years, particularly my wife and my children, I say thank you so very much.

And now, as the first item of general business, the chair will entertain a motion to adopt the 2024-2025 city council rules for the 2026-2027 term.

Madam Clerk. Move that we... Councilor Simmons.

Thank you.

Move that we adopt provisionally the 26-27 rules of organization for the City Council.

Councilor Alzubi. Yes. Yes. Vice Mayor Azeem? Yes. Yes. Councilor Flaherty? Yes. Yes. Councilor McGovern? Yes. Yes. Councilor Nolan? Yes. Mayor Siddiqui? Yes. Yes. Councilor Simmons? Yes. Yes. Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler? Yes. Yes. Councilor Zusy? Yes. Yes. And you have nine members recorded in the affirmative. I'd like to take this moment to thank the members of city leadership, particularly City Manager Eon Huang, Deputy Manager Kathleen Watkins, and Commissioner of Public Works John Nardone. In addition, many city departments worked very hard to make this inaugural day a special day. Several employees of the Department of Public Works have worked tirelessly over the last two weeks and came in over the weekend to clean City Hall

from top to bottom to make the glass sparkle in the oak woodwork shine and to hang the banners that give the building such a festive feeling. I know you have all noticed how beautiful this building is today and Paul Lyle and the DPW team worked very hard to this end. Special thanks to the entire building operations and building maintenance teams, as well as Kyle Gennari and the maestros of it all, Kate Joyce and Stephen Aruta. At this time, we'd like to give a very special thanks to Naomi Steffen, Assistant to the City Council.

Naomi works extremely hard to make sure that this ceremony is a credit to the City Council and to the City of Cambridge. If there is no other general business, we will go to adjournment. We invite all to join us from noon to 2pm for a celebratory reception at the Foundry in Cambridge. at 101 Rogers Street in East Cambridge. Thank you for joining us for this very special meeting of the Cambridge City Council and Happy New Year. At this time, is there a motion to adjourn? Move to adjourn. McGovern moves to adjourn. Councilor Al-Zubi?

Yes. Yes.

Vice Mayor Azeem?

Yes.

Yes. Councilor Flaherty?

Yes.

McGovern, yes, Councilor Nolan, yes, Mayor Siddiqui, yes, yes, Councilor Simmons, yes, yes, Councilor Sobrinho-Wheeler, yes, yes, Councilor Zusy, yes, yes, and you have nine members recorded in the affirmative. The meeting is adjourned.