Ira Sharma ’28, an Associate Editorial Editor, is an Economics Concentrator in Mather House.
The city of Cambridge made headlines when it ended single-family zoning city-wide in 2025 — and rightfully so. The landmark decision promised progress towards mitigating the housing crisis amid extensive debate and soaring rents.
Yet recently, city councilors and residents have introduced a plethora of proposed amendments, each backtracking from the ordinance’s original goal of promoting housing affordability. The multifamily housing ordinance has the potential to change the affordability landscape, reinforcing the city’s strong pull on talented young professionals and families — but only if Cambridge stays the course…