Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1278 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 117,085 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. 1,624,496 patients have been tested, and 8,755 have passed away. Learn more here.
Today marks Women’s Equality Day and the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, but it took decades longer for women of color to be guaranteed the right to vote in every state. I encourage you today to reflect and take action to fight voter suppression and to make a plan to vote in the upcoming elections if you have not already. You can find more information on voting in the 2020 elections below and on the City of Cambridge’s website.
Cambridge Updates
There will be a Special Meeting of the School Committee tomorrow, 8/27 at 6PM for the purpose of reviewing and accepting the End-of-Cycle Summative Evaluation Composite Report for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Salim. You must sign up in advance to provide public comment. You can sign up to provide public comment by calling Jennifer Dever Wood at 617-349-6620 before noon tomorrow, or filling out this online form before 5:30PM tomorrow.
The in-person early voting period for the September 1st Primary election is underway, and will continue tomorrow, 8/27 and Friday 8/28 from 9:30AM-5PM at the following locations:
- Moses Youth Center – 243 Harvard Street, Main Entrance
- Cambridge Water Department - 250 Fresh Pond Parkway
- Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street
If you plan to vote in person on election day, you can view the City’s interactive polling place map to find your polling location. Some polling sites like those in high-risk facilities were temporarily relocated for the upcoming 2020 State Primary, September 1st. Polls will be open on September 1st from 7AM-8PM.
There is a ballot drop box at 51 Inman Street that is available daily from 8AM - 8PM. Cambridge voters who wish to hand deliver their signed mail-in ballot can use the drop box to do so.
Where to Get Tested
The Cambridge Public Health Department has expanded August dates and locations for free mobile testing for Cambridge residents:
- The Pisani Center (131 Washington St) will offer testing on Saturday, 8/29 from 11AM - 7PM
- King Open School (850 Cambridge Street), will offer testing on Thursday, August 27 and Friday, August 28 from 10AM - 6PM
To schedule an appointment, call 617-665-3795 or sign-up online.
If you are feeling symptomatic and feel the need to get tested sooner, you can call your primary care provider to make an appointment to be tested.
Translation Resources Available
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City's multilingual help page.
State Action Updates
Today, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the September 1st deadline for local elections officials to receive mail-in ballots for the primary election in a decision on a lawsuit that sought to allow ballots postmarked by September 1st to be counted up to September 11th. This means that mail-in ballots that are postmarked by September 1st, but do not arrive by the state primary on September 1st, will not be counted.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Where to Give
On Fridays throughout August, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food for the Chelsea Food Collaborative. Drop off is between 9 AM to 3:30PM at 175 Richdale Ave, the entrance to CoHousing, either in a paper bag or small box. If you don't see someone at the moment you come, please leave it just inside the gate where we will have boxes marked “For Chelsea.”
If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:
Cambridge Community Foundation
Cradles to Crayons Emergency Essentials Fund
Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund
I also encourage you to donate to the following organizations that are engaging in racial justice work:
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Families for Justice as Healing
Union of Minority Neighborhoods
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie