Now more than ever, local governments are critical. Many of us have been appalled by the turmoil in Washington D.C. in the past several months. While I am deeply troubled about the impact the new administration’s policies will have on Cambridge and the broader world, it has reenergized my commitment to be an effective, responsive, and progressive public servant. As residents of Massachusetts, we often breathe a sigh of relief that the Commonwealth values many of the progressive principles that are now in jeopardy on the national level. But that is only because we elect progressive champions at every level who will fight for everyone, and push forward on housing, climate change, transportation, social justice, diversity and human rights. I have devoted myself full-time to these values and to the residents of Cambridge, and am more excited than ever to relaunch my campaign and continue working on behalf of our great City.

That is why I am proud to have taken a strong stand on two issues of national import:

  • I was a co-sponsor of a policy resolution to that calls upon the US House to launch impeachment investigation into of President Trump’s continuing business conflicts put him in violation of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause. Cambridge was the first major city on the East Coast to take this step and the fifth nationally. The resolution passed on April 3.
  • I recently divested my campaign bank account from a financial institution (TD Bank) that is financing the Dakota Access Pipeline and opened a new account with East Cambridge Savings Bank. I do not want your donations to help finance our continued dependence on fossil fuels.

I am also proud of the grassroots campaign we ran in 2015. We had an active volunteer base and Cantabrigians generously donated to my campaign in record numbers. I again will decline donations from special interests, because I wholeheartedly believe that residents should not wonder about outside influence over City Council decisions. However, that puts me at a disadvantage to raise the funds I need to run a successful re-election campaign in 2017. I need your help. Please consider making a donation of any amount today. If you would like to volunteer to knock on doors, make phone calls, or host a coffee to introduce me to your neighbors, please sign up here.

Attend my campaign kick off event on Sunday, May 7.  See details and RSVP.

I look forward to dusting off my orange sneakers and my campaign bike! I appreciate all of the support you have given me thus far, and am excited for what the next few months hold.

Jan Devereux, City Councillor

Photo credit: Ceilidh Yurenka for Cambridge Day