Alanna M. Mallon
She/Her
- Currently
- City Councillor
- Also
- Community Relations Liaison at Food For Free
- Election history
- 3rd term in office
She/Her
Alanna Mallon is not seeking re-election in 2023. Her profile here is left up only as comparison.
The current vice mayor, Alanna Mallon was born and raised in Massachusetts, and has lived in Cambridge since 2004.
She founded the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program, a service that sends food home with food insecure students, in 2013, and joined Food For Free in January 2016. She was also an Education Liaison for Cambridge's Office of the Mayor from 2014-2015.
Before working full time on activism and for nonprofits, she was a designer at companies such as FP Girl and TJX.
She and Sumbul Siddiqui have been producing a podcast together since January 2018.
Housing policy questions
Housing policy questions
[The] creation of affordable housing is one of my top priorities, and I remained committed to supporting the [Affordable Housing Overlay] while answering every resident question during the process. In the end, I was proud to vote yes on the Overlay when it finally passed in 2020, and it now has over 350 new affordable homes in the pipeline as a result.
Just one unit of (affordable) housing reduces as much carbon as 450 trees due to reduced traffic, reduced waste, and reduced resources that a suburban, single-family home will require.
In 2015, while working in the mayor’s office as the education liaison, she said she mulled running for elected office to get to the root of systemic issues.
"I started to think, 'I could just put food into kids' backpacks for the rest of my life, or I could run for office and really start working on those deep structural issues that cause hunger,'" she said. "Working on issues of safe, affordable housing, workforce development, and closing those economic gaps has been a real priority for me on the council, and it was what drove me to run."
Oct. 28, 2021 — Caroline E. Curran, Julia García-Galindo,In 2015, while working in the mayor’s office as the education liaison, she said she mulled running for elected office to get to the root of systemic issues.
"I started to think, 'I could just put food into kids' backpacks for the rest of my life, or I could run for office and really start working on those deep structural issues that cause hunger,'" she said. "Working on issues of safe, affordable housing, workforce development, and closing those economic gaps has been a real priority for me on the council, and it was what drove me to run."
Every election, candidates say that Cambridge is a “tale of two cities” to illustrate the inequities that exist despite our abundance of resources. But as an elected leader, I have a proven track record of successfully working to ensure that phrase no longer applies.
Oct. 21, 2021 — Community ContentEvery election, candidates say that Cambridge is a “tale of two cities” to illustrate the inequities that exist despite our abundance of resources. But as an elected leader, I have a proven track record of successfully working to ensure that phrase no longer applies.
“The arts are a huge key to a strong economic recovery,” Vice Mayor Alanna M. Mallon said. “This sector was woefully underfunded pre-pandemic, and we have a tremendous opportunity to reinvest in this critical sector.”
Oct. 20, 2021 — Sarah Girma and Jennifer L. Powley“The arts are a huge key to a strong economic recovery,” Vice Mayor Alanna M. Mallon said. “This sector was woefully underfunded pre-pandemic, and we have a tremendous opportunity to reinvest in this critical sector.”
In short, this building is everything we’ve stated we want as a city: affordable, family-sized homes that are transit oriented, on a major retail corridor, beautifully designed, and environmentally sustainable. This is a project that meets all the city’s major goals, and it should be applauded.
May 17, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Denise Summons, Marc McGovernIn short, this building is everything we’ve stated we want as a city: affordable, family-sized homes that are transit oriented, on a major retail corridor, beautifully designed, and environmentally sustainable. This is a project that meets all the city’s major goals, and it should be applauded.
We must act to undo decades of damage caused by the War on Drugs and play a proactive role in supporting minority-owned businesses in Cambridge by taking steps to fuel their success and swell their ranks. As Cambridge officials, we urge you to join us in supporting the project by speaking during public comment periods in upcoming hearings and/or emailing the Planning Board.
Feb. 27, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Quinton Zondervan, Marc McGovernWe must act to undo decades of damage caused by the War on Drugs and play a proactive role in supporting minority-owned businesses in Cambridge by taking steps to fuel their success and swell their ranks. As Cambridge officials, we urge you to join us in supporting the project by speaking during public comment periods in upcoming hearings and/or emailing the Planning Board.
Cambridge City Councilor Alanna Mallon tweeted about her own decision not to canvass after dark — after being lunged at by a “drunk and physically aggressive” voter — despite knowing it might put her at a disadvantage to competitors seeking face time with voters.
Aug. 23, 2019 — Stephanie EbbertCambridge City Councilor Alanna Mallon tweeted about her own decision not to canvass after dark — after being lunged at by a “drunk and physically aggressive” voter — despite knowing it might put her at a disadvantage to competitors seeking face time with voters.
I think that men enjoy campaigning more, sort of as a general statement. For me, I found it very emotionally draining, and I saw a lot of the men really be energized by being at a forum or being out in public or getting their picture taken, and [a] number of things, where for me it was all about doing all this hard work to actually get to do the job. And I just wanted to do the job.
July 11, 2018 — Reena KarasinI think that men enjoy campaigning more, sort of as a general statement. For me, I found it very emotionally draining, and I saw a lot of the men really be energized by being at a forum or being out in public or getting their picture taken, and [a] number of things, where for me it was all about doing all this hard work to actually get to do the job. And I just wanted to do the job.
“I grew up experiencing poverty and food insecurity, and only got to where I am today because my family had the help of comprehensive social safety nets,” said Alanna Mallon, who is also the founder of Cambridge’s Weekend Backpack Program. “I believe our city can not only do more to close gaps in social services, but should also be more intentional about how we plan for and deliver these services.”
Oct. 3, 2017 — Amy Saltzman“I grew up experiencing poverty and food insecurity, and only got to where I am today because my family had the help of comprehensive social safety nets,” said Alanna Mallon, who is also the founder of Cambridge’s Weekend Backpack Program. “I believe our city can not only do more to close gaps in social services, but should also be more intentional about how we plan for and deliver these services.”