Burhan Azeem
He/Him
- Currently
- Engineer (daytoday health)
- Election history
- 2nd time running
He/Him
Burhan Azeem's family immigrated to the United States from Pakistan when he was a kid. They moved several times, and he's spoken about how, as a brown Muslim immigrant living in the USA after 9-11, Cambridge was the first place he felt welcome.
He holds a Bachelor of Science from MIT and speaks three languages. He has studied sustainability and is passionate about mitigating climate change and its impacts. Professionally, he is an engineer.
In addition to canvassing, he has helped residents register to vote and has also been a volunteer EMT. A renter, he served on the board of A Better Cambridge, and founded a housing nonprofit called Abundant Housing Massachusetts.
Housing policy questions
Housing policy questions
Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"
Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"
They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."
They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."
Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths
Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
It is because of pure luck and generosity that I am here – and I will never forget that. I have worked for my community every way I can.
Addressing displacement requires stability, supply and subsidy—we absolutely must pursue all three.
Housing policy is climate policy.
"The city we walk around in is the city we think we live in, and then you go into City Hall and you see a very, very different city," he said. "I thought that there were a lot of views that weren’t being represented accurately."
...
"Something like 70 to 80 percent of the housing in the city is illegal [under current zoning], so it couldn’t be built the same today if it was destroyed in some way or another," Azeem said.
Oct. 30, 2021 — Betsey I. Bennett, Darley A.C. Boit"The city we walk around in is the city we think we live in, and then you go into City Hall and you see a very, very different city," he said. "I thought that there were a lot of views that weren’t being represented accurately."
...
"Something like 70 to 80 percent of the housing in the city is illegal [under current zoning], so it couldn’t be built the same today if it was destroyed in some way or another," Azeem said.
"There’s also a huge difference in not only what we want to do, but how we plan to get there," [Burhan Azeem] said. "A lot of candidates care about climate change, but our plans to address climate change are really different, and I think that that has pretty big implications."
Oct. 27, 2021"There’s also a huge difference in not only what we want to do, but how we plan to get there," [Burhan Azeem] said. "A lot of candidates care about climate change, but our plans to address climate change are really different, and I think that that has pretty big implications."
I believe Cambridge must build more transit-oriented housing and pursue development without displacement. I am focused on tackling the legacy of racist policies that led to our current zoning. I believe that housing policy is climate policy.
Oct. 21, 2021 — Community ContentI believe Cambridge must build more transit-oriented housing and pursue development without displacement. I am focused on tackling the legacy of racist policies that led to our current zoning. I believe that housing policy is climate policy.
Second time candidate Burhan Azeem said he believes it is important that the City allocate Covid-19 federal funding to residents undergoing difficult transitions, such as those facing evictions. He added that those residents have less representation in local government, while arguing that wealthier residents receive a disproportionate degree of visibility.
Oct. 10, 2021 — Isabella B. ChoSecond time candidate Burhan Azeem said he believes it is important that the City allocate Covid-19 federal funding to residents undergoing difficult transitions, such as those facing evictions. He added that those residents have less representation in local government, while arguing that wealthier residents receive a disproportionate degree of visibility.