headshot of candidate

Burhan Azeem

He/Him

Currently
City Councillor
Also
Engineer (daytoday health)
Election history
2nd time running

More about Burhan Azeem

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.

Incumbent
Yes
Education
Bachelor of Science from MIT
Age
26 years, 8 months
Born in Pakistan in 1997
Voter Registration
Oct. 14, 2015

Where does Burhan live?

Address
Rents at 35 Speridakis Ter. R

What are their housing positions?

Proposal Supported?
2072 Mass Ave
AHO #2
AHO #1

Q&A

Interviews with the candidate

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

Cambridge Citizen's Coalition Survey

Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"

Cambridge Citizen's Coalition Survey

Questions about recent zoning petitions, city manager contract, and "housing challenges"

Cambridge Bike Safety Pledge 2021

They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."

Cambridge Bike Safety Pledge 2021

They asked candidates to sign a pledge, which starts: "I support rapid implementation of the citywide network of protected bicycle lanes..."

Vision Zero Coalition 2021

Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths

Vision Zero Coalition 2021

Reduction in traffic injuries and deaths

Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition 2021

Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge

Cambridge Nonprofit Coalition 2021

Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge

Quotes

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.

Burhan Azeem, Campus Kickoff

Addressing displacement requires stability, supply and subsidy—we absolutely must pursue all three.

Burhan Azeem, ABC Survey 2021

Housing policy is climate policy.

Press

Articles about the candidate

The Harvard Crimson Burhan Azeem Seeks to Bring Fresh Voice to City Hall

"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 Harvard Crimson Burhan Azeem Seeks to Bring Fresh Voice to City Hall

"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 Harvard Crimson Challenger Candidates Propose Housing Plans, Government Reform in Bid for City Council

"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
The Harvard Crimson Challenger Candidates Propose Housing Plans, Government Reform in Bid for City Council

"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
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

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 Content
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

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 Content
The Harvard Crimson City Council Candidates Propose Strategies for Supporting Low-Income Residents at Virtual Forum

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. Cho
The Harvard Crimson City Council Candidates Propose Strategies for Supporting Low-Income Residents at Virtual Forum

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. Cho

Campaign finance

How much the candidate has raised and spent

$4,364
Current balance
$54
Balance at the start of 2021
$24,920
Raised in 2021
$20,609
Spent in 2021