Catherine "Cathie" Zusy
She/Her
- Currently
- President, Magazine Beach Partners (local community org); Treasurer, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association
- Election history
- 1st time running
She/Her
A Cambridge resident for over 25 years, Cathie Zusy is a former museum curator who has been very active in local boards and organizations for many years. She has even been called "Magazine Beach Lady" for her years-long efforts to secure public investment for the revitalization of Magazine Beach Park along the Charles River.
She is one of two candidates in 2023's race who has previously voted in Republican primary elections.
In general, Cathie's position on housing is "no", stating "housing shouldn’t be built anywhere and [every]where". She believes in maintaining the authority of the Cambridge Historical Commission as well as Neighborhood Conservation Districts and neighbors. She cares about "open space, trees, historic architecture and neighborhood character" and says nearby buildings "unfairly block neighbor’s light."
About tenant protections, she has generally answered that she doesn't know much about the subject but has not supported proposals so far.
I agree that we need to add more housing for people of all economic means and the infrastructure to support it. This should be smart growth near transit hubs and corridors. But we also need to preserve architectural character and neighborhood cohesion. We don’t want oversized buildings built anywhere and everywhere, casting shadows, filling green open spaces and decimating old trees. Everyone needs light, the sky and access to nature.
We need balance.
... while we may have a waiting list for housing of over 22,000, that fewer than 6,000 of these people live or work in Cambridge.
I don’t think our housing shortage is due to conscious classism or racism.
How many more people do we aspire to house? There is an insatiable and global demand for housing in Cambridge.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Citizens Coalition | on Sept. 14, 2023 |
Housing policy, development, governance questions
Housing policy, development, governance questions
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
General. Note: only distributed in downloadable word or pdf documents.
General. Note: only distributed in downloadable word or pdf documents.
"questions about the issues that most impact Cambridge’s low-income populations" (available in several languages)
"questions about the issues that most impact Cambridge’s low-income populations" (available in several languages)
... we can’t cast shadows wherever. Neighbors are impacted by tall buildings!
I have met with members of the Bicycle Safety Committee, encouraging them to be more flexible and have listened to the concerns of Brattle Street neighbors. I’ve also ridden the bike lanes and attended a North Mass. Ave Advisory Comm. walk.
I’ve also expressed concerns about the peaceful Linear Park turning into a bicycle expressway and our Charles River parklands turning into pavement with 14’-wide cycle lanes and wide pedestrian paths. We need cycle lanes, parks and parking, all.
I am a cyclist and feel safer with separated bike lanes. I also understand the need to create a complete network so that people will choose to cycle. Again, we need balance. We have an aging population. In 2021, 31% of our residents were 50 or older. We need retail access and parking for older people and young families, too, and we should be able to figure out how to have both: bike lanes and parking.
I realize that public process is challenging, but it often feels fake. “Public” meetings are often commandeered by PowerPoints, staff talking at us, and don’t appear to be a genuine forum for feedback.
The summary [of Cambridge poverty statistics] also shares that single mothers make less money—they are often caring for their children, and often, lack specialized skills—and so are more impoverished. We need to make sure to give young women opportunities to develop skills and shine in high school, encouraging them, for the sake of their own lives and that of their future children, to make different choices.
Please withdraw the policy order re nhood groups. Of course neighborhood groups and everyone else need to be inclusive and civil, but do we really need a policy order scolding neighborhood associations, and the East Cambridge Planning Team in particular, because one very antagonized board member misspoke? My heart goes out to the East Cambridge Planning Team, which is a model for all neighborhood organizations. They have done such outstanding work advocating for themselves as they endure an onslaught of never ending development.
At the CCC event, Zusy said she is grateful for the group’s endorsement. In an interview at the event, Zusy defended Pasquarello and Winters.
“I feel as though in our culture today, we are too quick to cancel people,” Zusy said.
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Zusy also said she is proud to be a Cantabrigian “because we have been at the forefront of energy policy and becoming a green city.”
Zusy said she has concerns about Cambridge’s goal of full home electrification by 2035, adding she worries Eversource — the city’s primary energy provider — would have to prioritize providing electricity to Cambridge over other cities and neighborhoods. She also said she has safety concerns about the installation of large transformers around Cambridge.
Oct. 12, 2023 — Jina H. ChoeAt the CCC event, Zusy said she is grateful for the group’s endorsement. In an interview at the event, Zusy defended Pasquarello and Winters.
“I feel as though in our culture today, we are too quick to cancel people,” Zusy said.
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Zusy also said she is proud to be a Cantabrigian “because we have been at the forefront of energy policy and becoming a green city.”
Zusy said she has concerns about Cambridge’s goal of full home electrification by 2035, adding she worries Eversource — the city’s primary energy provider — would have to prioritize providing electricity to Cambridge over other cities and neighborhoods. She also said she has safety concerns about the installation of large transformers around Cambridge.
Candidate Catherine Zusy said she was grateful for the CCC endorsement. When asked about the tweets, she said, “I feel as though in our culture today, we are too quick to cancel people.”
“Maybe he did something that lacked judgment,” she said of Winters. “I don’t know. But are you gonna negate all the good that he’s done for the city for 40 years?”
Oct. 2, 2023 — Muskaan Arshad, Julian J. GiordanoCandidate Catherine Zusy said she was grateful for the CCC endorsement. When asked about the tweets, she said, “I feel as though in our culture today, we are too quick to cancel people.”
“Maybe he did something that lacked judgment,” she said of Winters. “I don’t know. But are you gonna negate all the good that he’s done for the city for 40 years?”
[Candidate left a comment]
This letter makes me very sad. Aren’t we better than this in Cambridge? Some candidates, and very organized single-issue groups, are running scared and are seeking out dirt to bring down other candidates.
Robert Winters may be more moderate than many local candidates but he has done far more than all of them to advance Cambridge. He started our recycling and composting programs, is the longtime publisher of the online Cambridge Civic Journal, produces the Candidates Pages, the weekly show Inside/Out (about Cambridge goings on). He is our local expert who provides an historical perspective on Cambridge government—most recently about our City Charter—and, along with Cambridge Day, is our source for local news. Like CD editor Marc Levy, he does this as a volunteer. Robert is a thoughtful, highly informed person who would serve us well on City Council.
I have just met Carrie Pasquarello and don’t know her work intimately, but she has explained to me that her security work requires her to make social media connections with alternative groups. She needs to know what they’re saying and how they’re communicating. I know that she comes from a long line of local firefighters and policemen who have put their lives on the line to protect Cantabrigians. To write her off for her work is really wrong.
Sept. 30, 2023 — Ari Ofsevit[Candidate left a comment]
This letter makes me very sad. Aren’t we better than this in Cambridge? Some candidates, and very organized single-issue groups, are running scared and are seeking out dirt to bring down other candidates.
Robert Winters may be more moderate than many local candidates but he has done far more than all of them to advance Cambridge. He started our recycling and composting programs, is the longtime publisher of the online Cambridge Civic Journal, produces the Candidates Pages, the weekly show Inside/Out (about Cambridge goings on). He is our local expert who provides an historical perspective on Cambridge government—most recently about our City Charter—and, along with Cambridge Day, is our source for local news. Like CD editor Marc Levy, he does this as a volunteer. Robert is a thoughtful, highly informed person who would serve us well on City Council.
I have just met Carrie Pasquarello and don’t know her work intimately, but she has explained to me that her security work requires her to make social media connections with alternative groups. She needs to know what they’re saying and how they’re communicating. I know that she comes from a long line of local firefighters and policemen who have put their lives on the line to protect Cantabrigians. To write her off for her work is really wrong.
A majority of candidates expressed support for the MIT Graduate Student Union and Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers and said they would support workers’ rights on the Council.
...
“This is an issue I haven’t thought about,” [Zusy] said. “I promise if I’m elected to the Council, I will think much more about this issue.”
...
Discussions around public safety centered around the January killing of 20-year-old Sayed Faisal by Cambridge Police, with moderators asking what candidates would do to prevent police violence.
...
Zusy, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding Faisal’s killing.
“I do think if he had stayed in his house, it would have been a private issue,” Zusy said, adding that when Faisal left the house with a knife, it “was a community safety issue.”
...
“I think it was appropriate for the police to respond,” she added. “Clearly, something went wrong, and that was unfortunate.”
She added that the Cambridge Police Department is nationally renowned.
“We hear about how bad policemen are all over this country, but actually, our police do pretty good work,” she said.
Sept. 27, 2023 — Muskaan Arshad, Julian J. GiordanoA majority of candidates expressed support for the MIT Graduate Student Union and Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers and said they would support workers’ rights on the Council.
...
“This is an issue I haven’t thought about,” [Zusy] said. “I promise if I’m elected to the Council, I will think much more about this issue.”
...
Discussions around public safety centered around the January killing of 20-year-old Sayed Faisal by Cambridge Police, with moderators asking what candidates would do to prevent police violence.
...
Zusy, however, questioned the circumstances surrounding Faisal’s killing.
“I do think if he had stayed in his house, it would have been a private issue,” Zusy said, adding that when Faisal left the house with a knife, it “was a community safety issue.”
...
“I think it was appropriate for the police to respond,” she added. “Clearly, something went wrong, and that was unfortunate.”
She added that the Cambridge Police Department is nationally renowned.
“We hear about how bad policemen are all over this country, but actually, our police do pretty good work,” she said.
I understand councillors’ sense of urgency to respond to our housing emergency, but AHO2 is not the answer. Do we really want 15-story buildings in Harvard, Porter and Central squares casting shadows, without setbacks and without any review by the Planning Board and neighborhoods?
Sept. 11, 2023 — Cathie ZusyI understand councillors’ sense of urgency to respond to our housing emergency, but AHO2 is not the answer. Do we really want 15-story buildings in Harvard, Porter and Central squares casting shadows, without setbacks and without any review by the Planning Board and neighborhoods?
How I will miss Peter Valentine
At first I was afraid of him because he was so different.
And then I embraced just that —
Realizing how joyful, playful and kind he was as he dedicated himself
to making life interesting and to protecting us all from nefarious forces.
They were there, he said, and he didn’t judge them.
We just needed to manage them with our “I am.”
How I will miss Peter Valentine
At first I was afraid of him because he was so different.
And then I embraced just that —
Realizing how joyful, playful and kind he was as he dedicated himself
to making life interesting and to protecting us all from nefarious forces.
They were there, he said, and he didn’t judge them.
We just needed to manage them with our “I am.”
Earning the moniker “Magazine Beach Lady,” Zusy led the effort to revitalize Magazine Beach Park in Cambridgeport, securing an $8 million investment to turn the park’s historic powder house into an urban nature center. She began working in the park in 2010 and has served as president of Magazine Beach Partners since 2017.
July 7, 2023 — Matt RochaEarning the moniker “Magazine Beach Lady,” Zusy led the effort to revitalize Magazine Beach Park in Cambridgeport, securing an $8 million investment to turn the park’s historic powder house into an urban nature center. She began working in the park in 2010 and has served as president of Magazine Beach Partners since 2017.