Denise Simmons
She/Her
- Currently
- City Councillor
- Election history
- 10th term in office, previously Mayor
She/Her
Brought up in Cambridge, Denise Simmons has been active in the Cambridge community for many years.
Denise Simmons previously served 2 terms as mayor, which made her both the first Black, openly-lesbian mayor in the United States and the first Black woman to be mayor in Massachusetts. In the 2017 election, she was one of two candidates elected outright on the first count of ballots.
I am one of the councilors currently pushing for this, and I believe this will offer greater flexibility to affordable housing developers who are seeking to create viable new projects. The ability to develop such buildings in our major squares will add life and vitality to the squares, and provide much-needed housing - homes - to so many who are currently struggling to remain a part of our community.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save Mass Ave | this cycle | ||
| A Better Cambridge | on Sept. 15, 2023 | ||
| Greater Boston Labor Council | this cycle |
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
"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)
I often say: Northern Born and Southern Raised
I do not want us to become a city of the haves and the have-nots, and I do not want the rich people on one side of town, and the poor on the other side
"I’m very proud that we have a lot of women in leadership; the other side of that is we don’t have enough women of color," Simmons said. "We're not educating sufficiently and significantly enough Black and brown and Latinx children."
If reelected, she said it is a priority for her that the council vote in a new city manager who reflects the city’s diversity — after Louis A. DePasquale retires in July.
J. Sellers Hill, Salaidh A. Perez"I’m very proud that we have a lot of women in leadership; the other side of that is we don’t have enough women of color," Simmons said. "We're not educating sufficiently and significantly enough Black and brown and Latinx children."
If reelected, she said it is a priority for her that the council vote in a new city manager who reflects the city’s diversity — after Louis A. DePasquale retires in July.
Throughout her two decades on the Council, Simmons said some of her proudest moments were during her time as chair of the Housing Committee, increasing funding for the Affordable Housing Trust by tripling linkage fees — a charge on certain types of developments — and leading the conversation on inclusionary zoning.
Simmons has long advocated for various affordable housing initiatives, from sponsoring a passed policy order allocating an additional $20 million from the city’s budget towards affordable housing to voting to pass amendments loosening building height restrictions to the 100%-Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay.
Oct. 24, 2023 — Jina H. ChoeThroughout her two decades on the Council, Simmons said some of her proudest moments were during her time as chair of the Housing Committee, increasing funding for the Affordable Housing Trust by tripling linkage fees — a charge on certain types of developments — and leading the conversation on inclusionary zoning.
Simmons has long advocated for various affordable housing initiatives, from sponsoring a passed policy order allocating an additional $20 million from the city’s budget towards affordable housing to voting to pass amendments loosening building height restrictions to the 100%-Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay.
City Councilor E. Denise Simmons exercised her “charter right” on the policy order, thereby delaying a decision on the matter, due to her objections on behalf of people living on the detour streets.
“The Memorial Drive debate has echoes of so many past battles in which the voices of concerned neighbors, Black people, moderate-income people, minorities, people who are often referred to as the have-nots among us, have been so callously, casually, and dismissively brushed aside,” she said.
Simmons characterized the opposition to Riverside residents’ concerns as insensitive to the historical dismissal of people from marginalized groups in Cambridge.
“The response is, ‘The benefits of the many outweigh the inconveniences of a few, so too bad for you,’” she said.
Feb. 15, 2023 — Samuel P. GoldstonCity Councilor E. Denise Simmons exercised her “charter right” on the policy order, thereby delaying a decision on the matter, due to her objections on behalf of people living on the detour streets.
“The Memorial Drive debate has echoes of so many past battles in which the voices of concerned neighbors, Black people, moderate-income people, minorities, people who are often referred to as the have-nots among us, have been so callously, casually, and dismissively brushed aside,” she said.
Simmons characterized the opposition to Riverside residents’ concerns as insensitive to the historical dismissal of people from marginalized groups in Cambridge.
“The response is, ‘The benefits of the many outweigh the inconveniences of a few, so too bad for you,’” she said.
I first ran for office because I wanted to make a positive difference in my community and because I believed that there is no challenge that can’t be overcome when a group of people roll up their sleeves and make a good faith effort to address it. I still believe that to be the case, and while I will rarely make the most headlines or the most noise on social media, I will always be plugging away, working my heart out for the people of Cambridge.
Oct. 21, 2021 — Community ContentI first ran for office because I wanted to make a positive difference in my community and because I believed that there is no challenge that can’t be overcome when a group of people roll up their sleeves and make a good faith effort to address it. I still believe that to be the case, and while I will rarely make the most headlines or the most noise on social media, I will always be plugging away, working my heart out for the people of Cambridge.
"I don’t want to go back to normal," Simmons said. "I want us to go back to better because we have now proven to ourselves — and the community — that we can do it if we choose to."
Oct. 21, 2021 — Sarah Girma, Jennifer L. Powley"I don’t want to go back to normal," Simmons said. "I want us to go back to better because we have now proven to ourselves — and the community — that we can do it if we choose to."
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.
In a poll of registered voters in Cambridge released Monday, Mayor Marc C. McGovern and City Councilor E. Denise Simmons garnered the highest approval rating among their peers, polling at 42.5 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively.
Sept. 11, 2019 — Declan J. KnieriemIn a poll of registered voters in Cambridge released Monday, Mayor Marc C. McGovern and City Councilor E. Denise Simmons garnered the highest approval rating among their peers, polling at 42.5 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively.
Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons reflected on the event: “This celebration is about positive things happening in our community.”
Regarding the new graduate student housing, she said: “Some of you might not think that’s much of a big deal, but let me tell you why it is. Placing more graduate students in campus housing relieves pressure on the housing market in Cambridge. That’s good for everyone. Thank you to MIT.”
Oct. 23, 2017 — MIT News OfficeCambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons reflected on the event: “This celebration is about positive things happening in our community.”
Regarding the new graduate student housing, she said: “Some of you might not think that’s much of a big deal, but let me tell you why it is. Placing more graduate students in campus housing relieves pressure on the housing market in Cambridge. That’s good for everyone. Thank you to MIT.”
“I do not want us to become a city of the haves and the have-nots, and I do not want the rich people on one side of town, and the poor on the other side,” wrote Mayor Simmons. “I want us to be able to cater to all, to have a mixing and mingling of people from all rungs on the socio-economic ladder. I want housing that is affordable to the families that have been here for generations.”
Oct. 3, 2017 — Amy Saltzman“I do not want us to become a city of the haves and the have-nots, and I do not want the rich people on one side of town, and the poor on the other side,” wrote Mayor Simmons. “I want us to be able to cater to all, to have a mixing and mingling of people from all rungs on the socio-economic ladder. I want housing that is affordable to the families that have been here for generations.”
Denise Simmons has been elected mayor for the second time in a unanimous vote by the Cambridge City Council at its inaugural meeting Monday morning, Jan 4.
“We are here for one purpose and one purpose alone, and that is to serve the citizens of Cambridge,” Simmons said at the ceremony. “It is our job to make sure people have jobs that pay a fair wage and that no one is denied a service because of the color of their skin, who they choose to love, their age, gender or zip code.”
Jan. 6, 2016 — Natalie HandyDenise Simmons has been elected mayor for the second time in a unanimous vote by the Cambridge City Council at its inaugural meeting Monday morning, Jan 4.
“We are here for one purpose and one purpose alone, and that is to serve the citizens of Cambridge,” Simmons said at the ceremony. “It is our job to make sure people have jobs that pay a fair wage and that no one is denied a service because of the color of their skin, who they choose to love, their age, gender or zip code.”
Choice quote: “People coming into my office come for housing or some other issue. They don’t care if I have polka dots and a pointed head, they care about services.” – Simmons to Passport in 2008
May 30, 2014 — Trudy RingChoice quote: “People coming into my office come for housing or some other issue. They don’t care if I have polka dots and a pointed head, they care about services.” – Simmons to Passport in 2008