Sumbul Siddiqui
She/Her
- Currently
- City Councillor
- Also
- Attorney in Legal Aid
- Election history
- 2nd term in office
She/Her
Sumbul Siddiqui's family immigrated to the United States from Pakistan when she was 2, and they moved to Cambridge when they got a lottery spot in Cambridge's affordable housing system. She is a graduate of CRLS, Brown University, and Northwestern.
While attending CRLS, she co-founded the Cambridge Youth Council (then the Cambridge Youth Involvement Subcommittee), a way for students to engage with city government and policy.
In addition to serving on the council, she is an Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance. Prior to her election, she was on the board of the Cambridge School Volunteers and was a member of Cambridge's Human Services Commission.
She and Alanna Mallon have been producing a podcast together since January 2018.
A pledge to rapidly implement protected bicycle lanes
A pledge to rapidly implement protected bicycle lanes
Our revolution supports a new generation of progressive leaders across the US.
Our revolution supports a new generation of progressive leaders across the US.
Asking candidates about how to reduce Cambridge to zero fatalities or serious injuries on the road
Asking candidates about how to reduce Cambridge to zero fatalities or serious injuries on the road
Long form responses about equality and housing
Long form responses about equality and housing
A Better Cambridge is a local housing/growth-and-development focused group. They used their questionnaire to determine their endorsements.
A Better Cambridge is a local housing/growth-and-development focused group. They used their questionnaire to determine their endorsements.
The Harvard Graduate Student Union-UAW's guide to municipal elections in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston for City Council and Somerville Mayor.
The Harvard Graduate Student Union-UAW's guide to municipal elections in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston for City Council and Somerville Mayor.
Also, we have to have more diversity on the council. I think it’s very important that we have more women, and that we have more women of color. I think someone who is a qualified public attorney who happens to be a Muslim woman of color, you talk the talk for diversity and all that stuff, but this is a time that we can actually make it happen.
A first-term Cambridge city councilor, Siddiqui has emerged several times as a swing vote on housing issues, most recently the controversial plan to sell the shuttered Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in East Cambridge to a developer, for use mainly as an office building. Some in Cambridge wanted to block the deal, saying the public building should be used for affordable housing or something else with public benefits, instead of being turned into pricey office space near Kendall Square.
As a key vote approached last month, Siddiqui was undecided. Two influential groups that had endorsed her two years ago — the Cambridge Residents Alliance and the Bernie Sanders-affiliated Our Revolution Cambridge — told her they would withhold endorsements this time if she supported the project, according to Siddiqui. But she also heard from residents who wanted something to happen with the decaying building, widely decried as an eyesore. So Siddiqui negotiated with the developer to double the amount of affordable housing it would hold — to 48 units — before casting a decisive sixth vote in favor of the plan.
Oct. 28, 2019 — Tim LoganA first-term Cambridge city councilor, Siddiqui has emerged several times as a swing vote on housing issues, most recently the controversial plan to sell the shuttered Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse in East Cambridge to a developer, for use mainly as an office building. Some in Cambridge wanted to block the deal, saying the public building should be used for affordable housing or something else with public benefits, instead of being turned into pricey office space near Kendall Square.
As a key vote approached last month, Siddiqui was undecided. Two influential groups that had endorsed her two years ago — the Cambridge Residents Alliance and the Bernie Sanders-affiliated Our Revolution Cambridge — told her they would withhold endorsements this time if she supported the project, according to Siddiqui. But she also heard from residents who wanted something to happen with the decaying building, widely decried as an eyesore. So Siddiqui negotiated with the developer to double the amount of affordable housing it would hold — to 48 units — before casting a decisive sixth vote in favor of the plan.
Siddiqui said she believes Cambridge will be able to mount a strong defense against any lawsuits, noting that cannabis commission guidance recommends prioritizing empowerment applicants.
“This is something I’m willing to get sued on,” she said. “This industry comes with an ugly history of racial oppression that needs to be addressed.”
Sept. 23, 2019 — Dan AdamsSiddiqui said she believes Cambridge will be able to mount a strong defense against any lawsuits, noting that cannabis commission guidance recommends prioritizing empowerment applicants.
“This is something I’m willing to get sued on,” she said. “This industry comes with an ugly history of racial oppression that needs to be addressed.”
The amount of office space in the tower will also drop, because Leggat agreed to double the number of affordable housing units in the building, to 48. The idea was proposed by Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui, considered the swing vote.
Leggat will also pay more into the city’s affordable housing trust fund, $15 million instead of $11.5 million.
Sept. 19, 2019 — Jon ChestoThe amount of office space in the tower will also drop, because Leggat agreed to double the number of affordable housing units in the building, to 48. The idea was proposed by Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui, considered the swing vote.
Leggat will also pay more into the city’s affordable housing trust fund, $15 million instead of $11.5 million.
I think it goes it back to my experience and professional background. I am the only woman running who has grown up here, so I think that’s very valuable in the sense that I have long-term roots. I’m not planning to go anywhere. This is a city I know.
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I think we know that the elderly need parking. I think we know that if you’re disabled, you really need parking. So we have to prioritize those needs. At the end of the day, we have to make a compromise. If we want to be a city that is committed to fixing climate change, it’s better to bike. But we have to realize that not everyone can bike, so we have to recognize that some people have to drive.
Nov. 1, 2017 — A. PerezI think it goes it back to my experience and professional background. I am the only woman running who has grown up here, so I think that’s very valuable in the sense that I have long-term roots. I’m not planning to go anywhere. This is a city I know.
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I think we know that the elderly need parking. I think we know that if you’re disabled, you really need parking. So we have to prioritize those needs. At the end of the day, we have to make a compromise. If we want to be a city that is committed to fixing climate change, it’s better to bike. But we have to realize that not everyone can bike, so we have to recognize that some people have to drive.
Sumbul Siddiqui, a public interest attorney, is running because she wants to give back to the community that helped raise her.
“As a first-generation immigrant from Pakistan who has benefited from Cambridge’s public school system, public housing, and after-school activities, I am uniquely indebted to Cambridge’s tremendous resources,” she wrote.
Oct. 3, 2017 — Amy SaltzmanSumbul Siddiqui, a public interest attorney, is running because she wants to give back to the community that helped raise her.
“As a first-generation immigrant from Pakistan who has benefited from Cambridge’s public school system, public housing, and after-school activities, I am uniquely indebted to Cambridge’s tremendous resources,” she wrote.