Sumbul Siddiqui
- Currently
- Attorney in Legal Aid
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. She's now serving on the board of the Cambridge School Volunteers and is a member of Cambridge's Human Services Commission.
Professionally, she is an Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance.
Sustainability and environmental health for all
Sustainability and environmental health for all
Harvard Square and all things about it
Harvard Square and all things about it
Introduction to the Candidates
Introduction to the Candidates
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
Supports safe biking infrastructure for all ages and abilities. Asked Candidates for statement on CBS's platform.
Supports safe biking infrastructure for all ages and abilities. Asked Candidates for statement on CBS's platform.
Long form responses about equality and housing
Long form responses about equality and housing
Our revolution supports a new generation of progressive leaders across the US.
Our revolution supports a new generation of progressive leaders across the US.
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.
CRA is a local housing/growth-and-development focused group. They used their questionnaire to determine their endorsements.
CRA 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.
A Better Cambridge is a local housing/growth-and-development focused group. They used their questionnaire to determine their endorsements.
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
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.
We also need to make ride-hailing/ride-sharing programs easier to use and less expensive for Cambridge seniors.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
What are specific new programs or changes you would make if elected?
1) Enforce the City’s policies against vacant storefronts: I would research whether we can implement a vacant storefront registry similar to Arlington’s for large property owners who would be required to pay a fee to enter the registry once their storefront becomes vacant. The fee could be waived if the owner allowed public art to be displayed while the landlord looks for a new tenant or committed to allowed a pop-up use for the community
What are specific new programs or changes you would make if elected?
1) Enforce the City’s policies against vacant storefronts: I would research whether we can implement a vacant storefront registry similar to Arlington’s for large property owners who would be required to pay a fee to enter the registry once their storefront becomes vacant. The fee could be waived if the owner allowed public art to be displayed while the landlord looks for a new tenant or committed to allowed a pop-up use for the community
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.
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.