Cambridge Council Passes Cuba Resolution 5-0, Delays ShotSpotter and Elected-Mayor Votes

CAMBRIDGE — May 11, 2026 — Cambridge City Council advances Cuba resolution and foreign policy discussion order while delaying ShotSpotter vote. The council voted 5-0-4 Monday night to call on President Trump to rescind Executive Order 14380 and end the U.S. oil embargo on Cuba, with four members — Councillors Flaherty, Nolan, Simmons, and Zussi — recorded as present rather than voting yes or no; no one voted against it. A separate 6-3 vote passed a policy order by Councillors Nolan and Simmons directing the Government Operations and Civic Unity committees to study how the council should handle future foreign policy resolutions, over objections from Councillors Al-Zubi and Sabrina Wheeler, who argued the measure would chill such discussions. Action on a ShotSpotter surveillance halt order — citing an 82 percent false positive rate, DHS funding, and data-sharing risks with ICE — was pushed to next week after Vice Mayor Azim exercised a charter right; Councillor Simmons had challenged the order's sponsors for insufficient outreach to Black and Brown residents in surveilled neighborhoods, saying, "Has anybody there had their son shot down the street? I have." The council also heard that the city's demolition of 221 Mount Auburn Street came in at $12 million, roughly $8 million under the $20 million appropriation, with the city expecting full reimbursement through a land court sale.