Cambridge Council votes 6-3 to reinstate ShotSpotter for 90 days

City Council · Meeting of August 3, 2026

Cambridge City Council votes 6-3 to temporarily reinstate ShotSpotter for 90 days while a new resident assembly studies its future. The vote follows the July 4 shooting death of Xavier Bautista and more than three hours of public comment from 51 speakers. Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui cited Cambridge Police data showing only three of eight 2025 ShotSpotter alerts found evidence of gunfire, and that the system missed all four shootings that injured residents that year, including Bautista's killing.

Councilor Denise Simmons countered, "ShotSpotter is a technology that saves lives and solves crimes." A competing amendment by Councilor Patricia Nolan to keep the system off during deliberation failed 3-6. The council separately adopted 8-0 and 9-0 votes directing expanded staffing review for the Community Safety Department's care team and a comprehensive citywide review of violence-prevention and survivor-support services. The council also advanced Cambridge Street and Massachusetts Avenue zoning petitions requiring active ground-floor uses to second reading and adopted a home rule petition for an additional liquor license for Farah's Food Town in North Cambridge.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,723 words

Source: the City Council meeting of August 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.