John Hanratty
2025 Candidate for Cambridge City Council

Home address:
15 Mount Vernon St. #7
Cambridge, MA 02140

Contact information:
email: john@hanrattyforcambridge.com
website: www.hanrattyforcambridge.com/

Send contributions to:
https://www.hanrattyforcambridge.com/donate

Cambridge deserves a city government that respects its people, spends wisely, and strengthens our diverse communities. I'm running for City Council because our current leadership is failing these goals — and I believe, with your help, we can do better.

I’m one of the Repeal Slate of candidates who want to stop the upzoning ordinance that was enacted by our out-of-touch City Council. Neighborhood upzoning replaces middle-class family housing with out-of-scale apartment buildings that only the rich can afford. Trees and yards are replaced by 4- to 6-story boxes with no parking. Developers maximize profits. Residents deserve a more nuanced approach to housing.

The City Council now creates policies driven by narrow special interests rather than the broader public good. Taxes and budgets are out of control. Neighborhood voices are dismissed and labeled obstructionist. Community character is erased in favor of density-at-all-costs policies — with no plan for green space, accessibility, or livability.

It’s time to hit the brakes on this runaway approach and chart a smarter, more inclusive path forward.

Why I’m Running
Cambridge City Hall is not working for most of us. Here’s what we can fix together:

Neighborhoods Under Siege - New laws override the needs of long-time residents, gutting diverse communities, removing parking, and cramming in high-rises without proper infrastructure.

One-Size-Fits-All Policies - Bike lanes at any cost? Density without planning? No relevant goals with community support? No measurement of results and adjustment for reality? These top-down policies often hurt those they’re meant to help — and reduce livability citywide.

Ballooning Budgets & Taxes - Leaders act like the commercial tax base will last forever. That’s incorrect and unfair - residents will be saddled with the consequences.

Proven Leadership. Deep Roots. A Vision for Cambridge.
I’ve lived in Cambridge for over 35 years. It’s where I raised my family, where my son attended public schools — graduating from Cambridge Rindge and Latin in 2023 — and where I’ve committed my career and time to building both technology businesses and community. Cambridge has given my family a great life. I’m running for City Council to ensure it remains a thriving, diverse, and livable city for all its residents.

What Cambridge Needs Now
Cambridge is at a crossroads. As our commercial tax base shrinks, residents face growing financial burdens. The city’s $1 billion budget must be managed with clarity, discipline, and accountability.

My business background taught me how to:

• Prioritize spending for impact

• Adapt to change

• Measure outcomes — not just intentions

Community First
Since stepping away from a career in tech, I’ve focused my energy on civic engagement. In 2023, I ran for City Council and subsequently founded the Neighborhood Nine Coalition (N9C) — a grassroots group that helps residents and small businesses stay informed and empowered about city initiatives that impact them.

The truth is, City Hall often makes big decisions with little input from those most affected. Through N9C, we’ve created a neighborhood association to provide: early alerts on policy proposals affecting residents, opportunities for public input, and coalition-building across neighborhoods.

This kind of proactive, transparent communication is what Cambridge desperately needs at the Council level — and I intend to bring it there.

A Career in Innovation and Impact
Over the previous years, I’ve enjoyed a successful career in the technology sector. I founded and led several companies that delivered cutting-edge solutions in clean energy, cybersecurity, AI, and data communications. These ventures:

• Served global markets

• Employed thousands of people from Cambridge and the surrounding region

• Tackled real-world challenges with smart, scalable solutions

What I bring to City Hall:
✔ Strategic Planning – Setting goals and aligning resources

✔ Fiscal Management – Running budgets with accountability

✔ Problem Solving – Translating complex issues into practical outcomes

✔ Team Leadership – Motivating people toward shared success

Final Word
I’m not a career politician. I’m a problem-solver, a listener, and someone who cares deeply about this city’s future. With your support, I’ll work every day to ensure Cambridge works for everyone.

Please give me your #1 vote to accomplish our goals.

CCTV candidate video (2025 )

2023 Candidate Page     CCTV candidate video (2023)