Patty Nolan
2025 Candidate for Cambridge City Council

Home address:
184 Huron Ave.
Cambridge MA 02138

Contact information:
Tel: 617-642-8752
e-mail: patty@pattynolan.org
website: www.pattynolan.org

Send contributions to:
Committee to Elect Patty Nolan
184 Huron Ave., Cambridge MA 02138
OR
secure.actblue.com/donate/patricia-nolan-1

Cambridge is a city full of creativity, energy, and a commitment to justice. We need leaders who not only share our values, but who know how to turn those values into positive thoughtful action. That’s what Patty Nolan has done on the Cambridge City Council. She is a rare public servant who will vote and act without regard to personal political risk. She has demonstrated over and over that she acts based on an assessment of what the city needs, not what will help her.

Patty has been a tireless advocate for climate action, pushing Cambridge to lead the way on sustainability. She has stood up for educational equity, ensuring that every child in our community has access to opportunity. And she has worked for responsible, forward-looking development that protects affordability and strengthens our neighborhoods. And forged compromises in order to move the city forward.

What sets Patty apart is her integrity, data-driven approach and independence. She listens carefully, challenges assumptions, and holds our institutions accountable. She knows her stuff and gets stuff done! She knows that good leadership means not just fighting for bold ideas, but making sure those ideas actually deliver results for residents.

Re-electing Patty Nolan means keeping a leader who is both principled and effective, visionary and pragmatic. Let’s continue moving Cambridge forward with Patty’s experienced, thoughtful, and passionate leadership.

Patty's Priorities and what she has done:

Good Governance & Financial Oversight
As Finance Chair, Patty’s deep experience with financial accountability and oversight has guided council discussions by balancing fiscal realities and desire for expansion of programs and initiatives. Patty’s dedication to good governance is evident in her solid record of transparency, responsiveness, and accountability at every level of city government.

• Consistently pushed for greater focus on reducing expenses and pushing back on spending on capital projects and initiatives that her research showed was far above comparable cities.
• Demonstrated commitment to transparency by ensuring Council and City accountability for promises and financial goals.
• Initiated earlier Council involvement, demanded decision-making consistent with public goals, and promoted open criteria for tax and budget increases.
• Known for committee work focused on governance, environment, and finance.

Committee Work

• Maintained high engagement and public participation, holding more committee meetings than any other councillor in recent years.
• Led and organized sessions on renewable energy, waste management, climate resilience, budgets, public health, affordable housing, and police oversight.
• Set the standard for productive cross-committee collaboration, focusing on environment (H&Env), finance, and major city policy areas.

Climate and Environment
Patty Nolan has championed aggressive climate and sustainability measures, leading municipal efforts to cut emissions and implement innovative policies for greener buildings and equitable climate solutions.

• Provided oversight for Combined Sewer Overflow mitigation, Urban Forest planning, green jobs development, and infrastructure to address climate resilience (e.g., Charles and Mystic River dam maintenance and improvements).
• Made progress on plan for a geothermal energy network in the city
• Got ban passed on gas-powered leaf blowers March 2025 for non commercial use and March 2026 for commercial and municipal operators
• Pushed for increasing renewable energy capacity for all residents
• Reformed the Zero Waste Master Plan to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
• Led efforts to update Zero Waste Master Plan to mandate food waste diversion for commercial buildings and restaurants (helping both our climate goals and our rat problem).
• Instrumental in passing the Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO), landmark legislation that requires large buildings to reduce their emissions over time. BEUDO is the most significant piece of our Net Zero Action Plan. Instrumental in oversight and monitoring implementation.
• Led deliberation on adoption of a Fossil Fuel Free ordinance for all new buildings.

Safe and Sustainable Transportation
Patty has consistently supported expanded bike lanes and multimodal transit infrastructure, while ensuring that the needs of small businesses and residents with mobility limitations are incorporated into decisions. She prioritizes safe streets and accessible public transportation for all residents.

• Prioritized street safety for all users, supporting the Cycling Safety Ordinance and maintaining essential bike lane connections.
• Advocates for thoughtful implementation timelines, more community feedback, and balancing design quality for bike lanes with broader road access.
• Keeps the focus on the data showing the most dangerous parts of our streets for cyclists and pedestrians are intersections. Which is why she pushed for prioritization of the most dangerous intersections to guide city work.
• Champions automated traffic enforcement, (not yet in place, but moving along) improved MBTA bus service, creation of municipal shuttle systems, and identifying dangerous intersections for systematic improvement.
• Led the push for the City’s first ever Zero Emissions Transportation Plan.

Thoughtful Planning and Development
On planning and development, Patty advocates for community-driven, sustainable growth that balances housing needs, urban vitality, and climate resilience, making sure new projects reflect Cambridge’s values and long-term priorities.

• Advanced efforts to enable residents to not use their car by developing one coordinated reliable frequent citywide shuttle that replaces existing separate shuttles - (university, corporate).
• Advocated for comprehensive and disciplined city planning rather than piecemeal report generation or reactive policy changes, with a focus on honoring and evaluating progress against adopted plans.
• Led successful efforts in comprehensive zoning reform, in the Alewife area, achieving broad stakeholder consensus that lead to new zoning.
• Supported measured and evidence-based changes to policies and zoning, opposing premature amendments that don't align with the city’s guiding plans or stakeholder input.

Affordable Housing
Patty backs affordable housing policies focused on increasing access especially for middle income people, protecting renters, and ensuring equitable opportunities across Cambridge.

• Forged a better proposal for the controversial citywide zoning change that significantly improved it, lowered heights, increased green space. More on that vote.
• Consistent advocate for investment in affordable housing (currently over $40 million annually) to serve the most needy
• Focused attention on middle-income residents unable to afford Cambridge since the city has lost many middle class residents and will lose more without specific steps like social housing.
• Brought to light the high cost of affordable housing – near $1 million per unit – and working to identify strategies to reduce expenses.
• Brought folks together to discuss how to balance goals of more housing density, solar protections, urban forestry, and good design.
• Emphasizes ongoing responsibility to monitor housing impacts on affordability, and collaborate regionally for housing improvements.

2023 Candidate Page     CCTV candidate video (2023)

2021 Candidate Page     CCTV candidate video (2021)     2021 MCNA Candidate Forum (Nolan)

2019 Candidate Page     CCTV candidate video (2019)     2017 Candidate Page     CCTV candidate video (2017)    

2015 Candidate Page     2013 Candidate Page     2011 Candidate Page     2009 Candidate Page     2007 Candidate Page