The Democratic Caucuses in Cambridge and Somerville are taking place over the next week.

Cambridge and Somerville wards will be electing their delegates to the 2012 Democratic State Convention, which will take at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts on June 2nd, 2012. This is sure to be an exciting convention where we will pick our nominee for the U.S. Senate to run against Republican Senator Scott Brown. Before a candidate can be placed on the September Primary ballot they have to get the support of 15% of the State Convention Delegates and 51% to get the endorsement of the convention. But in order to go to the convention, you need to be elected.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2012 Caucuses.

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State of the Union (Square) Watch Party on Tuesday Night

Cambridge-Somerville for Change and Organizing for America are holding a State of the Union Watch Party at Precinct in Union Square next Tuesday night.

We're encouraging our friends and neighbors to come, socialize and watch the fourth State of the Union address from President Obama.

This is likely to be one of the key events in the 2012 campaign and we hope to encourage lots of participation in Somerville.

Tuesday, January 24

Doors open at 8:00 PM 
Speech starts at 9:00 PM

Precinct Bar
Downstairs
70 Union Square, Somerville MA 02143

Sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/SOTU2012

Cambridge City Council Forum on Energy & Environmental Issues - Wednesday, Nov. 2nd at 6:30 PM

Green Cambridge, formerly known as Green Decade/Cambridge, is again organizing an Energy and Environmental Issues Candidate's Night for this year's city council race.  Cambridge Somerville for Change is a co-sponsor of this event, which will take place on November 2nd at 6:30 pm at the YMCA Theatre in Central Square.  Please join us to learn more about the positions each of the candidates is taking on these important issues.

2010 Post-Election Celebration

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Precinct in Union Square to help us celebrate progressive victories in 2010.

There's a lot more work to do this year and we're excited to have such a great group of activists to work with.

You can check out photos of the event on our Facebook page (whether or not you use Facebook).

Amazing Somerville Canvass

Today the Deval Patrick/Tim Murray campaign, Organizing for America, and Democrats around the state held a state-wide canvass.  In Somerville, CSfC worked closely with the Patrick/Murray campaign to knock on doors in Winter Hill.  We had a great response, with many supporters identified.  In the Mystic Public Housing Community, several canvassers focused on registering new voters and encouraging registered voters to vote on November 2nd.  For enthusiasts, we had the additional draw of a rally with the President next Saturday in Boston.

The voters are out there, we just need to reach out to them.  We'll be canvassing again tomorrow, and next weekend, and making calls all week. Sign up here to get involved: http://bit.ly/CSDems2010

Electing Cambridge Delegates to the State Convention

Registered Democrats in Cambridge will be holding their caucuses throughout the city Feb 10-24 to elect delegates and alternates to the 2010 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. This is an easy and effective way to get involved in local politics. In addition to having a voice in who is on the state primary ballot in September, the convention provides great opportunities to meet other Democrats across the state, participate in workshops, and learn about candidates. Last year CSfC had 7 members elected as delegates to the convention.

To find more information about what ward you live in, see the Cambridge Democratic Committee Website, http://www.cambridgedems.com/ and go to the “wards” link. The caucus is open to all Cambridge residents who were registered Democrats by Dec 31, 2009.

This year's convention will take place Friday June 4th and Saturday, June 5th at the DCU Center in Worcester. Delegates will nominate candidates for all constitutional offices: Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and Auditor. All candidates for these offices must win 15% of the votes of convention delegates in order to be listed on the primary ballot in September. While the Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General have all indicated they are running for reelection, no incumbent is running for Treasurer or Auditor this year.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, disability, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status in the conduct of the caucus is strictly prohibited. All ballots will be written and secret. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women. Those not elected as Delegate and/or Alternate, who meet the qualifications, may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority, and disabled.

Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 56 Roland Street, Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129 no later than ten days after the caucus date.

For more information, go to the Cambridge Democratic Committee Website, http://www.cambridgedems.com/

Stopping the Next Brown

This election didn't end up the way I wanted it to, but it's only a small setback in a campaign that started some time in the distant past, and will probably go on forever.

I'm happy today. I'm so proud of all the activists and the great work we did. The Cambridge/Somerville ground campaign that we built over four days was inspiring. We couldn't win the whole state, but we could boost turnout in Cambridge and Somerville for Coakley, and with hundreds of volunteers and dozens of GOTV events, we absolutely did.

We had organizers, volunteers, and local groups working toward one goal. We abandoned factions and borders. We made new alliances, and strengthened old partnerships. Progressive organizers in Massachusetts came together, mostly outside formal organizational structures.

Yes, it was too late to win. But we tested our organizing strategies and tactics. OFA swooped in from every state and provided a massive calls-to-voters operation. It wasn't perfect - there were flaws in everything we did. I'd rather know what those flaws are now, when there's one critical race, than in November when there will be dozens of critical races.

We have so much work to do this year, and we are not yet prepared to win the array of contests coming in November. Democrats across the country should look at this election and learn. We need to commit to preventing the complacency and inertia that allowed this to happen. Every progressive organization in the country should be building their plans for November right now, every day vowing No More Browns. No more unforced errors on Election Day.

As Massachusetts organizers, we are stronger today than we were a week ago. We need to keep exercising those organizing muscles, starting today, to prevail in the 2010 races. It can be done.

If you're not already a member, sign up with CSfC today.


(cross-posted, with edits, from BlueMassGroup)

Knock Doors and Make Calls

There is currently no need for drivers in Boston. The Coakley campaign is very clear that the best thing Cambridge and Somerville volunteers can do now is knock on doors. We have 200 walking routes to hit. There's a light rain out there, but it's mild, so throw on a warm coat and a waterproof shell and come knock on doors. We've got plastic sheets for your canvassing clipboards. If you can't knock, make calls. Canvass and Phone Bank locations:

45 Mt. Auburn St. (Harvard Square)
The Democracy Center

15 Mt. Auburn St. (Harvard Square)
HUCTW, the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers
(phone bank only)

42 Mt. Vernon St. (Porter Square)
Home of Larry Field

13 Hollis Street
Home of Gerry McDonough and Mary Ann Hart

19 College Ave, Davis Square
Canvass: 10:00am to 8:00pm
Phone Bank: 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Meet here for Davis Square visibility.

490 Broadway, Magoun Square

10:00am to 8:00pm

Turnout is high, but it's not high enough. They're counting on us to get the vote out. Please help!

Meet Your Neighbors Today - Join Our Election Day Canvass

Today is election day; be sure to vote!

The Coakley campaign and Organizing for America have made over two million calls in the last four days, and we'll make many more on election day. But out-of-state supporters can't knock on doors and talk to voters face to face. You can.

After you vote, come out to help at our Cambridge (45 Mt. Auburn St.) or Somerville (19 College Ave.) headquarters. We will be knocking on doors and calling voters, especially in the afternoon when people are getting home from work, right up until the polls close at 8PM.

Pulling Out All the Stops

In just three days Massachusetts voters will go to the polls to elect a new US Senator. It's hard to imagine a vote cast in the Commonwealth that will have a greater impact on national politics.

This is a great time to volunteer for a political campaign - the race is close and the stakes are high. With partners in our communities we've put together 59 events in the next three days.

Let's have some fun.

Somerville GOTV events

Cambridge GOTV events

CSfC Volunteers Are Amazing

At our phone bank for the US Senate race Thursday night our volunteers, along with recruits from CDCC and the Coakley campaign, made 1860 calls to voters. That's an amazing amount for a single phone bank in a 3 hour shift. But that's just the beginning. To win we're going to need a lot more shifts like that. We're setting up new locations, training new phone bank coordinators, and activating all of our resources to send Martha Coakley to the US Senate. Stay tuned.

Energy and Climate Issues in Cambridge and in the Senate Race

As the Senate continues its tug of war over health care, the world prepares for the next United Nations conference on climate change in Copenhagen. With this in mind, the City of Cambridge, led by Mayor Denise Simmons and Councilor Henrietta Davis, are putting together a Cambridge Climate Congress. The Congress, which will take place at City Hall on both December 12th and January 23rd, will seek to find a way that Cambridge can take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and driving citizen action on climate change. We encourage you to take a look at the Congress if you are in Cambridge and seek out opportunities to get involved. Cambridge-Somerville for Change will be monitoring the event and posting more about it in the weeks ahead.

Also, the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary is coming up on December 8th. We encourage you to read over the energy and environmental plans that Michael Capuano, Martha Coakley, Alan Khazei, and Steve Pagliuca. While the economy, health care, and Afghanistan have been at the center of the campaign, the next Senator from Massachusetts will have a unique opportunity to push legislation to reduce global warming pollution and create green jobs.

Local candidates answer questions about YOUR issues

Cambridge and Somerville citywide elections are taking place on Tuesday Nov 3rd, and in the words attributed to a local political luminary, Tip O'Neil, Jr.: "All politics is local." In his autobiography, Man of the House, Tip wrote that these were actually the words of his father, who shared this wisdom with his son on the only election loss in his son's lifetime--a run for the Cambridge City Council. Had Tip lived only a few short blocks from where he did, it could have been the Somerville Aldermanic race that he lost.

In the spirit of all politics being local, we urge you to vote November 3rd and take the time to vote for those who best represent you and your issues. Elections on the city level are just as important for change as those nationwide so please make your voice heard.

In order to help you make you final election decisions, we sent a survey to Cambridge City Council candidates and Somerville Alderman candidates. Our brief questions focused on two of our membership campaign interests - climate and energy, and transportation. Attached are links showing the answers provided by our local candidates. Please take a minute to see where your candidates stand in this election season.

CAMBRIDGE and SOMERVILLE CANDIDATE SURVEYS
Cambridge City Council Candidates Answers - 11 out of 21 candidates responded

Somerville Alderman Candidate Answers - 4 candidates responded


ELECTION INFORMATION

Click for information on voting in Cambridge and Somerville .

WHERE DO I VOTE?
Click HERE to find out your voting location.

Poll Hours:
Cambridge - 7am - 8pm
Somerville - 7am - 8pm

Cambridge City Council Canditates Forum on Environmental Issues: Tuesday, October 13th

Over the past few months, Cambridge-Somerville for Change has put together a team focusing solely on Energy and Climate issues. Our goals are to help push for a strong national bill to reduce global warming pollution and to engage with community efforts to reduce energy use and increase clean sources of energy, locally and globally.

As part of this effort, we are co-sponsoring a Cambridge City Council Candidates Forum on environmental and energy issues. This is the only public forum for the candidates to debate and discuss their views on environmental issues in the city and we hope that you will consider attending. It is important for city government to represent the concerns of the citizens and this forum will be a good way to find out where your city councillors stand on these issues.

The event, led by Green Decade Cambridge, will take place next Tuesday, October 13th at 6:30 at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center (806 Massachusetts Avenue, near Central Square). There will be three separate panels, each running about 45 minutes for candidates to discuss their views. More about the event can be found here.

And even if you can't attend, please consider coming to one of our future planning meetings. We will be discussing ways to ensure Congress enacts a strong bill to curb global warming pollution and promote energy efficiency. Just send a quick note to energy@cambridgesomervilleforchange.com if you'd like to learn more.

Cambridge City Council Climate Energy Hearing Next Week

On behalf of the Energy and Climate Team, we would like to invite you to attend a Cambridge City Council hearing on the Climate Emergency next Thursday, September 24th. The hearing will take place at Cambridge City Hall (795 Massachusetts Avenue) at 5:30 pm. The city council has recognized that global warming is an emergency and this will be an opportunity to learn from leading scientists about steps the city can take to prepare for and mitigate climate change. More information can be found at http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddk6hj4t_41g3p6fjqt.

Also, please come to the Energy and Climate Team meeting this Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We'll be hearing from an aide to Senator John Kerry about upcoming national global warming legislation and planning future actions. If you would like to come, please click here for directions.