Backyard Cambridge

By Backyard Media

News & Politics Government & Organizations Local

What's Backyard Cambridge about?

Backyard Cambridge is all about the politics going on in your backyard. In series 3, we’re covering our bigger backyard: Backyard Massachusetts. The 2018 election is fast approaching, and we’re going to tell you a story about this election that you probably haven’t heard much about.

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Backyard Cambridge episodes:

11.13.2018
S3 Episode 5: The Results
In our post-election episode, we recap what happened on November 6th, 2018. Which candidates won? What were the results for the ballot questions, especially for Question 3? And what do these results mean for citizens in Massachusetts? This is the...
10.30.2018
S3 Episode 4: Beyond a Bathroom Bill
In our final regular episode, we’re talking about how the 2016 public accommodations law is more than just a bathroom bill. We look to other states to understand how the implications of this vote on Question 3 go beyond just...
10.23.2018
S3 Episode 3: Direct Democracy vs Bureaucracy
Are ballot questions really a form of pure direct democracy? Or are they a more complicated process? Today, we’re unpacking some arguments you don’t hear very much - arguments against the ballot question process itself. In what ways can...
10.16.2018
S3 Episode 2: Strategy and Persuasion
As we approach Election Day, how are the Yes and No campaigns reaching their bases of support? What strategies are they using in October to educate voters about Question 3? And what does it mean for transgender citizens in Massachusetts...
10.09.2018
S3 Episode 1: Put It on the Ballot
What are ballot measures? Where do they come from, and who campaigns for them? And what does it say about our democratic process when we’re asked to vote on questions of civil rights? In our first episode, we give an...
10.02.2018
Season 3 Trailer: Backyard Massachusetts
This election season, Backyard Cambridge is covering the politics of our bigger backyard. Check back for Episode 1 on Tuesday, October 9th. Visit our website: www.backyardcambridge.com Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for more election coverage: https://www.backyardcambridge.com/subscribe Follow Backyard...
04.26.2018
S2 Episode 4: The local, global issue of climate change
Climate change is a global issue, but it’s also a local one. Cities around the world are developing policy responses to reduce their carbon footprint and prepare for the climate change effects we expect will happen in the coming decades....
04.09.2018
I’m the Mayor, Ask Me Anything #3: How can I get involved and make a difference?
We ask Mayor McGovern questions about different ways Cantabridgians can get involved and engage with City officials.
03.23.2018
S2 Episode 3: What’s it like to build housing in Cambridge? (Housing Part 2)
In the second part of our series on affordable housing in Cambridge we ask, how do we build enough housing? Why is it so difficult to build in the city? And how do we balance density and the concerns of...
03.09.2018
I’m the Mayor, Ask Me Anything #2: What’s with the Red Line delays?
We ask Mayor McGovern about the City’s environmental initiatives and protected bike lanes, the delays on the Red Line, and more in our second episode of our “I’m the Mayor of Cambridge, Ask Me Anything” series.
02.27.2018
S2 Episode 2 : Why is the rent so damn high? (Housing Part 1)
Backyard Cambridge tackles arguably the biggest issue in Cambridge local politics today - affordable housing. We’re spending the next two episodes looking at the issue from all sides. Our goal is to figure out why it’s so difficult to find...
02.09.2018
I'm the Mayor of Cambridge, Ask Me Anything (Mayor AMA # 1)
Have you ever wondered why there's no STOP sign at that pesky intersection outside your apartment? What about why rent in Cambridge is so high? Or, what's the deal with all that development in Kendall Square? Do you want to...
01.23.2018
S2 Episode 1: Why is it so hard to create universal access to Pre-K in Cambridge?
Backyard Cambridge is back! In Season 2, we spend each episode taking a close looking an issue that's affecting the lives of the people living in Cambridge. First up is the topic of universal pre-Kindergarten, which it turns out is...
11.14.2017
Episode 7: What happened?
What happened on November 7th, 2017 in the Cambridge City Council election? In this episode of Backyard Cambridge, we look at who won, who lost, and what exactly went wrong with the vote tallying process. Then we look beyond this...
11.03.2017
Episode 6: The Review Session: What do I need to know before I vote?
If you want to understand the 2017 Cambridge City Council election and you only have time to listen to one episode of Backyard Cambridge, make sure it's this one. We recap everything you need to know before election day on...
10.31.2017
Episode 5: Who are the upstarts?
A 19-year-old Harvard student, an owner of a local theater company, an Indian-American transplant from Mississippi. In Episode 5, we discuss the “upstarts” - six City Council candidates who got motivated to jump into local politics recently, most of them...
10.27.2017
Episode 4: Who are the new generation?
This episode, Backyard Cambridge looks at what we've dubbed "the new generation" - seven candidates who are somewhat younger, but who have experience in policy or politics or advocacy. They're looking to take the next step in their political careers...
10.24.2017
Episode 3: Who are the incumbents?
Who are the six incumbents running to keep their seats on City Council? We profile each of them, from the one-term former community organizer all the way to the city councillor who’s served for 27 years. We ask these candidates...
10.20.2017
Episode 2: How do I choose someone for City Council when there are 26 candidates?
In our second episode, we explain the structure of Cambridge’s local government, including City Council; the three categories we’ve created to think about the 26 different candidates; the pros and cons for having each type of candidate serve on City...
10.20.2017
Episode 1: What the heck is going on, and why should I care?
The first episode of Backyard Media's series about the City Council elections in Cambridge, MA. We'll tell you about why local matters, introduce you to key some players in city politics, and dive into the debate on affordable housing.
10.11.2017
Backyard Cambridge Teaser
We're excited to share a bit of our new Backyard Media podcast, Backyard Cambridge! This eight episode series will follow the 2017 city council election in Cambridge, MA. We'll interview candidates, dig into the issues, and give you a firsthand...

What's Backyard Cambridge about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Backyard Cambridge episodes:

S3 Episode 5: The Results

S3 Episode 4: Beyond a Bathroom Bill

S3 Episode 3: Direct Democracy vs Bureaucracy

S3 Episode 2: Strategy and Persuasion

S3 Episode 1: Put It on the Ballot

Season 3 Trailer: Backyard Massachusetts

S2 Episode 4: The local, global issue of climate change

I’m the Mayor, Ask Me Anything #3: How can I get involved and make a difference?

S2 Episode 3: What’s it like to build housing in Cambridge? (Housing Part 2)

I’m the Mayor, Ask Me Anything #2: What’s with the Red Line delays?

S2 Episode 2 : Why is the rent so damn high? (Housing Part 1)

I'm the Mayor of Cambridge, Ask Me Anything (Mayor AMA # 1)

S2 Episode 1: Why is it so hard to create universal access to Pre-K in Cambridge?

Episode 7: What happened?

Episode 6: The Review Session: What do I need to know before I vote?

Episode 5: Who are the upstarts?

Episode 4: Who are the new generation?

Episode 3: Who are the incumbents?

Episode 2: How do I choose someone for City Council when there are 26 candidates?

Episode 1: What the heck is going on, and why should I care?

Backyard Cambridge Teaser