The Alewife Study Group -
concerned neighborhood residents
(a statement from 1999):
works to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the Alewife area of North Cambridge, Massachusetts, especially on and near the W. R. Grace site
works to ensure an inclusive, participatory process on quality of life issues including (but not limited to) hazardous waste (such as asbestos), excessive traffic, flooding, and protection of habitats and natural resources
researches information
communicates information from the neighborhood to the relevant parties (and vice versa) in many ways, including:
hand-delivers flyers to the neighborhood
sets up and encourages public meetings
speaks at official city (and other government) meetings
meets with Cambridge City Councilors
writes letters and opinion-editorials for newspapers
maintains this website
One result of our work is the first-in-the-nation
asbestos protection ordinance,
passed by the Cambridge City Council Nov. 1, 1999.
To get more information or to participate
call your neighbor, Ronnie Millar, at 617-441-8956
or email us at information@alewife.org
City-wide asbestos protection ordinance,
including important tent-and-vent requirement,
passed unanimously by Cambridge City Council, Nov. 1, 1999
Our community made a difference! Thank you!
At the start of the City Council meeting, only four of the nine councilors
supported the ordinance
Councilors said the neighbors' overwhelming support -
many emails and phone calls before the meeting
persuasive testimony of over sixty residents at the meeting
made the crucial difference in the unanimous ordinance vote.
Thanks to the each of the Councilors and to the Public Health Department for
their support. Special thanks to City Councilor Katherine Triantafillou who took the lead in
crafting this "first in the nation" Asbestos Protection Ordinance. Katherine
ensured that the Ordinance addressed the concerns of both the neighbors and the
City's Public Health Department.