Ayah Al-Zubi is running for City Council to make Cambridge a dignified and affordable home for all.
This campaign is grassroots. It takes a village to be able to make this campaign grow. If you have the means to financially contribute, please donate. If you would like a yard sign for your home, please let us know. Let’s do this together! Click the Volunteer link below to canvass with us!
Meet Ayah
Ayah Al-Zubi is a working class neighbor and democratic socialist running to represent you on the Cambridge City Council. A Muslim, born in Jordan, she immigrated to the United States as a child, and Cambridge became her home when she moved here to study at Harvard. As a renter in this city, Ayah has navigated being rent-burdened with bad landlords who have not provided a home with habitable conditions.
These experiences, as well as her work with youth-led movements such as on gun violence prevention, have shaped Ayah into a committed advocate for those who don’t believe their futures are cared for by the government. Especially in this painful time, Ayah believes that we must support each other and do everything we can to stand up to the injustice that surrounds us. With a relentless focus on the needs of the most vulnerable, her campaign is a grassroots movement rooted in an optimistic vision to make Cambridge dignified and affordable for everybody.
After coming within inches of winning a seat during her first campaign in 2023, Ayah has remained a tireless organizer for justice in our community. When the city announced the closure of a 58-bed homeless shelter, Ayah worked directly with the impacted residents and empowered them to advocate for their needs at several crucial council meetings. This work raised consciousness about the challenges faced by shelter residents in our city and led to an additional $1 million in housing vouchers specifically for them. She has also been a vocal advocate for building more affordable housing and increasing Harvard’s PILOT contribution to the city. As a councillor, she would be determined to make this city affordable and dignified for all.
Platform
Housing
Create more Affordable housing through multiple approaches with a focus on anti-displacement
Break the YIMBY/NIMBY binary
Create a revolving loan for Social Housing (non-market mixed income housing)
Advance tenants’ rights and protections through ending income verification, advocating for rent stabilization, and an emergency rental assistance program
Advance empowerment tools like HomeBridge for low-income residents to become home-owners
Invest in the newly formed Cambridge Community Land Trust
Open a new shelter to replace the Transition Wellness Center
Sustainability & Environment
Protect our earth and residents by growing our tree canopy
Create an equitable plan to eliminate residential building emissions
Save Alewife Brook through advocacy with the MBTA including maximizing amount of affordable housing and adding a commuter rail station
Economic Justice & Racial Justice
Establish municipal broadband (internet service provided by the government)
Advocate for a vacancy tax for local businesses
Create an accessibility guide to engaging in local civics that exists in multiple languages
Create the first city-owned and operated grocery store
Create a small business catalyst fund
Start needle buy-back program and increase deposit boxes
Empower HEART (Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team) through continued financial support
Make sure the arts-related institutions that we have remain in the city, preserving our public art, expanding opportunities for young artists, creating affordable housing designated for artists
Invest in central square Starlight to have have a community led cultural center and affordable housing
Create space for community organizations to be able to use
Create a 311 hotline for reporting city-related questions and reports
Education (including Childcare and After-School)
Secure universal afterschool and upgrade our youth centers
Establish a committee to look at the needs of caregivers, educators, and students through an intersectional lens that expands how we view education including issues like housing, food insecurity, and more
Support CEA and Solidarity Squad around demands for budget
Transportation
Advocate for free fare transit in the MBTA infrastructure with a focus on making the #1 bus free
Support Bicycle Safety Ordinance without delay and building community understanding of sharing the road for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers
Expand light up crosswalks at dangerous intersections in the city
Create an ordinance to assess and fix sidewalks for accessibility
Endorsements
Below are endorsements from local advocates and organizations that support Ayah’s run for City Council.
Evan MacKay (they/them): “Ayah Al-Zubi brings a deep passion for justice and a belief in truly listening to one another to ensure that no one is left behind. She will be a thoughtful city councillor who lifts up the voices of those too often pushed to the margins.”
Evan is a labor leader, teaching fellow, anti-corruption and good government activist, community organizer.
Stephanie Guirand (she/her): “I support Ayah Al-Zubi for Cambridge City Council because she brings a fresh and focused vision to our city. Ayah is a strong advocate for rent stabilization, expanded tenant rights, and housing affordability, key issues facing our community. She also champions environmental justice, supports the city’s Green New Deal, and is committed to preserving Cambridge’s tree canopy. Ayah brings lived experience, bold ideas, and genuine commitment to our community. She is exactly the kind of leadership Cambridge needs right now.”
Quinton Zondervan (he/him): “If you want more justice for Cambridge’s most vulnerable, vote Ayah #1! She truly cares, and will fight hard for more affordable housing, more bicycle and pedestrian safety, more tree canopy and better public transportation options.”
Former Cambridge City Councillor Quinton Zondervan, in his personal capacity and not reflecting the views of his employer or anybody else.
Andrew King (he/him): “I wholeheartedly endorse Ayah for Cambridge City Council. She has shown herself to be a tireless advocate for affordable housing and tenant rights, education justice, environmental justice and safe, free public transportation. As the only Gen Z young person and Muslim-American woman of color candidate, she will bring a much-needed perspective, along with a strong background in youth development work and grassroots organizing to uplift youth and marginalized community voices in our city government. Ayah is committed to fighting for real policy change to improve the lives of working families, so that we have a livable and affordable Cambridge for all.”
Andrew is a community organizer, CRLS alum, Citizens for Public Schools Board member, Cambridge Residents Alliance Board Member, former Cambridge School Committee candidate.
Phyllis Bretholtz (she/her): “I enthusiastically support Ayah Al Zubi for Cambridge City Council. In addition to being a deeply thoughtful thinker, Ayah is a very good listener - a quality essential for a councilor representing our wide range of residents. She is committed to issues of social justice, especially when it involves housing for everyone in Cambridge. As a biker, she understands the complexity of safety issues for pedestrians, drivers, the disabled, the elderly - as well as the bikers. Ayah will be a voice for women whose voices are under-represented in Cambridge. And she will also be a voice for artists in terms of living space, studio space, gallery space, all of which is in very short supply. Ayah will bring a strong and independent voice to the Cambridge City Council.
Phyllis is a community activist, retired CRLS teacher, former member of Cambridge Women’s Commission, Cambridge Arts Council.
FAQs
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Local government is a powerful tool in building community and affects your day-to-day life from essential services to schooling and more. With a nearly one billion dollar budget, Cambridge has a lot of opportunity to lead on issues.
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Ayah is a young Muslim woman and renter with a lived experience that uniquely positions her to understand the struggles of immigrants in Cambridge, young people, renters, and more. She does not accept real estate or corporate money because she believes in people over profit.
Ayah’s campaign centers mechanisms like the Affordable Housing Trust, investing in the Community Land Trust, and not lowering the 20% inclusionary zoning requirement, amongst many others to build permanently deeply affordable housing. For transportation, Ayah has a focus on making the #1 bus free, as well as improving access to services for elderly in Cambridge. Finally, Ayah’s campaign is dedicated to making food more accessible especially in light of Daily Table closing to create Cambridge’s first city-run grocery store. Everyone deserves to live in this city with dignity and Ayah will work hard to bring this vision to life.
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Ayah believes that we are the change we want to see in the world and wants to be a strong advocate for working class families. In a time of national uncertainty, Ayah is ready to step up to protect and empower our community. She would be a powerful and fresh voice on city council that believes in the dignity of every human being.
Moreover, Ayah understands the difficulties of making rent, getting around safely, and being able to afford food. She believes in making our city one that is affordable for all.
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Affordable Housing, Transportation, and Economic Justice
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See here for the requirements to vote and how to register (deadline is 10 days before Nov. 4, 2025). More information on the Rank Choice Voting (RCV) can be found here. See here to find out where your voting location is on Election Day. For the early voting process including locations, see here. To vote early by mail, see here. To request an absentee ballot, see here.
If you have any questions or would like support, please reach out to us at alzubiforcambridge@gmail.com. Remember to rank Ayah number one!
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Yes, please reach out at alzubiforcambridge@gmail.com!