Burhan Azeem
2019 Candidate for Cambridge City Council

Home address:
91 Sidney St. #814
Cambridge, MA 02139

Contact information:
Tel: 646-269-7213
website: voteburhan.com
Twitter: twitter.com/realBurhanAzeem
e-mail: burhan@burhanforcouncil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurhanForCouncil/

Send contributions to:
Committee to Elect Burhan Azeem
91 Sidney St. #814
Cambridge, MA 02139

Burhan Azeem is a new candidate this year.

Background
I was born in Multan, Pakistan. When I was four years old, my family and I won a visa lottery to the US. In a one-in-ten-thousand chance, my life changed completely.  

We came here wide-eyed and ready to take on the world, but the reality was not so kind. We started afresh, with nothing. Family friends took us in and allowed us to live with them. Their apartment was a tiny three-bedroom with eleven people, but it was the first home I can remember. There was always laughter and joy. We took care of each other, and at times, we also hid together; we were always afraid of being caught and kicked out by the landlord because our stay was not legal.

After my parents found stable work at a deli and Dunkin' Donuts, we moved out. We found a small place of our own, but we didn't stay there long; we moved a lot until we finally found our footing. I then was the recipient of a second miracle: I was admitted to MIT on a full scholarship. Though I was embarrassed that I needed the money, I knew it was the only way my parents could ever afford my education. 

​It is due to pure luck and generosity that I am here, and I will never forget that. And I have worked to give back to my community in every way I can. I have run blood drives, volunteered at MCI Norfolk, advocated for housing, and worked as an EMT. I take sustainability to heart -- I have built solar panels and batteries, studied the cause of our climate crisis, and become a biker and a pescatarian. I now work at a startup called daytoday to provide health care access to people in South Asia. 

Growing up, I shared a three-bedroom apartment with eleven people. I understand housing instability. I’ve studied sustainability firsthand and seen the irreversible climate damage we’ll cause. I know the tough challenges we face, but we are Cambridge. We are the most progressive, prosperous, scientific, and resourceful community in the Commonwealth. We can tackle these issues. Progress can and should start with us. And if we are to succeed, we will need to be bold.

​After all, if we don’t lead - who will?

Top Priorities

• We need Renters on City Council. Our elected officals don't understand our housing crisis. 2/3 of Cambridge residents are renters but the vast majority of our city councillers are not. We need representation.
• We have a Democracy Problem. The median Cambridge Resident is 29, but the median voter is 56. Turnout is <30%. I've been mobilizing new voters and aim to fix the structural problems they face.
• Our Campaign. We don't take money from for-profit developers and have been endorsed by A Better Cambridge, Mass Voters for Animals, and MIT Democrats.
• Climate: We must take bold, transformative actions against the crisis of our time. Read it here: https://medium.com/@burhanforcouncil/climate-policy-for-cambridge-13e192a2ee93
• Housing: We need policies which fight rising housing costs, protect our most vulnerable, and benefit us all. Read it here: https://medium.com/@burhanforcouncil/housing-policy-for-cambridge-a42ee0e73c8e
• Transportation: We must invest in better infrastructure for pedestrians, bikers, transit riders, and drivers. Read it here: https://medium.com/@burhanforcouncil/transit-policy-for-cambridge-7731be58ef1e
• Civic Engagement: We are one of the youngest, most diverse cities in the U.S. yet our city council and our voting population does not represent that. We have to fix that.

Overall, I Support

• Sidewalk Bike Paths & Bus Lanes​
• Completing Our Bike Network
• Emergency Preparation for the T
• 100% Affordable Housing Overlay
• More Green Housing Everywhere
• More Protective Gear for First Responders
• Safe Injection Sites
• Rent Stabilization
• Legal Counsel for Tenants
• Universal Day Care
• Municipal Broadband
• Holding the City Manager Accountable

As a new candidate, I need your #1 vote the most!
Vote Burhan Azeem #1 November 5

CCTV candidate video (2019)