Ben Ewen-Campen
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benforward3.bsky.social
Ben Ewen-Campen
@benforward3.bsky.social
City Councilor, Somerville MA - Ward 3. Affordable housing, safe streets, good jobs, public transit, fighting climate change (also, biologist at Harvard Med School) https://www.benforward3.com
Thank you Mayor Wilson for taking time on a holiday weekend to meet with neighbors of the Warming Center to work on improvements we can make to this critical resource.

@mayorjakewilson.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 8:48 PM
🎯 Very pleased to be Chair of Land Use Committee (aka zoning) this term.

A lot of exciting work on the horizon, and I’m currently working on some important improvements to our Affordable Housing Overlay, alongside Councilor McLaughlin & @mayorjakewilson.bsky.social’s staff. Excited to get to work!
January 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
My Letter to the Editor in the @bostonglobe.com today, on the reality of living as a renter in a State that outlaws ANY regulation of rent increases. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/03/o...

Very pleased to be published alongside a great letter from our Sen. Pat Jehlen
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Scenes from the swearing-in of the 2026 City Council and School Committee in @cityofsomerville.bsky.social :)
January 2, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Always get a kick out of seeing George Washington on Highland Ave
January 1, 2026 at 5:48 PM
250 YEARS AGO, with the dastardly British trapped under siege in Boston, George Washington’s army raised the flag of the United States from Prospect Hill in Somerville.

Join us today, New Years Day, at NOON on Prospect Hill to raise that flag again. No Kings!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_o...
January 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Spent time at Somerville’s newly renovated Korean War Memorial this week. It is incredibly moving to see the local addresses beneath the names of the Somerville men who died in this war “I learned one thing. We owe it to our children to be careful about war.” @cityofsomerville.bsky.social
December 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I'm also advocating for increased signage & infrastructure to slow cyclists and improve
pedestrian safety - you can watch my remarks here: youtu.be/KT3bGCXbbYg?...
December 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The City recently completed extensive public outreach on how to improve safety on the Community Path; the intersection with School St. is overwhelmingly viewed as the worst part. I highly recommend the whole report: somervillema.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?...
December 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
“An anonymous constituent who did some very minor rule breaking…[for a good cause]”

Here is my take on a small change that would make the worst intersection on the Community Path a little safer (while we await a long-term solution):

youtu.be/KT3bGCXbbYg?...
December 27, 2025 at 5:45 PM
🤔

Left: Governor Maura Healey states that, “if you look at the studies,” rent control halts housing construction.

Right: ChatGPT summary of academic studies, which concludes that exempting new construction doesn’t affect new building.
December 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
🛷Although the City does *not* officially sanction sledding behind City Hall, it is now a bit safer just in case you do :) Thank you, DPW! #SmallVictoriesWard3 #ChristmasCameEarly
December 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I’m *extremely* appreciative of the major safety improvements that have been made to the BU bridge & nearby over the last year (it’s on my daily commute year round), but the flex posts at both ends were destroyed by vehicles within days, and it’s clear something more is needed for safety here👇
December 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Less than a week after they were installed, many of the flex posts on the BU bridge have been destroyed by vehicles. Appreciate the thought but cyclists clearly need more protection at these intersections.
December 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Somerville loves the SCLT 🤝
December 19, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Such a pleasure to celebrate how far the Somerville Community Land Trust has come - from an idea in a small room to real, concrete, permanently affordable housing with enormous community buy-in and support. Here’s to many more!
December 19, 2025 at 2:07 AM
🫨 Come out tonight to celebrate the Somerville Community Land Trust! See you there
December 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
☕️🍜🥟So psyched to welcome Somerville's newest Japanese Comfort Food Cafe Kokoro Don Cafe! I asked them how their first week went and they said "we weren't expecting such a warm welcome!" Right on the corner of School St & Summer.
December 17, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Incredibly sad first night of Hanukkah this year, thinking about the horrific attack on Jews worshipping at Bondi Beach in Australia, and everyone affected by the senseless attack on our neighbors at Brown University. We will never let this become normal - end gun violence now.
December 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
All smiles at this morning’s celebration of the most anticipated demolition in modern Somerville history.

Thank you Jesse Clingan & Jake Wilson for organizing :)
December 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
⚡️At long last! The forever-vacant Star Market is coming down (and, a 50% affordable development is going up.)
December 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Great to catch up with our newly-elected School Committee member Michele Lippens! Excited to work together for Ward 3.
December 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
✌️Family portrait with Big Mike @mikeconnollyma.bsky.social :)
December 10, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Impossible to overstate our gratitude to Senator Pat Jehlen, a true inspiration and friend to everyone in public service in Somerville. She’s been a fearless progressive leader here since a time when local politics looked quite literally nothing like they do today.
December 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🏡Next Tuesday I’m moderating a book reading & conversation with affordable housing champion Jamie Madden - what questions should I ask him?

Join us at 6:30p on Tuesday 12/9 at Connexion Church, hosted by All She Wrote Books @allshewrotebks.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM