 Did a SurveyMonkey form for a Cambridge housing survey recently float across your social-media feed? Did you fill it out? What did you think of it? Did you wonder who wrote it?
This survey can be seen HERE The form itself does not identify its author, but its wording is clearly an advocacy poll (intended to influence voters' opinions) and that it came from someone on the pro-MFHO side of Cambridge’s housing debate. As you will see from the survey questions below, it presents the ordinance favorably, frames the central choice as building more homes versus preserving neighborhood character, describes broader changes as potentially slowing housing production, and asks respondents for names, addresses, and emails so organizers can follow up. This makes it l less like an independent public-opinion poll than an advocacy poll designed to test which arguments and limited amendments attract support while building a contact list. The most likely possibilities are A Better Cambridge or a City Councillor aligned with the MFHO. The actual cost of the poll was probably modest: SurveyMonkey currently charges $149 for one month of its Standard plan or $468 annually for Advantage, while posting the survey organically on Facebook costs nothing. A professionally sampled poll would cost several thousand dollars or more, but this does not appear to be one. Here is what survey takers were asked: Survey Monkey Sept 29, 2026 Cambridge Survey 1-7 Early questions. Age, gender, education level, political party etc 8. How did you vote in the 2024 election for President? Kamala Harris, the Democrat Donald Trump, the Republican A third party candidate Not registered/ Too young/ ineligible Did not vote. 9. Do you own or rent the place where you live? Own Rent Staying with friends or family. 10 The Cambridge City Council faces many competing demands, including the city budget and property taxes, public schools, transportation, housing, and public safety. Compared with these other issues, how much of a priority should making housing affordable be for the City Council. Not a priority A minor priority One of the top priorities The single top priority 11. Have you or someone close to you been impacted by the cost of housing in Cambridge? Please share as many details as you can. We read every response. __________________ 12. Which of the following is closer to your view even if neither is exactly right? I want the City Council to pass policies that allow more homes to be built in Cambridge, even if it means changing the look and feel of existing neighborhoods. I want the City Council to preserve the look and feel of existing neighborhoods, even if it means fewer new homes get built in Cambridge Not sure. 13. How much, if anything have you seen, read, or heard about the multifamily housing ordinance passed by the Cambridge City Council in 2025? Nothing at all. A little Some A lot. 14.In 2025, the Cambridge City Council passed the Multifamily Housing Ordinance. The ordinance changed the rules for what kinds of homes can be built in Cambridge, and where. It allows residential buildings up to four stories citywide, and up to six stories on larger lots for projects that set aside homes at lower, income-restricted rents or prices. Do you support or oppose the Multifamily Housing Ordinance? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Not sure 15.The City Council may consider changes to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance. Do you support or oppose each of the following potential changes? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Not sure Requiring new buildings to be smaller, with larger yards and more distance from the sidewalk and neighboring buildings Changing Cambridge's design guidelines to set clear standards so new buildings are attractive and fit in with their surroundings Making residents of newly built multifamily buildings ineligible for Cambridge residential parking permits, so they could not park on streets that require a permit Allowing new buildings to be taller only if their apartments are smaller on average, so taller buildings include more homes rather than a few large ones 16.When it comes to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance, which of the following is closest to your view, even if none is exactly right? The City Council should keep the Multifamily Housing Ordinance as it is, so more homes can be built in Cambridge as quickly as possible, even if some residents' concerns aren't addressed. The City Council should make only small, targeted changes to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance that address some of residents’ concerns without slowing down how quickly new homes get built, even if not every concern is addressed. The City Council should make broader changes to the Multifamily Housing Ordinance that address more of residents’ concerns, even if it slows down how quickly new homes get built. Not sure 17.If you were voting today in an election for Cambridge City Council, which would you be more likely to support? A candidate who prioritizes allowing more homes to be built in Cambridge A candidate who prioritizes preserving the look and feel of existing residential neighborhoods Not sure 18.What concerns, if any, do you have about the Multifamily Housing Ordinance? Please share as much as you'd like, we read every response. 19-20 Additional Information they want your name, your address, your email address The Survey Monkey authors say they want this information on your name and email so they can discuss concerns with you. But they possibly also want to get more volunteers for their campaign. The timing is interesting too. The poll came out on Sept 29 the day after Council voted on the upzoning amendments, and a long evening of extensive comments opposing the upzoning because of harm it is doing to neighborhoods. Such are politics in Cambridge.
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