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Ben Ewen-Campen

@benforward3

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

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Latest posts by Ben Ewen-Campen @benforward3

In March of 2021, City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen submitted a resolution:
"That the Administration create clean, safe, and permanent public restrooms in several outdoor locations, similar to the Portland Loos that have been installed in Cambridge." Nearly five years later, we still do not have even one permanent public toilet in Somerville

In March of 2021, City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen submitted a resolution: "That the Administration create clean, safe, and permanent public restrooms in several outdoor locations, similar to the Portland Loos that have been installed in Cambridge." Nearly five years later, we still do not have even one permanent public toilet in Somerville

🚽I appreciate this public service local journalism: a deep dive into why we *still* don’t have permanent public restrooms despite years of trying - step into the labyrinth of trying to do seemingly simple things in municipal government medium.com/@fdmts/publi...

✍️@somershade.bsky.social

08.03.2026 23:05 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Facebook comment on my announcement: 
β€œI'm a Republican, but in 9 years living in Ward 3, Ben was the 1st candidate ever to come to my apartment when he 1st ran for city council. We had a good conversation. I probably won't vote for him if there's a Republican in the race, but from a constituent services perspective he'd be a areat choice.”

Facebook comment on my announcement: β€œI'm a Republican, but in 9 years living in Ward 3, Ben was the 1st candidate ever to come to my apartment when he 1st ran for city council. We had a good conversation. I probably won't vote for him if there's a Republican in the race, but from a constituent services perspective he'd be a areat choice.”

knock every door!

05.03.2026 23:24 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hi all, I'm going to use this account for City Council/Somerville politics and policy related stuff! Follow meeeeeeeee

05.03.2026 19:21 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Cambridge Day article

Cambridge Day article

β€œThe challenges that we face right now in our state and country can feel overwhelming, but I know that we can make real progress because that’s exactly what we’ve done in Somerville.”

www.cambridgeday.com/2026/03/04/e...

05.03.2026 13:31 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Ewen Campen declares for Uyterhoeven’s state rep district after Uyterhoeven announces a Senate run - Cambridge | Somerville Independent Somerville city councilor Ben Ewen-Campen is running for state representative in the 27th Middlesex district, a seat now held by Erika Uyterhoeven. Ewen-Campen confirmed the run Tuesday after sending ...

β€œI’m not naive but I believe progress is possible.”

Somerville city councilor Ben Ewen-Campen is running for state representative in the 27th Middlesex district.

csindie.com/ewen-campen-...

05.03.2026 13:26 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The proventriculus lacks stem cells, but compensates for
age-related cell loss via
endoreplication
Ben Ewen-Campen
Perrimon Lab, Harvard Medical School
Fly Meeting 2026

The proventriculus lacks stem cells, but compensates for age-related cell loss via endoreplication Ben Ewen-Campen Perrimon Lab, Harvard Medical School Fly Meeting 2026

I'M RUNNING
FOR
STATE REP!

I'M RUNNING FOR STATE REP!

πŸͺ°If you’re at #Dros26 and are interested in the fly foregut AND/OR want to support scientists in elected office, please come to talk Friday at 9:45am AND/OR support my run for State Representative in MA :)

www.benforward3.com/blog/2026/3/...

05.03.2026 01:17 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!!

05.03.2026 00:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Best news in a while!

Ben has been an incredibly dedicated and effective public servant for Somerville, MA. He is a progressive, competent, and compassionate leader.

Ben is also a phenomenal biologist. If you want to support scientific voices in government, I suggest you donate to his campaign.

04.03.2026 18:19 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

oh this is great! I’m not in Ben’s ward but have appreciated the way he’s shown up for our neighbors on city council.

04.03.2026 17:44 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The #ben bias is clear

04.03.2026 17:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β™₯️β™₯️β™₯️

04.03.2026 17:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This is great news for Somerville and for Massachusetts. Ben is the absolute best.

04.03.2026 17:22 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This is huge! Ben would be a major gain for the State House in Massachusetts.

04.03.2026 17:27 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
04.03.2026 17:21 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It is

04.03.2026 17:18 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Support Ben Ewen-Campen for State Rep! Show your support with a contribution.

Best way to support right now: secure.actblue.com/donate/state...

04.03.2026 16:51 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
I'm running for State Rep! β€” Ben Ewen-Campen for ward 3 Somerville Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen launches campaign for State Representative in the 27th Middlesex District Five-term Councilor cites Somerville's progressive track record as model for Bea...

πŸ”” I’m thrilled to announce that I’m running for State Rep! We have accomplished an enormous amount of progressive change in Somerville over the past eight years, and I am fired up to bring this work to the State House. I’m so excited to start knocking doors and earning your votes.

Press release πŸ‘‡

04.03.2026 16:51 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 10 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 6
Preview
Chimpanzees Are Really Into Crystals

β€œChimpanzees Are Really Into Crystals”

β€œβ€¦something beyond curiosity.”

Any time you see an article this magnificent, you can almost guarantee it was written by the great Somerville champ @cjgiaimo.bsky.social

04.03.2026 14:03 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

My paper on how the fruit fly foregut uses a modified cell cycle to respond to tissue damage and cell loss is now published :)

www.nature.com/articles/s41... #proventriculus #drosophila

03.03.2026 02:48 πŸ‘ 42 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 1

Me too! And the basketball court with the track around the ceiling

02.03.2026 14:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
When the Somerville YMCA wanted to expand, these homeowners wouldn’t sell. So the Y plans to build around them. - The Boston Globe After years of failed negotiations over the fate of a family home, the Y has adjusted its plans.

β€œIt’s like walking into a postcard where people are in old-timey bathing suits and deep-sea diving suit helmets,” said Ben Ewen-Campen, a city councilor who represents this corner and supports the Y redevelopment.”

Nice piece about idiosyncrasies in the YMCA redevelopment @bostonglobe.com

02.03.2026 14:08 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Would be very interested to hear! Can you shoot me an email/DM?

01.03.2026 14:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Adding mass timber tech to zoning means more affordable housing for Somerville, councilor says Affordable housing construction can go higher in Somerville with adoption of a technology called mass timber, city councilor Ben Ewen-Campen said Monday. A zoning change to allow all-affordable buildings to go to eight stories from seven under the city’s Affordable Housing Overlay was moved to the council’s... The post Adding mass timber tech to zoning means more affordable housing for Somerville, councilor says appeared first on Cambridge | Somerville Independent.
27.02.2026 19:00 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œAffordable housing construction can go higher in Somerville with adoption of a technology called mass timber, city councilor Ben Ewen-Campen said Monday.” πŸ‘‡ @csindie.bsky.social

csindie.com/adding-mass-...

01.03.2026 13:32 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
City of Somerville, Massachusetts - File #: 26-0204 Title: Requesting ordainment of an amendment to Section 8.1 of the Zoning Ordinance to provide for larger buildings, additional dimensional flexibility, and fewer use restrictions for affordable housi...

More info: somervillema.legistar.com/LegislationD...

01.03.2026 13:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
screen shot of me introducing my amendment

screen shot of me introducing my amendment

This week I introduced an amendment to our Affordable Housing Overlay based on a new wood-based construction technology called MassTimber. It not only captures carbon in the structure itself (wood), it can make new affordable buildings more cost-effective. Watch here:
youtu.be/L6toVSgl0WM?...

01.03.2026 13:06 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Iran Says Dozens Are Killed in Strike on School

β€œDozens of people, probably most of them children, were killed in a strike that hit a girls’ elementary school in southern Iran.” NO WAR WITH IRAN

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/w...

28.02.2026 20:07 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes, but in my experience the utility companies are *really* resistant and it requires a Councilor to work with DPW
to ensure they follow through (can take a *long* time unfortunately)

28.02.2026 00:50 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Very low hanging wires

Very low hanging wires

I think today things finally got resolved. Earlier today Astound was here looking things over.
Around 1:30, Comcast came, worked on the wires for a few hours, untangled all the telecom wires, raised them all up, strengthened their connections to the pole. There's a clear separation between Comcast's, Verizon, and Astound. Everything is much higher, appears very safe. Thanks Ben, Ben, Amie and DPW for continued efforts, and a huge

I think today things finally got resolved. Earlier today Astound was here looking things over. Around 1:30, Comcast came, worked on the wires for a few hours, untangled all the telecom wires, raised them all up, strengthened their connections to the pole. There's a clear separation between Comcast's, Verizon, and Astound. Everything is much higher, appears very safe. Thanks Ben, Ben, Amie and DPW for continued efforts, and a huge

⚑️Low-hanging wires no more! These wires had been hanging so low they were getting caught on trash trucks etc. Finally, thanks to the tenacious work of DPW, the telecom utilities finally came to fix this unsafe situation

…a classic #SmallVictoriesWard3 situation

27.02.2026 23:57 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
City of Somerville, Massachusetts - File #: 26-0079 Title: Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Community Preservation Act Open Space Reserve for construction of improvements to the Kennedy Schoolyard.

Link for more info: somervillema.legistar.com/LegislationD...

27.02.2026 13:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0