Denise wants seniors to know that their concerns remain front and center for her, just like they always have. Throughout her current mayoral term (2024‑2025) she has focused on giving older residents a stronger voice in city government, connecting them with resources, and ensuring they are not left behind in Cambridge’s rapid transformation.

• Listening and responding.Denise created the Senior Advisory Committee during her first term as mayor in 2008, and she holds monthly meetings to hear directly from older residents about housing, health care, transportation and public safety concerns. She continues to convene Senior Town Hall sessions; the latest was held on September 25, 2024, at the Cambridge Senior Center. At that event she and other city leaders provided updates on affordable housing, public safety and aging‑in‑place, then opened the floor so seniors could share feedback and ask questions. Denise also founded the Senior Service Providers Fair in 2016, which brings dozens of agencies and nonprofit groups under one roof to help residents access benefits and programs.

• Balancing mobility and safety.Denise has been a consistent advocate for a balanced approach to bicycle safety infrastructure. She supports protected bike lanes but insists that planners consider seniors and people with mobility challenges who still rely on cars and need curbside access for home health aides. She argues that Cambridge can build safe bike routes without sacrificing on‑street parking for seniors and small businesses — a position she has reiterated time and time again. Her mayor’s‑office essay on seniors notes that any bike‑lane expansion must recognize that seniors still depend on cars and that home‑health aides need nearby parking.

• Protecting seniors and their neighborhoods.Public safety is another priority. Denise has championed unarmed response teams for mental‑health calls and wellness checks, but she also emphasizes that seniors worry about rising violence. She has supported targeted camera surveillance in areas like Central Square, and the Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program to ensure that seniors feel safe walking in their neighborhoods.

• Fighting fraud, winter hazards and accessibility.Denise’s office has urged the city to educate older adults about scams and fraud schemes, working with community organizations and law enforcement. She has called for volunteer snow‑shoveling programs and city‑provided snow‑removal assistance to help seniors safely leave their homes in winter and pushed for regular sidewalk maintenance to reduce fall risks.

• Affordable housing for seniors.A key component of aging in place is housing affordability. Denise has, in recent years, successfully fought to triple developer fees and double the number of mandatory affordable units in new projects. She led the council to pass the citywide Affordable Housing Overlay, which makes it easier to build affordable units throughout Cambridge. In a November 2024 interview she emphasized that many seniors fear being priced out and raised the need for more senior‑friendly and accessible housing.

• Outreach and inclusivity.Denise understands that attending meetings or navigating Zoom can be daunting for seniors. Denise is exploring simpler digital platforms, phone‑in options and in‑person visits to ensure older residents can participate in public discourse. She encourages seniors to take advantage of the Cambridge Council on Aging, Massachusetts Senior Action, and Somerville‑Cambridge Elder Services, which offer programs and advocacy.

Denise Simmons knows that Cambridge’s rapid growth and changing demographics can leave seniors feeling overlooked. She is committed to making Cambridge a place where seniors are not only respected for the wisdom they’ve offered but also provided the tools and support they need to thrive in their golden years.