headshot of candidate

Alanna M. Mallon

She/Her

Currently
City Councillor
Also
Community Relations Liaison at Food For Free
Election history
3rd term in office

More about Alanna M. Mallon

Alanna Mallon is not seeking re-election in 2023. Her profile here is left up only as comparison.


The current vice mayor, Alanna Mallon was born and raised in Massachusetts, and has lived in Cambridge since 2004.

She founded the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program, a service that sends food home with food insecure students, in 2013, and joined Food For Free in January 2016. She was also an Education Liaison for Cambridge's Office of the Mayor from 2014-2015.

Before working full time on activism and for nonprofits, she was a designer at companies such as FP Girl and TJX.

She and Sumbul Siddiqui have been producing a podcast together since January 2018.

Incumbent
Yes
Age
53 years, 3 months
Born in Brockton, MA in 1970
Voting
Reg. Sept. 27, 2004
History No record

Where Alanna Lives

Address
Owns at 3 Maple Ave. #2 Cambridge, MA 02139
Valued at approx. $1,100,000
Last sold June 17, 2004 for $565,000
inflation adjusted approx. $813,000

Alanna on Housing

Proposal Supported?
2072 Mass Ave
AHO #2
AHO #1
+$20mil Housing Trust
10% Budget for Housing
NCD Reform

Alanna on Other Issues

Proposal Supported?
BEUD(ER)O
Sa/Su Car-free Mem Drive
Delay Mass Ave Bike Lanes
Remove Wires Before Bike Lane
CSO #2
Release Use-of-Force Names
No Parking Min.
Automated/Unarmed Traffic Enforcement
HEART Funding

Endorsements for Alanna

Q&A

Interviews with Alanna

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

ABC Candidate 2021 Survey

Housing policy questions

Forums

Panels Alanna participated in

Quotes by or about Alanna

[The] creation of affordable housing is one of my top priorities, and I remained committed to supporting the [Affordable Housing Overlay] while answering every resident question during the process. In the end, I was proud to vote yes on the Overlay when it finally passed in 2020, and it now has over 350 new affordable homes in the pipeline as a result.

Alanna M. Mallon, ABC Survey 2021

Just one unit of (affordable) housing reduces as much carbon as 450 trees due to reduced traffic, reduced waste, and reduced resources that a suburban, single-family home will require.

Press

Articles about or by Alanna

The Harvard Crimson Seeking Third Council Term, Vice Mayor Mallon Points to Anti-Poverty Track Record

In 2015, while working in the mayor’s office as the education liaison, she said she mulled running for elected office to get to the root of systemic issues.

"I started to think, 'I could just put food into kids' backpacks for the rest of my life, or I could run for office and really start working on those deep structural issues that cause hunger,'" she said. "Working on issues of safe, affordable housing, workforce development, and closing those economic gaps has been a real priority for me on the council, and it was what drove me to run."

Oct. 28, 2021 — Caroline E. Curran, Julia García-Galindo,
The Harvard Crimson Seeking Third Council Term, Vice Mayor Mallon Points to Anti-Poverty Track Record

In 2015, while working in the mayor’s office as the education liaison, she said she mulled running for elected office to get to the root of systemic issues.

"I started to think, 'I could just put food into kids' backpacks for the rest of my life, or I could run for office and really start working on those deep structural issues that cause hunger,'" she said. "Working on issues of safe, affordable housing, workforce development, and closing those economic gaps has been a real priority for me on the council, and it was what drove me to run."

Oct. 28, 2021 — Caroline E. Curran, Julia García-Galindo,
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

Every election, candidates say that Cambridge is a “tale of two cities” to illustrate the inequities that exist despite our abundance of resources. But as an elected leader, I have a proven track record of successfully working to ensure that phrase no longer applies.

Oct. 21, 2021 — Community Content
Wicked Local Cambridge ELECTION 2021: Cambridge City Council candidate statements

Every election, candidates say that Cambridge is a “tale of two cities” to illustrate the inequities that exist despite our abundance of resources. But as an elected leader, I have a proven track record of successfully working to ensure that phrase no longer applies.

Oct. 21, 2021 — Community Content
The Harvard Crimson City Council Candidates Lay Out Plans to Support Arts and Culture at Virtual Forum

“The arts are a huge key to a strong economic recovery,” Vice Mayor Alanna M. Mallon said. “This sector was woefully underfunded pre-pandemic, and we have a tremendous opportunity to reinvest in this critical sector.”

Oct. 20, 2021 — Sarah Girma and Jennifer L. Powley
The Harvard Crimson City Council Candidates Lay Out Plans to Support Arts and Culture at Virtual Forum

“The arts are a huge key to a strong economic recovery,” Vice Mayor Alanna M. Mallon said. “This sector was woefully underfunded pre-pandemic, and we have a tremendous opportunity to reinvest in this critical sector.”

Oct. 20, 2021 — Sarah Girma and Jennifer L. Powley
Wicked Local Cambridge Cambridge councilors write in support of 2072 Mass. Ave. affordable housing project

In short, this building is everything we’ve stated we want as a city: affordable, family-sized homes that are transit oriented, on a major retail corridor, beautifully designed, and environmentally sustainable. This is a project that meets all the city’s major goals, and it should be applauded.

May 17, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Denise Summons, Marc McGovern
Wicked Local Cambridge Cambridge councilors write in support of 2072 Mass. Ave. affordable housing project

In short, this building is everything we’ve stated we want as a city: affordable, family-sized homes that are transit oriented, on a major retail corridor, beautifully designed, and environmentally sustainable. This is a project that meets all the city’s major goals, and it should be applauded.

May 17, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Denise Summons, Marc McGovern
Commonwealth Magazine Support black-owned cannabis shop in Harvard Square

We must act to undo decades of damage caused by the War on Drugs and play a proactive role in supporting minority-owned businesses in Cambridge by taking steps to fuel their success and swell their ranks. As Cambridge officials, we urge you to join us in supporting the project by speaking during public comment periods in upcoming hearings and/or emailing the Planning Board.

Feb. 27, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Quinton Zondervan, Marc McGovern
Commonwealth Magazine Support black-owned cannabis shop in Harvard Square

We must act to undo decades of damage caused by the War on Drugs and play a proactive role in supporting minority-owned businesses in Cambridge by taking steps to fuel their success and swell their ranks. As Cambridge officials, we urge you to join us in supporting the project by speaking during public comment periods in upcoming hearings and/or emailing the Planning Board.

Feb. 27, 2021 — Sumbul Siddiqui, Alanna Mallon, Quinton Zondervan, Marc McGovern
The Boston Globe The naked truth about campaigning while female

Cambridge City Councilor Alanna Mallon tweeted about her own decision not to canvass after dark — after being lunged at by a “drunk and physically aggressive” voter — despite knowing it might put her at a disadvantage to competitors seeking face time with voters.

Aug. 23, 2019 — Stephanie Ebbert
The Boston Globe The naked truth about campaigning while female

Cambridge City Councilor Alanna Mallon tweeted about her own decision not to canvass after dark — after being lunged at by a “drunk and physically aggressive” voter — despite knowing it might put her at a disadvantage to competitors seeking face time with voters.

Aug. 23, 2019 — Stephanie Ebbert
Scout Cambridge City Councilors Bring Local Government to the Podcast World

I think that men enjoy campaigning more, sort of as a general statement. For me, I found it very emotionally draining, and I saw a lot of the men really be energized by being at a forum or being out in public or getting their picture taken, and [a] number of things, where for me it was all about doing all this hard work to actually get to do the job. And I just wanted to do the job.

July 11, 2018 — Reena Karasin
Scout Cambridge City Councilors Bring Local Government to the Podcast World

I think that men enjoy campaigning more, sort of as a general statement. For me, I found it very emotionally draining, and I saw a lot of the men really be energized by being at a forum or being out in public or getting their picture taken, and [a] number of things, where for me it was all about doing all this hard work to actually get to do the job. And I just wanted to do the job.

July 11, 2018 — Reena Karasin
Wicked Local Cambridge Why a record number of Cambridge women are running for City Council

“I grew up experiencing poverty and food insecurity, and only got to where I am today because my family had the help of comprehensive social safety nets,” said Alanna Mallon, who is also the founder of Cambridge’s Weekend Backpack Program. “I believe our city can not only do more to close gaps in social services, but should also be more intentional about how we plan for and deliver these services.”

Oct. 3, 2017 — Amy Saltzman
Wicked Local Cambridge Why a record number of Cambridge women are running for City Council

“I grew up experiencing poverty and food insecurity, and only got to where I am today because my family had the help of comprehensive social safety nets,” said Alanna Mallon, who is also the founder of Cambridge’s Weekend Backpack Program. “I believe our city can not only do more to close gaps in social services, but should also be more intentional about how we plan for and deliver these services.”

Oct. 3, 2017 — Amy Saltzman

Campaign finance

How much Alanna has raised and spent

$19,192
Current balance
$0
Balance at the start of 2023
TBD
Raised in 2023
TBD
Spent in 2023