Joe McGuirk
He/Him
- Currently
- Bartender
- Election history
- 2nd time running
He/Him
Named the Best Bartender in Boston by the Boston Magazine twice, Joe McGuirk has spent several decades tending Cambridge and Boston bars. He grew up in the area, and wants to continue living and serving in Cambridge - something he says is difficult for working families given the housing crises.
Folks are naturally afraid of change. When people hear about bold policies, they are understandably anxious over how their neighborhoods might be affected. But as someone who has struggled to remain a resident here, I can tell you that change has already come. Housing costs have become so overwhelming, many of our neighbors have already been forced out, only to be replaced by wealthier folks, in both home ownership and rentals. Displacement of lower- and middle-income residents is a much bigger threat to Cambridge than changes to our skyline.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save Mass Ave | this cycle | ||
| Our Revolution Cambridge | on Sept. 17, 2023 | ||
| A Better Cambridge | on Sept. 15, 2023 |
Housing policy questions
Housing policy questions
Housing policy, development, governance questions
Housing policy, development, governance questions
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
Distribution of funds, non-profits and their position in Cambridge
General. Note: only distributed in downloadable word or pdf documents.
General. Note: only distributed in downloadable word or pdf documents.
One cannot paint Black Lives Matter on a fence or hang a sign saying All Are Welcome while building a wall made of money around our city to prevent lower income people from moving here, as well as displacing lower income people who already call Cambridge home.
I read the CCCs recent Op-Ed in the Cambridge Day about the AHO. The values your organization espouses therein do not align with mine. Had your group been around in 1938 when my immigrant grandmother sought to make her home here, (and who then helped build the Cambridge that you now claim to seek to protect,) she would not have been welcome.
... there are a lot of folks who have had the same experiences my family and I have had. And yet we never see folks like us on our council.
Oct. 28, 2023 — Joe McGuirk... there are a lot of folks who have had the same experiences my family and I have had. And yet we never see folks like us on our council.
“We often imagine that we’re an inclusive city, but we know that we are building through our restrictive zoning, we are building a wall of our own,” he said. “It’s a wall made out of bricks of money.”
McGuirk said he feels the Council would benefit from having councilors who can identify with the experiences of lower- and middle-income individuals — whom he called “essential” — and renters, who make up more than 60 percent of Cambridge residents.
Sept. 21, 2023 — Jina H. Choe“We often imagine that we’re an inclusive city, but we know that we are building through our restrictive zoning, we are building a wall of our own,” he said. “It’s a wall made out of bricks of money.”
McGuirk said he feels the Council would benefit from having councilors who can identify with the experiences of lower- and middle-income individuals — whom he called “essential” — and renters, who make up more than 60 percent of Cambridge residents.
He argued that while Cambridge may be a very progressive city, issues like housing showcase that decisions are still made by those with more "economic might."
"I'm kind of tired of hearing that we're champions of housing and watching Cambridge become one of the most expensive cities to live in the country," McGuirk said.
...
McGuirk also said he believes more needs to be done to protect cyclists, but he acknowledged that "the process is dividing" the people involved. He cited the Oct. 2020 amendment of the Cycling Safety ordinance, which sped up the construction of dozens of miles of cycling areas in Cambridge.
Oct. 29, 2021 — Julia García-Galindo, Ella L. JonesHe argued that while Cambridge may be a very progressive city, issues like housing showcase that decisions are still made by those with more "economic might."
"I'm kind of tired of hearing that we're champions of housing and watching Cambridge become one of the most expensive cities to live in the country," McGuirk said.
...
McGuirk also said he believes more needs to be done to protect cyclists, but he acknowledged that "the process is dividing" the people involved. He cited the Oct. 2020 amendment of the Cycling Safety ordinance, which sped up the construction of dozens of miles of cycling areas in Cambridge.
"The council has often been made up of land-owning or property-owning people who mostly are white-collar," he said. "They have the leisure time and the energy to do this, and I think that that isn’t truly representative. I thought, 'If not me, who?'"
Oct. 27, 2021"The council has often been made up of land-owning or property-owning people who mostly are white-collar," he said. "They have the leisure time and the energy to do this, and I think that that isn’t truly representative. I thought, 'If not me, who?'"
I was surprised to discover that CBS told its community through social media posts and emails that I, along with other candidates who did not sign the pledge, were opposed to the ordinance. I got many emails imploring me to support the ordinance, and I have tried to reply to each to explain that I do, but that its implementation should be open, transparent and built on consensus.
Oct. 23, 2021I was surprised to discover that CBS told its community through social media posts and emails that I, along with other candidates who did not sign the pledge, were opposed to the ordinance. I got many emails imploring me to support the ordinance, and I have tried to reply to each to explain that I do, but that its implementation should be open, transparent and built on consensus.
“People who make our lives better by performing art in the city — they should have the opportunity to live here as well,” [McGuirk] said.
Oct. 20, 2021 — Sarah Girma and Jennifer L. Powley“People who make our lives better by performing art in the city — they should have the opportunity to live here as well,” [McGuirk] said.
Challenger Joe McGuirk noted the rapid loss of low and middle-income residents from Cambridge, citing mobile housing vouchers as a means of preserving socioeconomic diversity in the city.
Oct. 10, 2021 — Isabella B. ChoChallenger Joe McGuirk noted the rapid loss of low and middle-income residents from Cambridge, citing mobile housing vouchers as a means of preserving socioeconomic diversity in the city.
... giving working class service industry people a voice, in a city that has seen incredible jumps in cost, a city that wants to retain the authenticity and the uniqueness that has made all these people want to move here, is important.
May 26, 2021 — Luke Oneil... giving working class service industry people a voice, in a city that has seen incredible jumps in cost, a city that wants to retain the authenticity and the uniqueness that has made all these people want to move here, is important.
I’d be a Salty Dog. [It’s] grapefruit juice and vodka with a salted rim — a Greyhound with a salted rim. Why? Because I’m outdated, bitter, and basic, yet playful and refreshing.
May 14, 2021 — Emily TurnerI’d be a Salty Dog. [It’s] grapefruit juice and vodka with a salted rim — a Greyhound with a salted rim. Why? Because I’m outdated, bitter, and basic, yet playful and refreshing.
When I mentioned to a friend, who is a veteran Boston barhound, that I was meeting with Joe McGuirk, the bartender at Highland Kitchen, my friend beamed and said, “Wow, I first knew Joe back when he was at the B-Side! He’s great. I swear he’s worked at every bar in the city. He’s like Boston’s bartender!”
Nov. 8, 2010 — Susanna BolleWhen I mentioned to a friend, who is a veteran Boston barhound, that I was meeting with Joe McGuirk, the bartender at Highland Kitchen, my friend beamed and said, “Wow, I first knew Joe back when he was at the B-Side! He’s great. I swear he’s worked at every bar in the city. He’s like Boston’s bartender!”