Readers Say
“Bigger is better, after all. And after Boston, why not Newton, Watertown, and certainly, Everett? Mega-cities are the future.”
On Monday, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem called for his city to annex Boston and create “MegaCambridge” in an April Fool’s Day prank that caused some buzz.
Azeem spread the proposal via 77 billboards in locations across the city, including MBTA stations in Copley and Downtown Crossing. He spent $5,000 of his own campaign money to pull the prank and even set up a website annexboston.com. On the website, Cantabrigians and Bostonians are asked to provide their “honest feedback” on the annexation hoax.
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“Cambridge has got it all — world renowned universities, the hottest companies, good governance, and of course great elected officials. Don’t you think it’s time we do Boston a favor and annex them?” the form’s copy reads.
About nine-hundred people visited the site, Azeem told Boston.com in an email. In data shared with Boston.com, just over half (51.2%) of the respondents to his form said Cambridge should annex Boston, with 33.8% saying Cambridge should annex Somerville first, then Boston.
Azeem said his favorite replies to the proposal were on Reddit, where users humorously described the epic, hypothetical annexation battle between the two cities.
“Duck Boat convoys have already been spotted entering Cambridge territory from The Museum of Science. Early reports are that Lechmere has even fallen. We’re anxiously awaiting where Cambridge forces will try to set up a defensive line, but any response will likely emanate from Kendall Square,” one Redditor wrote.
Boston.com readers, unlike the respondents to Azeem’s form, were much less decided on the prank proposal.
When we asked whether Cambridge should indeed annex Boston, readers were nearly split across the board. Of the 80 respondents to our poll, 35% said Cambridge should annex Boston, followed closely by 31% for Boston’s annexation of Cambridge. Twenty-three percent opposed both annexation proposals.
Should Cambridge annex Boston?
Yes, Cambridge should annex Boston
No, Boston should annex Cambridge
Below, see a sampling of readers describing their reasoning for the annexation April Fool’s Day prank proposals.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Should Cambridge annex Boston?
Yes, Cambridge should annex Boston
“Bigger is better, after all. And after Boston, why not Newton, Watertown and certainly Everett? Mega cities are the future.” – Steve C., Attleboro
“I am happier with elected officials in Cambridge than Boston. Bailing out the Boston school budget alone is a good point. I’m convinced. Long live MegaCambridge.” – Leor, Cambridge
“Cambridge is much better managed than Boston.” – Anonymous reader
“Boston has lost their way and needs to be brought back to the Ivy-covered safety that is Cambridge.” – Anonymous reader
No, Boston should annex Cambridge
“Seems like a waste of taxpayer funds. That money could have gone to many places. I guess Cambridge has enough money in the rainy day fund.” – Anonymous reader
“If Boston and Cambridge were to merge they would be better equipped to tackle the major issues that the Greater Boston area faces. Housing, transportation, and infrastructure are all issues that could be able to be worked on as one jurisdiction and this would allow for efficiency and better planning on major projects that would benefit everyone who lives in the area.” – Miguel S., Jamaica Plain
Neither
“Just leave things as they are, we don’t want to lose all our money.” – Pat, Inman Square
“The tax money income per resident is likely much higher in Cambridge than Boston. Comparing the two strikes me as silly.” – CFV, Cape Cod
“Don’t mess with Cambridge.” – A., Cambridge
“I used to live in Cambridge. I now live on the South Shore. The difference is night and day. The city government doesn’t seem to care about local residents, just rich newcomers and university students. People are miserable there because they spend so much money to live in cramped rat-infested apartments owned by slumlords. Keep Cambridge in Cambridge.” – Martin, Braintree
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
