MassVoter.com← Cambridge City CouncilCambridge Former City Councilor
Joan Pickett
At-large · 1 term in this record
Joan F. Pickett
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Start my ballot →Record at a glance · 2024–2025 Council
On split votes, Pickett voted the same way as…
- Paul Toner67% (6 of 9)
- Patricia Nolan56% (5 of 9)
- Ayesha Wilson44% (4 of 9)
- Denise Simmons43% (3 of 7)
- Burhan Azeem38% (3 of 8)
- Marc McGovern22% (2 of 9)
- Sumbul Siddiqui22% (2 of 9)
- Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler22% (2 of 9)
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2024–2025 Council only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Pickett as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole council” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
Attendance
At the start of 21 of 22 City Council meetings in 2024–2025 Council.
Missed
- Aug 5, 2024 · Special: Absent
Every meeting (22)
- Aug 5, 2024 · Special: Absent
- Jun 24, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jun 17, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jun 10, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jun 3, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 20, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 13, 2024 · Regular: Present
- May 6, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 30, 2024 · Special: Present
- Apr 11, 2024 · Special: Present
- Apr 8, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Apr 1, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 25, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 18, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Mar 4, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 26, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Feb 13, 2024 · Special: Present
- Feb 12, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 29, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 22, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 8, 2024 · Regular: Present
- Jan 1, 2024 · Special: Present
Votes where councilors disagreed · 2024–2025 Council
Aug 5City Council support of the Massachusetts State Ballot Question…Motion: ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): City Council support of the Massachusetts State Ballot Question to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics For Therapeutic Use.
ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: ORDER ADOPTED [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $24,020 to the Grant Fund License Commission (Consumer’s Council) Salaries and Wages account ($22,010)...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative…Motion: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Cambridige Election Commission regarding the assignment of thirty-two (32) police officers and any...
APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROVED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $263,815.00 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $180,000.00 to the Grant Fund Department of Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,148,777.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account ($1,105,839.00), to...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $213,494.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account ($211,085.00), to the...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $100,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Salaries and Wages account ($42,982.00) and to the...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $7,000.00 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account. These funds are...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Aug 5Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to…Motion: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]Passed Unanimous, 8 present · Pickett: Not recorded
August 5, 2024 (Special meeting): Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $1,999.31 to the Grant Fund Human Service Programs Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($1,999.31). These...
APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1]
Joan Pickett is listed as absent for this vote.
From the minutes
“RESULT: APPROPRIATION ADOPTED AND CMA PLACED ON FILE [8-0-1] YEAS: Councillor Azeem, Vice Mayor McGovern, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Siddiqui, Councillor Sobrinho-Wheeler, Councillor Toner, Councillor Wilson, Mayor Simmons ABSENT: Councillor Pickett.”
Votes with no disagreement (134)
From the Cambridge City Council’s official Final Actions, posted by the City Clerk on the city’s meeting portal (and, for meetings before late January 2026, the Open Meeting Portal), linked from the City Council page. We check every vote against the councillors present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Councillor photos: City of Cambridge (cambridgema.gov), from the official headshots on each councillor’s City Council page. Former councillors show initials.
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