Dana Bullister
She/Her
Currently: PhD Student; Data Scientist
Election history: Last ran in 2021
She/Her
Currently: PhD Student; Data Scientist
Election history: Last ran in 2021
Dana Bullister is a second-time challenger. A policy design researcher and data scientist now pursuing her PhD at Northeastern, Dana is a longtime renter in Cambridge. She does not own a car and gets around via multimodal transit.
During her time in Cambridge, Dana has worked at various tech companies and is active in the local innovation scene. She volunteers extensively and currently serves as the chair of the board of the YWCA. She has exhaustive policy proposals on her campaign website, and is the only candidate to take a stance on goat grazing policy. She is a member of a graduate student union.
In her first run in 2021, Dana accepted an endorsement from Cambridge Citizens Coalition. Dana went on to disavow CCC's public behavior in a Medium comment. She did not seek CCC's endorsement in 2025.
A longtime renter in East Cambridge and Central, Dana is strongly in favor of building density in Cambridge's squares and corridors. She views housing production as closely tied to affordability.
She is in favor of revising the IZ threshold to a value that maximizes number of added affordable homes.
Cambridge must lead in shaping policies that empower our values of radical inclusion and diversity of ideas. We simply must make deliberate investments in affordable housing options throughout our city to make this possible. As a graduate student myself obtaining my PhD in design and policy, I know how tough it is to find decent, reasonably priced housing. And I can also see the trajectory of where our city is headed. It is unacceptable.
Neighborhood Conservation Districts, though legally prohibited from restricting density, have often delayed or blocked housing projects under the banner of preserving "character." This is not the right balance. Historical preservation should not be used as a back door to block new housing or to prioritize bricks and mortar over living communities.
Mobility is not just about getting from point A to B. It is about accessing economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and community. It is also about personal freedom and dignity. Those who cannot drive—such as older adults, people living with disabilities, and those unable to afford a personal vehicle—should be able to participate in public life, too.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Better Cambridge | |||
| Cambridge Bicycle Safety | |||
| Run For Something | this cycle |
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Various questions relevant to interests of the MIT Grad Sudent Congress and broader community
Various questions relevant to interests of the MIT Grad Sudent Congress and broader community
Open-ended Q&A on the popular internet forum
Open-ended Q&A on the popular internet forum
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association City Council Candidate Night 2025
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association City Council Candidate Night 2025
Porter Square Neighborhood Association and Baldwin Neighborhood Council City Council Candidate Forum at Lesley University
Porter Square Neighborhood Association and Baldwin Neighborhood Council City Council Candidate Forum at Lesley University
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
She said a land value tax would target “the very wealthiest landowners, specifically those landowners who don’t use their land productively, who have these vacant lots they kind of park their money in, and it’s really at the expense of the community.”
“It might not be sexy, but it addresses a core root cause of what is so dysfunctional about our housing system,” Bullister added.
Nov. 4, 2025She said a land value tax would target “the very wealthiest landowners, specifically those landowners who don’t use their land productively, who have these vacant lots they kind of park their money in, and it’s really at the expense of the community.”
“It might not be sexy, but it addresses a core root cause of what is so dysfunctional about our housing system,” Bullister added.
Dana Bullister, meanwhile, said she had to replace her campaign necklace, which has a QR code leading to her campaign site, because the original QR code became unreadable. Bullister said she has found campaigning enjoyable. “I had a preconceived notion that people were like how they are online, and it’s been way better than I thought it would be.”
Oct. 27, 2025 — Michael F. FitzgeraldDana Bullister, meanwhile, said she had to replace her campaign necklace, which has a QR code leading to her campaign site, because the original QR code became unreadable. Bullister said she has found campaigning enjoyable. “I had a preconceived notion that people were like how they are online, and it’s been way better than I thought it would be.”
Bullister said the council “could benefit from fresh ideas. There Is some value for being outside of the political sphere. You get to see the water in which everyone swims.”
Sept. 23, 2025 — Michael FitzgeraldBullister said the council “could benefit from fresh ideas. There Is some value for being outside of the political sphere. You get to see the water in which everyone swims.”
Bullister shared several ideas on ways to lower the cost of rent, including giving renters more negotiating power.
“I think that policy and zoning are all about giving people choices and opening doors to the possibility that they can live affordably, they can live sustainably if they want, and not force them to live in a giant place if they really don’t want to,” she said.
Sept. 19, 2025 — Alvin BuyinzaBullister shared several ideas on ways to lower the cost of rent, including giving renters more negotiating power.
“I think that policy and zoning are all about giving people choices and opening doors to the possibility that they can live affordably, they can live sustainably if they want, and not force them to live in a giant place if they really don’t want to,” she said.
For challenger Dana R. Bullister, parking prices were a central issue.
“Appropriately pricing parking, specifically by using dynamic metering, could do a lot both to increase the safety of our streets and to improve local business, and additionally, and very importantly, reducing traffic and reducing emissions,” Bullister said.
Sept. 12, 2025 — Shawn A. Boehmer, Dionise Guerra-Carrillo, and Jack B. ReardonFor challenger Dana R. Bullister, parking prices were a central issue.
“Appropriately pricing parking, specifically by using dynamic metering, could do a lot both to increase the safety of our streets and to improve local business, and additionally, and very importantly, reducing traffic and reducing emissions,” Bullister said.
"Fundamentally, I think that a really successful city council is a diverse city council, both in terms of the demographic backgrounds of the city councilors, but also in terms of the skill sets of the city councilors," Bullister said.
...
"Elections are to be sold at this very moment," Bullister continued. "Cambridge is up for sale."
Oct. 30, 2021 — Betsey I. Bennett, Anne M. Brandes"Fundamentally, I think that a really successful city council is a diverse city council, both in terms of the demographic backgrounds of the city councilors, but also in terms of the skill sets of the city councilors," Bullister said.
...
"Elections are to be sold at this very moment," Bullister continued. "Cambridge is up for sale."