Late Resolution Re Whitney's Bar

R-4 FIRST IN COUNCIL December 16, 2024 City of Cambridge MAYOR SIMMONS WHEREAS: Whitney’s Bar, a beloved and iconic dive bar in Harvard Square, has been a fixture in the community since 1953, serving as a welcoming space for a diverse array of patrons, from graduate students to local workers to everyone in between; and WHEREAS: Whitney’s embodies the character and inclusivity of Harvard Square, offering an atmosphere that is distinct from the increasingly homogenized landscape of chain establishments and upscale businesses that increasingly populate urban districts across the country; and WHEREAS: The proposed December 31 eviction of Whitney’s and its owner, Dan Maguire, will represent a significant loss to the cultural and social fabric of Harvard Square, and the neighborhood will truly be a lesser place without it; now therefore be it RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on recording in acknowledging and honoring Whitney’s Bar for its 71 years of service to the community, and in celebrating its importance as a cornerstone of Harvard Square’s unique identity for generations; and be it further RESOLVED: That the City Council formally go on record in urging property owner Gerald Chan to grant a reprieve to Whitney’s beyond the December 31 eviction date to allow for meaningful dialogue and negotiation that could yet preserve this historic establishment; and be it further RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this policy order to Dan Maguire and to Gerald Chan on behalf of the entire City Council.