Help the city’s most vulnerable tops list of goals for public defender Melanson’s run for council

Ned Melanson, a challenger for a Cambridge City Council seat, in an image from his campaign website.

As a public defender, Ned Melanson said he is on the “front lines” of many of the issues Cambridge faces. And in representing clients who face poverty and homelessness and substance abuse issues, he said, he has perspective and ideas on how to help the city’s most vulnerable groups to bring to the City Council in November.

Melanson, who has offices in Central Square, sees the effects of the city’s homelessness crisis daily, including damage to property and used needles on the streets. He also sees how broken sidewalks make it difficult for people with disabilities to get around.

“Even though these are my clients – I represent them and I feel for them – this is just really a broad issue,”