October 29, 2019. Boston, MA. Editorial use. Activists and lawmakers held a rally in support of a bill (H 3924) that would allow for the return of
October 29, 2019. Boston, MA. Editorial use. Activists and lawmakers held a rally in support of a bill (H 3924) that would allow for the return of rent control in Massachusetts. Speakers noted that the state's housing crunch has only intensified since voters approved a ballot question in 1994 abolishing the practice. Advocates point to skyrocketing rents and rampant high-end development particularly in the metropolitan Boston area that they say is forcing long-time renters out. "The housing crisis is moving beyond the poorest of the poor. The housing crisis has moved into the middle class and is creeping up beyond the middle class," said state Rep. Nika Elugardo, a Boston Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill. The push for rent control has spread as elected officials from Boston and neighboring cities led a rally Tuesday on Beacon Hill in favor of bringing it back. “Our commonwealth is facing an emergency of displacement,” said state Rep. Michael Connolly of Cambridge. Connolly is a lead sponsor of a bill before the Legislature that would permit cities and towns to implement rent control, which they currently cannot do. Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu originally opposed rent control, but on Tuesday showed up at the State House to speak in favor it, saying Boston needs the ability to implement controls in order to try to rein in the cost of rent, which in Boston is high and continuing to rise. “We are in a housing crisis in Boston during a housing boom in Boston — during a luxury housing boom in Boston,” Wu said. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone spoke at the rally and said he’d look to pass rent control in his apartment-heavy city if it was allowed. “We need those tools,” Curtatone said. “It’s about controlling what is price-gouging at the end of the day.” He said it would likely involve a cap on rent increases. “You’re seeing some people coming in and raising rents by 45% — that’s not right,” Curtatone said.
Size: 5760px × 3840px
Photo credit: © Marilyn Humphries / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: activists, affordable, boston, city, control, demonstration, displacement, elected, estate, fairness, families, foreclosure, housing, life, massachusetts, officials, politicians, protest, rally, real, rent, stabilization, tenants, urbana, vida, wage, workers
