By Maggie Dolan, news correspondent
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced a package of anti-displacement bills on Jan. 13, the final two of which will be submitted to the Massachusetts State Legislature next month. The package includes five senator-sponsored bills targeted at reducing eviction inequalities, supporting landlords and promoting affordable housing in the city.
“The people who have built this city into the thriving, attractive place it is today must be able to remain in their homes and neighborhoods, and we will not stop until we have significant protections in place for them,” Walsh said in a statement. “We’re going to use every tool at our disposal to keep Boston a city of neighborhoods and a city for everyone.”
The first three bills were submitted to the State House last Wednesday, Jan. 18, while the remaining two must wait on required approval from the Boston City Council before proceeding.
One of the bills, the Act to Promote Homelessness Prevention in Massachusetts, seeks to give all evicted tenants access to legal representation to keep people in homes and limit the number of homeless people entering emergency shelter systems.
Another bill, The Act Regarding Right of First Refusal in the Event of Foreclosure and Short Sales, would allow tenants the ability to purchase a property that would be foreclosed before the building goes onto the public market. The bill aims to keep renters from being dislocated if they are financially able to purchase the home at the lowest market value.
The third bill sent to the State House grants an income tax credit to any landlord who rents unsubsidized housing at below-market costs. Called the Act Regarding State Income Tax Credit, the bill would benefit landlords, tenants and the city by reducing taxes, rent and government subsidies.
One of the two bills not yet brought to the State House is the Jim Brooks Community Stabilization Act. The bill would enforce eviction protocols and collect data as people are displaced. The goal is to provide information to the city so the Office of Housing Stability can keep tenants informed about their rights as renters.
Not all parties involved feel that the bills will be efficient or positive, though. Executive Director of Mass Landlords Doug Quattrochi said landlords would be less likely to rent if state law prevents them from evicting tenants who cannot pay.
“There are a lot of good folks who, under current law, would be able to convince their landlord to rent to them, and will not be able to do that under the Jim Brooks Stabilization Act,” he said.
The final proposal, which is still under consideration by City Council, is An Act Relative to Zoning in the City of Boston. The bill aims to ease the process of building affordable housing in the city by protecting existing legislation from repeal as zoning codes are updated. It would permit an Inclusionary Zoning Article to be added to the city code to allow eased zoning of affordable housing of more than 10 units.
In his State of the City Address last week, Walsh referenced the bills as part of his administration’s goal to invest more time and resources in housing planning in the upcoming year.
File photo by Dylan Shen
