Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Roxan McKinnon (617) 423-8609 Kathy Brown (617) 423-8609 December 9, 2004 Boston Tenant Coalition Statement on City Council's Community Stabilization Act Vote "The Boston City Councilors who voted against the Community Stabilization Act have let the residents of this city down. Faced with the opportunity to stop rent gouging and unjust evictions for some of the most vulnerable people in Boston, they chose to do nothing. Given the chance to provide real security to the many small property owners facing foreclosure in a volatile market, they opted for the status quo. "We commend those members of the Council who stood with the people of Boston. Their votes in favor of Community Stabilization show that there are still some elected officials who have the courage to do the right thing. The lines in this battle were clearly drawn, and the outcome is clear: councilors were either in favor of providing modest relief and stability to the residents of Boston, or they were in favor of protecting the real estate industry's right to make enormous profits at the expense of our communities. "We will continue to work for practical solutions to Boston's affordable housing crisis. It is clear from today's vote, however, that a majority of city councilors does not share this priority. The Community Stabilization Act reflected our best effort to bring a broad coalition of organizations and people together around a sensible plan to bring some stability back to Boston's neighborhoods. The Community Stabilization Act would have provided immediate relief for renters and homeowners while other solutions gain the momentum and funding to work towards permanent solutions. We won't stop here as the housing crisis continues to tear apart our communities. We are proud of our role in this effort, and we will continue to fight for housing justice side by side with those who have the courage to join us." The Boston Tenant Coalition is a coalition of tenant, housing, homeless and community groups working to preserve and expand the supply of permanently affordable low- and moderate-income housing and the rights of tenants in Boston. Over 70 tenant, housing, community and labor groups were involved in or endorsed the Community Stabilization campaign.

Press release Oct 23, 2004
Landlord, Tenants, & Community Groups Speak in Support of
NEW COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PROPOSAL

Representatives from a broad range of community, labor and religious groups as well as tenants and landlords, showed and voiced their support for the Boston Tenant's Coalition's new Community Stabilization proposal at today's press conference at Boston City Hall Plaza. This legislation is the result of collaboration between Boston organizations working on policy and advocacy to preserve affordable rental housing for tenants, and, organizations which work with community home owners who are at risk of losing their homes. It has been developed to stop the displacement of Boston residents from their communities.

The new home rule petition offers protections for tenants, living in properties owned by large landlords of more than 6 units, against rent gouging and 'no fault' evictions. Additionally, the petition provides protections for small property owners (owners of 6 or fewer units) against high interest "predatory" loans and foreclosures to help them keep their homes in Boston's hot real estate market. It will allow low-moderate income families and individuals some security, and help to stabilize Boston neighborhoods which are comprised of both renters and homeowners.

Mike Stella, a large landlord based in Dorchester spoke of his support at the event. Mr. Stella supports the proposal because he believes it strikes a balance between making a fair profit and stabilizing tenancies and neighborhoods. Willie Mae O'Neil, a Dorchester home owner and a member of ACORN, a group that has helped lead the fight against predatory lending, also spoke. She described her experience of having become a victim of a predatory loan, and of other homeowners that she knew who had experienced the same. She also spoke in support of the rent protections as rents have skyrocketed. This new ordinance offers several protections to small owners, including the protections from predatory lenders, to help them keep their homes. Two of the three homeowner provisions in the petition are similar to pending state legislation filed by Senator Dianne Wilkerson.

The experiences and concerns of tenants threatened with displacement was told by Steve Meacham, a tenant organizer at City Life/Vida Urbana , a tenant organizing group. Meacham described the continuing flood of calls from tenants whose housing is threatened by large rent increases and eviction notices. He cited an example of tenants faced with an increase of $800 on top of the current $1,000 rent. Serene Wong, a tenant representing the Chinatown Residents Association spoke of the effects and displacement that Chinatown is experiencing. She spoke of the discrepancy between what is being built as affordable housing targeted for those earning $50,000 and more, and, the actual median salary of $20,000 that exists in Chinatown. She expressed support for the legislation as a necessary measure to help preserve existing homes.

Davida Andelman from the Greater Bowdoin Geneva Neighborhood Association in Dorchester spoke as a homeowner who sees many of her long-time renter neighbors uprooted from their homes and community because of rent increases they cannot afford to pay. John Shayeb of SEIU 615, the janitors local that won a new contract after a successful strike last year also spoke at the event. High housing costs is a critical issue for union members where current market rents far exceed wages in Boston. Sana Fadell, program coordinator from Rosie's Place, a Boston shelter for homeless women, spoke about the relationship between high rents and homelessness. She also compared the amount of government assistance that goes towards the relief of those whose homes are destroyed by natural disaster (such as the fires raging in California) to the lack of resources put forth to relieve the suffering of those who lose their homes because of rent gouging and profiteering. Also present, were representatives from several of the approximately sixty organizations that have endorsed the Community Stabilization proposal.

The Boston Tenant Coalition has been presenting the new proposal to City Councilors in order to gain their support. The coalition hopes it will be taken up by the council for passage later this fall or early next year

The Boston Tenant Coalition - a coalition of tenant, housing, homeless and community groups working to preserve and expand the supply of permanently affordable low and moderate income housing and the rights of tenants in Boston - is coordinating the campaign. For additional information, please contact the Boston Tenant Coalition at 617-423-8609.

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