Mass Voters Show Strong Support for Progressive Housing Action

A newly released UMass/WCVB poll shows strong support for progressive housing policies, showing yet again how out-of-touch the State House can be.

Rent Control: 72% of voters supported allowing local governments to set a limit on how much rents can be increased each year, with only 13% opposed.

Local Option Real Estate Transfer Fee: 62% of voters supported allowing cities and towns to tax real estate transactions above $1 million to help raise funds for local affordable housing, with only 21% opposed.

Accessory Dwelling Units: 66% of surveyed voters supported allowing homeowners to add small, add-on living spaces called accessory dwelling units to their property, with only 9% opposed.

And despite the buzz around opposition in a few towns, the MBTA Communities Act, which requires cities and towns with MBTA proximity to rezone near transit, had the support of 55% of MA voters, with only 18% opposed.

Jonathan Cohn

The State Budget Is Late Again. That Means You Can Still Contact Your Legislators.

July 1, 2024 / Action Alerts

Happy July! July means warm weather, vacations, and picnics, but it is also thestart of the new fiscal year. And, as has been the case each year for over a

The Senate Just Voted 40 to 0 for Its Housing Bill. What’s In It — And What’s Not?

June 28, 2024 / Roll Call

Last night, the MA Senate voted unanimously (40 to 0) for its redraft of the Affordable Homes Act. The Senate’s bill contains a $5.4 billion bond authorization, which — as

Support Key Amendments to the Housing Bond Bill

June 26, 2024 / Action Alerts

On June 24, the MA Senate released its redraft of Governor Healey’s housing bond bill (S.2834). Although the bill contains important provisions like legalizing accessory dwelling units, creating a process

MA Senate Passes Climate Omnibus Bill 38 to 2. Here’s What’s in It.

June 26, 2024 / Roll Call

On Tuesday, the MA Senate voted 38 to 2 to pass its climate omnibus bill (An Act upgrading the grid and protecting ratepayers). The 2 NO votes coming from Republicans

Statement on the Senate Redraft of the Affordable Homes Act

June 24, 2024 / Blog

Massachusetts has a housing crisis, and voters across the state are calling for bold action. If only the Massachusetts Senate Leadership would care to listen. While we are happy to

Our First 2024 Legislative Endorsements

June 24, 2024 / Elections

The Massachusetts state primary is Tuesday September 3, the day after Labor Day. That’s 10 weeks and 1 day away. And that will go by fast. In April, our Elections

FY 2025 Budget Recommendations

June 22, 2024 / Testimony

Saturday, June 22, 2024 Chair Michlewitz, Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Ferrante, and Vice Chair Friedman, Thank you for your ongoing work in negotiating a final budget for the upcoming fiscal

MA Senate Votes 38 to 2 to Reduce Plastic Waste

June 21, 2024 / Roll Call

Yesterday, the MA Senate passed the Plastics Reduction Act, a comprehensive bill to reduce plastic waste, by a wide margin of 38 to 2. The only NO votes were from

Tomorrow: MA Senate to Vote on Climate Omnibus Bill, House to Vote on Maternal Health Bill

June 19, 2024 / Action Alerts

Happy Juneteenth! Today is a reminder of both our country’s original sin of slavery and the importance of continual work to undo systems of oppression, correct historic inequities, and deliver

News Roundup – June 16, 2024

June 16, 2024 / News Roundups

Chris Lisinski, “Mass. House unanimously approves Parentage Equality Bill,” State House News Service, June 12. “The bill , long a priority for civil rights and LGBTQ activists, would create new