Massachusetts rally scheduled as hearing on rent control bill coming this week

A hearing is scheduled this week in Massachusetts on a bill that would remove the prohibition on rent control and provide tenant and foreclosure protections.

The Tenant Protection Act would provide municipalities with a variety of options to help address homelessness, displacement, foreclosure, and excessive rent burden. The bill would let Massachusetts cities and towns regulate evictions and rents in multi-family and mobile homes.

Representatives Mike Connolly of Cambridge and Nika Elugardo of Boston are the sponsors of the bill.

The hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

Due to the hearing, a rally hosted by a list of organizations including City Life/Vida Urbana, Homes For Families, and New England United for Justice, is scheduled at the steps of the State House at 1:00 p.m.

The group has made their feelings known about the bill.

“25 years ago, big real estate and their friends in the State House destroyed rent control in Massachusetts – now in 2020, our rents are WAY TOO HIGH! That’s why we need all hands on deck and feet in the street on Tuesday, January 14th to LIFT THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL in our state. It’s time to allow MA cities and towns the right to choose the protections from eviction and displacement that make sense for their residents. ”

Opponents of the bill believe more housing is the answer, not rent control, as it didn’t work in the past.

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