July 2024 Newsletter
How will State Representative candidates address MA housing needs?
While most of the nation is focused on the Presidential election in November, here in Newton the action is happening right now.
Early voting at city hall is open August 24 - 30, and September 3, the polls will be open for primary elections for the two state representative seats. Vote by Mail ballots will be arriving any day. Both Kay Khan and Ruth Balser are retiring, making it a race for both the Middlesex District 11 and Middlesex District 12. (Information on voting in Newton.)
As there are only Democrats vying for Ruth Balser’s seat, the representative in Middlesex District 12 will be determined on September 3. Therefore, your vote in this primary will be key to the outcome. And we know that State House members tend to hold onto their seats for many years, which makes the primary even more important.
Housing is one of the biggest issues facing the Commonwealth, so Newton for Everyone asked the candidates for both seats questions on housing and other topics. We received responses from four candidates: Alex Jablon and Amy Mah Sangiolo, vying for the District 11 seat, and Bill Humphrey and Rick Lipof, vying for the District 12 seat.
Neither Greg Schwartz (Middlesex District 12) nor Vladislav “Steve” Yanovsky (Middlesex District 11) responded.
We focused our questions on specific issues around housing, including the “millionaires tax,” which puts an additional 4% tax annually on income in excess of $1 million. The funds are designed to go toward public education and transportation, two issues central to battles around new housing. We asked:
The so-called “millionaires tax” was advertised to be allocated to education and transportation. How would you prioritize spending these funds?
We also asked candidates to address the problem of young adults leaving the state, as highlighted in a survey by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. We asked:
Young adults are increasingly leaving Massachusetts for housing that is more affordable, including tens of thousands who now live in adjacent states to afford working here. What specific changes would you support at the state level to stem this tide?
Affordable housing remains a huge issue here in Newton as housing prices continue to rise. What’s more, Newton has reached its 40B Safe Harbor, meaning that we are unlikely to see additional affordable housing built in Newton through this statute. So Newton for Everyone asked:
“Should the state modify Chapter 40B to achieve more truly affordable housing units than are required under the current law? If so, how?
Should the state further incentivize the development of affordable housing in communities that have achieved 40B Safe Harbor status? If so, how?
The answers will certainly help as voters decide who should represent them on Beacon Hill, so we highly recommend spending some time learning where the candidates stand, in their own voices.
Volunteering to Advocate for Diverse Housing
If you would like to find out how you can help advocate for more diverse housing, let us know.
Discover Our Current Reading List!
Gentrification as a housing problem. Works in Progress Newsletter, July 17, 2024. The root cause of displacement is inflexible supply.
The magic number to afford a home in Boston? $217,000 in annual income. Boston Globe, July 18, 2024. “...unless local Massachusetts officials ease zoning regulations and allow more construction of housing, the dream of owning a home will go unrealized for too many of us.
3 strategies to decarbonize transportation: US DOT report. Smart Cities Dive, July 15, 2024. First recommendation: “Land-use planning to enhance convenient access to jobs, shopping, schools, entertainment and other services through transit-oriented development; supporting walking, biking and micromobility options and establishing transportation demand protocols.”
The Olympic Village: High-performance housing illegal to build in the U.S. Medium, June 25, 2024. Single-stair housing, also known as point access blocks, offer more daylight, ventilation, and efficiency while looking better than most new multifamily buildings in the U.S. Point access buildings with 4-5 stories would be good on smaller lots like those in Newton’s village if the building code allowed them.
Newton for Everyone is dedicated to promoting housing opportunities for people of all ages, means, backgrounds and abilities in Newton. The housing shortage affects all of us. We believe that diverse housing options are crucial to fostering a thriving community, a sustainable environment and a robust economy.