Candidates for lieutenant governor took on housing points at a Greater Boston Real Estate Board assembly, etching divisions on hire management, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, environmental rules and extra.
“We need the lieutenant governor and governor at the state level to champion solving the housing shortage we have,” mentioned Kim Driscoll, a candidate and present Salem mayor. “Over 50% of our renters are paying more than 30% of their income towards housing. It’s an unsustainable model and is largely led by the fact that we do not have enough housing throughout the commonwealth.”
Tuesday’s discussion board hosted 4 candidates — Democrats Driscoll and state Senator Eric Lesser, and Republicans Kate Campanale and Leah Cole Allen, each former state representatives. Tami Gouveia, one other Democrat working, didn’t attend.
Only Campanale outright opposed hire stabilization, with the opposite three candidates opting to assist an area choice strategy.
“We tried it once in Massachusetts, and it failed,” Campanale mentioned, arguing it worsens the availability downside and drives up prices. “You’re going to decrease the amount of units available — rent goes up. You have maintenance costs, you have administrative costs with rent control as well.”
No different candidate definitively favored a statewide strategy, although Lesser and Allen left the door open to “explore options.” Both mentioned insurance policies would wish to doubtlessly exclude smaller landlords and new developments.
Allen, Campanale and Driscoll additionally took stances on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) reintroduced this yr, which might assure tenants the chance to buy a rental property being offered.
The Republicans opposed the laws outright — Campanale saying the buying course of turns into an extended logistical “nightmare.” Driscoll once more supplied reasonable assist.
“The benefit of TOPA is it does put us in a position to preserve housing, and that is a key need,” mentioned Driscoll. “But we want to make sure it’s nimble enough to work for the community and not overly onerous for the homeowner.”
Both Republican candidates additionally talked about lessening environmental necessities, whereas Democrats mentioned working with builders to decrease constructing emissions.
The candidates’ particular person plans to deal with the disaster took a wide selection of approaches — Lesser centered on investing in transportation to unfold housing growth, Allen mentioned loosening rules and “freeing up the market,” Campanale outlined a broad coverage overhaul together with separating out a brand new Secretary of Housing workplace and Driscoll proposed growing a “housing production plan” for each neighborhood.
Candidates will face off inside their events within the Sept. 6 main election.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”