Regardless of pushback and lawsuits directed at her lease management proposal, Mayor Michelle mentioned town “cannot let up the momentum” to deal with housing affordability.
“Across the country, the needs right now are intense, but the difference is that in Boston, we have the resources to make a difference,” Wu mentioned throughout an interview with WBZ’s Jon Keller Sunday. “We know what we need to do. We have intellectual expertise, human capital — we just need to decide to do it together.”
Wu’s “rent stabilization” plan would cap year-over-year lease will increase at 6% plus inflation will increase, to a max of 10%, with sure exceptions.
Her feedback observe town council’s second week of debate on the topic and a lawsuit filed final week by the advocacy group MassLandlords demanding metropolis communications concerning the proposal.
Wu was questioned on the landlords’ opposition in addition to critique from the left that the proposal doesn’t go far sufficient. Some council members have argued in opposition to exemptions and {that a} 6% cap continues to be too excessive.
“This is a beautiful state to have democratic process in because we really get the whole range of advocacy and representation of community and that is a critical part of every proposal we have,” Wu mentioned. “I think we can all acknowledge that the status quo has not been working, that families are getting pushed out of our city at an alarming rate.”
Wu famous Boston’s housing prices are among the many highest within the nation and the vast majority of residents are renters. Her proposal, she mentioned, “is meant to put guardrails and prevent price gouging.”
Some neighborhoods have skilled value hikes as excessive as 50% within the final a number of years, Wu added.
The metropolis is “hurtling off a cliff” when it comes to housing affordability, the mayor warned.
“We’re not going to stop until we are in a place where families from every income level, people from every background feel safe, welcome and can afford to stay here,” Wu mentioned. “We are a ways from that now. And so, again, this is about ensuring that we are putting every possible tool and resource we have to housing and housing affordability.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”