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From YouTube: Committee on Government Operations on July 15, 2021
Description
Docket #0776 - Petition for Special Law re: An Act to Restore Boston's Governmentally-Involved Housing Protection
A
Government
operations-
it
is
thursday
july
15th,
and
we
are
here
today
to
discuss
darket.
Let
me
see
here
it's
the
target:
zero,
seven,
seven,
six,
a
petition
of
special
law,
an
act
to
restore
boston's
governmentally
involved
housing.
Protections
referred
to
the
committee
on
june
16
2021.
I
sponsored
this
target
along
side.
A
My
colleagues
council
president
matt
o'malley
and
council
at
kenzie
bach,
in
accordance
with
chapter
20,
of
the
acts
of
2021,
modifying
certain
requirements
of
the
open
meeting
law
and
relieving
public
bodies
of
certain
requirements,
including
the
requirement
that
public
bodies
conduct
its
meeting
in
a
public
place
that
is
open
and
physically
accessible
to
the
public.
The
city
council
will
be
conducting
this
hearing
virtually
via
zoom.
This
enables
the
city
council
to
carry
out
its
responsibilities
while
adhering
to
the
public
health
accommodations
in
ensuring
public
access
to
its
deliberations
through
adequate
alternative
means.
A
A
It
will
be
made
part
of
the
record
and
available
to
all
members
of
the
council.
This
hearing
will
also
be
recorded.
The
home
repetition
seeks
to
allow
boston
to
preserve
and
restore
at-risk
affordable
housing
at
no
cost
to
the
city.
This
proposal
applies
to
the
current
or
formally
hud
subsidized
housing
with
expiring
use
restrictions.
A
This
proposal
will
help
maintain
affordable
units
in
the
city
and
discourage
condominium
conversion
of
these
homes
joining
the
committee
today
from
the
administration
will
be
tim
davis,
the
deputy
director
of
policy
development
and
research
at
dnd
department
of
naval
development.
I
also
see
joining
us
is
michael
kane.
A
The
executive
director
mass
alliance
of
hud
tenants
will
also
be
here
and
testify
and
before
I
turn
it
over
to
our
panelists
I'd
like
to
offer
opening
remarks
to
my
colleagues,
starting
with
the
sponsors-
and
I
see
our
council
president
and
co-sponsor-
is
here:
councilman
o'malley,
you
have
the
floor.
B
Thank
you
very
much,
mr
chair,
and
thank
you
for
not
only
your
partnership
on
this,
but
your
leadership
in
the
past.
This
hrp
is
something
that
we've
actually
passed
before
because
of
your
leadership
and
I'm
delighted
to
join
you
as
an
original
co-sponsor
alongside
councillor
kenzie
bach,
who,
before
getting
elected
to
the
body,
has
a
very
distinguished
career
in
the
affordable
housing
space
and
particularly
her
work
at
bha.
B
This
home
rule
petition
we'll
get
into
some
more
specifics
with
the
panel,
and
certainly
with
mr
kane,
a
great
constituent
friend
and
leader
on
so
many
tenant
protection
initiatives
through
the
years.
But
the
importance
of
this
has
taken
a
really
new
relevance
over
the
last
several
months,
and
I
want
to
specifically
talk
about
a
building
in
my
district,
the
forbes
building,
it's
a
senior
affordable
housing
building
right
on
center
street
jamaica
plain.
B
I
have
such
an
affinity
for
this
building
and
and
for
the
residents
more
more
specifically,
I
often
talk
that
the
last
senior
coffee
that
I
held
before
getting
elected
to
this
seat
in
2010
was
with
residents
at
the
forbes
building
and
in
that
time
we've
just
really
built
a
tremendous
relationship
and
friendship.
B
I
I
very
much
miss
many
things
because
of
the
pandemic,
but
our
quarterly
check-ins
is
something
that
that
I
miss
specifically
in
person
check-ins
and
it's
the
forbes
building,
which
represents
many
many
buildings
throughout
boston,
wonderful
through
thriving,
safe
communities,
particularly
for
our
low-income
seniors
and
those
that
that
deserve
the
dignity
of
a
wonderful
home
and
they're.
B
Because
of
the
fact
that
this
is
an
expiring
used
building
many
residents,
there
are
in
real
danger
of
being
displaced,
the
owner
of
the
forbes
building
plans
to
convert
147
apartments
that
are
currently
affordable
to
low-income
senior
disabled
tenants
into
market
rate
housing,
which
puts
these
tenants
as
well
as
the
community
at
risk
and
the
forbes
is
not
the
only
building
in
the
city.
That's
at
risk
properties
such
as
babcock,
building
in
allston
and
warren
hall
and
brighton
also
will
benefit
from
increased
protections
that
we're
seeking
to
create
here
in
boston.
B
There
are
30
435,
privately
owned
subsidized
apartments,
close
to
2.
000
of
them
have
been
converted
to
high
market
rents.
There
are
nearly
a
thousand
or
not
quite
a
thousand,
about
930
boston
apartments
that
are
at
risk
of
conversion
to
market
rates
by
2022
next
year,
including
the
forbes
building.
B
There
are,
then,
an
additional
3038
apartments
in
the
city
that
are
considered
to
be
an
elevated
risk
of
converting
into
market
rate
housing
within
the
next
few
years,
and
all
of
these
statistics
do
not
even
account
for
the
increased
need
for
affordable
housing
after
pandemic
that
left
far
too
many
bostonians
months
behind
on
their
rent
or
unable
to
afford
the
cost
of
their
homes
the
past
year
and
a
half
has
taught
us
anything.
It's
that
a
lack
of
affordable
housing
is
not
just
a
moral
issue,
but
a
public
health
crisis
as
well.
B
What
we're
seeking
to
pass
here
is
a
home
rule
petition
that
protects
low-income
individuals
and
families
living
in
governmentally
involved.
Housing
that
are
threatened
with
displacement
as
a
result
of
prepayment
of
mortgage
financing,
loss
of
use,
restrictions,
expiring,
subsidy
contracts
and
expected
increases
in
rent.
By
passing
this
hrp,
it
will
allow
for
the
creation
of
a
maximum
rent
for
governmentally
involved
and
formally
governmentally
involved
housing
units
units.
It
will
encourage
owners
to
accept
incentives,
including
the
city-funded
vouchers
and
other
subsidized
housing
funding.
B
It
also
allows
for
the
city
to
require
owners
to
renew
expiring
subsidy
contracts
to
pay
market
rent,
rent
rate
rent
as
well.
What
we're
simply
trying
to
do
here
is
to
create
some
common
sense
protections
to
help
our
vulnerable
bostonians,
particularly
those
seniors,
and
particularly
at
this
moment
in
time,
for
coming
out
of
a
pandemic
again.
B
This
body
has
led
on
this
largely
because
of
your
efforts
and
others
counselor
flaherty,
it's
high
time
that
we
move
it
again,
and
I
look
forward
to
continuing
this
momentum
at
the
state
legislative
level
to
make
sure
we
can
get
this
done.
I'd
be
remiss
if
I
didn't
note
that
we've
heard
from
a
number
of
forbes
building
residents,
many
of
whom
won't
be
able
to
testify
in
person
some
will.
But
many
who've
either
called
my
office
or
called
christine
o'donnell,
our
central
staff
liaison
to
offer
their
support
of
this.
B
This
is
a
very
modest
but
impactful
change,
and
it's
something
that
we
can
do
and
again
want
to
thank
michael
caine
on
behalf
of
of
so
many
advocates.
We
were
together
last
month
at
the
beginning
of
june.
You
were
there
as
well,
mr
chair
and
other
colleagues.
This
is
an
important
issue.
This
is
a
moral
issue
issue
and
we
need
to
get
a
pass.
So
thank
you
for
your
leadership.
Look
forward
to
the
hearing.
A
C
Thank
you
so
much,
mr
chair,
and
and
thank
you
to
you
and
to
council
o'malley
for
leadership
on
this
and
for
letting
me
join.
I
think
it's
just
you
know
it's
pretty
fundamental
to
our
role
as
local
government
officials
to
make
sure
that
we
don't
lose
whole
communities
in
our
city
without
a
fight
and
especially
when
these
are
communities
that
were
created
by
public
dollars
and
that
have,
you
know,
represented
a
serious
public
commitment
over
the
decades
to
stability
and
community
preservation
in
the
fullest
sense.
C
So
you
know,
I
think
that
this
is
when
I
worked
at
the
boston
housing
authority.
I
repeatedly
saw
these
expiring
used
projects
come
under
threat,
and
you
know
in
many
cases
we
collectively
the
city
and
state
have
thrown
and
federal
government
have
thrown
a
lot
of
resources
at
trying
to
preserve
these
buildings,
but
we
don't
have
a
100
success
rate
and
it's
so
destabilizing
often
destabilizing
of
these
communities
even
five
ten
years
in
advance,
because
people
are
just
living
with
the
uncertainty
and
we
often
have
elders
who
sort
of
are
saying.
C
What
am
I
gonna
do
when
I
can't
get
to
my
friends
anymore,
my
language
community
breaks
apart
right,
there's
just
there's
just
a
huge
number
of
human
costs,
and,
and
you
know,
I
don't
think
that
nobody
who
owns
these
buildings-
you
know
owned
them
originally,
on
the
basis
of
getting
a
windfall
at
the
end
right.
C
There
was
a
pro
forma
that
was
sort
of
worked
out
according
to
what
you
were
going
to
reasonably
receive
in
rents
through
this
affordable
housing
system,
and
so
I
think,
there's
a
little
bit
of
some
folks
saying
well
we're
entitled
to
the
windfall,
and
I
don't
think
the
public
owes
folks
a
windfall
when
it's
going
to
be
the
case
of
you
know
in
the
impersonal
forces
of
the
market,
trumping
a
whole
human
community.
I
don't
think
that's
that's
sort
of
what
we're
elected
to
prioritize.
C
So
I
think
this
you
know
this
kind
of
common
sense
legislation
would
give
us
a
a
good
opportunity
to
sort
of
work
in
partnership
with
owners
around
really
preserving
these
communities
for
the
long
term
and
and
again,
I
you
know
very
grateful
to
councillor
floridi
for
his
leadership
and
sort
of
the
institutional
memory
I
didn't
know.
This
was
something
that
the
council
had
tried
to
push
for
before,
but
I'm
very
proud
to
be
part
of
pushing
for
it
again
this
time.
So
thank
you
so
much,
mr
chair.
D
Hi
sorry,
good
morning,
everybody
thank
you
for
for
the
for
your
leadership
on
this
one,
michael
and
and
also
matt
and
kenzie.
I'm
just
more
here
to
listen
and
to
you
know,
show
my
support.
A
Thank
you
very
much
council
baker.
I
know
that
council
flynn
was
with
us.
He
had
to
just
step
aside
and
step
away
for
a
moment.
He'll
be
joining
us
momentarily,
so
we'll
get
right
back,
yeah
we'll
get
right
into
it.
If
tim
davis
and
his
technical
difficulties
have
been
resolved,
welcome
and
good
morning,
tim
good
to
see
you
as
always,
and
you
have
the
floor.
A
If
you
want
to
make
an
introductory
comment
and
then
we
can
kind
of
get
right
into
the
the
the
meat
potatoes
of
the
of
the
home
room,
but
also
I
want
to
give
michael
kane
the
opportunity
to
kind
of
dive
in
as
well
so
good
morning.
Tim.
E
Thank
you,
councillor,
flaherty,
and
just
want
to
check.
You
can
hear
us
correct
loud
and
clear
tim
we're
settling
back
into
12
channel
street
in
our
new
offices,
so
computers
are
getting
started
for
the
first
time
over
here
as
well.
I
have
with
me
beverly
estudio,
smart
jossie,
who
is
from
our
preservation
team
and
wanted
to
have
her
as
well.
So
we're
very
happy
to
be
here.
Thank
you,
counselors
for
your
interest
in
this
proposal.
E
Preservation
of
existing,
affordable
and
income
restricted
housing
is
an
important
part
of
the
work
at
d
d.
Since
2014
we
have
preserved
12,
491
income,
restricted
units
and
we've
lost.
If
you
include
the
units
of
babcock
tower
340
units,
the
state's
40t
law
provides
some
short-term
protections
for
tenants
when
income
restrictions
are
expiring
and
encourages
to
sell
the
property
to
a
new
owner.
Who
will
maintain
the
affordability
of
the
property?
E
E
To
hear
michael
caine's
presentation
about
the
proposal
community
comment,
we
won't
provide
extensive
comment
on
the
bill
itself
today.
I
will
offer
one
technical
change,
though,
which
is
that
the
boston
planning
and
development
agency
is
not
an
actual
legal
entity
and
therefore
the
warning
should
be
the
same
as
it
was
in
the
2017
version,
which
is
boston,
redevelopment
authority.
So
that's
just
to
offer
that
technical
job
and.
A
I
appreciate
tim
and
I
and
believe
it
or
not.
I
usually
catch
that
one
so
that
one
that
one
got
by
me
and
I
continue
to
ask
that
that
be,
I
guess,
codified.
If
you
will
it
it's
really,
so
we.
E
A
F
Yes,
thank
you,
council,
flaherty,
and
thank
you
president
o'malley.
I
apologize.
I
got
kicked
off
on
the
zoom
for
a
second
and
back
on,
but
want
to
say
thank
you
to
council
president
o'malley
council
flaherty
councilor
bark
for
sponsoring
this
home
rule
petition
into
council
edwards,
as
well
as
tim
as
tim
was
talking
about
earlier
and
as
as
we
all
know,
we're
in
a
housing
crisis.
F
I
know
this
home
rule
petition
would
require
building
owners
to
seek
out
and
accept
any
prospective
government
housing
resources
in
order
to
preserve
affordability.
I
look
forward
to
hearing
more
details.
I
definitely
support
it.
I
see
my
friend
a
longtime
housing
advocate
michael
kane,
on
just
want
to
say
hello
to
michael
thank
michael
and
all
the
housing
advocates
for
tremendous
work
in
the
city
for,
for
so
many
years,
have
great
respect
for
you
and
again
good
to
be
here
and
me
and
me
and
michael,
we
go
to
the.
A
Thank
you,
council
flynn
and
that's
a
great
introduction
to
to
michael
caine
and
his
years
of
service
and
commitment
to
affordable
housing
in
our
city.
So,
michael
without
further
ado,
you
have
the
floor.
If
you
introduce
yourself
for
those
that
do
not
know
you
and
there's
probably
very
few
that
do
not,
but
and
then
maybe
just
introduce
sort
of
your
thoughts
around
this
homework
petition.
Obviously
tim
davis
is
gonna,
be
listening
and
taking
copious
notes.
A
I
know
that
I
and
my
colleagues
have
a
few
questions
with
respect
to
the
proposal,
but
we
will
also
make
the
technical
change
that
tim
had
recommended
that
we
do
that
was.
It
was
a
great
point
he
made
so
michael
cain.
You
have
the
floor.
It's
good
to
see
you.
G
Good
to
see
you
counselor,
thank
you
so
much
for
the
generous
introduction
I
want
to,
of
course,
counselor
flynn
just
reminded
me.
I
need
a
haircut
but
I'll
get
that
later
this
week.
So
I
want
to
thank
all
the
counselors
that
have
supported
this
home
rule
petition
in
prior
sessions
and
in
this
one
it's
I
think
unusual,
to
have
every
member
of
the
council
co-sponsor
anything.
G
You
know
let
alone
a
home
rule
petition
that
we
need
a
lot
of
support
to
get
through
at
the
state
house.
But
I
want
to
thank
the
spon,
the
lead
sponsors,
councilor,
o'malley,
councilor,
flaherty,
councilor
bach,
for
their
leadership
in
stepping
up
around
the
forbes
crisis,
which
is
very
real,
as
as
counselor
o'malley
explained.
G
So
this
home
rule
petition
just
that's
entitled
an
act
to
restore
government
involved.
Governmentally
involved
housing
protection,
restore
boston's
governmental
involved,
housing
protection,
and
the
reason
for
that
is
that
there
once
was
a
measure
that
was
passed
by
the
council
in
1988.
G
I
believe
it
was
that
amended
the
previous
rent
control
system
to
extend
full
rent
control
protections,
not
just
vacant
cd
control
to
any
expiring
used
property.
At
that
time-
and
that
was
part
of
the
city's
rent
system,
the
referendum
that
repealed
the
overall
rent
control
systems
around
the
state
in
1994
actually
exempted
from
repeal
subsidized
housing.
G
Governmentally
involved
housing.
It
was
exempt
from
repeal
in
the
referendum.
It
was
the
implementation
law
that
governor
weld
kind
of
proposed
that
literally
the
last
day
to
implement
it.
In
the
last
day
of
the
session,
we
found
out
months
later
repealed
the
governmentally
involved,
housing
protections.
So
ever
since
then,
which
was
1990
starting
in
96,
the
city
council
has
filed
a
home
rule
petition
signed
by
the
mayor,
to
restore
those
protections.
G
G
Our
problem
is
at
the
state
house.
It
did.
The
state
house
did
actually
pass
something
like
this
originally
in
in
response
to
the
original
one
and
it
passed
the
senate
a
couple
of
other
times
or
a
version
of
it.
The
statewide
enabling
act
version,
so
it's
there's
been
a
lot
of
support.
At
the
state
house,
we
had
republican
sponsors,
senator
scott
brown
sponsored
the
statewide
enabling
act
version,
for
example,
when
he
was
a
senator.
G
So
it
has
bipartisan
support
at
the
state
house,
but
we
can't
get
a
pass
or
haven't
been
able
to
get
it
past.
The
speaker
now
we're
hoping
that
that
might
change,
because
the
the
pandemic
has
really
exposed
the
fault
lines
in
a
way
that
is
never
in
my
lifetime
and
there's
a
shifting
few
at
the
state
house
around
regulating
the
market.
The
need
to
do
that
and
there's
a
new
speaker,
so
we're
hopeful
that
the
terrain
up
there
will
be
different
this
time.
G
So
getting
this
kind
of
unanimous
support
is
is
really
critical
and
we
really
appreciate
it.
A
a
lot
of
the
counselor
o'malley
really
described
the
bill
very
well
and
explained
what
it
would
do.
It
would
give
the
city
a
variety
of
no-cost
tools
to
require
the
most
important
one
probably
is
requiring
owners
to
renew
contracts
when
they
expire.
G
Restoring
regulation
on
buildings
that
have
previously
been
lost.
That
would
be
very
important.
There's
about
2
000
apartments
that
were
lost
in
the
city
to
the
market
over
the
decades
and
the
home
rule
petition
would
actually
give
the
city
the
ability
to
go
back
and
restore
regulation,
guaranteeing
a
fair
net
operating
income
to
those
landlords.
It
would
be
an
option
the
city
could
could
could
consider
the
other
another
feature
of
it
is.
G
It
would
really
promote
sales
of
these
buildings
to
non-profits,
who
could
and
give
them
the
time
to
assemble
the
resources
to
make
a
viable
purchase.
The
40t
law
does
give
you
know
if
a
building
is
being
offered
for
sale,
it
allows
non-profits
to
step
in,
but
there's
a
narrow,
narrow
window
of
time.
If
they
can't
get
the
resources,
a
a
sale
would
fall
through
and
that
has
happened.
G
G
So
you
know
overall
we've.
You
know
our
organization,
the
mass
alliance
have
had
tenants.
G
I
should
mention
that
I
work
for
a
tenant
run
all
tenant
board
organization
that
consists
of
tenant
groups,
a
coalition
of
groups
in
these
buildings
and
since
1983,
we
we
have
saved
about
12
600
apartments
as
a
permanently
affordable,
housing,
statewide
about
some
8,
000
or
so
in
boston,
one
building
at
a
time
through
tenant,
organizing
efforts
and
working
in
collaboration
with
the
city,
and
I
want
to
give
a
shout
out
to
beverly
esses
and
tim
davis,
because
the
city
really
has
been
a
national
leader
in
preserving
at-risk
housing.
G
But
it
takes
all
the
players.
The
tenants
play
a
role
by
bringing
the
landlords
to
the
table
by
hook
or
by
crook,
and
so
we've
done
that
and
saved
several
thousand
apartments
in
boston,
but
we've
also
lost
some.
We've
lost
about
two
thousand
we've
in
the
city.
We've
lost
a
total
more
than
ten
thousand
statewide
since
the
nineties,
so
this
legislation
would
be
a
critical
tool
to
enable
us
to
do
more
and
it
might
inspire.
G
So
why
don't
I
stop
there
and
because
I
know
there's
going
to
be
questions,
and
maybe
I
should
say
something
about
babcock
and
forbes.
G
Well,
the
forbes,
the
two
most
critical
crises
right
now
in
the
city
are
the
forbes
building
and
babcock
towers.
They
are
both.
They
were
not
hud
subsidized,
they
were
state
subsidized,
the
more
the
40-year
mortgages
are
over
and
they
are
both
in
a
the
three-year
limitation
from
chapter
40t.
G
But
in
the
case
of
in
both
cases
the
owners
are
not
are
walking
away
from
preserving
the
buildings.
In
the
case
of
the
forest
building,
we
thought
they
were
going
to
do
it.
They
they.
The
owners,
reps
met
with
the
tenants
and
the
city,
and
everybody
thought
they
were
going
to
apply
for
subsidies,
that
the
city
was
making
available.
G
So
everybody
thought
they
were
going
to
do
it
and
then
suddenly,
right
before
christmas,
we
got
a
call
saying
oops,
the
landlord's
changed
his
mind
and
now
he's
saying
he's
not
sure
he
wants
to
renew
these
contracts
unless
he
gets
his
way
with
a
variety
of
some.
I
have
to
say,
unrealistic
demands
on
the
city,
including
some
that
are
outright
questionable.
Legality,
like
waiving
fair
housing
rules
waiving
the
homeless
set-aside
requirement
waiving
the
artist
requirement.
G
He
said
he
wanted
to
convert
it
to
artists
housing
with
some
program
called
bioconsonance,
which
we
still
don't
quite
understand
what
that's
about,
but
it
is
a
really
unrealistic
conversion
plan
and
there
have
been
no
feasibility
studies
offered
by
the
owner
that
would
warrant
government
money
to
subsidize
his
plan.
G
So
people
have
asked
him
for
that,
but
he
hasn't
been
able
to
produce
any.
So
in
the
meantime,
he
walked
away
from
these
contracts
around
the
table.
One
of
them
had
a
an
expiration
date
of
the
end
of
the
year
from
the
bha
that
was
the
project-based
voucher
offer.
G
So
now
we're
in
in
this
crisis,
we've
heard
that
he
has
applied
for
a
one-year
commitment
of
mass
rental,
voucher
vouchers,
one
for
one
year
from
the
state,
but
we
don't
know
what
the
state
is
going
to
do
with
that,
but
that
doesn't
preserve
the
building.
It
leaves
attendance
in
anxiety
and
it's
like
what's
going
to
happen
next
year
and
they
haven't
agreed
to
do
it
anyway.
So
that's
the
the
crisis
of
the
forbes
building
at
babcock
towers.
G
We
I
should
mention
that
we
had
advocated
with
the
city
to
create
this
carve
out
a
project-based
vouchers.
To
save
these
13a
buildings.
We
were
able
to
save
mercantile
wharf
the
owner.
There
was
creative,
worked
for
the
city
and
us
and
did
it
using
these
project-based
vouchers,
the
in
the
case
of
babcock
towers,
we
wrote
the
landlord.
We
showed
how
he
could
actually
make
money
by
accepting
the
vouchers
early
in
changing
his
40t
rent
restriction
agreement,
and
he
just
said
no,
I'm
done
I'm
done
with
government
subsidies.
G
I
want
to
get
out
guy's
in
his,
I
think,
about
90
now,
and
he
just
wants
to
turn
it
over
as
a
legacy
property
all
market
for
his
sun
and
that's
220
apartments
in
brighton.
53
of
them
were
always
market.
There
were
another
53
that
had
rent
subsidies,
vouchers
and
the
rest
were
13.
A
mortgage
basis
called
basic
tenants
13
with
a
13,
a
mortgage
rent
subsidy.
G
To
give
you
a
sense
of
what
it
means
to
convert
that
to
market
at
the
end
of
the
40
three-year
restriction,
which
will
be
next
march,
the
tenants
in
those
basic
red
apartments
are
paying
about
550
now,
a
month
those
rents
are
going
to
go
up
to
2400
according
to
the
owner,
who
sent
a
letter
to
the
tenant
saying
that
so
those
tenants
are,
the
clock
is
sticking
on
them.
Now
this
we
went
to
the
he
turned
us
down
for
project-based
vouchers.
G
We
went
to
the
bha
they're,
offering
mobile
vouchers
for
those
tenants,
which
is
a
great
solution
to
prevent
displacement
for
them
and
the
we're
now
approaching
the
tenants
to
make
sure
they
know
they
can
apply
for
that
voucher.
G
But
the
landlord
at
the
same
time
is
evicting
illegally
people
with
existing
bha
vouchers
telling
them
their
lease
is
terminated,
which
is
not
true,
so
we're
working
with
the
office
of
housing,
stability
to
get
lawyers
to
protect
them
from
being
thrown
out
in
the
street,
but
notice
that,
even
if
we
get
the
vouchers
in
there,
eventually
the
tenants,
many
of
whom
are
in
their
80s
and
90s.
Now
many
of
them,
russian
speaking
they'll
within
five
or
ten
years,
there
will
be
a
huge
turnover
in
that
building
and
that
will
be
all
market.
G
For
you
know,
student
graduate
students
from
bu
or
whatever,
so
that
will
lose
that
building
and
will
lose
the
forbes
building
if
they,
if
they
only
have
mobile
vouchers.
Eventually,
people
move
out
and
be
replaced
with
market
rate
artists.
So
in
both
cases
we
lose
the
housing.
G
So
that
gives
an
idea
of
kind
of
the.
What
the
battle
is
like
building
by
building
and
having
this
home
rule
petition
will
really
improve
the
bargaining
position
of
the
tenants
and
the
city
in
dealing
with
these
owners,
even
if
it
doesn't
pass
at
the
state
house
if
it's
pending,
it
will
be
another
message
to
them
that
they
they
better
work
with
us
to
try
to
prevent
displacement
and
to
preserve
housing
going
forward.
A
Thank
you,
michael
for
your
testimony
and
for
the
update
as
well
continue
to
keep
us
informed
as
as
things
develop
over
there.
I
am
in
receipt
of
a
letter
of
opposition
that
I'd
like
to
read
into
the
record.
A
It's
someone
that
I
that
have
a
tremendous
amount
of
respect
for
and
appreciate
his
partnership,
but
with
the
council,
also
on
behalf
of
the
city
and
that's
greg
vassell,
ceo
of
the
greater
boston
real
estate
board
and
take
shares
prerogative
at
this
point
on
behalf
of
the
city
council,
to
congratulate
greg
vassell,
particularly
his
son,
michael,
who
just
competed
in
the
college.
World
series
he's
a
proud
graduate
of
boston
college
high
school
and
was
just
drafted
in
the
major
league
baseball
draft
by
the
new
york
mets.
A
So
I
was
hoping
that
the
red
sox
got
him,
but
who
knows
maybe
down
the
road,
but
congratulations
to
to
michael
vassell,
who's,
greg's
son
into
the
vassal
family
and
their
continued
commitment
to
to
our
city?
And
that
said,
it's
a
letter.
That's
addressed
to
the
honorable
lydia
edwards,
the
chair
of
the
government
operations
committee.
Dear
council
edwards
members
of
the
committee
on
the
government
operations
on
behalf
of
over
twelve
thousand
members
of
the
greater
boston
real
estate
board.
We
wish
to
be
recorded
in
opposition
of
doctor
zero.
A
Seven
seven
six
petition
for
a
special
law
act
to
restore
boston's
governmentally
involved
housing
protection.
Finding
a
way
to
address
and
solve
the
issue
of
preservation
of
the
commonwealth
is
very
important
and
one
that
the
greater
boston
real
estate
board
has
actively
participated
in
and
will
continue
to
do.
So.
This
is
a
real
and
relevant
concern
that
impacts
our
members
as
owners
and
purchases
of
affordable
housing,
both
economically
and
as
a
vital
public
policy
issue.
A
Great
care
was
taken
to
understand
the
potential
effects
on
financial
stability,
sustainability
and
the
mixed
income
housing
goals
of
so
many
communities,
including
boston
when
40t
was
signed
into
law.
We
therefore
oppose
any
change
to
the
existing
law,
which
would
adversely
impact
the
financial
sustainability
in
the
mixed
income,
housing
goals
of
the
city
of
boston
for
decades.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
submit
my
comments
and
writing
since
great
vassal,
ceo,
greater
boston,
real
estate
board
and
again
just
appreciate
greg's
partnership
over
the
years.
We
will.
A
I
just
have
a
couple
questions
of
tim
davis,
and
then
we
can
turn
it
over
to
my
colleagues.
The
this
homeroom
petition
tim.
It
calls
for
the
creation
of
a
department
focused
on
the
establishment
of
a
maximum
rent
for
government
involved
in
formally
governmental
involved.
Housing.
A
Is
this
something
that
the
office
of
housing,
stability
or
d
d
could
and
should
do
instead
of
creating
a
new
department?
Is
one
question?
The
second
question
is:
how
do
the
terms
here
impact
the
newly
passed
condominium
conversion
ordinance
that
was
passed
in
in
2021
beginning
and
then
and
then
also
what
impact
would
this
home
rule
petition
have
on
units
that
have
rent
regulatory
agreements
in
existence
right
now
with
the
bra
doing
business
as
the
bpda?
E
So
I
think
that
to
answer
these
questions,
I'll
try
them
in
order.
One
is,
is
kind
of
operationalizing
this
bill.
I
think
it
would
be.
It
would
be
probably
something
completely
new
to
dnd,
combining
the
expertise
we
have
in
the
office
of
housing,
stability
and
in
the
neighborhood
housing
development
division.
E
I
think
the
biggest
challenge
in
terms
of
just
reading
it
through
is
there
we
would
have
to
have
further
guidance,
perhaps
from
the
council,
under
an
implementation
stage
around
what
is
fair
operating
income
and
determining
that,
because
I
think
that's
it's
a
that's,
not
a
clear,
it's
not
a
clear
path
for
us,
so
we
would.
I
mean
there
are
underwriting
guidelines
we
currently
use
in
neighborhood
housing.
E
E
Michael
caine
suggested
that
babcock
tower
might
could
be
condo,
I
think,
with
given
the
current
condo
conversion
ordinance.
It
would
be
more
difficult
for
them
to
do
so,
so,
hopefully
that
is
actually
an
impediment
to
babcock
being
turned
to
a
condo
and
that
it
would
remain
a
rental,
so
I
they're
complimentary.
I
think
the
kind
of
conversion
rates
is
in
some
ways
complementary
to
this
in
terms
of
properties
that
have
income
restrictions
already.
E
I
know
that
the
intent
of
this
is
mostly
to
kind
of
address
some
of
the
larger
and
older
projects
that
did
not
have
restrictions
that
were
set
in
perpetuity
for
city-funded
projects
for
the
last
several
number
of
years.
For
our
funding
we've
been
requiring
perpetuity,
so
it
actually,
it
really
addresses
those
older
projects,
mostly.
E
However,
as
you
mentioned,
it
does
also
affect
bra,
restricted
properties
which
those
are
you
know
50-year
contracts
with
landlords
for
these
units,
so
it
definitely
would
impact
those
units
going
forward
and
that,
once
that
50-year
restriction
was
over,
then
this
rent
control
law
would
kick
in,
so
that
is
that
would
be
something
new
on
the
idp
units.
That
is
not
currently
that's
not
currently
available
to
us.
E
A
I
do
it.
I
appreciate
that
I
know
everything's
fresh,
so
I
appreciate
your
answers
and
and
and
as
always
your
work
and
your
commitment
in
this
space,
and
I
failed
to
mention
the
beginning-
obviously
I'm
serving
as
the
vice
chair
as
chair
today,
filling
in
for
the
chair
colleague,
councillor
edwards,
who
had
a
scheduling,
conflict
who
may
at
some
point
be
joining
this
hearing.
A
I
also
have
a
scheduling
conflict,
so
I
agreed
to
start
the
process
and
get
the
ball
going
and
then,
in
agreement
with
our
council
president
we'll
be
turning
the
reins
over
to
him
as
a
voting
member
of
the
committee
and
also
as
the
president
of
council
to
con
to
sort
continue,
I
guess
the
chairmanship
and
then,
if
council
redwoods
rejoins
us
then
obviously
has
the
chair.
She
will
resume
control.
A
Otherwise,
council
of
president
o'malley
will
adjourn
the
hearing
so
I'll
be
able
to
stay
on
for
a
few
more
minutes,
but
I'm
going
to
turn
it
over
right
now
to
council
o'malley
to
take
the
reins
to
allow
our
him
and
our
colleagues
to
continue
their
line
of
questioning
and
then
to
take
any
public
testimony.
That's
that
has
been
signed
up,
so
thank
you
all
and
it's
good
to
see
everybody.
Thank
you.
Councilman
ali.
Thank.
B
You,
mr
chair,
thank
you
for
partnership
and
leadership.
I
I
don't
have
too
many
questions.
I
just
wanted
to
note,
because
there
are
a
number
of
folks
who
I'm
looking
forward
to
mostly
constituents.
I'm
pleased
to
note
who've
signed
up
for
public
testimony
that
we'll
get
to
in
a
moment,
but
I
just
wanted
to
underscore
that.
Obviously
we're
happy
to
take
all
testimony
and
critical
testimony
as
well.
That's
part
of
this
process.
B
I
do
want
to
make
sure
that
we're
not
being
intellectually
dishonest
with
some
of
the
opposition
to
this
home
rule
petition
and
what
it
would
do
and
what
it
would
not
do.
The
reason
why
I
support
this
so
strongly
is
because
it's
allows
for
protections
in
place
for
these
folks
who
are
living
in
units
that
that
are
expiring.
B
They're
just
living
in
this
anxious
state,
not
knowing
where
they
can
go
and
to
michael's
great
work,
and
he
mentioned
the
thousands
of
units
that
he
and
his
colleagues
have
protected
through
the
decades
and
and
tim
you
and
and
pamela,
and
obviously
chief
dylan
have
been
doing
some
great
work
in
this
respect
as
well,
and
you
you
mentioned
some
that
you
were
able
to
protect
and
preserve
all
this
home
rule
petition
does
is
allow
for
added
tools
to
get
there,
and
certainly
yes,
some
mandates
as
well
that
we
need
to
do
because
we
need
to
be
sensitive.
B
This
is
unconscionable
that
the
we
have
a
situation
in
the
forbes
building
where
we
celebrated
an
agreement
that
was
made
before
the
pandemic
began,
because
I
sat
with
her.
I
stood
with
sheila
dylan
in
the
residence
room
over
dunkin,
donuts
and
coffee
to
celebrate
a
victory
that
we
had
found
and
then
I
just
think
it's
incredibly
cruel
that
right
before
the
holidays
during
a
pandemic,
that
agreement
dissipated,
because
for
whatever
reason-
and
these
are
just
my
words-
but
it
just
seems
incredibly
unfair,
cruel
and
greedy.
B
So
what
we're
trying
to
do
here
is
allow
for
the
tools
in
place
to
protect
tenants,
high
risk
vulnerable
tenants
who
otherwise
would
be
displaced.
It's
a
common
sense,
as
has
been
mentioned.
There
is
tremendous
support.
I
am
hopeful
that
this
moment
of
time
we
were
in
will
get
us
over
the
I'm
confident
that
we
will
pass
this
at
the
council
level.
I'm
confident
the
acting
mayor
will
sign
it,
and
I
am
we'll
put
all
of
our
efforts
in
getting
it
done
at
the
state
legislature.
B
Rep
eligardo
spoke
at
the
rally
barat.
She
has
agreed
to
be
a
leader
on
this
other
members
of
the
delegation
with
whom
I've
spoken
and
colleagues
have
spoken
to
are
on
board
as
well.
So
now
is
the
time
and
again
I
I'm
not
minimizing
the
real
estate
board's
remarks.
Of
course
they
should
weigh
in,
and
we
welcome
that.
B
We
welcome
all
points
of
view,
but
I
just
want
us
to
be
honest
on
what
this
homo
petition
would
do,
and
would
it
not
do
it
is
a
minor
change
in
the
grand
scheme
of
things
in
terms
of
the
number
of
units
that
it
would
impact,
but
it
also
will
be
profoundly
impactful
to
make
sure
that
those
folks
have
the
peace
of
mind
of
knowing
that
they're
going
to
have
a
place
to
live.
B
So
I
don't
have
any
questions,
I'm
going
to
throw
it
to
my
co-sponsor,
counselor
bach
and
then,
if,
if
tim
you
or
big
shimmy
beverly,
I
think
I
called
you
pamela
last
time.
Sorry,
beverly
and
michael
have
any
other
remarks
we
can
get
to
that
before
we
get
to
public
testimony
but
kenzie
the
floor
is
yours.
C
Thank
you,
president
o'malley,
and
I
don't.
I
also
don't
have
many
questions
I
I
just
would.
Second
you.
I
think
that
you
know
real
real
estate.
C
Development
exists
to
serve
the
people
of
boston
and
not
the
other
way
around
and
and
there
is
really
no
paramount,
more
paramount
public
interest
than
keeping
our
communities
and
many
of
our
long-term
residents
like
in
their
homes
and
and
yeah.
The
forbes
building
in
your
district
is
just
such
a
perfect
example
of
that
and
babcock
towers
is
such
a
hard
loss.
You
know
in
councilor,
braden's
district
and
so
yeah.
I
just.
I
think.
C
I
think
that
this
is
an
urgent
thing
and,
and
I
don't,
I
think
I
think
the
slippery
slope
arguments
should
give
way
to
the
like
real,
concrete
realities
of
the
people.
C
Who
would
be
you
know
affected
by
these
protections,
so
yeah
no
surprise,
I'm
in
strong
support
as
a
sponsor,
but
I
don't
think
I
have
many
questions
for
tim
and
beverly
in
part
because
michael
explained
so
eloquently
all
the
details
of
the
recent
the
recent
circumstances
at
those
buildings
and,
like
I
said
I
was
involved
with
the
bha
side
and,
as
you
mentioned
michael
right,
we
got
these
federal
sort
of
vouchers
to
protect
the
folks,
and
it
is
a
major
shortcoming
with
our
state
program
that
it
doesn't
have
those
protections
in
place
that
the
federal
side
does.
C
But
I
think
it's
just
worth
recognizing
that
it's
even
protecting
those
tenants.
It's
just
a
it's
a
loss
of
a
community.
I
mean
those
are
vouchers
that
the
bha
would
have
used
to
support
other
families
if
they
weren't
supporting
these
ones
right
and
so
they're,
like
you
know,
there's
it's
still
housing
opportunities
lost,
even
though
we're
helping
those
folks
and
also
you
know
to
lose
a
community
where
you
know
everyone
around
you
say:
might
speak
russian
or
be
people
you've
known.
I
mean
it's
just
it's
irreplaceable,
so
yeah.
C
I
just
just
wanted
to
comment
to
underscore
again
my
feelings
on
the
subject
mr
chair
and,
and
I
think
again,
michael,
was
very
thorough,
mr
kane
and
so
yeah
I'll
probably
leave
it
there
today.
Okay,.
B
Hey
counselor
bach
dnd,
michael
any
any
other
remarks
you'd
like
to
make.
We
welcome
you
to
stay
around
and
listen
to
opened
public
testimony,
but
any
any
other
thoughts.
G
I
have
one
one
one
comment
on
the
question
about:
who
would
administer
it?
Who
would
be
the
governmental
body
I
actually
think
dnd
in
the
office
of
housing
stability
would
be
the
appropriate
place.
I
just
want
to
point
out
that
dnd
already
is
involved
in
every
one
of
these
cases.
If
this
law
passed,
they
would
have
additional
tools.
G
It
would
actually
make
it
easier
for
them
to,
in
the
case
of
forbes,
require
renewal
of
the
mrvp
contract
and
require
that
they
accept
the
city's
offer
project-based
vouchers
case
closed
and
they
they
would
end
up
saving
time
so
they're
already
involved.
So
I
don't
think
it's
that
big,
a
leap
to
give
them
more
tools
to
solve,
to
do
what
they're
already
doing
and
the
the
fair
net
operating
income
is
mainly
going
to
be
a
question
for
the
previously
regulated
properties
that
have
you
know,
is
going
to
escape
the
system.
G
Now,
if
there
are
standards
for
fairnet
operating
income
that
have
been
defined
by
the
state
courts
here,
so
it
wouldn't
be
hard
to
find
those,
but
there's
a
finite
number
of
those
buildings.
I
think
it's
about
10
that
so
I
think
dnd's,
current
staffing
without
major
expense
would
be
able
to
do
that.
The
the
data
about
the
budgets
are,
you
know,
are
mostly
public
data
from
when
the
at
the
end
of
the
contracts.
So
it
would
be
not
that
difficult
to
challenge.
I
think
so.
G
B
No
well
said
agreed.
I
appreciate
that
any
d,
any
any
comments
before
we
get
to
public
testimony.
B
You
thank
you
tim,
so
christine
do
we
want
to
start?
I'm
I'm
not
the
host.
So
could
you
start
admitting
several
attendees
I
see
six
have
so
I
assume
have
signed
up
or
seven
rather.
B
Wonderful,
okay
and
I
think
we
will
start
with
just
in
order,
as
I
see
them
coming
in
anna
elizabeth
fall
reno.
I
believe,
and
then
pam
from
the
municipal
research
bureau
and
then
marjorie
and
elizabeth
will
start
with
you
if
you
could
feel
free
to
turn
your
camera
on,
if
you
wish,
although
you
don't
have
to,
but
if
you'd
like
to
just
explain
your
name,
if
you
have
an
affiliation,
if
you're
a
boston
resident,
then
proceed
with
your
testimony.
B
J
Yes,
I
I
am
in
the
still
by
by
the
grace
of
god.
I
don't
know
why,
but
not
the
rent
is
still,
you
know,
kind
of
high,
but
I'm
a
moderate,
a
former
13a
tenant
in
the
piano
factory,
and
there
are
just
a
handful
of
us
left.
Maybe
it's
a
15
I'm
going
to
count
it
again,
I'm
sorry
to
be
so
inaccurate,
but
I'm
this
was
a
building
for
artists.
You
know
back
in
the
you
know,
and
up
until
1995
is
going
to
get
our
notices
under
the
door
but
see.
J
Let
me
think
now,
yeah
mark
at
moderate
low
and
I'm
a
moderate
13
a
tenant
and
there
were
three
tiers
of
income
and
then,
when
it
is
his
his
mortgage
was
you
know,
so
he
could
pre-pay
his
mortgage,
which
we
opted
to
do
and
try
to
throw
us
out
illegally.
We
got
a
very
good
attorney,
harvey
shapiro
who
helped
us
out.
J
We
we
won
twice
in
court,
bad
business
practices
in
life,
but
still
a
lot
of
people
have
left
since
then
are
not
too
many
left
and
mostly
market
here
and
we're
paying
like
almost
a
good
chunk
of
market
rate,
but
not
market
as
much
as
the
others
are.
But
you
know
the
and
they're
trying
to
renew
make
the
building
into
seems
like
a
swell
hotel,
but
it's
supposed
to
be
artist
building
and
it's
the
tracks
from
the
character
of
the
neighborhood.
J
If
it
were
no
artist,
we
haven't
he,
he
moved
the
gallery
when
he
we
did
the
building
a
bit
some
time
ago,
several
years
ago.
So
here
we
are,
but
anyway,
my
husband's
into
writing
a
lot
of
people
there
there
are.
There
was
a
cat
in
every
window,
all
kinds
of
artists,
and
there
was
like
a
a
a
crazy
place.
When
I
first
arrived.
There
was
this
funny
dog
in
the
in
the
office.
J
You
know,
but
it
wasn't
a
fancy
office
of
just
wooden
floorboards
and
the
shadrack
is
kind
of
a
demo
dog
along
the
guard.
Wonderful
thing:
I
thought
he
was
a
vicious
cur,
but
he
was
turned
happy
very
nice
and
my
husband
dave
and
I
moved
in
in
81.-
we've
been
here
ever
since,
but
we
don't
we're
a
little
anxious,
we're
not
sure
how
much
longer
we're
going
because
where's
elders
now
I'm
73
he's
72..
J
So
here
we
are,
but
you
know
they
want
it's
that's
what
they
want
just
want.
This
want
the
money
and
you
know,
and
I've
seen
artists
in
the
back
who
had
their
some
people
had
to
move
for
the
physical
reasons,
but
in
the
back
who
had
some
of
their
their
extra
loss
there
you
know
their
their
studios
have
been
thrown
out.
One
of
them
had
a
terrible
fight.
I
can't
mention
names
but
had
a
terrible
fight
with
the
management.
So
there
we
go.
Okay,
I
could.
I
could
tell
you
stories
that
go
yeah.
J
B
Well,
well,
I
appreciate
you
taking
the
time
to
testify
and
thank
you
very
much
and
elizabeth
and
and
our
best
to
you
and
and
your
and
your
husband,
so
thank
you.
J
B
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you.
We'll
now
go
to
marjory
gan
and
then
pam
coker
from
the
municipal
research
bureau
miss
gan.
The
floor
is
yours.
K
Thank
you
good
morning
and
thank
you
for
providing
this
opportunity
to
talk
about
this
incredibly
important
issue
of
preserving
affordable
housing,
and
I
really
want
to
thank
the
boston
city
council
for
taking
this
issue
on.
My
name
is
marjory
gann
and
I'm
the
chief
operating
officer
at
ethos
in
jamaica,
plain
we're.
The
state
designated
aging
services
access
point
for
southwest
boston
boston
is
different.
K
I'm
going
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
why
it
is
different
for
older
adults,
and
this
is
probably
the
most
recent
data
we
could
find
the
census
data
is
pretty
much
out
of
out
of
date,
but
for
in
2018
we
have
the
american
community
survey,
which
says
that
there
are
117
000
people
over
60
in
the
city
of
boston,
16.7
of
the
population
and
it's
a
stable
part
of
our
population.
K
And
what
really
concerns
me
is
that
the
truth
is
that
older
adults
in
boston
are
different.
They
are
much
more
likely
to
live
in
poverty
in
boston.
We're
really
talking
about
seventeen
percent
of
the
older
adults
being
in
poverty.
By
the
way,
poverty
is
twelve
thousand
eight
hundred
and
eighty
dollars
a
year
right
now.
K
For
those
of
you
who
budget
your
own
household
income,
that's
not
a
lot
of
money
across
the
state.
Only
eight
and
a
half
percent
of
older
adults
are
in
poverty,
so
boston
twice
as
high.
It's
also
compounded,
because
women
live
longer
than
men,
they've
earned
less
in
their
lifetimes.
You
can
tell
I'm
you
know
my
little
bitter,
perhaps,
but
we're
also
looking
then
at
over
20
percent
of
older
women
in
boston
being
in
poverty.
K
K
If
you
are
leaving
your
current
subsidized
apartment,
applying
for
subsidized
housing
is
incredibly
stressful.
Council
o'malley.
You
certainly
referred
to
the
stress
that
people
in
the
forbes
building
are
living
under
and
certainly
applying
for
subsidized
housing,
providing
all
those
core
documents.
Every
aspect
of
your
life
is
being
scrutinized.
K
The
the
a
number
of
pieces
of
paper
that
you
have
to
apply
are
incredible,
and
in
this
day
and
age
a
lot
of
it
is
done.
Online
and
boston
has
incredibly
poor
internet
use
by
older
adults.
So
people
you
just
can't
do
it
on
your
own.
So
it's
a
real
real
problem.
This
whole
new
way
of
doing
things
is
just
incredibly
stressful
for
our
older
adults,
forcing
people
to
move
of
course,
when
they're
older,
their
friends,
their
grocery
shopping,
their
their
medical
care.
K
Everything
is
really
part
of
your
neighborhood
and
public
transportation,
because,
if
you're
low
income,
you
certainly
can't
afford
to
have
a
car
in
the
city
of
boston,
you
certainly
can't
afford
the
car
insurance.
You
really
do
resort
on
public
transport.
You
rely
on
public
transportation
and
that
transportation
in
the
forest
building,
frankly,
is
pretty
good.
K
K
B
Of
course,
and
thank
you
marjorie,
and
to
valerie
and
all
your
colleagues
at
ethos,
thank
you
for
just
exceptional
service,
not
only
to
our
seniors
but
to
to
to
all
of
southwest
boston,
particularly
during
the
pandemic.
I'm
so
grateful
for
the
great
part.
Thank
you.
So
thank
you
very
much.
Pam
coker
is
next
and
followed
by
mary
tamer
pam.
Welcome
thanks
for
testifying
and
good
to
see
you
again.
I
began
my
day
with
on
our
zoom
with
pam.
So
it's
great
to
see
you.
I
I
Developers
may
well
be
inclined
to
simply
pay
into
the
city's
fund
for
inclusionary
development
instead
of
building
any
affordable
units
that
would
be
rent
controlled.
The
building
of
units
then
obviously
falls
on
the
city
and
government
in
general
is
not
known
to
be
the
most
efficient
creator
of
affordable
housing.
I
I
This
ordinance
specifically
excludes
ordinary
repair
replacement
and
maintenance
as
a
factor
in
determining
a
fair
net
operating
income
for
owners.
This
could
directly
lead
to
the
dilapidation
of
income,
restricted
homes
subject
to
rent
control.
In
other
words,
it
is
possible.
This
would
unintentionally
target
boston's,
affordable
renter
population
with
deteriorating
housing
conditions.
D
I
You
a
couple
of
other
things
to
just
quickly
mention
a
sudden
and
dramatic
cut
of
rental
incomes
would
have
severe
impact
on
all
housing
units
in
the
city
dramatically
changing
our
dynamics.
Of
course,
we
want
to
change
the
dynamics
for
better
housing
opportunities
for
particularly
lower
income
residents,
but
again
this
would
be
extraordinarily
disruptive,
a
couple
of
recommendations
of
how
we
might
address
this
concern.
Otherwise,
it's
clear
that
boston
cannot
completely
build
itself
out
of
its
affordable
housing
problem
on
its
own.
I
Now,
while
a
regional
partnership
with
15
communities,
including
boston,
announced
in
2018,
it
would
set
goals
to
prevent
displacement,
preserve
neighborhoods,
reduce
evictions
and
homelessness,
promote
mixed
use,
development
and
build
diversity
of
housing
types
for
all
income
levels.
Few
of
those
other
14
communities
have
taken
on
that
mission
to
the
degree
that
it
is
needed.
I
The
state,
the
region
and
city
should
work
together
to
address
regional
failure
to
supply,
affordable
housing,
including
failure
to
take
advantage
of
thoughtful
options
to
incorporate
affordable
housing
into
other
communities.
So
we
really
have
not
just
boston
issue.
We
can't
build
our
way
out
of,
but
a
regional
challenge,
and
I
would
say,
city
state
government
is
a
place
that
we
should
be
looking
to
really
make
an
effort
to
address
those
challenges.
B
Thank
you
pam.
I
just
have
to
get
to
the
thank
you
for
your
time.
Thank
you
for
your
time,
and
just
before
I
get
to
mary
tamer
just
wanted
to
again
note
what
we're
talking
about
here,
as
as
I
believe,
everyone
knows,
is
formerly
government
involved.
B
Housing
expiring
use
it's
easy
to
conflate
this
with
rent
control
writ
large,
but
I
I
do
think
we
need
to
be
intellectually
honest
about
what
we're
discussing
here
and
rather
than
perhaps
paint
too
wide
of
a
brush
and
distort
the
purpose
of
this
homework
petition
in
our
work.
But.
B
I
appreciate
I
appreciate
the
testimony
and
your
work
on
the
research
bureau,
so
mary
tamer
is
next
followed
by
rosemary
jones
from
the
jamaica
pond
association.
Miss
tamer
welcome
the
floor
is
yours.
H
H
The
onus
is
upon
all
of
us,
especially
those
in
elected
leadership,
to
ensure
the
protections
for
the
most
vulnerable
among
us,
and
those
protections
include
having
a
secure
roof
over
one's
head.
Our
seniors
and
our
friends
and
family
members
with
disabilities
have
paid
their
dues
to
the
city
and
to
this
state
in
immeasurable
and
often
difficult
ways,
and
they
have
also
faced
more
than
most
throughout
this
pandemic,
including
extreme
isolation,
stress
and
anxiety.
B
Thank
you
very
much
mary
appreciate
your
taking
the
time
and
and
your
wonderful
comments.
We
next
we'll
have
rosemary
jones,
my
dear
friend
and
neighbor
from
the
jamaica
pond
association
and
then
finally,
the
great
sarah
freeman
will
be
the
last
person
I
have
if
we
have
any
additional
folks
looking
to
testify,
I'm
happy
to
stay
on
for
a
while,
but
miss
jones.
The
floor
is
yours.
I.
L
Am
honored
to
be
followed
by
sarah
and
to
be
preceded
by
mary,
my
buddy
from
the
boston
league
of
women
voters,
and
I
want
to
say
that
one
of
the
very
great
pleasures
of
living
in
boston
is
hearing
from
people
who
know
what
they're
talking
about,
which
is
the
case
this
morning
and
of
course,
like
everybody
else,
I
want
to
thank
you
for
sponsoring
this
and
showing
your
concern
for
boston
residents
who
are
potentially
are
actually
being
big,
surprise
squeezed
out
of
the
boston
housing
market.
L
I'm
writing!
Actually,
I'm
not
officially
representing
the
jamaica
pond
association.
I
hope
at
our
next
monthly
meeting
we
can
hear
from.
We
try
to
be
fair,
all
sides
of
this
issue.
If
the
owner
will
come
so
the
pond
association
hasn't
taken
a
stand.
However,
as
an
individual,
a
resident
of
jp,
a
former
social
worker
kenzie,
I
was
at
the
boston
housing
authority
for
a
number
of
years,
tenant
relations,
aid
and
at
boston
city
hospital.
L
L
I'm
thinking
of
one
gentleman
I
got
to
know
through
the
hospital
who
had
made
a
very
good
living
refurbishing,
the
paint
in
gilded
age
mansions.
L
Unfortunately,
the
paint
that
he
was
sanding
or
I
don't
want
to
say
removing-
had
lead
in
it.
So
at
one
point
he
found
himself
even
unable
even
to
grasp
a
paintbrush
thanks
to
the
subsidized
housing,
he
was
able
to
get
stabilized
housing
to
undergo
his
medical
treatment
and
not
feel
that
his
whole
life
had
crashed
and
burned
because
he
was
no
longer
able
to
work.
L
I
want
to
give
an
example
of
a
gay
man
who
experienced
homophobic
actions
in
his
neighborhood
became
depressed
unable
to
work.
He
was
assisted
by
the
wonderful
jp
resident
former
staff
member
at
an
old
charity
that
not
many
people
have
heard
heard
of
the
howard
benevolent
society
incorporated
in
1812.
L
I
think
it's,
the
oldest
continuously
existing
charity
in
boston,
maybe
in
the
state,
and
she
helped
him
put
his
life
back
together,
which
included
getting
a
unit
in
the
forbes
building
another
person.
I
think
of
was
a
patient
at
boston
city
hospital,
her
she
was
burnt
out
of
her
apartment
because
I
had
encouraged
her
the
previous
year
to
apply
for
a
subsidized
unit.
L
L
They
feel
that
they
belong,
even
though
they
don't
have
much
money,
because
there
are
people
who
know
them
who
speak
back
to
them,
and
we
all
need
that
sense
of
community
being
where
we
want
to
be,
and
so
yeah
fine
give
them
a
voucher
and
let
them
go
someplace
else,
but
to
tear
people
away
from
a
community.
I
think
it
was
was
maybe
kenzie
who
mentioned
the
russian-speaking
community,
it's
sort
of
like
ripping
part
of
their
skin
off
and
again,
forgive
me,
I'm
an
english
major.
L
So
I
just
want
to
say
that
I
fully
support
this
and
if
we
have
a
meeting
at
which
the
jamaica
pond
association
votes
to
support
it,
it
would
be
not
unknown
for
some
of
us
to
do
a
little
work
up
on
beacon
hill,
which
I
would
be
happy
to
go
to
with
statistics
if
that's
what's
needed
and
a
sincere
midwesterner's
expression.
B
Oh,
thank
you
rosemary,
and
it
was
I
just
I
I
so
appreciate
the
way
you
just
sort
of
presented
your
comments
and
your
great
partnership
on
this.
So
thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
B
L
There's
an
article
in
the
boston
globe
about
the
new
ceo
of
the
boston
foundation,
lee
pelton,
who
was
president
of
emerson,
and
he
talks
about
a
goal,
including
resolving
inequities.
So
I
don't
know
what
kind
of
partnerships
he
on
behalf
of
the
agency
might
be
open
to,
but
I'm
going
like.
Would
the
boston
foundation
possibly
be
a
resource
in
developing
some
partnerships
and
doing
something
about
changing
ownership
of
these
properties?
B
M
M
I
submitted
this
in
writing,
but
I'm
happy
to
share
it
for
those
who
didn't
receive
it
as
the
first,
whereas
in
the
home
rule
petition,
says
quote:
it
is
incumbent
that
the
city
preserve
its
affordable
housing
market
end
of
quote
a
healthy
and
vibrant
city
includes
a
diverse
population
such
as
our
neighbors
at
the
forbes
building
in
jamaica,
plain
and
babcock
towers
in
brighton,
along
with
strong
schools,
libraries,
multimodal
transportation,
thriving
businesses
and
healthy
parks
and
environment.
M
M
I
know
at
least
three
three
that
I
know
of
residents
who
live
there
in
the
forbes
building
and
they
add
so
much
to
our
community
that
it
would
be
a
sad
commentary
if
we
can't
find
a
way
to
keep
them
where
they
are.
Thank
you.
B
Thank
you.
Thank
you,
sarah,
and
thank
you
for,
I
think
beautifully,
describing
the
emotion
that
we
all
feel
right
now.
Thank
you.
Thank
you
for
your
hey.
J
B
So
that
is
all
we
have
for
a
public
testimony
christine.
Do
you
know?
Oh,
I
see.
Oh
michael,
we're
gonna.
We
will
close
with
you
michael
your
hands
up,
but
christine
o'donnell.
No
other
individuals
have
joined
the
zoom.
B
Great
fabulous,
thank
you
very
much,
so
I'm
gonna
throw
I
I
will
close
it
out
officially,
but
before
I
do,
I
want
to
ask
michael
caine
for
any
concluding
thoughts
or
remarks.
G
G
I
just
I
want
to
address
this
rent
control
canard
that
just
to
be
clear.
This
is
a
home
rule
petition
that
applies
only
to
a
specified
list
of
government
subsidized
housing
programs.
They're
listed
in
the
ordinance
it
doesn't
does
not
apply
to
any
privately
owned
housing
that
does
not
receive
project-based
subsidies
from
either
the
city
or
the
state.
It's
a
finite
list,
so
I
know
some
people
think
when
you
regulate
anything,
it's
like
a
cancer
that
spreads
through
other
categories,
but
no.
G
This
is
a
specific
bill
that
would
only
regulate
buildings
that
always
were
regulated
and
heavily
subsidized
by
the
federal
state
government
from
day
one.
The
owners
of
these
properties
put
up
very
little
of
their
own
money.
It's
not
like
the
private
real
estate
market.
They
put
up
very
little
of
their
own
money,
often
received
tax
subsidies
to
make
the
initial
equity
investment
and
the
rest
was
all
subsidized.
G
Subsidized
mortgage
interest
guaranteed
mortgages,
project-based
subsidies
that
cover
the
operating
costs
for
decades,
and
now,
as
councillor
bach
pointed
out,
they
want
to
you
know
the
contracts
end.
The
value
of
the
property
is
enormously
inflated.
G
The
high
point
village
was,
I
think
they
invested
about
a
hundred
thousand
hundred
and
twenty
thousand
dollars
in
the
sixties.
It
was
when
they
cashed
out.
It
was
like
35
million,
so
one
would
think
that's
a
fairly
high
rate
of
return
on
an
investment.
G
So
you
know
this
to
to
restore
some
modest
protections
to
keep
these
buildings.
Affordable
going
forward
is
only
just
because
it
was
our
money
that
built
the
equity
for
these
property
that
built
up
the
value.
It
was
our
taxpayers
dollars
that
made
them
the
expensive
properties
that
they
are
now.
G
So
I
just
want
to
point
that
out
it's
a
very
limited
regulation
that
keeps
the
continues
the
status
quo
really
and
keeps
these
properties
guaranteeing
reasonable
profits
to
the
owners,
so
just
to
be
clear
and
that's
why
we've
had
broad
support,
even
among
republicans
at
the
state
house
when
we've
gone
around
to
get
sponsors.
G
So,
thank
you
so
much
for
holding
this
hearing
and
for
your
leadership
and
filing
this
important
measure.
B
No
plea,
thank
you.
We,
this
would
not
have
happened,
but
for
you,
michael,
I
I'm
I'm
happy
to
follow
your
leadness
and
thank
you
for
again
making
that
point
clear.
It's
one
of
the
reasons
why
I
keep
saying
we
need
to
be
intellectually
honest
about
this.
If
you
want
to,
you
know,
disagree
or
debate
the
merits
of
any
issue.
Of
course
we
should
we
welcome
that.
That
is
the
purpose
of
representative
government,
but
to
paint.
B
This
is
something
that
it's
not
is
just
unfair
and
at
the
end
of
the
day,
it's
it's
about
the
150,
at
least
in
the
forbes
building,
countless
others,
but
I'm
I'm
concerned
about
150
residents
and
I
don't
want
to
see
them
being
used
through
a
red
herring
argument
about
you
know
what
we're
trying
to
do
to
support
them.
So
I
appreciate
your
leadership.
Counselor
bach,
any
concluding
remarks.
C
No
just
to
thank
everyone
for
their
testimony
and
work
on
on
these
issues
and
and
commit
all
of
us
to
continuing
continuing
this
fight.
So
thank
you,
mr
chair.
B
Here
here
so
again,
I
will
be
in
concert
in
conversation
with
counselor
bach
counselor
flaherty
as
well
as
chair
edwards.
It
sounds
to
me
that
the
only
change
is
a
somewhat
technical
one
changing
bpda
to
the
bra,
but
I
would
hope
that
we
would.
B
I
am
hopeful
that
we
will
take
action
on
this
in
very,
very
short
order,
because
again,
the
next
step
then
will
be
signed,
passing
counsel
signed
by
the
acting
mayor,
and
then
we
need
an
all
hands
on
deck
approach,
to
making
sure
that
we
can
continue
the
momentum
at
the
state
legislature.
So
this
hearing
is
on
this.
Do
you
have
one
more
question?
Michael?
No,
no,
I'm
not
perfect!
Okay!
Well,
this
herring
is
here
by
adjourned.