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From YouTube: Home Rule Petition: Transfer Tax
Description
Mayor Walsh signed the Home Rule Petition in an effort to support affordable housing in Boston. Under the Home Rule Petition, a fee of up to two percent of the purchase price will be implemented on the transfer of property that is valued over $2 million in Boston. The seller and purchaser would each pay one percent of this fee and funding generated from the fee would be dedicated to supporting affordable housing in the city. The proposal will now move to the Massachusetts Legistlature for approval.
A
A
After
much
discussion,
debate
and
study
a
reasonable
but
very
productive
home
rule
petition
has
been
finalized
for
signature.
The
legislation
will
yield
millions
of
dollars
for
affordable
housing
each
and
every
year.
I
want
to
thank
the
elected
officials,
city
officials,
affordable
housing,
advocates
and
developers
that
are
here
today
showing
the
support
for
this
important
bill.
It
will
take
all
of
us
working
very
hard
together
to
get
this
home.
Real
petition
passed
at
the
state.
I
also
want
to
personally
thank
two
very
talented
people
that
I
know
well
that
have
brought
this
over
the
finish
line.
A
For
their
tireless
work
and
negotiation
to
get
this
done,
while
we
often
debate
the
details
and
which
is
I
should
say,
is
a
very
healthy
thing
to
do-
we're
all
in
agreement
that
every
person
every
family
in
Boston
deserves
a
home
that
they
can
afford.
No
one
believes
this
more
than
our
very
own
mayor
mayor,
Walsh,
mayor
Walsh,.
B
B
This
is
this
is
historic
in
some
ways,
piece
of
legislation
that
we're
going
to
fight
for,
and
I'll
talk
about
that
in
a
minute,
but
I
want
to
thank
Kansai
woods
who
brought
this
to
the
forefront
about
a
year
and
a
half
ago,
and
we
were
able
to
work
together
and
I
want
to
thank
the
C
council,
all
the
members
that
comes
to
voted
for
this
as
well.
This
is
very
important,
so
Thank
You
councillor
I,
would
for
your
great
advocacy.
B
I
want
to
thank
Karen
Chen
and
the
Chinese
progress
association
and
all
the
housing
advocates
that
are
here
today.
I
want
to
thank
the
people
of
Chinatown
for
inspiring
us
and
your
passion.
Housing
is
the
biggest
economic
challenge
facing
the
residents
of
Boston
and
people
across
the
region.
Everyone's
been
talking
about
it.
It's
a
big
issue,
there's
no
question
about
it.
Our
population
is
growing,
our
jobs
are
growing,
our
federal
resources
are
shrinking
and
going
away
we
used
to
rely
on
them
for
affordable
housing.
Not
it's
not
the
money.
B
Quite
honestly,
isn't
there
anymore
and
the
will
in
Washington
is
not
to
put
money
into
affordable
housing
for
poor
people,
and
we
need
to
continue
to
push
and
move
forward.
Over
the
last
few
years,
we've
grown
to
use
our
own
resources
to
do
things
in
Boston
and
do
things
that
we've
never
done
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Several
years
ago,
the
voters
of
Boston
passed
the
Community
Preservation
Act,
and
we
created
the
office
of
housing
stability
to
fight
the
displacement
we
put
3
million
square
feet
of
city
land
into
affordable
housing.
B
We've
created
a
new
program
for
first-time
homeowners.
We've
said,
spent
65
million
dollars
to
the
Boston
Housing
at
door,
for
public
housing
in
East,
Boston,
Charlestown
and
Southwest,
and
that's
money
out
of
the
city's
coffers.
I
want
to
thank
Kate
Bennett
from
the
Boston
Housing
Authority
is
here
today
we're
pushing
we're
pushing
the
state
in
the
legislature
for
stronger
tenant
protections
in
all
we've
created
over
31,000
unit
of
about
you,
31
thousand
units
of
new
homes
in
the
last
405
years
and
20
percent
of
those
who
subsidized
affordable
housing
units.
B
Boston
Massachusetts
is
number
one,
the
number
one
from
major
city
in
the
United
States
in
building
and
creating
subsidized
housing.
We
did
this
work
by
working
together,
but
we
have
more
work
to
do
we're
not
going
to
set
we're
not
going
to
settle
there.
We
have
to
do
everything
we
can
to
make
sure
that
to
be
a
city
that
low-income
working
class
and
middle
class
people
can
afford
to
live
in.
This
formal
petition
is
a
significant
step
forward.
It's
a
modest
fee
and
I'd
call
it
a
modest
fee
on
high-end
transactions.
B
That
would
help
a
lot
of
people.
It
would
allow
us
to
help
more
people
than
that.
We
have
currently
have
tools
for
and
develop
some
new
solutions
for
seniors
for
families,
for
people
experiencing
homelessness,
for
people
who
want
to
stay
in
the
neighborhood
that
they
helped
build
and
we're
gonna
we're
going
to
protect
the
average
homeowner.
We
need
to
work
together
to
get
this
pass
to
the
Statehouse,
and
one
thing
that
I
was
asked
a
question
by
the
press
the
other
day
about
what
the
impacts
in
the
legislature
that
don't
want
to
raise
taxes.
B
Are
this
isn't
about
the
legislature?
Raising
taxes,
then
not
raising
taxes
they're,
allowing
us
the
opportunity
to
increase
the
fee.
Did
this
isn't
a
tax
role
for
the
legislature?
This
has
nothing
to
do
with
legislative
legislators
outside
of
Boston.
This
is
allowing
Boston
the
opportunity
to
increase
tax
to
2
percent
on
the
sale
of
property,
so
we
can
help
the
most
honorable,
many
of
those
people
that
were
helping,
didn't,
grow
up
and
didn't
don't
live
in
the
city
of
Boston,
but
we're
one
of
the
only
cities
in
the
Northeast
creating
affordable
housing.
B
So
I'm
asking
the
legislature
to
fast
that
track.
This
proposal
and
get
this
proposal
on
to
the
governor's
desk,
because,
at
the
end
of
the
day
the
200
legislators
didn't
take
a
tax
vote.
They
took
a
home
roll
petition
vote
to
allow
the
city
of
Boston's.
Do
we
want
the
governor
did
not
sign
a
bill
into
law.
B
The
governor
is
not
signing
a
tax
increase,
he's
signing
a
piece
of
legislation
that
allows
the
city
of
Boston
to
do
what
we
want
to
do
to
move
forward
so
I'm
asking
an
ask
them
for
their
help.
I'm
going
to
go
up
tomorrow
to
say
to
us
and
talk
about
IDP
and
linkage
fees.
I
know
many
of
you
in
this
room
are
gonna,
be
with
me.
We've
been
spending
a
lot
of
time
at
the
Statehouse
lately.
I'd
prefer
not
how
to
have
to
do
all
this.
C
B
The
reason
why
I
say
that,
if
we
had,
if
we
had
the
money
in
the
revenue
that
was
there,
we
wouldn't
have
to
do
this,
but
because
of
all
the
concern
out
there,
all
all
the
activists
on
housing
and
linkage.
All
of
that,
if
I
thank
you
for
your
work,
because
we
need
to
continue
to
push
forward,
we
need
to
continue
to
make
the
investments
in
housing.
We
need
to
continue
to
make
the
investments,
not
necessarily
in
housing.
We
need
to
continue
to
make
the
investments
in
people.
B
So
as
the
mayor,
the
City
City
of
Austin
and
as
my
colleagues
in
the
City
Council
I
know
that
we
uniform
in
this
it's
important
for
us
that
we
continue
to
represent
the
people
of
our
city
and
the
people
that
are
most
vulnerable.
We
are
all
motivated
inspiring
by
the
people
of
this
neighborhood
and
every
neighborhood
in
Boston.
That's
who
we
work
for
that's
what
we
built
housing
for
and
that's
what
this
ordinance
and
this
revenue
will
help
us
do.
I
want
to
thank
all
of
you
being
here
today.
A
Khmer,
as
the
mayor
mentioned,
the
city
councils
worked
really
hard
on
this
home
real
petition
and
we
so
appreciate
their
willingness
to
listen
to
all
sides
and
shape
this
bill
into
something
that
will
produce
much-needed,
affordable
housing
and,
I
believe,
has
a
pretty
decent
chance
of
passing.
Leading
this
effort
has
our
been
our
city
council,
lydia,
edwards,
chair
of
the
Housing
Committee
Development,
Committee
and
city
councillor
for
district
1,
Lydia.
D
First
I
want
to
say
thank
you
so
much
Sheila
Dillon,
you
were
my
first
Boston
Housing
when
I
came
over,
so
it
has
been
through
again
I've
said
many
times
to
my
former
colleagues
at
DMD
at
the
office
of
housing,
stability,
the
mentorship,
their
friendship,
their
lessons
taught
to
me
and
how
to
not
only
push
a
policy,
but
the
narrative
around
it.
So
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
folks
I
work
with
at
the
city
of
Boston
and
I
think
they
deserve
a
round
of
applause.
D
They
don't
get
enough
credit
I
want
to
also
say
thank
you
to
my
colleagues,
councillor
Flynn
and
councillor.
Janey
Janey
has
the
one
of
the
co-sponsor
and
the
co-sponsor
of
this,
but
because
we
dubbed
ourselves
the
freshmen,
because
we
came
in
together
and
we
were
extremely
close
and
we've
worked
very
hard
as
particularly
on
housing
when
it
came
out
to
Roxbury,
and
we
had
that
historic
hearing
on
gentrification
when
we
talked
about
short-term
rentals
councillor
Flynn,
so
I
want
to
say
that
they
had
been
my
right
and
left
hand.
D
D
The
mayor,
thank
you,
so
much
I
think
one
of
the
best,
some
yes
to
the
mayor,
I,
want
to
say
thank
you
so
much
because
again,
I've
said
this
before
I
said
in
Charlestown:
it's
not
when
we
agree
it's
when
we
get
things
done,
that
we
shine
the
brightest,
and
that
often
times
is
so
the
back
and
forth
of
the
conversations
and
being
direct
with
each
other
and
I.
Think
we've
actually
produced
some
of
the
best
legislation
on
housing
with
the
IDP
and
with
us
today.
So
thank
you
so
much.
D
To
the
advocates
in
the
room,
I
have
to
say
thank
you,
cuz,
look
what
we
got
done,
look
what
we
got
done
on
January
16th.
We
introduced
a
draft
for
this
transfer
fee,
it's
literally
twelve
months
to
the
day
that
we
are
signing
it
into
law
twelve
months.
That
is
bold
action,
and
that
is
because
of
everyone.
In
this
room,
people
who
made
the
phone
calls
people
who
were
at
the
hearing.
It's
because
of
all
of
you,
so
give
yourselves
a
hand
for
everything.
You've
done.
D
I
want
to
acknowledge
the
work
done
already
by
BHA
and
the
city
of
Boston
for
bonding
for
public
housing,
we're
talking
about
millions
of
dollars
that
we're
committed
to
to
make
sure
that
we
have
sent
the
Sanitary
clean
and
affordable
deeply
affordable
units
in
Charlestown
for
generations
to
come.
But
it's
because
of
that
bold
action
that
we
need
to
look
at
all
resources
and
we
need
all
stakeholders,
including
developers
at
the
table,
to
help
come
up
with
solutions
and
provide
resources.
And
that's
what
this
is
doing.
It
is
setting
a
different
table.
D
It
is
not
telling
people
what
we
don't
want,
we're
actually
saying
we
want
to
build.
We
want
to
build,
we
want
to
grow
as
a
city,
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
everybody
in
the
city
can
grow
with
the
developers
can
grow
with
people
who
are
building
homes.
We're
asking
for
that
kind
of
growth,
we're
hoping
that
we
see
homes
being
developed
and
built
and
that
people
can
become
homeowners,
but
we
need
the
resources
for
that.
This
transfer
fee
provides
vital
resources
and
again
is
a
tool
in
the
toolbox.
D
We
don't
have
a
silver
bullet
to
this
crisis
because
it
wasn't
a
silver
issue
or
one
issue
that
got
us
here.
We
can
go
through
all
the
redlining,
the
gentrification
and
the
mold
issues
that
got
us
in
this
situation.
So
it's
our
job
as
policymakers
to
come
up
with
a
whole
set
of
tools
in
the
toolbox
to
make
sure
that
we
make
Boston
a
livable
city
for
all.
D
We
believe
in
preserving
core
cultural
corridors
like
Chinatown
and
making
sure
that
people
can
become
homeowners,
that
they
can
come
here
for
school
or
come
here
for
a
job
like
I
did
and
one
day.
Imagine
yourselves
either
as
a
politician.
It's
a
mother
having
children
here
going
to
great
schools.
That's
what
we
believe
in
in
Boston,
that's
Boston!
D
We
won't
live
with
as
the
city
of
Boston
if
there
is
going
to
be
a
city
that
figures
this
out,
how
to
have
incredible
economic
growth,
but
also
STEMI,
that,
if
bad
impacts
of
gentrification
and
to
make
sure
that
we
have
a
growing
middle
class,
it's
going
to
be
this
city.
Here
it's
going
to
be
through
these
policies
in
this
toolbox.
That
is
unique
to
no
other
city
that
we're
gonna
come
up
with
and
make
sure
that
we
become
one
of
the
best
examples
historically
for
how
to
grow
equitably.
D
I
am
so
proud
of
the
partnership
that
I
have
not
only
with
my
colleagues,
but
there
happened
whether
you
know
this
room
may
not
reflect.
If
there
are
developers
there
are
people
who
are
in
the
room
who
want
this
to
happen.
They
understand
they
have
a
role
to
play
and
they
also
felt
that
it
was
a
balanced
role.
D
As
you
know,
we
had
a
higher
percentage
and
we
had
a
different
floor,
but
today
we
had
a
compromise
bill
that
really
only
impact
the
transfers
over
two
million
dollars
and
we're
talking
about
up
to
2%
and
again,
as
the
mayor
said,
we're
asking
for
permission
for
Boston
to
be
as
bold
as
it
can
be.
That's
all
we're
asking
for
today,
with
this
hormone
petition
with
this
one
bro
petition
will
join
38
other
states
that
have
versions
of
transfer
fees
that
are
generating
monies
for
their
for
their
communities.
D
We're
also
going
to
join
several
communities
already
in
the
state
of
Massachusetts
that
have
home
leticia
spending
at
the
Statehouse.
We
need
to
join
them
because
if
we
don't
come
up
with
a
transfer
fee
to
protect
our
housing,
but
every
city
around
us
is
we're
even
more
vulnerable.
Boston
is
about
bold
things.
Boston
is
about
equity
and
I.
Look
at
this
room
and
I
see
the
greatness
in
Boston
and
I
know
that
we
have
an
incredible
future.
D
I
want
to
also
say
thank
you
so
much
to
the
folks
in
public
housing
and
spit
in
my
district,
those
in
Charlestown
the
Charlestown
has
an
an
alliance.
What
they
do
by
organizing
by
showing
up
by
being
seen,
is
remind
us
about
the
families
who
will
be
impacted
and
remind
us
about
the
deep
vulnerabilities
that
we
have
and
who
we
will
lose
if
we
don't
get
this
right.
D
Many
of
my
constituents
who
now
live
in
those
million-dollar
triple-deckers
in
Charlestown
grew
up
and
those
with
the
in
the
bricks
are
in
a
Bunker
Hill
public
housing
they're
an
example
not
only
of
the
American
Dream,
but
the
Boston
dream
as
well
that
you
can
move
across
the
street
and
have
a
completely
different
future,
so
we're
gonna,
invest
in
that.
We
will
get
this
done.
I
think
we
have
more
than
a
more
than
a
high
chance
of
getting
it
done.
D
A
Thank
You
counselor
Edwards
and
those
certainly
were
inspiring
words
and
I
think
we're
all
ready
to
get
to
work
on.
This
Boston
were
very
fortunate
to
have
many
talented,
City,
counselors,
counselor,
Edie
Flynn
was
mentioned
and
I'm
glad
to
see
him
here.
Councillor,
Kim,
Janie,
also
terrific,
on
housing
and
co-sponsor
for
this
very
important
piece
of
legislation:
she's
co-chair
of
the
Housing
and
Community
Development
Committee
and
a
dedicated
advocate
for
District,
seven
and
beyond
and
Beyond
and
Beyond
Council
Jane.
Okay,.
E
Good
morning,
everyone
I'll
be
really
brief.
I
just
want
to
do
some.
Thank
you
so,
first
to
my
sister
and
service
and
my
partner
in
crime
and
my
my
good
friend
and
advocate
Lydia
Edwards.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
leadership,
not
only
on
this
issue.
Yes,
please
give
it
up
for
Lydia
Edwards,
not
only
on
this
particular
transfer
fee,
but
for
your
leadership
on
housing
issues,
and
so
many
other
issues
impacting
our
city
I'm
grateful
for
your
partnership.
I
do
want
to
shout
out
my
good
friend,
Edie
Flynn.
As
councillor
Edwards
has
already
mentioned.
E
We
are
kind
of
the
three
amigos
we
came
in
together.
We've
bonded
we've
been
doing
good
work
in
our
first
term
and
I
look
forward
to
continuing
that
work,
not
only
with
the
two
of
them,
but
with
the
newcomers
coming
into
this
council.
I
want
to
shout
out
our
mayor
mayor.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
leadership
and
your
partnership
in
this.
We
are
here
today
because
it
does
take
all
of
us
working
together,
including
the
advocates
in
the
room.
We
cannot
do
any
of
this
without
you,
so
thank
you
again.
E
I
just
want
to
quickly
share
just
a
couple
of
stories
and
why
this
is
important.
I
ran
for
Boston
City
Council
two
years
ago,
simply
because
people
in
my
community
were
being
left
out
of
the
economic
prosperity
in
our
city
and
literally
being
pushed
out
of
our
community.
I
have
deep
deep
roots
in
Roxbury,
as
many
folks
know,
but
also
strong
ties
to
the
Southend
community.
E
My
great-grandmother
owned
brownstone
in
the
south
end
and
my
family
was
gentrified
out
of
the
south
end
and
we
see
the
same
thing
happening
in
other
parts
of
our
city,
certainly
in
Chinatown
and
I'm
really
grateful
for
folks
hosting
us
here,
because
you
certainly
understand
exactly
what
our
city's
impact
and
facing
in
terms
of
our
housing
crisis,
but
certainly
in
Roxbury.
We
see
this
every
day.
E
So
five
weeks
ago,
I
was
in
my
district
celebrating
a
ribbon-cutting
which
was
amazing,
76
new
units
mayor
you
were
there,
you
remember
one
of
the
things
that
we
learned
was
that
there
were
4,000
applicants
for
those
76
units,
4,000
applicants
for
just
76
units.
We've
got
a
lot
of
work
to
do,
and
this
helps
us.
This
helps
us.
E
This
is
groundbreaking
because
we
are
talking
about
an
up
to
2%
fee
for
properties
over
2
million
that
will
help
us
generate
close
to
200
million
dollars
each
and
every
year
of
new
revenue
that
we
will
invest
in
affordable
housing
in
this
city.
That
is
what
this
legislation
does
for
us
today.
Yes,
we
can
give
it
up
for
that.
E
E
It
became
crystal
clear
that
there
is
this
movement
underway
and
that
there
are
cities
and
towns
all
around
Boston
who
are
doing
this
work
and
if
we
don't,
if
we
didn't
step
up,
Boston
was
going
to
be
the
sandbox
for
all
of
the
bad
players
who
want
to
come
and
speculate
in
our
housing
market,
and
we
couldn't
do
that
so
I'm,
so
grateful
that
we
were
able
to
come
to
the
table
put
forth
a
bold,
progressive
solution
to
our
housing
crisis.
It's
just
one
piece:
we've
got
more
work
to
do
that.
E
We've
got
more
work
to
do
in
terms
of
what
we
need
to
happen
in
our
city,
but
we
certainly
need
have
more
work
to
do
in
terms
of
making
sure
that
this
gets
passed
through
the
legislature,
so
I
just
want
to
encourage
everyone
and
your
advocacy
that
that
we
have
to
continue
in
our
fight
to
make
sure
that
Boston
remains
a
city
for
all
of
us.
This
is
a
great
world-class
city.
I
grew
up
here.
I
was
born
here.
E
I
love,
my
city
and
I,
want
to
make
sure
that
we
can
all
live
and
thrive
in
this
wonderful
city.
So
thank
you
for
the
work
that
you
guys
do
every
single
day.
Thank
you
for
supporting,
advocating
and
leading
on
these
important
issues
so
that
we
can
truly
have
a
city
that
is
for
all
of
us.
So
thank
you
so
much.
Thank
you.
A
When
all
of
the
details
have
been
worked
out
and
the
negotiations
were
complete,
we
said
we'd
need
to
have
a
signing
and
I
think
it's
always
good
to
come
together
and
celebrate,
because
you
know
you
need
to
celebrate
too.
So
we
mentioned
this
to
the
mayor
and
the
mayor
said:
I
want
to
be
in
Chinatown
and
I
want
everyone
invited.
So
it's
it's
really
good
to
be
here
and
given
that
it's
very
fitting
that
our
next
two
speakers
are
two
very
strong
women
from
Chinatown
and
and
two
that
we
love
to
that.
A
We
love
and
adore.
First
is
karen
cham
the
executive
director
of
cpa,
chinese
progressive
association,
karen
works
day
and
night,
and
I
can
attest
to
the
night
to
increase
the
supply
of
affordable
housing,
but
also
to
really
work
on
displacements
with
well
with
the
residents
and
businesses
that
are
here.
So
we
admire
her
commitment
and
would
like
her
to
come
up
and
say
a
few
words.
F
F
Last
summer,
Mia
washed
chief
Dillon
councillor
Flynn,
took
a
tour
trying
town
with
the
residents.
Of
course,
we
dumped
them
with
all
the
problems
that
we
have,
but
we
also
talked
about
the
important
role
that
Chinatown
plays
for
the
Chinese
immigrant
families
over
the
years,
not
just
for
Boston
for
the
entire
state
entire
region,
and
we
also
talked
about
the
importance
of
preserving
affordable
housing,
increasing
the
number
of
fordable
housing,
making
sure
that
the
people
who
need
Chinatown
the
most
can
stay.
Not
because
it's
a
trendy.
F
You
know
area
now,
but
because
people
actually
live
here
out
of
necessity,
and
we
also
know
that,
in
order
for
Chinatown
to
stay
chinatown,
we
need
to
have
homes
for
all
of
Boston
all
Bostonians
and
that
there
is
truly
affordable
housing
for
those
in
need
of
housing.
The
most
and
we
need
to
increase
funding
for
affordable
housing,
new
constructions
and
existing
there's
a
lot
of
expiring
news
units,
also
or
throughout
Boston.
That
we
need
to
preserve
so
I'm.
F
So
pleased
that
the
mayor's
here
today
in
Chinatown
just
signed
with
home
or
petition,
to
make
sure
that
the
vote
most
vulnerable
are
protected.
Because
and
that
there
are
policy
to
make
sure
that
all
of
us
rise
together
and
that
housing
is
a
human
right,
and
this
is
what
make
Boston
a
world-class
City.
This
is
the
one
what
a
world-class
City
is
about.
We
take
care
of
everyone.
F
F
Come
on
taking
hold
Odyssey
Gemma
come
I,
see
you
see
you
in
Filene,
seeing
Edwards
see
you
Janie
Tom
I
gotta
cough
up
some
goon
Sheila
Dylan.
How
come
a
little
a
teenager
come
on.
Maura
come
on
La,
Cienega,
family
hyowon,
so
emo
me
go
hey
I
want
a
memorial,
a
capo,
follow
high
and
who
we
gonna
really
take
a
cat.
Comes
down
in
happiness,
see
how
see
Gemma
see
you
not
my
phone.
Some!
They
are
like
only
Coleman
get
her
a
cold
one.
Guy
come
on
come
on,
Dan
didn't
wear
a
condom.
F
F
You
know
your
son
got
tofu,
dancing,
formal,
get
see,
come
come
so
I,
don't
know,
I'll
see,
John
like
I'm
a
chimney
got
home
on
that
or
email
I
got
my
face
and
tae-yong
my
let's
a
koala
proceed
on
pudding
with
po
po
t
cawing
I.
Don't
mistake:
oi
Holly
the
one
week
I
totally!
Don't
you
start
behind
so
you?
So
you
want
guy
Grima.
F
F
A
Thank
You
Karin
and
finally,
before
the
mayor
and
all
of
us
signed
the
home
real
petition,
I'd
like
to
ask
Angie
Lou
to
say
a
few
words
Angie's,
the
very
talented
executive
director
of
the
Asian
CDC
and
is
responsible
for
creating
much
of
the
housing
here
in
Chinatown
that
is
affordable
to
its
residents.
Angie.
C
Thank
you.
Everyone
I,
am
the
executive
director
of
Asian
Community
Development
Corporation
I
want
to
welcome
you
to
the
power
Arts
Center
at
one
green
way.
This
building
that
you
are
sitting
in
is
one
of
the
many
former
housing
developments
that
we
have
developed
over
the
last
three
decades
in
Chinatown.
C
So
when
this
building
95,
affordable
homes
opened
up
a
couple
years
ago,
we
also
got
4400
applications,
4,400
applications
and
which
means
we
were
only
able
to
accept
3%
3%
of
the
people
who
applied
I
like
to
say
that
is
harder
to
get
into
than
Harbor.
Okay,
we're
talking
about
application
success
rates,
and
that
means
there
were
still
four
thousand
two
hundred
and
fifty
six
families
who
didn't
get
in
and
we're
still
on.
The
wait
list
they're
still
waiting
for
a
formal
housing
and
we
just
can't
add
new
housing
fast
enough.
C
The
transfer
fee
would
capitalize
on
the
sale
of
commercial
properties
and
luxury
housing
to
lift
all
boats
by
creating
more
resources
for
former
housing.
So
we
know
that
housing
is
the
number
one
issue
facing
Boston
and
it
is
actually
an
exist,
an
existential
threat
to
immigrant
neighborhoods
like
Chinatown.
So
this
is
really
about
a
choice
of
what
kind
of
a
city
do
we
want
to
be
and
we
have
a
choice,
and
so,
with
the
passing
of
this
bill,
we
are
making
the
right
choice
about
making
this
an
equitable
City
for
everybody.
C
So,
lastly,
I
just
want
to
thank
the
leadership
of
Mayor
Walsh,
councilors,
Edwards
and
Janie,
and
The
Wrestler
counselors
such
as
counselor
Flynn,
who
voted
to
pass
this
bill.
It's
so
great
to
be
part
of
a
city
where
the
city
leaders
are
moving
in
the
right
direction.
With
this,
we're
all
working
together
towards
making
this
a
great
city
for
everybody,
and
so
lastly,
you
just
want
to
say
next
up
on
to
the
State
House.
B
B
We
probably
with
all
the
tools
we
have
on
the
table,
could
almost
handle
our
residents
and
take
care
of
all
the
housing
needs
in
Boston
between
the
Community
Preservation
Act,
between
the
investments
from
a
general
fund
that
the
councilors
have
supported
over
the
last
several
years
with
this
bill
transfer
fee
today,
but
because
there
is
no
statewide
housing
policy
that
protects
the
poor,
that
increases
voucher
systems
and
give
higher
rates
for
vouchers
that
doesn't
have
a
real,
real,
consistent
plan
across
the
board.
Investments.
B
We're
going
to
continue
to
see
these
numbers
in
Boston
go
up
because
everyone
is
flocking
to
our
city,
because
we
are
the
only
city
or
one
of
the
only
cities
really
in
in
in
New
England
and
certainly
in
Massachusetts.
That
is
addressing
this
need.
So
I
just
asked
all
of
our
advocates.
We're
going
to
join
you
at
the
Statehouse
when
you,
when
you
advocate
on
behalf
of
legislation,
council
I,
would
says
legislation
at
the
Statehouse.
We
have
legislation,
it's
all
the
same
stuff
for
the
most
part,
because
we
all
support
all
of
it.
B
We're
gonna
we're
going
to
be
standing
with
you
side
by
side
edna's
in
the
halls
of
the
Statehouse
and
talking
to
the
governor
about
the
need
for
passing
this
legislation,
because
if
other
cities
and
towns
do
not
address
this
crisis,
this
is
not
going
to
get
better.
This
transfer
tax
legislation
will
just
won't
even
be
able
to
be
helpful
to
what
we
need
to
really
have
what
we
need
for
investments
to
housing.
So
I
just
wanted
to
pass
that
along
today
and
I
want
again.
Thank
you
for
being
here
today
now
we'll
sign.