Latest news with #AndrewMikula
Politico
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Ballot battles brewing for 2026
BEGGING THE QUESTIONS — Voters would get to weigh in on issues ranging from legislative stipends to rent control next year if the ballot measures being set in motion today make it all the way. Housing advocates are going ahead with a ballot petition that would institute rent stabilization statewide after voters ended rent control through a 1994 referendum. The question would go beyond legislation currently before lawmakers. That bill, which had a hearing last week, would allow cities and towns the option to implement rent control, while the language in the ballot petition would limit annual rent increases in Massachusetts to the cost of living (with a 5 percent cap) statewide. There would be some exemptions, including for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and for newer construction. Also on the housing beat: A petition pushed by housing policy advocate Andrew Mikula that would tweak the state's zoning laws to 'legalize' starter homes, as supporters put it. Those hoping to change Beacon Hill's power structure are also turning to the ballot to change the way lawmakers get paid. The Coalition to Reform Our Legislature is planning to submit two ballot petitions today, both targeting stipends lawmakers earn for holding leadership roles on committees — even the committees that don't have to do much work. One petition would eliminate leadership stipends for committee chairs entirely, and the other would limit who gets the extra paycheck. Only committees that do significant work and meet certain transparency requirements, like holding public markup sessions, would qualify. They'll ultimately move forward with only one of the two petitions, but supporters are still deciding which to back, Jonathan Hecht of the Coalition to Reform Our Legislature told Playbook. The Coalition for Healthy Democracy, headed by former Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Danielle Allen, is backing two separate ballot petitions. One would move Massachusetts from holding partisan primary elections to 'all party' primaries (similar to how many municipalities, including Boston, currently operate). The other would apply the state's public records law to the governor's office and the Legislature. Employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services are working with SEIU Local 888 to put a question before voters that would grant them collective bargaining rights. The intrigue: CPCS includes public defenders, who were recently caught in the midst of the battle between state lawmakers and bar advocates. And a group that wants to require voter identification told the Boston Herald earlier this week that they plan to file their petition later today. Ballot petition backers have until 5 p.m. today to submit their first batch of signatures. There's still a long way to go before any of the issues come before voters — they'll need approval from Attorney General Andrea Campbell and thousands of signatures to make it. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One group that isn't pushing its own ballot question in 2026: The Massachusetts Teachers Association. They're eyeing a possible constitutional amendment down the road that would implement a new tax on the state's top earners to help fund debt-free college. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll chairs a Governor's Council meeting at noon at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu visits the Center for Teen Empowerment at 9:30 a.m. in Roxbury, speaks at the Jamaica flag raising ceremony at 11 a.m. and holds a media availability after meeting with the Mayor of Coreno Ausonio, Italy, Simone Costanzo, at 4:45 p.m. at City Hall. Sen. Ed Markey attends Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción's Boston Family Day at 4 p.m. in Boston. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ DATELINE BEACON HILL DISTRICT DRAMA — After meeting privately with some of the Texas Democrats who are in town for the big state legislative conference, Gov. Maura Healey laid into Republican leaders in Texas yesterday, calling the push from President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton 'a partisan, craven, political power grab attempt.' 'Not only is it stealing a voice from Texas voters, it's stealing the voice and the vote from voters around this country, from all Americans,' Healey said, standing in front of the Texas lawmakers. Some blue state governors have said they're open to redistricting, too, if Texas moves forward with its plan. But in Massachusetts, 'we have no Republicans to give,' Secretary of State Bill Galvin told reporters. Democrats already divided the more Republican-friendly areas of the state during the last redistricting cycle, putting Fall River and New Bedford — two cities that have shifted to the right — into separate congressional districts. — Governor Healey signs pay raise for bar advocates by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: 'Governor Maura Healey signed a pay raise for court-appointed attorneys on Tuesday, but it remains unclear how far it will go to end the lawyers' work stoppage and solve the ongoing crisis gripping the courts. The appropriation gives the private attorneys, known as bar advocates, $10 an hour more effective immediately, and an additional $10 an hour starting next year, to take cases representing the state's poor. The measure also budgets for the hiring of more staff public defenders and changes language in the bar advocates' contracts to cut down on future work stoppages.' MEANWHILE — Lawyer shortage as bar advocate strike leads to dozens more case dismissals by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: 'Dozens more defendants faced with criminal charges in the Bay State saw their legal woes disappear on Tuesday when the courts were unable to find them legal counsel. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden's office, at least 25 defendants saw their criminal charges dismissed by a Bay State judge on Tuesday, after no one stepped forward to offer them legal assistance. The dismissals come as the state's bar advocates — private attorneys appointed by the court to take on indigent clients when a public defender is not available — continue their ongoing strike for better pay.' — Amid fight to audit the Legislature, Diana DiZoglio hires outside attorney — with help from a GOP donor by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: 'State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is escalating her legal fight to investigate the Massachusetts Legislature, retaining an outside attorney to try to force the matter to the courts. And in an unusual twist, a prominent Republican donor, and potential GOP gubernatorial candidate, is helping foot the bill. DiZoglio, a first-term Democrat, retained Donnelly, Conroy & Gelhaar, a boutique Boston firm, in late July as part of her office's bid 'exploring options to bring this matter to court,' said Michael Leung-Tat, her office's general counsel. Leung-Tat did not elaborate on what those legal avenues might be.' — Mass. explores buyout program to return flood-risk property to marshland by Brooke Kushwaha, The New Bedford Light: 'Protected by Cape Cod and the Islands, the cities and towns along the South Coast are less vulnerable to the tropical storms, hurricanes and nor'easters that batter much of the Massachusetts coastline. However, a new draft plan released by the state sounds the alarm on how rising tides will reshape the waterfront — and what homeowners could do to help. State officials are exploring a voluntary buyout program that would return waterfront homes at high risk of flooding to natural salt marsh. The Healey administration released a proposal in May with a feasibility study scheduled to begin in the next year or two.' YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS — Mike Kennealy leads July fundraising in 2026 governor's race because of loan to campaign by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy, a former cabinet secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, raised the most cash last month, but most of that money came from a $200,000 loan he gave his campaign, according to state data and his campaign. Kennealy reported pulling in $254,733 in July, his lowest haul since launching his campaign in April, according to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The Lexington native had more than $800,000 cash on hand at the end of last month, data showed.' — In race to replace Fernandes Anderson, District 7 candidates debate housing affordability, reparations during forum by Angela Mathew, The Boston Globe: 'Four of the eleven candidates vying for the District 7 seat on the Boston City Council on Monday debated reparations, housing, and ethics reform as they compete for one of just two spots on the November ballot to replace disgraced former councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. In particular, the candidates, speaking during a forum hosted by the civic engagement group Speak Boston, revealed differences in how they would tackle Boston's housing affordability crisis. Housing affordability and stability are top issues for voters, especially in Roxbury and Dorchester, parts of District 7 that comprise the highest share of Boston's poor, according to city reports. All four candidates said during an earlier event they support rent control.' — Opponents slam Mike Kennealy for his oversight of state-run shelters by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Mike Kennealy, a Republican running for governor, drew criticism Wednesday from Massachusetts conservatives and Democrats for his oversight of state-funded emergency family shelters during his time as a cabinet secretary under former Gov. Charlie Baker. Kennealy's Republican primary opponent and the Massachusetts Democratic Party slammed Kennealy for not recommending any major reforms to the state-run shelter system in a transition document he handed Gov. Maura Healey in 2022 shortly before she assumed office.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — Massachusetts removed from Homeland Security 'sanctuary' list by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'The Trump administration has removed Massachusetts and several cities in the state, including Lawrence, from a list of 'sanctuary' communities that were put on notice for refusing to cooperate with immigration crackdowns. The Department of Homeland Security's updated list, posted on its website Tuesday, identified Boston as the only city in the state that is 'deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American communities' by blocking immigration enforcement.' — Worcester cut overdose deaths in half. Now it faces federal cuts by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: 'Something astonishing is happening in Worcester. The city cut its overdose deaths in half in 2024. And with just 13 recorded overdose deaths through April, New England's second largest city is on track for even fewer deaths this year. …. But with that hope comes fresh concern: Virtually all of the interventions experts credit with the decline in deaths rely to some degree on federal funding that is now at risk.' MEDIA MATTERS — Former WBZ anchor Kate Merrill sues station, network for $4 million, alleging racial and gender discrimination by Jade Lozada, The Boston Globe: 'Kate Merrill, a former longtime anchor at WBZ-TV, has filed a $4 million lawsuit against the station, CBS and its parent company, Paramount, and four former co-workers alleging racial and gender discrimination, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in federal court. Merrill, who abruptly left WBZ in 2024, claims the Boston station and two companies took a 'career-ending action' against her to 'advance a DEI agenda,' short for diversity, equity and inclusion, the complaint states.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Maeve Duggan, Rick Mikulis and former Amherst town Councilor Evan Ross.
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
New Study Warns: Rent Control Offers Short-Term Relief, But Steep Long-Term Costs
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new Pioneer Institute study finds that while rent control can lower rental housing costs and help vulnerable tenants remain in their homes, it also carries steep long-term consequences—including reduced housing quality, lower property values, fewer new housing units, and higher rents for non-controlled apartments. Today, over three-quarters of Greater Boston households earning less than $75,000 per year spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Only Washington, D.C. and Chicago have lower rental vacancy rates among U.S. metropolitan areas. 'Public debates over rent control policies reflect a trade-off between the short-term need to provide housing stability to vulnerable families and the long-term need to build enough housing to meet overall demand,' said Andrew Mikula, co-author of 'Stability, Affordability, and Urgency: The Potential Risks and Benefits of 21 st Century Rent Control in Massachusetts' with Aidan Enright. Rent control—typically defined as limits on residential rents or annual rent increases—was eliminated in Massachusetts through a 1994 initiative petition. But with the growing housing affordability crisis, particularly in Greater Boston, interest in rent control has returned. Today, over three-quarters of Greater Boston households earning less than $75,000 per year spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Only Washington, D.C. and Chicago have lower rental vacancy rates among U.S. metropolitan areas. In 2021, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proposed a 'rent stabilization' policy that passed the City Council but has since stalled in the Massachusetts Legislature. Wu's plan would cap annual rent increases at the lower of 10 percent or 6 percent plus CPI, with exemptions for new construction under 15 years old and owner-occupied buildings of six or fewer units. Under this policy, landlords may reset market rates between tenants. Wu's proposal is similar to several 'next generation' rent stabilization programs in place elsewhere in the country. Oregon, for example, caps rent increases at 7 percent plus CPI (10 percent in 2025) and similarly exempts new construction. Most academic research shows that rent stabilization policies reduce housing quality and property values and often result in higher rents for units that remain unregulated. A plurality of studies also find that rent stabilization policies reduce overall housing supply. In a 2022 national survey of multi-family housing developers, 87.5 percent said they would avoid building in jurisdictions with rent control policies. Mikula and Enright conclude that demand-side programs—such as rental vouchers and direct rent subsidies—are more effective in helping low-income renters. These programs provide greater housing stability and increase opportunities for upward mobility without discouraging landlords from maintaining or offering rental units. Massachusetts is one of just four states that operate its own rental voucher program in addition to the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. 'Long-term, the solution to our housing problem lies in producing enough housing to meet demand,' Enright said. 'That means streamlined permitting procedures and more flexible zoning laws and building codes.' Andrew Mikula is a Senior Fellow in Housing at Pioneer Institute. Beyond housing, Andrew's research areas of interest include urban planning, economic development, and regulatory reform. He holds a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Aidan Enright is Pioneer's Economic Research Associate. He previously served as a congressional intern with Senator Jack Reed and was a tutor in a Providence city school. Mr. Enright received a B.S. in Political Science and Economics from the College of Wooster. Pioneer empowers Americans with choices and opportunities to live freely and thrive. Working with state policymakers, we use expert research, educational initiatives, legal action and coalition-building to advance human potential in four critical areas: K-12 Education, Health, Economic Opportunity, and American Civic Values.
