SPOA Testifies at Rent Control Hearing. Submit Your Own Written Testimony by Sat 3/21 at 5 PM
Our testimony against the rent control ballot initiative was robust and persuasive on Tuesday, March 17. All the members of the panel, which included representatives from SPOA, Masslandlords, local government, the building trades, and the business community, were excellent. We thank the other SPOA members who attended the hearing in person to deliver testimony during the public portion as well.
In the links below, you will find a video featuring the testimony of SPOA Vice President Tony Lopes, in addition to various news articles that covered the event, including WWLP-22News, GBH News, and the Boston Real Estate Times.
We also thank SPOA President Amir Shahsavari for his leadership on this issue in conjunction with Housing for Massachusetts Chair Conor Yunits and other leaders in the coalition.
In addition, please remember to submit written testimony by Saturday, March 21, at 5 PM. Thank you if you have already done so. And if you haven't, please make it a priority. Written testimony is extremely helpful and ensures your voice is part of the official record.
Written testimony may be submitted by mail to the Special Committee on Initiative Petitions at 24 Beacon Street, Room 235, Boston, MA 02133 or via email at SpecialJointCommitteeonInitiativePetitions@malegislature.gov. Again, the deadline to submit written testimony is Saturday, March 21, at 5 PM.
When submitting written testimony, we also encourage members to cc their State Representative and State Senator so they are aware of your position. You can look up your legislators and their contact information here:
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Written testimony does not need to be long or technical. Even a short note explaining how rent control would affect your property, your tenants, your ability to maintain housing, or your ability to continue providing affordably priced market-rate housing is helpful. Personal experiences from small property owners are often the most powerful contributions to the official record.
Massachusetts State House Hearing
“We Are Not Corporations”: Testimony Against Rent Control
