BOSTON — A broad coalition of local leaders across Massachusetts is voicing opposition to a proposed statewide rent control ballot question, with dozens of mayors, city councilors, and other elected officials joining Housing for Massachusetts to raise concerns about its potential impact on municipal budgets and housing production.
The coalition includes 12 mayors from communities across the state: Christopher Johnson of Agawam, Erin Joyce of Braintree, Robert Van Campen of Everett, Michael J. Nicholson of Gardner, Joshua A. Garcia of Holyoke, Brian DePeña of Lawrence, Dean J. Mazzarella of Leominster, David P. Beauregard of Methuen, Jon Mitchell of New Bedford, Thomas P. Koch of Quincy, Patrick M. Keefe Jr. of Revere, and Joseph Petty of Worcester.
The officials argue that the proposed measure—if approved—would impose a uniform rent control policy across all municipalities, regardless of local voter preferences or housing market conditions. They also point to findings from the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, which estimate that such a policy could reduce property values statewide by as much as $300 billion over the next decade, potentially straining municipal revenues that fund essential services.
“Cities and towns across the state are already struggling to provide critical municipal services without raising taxes,” Beauregard said, warning that declining property values could impact funding for education, public safety, and infrastructure.
Mitchell has also publicly criticized the proposal, calling it a one-size-fits-all policy that may not reflect the needs of individual communities. Meanwhile, Petty emphasized concerns about housing supply, noting Worcester’s need to add thousands of new units in the coming years and warning that rent control policies could discourage new development.
Beyond mayoral support, more than two dozen local officials have joined the coalition, including Mark A. Vital, Edward M. Flynn, Erin J. Murphy, John FitzGerald, Noel DiBona, Anthony Zambuto, Joanne McKenna, Paul Argenzio, Chris Giannino, Ira Novoselsky, Marc Silvestri, Stephen Damiano Jr., Alexander Rhalimi, Mark S. Sideris, Vincent Piccirilli, Dylan Benson, Neily Soto, Yanilda Santos, Patricia Valley, Jon Turco, Michael Fenton, Kathleen Toomey, Morris A. Bergman, Tony Economou, Jose Rivera, Mary Krumsiek, Alex Guardiola, James Daiute, Jack Lally, Philip E. Griffin, Jeffrey A. Thompson, Stephen Pina, Carl L. Pike, John R. Buckley Jr., Lori Childs, and Rick Coughlin.
Supporters of the coalition also include major business and industry groups such as Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Association of Realtors, and NAIOP Massachusetts, among others.
The proposed ballot measure would cap annual rent increases based on inflation, with a maximum limit, and apply statewide without local opt-out provisions. Critics argue that similar policies in other cities have led to unintended consequences, including reduced housing supply and changes in landlord behavior.
The debate comes as Maura Healey has also raised concerns about the potential impact on housing development, noting that uncertainty around the policy may already be slowing new construction.
With the ballot question expected to go before voters later this year, the growing coalition of local officials signals increasing scrutiny of how rent control could affect communities across Massachusetts.
