REVERE, MA— Mayor Patrick Keefe Jr. joined a coalition of local elected officials and community leaders Thursday to publicly oppose a proposed statewide rent control ballot measure, warning it could have significant consequences for housing production, municipal budgets, and local control.
Speaking at an event held at Valsos Café & Bar, Keefe was joined by members of the Revere City Council, School Committee, and other community stakeholders. The gathering followed a broader announcement earlier in the week in which a coalition of Massachusetts municipal leaders—including a dozen mayors and dozens of local officials—voiced opposition to the proposal. More than ten elected officials from Revere alone have signed on.
The proposed ballot question would implement a statewide rent control policy, capping annual rent increases at the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. It would also repeal a 1994 law that currently prohibits rent control in Massachusetts. If enacted, the policy would apply broadly to most non-owner-occupied rental housing, including vacant units.
Mayor Keefe argued that the measure would override local decision-making and impose a uniform policy across communities with differing housing needs.
“This proposal would remove local control and implement one of the strictest statewide rent control policies across the Commonwealth,” Keefe said. “In communities like Revere, we’ve been working aggressively to increase housing production. Rent control would stall construction, discourage new development, and ultimately reduce the housing supply.”
Supporters of the opposition effort emphasized concerns about the policy’s potential impact on housing development and affordability. Peggy Pratt, a real estate broker, property manager, and member of Revere’s Zoning Board, said the measure could disproportionately affect small landlords.
“This proposal will hit local property owners the hardest,” Pratt said. “Small landlords are the ones maintaining properties and working directly with tenants. Many already try to keep rents manageable, and this policy could make that more difficult.”
Opponents also pointed to a recent study from the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, which estimates the proposal could reduce Massachusetts property values by $300 billion over the next decade. According to the study, Revere alone could see a decline of more than 15% in assessed property values.
Local officials warned that such a decline could strain municipal finances. School Committee member Alex Rhalimi noted that public schools rely heavily on property tax revenue.
“If property values decline, it directly impacts school funding,” Rhalimi said. “That could mean fewer resources, delayed investments, and added pressure on educators and students.”
Another concern raised by speakers was the structure of the proposed cap. The measure would limit rent increases to the rate of inflation—historically averaging about 2.6% annually—without exemptions for renovations or capital improvements. It would also apply to vacant units, preventing landlords from adjusting rents to market rates between tenants.
State Representative Jeff Turco, who also spoke at the event, emphasized the need for policies that expand housing supply rather than restrict pricing.
“The only way out of our housing crisis is to build more housing,” Turco said. “We should focus on expanding multifamily zoning, encouraging transit-oriented development, and removing barriers to construction.”
The opposition campaign is being supported by Housing for Massachusetts, a coalition that includes property owners, housing developers, and community advocates. The group argues that increasing supply, rather than regulating rents, is key to addressing affordability challenges across the state.
The rent control proposal is expected to be decided by voters in an upcoming statewide election.
