Governor Baker talked about affordable housing and the bill he's been trying to get passed for years that is stalled during his press conference today. In additional to COVID-19 he was talking about the states relief plan.
Under Massachusetts State law, zoning must be approved by a super majority. Which is defined as at least 66.7%. This is making it near impossible for any affordable housing to be built. But with small boards / city councils for example, a super majority vote of a council of 5 people requires 4 out of 5 to vote in favor or 80%. A 3/2 vote will not pass.
He used Salem as an example. Salem is a vibrant community seeing all kinds of growth and with that property value increases. There is a serious lack of affordable housing and low income and minorities are being priced out of town.
The mayor of Salem has tried many times over the past 5 years to bring affordable housing to Salem. She has tried it designated in many different ways such such as senior living facilities, affordable housing, housing for the working class. And every Initiative failed by one vote.
Even though the majority of people and Salem want to see these housing projects including the majority of the city council. But a small vocal number of people opposing the vote are effectively very easily able to block it.
And why do people oppose affordable housing? They cite
- Will decrease surrounding property values
- Will increase crime and drug usage
- It will change the community dynamics
I also can't but help feel institutionalized racism may be part of it. It's assumed that affordable housing will have a much higher minority population and therefor that would mean crime and drugs and reduce the neighborhood property values.
However, a luxury apartment complex with a hipster vibe targeting people who make $100,000 or more a year passes without any opposition.
The bill the governor is trying to pass requires a super majority vote as well, which is why it's been stalled for the last couple years.