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With his action to extend the state’s eviction moratorium on Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker reshaped the dynamics of a debate over how to tackle housing security.
The governor’s intervention pushes the expiration of the moratorium from Aug. 18 to Oct. 17, a step that housing reform advocates and Baker himself said would help keep vulnerable families in secure residences while the state continues its fight against COVID-19.
Demands had been growing on state lawmakers to embrace the year-long extension bill (HD.5166 / SD.2922), filed by Housing Committee Co-chair Rep. Kevin Honan as well as Rep. Mike Connolly and Sen. Patricia Jehlen. Eighty-nine of the 199 sitting lawmakers have co-sponsored the legislation, which Lew Finfer, co-director of the Massachusetts Communities Action Network, said “clearly added to the pressure on the legislature and governor to act on this.”
If Baker had waited until August to make a decision about extending the existing law, legislative leaders might have been felt more urgency about acting before the July 31 end of formal sessions.
Now they face a different decision: whether the two-month extension is enough, or whether they need to enshrine a year-plus delay in the deadline before they enter the informal-only section of the lawmaking calendar when a single member’s objection could stall a bill. Not acting by the end of the month would mean that legislators are effectively leaving the next extension decision up to the Republican governor alone.
Connolly said Tuesday that the goals targeted by the legislation he co-authored “remain as relevant and urgent as ever” even after Baker’s extension.
“While we are grateful for today’s announcement and we recognize it will help ensure stability for tens of thousands of vulnerable Massachusetts residents in the coming months — we will also continue pushing for a comprehensive bill to protect tenants, homeowners, and landlords from any negative impacts as a result of COVID-19,” Connolly said in a statement.
Supporters of legislation that would keep a temporary ban on evictions and foreclosures in place for at least another year indicated Tuesday that they have no plans to slow down their campaign even after Gov. Charlie Baker extended the moratorium another two months.
Supporters of the proposal are planning a day of demonstrations Wednesday, including a rally outside the State House, to call for passage of the longer-term moratorium that they say will help address inequities in housing security.
Several real estate industry groups, including NAIOP-MA, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and MassLandlords have been vocally fighting the push for the expansive bill, with GBREB CEO Greg Vasil arguing Tuesday that it would have a “devastating impact” on the real estate industry.
The legislation as drafted would create a COVID-related fund to assist property owners who lost rent or mortgage income due to the pandemic, but Vasil said he views the language as insufficient because the proposal may not end up with a dedicated funding stream.
“Ninety days ago, the legislature delegated the authority to handle this whole moratorium to the governor,” Vasil said. “Why would you pass something so draconian when three months ago you delegated authority? It just doesn’t make any sense.”
