>>>THE OTHER SIDE>>>

All About Chapter 40B
One of the most critical, and least understood, aspects of housing in Massachusetts is Chapter 40B. While the Massachusetts Democratic Party supports the positive and intended aspects of 40B to promote affordable housing accross the Commonwealth, we strongly oppose the exploitation of 40B by big developers who, in looking to increase their bottom line, use the law to hold our towns and cities hostage.

Governor Romney on the other hand, ever since he ran for office in 2002, has failed to take a side on Chapter 40B.

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Other Issues on Our Agenda:

 Health and Human Services
Economy
Education
The Environment
Housing
Civil Rights
Our Families and Communities

 

 

The Democratic Party believes that the availability of a permanent and stable home in which to live is a basic right of all people.

  • We believe the public sector has a vital role to play in the provision of safe, affordable and fair housing. We recognize a crisis in housing costs across the state, and we advocate a heightened priority for affordability initiatives, including the creation of a responsible state agency with full Cabinet-level status.

  • We strongly endorse laws against discrimination in the sale or provision of housing and those providing for units accessible to persons with disabilities.

  • We endorse existing federal Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Zone initiatives, and advocate state "zones" that would supplement federal resources by providing a mix of tax incentives, venture capital, job training resources and access to technology.

  • We strongly support the Community Reinvestment Act that requires lenders to offer loans and banking services to qualified residents in all communities within their service areas.

  • We call for additional federal and state support for affordable housing, including both the production of new housing and the preservation of so-called expiring use units. We advocate state assistance through programs like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

  • We believe that public housing continues to play a critical role in this state and we endorse initiatives in which tenants assume managerial or ownership responsibilities. We firmly support the targeting of recreational, educational, vocational and health resources to residents of public and subsidized sector housing.

  • We recognize the need for adequate day care, job training and affordable rental housing in eradicating homelessness in Massachusetts.

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