Boston Globe Editorial Urges Legislators Not to Chip Away at Affordable Housing Law - September 6, 2013

In an editorial on September 5 entitled "Legislature Must Thwart Efforts to Chip Away at Housing Law", the Boston Globe called on the Legislature to respect the will of the voters and the economic needs of the state and reject efforts to weaken the comprehensive permit law.  The editorial describes three provisions inserted in the Housing Bond Bill that are designed to stop specific projects but are likely to affect future projects across the state as well, with one giving municipalities a new tool to stop affordable housing.  The editorial notes that allowing legislators to rewrite the statute to stop individual projects also sets a dangerous precedent.  It urges House and Senate conferees to remove the language from the bond bill.