Ward 5 candidates support mixed strategies on affordable housing; trust fund and inclusionary zoning cited

At the LCTV Ward 5 forum, candidates described affordable housing as a central challenge and said the city should combine new construction, tenant protections and wraparound services to keep long-term residents in place.

Why it matters: Candidates said Lynn’s housing affordability must reflect local incomes, not comparisons to higher-cost cities. They linked housing stability to workforce retention for teachers, police and other essential workers.

Kataliz “Cardi” Paez summarized recent local efforts: Lynn has used inclusionary zoning, allowed accessory dwelling units (ADUs), pursued MBTA Communities strategies and established an affordable housing trust fund. “It started from 66 units in 2023 up to 273 units in 2024. And now in the pipeline, we have about 630 units to be developed under affordable housing,” she said. Candidates said that despite production, affordability must match local wage levels: “We want to keep our teachers. We want to keep our families with children actually enjoying the city and enjoying these new spaces,” Liliana Patino said.

Proposals from candidates included: - Maintain production targets and require net community benefit for tax incentives to developers, per Josh Polonsky’s recommendation to condition tax breaks on net positive outcomes for residents; - Create or expand city tenant-rights assistance, suggested by Paez; - Pair new housing with wraparound services and supports to help lower-income households access units.

No formal council action was taken at the forum; candidates outlined priorities they would pursue if elected.