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Northampton council unanimously backs resolution in support of state rent-stabilization enabling bill after hours of tenant testimony
Summary
After sustained public comment from tenants and organizers, the council unanimously approved R25.309 supporting an act to allow cities and towns to adopt rent stabilization; sponsors and the mayor emphasized tenant protections, complementary supply measures and implementation safeguards.
The Northampton City Council on Sept. 4 unanimously approved a resolution (R25.309) expressing support for an act that would allow cities and towns to adopt local rent stabilization and tenant protections, a measure sponsors described as one tool among many to address local housing affordability.
Mayor Gina Schiara (spoke as Mayor Sherra in the transcript) and several council sponsors said the resolution asks the state to enable municipalities to opt in to local rent-stabilization frameworks, complementing efforts to increase housing supply and tenant protections. The mayor told the council she had discussed housing costs in a roundtable that included U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and said federal and state action would be valuable alongside local options.
More than two dozen residents — renters, tenant organizers and students — gave testimony in favor of the resolution. Joel Feldman, a Ward 4 resident, cited statistics cited in the resolution: "46% of households in Northampton qualify for affordable housing programs," he said, and added that many households are cost-burdened by rent. Several speakers including Eliza Menzel and Kayla Goldstein described rent increases and housing precarity they said were driven by large landlords and out-of-area LLCs. "Affordable housing is a feminist issue," Suzanne Stellinger said during public comment, tying housing shortages to broader social justice concerns.
Sponsors and supporters said the resolution does not itself create local law but signals municipal support for state enabling legislation or, if the legislature does not act, for ballot-based measures. Councilors emphasized that implementation details matter: they discussed the need for safeguards against disincentivizing new construction, just-cause eviction protections, and enforcement and maintenance resources so tenants can report habitability problems without fear of retaliation.
The council voted by roll call with unanimous support. Councilors said passing the resolution would align Northampton with other communities organizing around tenant protections and would be a step toward amplifying local demands at the state level.
