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Council asks manager for alternatives to rent control amid debate over statewide ballot measure
Summary
Councilors asked the city manager to report on local steps the city can take — such as rental assistance and building more housing — before considering rent caps, and members debated whether statewide rent-control proposals are the right approach.
A council order requested that the mayor provide the city council with options the city could pursue ahead of any local action on rent caps, including pursuing federal and state rental assistance, supporting housing supply expansion and continuing eviction-prevention efforts.
One councilor framed the question in the context of an upcoming statewide ballot measure and said "the rent in Worcester is too damn high," arguing that rent control would be counterproductive and that building more housing and securing grant funding are preferable approaches. Other members did not endorse a single solution but supported a manager-led report on what actions the city can take to reduce housing insecurity without adopting local rent stabilization.
The manager was asked to review funding opportunities and programmatic steps the city might deploy in the near term and report back to the council on feasible options. The council filed the order and directed the mayor and manager’s offices to evaluate assistance programs, build-out options and any constraints on municipal authority.
The request is advisory: it seeks information and options from the administration rather than adopting an immediate policy change.
