Salem City Council unanimously refers rent‑stabilization resolution to committee after public testimony

The Salem City Council voted unanimously June 25 to refer a resolution urging the Massachusetts Legislature to enable cities and towns to adopt rent‑stabilization policies to the Committee on Community and Economic Development co‑posted with the Committee of the Whole.

Councilor King, who introduced the resolution and moved the referral, said the measure asks the state to lift a statutory ban and allow local option rent stabilization while leaving final decisions to individual municipalities. "This is urgent," King said, noting a state court decision recently removed a voter initiative from the November ballot and that the legislature has until July 31 to act. The measure as drafted links allowable annual increases to the consumer price index with a 5% cap and includes exemptions for owner‑occupied small buildings and newly constructed housing, the resolution states.

The resolution was the focus of extensive public comment. Kim, who identified themself as "Kim from Fly Cloud Lane in Salem," told the council that arguing rent stabilization will drive developers away is an old scare tactic and said, "Housing is a human right and need." John Entner and other residents described personal experiences with rising rents and urged the council to use its voice after the Supreme Judicial Court decision removed the initiative from voters. Mickey McGrath, a recent Salem State University graduate, said the rent for a studio apartment is $1,650 and that many residents face high rent burdens.

Supporters on the council said the vote to send the resolution to committee does not itself create local rent stabilization but urges the state to enable cities to consider it. Councilor Davis said the council could still look for additional data from larger municipalities but stressed that the council should consider every tool to address the unfolding housing crisis; she also noted the bill includes a just‑cause eviction protection. Councilor Halapa urged pairing near‑term tenant protections with measures to increase housing supply.

Council President Merkel called the roll for the committee referral; the motion carried unanimously. The council asked staff to schedule a committee meeting so members of the public may present their views and the body may review pending legislative language.

Next steps: The resolution will be considered in committee (community and economic development, co‑posted with the committee of the whole); the council did not adopt a local policy tonight and will take no final action until after committee review.