Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is calling on the state legislature to approve a $275 million relief package for cities and towns grappling with the economic havoc wreaked by coronavirus.
The measure, which is based off of the economic development plan his administration filed earlier this year, includes $15 million in additional funding for the redevelopment of blighted and abandoned properties and tripling investment in "micro-businesses," with fewer than 20 employees, from $5 million to $15 million. It would also increase funding for community development institutions from $10 million to $35 million to support minority-owned businesses as well as businesses owned by women, veterans and other "entrepreneurs in under-served" populations, Baker said.
"We understand the commonwealth has a challenge before it as we move toward recovery," Baker said, the package seeks to invest more in low-income communities and communities of color that have been particularly hard hit. "Reallocating funding to tackle the economic impact of the virus while outlining a path toward recovery is our key objective here."
The governor is also pushing for the legislature to pass legislation, filed by Baker before the pandemic began, that would lower the threshold for cities and towns to make zoning changes to allow more development of affordable and workforce housing.
Massachusetts law currently requires a two-thirds or supermajority vote by elected representatives to change local zoning codes. Under Baker’s proposal, that threshold would change to a simple majority.
Baker is also proposing funding incentives for communities that do allow the development of affordable housing.
Baker framed the legislative push not just in terms of the notorious lack of affordable housing in many Massachusetts cities and town, but also in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic, Baker said, has exacerbated housing instability for many, especially in communities of color.
“The process to develop affordable housing and workforce housing is profoundly difficult, and that needs to get fixed,” Baker said. “It’s been a huge impediment for many years to providing the access to housing that people of color deserve.”
Baker said Massachusetts is one of few states across the country to require a two-thirds majority to change local zoning.
“In many cases a small group of people will be able to say no to projects that more than half the community, and half its elected representatives support,” Baker said.
