Boston Mayor to announce rent stabilization plans Thursday

BOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is scheduled to make an announcement related to rent stabilization at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Whittier Street Health Center.

Rent stabilization is an effort to limit rent increases which have become a significant challenge for many in the city. Boston is ranked as the third most expensive city to rent an apartment behind New York and San Francisco, according to a recent report by Zumper.com.

Wu’s office would only say that Thursday’s news conference would be about “steps related to rent stabilization,” according to a news release.

In December, Wu announced she would be forming a Rent Stabilization Advisory Group to consider tools available to protect tenants and “stem displacement,” with goals of drafting new legislation for the following legislative session, according to the city’s website.

“With these actions, we’re taking our first major steps towards addressing Boston’s housing crisis,” said Mayor Wu in December. “Our city must build more affordable housing, leverage our wealth and resources to fight displacement, and protect tenants. Housing must be the foundation for our recovery, and this work begins immediately.”

During her four months in office, Wu has prioritized free bus service on certain lines, and millions of dollars in improvements to an aging housing complex in Jamaica Plain. The city has hundreds of millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds to use for various projects.

Wu will be joined by Frederica Williams, President and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center, Mimi Ramos, Executive Director at New England United for Justice, and Curtis Kemeney, CEO and President of Boston Residential Group during Thursday’s announcement.

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