Author | Lightnews

Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 5d

Ok, next time:

"No Kings (except Makai King)"

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/27/a...

Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Dan Bertolet @danbertolet.bsky.social · 6d

Worth repeating:

"Anything that arbitrarily raises the cost of homes even at the high end will have a domino effect that exacerbates the already cutthroat competition for new homes"

Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Such a bad idea. We have a massive housing shortage in Boston that drives up costs for everyone. Anything that arbitrarily raises the cost of homes even at the high end will have a domino effect that exacerbates the already cutthroat competition for new homes 1/
www.masslive.com/boston/2025/...

Boston councilor proposes higher property taxes on large apartments to help homeowners

"The result would be that residential rates would be lowered across the city as a greater burden of the fixed Proposition 2.5 property tax revenue would fall on corporate landlords rather than on smal...

www.masslive.com

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

If we want something to be affordable and widely available (housing), the progressive solution isn't to limit it (which we've done through restrictive zoning and permitting for years) and make it even more expensive (which this tax proposal would do).

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

As for the question about whether landlords pass on tax increases in the form of higher rents, absolutely! It doesn't take economic research to know landlords aren't in the business of absorbing higher costs, but here is an example from close to home: cre.mit.edu/news-insight...

Can Landlords really pass on higher property taxes to tenants? - MIT Center for Real Estate

The standard commercial lease involves a rent that incorporates current property taxes (for which the landlord is legally responsible). It also allows to landlord to automatically “pass on” any increa...

cre.mit.edu

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

I'm not sure how substantially increasing taxes based on size of a building creates a less regressive system. That would be accomplished by tiering taxes based on income. For instance, there are many wealthy folks that rent "luxury" units in converted triple deckers who wouldn't be touched by this.

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Rise, wash, repeat until homelessness & displacement are exacerbated by a growing housing shortage. 3/

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Instead of renting on the high end, many folks who would otherwise occupy these apartments may seek a lower-cost tier of rentals, directly competing against (and outbidding) lower income, often working class Boston residents for the few remaining reasonably priced homes. 2/

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Such a bad idea. We have a massive housing shortage in Boston that drives up costs for everyone. Anything that arbitrarily raises the cost of homes even at the high end will have a domino effect that exacerbates the already cutthroat competition for new homes 1/
www.masslive.com/boston/2025/...

Boston councilor proposes higher property taxes on large apartments to help homeowners

"The result would be that residential rates would be lowered across the city as a greater burden of the fixed Proposition 2.5 property tax revenue would fall on corporate landlords rather than on smal...

www.masslive.com

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 6d

Ayanna Pressley, the YIMBY? The congresswoman has endorsed the @abettercambr1dge.bsky.social backed City Council incumbents in Tuesday's election, all of whom voted for that monumental citywide multifamily zoning reform earlier this year. Via @politico.com

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Cllr. Burhan Azeem @burhanazeem.bsky.social · 9d

It was wonderful celebrating all the Housing wins we’ve had in Massachusetts over the last year.

Ft. @jessekb.bsky.social @berkie1.bsky.social @ajcampbellma.bsky.social

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 10d

Tonight! @abundanthousingma.org's annual Celebration of Abundance in Brighton, w/@massago.bsky.social, @burhanazeem.bsky.social, @councillorsiddiqui.bsky.social, & pro-housing advocates from around MA. Get your tix ahead of time at link below or at the door!
www.abundanthousingma.org/ahmas-celebr...

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

The Arc of Massachusetts @thearcofmass.org · 11d

We are proud to stand with 800+ national, state, local, civil rights, educati...
https://thearcofmass.org/post/the-arc-of-massachusetts-stands-with-800-organizations-in-condemning-mass-layoffs-at-department-of-education-urging-administration-and-congress-to-act-to-protect-children-with-disabilities/

The Arc of Massachusetts Stands with 800+ Organizations in Condemning Mass Layoffs at Department of Education, Urging Administration and Congress to Act to Protect Children with Disabilities - The Arc of Massachusetts

Through advocacy, programs that promote inclusion, and engaging the community, The Arc creates tangible changes in the community and in the lives of people with disabilities.

thearcofmass.org

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 11d

Nothing in this policy is allowing the projects to move forward by-right, and it's not an affordable housing overlay like Cambridge has which is the primarily producer of affordable homes there. This is window dressing until these projects are by-right and totally exempt from Article 80.

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 11d

Good move, but even affordable housing in Boston gets caught up in long permitting processes & and require extensive variances that drive up the cost and open the developments to bad faith abutter lawsuits. 1/
www.masslive.com/boston/2025/...

Boston Housing Crisis: New law prioritizes converting city property into affordable homes

The new ordinance is part of an ongoing effort to "root families in Boston," Mayor Michelle Wu said Wednesday.

www.masslive.com

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 17d

The settings of a specific production goal is important, and even moreso is the implication that the city DOES have a role in keeping market rents affordable through production of more homes in ALL parts of the city.

We could use much more of this in the housing discourse in Boston.

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 17d

He also set a specific goal of building 200k homes across the city in 10 years, so that affordable AND market rate tenants can have "more housing such that they are not being priced out..."

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 17d

Zohran just said: "I am going to make it easier for the private sector to build housing in this city because what we see today is not labor, it's not materials, it's the wait that is actually costing so many, so much to build that housing"

I wish we would hear that as clearly stated in Boston.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 17d

✅ freeze the rent
✅ 200k new affordable homes
✅ make it easier to build

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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 17d

Protest sign idea:
"No Kings (except King Eng)"

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 26d

For more information, please visit www.abundanthousingma.org/2025-city-of...

2025 City of Boston Poll Results

The poll results may be downloaded here:

www.abundanthousingma.org

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 26d

Given the desire for more action and dissatisfaction with current approaches, Boston residents showed broad support for a variety of policies that would make it easier to build more homes and increase housing choices. Support for these policies was strongest among renters and younger households.

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 26d

These results align with surveyed attitudes on efforts to improve housing affordability. Three-quarters of residents say the City government is doing only a fair or poor job on efforts to make Boston more affordable

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 26d

A new poll from the MassInc Polling Group, commissioned by AHMA, found that overwhelming majorities of Boston residents want the city to take stronger action to address the housing shortage. This support cuts across surveyed demographics, including renters and owners, neighborhood, and income.

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 26d

📊 New poll: Bostonians want more housing.

Large majorities of both renters + homeowners support bold reforms to tackle the city’s housing shortage — and most say not enough has been done. 🏙️

www.abundanthousingma.org/2025-city-of...

2025 City of Boston Poll Results

The poll results may be downloaded here:

www.abundanthousingma.org

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Jeff Wachter @jeffwachter.bsky.social · 27d

Great to see @abundanthousingma.org advocating that the Mayor use some of her political capital to push for substantive action on zoning reform and other efforts to increase housing supply in Boston.

Survey says Wu should do more to bring down Boston’s sky-high rents - The Boston Globe

A poll by a state housing advocacy group found that most Bostonians want the city to move more aggressively to build more and rein in housing costs.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav

Saeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · Oct 4

Lyft driver in Decatur, GA: Where’s home?

Me: Boston.

Lyft driver: Cambridge?

Me: Yes, actually. How did you—

Lyft driver: You’ve got that look about you.

Me: 😮🤔😭

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