Voters settled the latest battle over the state’s affordable housing law last November when they soundly rejected a ballot question that would have repealed the 42-year-old statute known as Chapter 40B. But the debate over the law apparently never ends.
In the summer issue of ArchitectureBoston, which is devoted to all things government-related, Chris Walsh steps forward to pronounce the law a bust when it comes to making real progress in building affordable housing and labels it the “antithesis of good planning, sustainability, and Smart Growth.” Walsh comes with pretty good credentials for a debate on the merits and shortcomings of the law, as he’s not only a state representative but also the sole architect in the Legislature.
Walsh, a Framingham Democrat, says the law’s focus on new construction rather than renovation of existing housing stock promotes sprawl-like development that chews up pristine open space. He also says the fewer than 15 percent of Massachusetts communities that have reached the law’s target of having at least 10 percent of their housing stock deemed affordable are at risk of sliding back below the 10 percent threshold because deed restrictions on more than half of the affordable units built under the law began to expire last year.
Walsh says the law, which allows developers to bypass local zoning review in communities below the 10 percent level as long as they set aside at least one-quarter of the units in a project for low- to moderate-income buyers or renters, has been dubbed the “most regressive planning legislation in the country” by the American Planning Association.
There are plenty of legitimate knocks on the law. But it has nonetheless been the single biggest contributor to the construction of affordable housing in the state. The challenge for critics like Walsh is to put forward a serious proposal that incorporates better planning and land use practices without hampering the law’s ability to serve as the state’s one lever for spurring private-sector development of sorely needed affordable housing.
–MICHAEL JONAS
BEACON HILL
State Treasurer Steve Grossman has ordered a review of the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission after the agency doled out an amount nearly equal to its annual budget in a trio of employment discrimination and harassment claims over the last two years.
The Patrick administration is looking to delay approval of a proposed merger between NStar and Northeast Utilities, saying more time is needed to evaluate NStar’s rate structure. An NStar spokeswoman says the delay could kill the deal
The North Adams Transcript editorializes against the proposed merger of Northern Berkshire Juvenile Court and Northern Berkshire District Court.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, talks to Jon Keller about the impact of the municipal health care reform law just signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick.
Abington officials say they expected a few applications more than normal for a vacant 32-hour clerical position but instead got nearly 200 resumes. The town administrator estimated as many as 90 percent of the applicants are unemployed.
The Berkshire Eagle reports on the town of Florida’s efforts in banning chocolate milk in its schools in the wake of a statewide ban on junk food in schools.
The Springfield Republican reports that many tornado-affected residents have been living in mobile homes on their properties while their homes are rebuilt.
KENNEDYS
With 2011 marking the first time in 65 years that there’s no Kennedy in Washington, Daniel Flynn says in the American Spectator that they’re using that pent-up energy to battle each other.
NATIONAL POLITICS/WASHINGTON
US Rep. Paul Ryan tells the National Review that Republicans need a unified front on budget cuts in exchange for increasing the debt ceiling and that President Obama could learn a thing or two from former President Clinton about negotiating with the GOP.
Governors prepare for massive cuts in federal aid.
A plan that would give President Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for about $1.5 trillion in cuts is gaining steam.
ELECTION 2012
The New York Times looks at Michele Bachmann’s record of inflammatory statements on gay issues.
Obama bypasses Elizabeth Warren for a post atop the consumer agency she helped create. The now-underemployed Harvard professor is often mentioned as a possible challenger to Sen. Scott Brown. For his part, Brown is under enormous pressure as debt ceiling talks swirl, Doug Rubin writes.
The Globe editorial page trashes Mitt Romney’s trashing of President Obama by likening him to …. evil Europeans.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
US News & World Report says several private business organizations have jobs data that conflicts with the Labor Department and shows a better and improving economy than the feds’ numbers do.
Is the Mexican drug trade pumping up the Texan economy?
EDUCATION
College officials say wealthy donors are ready to give again after a recession-driven lull.
Tiger Mom redux: The parents of Happy Rogers are bringing her up in Singapore where she now speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently, Newsweek reports.
HEALTH CARE
The MetroWest Daily News reports on the large financial loss taken by MetroWest Medical Center in fiscal year 2010.
TRANSPORTATION
Look for lots more culcha in the main concourse at South Station, reports the Globe. .
ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised during her campaign for office that her government would not back a carbon tax, but that’s what she’s pushing for now, Time reports.
A Brookings Institution report found that Springfield has the sixth-highest “green density,” or percentage of green jobs, among the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country, the Springfield Republican reports.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Globe editorial page says after 16 years on the run from the FBI, Whitey Bulger girlfriend Catherine Greig should not be let out on bail.