Former MAR President David Wluka and MAR CEO Robert Authier testified on May 3 before the State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing. On behalf of MAR, they opposed House Bill 4455 which would repeal the Commonwealth’s Affordable Housing Statute (Chapter 40B), and is slated for the November Ballot.

The so-called “Anti-Snob Law” was enacted in the late 1960’s to counter the exclusionary local zoning restrictions on multi-family housing that existed outside of Massachusetts cities.

In the words of Authier during his testimony, “Its purpose was … and remains … to address fundamental fair housing principles that are often blocked or overlooked through restrictive local zoning that prevents the development of affordable and multi-family housing units for lowerincome residents of the Commonwealth.”

Wluka provided supporting data, including the fact that about 80% of all affordable housing stock built in Greater Boston (outside the City) was built under 40B. The Bill (H.4455) will likely fizzle out in Committee, but resurface on the November State Ballot.

MAR will continue to work with the Legislature and other groups to ensure that Chapter 40B continues as a means of producing affordable housing.

Read more of Wluka’s testimony and the Association’s position in the Insider column.