Affordable Inclusive Milton (AIM) helped lead the successful campaign for passage at the December 2023 Town Meeting of zoning to comply with the MBTA Communities law.  The law was adopted in 2021 with bipartisan support by the legislature and governor to address the region’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.  We supported compliance in keeping with AIM’s mission “to increase the amount of affordable housing in Milton and promote a racially and economically diverse population throughout the geography of the Town.”

 

AIM also helped lead the unsuccessful referendum campaign for a “Yes” vote to comply with the law, after opponents of compliance forced a town-wide question in February 2024.  We received support during both campaigns from organizations including Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) and Abundant Housing Massachusetts (AHMA).  CHAPA has been at the forefront of advocacy for affordable housing in Massachusetts for over 50 years, and AHMA provides a range of services to housing advocacy groups.  We are proud to partner with CHAPA, AHMA, and numerous other organizations in greater Boston seeking to promote affordable housing to promote economic development, diversity, and healthy communities.

 

AIM deplored misinformation disseminated by opponents to compliance with the MBTA Communities Act and warned that serious consequences would result from defiance of the law, including a likely lawsuit to force compliance by the state Attorney General.  In fact, the Attorney General sued Milton in March, and the Town is incurring significant costs for a legal defense that was unnecessary and ill-advised.  Oral arguments in the case are expected before the state Supreme Judicial Court in October.

 

This month, AIM joined dozens of organizations in signing amicus curiae briefs filed separately by CHAPA (CHAPA amicus brief) and AHMA (AHMA amicus brief) in support of the Attorney General’s lawsuit.  Signing partners included other affordable housing advocacy groups, religious organizations, civil rights groups, housing developers, lenders, chambers of commerce, and the United Way.  All parties, including AIM, agree with major points presented in the briefs, including: (1) the language of the law is plain and clear in mandating that all MBTA Communities, including Milton, must comply with the law; (2) the legislature and governor specifically intended to require zoning for “of right” multi-family housing, based on a long history of inadequate incentive-based public policy to promote housing development; (3) relaxing zoning restrictions on multi-family housing is good public policy; and (4) the MBTA Communities Act is a modest means to relieve our state’s housing supply and affordability crisis.

 

AIM believes Milton should be part of the regional solution to addressing the state’s housing crisis.  While some may contend that our support of the Attorney’s General action is “against the Town,” we believe the opposite.  Our members love this Town and are committed to its future.  Many of us have lived in Milton for decades, have raised our families here, and have contributed in multiple ways to the life of the community.  We are proud to support the amicus curiae briefs filed by CHAPA and AHMA in support of compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.  We are confident implementation of the Act will strengthen Milton’s future.  We pledge to continue to advocate for affordable housing and diversity with careful attention to accuracy in our communications and respect in our relationships.