(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

From 2009 until 2019, I lived in 11 different apartments across Medford, Somerville, and Cambridge. Sometimes for more, sometimes for less, and always paying a broker’s fee. My first bedroom in a 4BR/1BA apartment near Teele Square cost $737 per month, adjusted for inflation. Today, a similar apartment costs at least $900 on Craigslist.

Since 2019 I have lived in a “rent-stabilized” apartment; through the grace of generational privilege, I purchased a condo. Over the past 12 months, my “rent” has decreased 8.5% year over year due to inflation (Wall Street Journal).

But my renting neighbors have seen their rent stay the same or increase up to 5% over the same 12 months, controlling for inflation (Zumper). And their average hourly earnings have decreased 2.7% due to inflation (NYTimes).

If they are forced to seek alternative housing, will they move their kids before the school year ends in June? If hospitalized due to COVID, will they have to choose between rent and medical bills? As grocery bills go up, will they have to choose between rent and food?

I am glad Mayor Ballantyne has requested more state funds for rental relief, negotiated with large landlords, and created a new housing fund to keep our eviction rate low.

To keep protecting our neighbors, the Somerville Board of Health – Dr. Brian Green, Paula Machado, Robert Ciccia – must extend the eviction moratorium at least 60 days.

These 60 days will give

• Our neighbors time to organize and form tenant unions.
• Mayor Ballantyne time to hire 6 more Haitian Kreyòl, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish speakers to the Office of Housing Stability to more quickly process rental relief requests and provide legal assistance.
• Our councilors time to align on bold ideas, including providing $10 million to the community land trust (Councilor Charlotte Kelly’s agenda item 213160) and renovating historic buildings for affordable housing (City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr. ’s agenda item 213282).

If you agree, call the Board of Health and tell them. Their phone number is (617) 625-6600 extension 4300.

Blue skies,
Daniel Wong, Ward 2

Burnley, Willie Jr. “That the FY 2023 budget include additional funding for the renovation of historic buildings to create new affordable housing.” Agenda Item 213282, City of Somerville, 10 Mar. 2022, http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=3507&MediaPosition=195.339&ID=28254&CssClass=

Guilford, Gwynn. “U.S. Inflation Accelerated to 8.5% in March, Hitting Four-Decade High.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 13 Apr. 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-march-2022-11649725215.

Kelly, Charlotte Kelly. “That the FY 2023 budget establish a $10M trust for the Somerville Community Land Trust, in order to provide and expand affordable, community-owned property and homeownership and rental units in perpetuity.” Agenda Item 213160, City of Somerville, 10 Mar. 2022, http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=None&MeetingID=3493&MediaPosition=412.839&ID=28120&CssClass=.

Smialek, Jeanna. “Prices Were 8.5% Higher in March than a Year Earlier.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/12/business/cpi-inflation-report/prices-were-8-5-higher-in-march-than-a-year-earlier.

Zumper. “Average Rent in Somerville, MA and Cost Information” 19 Apr. 2022, https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/somerville-ma.