Ward 3 needs a pro-housing councilor
I am one of many in our city (and indeed our state, and nation) who are very concerned about housing prices and housing availability. As Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently said, housing prices these days are largely a result of “plain old supply-and-demand. This is Econ 101. Housing prices are high because there’s just not enough of it … We need more housing of every kind and when we get more housing, prices will come back down.”
In Northampton, we’ve got high prices, but we also have a local government which is making all the right moves to raise availability and lower prices. Progressive infill policies are just beginning to come to fruition, as are efforts at creating more public housing.
The one person in our city’s government who I have seen specifically oppose additional housing is my city councilor, Quaverly Rothenberg. She has not only opposed two developments along Hawley Street, but has criticized the subsidized development that will replace the Registry of Deeds on King Street, has tried to rally neighbors to throw up obstacles to a development off Day Avenue, and recently threatened to disrupt the building of a Habitat for Humanity home in Ward 6 with a charter objection, when the point of contention turned out to be unrelated.
Ward 3 needs representation that will think critically, protect what we love about our city, but also welcome new neighbors to join us. My pick for Ward 3 city council is Laurie Loisel, who has both the temperament, the experience, and the right attitude toward new neighbors: “Welcome.” Those coming to Northampton for refuge, as many of us have done, as well as those of us who have been here a long time, all need a new councilor in Ward 3.
Jennifer Nery
Northampton