Current Issues

League of Women Voters^®
of the Cape Cod Area

Current Issues

Affordable Housing. Civility in the Public Square. Health Care System. Local activities.

Affordable Housing on Ballot

Ballot Question #2 (repeal of Chapter 40B) and The Campaign to Protect the Affordable Housing Law. The LWVMA and of Cape Cod urge a NO vote
Background and History of the Affordable Housing Law: The affordable housing law was enacted in 1969 to address local zoning and land use restrictions that make it impossible or economically infeasible to build affordable housing under existing local zoning. Numerous studies have shown that these restrictions (large-lot zoning and the prohibition of multi-family housing) are responsible for high housing costs, low levels of housing production, as well as increased sprawl. Today, less than 1.5% of land in eastern Massachusetts is zoned for multi-family. The 1969 affordable housing law ensures that each community in the Commonwealth does its fair share to meet the housing needs of its residents. The affordable housing law (Chapter 40B) encourages a goal of at least 10% of affordable housing in each community. A total of 51 municipalities have met this standard+more than double the number in 1997. An additional 40 communities are close to reaching the 10 percent goal, demonstrating the significant progress this law has made in the creation of affordable housing. Today, Massachusetts remains an expensive place to live. The Committee to Protect the Affordable Housing Law is a grassroots coalition of more than 200 individuals and organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of residents. The coalition includes civic, business, religious, and academic leaders as well as senior, environmental, housing, and civil rights groups. The affordable housing law is responsible for 80% of the affordable housing created in Massachusetts, outside the major cities, over the past decade. Almost half of all of the affordable units created using this law were developed by non-profit organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, and by local housing groups. If this law goes away, a lot less affordable housing would be built and in some communities NO affordable housing would be built. Businesses of all sizes need the affordable housing law so their employees can afford to live here. In addition, some seniors would have trouble affording to stay in the communities where they have lived their whole lives, and working families wouldn't be able to afford to live in the communities where they grew up. 12,000 units of housing in the pipeline would never get built; we would lose the construction jobs that go along with those developments. Based on long standing positions of the League of Women Voters of the United States and Massachusetts, the LWVMA and LWV Cape Cod Area urge people to Vote NO on Question #2, the repeal of Chapter 40B. Data provided by the Campaign to Protect the Affordable Housing Law (Edited, Judy Thomas)

Major Forum

"Is Disrespect Killing Democracy? A Public Dialogue"
A Discussion on Civility in the Public Square
Sunday, September 19 2-4 p.m. Tilden Arts Center, Cape Cod Community College
Featuring: (Former) Senator Paul Kirk of Massachusetts  Peter Meyer: Publisher of the Cape Cod Times
William King: Ombudsperson, UMass Dartmouth

Moderated by: Naomi Arenberg: Host "All Things Considered" Cape and Islands NPR
Increasingly across the country citizens have become upset and discouraged by the lack of civility in public discourse. Negative campaigns ads deliberately mislead and misrepresent; quotes are intentionally taken out of context, politicians avoid open forums because film clips can be so easily manipulated to their disadvantage and questioners are disrespectful. Editorials read: Politicians must work for greater good, not for partisan gain. Polarization has made it increasingly difficult for elected officials to work for compromise. News has become a product to sell. The We of We the people is becoming lost. Can we hope for something better? Fourteen organizations, including Cape Cod Community College and the League of Women Voters, think so! That's why they have joined together to present a discussion about the problem and some possible solutions with the outstanding panel named above. When the critical mass of those wishing to make choices for greater civility gets large enough, change becomes a social movement that can impact the political process and change the status quo. It's been said: a growing seed can dislodge slabs of concrete! Your participation will help make an important statement.
Sponsors: Cape Cod Community College, The Leagues of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area and Falmouth, Cape Cod Young Professionals, Barnstable County Human Rights Commission, Yarmouth Rotary Club Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Rotaries of Osterville and Hyannis, American Association of University Women Cape Cod Chapter, UMass Dartmouth, Barnstable Interfaith Council, Nauset Interfaith Association, Cape Cod Council of Churches, Fellowship of Reconciliation Cape Cod Chapter. Generous underwriting support: Rasky Baerlein.

Articles of Interest

Health Care System Evolution

Recent Activities

Countytrip
Tri-Town Septage Plant

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