In 2023 and 2024, PDM hosted a series of five Forums to explore the Commonwealth’s housing crisis and identify key strategies to address it. Last year, the legislature passed the Affordable Homes Act, an important step forward on a number of these strategies. But many challenges remain, especially our critical shortage of low and middle-income housing.
Corporate real estate investors continue to drive up housing prices in many MA communities. Corporate landlords raise rents and reduce availability of affordable units, thereby preventing many families from finding stable housing. Permitting rent stabilization would protect tenants from sudden steep rent hikes and maintain more equitable access to housing.
In 1994, a ballot initiative narrowly passed, discontinuing rent control statewide. Despite ballooning rents and shortages, our legislature has refused to restore measures to protect tenants. If proponents collect enough signatures, the 2026 MA ballot will include a rent stabilization initiative to limit rent increases to a maximum of 5% per year, support small landlords by exempting owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and encourage continued housing production with 10-year exemptions for new construction. PDM supports the ballot initiative and is hosting this forum to discuss how it would help.
Our panelists, Mark Martinez, a Housing Attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), and Carolyn Chou, Director of Homes for All Massachusetts, will explain the importance of rent stabilization and how you can help get the question on the ballot. Cathleen Cavell will moderate.
Ready to Level Up Your Impact? Join Our Organizer 101 Training!
You’ve marched. You’ve donated. You’ve made calls. Now it’s time to organize.
Activate America’s Organizer 101 is a fast-paced, 90-minute training designed to help you turn action into power. Whether you’re new to political organizing or looking to deepen your impact, this session gives you the tools to bring people with you—and build real momentum in your community.
🧭 What You’ll Learn:
-The difference between mobilizing and organizing—and why both matter -How to hold powerful 1:1 conversations that move people to action -How to map your power—build your activist network -Your next step as a local leader
“Best training so far & I have done many! The info was good and the breakout room activity was done so well that in that short period I now feel truly ready and excited to have conversations to invite people into our movement” June 26 participant
IMPORTANT: This is NOT a webinar! It is designed to engage all participants and is highly interactive. There will be a breakout session to practice the skills that you learn. Past participants say this is the BEST part of the training.
Across history, authoritarian regimes have feared educators—because teaching truth and critical thinking empowers students and communities to resist oppression. Today, public education is under attack, and defending teachers is defending democracy itself. We have seen broad attacks and lies against subjects like Critical Race Theory and the accurate retelling of our nation’s history of oppressing black and minority demographics. We have also seen attacks against reputable educators and accurate content – from the deepest of red and rural America to the bluest of urban centers. All of this is an attack against the truth and fact.
Join Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, for a dynamic conversation on her book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers. Randi will highlight how educators fight for freedom in classrooms, the dangers of censorship and attacks on schools, and why standing with teachers is a revolutionary act.
Ahead of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5th, this event is a must for activists, educators, and anyone who believes truth and education are essential to democracy.
Our peaceful and joyful weekly standouts continue at the Bartlet Mall, Newburyport, every Saturday in October from 11 AM – 12 PM. Come and bring your sign – or take one of the many signs we have on site. All are welcome! NOTE that on Sat, Oct 18th, we will hold our big NO KINGS DAY protest, co-hosted by I-RISE as part of a national day of action. That day we will stand out from 11 AM – 1 PM, so please come for part or all of that event. You can sign up below for any and all Saturdays in October, including October 18th. Contact ndcc@newburyportdems.com with any questions. Hope to see you on Saturday!
Our peaceful and joyful weekly standouts continue at the Bartlet Mall, Newburyport, every Saturday in October from 11 AM – 12 PM. Come and bring your sign – or take one of the many signs we have on site. All are welcome! NOTE that on Sat, Oct 18th, we will hold our big NO KINGS DAY protest, co-hosted by I-RISE as part of a national day of action. That day we will stand out from 11 AM – 1 PM, so please come for part or all of that event. You can sign up below for any and all Saturdays in October, including October 18th. Contact ndcc@newburyportdems.com with any questions. Hope to see you on Saturday!
On the first Friday of October, the good troublemakers of Southeastern Mass will once again be meeting in Hanover to host a postcard party. There is no better way to spend your Fridays than having great conversation with like-minded friends, socializing, eating good food, and effecting positive change in the world.
October 4th is the first Saturday of September, which means the Unitarian Universalist Church is hosting the Bridge of Love visibility. Come hold signs with the good troublemakers to kick off the fall by celebrating our communities’ diversity and showing your solidarity with groups in communities targeted on the South Shore by this regime. Join the crew of Good Troublemakers at the River Street overpass in Norwell from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, October 4th.
