Dear Friends, Supporters, Colleagues, and Cambridge and Somerville constituents —

I want to invite you to my end of year virtual event, Housing For All by 2024 — it will take place one week from tonight, Wednesday, December 29, at 6 pm.

Entry to the event is free of charge and welcome to all, but you must register in advance via this Zoom link.

The event will be hosted by my campaign committee and will serve as my end-of-year fundraiser. But I've never been too keen on standard fundraisers, so this is going to include a lot of exciting substance, too.

The plan is for me to do a 15-minute presentation to tell the story of some of what we've accomplished on housing policy over the course of my first two-and-a-half terms on Beacon Hill — from passing the state's largest-ever Housing Bond Bill in 2018, to passing the nation's strongest Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium in response to the pandemic, to winning fights in our community for graduate student housing and permanently affordable housing, etc. 

From there, I am going to ask the question: What will it take — and what will it look like — if we are to make those familiar words Housing Is A Human Right a reality here in Massachusetts?

This presentation will include a list of near-term goals — such as urgent investments in Low Threshold Housing and wraparound services, right to counsel, Tenant Opportunity To Purchase, eviction sealing, local options for real estate transfer fees, fixes to pending issues with rental assistance programs, investments in public housing, and a lot more.

Next, we'll talk about building the movement to lift the statewide ban on local rent stabilization. Just yesterday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the formation of an advisory committee on rent stabilization, and on January 11, the legislature's Joint Committee on Housing will hear testimony on the bill I filed with Rep. Nika Elugardo, the Tenant Protection Act, which would allow our city officials to consider options for tenant protections.

Finally, the presentation will offer suggestions for the path to winning guaranteed Housing For All by the end of the year 2024. It will also suggest some key milestones that I hope will help us build on the efforts of so many advocates, organizers, and public servants who are all working so tirelessly to advance housing policy on so many different levels.

After my presentation, we will have remarks from Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, State Senators Sal DiDomenico, Pat Jehlen, Lydia Edwards, and Jamie Eldridge, State Reps. Nika Elugardo, Christine Barber, Dave Rogers, and Steve Owens, Cambridge City Councilor Quinton Zondervan and Councilor-elect Burhan Azeem, Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and Councilor-elect Willie Burnley, Jr., and Worcester City Councilor-elect Etel Haxhiaj, and local advocates/organizers Nicole Eigbrett, Beth Huang, Bill Cunningham, and Tracey Pratt.

The list of participants is still in formation, so I am expecting additional officials, advocates and organizers to be added to this list in the coming days — and hopefully, you'll join us and add your voice to the conversation as well!

Please use this link to register in advance for the event, and if you are able, please consider making a contribution to the Committee To Elect Mike Connolly so that I can continue doing this work of bringing people together to build momentum for winning a statewide program of Housing For All.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns — and here's wishing you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season!

Yours in service,

Rep. Mike Connolly