June 26, 2025 |Essex County Community Organization (ECCO), Immigration, LCTV News, Legislation, News, Rent

Essex County Community Organization Calls For Action on Rent Control, Real Estate Transfer Fee, Immigration Crisis

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Hundreds of residents of Beverly, Salem, and the surrounding towns gathered Wednesday night to call on their legislators to support affordable housing legislation and address the immigration crisis. Senator Joan Lovely and Rep. Hannah Bowen both attended and responded to the group, stating support for the bills. “My daughter and I have been looking for an affordable place to live for over a year,” said Shay Jacobin of Salem. “Politicians keep talking about building new housing, but that will take time. We need to pass rent stabilization to stop exorbitant rent hikes NOW.”

The group called to lift the ban on rent stabilization, so that cities and towns can limit the percentage landlords can raise rents.

The group also called on legislators to increase funding for affordable housing through a real estate transfer fee.

“Since moving in, my rent has gone up 60%. And while I can still manage it for now, I know I’m one decision away — one rent increase or sale — from losing my home,” said Lindsay Randall of Ipswich, who lives in a month-to-month rental with three roommates. “That’s the reality this housing crisis has created — not just for me, but for thousands across the state. The real estate transfer fee gives cities and towns the funding they need. Rent stabilization gives renters the protections they deserve. Together they protect people like me, who work, who serve, and who are simply trying to stay.

Cathy Goldwater, a congregant at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Beverly and ECCO leader, put the event in context of the national housing and deportation crises: “We come together this evening at a time of stress and uncertainty that is greater than many of us can remember. Our neighbors are facing impossible choices over whether to pay rent, buy groceries, or get healthcare. We observe immigrants and others being detained and sometimes deported, all without due process. Those of us who believe in a democracy that includes all of us, all races, religions, and backgrounds, need to commit to both long-term strategy and urgent action to build a movement that takes our country back and builds the future we deserve. That’s why we’re here”Lifting the statewide ban on rent stabilization would prevent families from being displaced by allowingcities and towns to decide for themselves whether to cap rents at up to the rate of inflation or 5 percent, whichever is lower. To keep new housing being built, the bill makes exceptions for newly built housing and apartments of under five units. It also requires just cause for evictions.”

The real estate transfer fee would give communities statewide the option to fund up to an estimated $200 million a year in affordable housing by collecting a small, one-time fee of .5 to2 percent on high-end real estate sales.

ECCO leaders also called for legislators to address the immigration crisis.

“So many of those struggling for affordable housing are also struggling just to keep our families together in the face of the assault on immigrant communities,” said Rebecca Parra of Salem. Sharing the testimony of undocumented immigrants too scared to speak publicly, she said, Parra read, “Immigrant leader D writes ‘First my landlord raised our rent by $800/month. Then ICE took my husband off the street. Now I am scared to go to work because I am scared ICE will take me from my children’s when I am all they have. But if I don’t, how will I pay my rent?’”

“In this moment, our opposition is pushing a national and local vision of exclusion, deportation, and elite power. why they are stoking fear, we envision a community of inclusion and freedom,” said Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin, executive director of ECCO. “We won’t back down. We’ll keep organizing, keep showing up, and keep pressuring our legislators to do their jobs—because this is our moment to say: this is the country and community we want. Not one that rips people from their homes, but one where everyone has a place to live, a voice that’s heard, and a future worth fighting for.”

About ECCO

Essex County Community Organization (ECCO) is a diverse network of congregations and organizations across the North Shore building relationships and power to put human dignity at the center of public life. We work together across race, class, and faith lines to ensure that all people on the North Shore can thrive, grow, and dream. We advocate at the state level as Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN), a collective of nine community organizing affiliates, and at the national level as Faith in Action.

The above press release was submitted to us by Essex County Community Organization (ECCO).