CTOC Rent Action Commences Today; Rent Increase Due

A rent action urging non-payment of a citywide rent hike will begin today, a Cambridge Tenants' Organizing Committee spokesman said last night.

The increase which will affect rents on Cambridge's 22,000 rent-controlled apartments takes effect today on about hall of the units.

"There have probably been over 100 building meetings, block meetings and neighborhood meetings in the last month to resist the increase." Peter Wolk a CTOC spokesman, said.

Wolk said tenants could participate in the action either by withholding payment of the increase or by reporting serious uncorrected building code violations and then legally withholding the full rent.

CTOC began organizing tenants in January and last Friday filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the legality of the increase.

"The tenant's movement is growing in Cambridge." Wolk said "it's much stronger now than it was in the fall."

Paul Walkins, a landlord and member of the tent board said last night he thought the "vast Majority" of Tenants would pay the increase.

"I think Cambridge tenants are reasonable and fair and understand when the board gave the interests," he said.