Housing Protestors Confront City Council

Protestors from the Eviction Free Zone (EFZ), a grass roots community activist group, parked outside City Hall on Monday morning at 9 a.m. to demand that the city pay more attention to the Cambridge housing crisis.

Their cars, parked in the metered spaces on Mass. Ave., were plastered with posters proclaiming such slogans as "A Parking Space...Only Affordable Place?" and "Honk for Affordable Housing."

Protestors also distributed fliers listing their demands to passersby. In the evening, they carried their banners into the city council meeting to demand a larger allocation for the city's Affordable Housing Trust, which purchases properties that are then leased to low-income residents.

The council responded by passing an order opposing pending state legislation that would make it more difficult for tenants to defend themselves against rent increases and housing code violations.

While the council's action fell short of the protestors' demands, which included the allocation of $10 million to the Affordable Housing Trust, they cheered when the order passed.

"It is very important that the city council went on record opposing this bill, that was significant," said Nancy E. Hall, who is an EFZ member.

Two city council members voted present on the order because they said they support a clause in the state bill that requires tenants to put unpaid rent into escrow during housing disputes.

"If the order had been specific to matters of rent increases I would have looked at it differently," said Vice Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio, who voted present along with Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

"We could always use more money for affordable housing," Toomey said, while cautioning that there are many other big-ticket budget items this year.

At the same time, Galluccio said he supported the allocation of $10 million to the Affordable Housing Trust, even if it meant less money for capital spending projects and open space.

"I am all for the city readjusting its priorities," Galluccio said.

Not all councillors were enthusiastic in their support of the EFZ's funding proposal.

"All of us would like to have more mon- ey in the budget for affordable housing," saidCouncillor Katherine Triantafillou. The budget isunder the jurisdiction of City Manager Robert W.Healy, however, and the council can only negatefunding allocations.

And Healy did not seem to think that therewould be $10 million in the budget this year foraffordable housing. In fact, Healy said the cityhas only given $20 million for affordable housingin the five years since the end of rent control.

Members of EFZ say that the $4.5 million spenton affordable housing last year is not enough, andthat the city has enough surplus funding to granttheir request.

"Each year they've level funded [the AffordableHousing Trust], and we say this year it's notgoing to work," said Bill Cavellini, a 10-yearmember of EFZ. The funding for affordable housinghas been remained at $4.5 million a year since1996.

Other protestors were less optimistic thattheir demands would be met.

"We don't really expect to get $10 million thisyear," Hall said.

Besides the Affordable Housing Trust increaseand opposition of the state legislation, the EFZhad demanded that the council draft legislation toprotect tenants. They suggested the council passjustcause eviction and rent-regulation lawssimilar to those that existed prior to the end ofrent control in 1993.

"Since the end of rent control we've reallybeen galvanized toward keeping people in theirhomes," said Janice Zazinski, who organized Mondaymorning's protest.

The rapid rise in Cambridge rents and theensuing hardship for families and low-incomeCantabridgians have been issues the council hasbeen grappling with for years.

"There were a lot more rights under rentcontrol," Cavellini said. "But one thing we'velearned in this period is that you can still putup a good fight."Seth H. PerlmanCrimsonHOME SWEET HOME:BILL CAVELLINI, amember of the grass-roots group Eviction FreeZone, urges the Cambridge City Council to allocatemore money for affordable housing in a protestMonday morning outside City Hall.

And Healy did not seem to think that therewould be $10 million in the budget this year foraffordable housing. In fact, Healy said the cityhas only given $20 million for affordable housingin the five years since the end of rent control.

Members of EFZ say that the $4.5 million spenton affordable housing last year is not enough, andthat the city has enough surplus funding to granttheir request.

"Each year they've level funded [the AffordableHousing Trust], and we say this year it's notgoing to work," said Bill Cavellini, a 10-yearmember of EFZ. The funding for affordable housinghas been remained at $4.5 million a year since1996.

Other protestors were less optimistic thattheir demands would be met.

"We don't really expect to get $10 million thisyear," Hall said.

Besides the Affordable Housing Trust increaseand opposition of the state legislation, the EFZhad demanded that the council draft legislation toprotect tenants. They suggested the council passjustcause eviction and rent-regulation lawssimilar to those that existed prior to the end ofrent control in 1993.

"Since the end of rent control we've reallybeen galvanized toward keeping people in theirhomes," said Janice Zazinski, who organized Mondaymorning's protest.

The rapid rise in Cambridge rents and theensuing hardship for families and low-incomeCantabridgians have been issues the council hasbeen grappling with for years.

"There were a lot more rights under rentcontrol," Cavellini said. "But one thing we'velearned in this period is that you can still putup a good fight."Seth H. PerlmanCrimsonHOME SWEET HOME:BILL CAVELLINI, amember of the grass-roots group Eviction FreeZone, urges the Cambridge City Council to allocatemore money for affordable housing in a protestMonday morning outside City Hall.