Ari Alowan Goldstein, MIT, Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Housing

Through my fellowship with the Massachusetts Legislature, I strove to use housing policy as a means of protecting those in need and creating an economically thriving Commonwealth. In particular, I wrote a report and recommendations on the fiscal future of State-sponsored public housing, drafted amendments to an expiring-use bill, and learned the secrets to passing legislation. 

Alongside Rep. Kevin Honan, House Chair, and Jim McGlynn, Committee Counsel, I became an expert on State public housing. I wrote and distributed a report advocating for the preservation and modernization of 50,000 units of State-sponsored public housing.  Additionally, I grew to be well versed in the State’s many and complex housing policies. The relationship between the legislature and executive agencies was especially striking.

Through writing amendments to an expiring-use bill, effecting 90,000 units of housing throughout the Commonwealth, I also experienced the challenges of passing legislation. I gained a better understanding of the capacities and structures of organizations such as CHAPA, and state agencies such as MassHousing, MassDevelopment, DHCD, the Office of Commonwealth Development, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance.

Working on a particular bill also led to a more practical understanding of the legislative processes. In addition to the official story of how a bill becomes a law, I now know the three keys to passing legislation: (1) work with the Speaker of the House or the Senate President, (2) draft actual language and work through it with the appropriate interest groups, and (3) make sure to push the paper (e.g. get the bill out of the Clerk’s and Counsel’s offices).

Lastly, I now have a much better understanding of the relationship between elected officials at the state level, their constituents, and various interest groups.  I was particularly struck by how Rep. Honan met amicably with affordable housing advocates, City of Boston officials, and property owners and developers who all disagreed on a particular piece of legislation.