Today, Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, Rep. Russell Holmes, and Rep. Byron Rushing gathered at Thomas Atkins Apartments Community Room on Blue Hill Avenue for the annual Doughnuts for Delegates breakfast co-sponsored by Roxbury-based Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation and Madison Park Development Corporation. The event promoted a community development policy agenda developed by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations. The audience of 60 included Roxbury residents and board members of the two CDCs. Representing Governor Charlie Baker were Deputy Chief of Staff Mindy d’Arbeloff and Legislative Director Ryan Coleman.
Chang-Diaz, Holmes, and Rushing each stressed the importance of community development organizations. Rep. Russell Holmes said that the policy agenda put forth “aligns with the priorities of the Black and Latino Caucus,” which he chairs.
Rep. Byron Rushing called for the creation of a single state agency with cabinet-level leadership to coordinate housing creation and an end to homelessness. He applauded work to fight gentrification, but stated that the work must begin by developing a concrete definition so a comprehensive set of solutions could be set in place.
“The governor knows the importance of youth jobs and Brownfields redevelopment,” said Ryan Coleman, Governor Baker’s Legislative Director.
The proposed community development policy agenda, developed by the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), includes:
• Increasing affordable housing production and preservation by increasing the state capital budget for housing from $190.5 million to $222 million and by increasing other affordable housing financing mechanisms;
• Increasing funding to support community-based rental programs (MRVP);
• Increasing homeownership for low- and moderate-income families by investing at least $10 million a year to help 2,000 home-buyers annually access state-supported mortgages;
• Securing $2 million annually for the Small Business Technical Assistance Program;
• Securing $15 million in funding for the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund;
• Renewing the Community Investment Tax Credit;
• Supporting youth job opportunities;
• Expanding the Community Preservation Act.
