Salem City Council Adopts Resolution in Support of Tenant Protection
Posted on July 25th at 1:45pm.
At their July 13th meeting, the Salem City Council adopted a resolution in support of increasing tenant access to counsel in eviction cases and allowing tenants to petition the court to seal eviction records. The resolution states support for the following bills:
An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (H.1690 & S.956): Filed by Representative Michael Moran and Senator Lydia Edwards, the bill would allow those who have been evicted to petition the trial court to seal their eviction records.
An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts (H.1731 & S.864): Filed by Representative Dave Rogers, Representative Michael Day and Senator Sal DiDomenico, the bill would establish a statewide Access to Counsel Program to provide tenants facing an eviction in Housing Court legal representation.
Please note that Salem Senator Joan Lovely and Salem Representative Manny Cruz are listed as co-sponsors for H.1731 & S.864.
Both bills were referred to the Judiciary Committee and were discussed at a hearing on May 9, 2023. Nine Salem City Councilors voted to adopt the resolution, with Councilor Watson-Felt absent, and Councilor Dominguez recusing himself.
The City Council cited the disproportionate legal representation of tenants compared to landlords in Housing Court and the long-term impact of having an eviction record as the main reasons to adopt the resolution.
