Council votes 10-0 to back rent stabilization bill

Select Board · Meeting of June 15, 2026

Springfield City Council voted 10-0 to back state legislation letting the city set its own rent stabilization rules. Councilors Justin Hurst and Zaida Govan sponsored the resolution supporting House Bill H-2328 and Senate Bill S.1447, filed by former councilor and now state Sen. Adam Gomez, who told the chamber "today is about more than just a vote." Resident Nicole Coakley testified her rent is jumping from $950 to $2,200 a month on August 1. Three councilors, Perez, Brown and Whitfield, were absent.

The council separately voted 10-0 to reaffirm support for fare-free PVTA bus service and passed, 8-2, a resolution by Councilor Martin requiring in-person meeting attendance with limited exceptions, over objections from Councilors Walsh and Hurst that "life happens."

In the full story:

• Public Speak-Out: Housing, Gentrification and Nonprofit Governance
• Committee Reports
• Rent Stabilization Resolution
• Election Warrant and Electronic Poll Books
• Wallace Street Discontinuance
• Youth Commission Ordinance and Agenda Procedure Dispute
• Fare-Free Transportation Resolution
• In-Person Meeting Attendance Resolution
• Other Routine Items
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,054 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.