Housing Crisis Meets Home Rule
Legal Judg(e)ments Podcast, Season 4, Episode 7
The Massachusetts housing crisis has spotlighted local zoning laws. With housing costs soaring, the state legislature enacted the MBTA Communities Act, requiring towns to allow higher-density housing by right. But when the Attorney General tried to enforce the law, the town of Milton pushed back, leading to a major showdown in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, host Bob Stetson is joined by appellate attorney Kevin Martin, who represented Milton in this high-profile case. They discuss the constitutional and legal arguments at play, the court’s ruling, and what the decision means for local governance, zoning, and housing policy going forward.
