Proponents of two potential ballot measures aiming to tackle the state’s dire housing crunch – pulling from entirely different playbooks – had to contend with more than formal opposition to the campaigns this week.
They also took fire from those advancing the other housing measure and from legislative leaders openly frustrated by the number of initiatives looking to circumvent the conventional lawmaking process by taking issues directly to voters.
The Legislature has been thrust into the middle of a record-breaking year of ballot measures that could see 12 questions go before voters. While lawmakers have decried the surge in ballot campaigns, and said some of them represent an intrusion of wealthy special interests bankrolling the efforts, proponents say years of inaction on Beacon Hill in addressing issues through legislation has forced their hand…