We are understandably disappointed that the city’s voters have rejected our proposal.
We’re excited to reach the end of the campaign, and to have worked with such passionate neighbors and volunteers to advance a necessary step to preserve our inclusive and equitable city. Our opposition – some of the wealthiest interests in the state – spent more than a quarter million dollars to confuse and misinform voters. This is an absurd sum for a municipal election, and a sorry statement about our democracy.
Regardless of the outcome, the housing crisis remains. Tens of thousands of residents live with the constant threat that they will be priced out of their homes, and have only meager legal protections. None of the solutions that the city council or the development community is considering are remotely commensurate with the crisis that we face. Washington isn’t going to help. Augusta isn’t going to help. The only solutions we will have are the ones we make ourselves.