On Saturday June 22, MAHT tenants and supporters gathered at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain to celebrate tenant victories and elect the new board. We gave out several awards to groups and individuals for their achievements including:

The Forbes Building Tenants Association for negotiating a final affordability and repair plan, including minimum parking for residents

Georgetowne Tenants United for winning continued repairs for water leaks, mold and sewage backups and minimizing evictions for nonpayment of rent

Apple Village Tenants Association for mobilizing support for Donna Lee in her retaliatory eviction trial

ARTU for joining the LOFTE Network in its first-ever national advocacy for LIHTC tenants’ rights and winning reduction of required bank statements for rent recertification

Loring Towers Tenants Association for winning new on-site management and a commitment for Resident Service programming at Loring Towers

Warren Hall Tenants Association for their successful 13 year struggle to win new owners to save 33 at-risk apartments for lower income families

City Rent Subsidy Coalition for mobilizing support for a $5 million annual increase in City Rent Subsidies to house 270 homeless families

Lobby Leadership Team for successful turnout and testimony for Governor Healy’s Housing Bond Bill

Donna Lee for her steadfast courage and leadership in standing up to severe mobbing and harassment and fighting for tenants’ rights

We also gave awards to three Boston city councilors and two state representatives. Thank you to city council president Ruthzee Louijeune, district 6 city councilor Ben Weber, and representative Mike Connelly for their support and showing up to our annual meeting.