Housing Crisis Meets Home Rule

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.