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Jesse Kanson-Benanav

@jessekb.bsky.social
1.9K followers 548 following 184 posts

Saying yes to homes for all across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Executive director of @abundanthousingma.org | linkedin.com/in/jesse-kb

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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 14/07/2026
🎉 Housing Abundance Symposium! Join advocates from across Massachusetts for a day of workshops, a keynote conversation with @jamellebouie.net, and our Celebration of Abundance Luncheon. 🆓 Free to attend. ⚠️ Space is limited—register today! www.abundanthousingma.org/housing-abun...
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 29/06/2026
⏰ Tomorrow is the last day of June—and the last day of our Triple Decker Challenge! We're just **$400 away** from our $10,000 goal. Every gift helps us advocate for more homes across Massachusetts. Help us cross the finish line: abundanthousingma.org/donate/?onet...
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
They're all YIMBYs too
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
The Boston City Council had a great hearing yesterday on a proposal to eliminate parking minimums. The opposition was so disingenuous: eliminating parking minimums would not take away community input; it makes parking responsive to specific projects, not a blanket mandate.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Matt Szafranski @mszafranski.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
There shouldn't be any parking minimums in Boston. Maybe, a small driveway in outer neighborhoods at most. The market would probably command that spaces exist in the furthest out neighborhoods. You don't need to mandate it.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Jonathan Berk 🏠 @berkie1.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
A 2025 @massincpolling.bsky.social / @abundanthousingma.org poll found that 70% of Boston residents support more flexibility in parking requirements to facilitate more housing production.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The fact that it requires a single variance - let alone 9 of them - to build a three-decker in Boston is unconscionable and is one of the reasons why we face such an extreme housing shortage. The Boston everyone knows and loves is effectively illegal today.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Darren Buck @bikepedantic.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
This single family home in my neighborhood sold for $1.1M in late 2023. It’s had a thorough rehab, and is now being marketed as… a $3.63M single family home. Please tell me exactly how that is a better outcome than anything that the new base zoning allows, Cathy Zusy. redf.in/j0vMjR
redf.in
21 Cottage Park Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 - 5 beds/4.5 baths
(MLS PIN) For Sale: 5 beds, 4.5 baths ∙ 4087 sq. ft. ∙ 21 Cottage Park Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 ∙ $3,628,900 ∙ MLS# 73528101 ∙ Striking new luxury single family on a quiet, tree-lined North Cambridge ...
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Boston Indicators @bosindicators.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Accessory dwelling units are legal in Massachusetts, but state law has set an unnecessarily restrictive limit on the size of these units, as we explain in our report, “ADUs Turn One: Regulatory Barriers to Production in Massachusetts and Ideas for Further Reform.” buff.ly/fhAxkFD
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
WCVB NewsCenter 5, Boston @wcvb5.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan goes 'On the Record' about her proposal to eliminate off-street parking requirements for new housing. Watch the full conversation here: www.wcvb.com/article/boston-city-co… 
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Sending good vibes from Boston to LA. We need leaders nationally like Nithya and Zohran who will promote a progressive vision for housing abundance and affordability. Sets an important example for those of us in other high cost, low home building cities that have not yet embraced that vision.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
LA don't mess this up. Make sure Nithya makes the runoff. Other high list, low home building cities need the example. More Zohran Mamdanis and Katie Wilsons, fewer Karen Basses.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
I'm honestly surprised about the high percentage of same-sex couples living at Logan Airport
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
As much as I believe we need more competitive elections in Mass., the mess that is the California gubernatorial election this year makes me skeptical about the jungle primary ballot question that will likely be on the ballot here in November.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 30/05/2026
“There is a larger principle here. States should not outsource their housing policy to local governments that tend to have a bias toward the status quo. States should assert more control over lot sizes, multifamily zoning, permitting processes and more.” Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | How to Stop the Affluent from Rigging the Housing Market
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Fran Harrington @franharrington.com · 29/05/2026
Save the date! I will be helping host a World Cup watch part at The Jeanie Johnston in Jamaica Plain on Friday 6/26 for both the 3pm and 8pm games. More details to come soon.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Dan Keshet @dankeshet.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
If Austin's upzoning helps inspire something similar in New York, all those years testifying at City Hall will have been even more valuable.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Civic leadership is know that, no matter how unique your city is, it can still learn from others. Broad upzoning in Austin, Auckland, & Mpls led to more homes built + stabilized & even reduced housing costs. NYC & Boston can both learn from these examples. NYC is on that path. Will Boston follow?
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Sam @samd.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Zohran just cited Minneapolis, Austin, and Auckland as cities that lowered housing costs via upzoning certified ball knowledge, Auckland is a deep YIMBY cut
Zohran Mamdani with local councilmember and government officials
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Cambridge City Councilor Cathie Zusy is trying to organize a counter-lobby day to @abundanthousingma.org's Lobby Day tomorrow. Remember this when she and other anti-housing forces say Cambridge can't solve the state's housing crisis...they don't want ANY housing built ANYWHERE in Massachusetts!
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
It is simply dishonest for anyone in Boston to claim that "macroeconomic conditions" are solely to blame for our construction slowdown. NYC has the same high interest rates, land & labor costs as Boston. The difference is policy reforms under city's power to accelerate housing production citywide.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
We could do this in Boston...it would just take leadership that is committed to ending our housing crisis.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Cambridge City Councilor Cathie Zusy is trying to organize a counter-lobby day to @abundanthousingma.org's Lobby Day tomorrow. Remember this when she and other anti-housing forces say Cambridge can't solve the state's housing crisis...they don't want ANY housing built ANYWHERE in Massachusetts!
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
We could do this in Boston...it would just take leadership that is committed to ending our housing crisis. therealdeal.com/new-york/202...
therealdeal.com
Mamdani to further streamline ADU building and permitting
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced changes for Landmarks Preservation Commission and Buildings Department as part of his major housing plan.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
We could do this in Boston...it would just take leadership that is committed to ending our housing crisis. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
politico.com
Mamdani targets housing holdouts
The city will explore land use changes in areas with the lowest rates of affordable housing production.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 15/05/2026
David Modica whose viral Marblehead Town Meeting remarks sparked a national conversation is joining AHMA's Lobby Day on May 27th at the Massachusetts State House alongside @kimdriscollma.bsky.social , @andyvargas.bsky.social and Sen. Brendan Crighton. 🔗:https://www.abundanthousingma.org/lobby-day/
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem @burhanazeem.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
The first Black woman to be mayor in MA. The man who built TransitMatters. The leader of the MA housing movement since the very beginning. Honored to have Denise, @jarjoh.bsky.social, and @jessekb.bsky.social in this fight.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
I guess it was New Hampshire day at Fenway nypost.com/2026/04/04/s...
nypost.com
Democrat Gov. Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu booed at Red Sox home opener
The two Democrat politicians took the field at Fenway Park before Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres for a pregame ceremony.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Alaina Pitt @alainapitt.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
This is happening across the state and particularly in the Greater Boston Area. Lexington is cutting teachers, Malden failed to pass a tax override, and Beverly is talking about $1000 fees for school hockey. What do these cities all have in common? ⬇️ Reposted bc Malden != Medford
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Know what allows cities in MA to raise tax basis above the Prop 2.5 limit w/o an override vote? New MF housing development. Know what is proven to stabilize & even decrease rents? New MF housing development Know what we have virtually zero of these days in Boston? New MF housing development.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Los Angeles’ housing crisis is self-inflicted.  For decades, city leaders have taken deliberate actions to limit new housing. Today, we announced our plan to fix this and triple housing production.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
@jamaicaplain-02130.bsky.social Do you have any idea what's coming to 668 Centre, the space next to big City Feed that was most recently Nckls & Dimes VX? I saw one of those JP Centre/South Main Streets "coming soon" signs while passing by on the 39, but haven't had a chance to stop by & see.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Boston is so cooked
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Jonathan Berk 🏠 @berkie1.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
A new poll from YouGov & @abundanthousingma.org showed 59% of Massachusetts voters support allowing middle-housing like duplexes, triple-deckers & townhomes anywhere that single-family housing can be built. That number jumped to 76% support among ages 18-34 & 72% among ages 35-49.
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Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem @burhanazeem.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
When housing is too expensive and families are getting squeezed out. You need someone who can push policy change into reality. We can do this. From legalizing starter homes to granny flats, from tenant protections to investing in affordable housing, there's a lot of real solutions we can pursue.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 04/03/2026
📊 NEW POLL: 58% of Massachusetts voters support the #LegalizeStarterHomes ballot question to allow smaller-lot single-family homes statewide. Housing is the top issue for voters — outranking taxes and immigration. It’s time to build more homes. 🏠
abundanthousingma.org
New poll: 58% of Massachusetts voters support Legalize Starter Homes ballot question to build more housing statewide
Boston – A new poll by YouGov and commissioned by Abundant Housing Massachusetts (AHMA), a statewide pro-housing organization, found that 58% of voters support a proposed ballot question to allow…
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Andrea Joy Campbell @ajcampbellma.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Let's try this again 👋 Hi Bluesky - I'm Massachusetts' Attorney General. You might know me from suing President Trump nearly 50 times, beating Uber and Lyft in court, or being the first woman of color elected to statewide office in MA. I officially left X today - help me find my MA people?
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Screaming in Boston
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Crying in Boston 😭 www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
crainsnewyork.com
YIMBYism continues to gain sway with latest Mamdani hires
Mamdani is assembling a housing team aligned around expanding supply and accelerating development approvals as part of his affordability agenda.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Abundant Housing Massachusetts @abundanthousingma.org · 12/02/2026
HOUSING NEWS: Massachusetts Governor Signs Executive Order to Study Single-Stair Residential Buildings Gov. established an Advisory Group to study the conditions under which single-stair multifamily residential buildings could be permitted in Massachusetts. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/b...
bostonglobe.com
Maura Healey unveiled her latest plan to tackle Massachusetts’ housing crisis: Fewer staircases - The Boston Globe
Fire codes have long required two staircases in mid-rise apartment buildings. But advocates worry that drives up construction costs. So the state will study doing away with one.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Minnesota House DFL @mnhousedfl.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Police in Bloomington, MN just announced that one of the guys they arrested in an underage sex trafficking sting was a **background checker for ICE agents.** He had a high security clearance in the Trump administration... and he was caught trying to abuse children. Sickening.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
“Yes, I’m a YIMBY,” Raman said, referring to the pro-housing “Yes in My Backyard” acronym. www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman's record may surprise you
Raman's stances on issues including homelessness, transportation, and protecting immigrants from the Trump administration are similar to those of opponent and former ally Karen Bass.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Rachel Hands @rachelhands.com · 10/02/2026
there’s a verified ICE report in East Somerville this morning, neighbors. y’all have the LUCE number in your phones, right? maybe donate if you can, I just made mine recurring www.lucemass.org/donate
lucemass.org
Donate to support our work! — LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Amazing score by Mamdani bringing Andrew in to his already abundance-pilled administration. I've enjoyed getting to know and work with Andrew through @welcomingneighbors.us...and I won't tell anyone in NYC that he's actually a Mass. native! 😅
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Missoula. Montana. In Boston still have single-family exclusive zones and other areas where even a classic triple decker can't be built by-right, not to mention a whole mess of costly parking mandates. There's no reason, other than political will, that we can't do this in Boston.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
People including a @bostonglobe.com columnist are lamenting the loss of a longstanding gas station in Jamaica Plain, and its replacement with 230 new homes. No wonder we simultaneously crises in both housing and climate.
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Reposted by Jesse Kanson-Benanav
Welcoming Neighbors Network @welcomingneighbors.us · 02/02/2026
Allowing starter homes on smaller lots ➡️ building homes that everyone can afford. Let's make it reality.
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
I really want to know the back story about how this person ended up with so many Amtrak cafe car sandwiches to give away on our local buy nothing group
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Left Permanent NIMBYs GOP control 🤝 Don't build homes in blue states
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Jesse Kanson-Benanav @jessekb.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
I know there was a protest at Park Street tonight but I found out too late. Does anyone know if others are planned for the near future (I suppose not tomorrow or Monday)? I'm feeling so angry and helpless that it seems likely it would be nice to be surrounded by others feeling similar.
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