A sweeping rent control ballot question is headed for the November ballot in Massachusetts. It would cap annual rent increases to no more that 5% annually. Its provisions would be applied statewide, allowing for no municipality to opt-out. Join conversation leaders Tamara Small, President and CEO of NAIOP-MA and Conor Yunits of Issues Management Group, and Lynda Tocci from Dewey Square Group, for a thorough discussion on the likely impacts that passage of the measure would have on efforts to meet the state’s housing needs.
This event is for MassEcon members and invited guests only.
Once registered, you will receive an Outlook invitation with the Teams information.
Conversation Leaders:
Tamara Small serves as CEO of NAIOP Massachusetts, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association. NAIOP represents the interests of companies involved with the development, investment, ownership, and management of office, multifamily, industrial, retail, lab, mixed-use, and institutional properties in Massachusetts. NAIOP offers educational and networking opportunities while advocating for laws, policies and regulations that strengthen the industry. Tamara serves on numerous regulatory working groups, regularly testifies before the Legislature, and serves as the spokesperson for the organization. She was appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on the Commonwealth’s Unlocking Housing Production Commission; the Commonwealth’s Energy Transformation Advisory Board; and the Healey Driscoll Economic Development Planning Council. Tamara is on the boards of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau; the 495/MetroWest Partnership; and the MassArt Innovation Advisory Council. Tamara has been recognized by Boston Magazine as one of the Most Influential Bostonians. She is a graduate of Boston University.
Conor is a seasoned communications strategist adept at packaging complex issues for the media, policy makers and the public, with a client portfolio that spans across Issues Management Group’s public affairs, real estate, healthcare, corporate, and crisis practices. He has served as the statewide communications director and spokesperson for ballot questions in support of the world’s leading automakers and technology platforms, and as the lead media relations strategist for publicly traded and privately funded real estate developers. A talented writer, and a quick study, Conor excels at penning well-crafted thought leadership for the C-Suite and compelling pitches for top reporters. He maintains deep relationships with leading journalists across local, trade and national media outlets. Before joining Issues Management Group, Conor consulted with clients in biotech, insurance, finance, energy and real estate on communications, media, and government relations. He also served as director of communications for the campaigns of Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, and a number of legislative and mayoral candidates. Earlier in his career, Conor was director of communications for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and a legislative aide to Representative Thomas P. Kennedy at the Massachusetts State House. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Old Colony YMCA and served for seven years on the Board of the Good Samaritan Medical Center. Conor has a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the McCormack School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
A principal at Dewey Square Group, Lynda Tocci has earned a reputation as a highly effective campaign organizer and manager with a winning record in the political, public and private sectors. With more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning and campaign management, she has developed and managed grassroots organizations for dozens of candidates and managed ballot initiatives in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa, Oregon, and Florida. Lynda’s record includes winning ballot question campaigns in four recent statewide elections in Massachusetts. She managed the 2018 campaign to defeat a question that would have imposed nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, winning by a 70-30 percent margin, and the campaign to defeat a 2016 ballot question to expand charter schools, capturing 333 of 351 cities and towns by a 24-point margin despite being outspent by $10 million. In 2012, Lynda served as a senior advisor for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s grassroots organization, which achieved a record win at the party convention, shattered existing voter contact efforts and delivered an historic turnout operation setting the bar for the application of new Get Out the Vote (GOTV) technology. She served as a senior advisor to the Warren presidential campaign in 2020 and has also managed municipal campaigns in the cities of Quincy, Springfield, Revere, and Boston. Most recently, she was a senior advisor for Maura Healey’s successful 2022 campaign for governor of Massachusetts. In 2008, Lynda served as director of Hillary Clinton’s GOTV effort in New Hampshire. She later returned to New Hampshire in the general election to direct the field organization effort for President Barack Obama and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, helping to secure solid victories for the Democratic ticket. In 2004, Lynda managed the Massachusetts office for Senator John Kerry’s presidential campaign and also directed Kerry’s successful GOTV effort for New Hampshire. From 1998 to 2002, she served as Deputy Treasurer and Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s office. Lynda is a graduate of Wheaton College and received her MBA from Simmons College School of Management.
This event is for MassEcon members and invited guests only.
Once registered, you will receive an Outlook invitation with the Teams information.
Have questions? Contact Annie Ladinsky at aladinsky@massecon.com
Interested in sponsoring the business brunch series, contact Pete Abair at pabair@massecon.com
Thank you to Champion Sponsors Bowditch, Langan, BioMed Realty, Citizens, VHB, CBRE, Eastern Bank, Hunneman, and Middlesex Savings Bank
