Salem City Council Can't Pass Affordable Housing Measure

SALEM, MA — A measure that backers said would have helped address the high cost of Salem failed to pass city council Thursday night. Councilors voted 6-5 in favor of the bill, falling two votes of the eight-vote super majority needed to pass the measure. The proposal, which has been debated for months, would have lifted restrictions on in-law apartments that allow them to only be used for family members or caregivers of a resident.

"Super disappointing," Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, a key backer of the measure, said on Facebook shortly after the vote. "This is a key smart growth tool that would help play a part in addressing our housing challenges. We have to do more to address our affordability issues and this would have been a nice win for our city. "

Two weeks ago, council voted 8-3 in favor of the first passage of the emasure. But on Thursday, Ward 7 Councilor Stephen. Ward 7 Councilor Stephen Dibble and At-Large Councilor Domingo J. Dominguez switched their votes to no. At-Large Councilors Elaine Milo and Arthur Sargent and Ward 4 Councilor Tim Flynn voted no in both votes.

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