Dear Members of the Advisory Committee: I am writing on behalf of the Hingham Unity Council (the “HUC”) regarding the proposed changes to the Town’s ADU by-law. The HUC supports the removal of the familial restriction on these rentals as originally proposed by the ADU Study Committee appointed by Hingham Town Meeting. We have attended all of the Planning Board’s public hearings on this proposal and have yet to hear any fact-based explanation for retaining this restriction. If anything, we heard only additional data supporting its removal. We believe the strongest arguments in support are: Housing diversity/affordability.  Goal 4 of Hingham’s Master Plan and the Hingham Housing Plan both emphasize the urgency of diversifying our Town’s housing inventory, especially as our overall population is aging, with a national trend toward solo aging. Page 90 of the Housing Plan states: “The recent adoption of the ADU bylaw is a good start and certainly a step in the right direction. However, restricting occupancy to family members largely sidesteps one of the primary purposes and benefits of such units - to provide homeowners with additional income that is particularly important for elderly homeowners, single parents, and others who are spending too much of their income on housing and for whom such income may be critical to remaining in their homes.”  The report goes on to list numerous benefits of these units for increasing housing diversity. Exploration of expanding the potential of these units as a housing option was labeled a “short-term” goal in that report.  Data presented by the HAHT during the Planning Board hearings demonstrates that these units are likely to be more affordable than currently available inventory.  Positive experience of other communities.  The ADU Study Committee’s extensive data and research shows that many of our benchmark communities already allow ADUs with no family restriction. Page 15 of [Read More ->]

The HUC stands with all those affected by incidents of bigotry, racism or intolerance, including members of our BIPOC, LGBQTIA+, and religious communities, as well as persons who experience discrimination based on gender, disability or neurodiversity. If you are a member of one of these groups and you live, study, work or worship in our town, please know that you are not alone.

We have already heard from many who are deeply upset over this news and asking what they can do. We do not believe action can wait until November. We must force lawmakers  to secure reproductive freedom immediately and this will only be accomplished through mass mobilization and sustained action in our streets and communities. Every major step towards justice in this country– from the Civil Rights Act to the original Roe decision– has required direct civil action. 

At their meeting on Tuesday, February 8, the Hingham Select Board approved the formation of a Hingham Human Rights Commission. Read about it here in the Hingham Anchor. Applications to serve on the Commission are being accepted now through March 11, 2022. Please see details here.

Letter submitted to our Hingham Public Schools school administration and School Committee members. This letter was the product of a special meeting last week of members of our Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, Schools and Education Committee and the HUC Board.

Today, as many states and cities (including Boston) commemorate Indigenous Peoples' Day, the Hingham Unity Council acknowledges that we reside on the traditional land of the Massachusett peoples past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.