Passage of Question 9 May Benefit University

Harvard University exists not only as an institution of teaching and research but also as an employer, landlord and developer.

Because the University has many roles, Harvard has a stake in the outcome of many of this year's nine ballot questions.

University and city officials say the University has a particularly strong stake in the outcome of Question 9, a proposal which, if approved, would abolish rent control.

"Certainly Question 9 has an impact," says Happy Green, director of community relations. "A question like that rent control question is clearly something that Harvard, owning rent control property, would be associated with."

Harvard currently owns 709 units of rent-controlled housing, or approximately five percent of all rent-controlled housing in Cambridge, says Susan K. Keller, vice president for residential real estate at Harvard Real Estate.

If Question 9 passes, Harvard will no longer face local rent control restrictions. This means that Harvard Real Estate, as a landlord, will be free to raise rents in its rent-controlled housing units. This also means that Harvard Real Estate will no longer need to approach the local rent control board in order to receive approval for capital improvements on property.

"Harvard owns 709 units of housing that are currently subject to the restrictions of rent control, which means they could not be used for other purposes; that when we make capital improvements in those buildings there's a long delay in getting money back into that building," says Kathy A. Spiegelman, director of physical planning.

But Spiegelman says the University has chosen neither to support nor oppose Question 9.

Keller says her agency will not raise rents immediately, if the initiative petition passes.

"I think that we have a commitment to our tenants that are there," she says. "We are a prudent landlord that takes our commitment to our tenants seriously."

Regardless of whether the initiative passes, Keller says Harvard Real Estate and the city of Cambridge will be holding discussions over the next few months on the future of low-cost housing.

"We're in a 'wait and see' and 'work with the city' attitude," she says. "This is an opportunity for reform."

And Spiegelman says that it is difficult to predict the specific long-term impact if rent control were to be abolished.

"As a large property owner, any change in regulations that affect property are going to affect Harvard," she says. "Some of those changes might be positive, some might be negative."

Another issue which may affect students is Question 5, which proposes to reform Massachusetts' "Blue Laws," by allowing retail stores to open on Sunday mornings and national holidays.

Currently, only convenience stores and video rental stores may open before noon on Sundays.

If passed, students will be able to stock up on staples Sunday mornings at the Star Market in Porter Square and at the Purity Supreme grocery store in Central Square.

Currently, Sunday morning shopping can only be done at smaller convenience stores such as Li'l Peach, Christy's and Store 24.

Brian H. Smith, director of marketing for Star Markets, says reforming the Blue Laws will help consumers in the long run.

"I don't think it would lead to a lot more business, Smith says. "But it would mean more customer convenience."

But Simon Haidar, manager at the Li'l Peach convenience store on Mass. Ave., says reforming the Blue Laws would hurt his business.

"We would lose our morning business, Sunday papers, and we would be competing with supermarkets other than convenience stores," Haidar says. "I don't know if it would drive us out of business, but it would make it much more difficult for convenience stores to keep in business."

Also at stake in this year's election is whether Massachusetts will adopt a graduated income tax.

Questions 6 and 7, if passed, will establish a graduated income tax and set specific tax rates for different income brackets.

Proponents of a graduated income tax have pointed out that families earning less than $101,700 and individuals earning less than $62,000 per year will receive a tax cut under the proposal.

Approval of Questions 6 and 7 would mean that many University staff will receive tax cuts, while many faculty members could see their tax bills rise.

Last week, the executive board of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers sent a letter to all members urging them support questions 6 and 7.

According to the letter, passage of a graduated income tax "could have a positive financial impact on nearly every member of our union...Voting yes on questions 6 and 7 would be like voting yourself a raise."

But the Faculty of Arts and Sciences has not made a similar endorsement, either for or against the graduated income tax, says Professor of Sociology Theda Skocpol.

"The Faculty doesn't endorse political positions," she says. "The Faculty is very wary of getting involved in local or national partisan or political issues because faculty members disagree.

"Harvard owns 709 units of housing that are currently subject to the restrictions of rent control, which means they could not be used for other purposes; that when we make capital improvements in those buildings there's a long delay in getting money back into that building," says Kathy A. Spiegelman, director of physical planning.

But Spiegelman says the University has chosen neither to support nor oppose Question 9.

Keller says her agency will not raise rents immediately, if the initiative petition passes.

"I think that we have a commitment to our tenants that are there," she says. "We are a prudent landlord that takes our commitment to our tenants seriously."

Regardless of whether the initiative passes, Keller says Harvard Real Estate and the city of Cambridge will be holding discussions over the next few months on the future of low-cost housing.

"We're in a 'wait and see' and 'work with the city' attitude," she says. "This is an opportunity for reform."

And Spiegelman says that it is difficult to predict the specific long-term impact if rent control were to be abolished.

"As a large property owner, any change in regulations that affect property are going to affect Harvard," she says. "Some of those changes might be positive, some might be negative."

Another issue which may affect students is Question 5, which proposes to reform Massachusetts' "Blue Laws," by allowing retail stores to open on Sunday mornings and national holidays.

Currently, only convenience stores and video rental stores may open before noon on Sundays.

If passed, students will be able to stock up on staples Sunday mornings at the Star Market in Porter Square and at the Purity Supreme grocery store in Central Square.

Currently, Sunday morning shopping can only be done at smaller convenience stores such as Li'l Peach, Christy's and Store 24.

Brian H. Smith, director of marketing for Star Markets, says reforming the Blue Laws will help consumers in the long run.

"I don't think it would lead to a lot more business, Smith says. "But it would mean more customer convenience."

But Simon Haidar, manager at the Li'l Peach convenience store on Mass. Ave., says reforming the Blue Laws would hurt his business.

"We would lose our morning business, Sunday papers, and we would be competing with supermarkets other than convenience stores," Haidar says. "I don't know if it would drive us out of business, but it would make it much more difficult for convenience stores to keep in business."

Also at stake in this year's election is whether Massachusetts will adopt a graduated income tax.

Questions 6 and 7, if passed, will establish a graduated income tax and set specific tax rates for different income brackets.

Proponents of a graduated income tax have pointed out that families earning less than $101,700 and individuals earning less than $62,000 per year will receive a tax cut under the proposal.

Approval of Questions 6 and 7 would mean that many University staff will receive tax cuts, while many faculty members could see their tax bills rise.

Last week, the executive board of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers sent a letter to all members urging them support questions 6 and 7.

According to the letter, passage of a graduated income tax "could have a positive financial impact on nearly every member of our union...Voting yes on questions 6 and 7 would be like voting yourself a raise."

But the Faculty of Arts and Sciences has not made a similar endorsement, either for or against the graduated income tax, says Professor of Sociology Theda Skocpol.

"The Faculty doesn't endorse political positions," she says. "The Faculty is very wary of getting involved in local or national partisan or political issues because faculty members disagree.