Cecilia Lei

She told Boston Public Radio in December that the measure would stifle housing production and that some housing investors have already pulled out of the state.

Developers, landlords, and business groups are spending millions in the hopes of defeating the measure.

Nevertheless, rent control remains popular in Democratic-led parts of the country.

Los Angeles recently tightened rent controls for the first time in four decades, and New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani wants a total freeze on rent-stabilized units in the city.

Early polling seems to show that many Massachusetts voters agree that capping rent increases is a good idea.

And finally, a few other stories we're following.

The Board of Peace, a group created by Trump to oversee the ceasefire plan in Gaza, met for the first time yesterday.

Representatives of more than 40 countries at the meeting pledged to invest $7 billion to the reconstruction of Gaza.

The U.S.

said it would give $10 billion to the board.

Attendees included top diplomats and heads of state, but notably missing were key Western allies including Germany, France, and the U.K.

They declined an initial invitation over fears that Russia would be part of the group, which could undermine the U.N.

Germany and the U.K.

did send observers to Thursday's meeting, however.

There is no Palestinian representation on the board, but Israel and Arab states are included.

Reconstruction funds would only go to areas under Israeli military control.

The Commission of Fine Arts, which advises the government on architectural and art projects, voted yesterday to approve Trump's plan for a new ballroom in the now-demolished East Wing of the White House.

The commission approved the plan unanimously with one recusal.

The secretary of the commission noted the project has garnered more public comments than any other that he's seen in 20 years, and that almost all of them were negative.

Some of the complaints included a lack of transparency, site demolition without permits, and that the scale of the project would dwarf the White House.