Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Is it admirable for people to fight rent increases, or refuse to move after a lease expires?
Inspired by the Gary Rogers case but not directly related, I’m more interested in the widespread “tenants rights” celebrations around it.

Forget what the landlord did procedurally incorrectly in this case. If someone’s lease is up, they’ve refused to sign a new lease with higher rent, and they refuse to move and require eviction proceedings to start – should this approach be celebrated?

I’m a small time (1 unit in my house) landlord where I keep the rent as low as I can, deliberately. If someone decided to stay after not renewing and dragged it out for a year plus I’d be hosed. Yet from what it sounds like the broader community would be celebrating that happening?

Billy’s Response: I don’t give a flying fuck who you are if a landlord asked for you to rent pay the fucking rent which you are obligated to do, pay the fucking rent! If you don’t pay the fucking rent move out don’t be a scumbag! back in the old days you get your frigin ass kicked!