Armistead to Help Direct City Commerce Chamber

Though he was last month named a director of Cambridge's Chamber of Commerce, Lewis Armistead, Harvard's assistant vice-president for government and community affairs, said last week he endorsed "only parts" of recent official statements made by the Chamber.

The Chamber last month went on record opposing the city's rent control program and recommending an end to city attempts to limit condominium conversion. Both steps were attempts to raise the city's tax base so additional taxes, including a proposed payroll tax, would not be necessary.

The Chamber also voted to oppose a rent surcharge to fund the administration of rent control.

Armistead said last week that he was not present at the meeting where those decisions were made. "For a long time, my personal statement on rent control has been that I don't get into the pros and cons," he said.

"The University was asked to serve on the board of directors, and we should be involved as a leading employer in the city," Armistead added.

The Chamber took its stand against rent control in the wake of a city council vote asking the state for permission to impose a one per cent payroll tax on city businesses. Armistead said yesterday that tax would cost the University as much as $950,000 a year.