Baker should seal eviction records and give residents a second chance Even if tenants win their cases or satisfy judgments, the records are public, permanent, and have a lasting impact on their ability to find housing and jobs. By Lydia EdwardsUpdated February 16, 2021, 1:50 p.m. Email to a Friend Boston tenants, faith leaders, and small-property landlords rallied and marched in January, calling for a stronger, longer federal eviction ban as part of a National Day of Action to Prevent Evictions.Lane Turner/Globe Staff In order for people to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, they will need resources and a clean slate to help address pre-pandemic inequities. When Governor Baker gutted sections of the Housing Opportunity and Mobility through Eviction Sealing Act, he denied countless Massachusetts residents a second chance. While sealing eviction records will not solve the stateâs housing crisis, it would have provided a lifeline for residents as they try to put their lives back together.