Vowing to "preserve rental housing in the state," State Sen. Michael J. Barrett '70 (D-Cambridge) has said the oppooses the controversial ballot referendum Proposition 1-2-3.

In an announcement released last week, Barrett said that if passed, the referendum would lead to the demise of affordable housing in the city and encourage its erosion elsewhere.

The ballot question would allow some people living in rent-controlled housing to purchase their apartments after living there for two or more years. Although supporters have said the referendum will give people who otherwise could not afford homes the opportunity to own them, opponents contend that 1-2-3 will deplete the stock of affordable housing.

"Hundreds and hundreds of rental units in the Allston-Brighton section of my district have disappeared into condominiums," said Barrett. "I do not want to see the same process eliminate affordable rental housing in Cambridge."

Barrett said that although state politicians do not usually involve themselves in local politics, he decided to speak up on this issue because the state is not doing enough to safeguard affordable housing.

"I am frustrated [that] the state's housing programs are paralyzed. On the federal level funding has been cut 80 percent during the Reagan years. There is nothing left except local action and local commitment," Barrett said.

The senator added that he will attend fundraising events and ask constituents to vote against 1-2-3. "I hope to sway some votes," said Barrett.

Barrett's support could help defeat the proposition because "he's popular [and] people have a lot of respect for him," said Vicki Lewis, a spokesperson for the Committee to Defeat Proposition 1-2-3.

But Rosemary D. White, of the pro 1-2-3 Cambridge Homeownership Association had a different view of the situation: "Perhaps he will run for city council next time," she said.