During public comment period, which ran over an hour, 16 spoke in favor of rent control and 9 against.

Residents who organized the petition said the city is facing a housing crisis and that high rents are driving families out of the city.

“Since rent control went out, the neighborhood has declined,” said resident William Hendricks.

And the petition’s proponents stressed that they were not advocating the same type of rent control that existed before 1994. The new proposal, for example, allows owners who devote some units to low or moderate income housing to receive exemptions on other units.

“This is different from the rigid rent control we had before,” said resident Nancy Hall. She added that some property owners were seeking “profit at the expense of people’s homes and communities.”

But opponents of rent control said its abolition had brought benefits to the city, as landlords put more money into fixing up their property. Some challenged the idea that the housing market has suffered since rent control’s demise.

“Even in Cambridge, supply and demand works,” said Linda Levine, a board member and former president of the Small Property Owners’ Association.

Another resident, Laura Rood, called the rent control petition an “oppressive, divisive piece of legislation.”

She told the city councillors it is their responsibility to ensure that there is enough affordable housing for city residents, and that the burden should not rest on property owners.

“Where have you put all our tax money? Where is the affordable housing?” she asked.

Members of the council defended their record on housing, an area in which Sullivan said the community had invested $200 million.

“The government has a responsibility to ensure that the housing market is there for you,” Sullivan said.

Councillor Marjorie C. Decker emphasized that a rent control petition was unlikely to be passed by the state and that more direct action would be needed to solve what she called an “undeniable crisis.”

“We’re going to draw the lines and the people who are really going to get hurt are the ones who need affordable housing,” Decker said.

Stephen H. Milder ’04, who is working for the campaign of city council candidate and rent control supporter Aimee Smith, said the issue of housing is one that should concern students, as well.

“Harvard and MIT are two of the reasons why people can’t afford to live here,” Milder said. “I think it’s important that students speak up to make sure the University takes some responsibility.”

—Staff writer Jessica R. Rubin-Wills can be reached at rubinwil@fas.harvard.edu.