Editor,
I applaud the spirit of the grand MTC proposal for housing and transportation (“Regional housing fix unveiled” in the Dec. 18 edition of the Daily Journal). But as Warren Slocum points out, the devil is in the details. The key problem is getting people from affordable homes and rents just 8 miles across the Bay to the work centers in the land-locked Peninsula. There is no way to get past the bridge traffic.
While we all either feel or know of someone struggling to pay rent (or mortgage and property taxes), and we see intolerable traffic daily, these are not separate issues. The MTC and other agencies need to connect the dots. Instead of the scatter approach of added lanes that just fill up and force-feed “housing projects” that don't begin to address the total (and growing) need, we need to focus on rapid transit across the Bay. Until that key is turned, we’ll be pushing bonds and inventing new taxes just to play catch-up.
Henry Riggs
Menlo Park
The letter writer is a member of the MP Transportation Master Plan committee and 12 year planning commissioner.
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(6) comments
because everyone in the world should be able to live along the peninsula and we will inconvenience and frustrate long time residents to meet that goal. Move over, we need to stuff more people in this land locked region of ours and we know best. Oh ya, we need to ration your water too in order to have enough for all the new people we are importing. Be quiet or we will raise you taxes again.
What a bitter, bitter man you are. Do you pontificate constantly to your wife and children about how terrible you have it living on the Peninsula in one of the nicest neighborhoods in the Bay Area.
And Father Zoph says "lets begin our sentences with a capital letter, Mr. C"
Father Zoph also said do not covet thy neighbors property. I think it is a commandment sent down to Moses.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
not a creature was Tweeting not even the mouse.
Yes we need transit but we also need more housing. We need to stop fighting over every project and as communities realize everyone needs to do their part to build more homes to affect the supply side issue. It makes zero sense to build mass transit from suburbia to suburbia. It is time for Milbrae, San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park and their surrounding burroughs to litteraly grow up.
Wow to Mr. C
Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
till no space is left
and you live alone in the land.
9 The Lord Almighty has declared in my hearing:
“Surely the great houses will become desolate,
the fine mansions left without occupants.
10 A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath[a] of wine;
a homer[b] of seed will yield only an ephah of grain.”
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