There have recently been several letters to the editor and one Op-Ed that oppose proposed Senate bills 9 and 10 that would require cities to allow owners of single-family lots to build more than one unit on each lot. The intent is to increase the number of overall housing units in the state to reduce the current housing shortage and the cost of housing statewide. The further intent is to increase the diversity of housing choices for those who have been priced out of the current market — young people just graduating from high school or college, young families just starting out, lower-income workers who cannot find housing in the communities they work in, even middle-income workers such as teachers and firefighters.
I respect those who oppose these bills, but I am disturbed that they oppose these particular bills, but do not seem to have a better alternative. I would like to see how they would approach the conundrum of too many jobs and not enough housing in our communities. Are they willing to ask their city councils to reject most of the new office and R&D developments currently being reviewed? Would they be happy to see 8- to 10-story residential buildings all along El Camino Real? Are they willing to allocate some of their tax money toward building subsidized affordable housing?
It’s easy to criticize, but what’s really needed is solutions. Where are their solutions?
David - I am not pretending to speak for others but here are my answers. Cities should stop encouraging lab and office building development. The companies that would occupy those or build them could just as easy construct them elsewhere. That will force potential employees to move there. We saw this happening earlier when companies like Intel and Wells Fargo moved their operations to Roseville. Once growth is limited, housing will become more available and supply/demand will take care of the rest. Why should the tax payer become responsible for the housing shortage? It is poor and short-sighted planning by cities around us that is causing the problems.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(1) comment
David - I am not pretending to speak for others but here are my answers. Cities should stop encouraging lab and office building development. The companies that would occupy those or build them could just as easy construct them elsewhere. That will force potential employees to move there. We saw this happening earlier when companies like Intel and Wells Fargo moved their operations to Roseville. Once growth is limited, housing will become more available and supply/demand will take care of the rest. Why should the tax payer become responsible for the housing shortage? It is poor and short-sighted planning by cities around us that is causing the problems.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.