What Project Homekey is — and what it isn’t

“We’ve long dreamed about scooping up thousands of motel rooms and converting them into housing for our homeless neighbors,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “The terrible pandemic we’re facing has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy all these vacant properties, and we’re using federal stimulus money to do it.”

Fast-forward to June 2023 when the county of San Mateo is purchasing hotels with high occupancy rates paying over-market prices to get them, closing them down, putting hotel workers on the street, and stripping away city hotel tax revenue. La Quinta, vacant? No way! La Quinta’s occupancy often nears 80%, it employs dozens of workers, and supplies about $45,000 per month hotel tax to Millbrae.

Putting La Quinta out of business was not what the governor intended for a Homekey purchase. Though the county has offered small concessions to mitigate damage, ultimately, Millbrae loses a tax contributor in perpetuity, and jobs and employee income leave the area.

Housing the less fortunate is a worthy goal, but how that gets done is an important consideration. Modular housing or non-revenue producing facilities can achieve the goal without so much collateral damage. We think the county needs to explore options with Millbrae and back away from this destructive purchase.

Laura and Ken Smith

Millbrae