League of Women Voters of California
Alameda County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
	L. K. Mathur Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; City of Fremont

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. If elected, what will you do to assure that more affordable housing is built in Fremont?

First and foremeost we should provide housing for our excellent police, fire fighters, exemplry teachers, low to moderate income workers before committing our resouces to other cities. There are about 200 policemen, an equal number fire fighters, a few hundred teachers plus low to moderate income workers for a total of 1500-2000. We have $80 million in our Redevelopment Agency, sufficient to subsidize their housing needs. These peole want single family houses, not apartments, want back yard for barbeque and family gatherings on Christmas etc. Create Fremont Housing Authority to manage our valuable inventory of affordable housing. Right now it is managed by ACHA & affordable housing units go to others before our people are evn considered. We will have continuous problem because our City Councillors have never understood what our teachers, police etc. want and keep mixing our people's needs with those of other cities. We have been building affordable housing apartments for last 10-15 years and these people did not want to live in there. As an example, only 20 % of Fremont's police officers live in Fremont because they want single family houses with back yards. So do our teachers, fire fighters etc. Let us work to solve their problems otherwise they will start looking for jobs in other cities.