In order to have a vibrant city and a good quality of life, we must guarantee that there is good affordable housing in all ranges. I want to ensure that people who work in the community live in the community. Having starting police officers, teachers, and city employees living away from the community that they serve makes no sense. Of 212 sworn police officers, only 30 live in Fremont. In case of a disaster, we need those who know this community to be here to help.
The city is currently providing assistance to first time homebuyers, but it serves those making $60,000 or more and only 30 people or so have been able to take advantage of it. We need to subsidize the construction of housing units near BART and other commuter rail lines, encourage the in-fill development of our older neighborhoods and develop a course of action to help stabilize the rents of existing apartments. We need to partner with non-profit affordable housing developers like Bridge, Eden and Mid Peninsula to develop more very low and low income units. We should look at rezoning our industrial areas and creating more high density, mixed use developments, particularly in the central business district will give us the best of both worlds - the sales tax dollar and retail customers - to create a win/win situation.
The inclusionary housing ordinance will help, but with about 5% of our land left that is buildable, we are really in a difficult situation. We need a firm policy and creative ideas if we are to solve this difficult problem.
League of Women Voters of California
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