Affordable Housing

By Andrew Carter

First, we must approve affordable housing projects when they are proposed. City Council's track record is poor. Incumbant Christine Mulholland's track record is worse. She says she's for housing, yet she votes against every housing project which comes up.

When projects are proposed, instead of looking for reasons to say "no," we must understand that the severity of the housing crisis demands, in most instances, an answer of "yes."

Second, we must look to ways to reduce the cost of land and the entitlements attached to it. That's why housing costs so much here.

This means building denser where appropriate and focusing on mixed use. It means incentives, flexible standards, and fee reductions for affordable housing. It means streamlining the approval process.

As a member of the Housing Element Update Task Force, I am frustrated that City Council did not incorporate most of our recommendations into the new Housing Element.