05 - Housing
Continuing Das' candidate profile statements ...
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Housing
A public perception exists that protection of the environment and quality of life is inherently in conflict with justice for working people. I reject that notion, and instead feel that protection of our environment is the highest form of justice for people of any economic class. Further, saving open space and agricultural land does not have to be in conflict with the building of a modest amount of affordable housing.
In fact, if properly located in an area already built out, with ready access to transit and walking distance to shops, it can reduce the traffic impact that we already experience from commuters.
Like you, I see exaggerated media reports asserting that residents of the 2nd district are intolerant of affordable housing. I have spoken with thousands of Goletans and Santa Barbarans, and I believe they will accept a modest amount of affordable housing if the large tracts of open space and ag land are protected.
The threat to neighborhoods is not the 162 affordable units required by the state, if properly located, but in state mandates that are set up so that five times more units of luxury housing might get built along with it. The changes that are being discussed, including a blanket rezone of 15 acres at 20 units per acre with no guarantee of affordability, could lead to thousands of units unless we put restraints on what can be built.
Before we can proceed with the State’s mandates we must ensure there are no inherent contradictions between the mandates and state law regarding community and circulation plans. That is why I am now working with Assemblymember Pedro Nava on legislation that would allow local jurisdictions to put affordable restrictions on the rezone, making sure that less luxury housing will ever get built and that whatever is built is affordable. To ensure that housing is prioritized in built-out commercial areas, the legislation would also ensure that mixed-use units count towards the state housing allocation.
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Housing
A public perception exists that protection of the environment and quality of life is inherently in conflict with justice for working people. I reject that notion, and instead feel that protection of our environment is the highest form of justice for people of any economic class. Further, saving open space and agricultural land does not have to be in conflict with the building of a modest amount of affordable housing.
In fact, if properly located in an area already built out, with ready access to transit and walking distance to shops, it can reduce the traffic impact that we already experience from commuters.
Like you, I see exaggerated media reports asserting that residents of the 2nd district are intolerant of affordable housing. I have spoken with thousands of Goletans and Santa Barbarans, and I believe they will accept a modest amount of affordable housing if the large tracts of open space and ag land are protected.
The threat to neighborhoods is not the 162 affordable units required by the state, if properly located, but in state mandates that are set up so that five times more units of luxury housing might get built along with it. The changes that are being discussed, including a blanket rezone of 15 acres at 20 units per acre with no guarantee of affordability, could lead to thousands of units unless we put restraints on what can be built.
Before we can proceed with the State’s mandates we must ensure there are no inherent contradictions between the mandates and state law regarding community and circulation plans. That is why I am now working with Assemblymember Pedro Nava on legislation that would allow local jurisdictions to put affordable restrictions on the rezone, making sure that less luxury housing will ever get built and that whatever is built is affordable. To ensure that housing is prioritized in built-out commercial areas, the legislation would also ensure that mixed-use units count towards the state housing allocation.
Posted by Malcolm on
2/21/2006
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1 Comments
So why are you opposed to workforce/low-end market rate housing eg: Cottage/St. Francis project, San Pascual condos, etc??????
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