the verdicts
Make housing affordable CHANGE SLOW-GROWTH CITY COUNCIL POLICIES
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ALO ALTO’S ENDURING lack includes building 2,000 market-rate and a duplex is significantly more cost-efficient of affordable housing has fostered low-income housing units. for the city and its tenants than single-fama historically unwelcoming comMarket-rate housing is priced by a ily homes. munity for middle and low-in- landlord without restrictions, while low-inThe City Council must also revise land come families, prevented local workers and come housing has a limit at which it can allocation in areas that could be better used families from living nearby and blocked be priced. for affordable housing. new residents from moving in. “We’re pretty much right on target for “What I think, in terms of one of the The recent election of mayor Tom Du- market-rate housing,” DuBois said. “We’re things that’s missing, is designating the Bois and new members of the City Coun- very, very off for low-income housing.” sites … identifying public parcels of land cil — which now comprises a slow-growth It is imperative that the City Coun- … and then the other bucket I would say majority — reflects Palo cil prioritizes building that’s missing is we’re ignoring most of our Altan voters’ hesitancy low-income rather land because it’s zoned only for single-famPeople don’t live in towards change and more than market-rate hous- ily homes,” Banes said. progressive housing poli- percentages, they ing, which is profitMore public land needs to be desigcies. able but does little to nated for the construction of housing units live in homes.” Though some believe fulfill the need for new rather than extra office space. slow growth is necessary While the City Council has proposed — KELSEY BANES, YIMBY regional homes. executive director to protect local liveliWe do, however, a solution to the increasing housing costs, hoods and homes, Verde appreciate the City we demand a more progressive plan be believes more progressive policies will ben- Council’s focus on building a definite made that includes altering zoning laws, efit the city by making it more inclusive number of housing units rather than re- increasing net market-rate units and secand equitable. ducing the percentage of tioning off land for the purpose of creating people who reaffordable housing. City Council Affordable housing crisis quire housing. members must take more According to TownCharts, Palo Alto’s “People meaningful steps in average home price of $3 million is nearly don’t live providing affordable $600,000 higher than in the neighboring in perhousing in Palo city of Mountain View and over $1 million centages, Alto, one of the higher than average prices in San Jose. they live in wealthiest areas in These costs have only perpetuated the homes,” said the United States. effects of historical redlining and racist re- Kelsey Banes, In addition, alty practices in Palo Alto. the Regionthe City CounAccording to Palo Alto’s Board of Ed- al Executive cil’s plan is neiucation member Todd Collins, the rising Director of ther accessible housing costs also limit opportunities for Yes In My nor transparent young families to live in Palo Alto and are a Back Yard, enough for the major cause of the decrease in local elemen- an organizaaverage Palo Altan tary school enrollment, making it difficult tion that works to who lacks familiarity eong for the city to expand in racial and genera- provide affordable housing with technical terms. nder L a Z y Art b tional diversity. for Bay Area residents. It is crucial that a clearIn addition, the City Council’s er, more widely promoted plan is created Housing solutions current housing plan zones most of our so that all members of our community — Between 2010 and 2019, the medi- land for single family homes; changing regardless of their involvement in the decian home price in Palo Alto increased by zoning laws to allow for multiple housing sion-making process — can understand the almost $2 million. The City Council’s units on one parcel of land will provide council’s course of action and ensure that plan to combat rising costs in the future housing for more families at a lower cost, as real change is implemented. v
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6 FEBRUARY 2021
