Editorials

the verdicts Make housing affordable

CHANGE SLOW-GROWTH CITY COUNCIL POLICIES

PALO 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 com- Market-rate housing is priced by a ily homes. munity for middle and low-in- landlord without restrictions, while low-in- The 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 Altan voters’ hesitancy towards change and more progressive housing policies. Though some believe “People don’t live in percentages, they live in homes.” cil prioritizes building low-income rather than market-rate housing, which is profitable but does little to fulfill the need for new that’s missing is we’re ignoring most of our land because it’s zoned only for single-family homes,” Banes said. More public land needs to be designated for the construction of housing units rather than extra office space. slow growth is necessary — KELSEY BANES, YIMBY regional homes. While the City Council has proposed to protect local liveli- executive director We 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 re- affordable 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 per- housing 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 Region- the City Coun-

According 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 organiza- average Palo Altan tary school enrollment, making it difficult for the city to expand in racial and generational diversity. tion that works to provide affordable housing for Bay Area residents. Art by Zander Leong who lacks familiarity with technical terms. 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

The Verdict editorial section expresses the collective opinion of the Verde Magazine staff.

Avoid traveling during COVID-19

AS THE RESIDENTS OF San- summer because the ICU capacity is so low ta Clara County near one year now, they might not have made it.” of living under COVID-19 re- Cossio’s family has worried about the strictions, increased restlessness health of their loved ones after an at-home has pushed many to shrug off mandates caretaker for one of their elderly relatives discouraging nonessential travel outside of tested positive for the coronavirus. the county. Verde urges students and fami- “I think that it lies to avoid traveling during the pandemic is irresponsible to be to ensure the safety of others and to stop traveling at this point, the spread of the virus. and it troubles me that

Our June editorial preceding the people can be so carerise of infections last summer outlined less during a time that a series of preventative measures against is affecting people so COVID-19, including wearing masks and horribly,” Cossio said. avoiding trips outside home excluding “It’s certainly unfair emergency situations. that some people are

However, we have continued to see contributing to the many refuse to heed these precautions [COVID-19] caseduring school breaks. According to the load and not suffering the consequences.” Santa Clara Department of As of now, the steep increase in Public Health, the county’s daily Art by Michelle Kim COVID-19 cases has dipped to an average of 600 per day. However, spring break is COVID-19 approaching and a sudden outflow of travinfection rate elers will be detrimental to our progress. increased 80% The pandemic is far from over, and from 634 new cases staying home is just as important as the on Thanksgiving Day number of COVID-19 cases remains danto 1,142 new cases two gerously high. Though the distribution of weeks later. promising new vaccines has already be-

Despite the increased rates gun, vaccinated individuals are still able to of infection, many Palo Alto Unified spread the virus. Citizens must consciously School District families chose to vacation choose to stay at home and maintain the to distant locations just weeks later. As downward trend of infections rather than predicted, Santa Clara County’s weekly av- traveling and further endangering the lives erage of daily COVID-19 cases increased of at-risk individuals. v

52% — from 972 cases on Christmas to 1,479 two weeks later. 2,256 new cases were recorded on Jan. 5 alone.

Traveling is one of the most dangerous ways to spread the coronavirus according to the Santa Clara County Center of Disease Control because close interaction between multiple regions and households is inevitable when traveling by air, train, car or other means. This “ It troubles me that people can be so careless during a makes moving through time that is affecting public spaces with large crowds, such as airports, people so horribly.” highly unsafe. — NATALIA COSSIO, junior

Following the increase in travel over the winter holidays, beds in the intensive care unit — which are reserved to give the highest level of care to critical patients — peaked at 102% standard maximum capacity with an influx of coronavirus patients. This lack of space in the ICU compromises the state’s ability to provide critical help for both COVID-19 infectees and other hospitalized patients.

“Five elderly members of my extended family caught it [COVID-19] and three were hospitalized last summer,” junior Natalia Cossio said. “They needed intensive care and I’m so glad that it happened last

Biden must tackle climate change

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS pushed federal agencies to reinstate over 100 environmental laws eliminated by the Trump administration. Verde applauds this shift in national policy as Biden takes up the fight against climate change where former president Donald Trump failed to do so.

Though a split Congress may slow immediate progress, Biden must follow through with the $2 trillion clean energy and infrastructure plan promised during his election campaign.

Among the necessary measures are a shutdown of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a potential pollutant of important water sources for indigenous reservations, which has continued operations despite a January ruling that additional environmental review must replace inadequate assessments by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Biden must also negotiate with world leaders to reduce emissions and enforce emissions taxes on domestic companies — which have historically evaded limits on harmful manufacturing byproducts in favor of convenient production methods.

Finally, Biden must push forward with the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps to provide environmentally friendly careers and achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 as well as net-zero emissions by 2050. v