ARTICLE
California is the darling of the world — on many stages. We have a robust economy leaping to the sixth largest economy (California's-economy) in the World as noted in recent reports earlier this year. Visitors from all around the world come to California to experience Hollywood, Disneyland, our majestic beauty of our National Parks like Yosemite, soaring redwoods in Sequoia National Park, Lake Tahoe and other tourist destinations. People flock to our coastal towns, they love our beaches whether in balmy Southern California, our beautiful Monterey Bay coastline or up along the Sonoma and Mendocino coast. They hike and mountain bike our coastal trails and trek through our redwoods forests. They come to surf, skateboard and enjoy the California lifestyle. They frequent our wineries, sip the beer at our up-and-coming local breweries and enjoy the festive fare in our cities - large and small. California is a tourist destination among the very best the world can offer for its diversity and cultural uniqueness. However, very few visitors see the other side of California, where the picture paints a different story for those Californians who are ‘trapped’ in middle or lower income jobs where the cost of living, housing and transportation are putting families at the tipping point. I’ve written about this before and will continue to press upon our public officials, that the price of doing nothing can have long term societal impacts beyond a family. It impacts the quality of life for our entire community. California faces a shortage of housing, particularly affordable housing, for its growing population. Though demand has increased steadily, construction rates continue to lag due to a number of barriers, including local zoning and permitting decisions surrounding housing production. The state projects 180,000 units of new housing construction is needed annually over the next 10 years to meet the state’s growing housing demand. However, production has remained below 100,000 new units annually over the last eight years, which represents the lowest sustained permitting levels since 1965. Recently our County Supervisor, Zach Friend, penned this article that reflects both a statewide and local thinking on the significant impact limited housing options have created for us. The link to his Opinion Piece can be read here: Zach Friend addressing-our-local-housing-crisis. Supervisor Friend hits it on the head. Quoting directly from his comments, “the high housing costs have real social, environmental and economic costs. High housing costs lead to displacement and even changes in community diversity and cohesion as working families are forced to live further away from their jobs. Longer commutes have real environmental impacts as well as impacts to a family’s quality of life.” There has been some progress at the local level as the county and the cities have taken action to address their housing needs under state law known as your Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA). Regrettably our cities and county are not achieving their housing goals. We have more work to do. If you attended the Chamber’s June 30 Luncheon with guest speaker, State Senator Scott Wiener, you heard first-hand one alternative to help. (Dan Walters’ article mentions it as one of the legislative options in the State housing package) The link to his article is here: Dan Walters - Is there Political Will power As Supervisor Friend points out, Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) works to ensure that all communities in the state create housing (sharing the responsibility throughout the state) by streamlining the approval process for specific housing types. The housing types are for income-based criteria. For example, if a county is meeting its state goals for housing development for above moderate-income housing but not its low-income housing goals, streamlining would apply to projects that focus on lower-income units. Earlier this month, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce wrote in support of SB 35 (see letter here). We believe it is one solution that can help, though it won’t eliminate our housing supply problems over night. But, as Supervisor Friend states boldly: “But we need to do something. The poorest 25 percent of California households spend four times more of their income (67 percent, on average) than the top 25 percent of income earners. To not act is the most regressive policy option.” We are at a crossroads in California. I have a framed photo of a bald eagle soaring high above the clouds overlooking the picturesque California mountain ridgeline. The comment on the photo is clear. Leadership is Action, not a place in line. The Chamber encourages our local government leaders to support SB 35. It is the right action to take. Now is the time to show leadership in our state to address our housing crisis. Tomorrow may be too late.
California is the darling of the world — on many stages. We have a robust economy leaping to the sixth largest economy (California's-economy) in the World as noted in recent reports earlier this year. Visitors from all around the world come to California to experience Hollywood, Disneyland, our majestic beauty of our National Parks like Yosemite, soaring redwoods in Sequoia National Park, Lake Tahoe and other tourist destinations.
People flock to our coastal towns, they love our beaches whether in balmy Southern California, our beautiful Monterey Bay coastline or up along the Sonoma and Mendocino coast. They hike and mountain bike our coastal trails and trek through our redwoods forests. They come to surf, skateboard and enjoy the California lifestyle. They frequent our wineries, sip the beer at our up-and-coming local breweries and enjoy the festive fare in our cities - large and small. California is a tourist destination among the very best the world can offer for its diversity and cultural uniqueness.
However, very few visitors see the other side of California, where the picture paints a different story for those Californians who are ‘trapped’ in middle or lower income jobs where the cost of living, housing and transportation are putting families at the tipping point.
I’ve written about this before and will continue to press upon our public officials, that the price of doing nothing can have long term societal impacts beyond a family. It impacts the quality of life for our entire community.
California faces a shortage of housing, particularly affordable housing, for its growing population. Though demand has increased steadily, construction rates continue to lag due to a number of barriers, including local zoning and permitting decisions surrounding housing production. The state projects 180,000 units of new housing construction is needed annually over the next 10 years to meet the state’s growing housing demand. However, production has remained below 100,000 new units annually over the last eight years, which represents the lowest sustained permitting levels since 1965.
Recently our County Supervisor, Zach Friend, penned this article that reflects both a statewide and local thinking on the significant impact limited housing options have created for us. The link to his Opinion Piece can be read here: Zach Friend addressing-our-local-housing-crisis. Supervisor Friend hits it on the head. Quoting directly from his comments, “the high housing costs have real social, environmental and economic costs. High housing costs lead to displacement and even changes in community diversity and cohesion as working families are forced to live further away from their jobs. Longer commutes have real environmental impacts as well as impacts to a family’s quality of life.”
There has been some progress at the local level as the county and the cities have taken action to address their housing needs under state law known as your Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA). Regrettably our cities and county are not achieving their housing goals. We have more work to do.
If you attended the Chamber’s June 30 Luncheon with guest speaker, State Senator Scott Wiener, you heard first-hand one alternative to help. (Dan Walters’ article mentions it as one of the legislative options in the State housing package) The link to his article is here: Dan Walters - Is there Political Will power
As Supervisor Friend points out, Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) works to ensure that all communities in the state create housing (sharing the responsibility throughout the state) by streamlining the approval process for specific housing types. The housing types are for income-based criteria. For example, if a county is meeting its state goals for housing development for above moderate-income housing but not its low-income housing goals, streamlining would apply to projects that focus on lower-income units.
Earlier this month, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce wrote in support of SB 35 (see letter here). We believe it is one solution that can help, though it won’t eliminate our housing supply problems over night. But, as Supervisor Friend states boldly:
“But we need to do something. The poorest 25 percent of California households spend four times more of their income (67 percent, on average) than the top 25 percent of income earners. To not act is the most regressive policy option.”
We are at a crossroads in California. I have a framed photo of a bald eagle soaring high above the clouds overlooking the picturesque California mountain ridgeline. The comment on the photo is clear. Leadership is Action, not a place in line. The Chamber encourages our local government leaders to support SB 35. It is the right action to take. Now is the time to show leadership in our state to address our housing crisis. Tomorrow may be too late.