Housing

I continue to support the construction and maintenance of housing in Oakland for all income levels, including new market rate housing. I believe we can lower housing prices by creating more supply to meet the demand for housing across Oakland.

Promoting Smart Growth and Housing Near Transit: I have been the most consistent champion on this City council for infill and housing development, especially near transit hubs, corridors, and in downtown Oakland. Not only does infill development save green fields from development and reduce energy use, but it also helps Oakland become a more environmentally and economically sustainable City. I brought to fruition the first official transit village in the country and continue to support high density development in transit corridors. I also work to bring services and retail closer to residents in order to reduce both their vehicle trips and miles traveled. Examples include the full service health clinic, La Clinica, and the preschool for low income families, Head Start, in the Fruitvale Transit Village.

Increase Homeownership: I support increasing the homeownership rate in District 5. To create more housing for low and moderate income young people, we should use Redevelopment and Business Attraction tools to attract new development and funding for the City’s Low and Moderate Housing Fund, emphasize moving renters into moderately priced homeownership (including helping them buy their own rental units) so that they can grow intergenerational wealth and stability instead of remaining low-income renters, and emphasize creating more affordable housing across the City to make room for a variety of housing options (instead of concentrating affordable housing only in certain neighborhoods as has been done in the past).

Affordable Housing: The City’s 25% Redevelopment tax-increment set-aside fund has helped fund the construction of approximately 1,400 units of below market rate housing since 1999. As we continue the revitalization of redevelopment areas, I expect we can build much more affordable housing with future tax-increments. I also believe the city should continue to seek funding assistance from the State and Federal governments to subsidize affordable housing development and home ownership.

I continue to support the construction and maintenance of affordable housing in Oakland along with new market rate housing just as I have with the following recent affordable housing projects in District 5: the Fruitvale Transit Village (Unity Council), E.27th/Fruitvale Project (Habitat for Humanity), Sausal Creek Townhomes ( EBALDC), Altenheim Senior Housing (Citizen’s Housing), the Orchards on Foothill (AHA), St. Josephs (Bridge Housing), Seven Directions Project (EBALDC/NAHC), Hismen Hin-Nu Terrace (EBALDC/Unity Coucil), and Jingletown Homes (OCHI). I also support the fight to preserve affordable senior housing at Park Village Apartments and the wholesale renovation of Oak Park Apartments (EBALDC).

Inclusionary Zoning: I would support inclusionary zoning (requiring developers to set aside a certain number of housing units for “affordable” prices) when it is part of a comprehensive housing and development strategy that supports continuing and increasing investment in housing construction in communities like District 5. The level of inclusionary zoning required in any jurisdiction should not be determined by politicians; it should be determined by what the market can bear. It should also be a policy that encourages the construction of workforce-housing rather than luxury-housing, which we have seen in downtown and North Oakland. In District 5, there is a need for affordable housing as well as market-rate housing. Until there is more market rate housing in District 5, it will be difficult to attract needed services like banks and grocery stores. Thus, we need to strike a balance.

Rent Control: I support the rent protections that Oakland has on the books. I believe that rent control programs are a way to improve life for low-income Oakland tenants. Any modifications to rent protections should ensure that rent protection laws continue to serve low-income households. This year I voted for the City Council to oppose Proposition 98, which would have dismantled rent protections as we know them