NPH Political Director presents to Assembly Select Committee on Regional Planning in SF Bay Area

photo credit: Mary Nicely

NPH urged State Assembly members to prioritize creating affordable homes for those most in need, and improving jobs/housing fit in testimony before the Assembly Select Committee in Oakland April 8.

Committee chair Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) was joined by Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), David Chiu (D-San Francisco), Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park), Bill Quirk (D-Hayward), and a representative from the office of Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), as well as the Mayors Loella Haskew (Walnut Creek), Pat Eklund (Novato), and Barbara Halliday (Hayward). Richard Marcantonio of Public Advocates and Matt Vander Sluis of Greenbelt Alliance addressed the impact of today’s housing crisis on our regional environment and quality of life, and called for stronger protections.

Political Director Sharon Cornu urged the committee to focus on creating affordable homes and seeking investment into communities across the Bay. She shared NPH’s experience in San Francisco in 2015 and hopes for action in other counties in 2016, highlighting the lack of useful tools for local government. Cornu detailed ABAG’s analysis of housing production for diverse income levels and pressed the Committee to improve housing opportunity for lower-income households, urging coordination of regional jobs, transportation and housing policies.

Mary June Flores, a senior adviser to Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, presented on a proposed $500 million housing bond and invited public participation in a series of stakeholder meetings.