In politics, bringing different points of view together can sometimes be like herding cats. But after two years of pushing, pulling, negotiating and educating, a diverse coalition that deeply cares about San Jose’s affordable housing crisis could be making some real progress. If all goes as planned.
But this week, Mayor Chuck Reed turned that little if, into a big IF with last minute political shenanigans. The advocates for a Housing Impact Fee, which is a levy on new market-rate housing development that then funds affordable housing projects, include strange bedfellows: business leaders, environmentalists, faith leaders, labor unions and working families, homelessness advocates, neighborhood associations, people in need of housing, and legal advocates. They were all at Tuesday’s City Council meeting ready to see the impact fee issue scheduled to be heard on November 4th, giving the issue enough time to be passed before the end of the campaign season, when the city council will significantly change. But Mayor Reed deferred the issue, and there is no telling when it will be heard. The change could leave the two years of hard work bringing this council together back at square one.
Mayor Reed has made no secret of opposing the housing impact fee. Instead he prefers to wring his hands about the affordable housing crisis in San Jose, rather than help enact an impactful measure that would raise funds to build as many as 10,000 new affordable housing units. The Mayor consistently champions job growth measures, yet woefully neglects important strategies that protect opportunities for future employment growth, such as increasing access to affordable housing.
We still hold out hope that the Housing Impact Fee will have its first reading by City Council November 4th, Election Day. It would be a sad irony if changes to the council made on one day, brought two years of dedication to the matter to a halt.
To support the campaign to pass San Jose’s Housing Impact Fee, please stop by our office at 2102 Almaden Road, Suite 112, San Jose, CA. For more information, contact Charisse at 408-809-2124 or email Charisse@wpusa.org.
Charisse Ma Lebron is Director of Health Policy & Community Development for Working Partnerships USA
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