Recent Comments
Re: “Homebuilders Association to oppose county's affordable housing policy”
I'm curious as to why the HBA would advocate for the repeal of SLO County's affordable housing policy. HBA Exec. Director Jeff Eckles says hes concerned about the impact the $3150 in lieu fee has upon the affordability of homes built by large project developers & home builders. Clearly single family homes in the Central Coast are in short supply and expensive. The average cost of a home, new or old in California, is now $550,000. However, its not clear how the in lieu fee puts new homes out of reach of the buyer, penalizes the developer or lacks permanence. Over the 30 year life of a typical home loan, the in lieu fee comes to $105 per year. I'm guessing that's a lot less than the average home owner spends on alcohol every year.
Apparently the HBA has a sympathetic audience at the County Board of Supervisors. Supervisors Peschong, Compton and Arnold rejected a proposal by Bruce Gibson and Adam Hill to create a $5 million revolving fund for affordable housing. Are Peshong, Compton and Arnold in the pocket of the HBA due to generous campaign contributions? Peshong, Compton and Arnold have already shown their willingness to do the bidding of big business in this county. See the BOS' recent decision to spend $6 million in County funds to pay for the North County SGA whose main beneficiaries of this decision are the big grape growers and wineries.
It's a mystery to me why the County Board of Supervisors and the HBA would oppose common sense funding of affordable housing. Many of the men and women in this county who work in construction can't afford the homes they help to build. This doesn't even count the thousands of other people in good paying middle income jobs who cant afford a home. Just out of pure selfishness, it would seem to be in the best interests of the HBA to encourage more affordable housing projects. That would mean more projects for HBA member developers and construction companies, and more housing for the workers those companies so desperately need to build their projects. Why wouldn't the BOS, supposedly working in the best interests of the citizens of SLO County, want to create more affordable housing? Why would they consider repealing the existing affordable housing ordinance when there's already a crisis in affordable housing in this county?
SLO County residents who believe affordable housing is a must, need to mark their calendars. This coming November, The BOS will be considering a repeal of the existing affordable housing ordinance. Supporters of affordable housing should be at that meeting in force to show the BOS that they need to pay more attention to the needs of the little guys, rather than the agendas of the big developers and construction companies.
Bill Alexander
Atascadero
Re: “Time to speak out”
I too support Jimmy Pauldings campaign in the 4th District. Other people who have responded to Cuddys column have adequately described Jimmys deep level of real world business and public service experience. It is very clear that electing Jimmy Paulding should be a very high priority for every thinking voter who believes in fact based good governance. But there is more that needs to be said about the gist of Cuddys editorial.
While electing Jimmy in 2018 is important, defending and re-electing Bruce Gibson in the Second District is of equal importance. The COLAB cabal will be running the ex-executive director of the Home Builders Association of Central California in an attempt to unseat Supervisor Gibson. Not only is the HBACC philosophically opposed to the funding of affordable housing, they are actively petitioning Compton, Peschong and Arnold to repeal the Countys Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
I attended the April meeting and spoke out against the Countys funding ($2M) of the Paso Water Basins SGMA. I was also in attendance at the December meeting speaking in favor of increased funding when the BoS voted to stand pat on additional funding for affordable housing. While attending meetings and speaking in support of the issues that Hill and Gibson hold dear feels good, the end result is always the same. Compton, Peschong and Arnold vote to maintain the status quo, supporting the economic interests of the wealthy and powerful in this county who in turn support their election campaigns.
Attending BoS meetings and being informed about the facts surrounding the many issues facing this county is important. However, anyone and everyone who is concerned with the ideologically driven decision making process by the gang of three supervisors needs to be 100% on board with getting Paulding elected and Gibson re-elected. That means contributing generously to their campaigns and actively working within their campaign organizations to assure that these two fine candidates are elected, and reason is restored to the decision and policy making on the County Board of Supervisors.