*****December 19, 2014:
The Tribune ran my letter to the editor in the 12/19/2014 edition on page B4. You can read the article "Adding to the Homeless" by clicking here. It is a slightly modified letter that I sent to the SLO City Council to oppose their "Rental Inspection Program" (RIP) that they recently voted in favor of by a 3-2 margin. I am in favor of RIP only if it is accompanied by an equal or greater program for affordable housing. The idea is to at least offset the housing we are losing to the RIP by creating affordable housing in place of the lost housing.
*****December 18, 2014:
To make it easier, I'm removing the identity of the city council people that I am corresponding with, as it does nothing helpful, but may not be constructive. Also, printing the back-and-forth emails is counter-productive as well. Nothing but well meaning discourse, resulting in nothing. If any concrete action is ever proposed (in the future), I'll print that.Dear Slo-City-Council-Person,
Thanks for taking the time to get back to me. I appreciate your concern for homeless and workforce housing issues. Unfortunately, the workforce model that you describe below does not appear to work. Why do I say that? Because it does not produce affordable housing. At least that’s what homeless people in search of Section 8 housing told me recently - there isn't any. Same with the 50 Now program - no affordable housing for the program. Don't believe me - ask them yourself.
