Housing trust funds local projects
Low-income senior project in Dublin and family housing in Livermore funded by Housing Trust of Silicon Valley
It saddens me to live in a district “represented” by Eric Swalwell in Congress.
With the Democrat shutdown of the government, he’s has the time to post on X, “Don’t even think of seeking the Democratic nomination for president unless you pledge to take a wrecking ball to the Trump Ballroom on DAY ONE.”
His next missive read, “Or, as @RubenGallego proposes, rename it the Barack Obama Ballroom. But a Trump monument to corruption will not stand.”
I am not sure what corruption the congressman is referring to—perhaps because the new ballroom is privately funded is what he’s thinking. Sure, the administration could have decided to jump through way too many government hoops for permission, but, after decades of pitching tents for black tie dinners, building the 90,000-square-foot ballroom was long overdue. It just took a builder to see it.
Polling shows that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s effort to re-gerrymander the state of California for the 2026 mid-term election shows proponents leading among voters. One commercial I saw was interesting, featuring Newsom (could not do one without him), but also progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren and Barack Obama among others. That would speak to the target voter—the falling off the left folks.
While touching on Newsom, I must include a comment from 60-year journalist Dan Walters, now writing for California Matters, about the scrutiny the governor will face should he run for president. Walters wrote, “For instance, his 2018 campaign promises — to build 3.5 million new housing units, create single-payer health coverage for all Californians and solve the state’s homelessness crisis — turned out to be fairy dust. And the $97.5 billion budget surplus he touted in 2022 was just an illusion.”
Spending, deficits—the stuff of Newsom’s California. A national think tank released a report that showed California carrying the most debt of any state. The Reason Foundation determined that the formerly Golden State is carrying $497 billion in debt, the worst among the list that includes all blue state except Texas. That’s $12,500 per resident, but it falls way short of the big picture. When local government and school debt is added, the total debt is more than $1 trillion, topping $27,000 per person.
That’s ugly and doesn’t include the soaring federal debt.
The Housing Trust Silicon Valley hit a home run this month when it launched a $200 million fund for affordable housing across the Bay Area. It was backed by Apple, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and the Packard Foundation as well as other partners. The goal is 7,400 affordable units. No question, there’s a desperate need for affordable housing.
The New York Times runs a weekly feature on couples shopping for homes in the broader area. Last week, it featured a couple looking in the Bronx with a budget of $600,000. Thinking of California, I don’t think you could find much in that price range at either end (Bakersfield or Redding) of the great San Joaquin Valley.
The Bay Area investment is expected to save $5.7 million in rent and take 3,500 cars off the road because people will be living closer to their jobs.
Locally, $3.85 million is going to support Eden Housing’s 113-unit project for low-income seniors in Dublin at the Regional Street Apartments.
In Livermore, the fund will support Owls Landing, a rehabilitation of an existing affordable housing project for 72 families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. The loan is for $5.7 million to Eden Housing.
It’s great to see local investments from the fund that is South Bay-based, but recognizes many of those employees live here and the need for affordable housing (regardless of age) stretches across the broader region.
A majority of us in California know exactly how you feel…. It saddens us to live in a Country “represented” by Donald Trump
Perhaps the title of your column should be entitled to Tim Talks Republican
A monument to corruption doesn’t need to be corrupt itself in order to function as a monument. By analogy, a monument to veterans doesn’t need to be able to fire a weapon. If Tim Hunt is really “not sure what corruption the congressman is referring to,” then the author is willfully ignorant.
Trumps Ball Room is privately funded, long overdue.
Democratic presidents have spent TAXPAYER MONEY.
Franklin Roseavelt – built the west wing with a swimming pool.
Harry Truman – completely gutted the interior of the white house, redid it.
John Kennedy – infrastructure upgrades for expensive aesthetic furnishings.
Barack Obama – white house infrastructure, communications, the Eisenhower Eisenhower executive office building.
You commenters are upset about a ballroom that is not tax funded? Really? I acknowledge that we conservatives are surrounded by a willfully ignorant left that apparently suffered a coma under the Biden years, and I also admit that I am at a loss as to what anyone sees in probably the most inept Congressperson (Eric Swalwell) of our 50 states. Those voters must relish in the bath of humiliation, embarrassment, and self loathing, because he provides this country, not to mention our district, with nothing substantial except as a water boy for the Democrats. All of you please step aside and let the adults run things.