Do you believe the state should make one-size-fits-all land-use decisions in Pleasanton?
Do you believe Sacramento laws should allow developers to tear down the house next door to build a multi-story and multi-unit building in your neighborhood? Without City Council review or approval, or input from you or your neighbors? State laws now allow this, and currently there is nothing your City Council can do to help you.
I am honored to have been twice elected to the Pleasanton City Council. I promised that when I was elected I would work to stand up for Pleasanton’s quality of life. I have worked very hard to do so. We can welcome new neighbors and abundant diversity without sacrificing what is wonderful about our community.
We are not against housing; we want housing located where it makes sense for our community. We want housing that is affordable to our public servants, teachers, nurses, auto mechanics — not just more market-rate housing.
California’s population is declining, state housing goals have been proven wrong, numbers must be realistic. We want a say in what is built, how it’s built, and how we will pay for the new services/infrastructure growth requires; it shouldn’t be paid by existing homeowners.
Over 100 laws like Senate Bill 35 (which allows the five-story project with no parking in our downtown) have taken away the right of local elected officials to shape housing policy.
The Pleasanton City Council voted to support Our Neighborhood Voices, a ballot initiative that, when passed by the voters of the state, will take back local authority by way of a constitutional amendment. It will affirm the state of California constitution (“home rule”) a longstanding practice which gives local municipalities authority of land-use and zoning.
It does not eliminate state laws; it neutralizes those new state laws that allow for-profit developers to ignore local communities. That is democracy in action!
Pleasanton produced 300% of our market-rate housing mandates from the last housing cycle. However, the state’s narrative blames cities for the state’s housing affordability problems. But it was Sacramento that created the problem by eliminating the funds we once used to help build affordable housing.
Affordable housing requires subsidies to build, Pleasanton needs $2-3 billion to satisfy the unfunded state affordable housing mandates. That money does not exist; the state doesn’t have it, and neither does Pleasanton. Cities have been set up to fail, so when we do … for-profit developers are given the keys to our city.
Massive new growth of expensive housing will not create affordability. Cities like Vancouver, B.C. and Austin, Texas and others that have allowed massive up-zoning and unfettered luxury housing development have become more expensive — not less. The prestigious Urban Institute did a comprehensive study on the effects of up-zoning efforts across America and found these efforts did not lower the cost of housing at all. Zero percent!
Follow the money, understand political agendas and special interests motivated by profit. Powerful forces work to undermine those who stand in their way. Know that Pleasanton residents are the priority in every decision that I make.
Please join me and the growing statewide movement of local leaders and neighbors who are fighting to bring back neighborhood voice in community planning. Stand up Pleasanton!
Editor’s note: Julie Testa is serving her second term on the Pleasanton City Council, currently representing District 3. Testa was part of the 3-2 majority to vote in favor of supporting the Our Neighborhood Voices draft initiative on June 6.
