Position on Housing

By Tom Bates

Berkeley can do better. While rents have slightly decreased, and rental vacancies are somewhat more available, rental and home prices are still too high and units still too few. Market forces alone cannot remedy the housing crisis. City leaders must take a more active role and provide leadership to find solutions. As Mayor, I will work toward these goals:

APPROPRIATE GROWTH - Berkeley can build more housing along transit corridors and in the downtown. I will actively support projects that are well-designed and built at appropriate scale for the adjacent neighborhoods, mitigate environmental impacts and fully pay for City services. We need to use our few remaining open and underused sites in Berkeley wisely and efficiently.

HOUSING PRESERVATION - There are many run-down, poorly operated multi-family buildings occupied by low-income households. I will ensure that the City works with non-profit housing companies to acquire properties whose owners aren't responsive to code enforcement efforts. A substantial portion of Housing Trust Funds should be allocated to assist in the acquisition and rehabilitation of such properties, ensuring that they remain affordable and well maintained.

MORE RESOURCES FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING - The City should use its housing funds and all available funds from the Federal and State to develop more rental, ownership and cooperative housing opportunities for the people who work in our City but too often can't afford to live here: teachers, librarians, police officers, firefighters, clerks, disabled individuals, senior citizens, artists and their families.

Second units are an effective way to increase Berkeley's affordable housing supply while retaining the character of Berkeley's neighborhoods--but the zoning rules need to be revised to make 2nd Units easier to build.

I support the measure on the November ballot that would provide a dedicated local source of funds to support affordable housing.

UNIVERSITY HOUSING - The University should accept responsibility for housing not only its students and faculty but a portion of its staff. Many University staff members commute long distances because they can't afford to live in Berkeley. When the University built its faculty housing on the old Presentation High School site ten years ago, they pledged to contribute $1 million to help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing--I will insist that the University make good on this pledge.

HOUSING AUTHORITY REFORMS - The Berkeley Housing authority has been plagued by scandal and mismanagement. Continued federal funding of Berkeley's public housing and Section 8 rent subsidy programs are at risk, yet this housing meets the vital need of providing affordable housing to those with the lowest incomes. Problems with the Housing Authority have reduced the quality of life for public housing residents and their neighbors. I will insist that public housing units be properly maintained and managed.

REGIONAL FAIR SHARE - The housing crisis is a regional crisis. I will take the lead in working with other Bay Area jurisdictions and the State to reach housing agreements and consensus on regional development that leads to all communities shouldering their fair share of added housing. It is a scandal that city leaders did not work harder to ensure that the housing element of Berkeley's new Master Plan met with approval in Sacramento.

BETTER LEADERSHIP - I will use the working relationships I have developed in more than two decades of work in county and state government to increase funding for housing.

It is important that Berkeley continue its history of being in the forefront of providing affordable housing opportunities to it's low-income families. I will be especially attuned to new ways to assist in developing affordable rental and homebuyer-assistance programs. I will also support and grow the efforts that we have already begun in developing alternative homeowner structures, such as limited-equity cooperative housing and co-housing.

I will appoint a blue ribbon panel of experts familiar with the housing challenges facing Berkeley that will be charged with recommending reforms and innovative new housing programs.