Time for North County to get on board with housing package

By Bruce Reznik

What issue is so universal it brings together diverse groups like the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, California Building Industry Association, California Association of Realtors, social justice and environmental advocates, business and organized labor, veterans, seniors, the LGBT community and people with disabilities?

Access to affordable homes is critical to everyone in our community, and a package of bills championed by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) offers California the opportunity to start building again after most affordable construction has ground to a halt.

With so much support from all over the spectrum, it is surprising that our North County Assemblymembers haven’t supported this groundbreaking legislation.

Every San Diegan knows that the cost of housing in the region is too high. Rarely a week goes by without a study identifying San Diego as one of — if not the — most expensive places to live.

Most recently, the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach report concludes that the annual income needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in San Diego County is $55,600, meaning a minimum wage worker would have to work 119 hours per week — or three full-time jobs — just to pay the rent. Even when the average San Diegan does somehow manage to pay their rent, this means these individuals — working families, seniors, veterans and others on fixed income — do not have sufficient funds to pay for transportation costs to get to work, utilities, healthy foods or health care.

To remedy this growing crisis throughout California, the state legislature is considering strategies to create more affordable housing statewide. The centerpiece of this package is Assembly Bill (‘AB’) 1335, Atkins’ (AD 78) legislation that will provide a stable and permanent source of funding to build affordable homes for people in need.

Having a dedicated funding source is critical to provide developers with the certainty they need to spend the years it takes to build such affordable communities.

It is necessary to make up for the loss of redevelopment funds that used to provide an ongoing source of funding to the tune of approximately $86 million annually in San Diego and over $1 billion statewide.

It is essential in San Diego, which as recently reported by the California Housing Partnership Corporation, families and in need of stable homes.

And the business community is supportive of AB 1335 as they recognize the San Diego region will no longer be competitive for business if workers cannot afford to live here.

We just each have different ways of doing it — some prefer an auto, and I don’t begrudge them that preference; some prefer a bicycle or simply using their feet.

The bravest cyclists are willing and wishing to share the existing road with the motorist.

Elijo?” and healthy folks. Walking is good for all of us. has a staggering shortfall of 142,564 homes affordable to lower income San Diegans, the second highest total of any county in the state.

The concerns of the Cardiff residents opposing the trail are real — they are worried about 1) a potential fence along the railroad tracks 2) changes in the parking situation, and 3) the challenge of exiting their driveways in an automobile. Those are solvable problems and the City Council is actually working to solve them.

3) Exiting your driveway safely. I don’t know the perfect answer. Perhaps the city can provide free mirrors for all homes on San Elijo. It is a challenge.

Veterans groups have gotten behind AB 1335 as they recognize San Diego is home to nearly 39,000 post9/11 veterans, the highest concentration in the nation, many of whom are now or soon will be in need of stable, affordable homes.

Homeless advocacy groups are onboard as we continue to move to a proven “housing first” model that demonstrates the most important factor in getting people off the street is to provide a safe and stable home.

The LGBT community supports affordable housing as they recognize that up to 40 percent of homeless youth are from the LGBT community — separated from their

With this broad-based community support, AB 1335 has yet to receive support from our three North County legislators — Assemblymembers Brian Maienschein, Rocky Chavez and Marie Waldron. While these legislators have been advocates for veterans’ issues, the homeless and enhancing the climate for local business, they have yet to commit to supporting this legislation that will provide the critical tools to address issues they care so deeply about when it comes to a floor vote in the Assembly by June 5.

We call upon all legislators throughout the region to support the entirety of the affordable homes package, including AB 1335, and ask upon all San Diegans to contact their local legislators in support of these measures.

As San Diego Housing Federation’s Executive Director, Bruce Reznik leads the organization in its efforts to ensure all San Diegans, regardless of income, can afford a safe and stable place to call home.

About the San Diego Housing Federation

The San Diego Housing Federation is a broad coalition of organizations and advocates that work to ensure all San Diegans, regardless of income, have access to a safe, stable and affordable place they can call home.

But a large chunk of our population would love the opportunity to cycle to work, on errands, to a social event, or to the beach — but they’re too afraid. While the motorists have a city’s worth of pavement to traverse, the cyclist is left with a patchwork of disconnected paths.

We are only asking for that which the motorists already have.

Have you ever noticed the subliminal assumption many of us make: people in cars are going somewhere important; people on bikes are just out having fun.

I heard it reflected in the statements at the meeting. “You cyclists have a lane on 101, why do you need San Elijo?”

If I asked the question in reverse, would it somehow sound odd to you? — “You motorists have a road on 101, why do you need San

1) We have been asking for at-grade crossings for decades. Thanks to the work of our NCTD representative, Councilman Kranz, a partnership is being forged with the transit district that could make at-grade crossings a reality.

And thank you to Councilwoman Shaffer for asking pointed questions of NCTD at the council meeting to move the process along.

We need more crossings, so everyone will have safe and legal access to the beach. We may currently have access — but it is neither safe nor legal. If you want more pedestrian crossings, tell all of your city council members and ask what you can do to help.

2) Parking will change — but there will be enough of it. If you don’t like the current proposal of how to lay it out, propose something else.

You may have to walk a short distance from your car to your home, but this is the land of good weather

But it will be a challenge with or without a bike path. More people are coming to Encinitas because it’s an amazing place and that means more traffic on all of our roads.

Narrowing the lanes to allow for auto, cyclist, and pedestrian activity will slow the traffic and potentially make the difficult task of leaving your homes a bit easier.

And finally — one resident ended his presentation by saying “We are at war.” I countered, stating that this is not a war. War is much more serious.

But I’ve been thinking. This is how wars get started — because of silly little disagreements — because people work against each other and not together.

We can solve this problem together.

I can’t wait to see the first real estate ad for a home on San Elijo Avenue — “beautiful ocean view home, just across the street from a delightful cycling/ walking path. A three-minute bike ride to both the local grocery store and world famous surfing.”

Judy Berlfein is an Encinitas resident.