Brisbane pushes huge development without housing
The residents of sleepy little Brisbane are extremely excited about developing Baylands, a 684-acre site on the edge of town. In fact, they’ve been getting a little carried away. When he was running for Brisbane City Council in 2009, Clifford Lentz, who is now mayor, said, “The Baylands project has the potential to change the world. This may sound like an exaggerated statement, but I believe it is true.” The owner of… Read More
2016 Greenbelt Alliance Champion Award
Laney Thornton, long-time Greenbelt Alliance Board member, environmentalist, and philanthropist; and John Sutter, founding Board member, environmental pioneer, and parks advocate will be honored October 6, 2016 with the Greenbelt Alliance Champion Award. The award is in recognition of their lifelong contributions to the mission of Greenbelt Alliance—protecting our natural and agricultural lands and promoting smart growth within our cities and towns to make the Bay Area a place where all residents… Read More
Election 2016: Vote YES on Measure RR
Measure RR raises $3.5 billion to help keep BART safe and reliable, reduce crowding, keep cars off the road, and protect the environment. Voters in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties will be asked to approve the measure. Measure RR authorizes a $3.5 billion bond to provide much-needed improvements to the ailing Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. The majority of these funds will go toward the repair and replacement of… Read More
Election 2016: Vote NO on Measure S in Morgan Hill
This measure, put on the ballot by the Morgan Hill City Council, amends the city’s main voter-approved open space protection policy, making it easier for the city to sprawl outward. Measure S in Morgan Hill would amend and renew the city’s current Residential Development Control System (RDCS). The current voter-approved RDCS serves as the city’s primary open space protection measure. It is set to expire in 2019. The proposed RDCS re-authorization includes… Read More
Election 2016: Vote YES on Measure I in Milpitas
This measure renews the city’s Urban Growth Boundary for 20 years. First adopted by voters in 1998, the city’s growth boundary protects important open space in Milpitas from sprawl development. The City of Milpitas includes significant open space lands, primarily in the foothills of the Mount Hamilton Range. In 1998, voters enacted Measure Z, establishing one of the few voter-approved Urban Growth Boundaries in Santa Clara County to limit extension of urban… Read More
Harmeet and Kunal (and Chester) Find Home
When newlyweds Harmeet and Kunal decided to buy a home, they first met with a real estate agent to discuss their priorities and find the ideal neighborhood for them in the Bay Area. “I remember Kunal kept trying to describe it,” says Harmeet. “And then he realized it was all about the lifestyle—he wanted to live where we could be healthy and be able to walk to places, but also not feel… Read More
Election 2016: Vote YES on Measure K in San Mateo Co.
Measure K generates much needed funding for affordable homes, parks, and other essential services by extending San Mateo County’s existing ½ cent sales tax for another 20 years. Measure K was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the San Mateo County Supervisors after requests from housing, safety, education and community advocates, to continue improving the quality of life in San Mateo County. The measure will provide funds to support… Read More
Election 2016: Vote YES on Measure U1 in Berkeley
This measure would generate funds for new affordable homes in the City of Berkeley through an increase in the business license tax for owners of larger multi-unit residential buildings. It’s no secret that the Bay Area is suffering from a housing affordability crisis. Pick up any newspaper these days and you’re likely to see a headline about the financial and emotional toll that high housing prices are having on Bay Area families,… Read More
Notes from the Field: The First National YIMBY Conference
YIMBY groups are popping up all over the map, from Alaska to Rhode Island, as part of a national surge in interest in creating more walkable neighborhoods with plentiful housing opportunities that are well served by transit.
Election 2016: Vote YES on Measure A1 in Alameda Co.
Measure A1 will raise $580 million for affordable homes across Alameda County. It’s a critical step toward ensuring that all residents of Alameda County can afford to live, work, and stay here for generations to come. Housing affordability is an urgent concern across the Bay Area, extracting a heavy financial and emotional toll on millions of the region’s residents. In Alameda County, median home prices have nearly doubled since 2010; the average… Read More