Speaker 1: Proclamation declaring May 7th to 18th as 19th Annual East Bay Affordable Housing Week here to stay build inclusive community.
Speaker 0: To receive this Ellen source, Diane Lichtenstein and Laura Thomas. You could approach the podium and now read this proclamation. Whereas quality, affordable housing is vital to building healthy, safe, vibrant and diverse communities. And. Whereas, affordable homes are the solution to homelessness and provide support to seniors, families, youth, veterans, and people with disabilities. And. Whereas, rising housing costs have led longtime residents to be displaced, live in overcrowded and substandard homes, or become homeless, threatening our region's diversity and economic prosperity, and first, creating new permanent, affordable homes. And preserving and improving existing rental housing helps our residents maintain community roots and encourages social and economic diversity for generations. And. WHEREAS, development of affordable homes close to public transit and jobs can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide low income families better access to opportunities and amenities. And. Whereas, empowering residents living in affordable housing as advocates helps to shape better housing, tenant protections and development policies. And. Whereas, nonprofit organizations, local jurisdictions, community organizations and many others continue to build inclusive communities by providing shelter, homes and support for low income people and those with special needs. And. Whereas, East Bay housing organizations has organized affordable housing week for 19 years and will feature 21 events acknowledging the need for and contributions of affordable housing. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Treasurer Spencer, Mayor of the City of Alameda, do hereby proclaim May eight through 17th, 2015 as the 19th Annual Affordable Housing Week in the city of Alameda. If further resolved that the City of Alameda will work to support affordable housing at the local, regional and state level and will encourage residents of the City of Alameda to participate in affordable housing week activities. Thank you. And feel free to say a few words.
Speaker 5: Okay. Hopefully we'll just be a few. We also have Neill Saxby from Eden Housing. So there will be three of us speaking. I think he was originally scheduled to accept the proclamation along with us. Thank you. Laura Thomas renewed hope housing advocates. I'm here on behalf of Renewed Hope and also as a member of East Bay housing organizations. And as you may know, since Alameda is a member of EB HOA, that it is an organization with 400 members, individuals and organizations devoted to creating affordable housing.
Speaker 4: Through advocacy.
Speaker 5: Advocacy, education and coalition building. Thank you for recognizing affordable housing week two years ago, Renewed Hope was honored during this very same week by EB HOA for our years of advocacy work and for pushing, which included pushing for the passage of the city's housing element, which of course brought Alameda into compliance with state law. But the really important fact was that what really the idea that Alameda finally embraced the idea that we needed to build housing for everybody, not just for the, you know, the top 11% who can actually afford a market rate home. I think that symbolized Alameda is Elam's acceptance of that concept. And that was really the important thing that.
Speaker 4: Happened with with our work. And in 2013.
Speaker 5: The theme for Affordable Housing Week, as you as this was stated, is here to stay building inclusive communities. It addresses the urgency of the current moment in the Bay Area, not just in Alameda, of course, where we see people with roots who belong here as much as anybody not able to stay, even though they may have a family, a job, children in school, a whole history. And in Alameda, the idea of roots and longevity is a source of pride. Yet the wealth that's been brought by the computer industry is not all encompassing. It's very selective. And it tends to threaten.
Speaker 4: The character of to undermine local character.
Speaker 5: Unless we push for policies that ensure that this wealth also generates public benefits, including affordable housing. I am heartened by the strong support of this Council. I hope we can all work together to build affordable housing without having to rely exclusively on market rate housing. But to replace redevelopment, we really have to work at the state level. There are two bills AB 35 and AB 1335.
Speaker 4: That we would encourage you to support in the form.
Speaker 5: Of rebel solutions. I understand the real estate industry is behind them this time. Thank you.
Speaker 7: I'm speaking with regard to the Alameda home team.
Speaker 5: We also our members with of.
Speaker 7: IMHO and we look forward to.
Speaker 5: Having our second celebration of that at a panel discussion.
Speaker 7: On May the 15th.
Speaker 5: Which will start at.
Speaker 7: 130 in the afternoon.
Speaker 5: And we're looking forward to having a thorough discussion.
Speaker 7: Of the elements it really takes to make a community, a community where we talk about housing and jobs in terms not of competing interests.
Speaker 5: But in interests that complement each other.
Speaker 7: And we'll have a special invitation for each of you, for anyone that wants to sign up for the attend the panel. And we have a sign up sheet outside.
Speaker 5: And we look forward to seeing a lot of you to celebrate.
Speaker 7: Almeida's commitment to housing.
Speaker 5: For all.
Speaker 7: Incomes. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you.
Speaker 3: Good evening, counsel. My name is Neil Saxby. I work for Eaton Housing, which has been building and managing quality, affordable housing around the Bay Area for 45 years. One of the oldest nonprofit housing developers. I'm also a resident of Alameda, but my accent gives me away. I've been living here for ten years. I just wanted to thank you for this proclamation. We've been selected as part of the Alameda Point Partners team and will be the affordable developer at the point. I've been building affordable housing for.
Speaker 2: Eight years and never.
Speaker 3: Has it been so difficult to build a new affordable units at a very low and low level. And therefore, we really grateful and and thank you to the Council for supporting efforts at Alameda Point, which will go a long way to building new units. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you.
Speaker 4: Thank you.
Speaker 0: Risi.
Speaker 1: Proclamation declaring May 11th be 16th a Salvation Army week. Oh.
Proclamation Declaring May 7 to May 18, 2015 as the 19th Annual East Bay Affordable Housing Week “Here to Stay: Building Inclusive Communities.” (Housing 236)