Comments on: County Holds Forums about Cost of Living in Silicon Valley

By: psa

psa — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 20:56:15 +0000

It would be nice if these wonderful politicians would do something about the high taxes that make living in this area a high cost nightmare.

By: ERIC

ERIC — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:53:47 +0000

In reply to rosegarden dad.

I really don’t think they’re coming to DTSJ per se…pretty much everywhere you’ve seen the homeless population historically have had the same increases. But your other point about zoning is well taken, if the government tells auto makers that they’re only allowed to build Cadillacs, we shouldn’t be surprised when you see a lot of people without cars.

By: rosegarden dad

rosegarden dad — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 23:50:02 +0000

In reply to Downtown Dweller. Thanks Downtown Dweller for the update. If we're all noticing the increase in homeless population downtown, and if it's because of the closing of mental and disability hospitals, I guess the next question is: Why are they coming to DTSJ?

By: Downtown Dweller

Downtown Dweller — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 23:00:45 +0000

Yeah, something changed… all the mental and disability hospitals have closed, the general population is booming, and housing costs are through the roof. The homeless population has been booming here for about 3 years, judged by the regression of Saint James Park. Residents are frustrated, and we don’t see many developers rushing to build “affordable housing”. In a valley where too many pay over half their income on mortgages, exactly what is “affordable”?

By: rosegarden dad

rosegarden dad — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 17:24:20 +0000

The best way to bring down housing costs in the valley is to get rid of the restrictive zoning practices that make it impossible for affordable, market-rate housing to be built close to jobs. Palo Alto, Saratoga, Cupertino, Mtn View, and SJ are in thrall to the upper middle class neighborhood votes that want to keep their neighborhoods low density, which means that 99% of the valley can’t build affordable, high density housing because supply is limited. Open up supply, free homeowners from restrictive zoning, and watch a thousand flowers bloom.
BTW on a related issue: has anyone noticed how downtown sj homeless populations seems to have boomed this summer? Has something changed?

By: frustrated finfan

frustrated finfan — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 15:17:51 +0000

Those concerns, from all those compassionate, well-meaning folks, should be printed up on pamphlets and distributed under two titles, one in Spanish “Bienvenidos Ilegales,” — to be passed out at hospitals and every other place offering something for free, the second in English, “Your Sanctuary Dividend” — to be distributed at constructions sites, warehouses, restaurants, hardware stores, and the employment office.

By: John Galt

John Galt — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 01:39:19 +0000

In reply to ERIC.

Cognitive dissonance? I’ll tell you about cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is failing to have a grasp of the reality that there are over 6 billion people on this planet, most of whom live under worse economic circumstances than we enjoy here in silicon valley.
Cognitive dissonance is failing to grasp the reality that vast numbers of them would rather live here despite the highly advertised horrors of unaffordability.
Cognitive dissonance is not having a clue that no matter how many “affordable houses” we cram into this valley it will never be enough.
Cognitive dissonance is believing that by trashing our hometown we’re actually helping “the poor” when the truth is we’re only helping the fatcat developers.

Get a clue.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:12:26 +0000

OK fine but can we please look at all the communities in Santa Clara County. San Jose has the least amount of city services, the least amount of revenue coming from business and the most amount of housing. I am tired of being the only city doing our fair share to combat this issue. Step up Palo Alto, Mountain View and Cupertino!

By: CalPERSification

CalPERSification — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:23:31 +0000

To me, this looks like a prelude to the rent control expansion beyond just mobile homes and apartment buildings.
I mean, look at the results so far!

By: ERIC

ERIC — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 18:48:09 +0000

Unfortunately the entire bay area seems to have some kind of cognitive dissonance when it comes to housing…
http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2014/08/18/delmas-park-residents-oppose-planned-apartment-tower/