"As we look to the future in Contra Costa County, we must make sure that our communities are affordable for young families. Our local officials need to be bold when it comes to affordable, residential housing. We are lucky to have multiple BART lines serving the entire county. I am disappointed that Orinda and Lafayette (total population of fewer than 45,000) influenced the carveout for our whole county. Given the two towns' small populations, what if BART closed one of their two stations and built affordable homes for first responders on the property? Cal Fire employees would be able to afford to live locally and respond more quickly to fires in Lamorinda."
"The California Budget and Poverty Center predicts bills signed by Gov. Newsom will increase our state's poverty level from the terrible 18%. Given California's wealth, this declares the falsity of the Democrats' claim that the crisis is simply the result of Donald Trump's vicious ruthlessness. American democracy is in extreme crisis because capitalism is again in a worsening crisis. Democratic leaders, however, are paralyzed in fear of New York's Zohran Mamdani, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's social agenda."
Contra Costa County needs affordable residential housing to keep communities accessible for young families. Local officials should pursue bold housing strategies and consider transit-oriented development using BART property. Small towns like Orinda and Lafayette influenced a countywide carveout despite limited populations. Repurposing underused BART stations for affordable homes could enable first responders, such as Cal Fire employees, to live locally and respond faster. California faces a rising poverty rate near 18 percent, and recent legislation may worsen poverty. Political reluctance to challenge market forces limits transformative anti-poverty solutions and heightens economic and social strain.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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