"The original policy tied private development to the public good. When developers built new market‑rate housing, they had to include affordable homes, some as low as 30% or 50% of the area median income (AMI) or pay fees that helped finance deeply affordable homes elsewhere. It wasn't perfect, but it at least tried to ensure that new development included racial diversity and people at the bottom of the income ladder."
"The new plan flips this logic. It shifts the focus to a "workforce" band of roughly 70% to 110% of AMI, solidly middle income and close to what the private market already serves. Even worse, the option that allowed developers to meet their full requirement by setting aside 10% of homes at 30% AMI, a narrow but crucial path for extremely low‑income households, has been erased."
"Once you look at who actually lives at different income levels in San Jose, the racial impact is obvious. Black and Latino households are more likely to live below 50% AMI, devoting a crushing share of income to rent and living one emergency away from losing housing. White and many Asian households tend to cluster at or above 100% AMI."
San Jose is revising its inclusionary housing ordinance to prioritize a "workforce" band roughly 70% to 110% of area median income (AMI). The previous policy required developers of market‑rate housing to include deeply affordable units or pay fees that funded low‑income housing, including options as low as 30% or 50% AMI. The revision removes the path that allowed meeting obligations by reserving 10% of homes at 30% AMI and substitutes easier compliance routes, thinner obligations, and lower fees. The change disproportionately excludes Black, Latino, and the lowest‑income Asian households who concentrate below 50% AMI.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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