League of Women Voters of California
Alameda County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
	L A Wood Answers Questions Candidate for Member, City Council; City of Berkeley; District 4

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Do you favor additional housing for low and very low income residents, and, if yes, what specific steps would you take to expedite and fund such housing?

I favor additional housing for low and very low income residents. I would continue to support annual funding for low income housing and construction. Affordability can be linked directly to housing construction. The city must encourage the construction of more rental housing, especially those projects that include below-market-rate units.

Current state density bonuses require that 20 percent of the units be affordable to individuals or families at 80 percent of the average median income (AMI). I would lobby for development of low income housing at 60 percent, or lower, of the AMI.

I also support Measure M which designates monies for affordable housing. This important tax measure will generate about $2 million annually which can be used by tenants to purchase their units. It will also provide for some additional affordable housing and support for landlords to make repairs to their housing units.

More must be done to promote loans at the federal and local levels for tenants to purchase their own housing units and to finance limited equity co-op housing. Both the first-time and the low-income homeowner assistance programs need to be championed as well.

I don't support Measure P, the Height Initiative. If passed, it will have a negative impact on both future housing construction and the creation of more affordable housing units, particularly for our growing number of renters, students, and senior citizens.

Finally, the City's zoning process and elected officials must be held accountable in making developers deliver on their agreements concerning affordable units in exchange for height increases.