Home > Resource Center > In the News Home > Greenbelt Alliance in the News

Greenbelt Alliance In the News

December 13, 2005

Vallejo City Council And Misuse Of Greenbelt Alliance Information

Last week there was an important vote regarding Bordoni Ranch which is presently an open space to be developed if 6 out of 7 Vallejo Council Members get their way. It wasn't the vote that is most upsetting because it was expected amidst the majority of uninformed council members. It was the misuse of an important document by the Greenbelt Alliance by Councilman Davis. It's quite obvious that Davis and many other council members don't do their homework and apparently don't understand simple urban planning concepts.

In a rebuttal to a statement by Gomes which explained her no vote, Council Member Davis referred to a document by the Greenbelt Alliance stating that there weren't enough homes in Solano County. If any Council member were to justify their vote I would expect them to at least read beyond the headline before using information. It's very clear that no more than the 7 word headline was absorbed. Very sad that this sort of studying is an example of our representatives. If he were to read about 50 more words or so he'd know that Greenbelt Alliance is not talking about available housing in general. They are talking about affordable housing and mentioned within the document is information that completely invalidates the mention of Greenbelt Alliance by anyone voting to move forward with that project.

"The housing affordability crisis plaguing the BayArea and much of California has hit home in Solano County. Although Solano County is building many new homes, they are not the homes that local residents and workers can afford. The housing market in Solano County has become unbalanced, producing many more expensive homes than are needed on the region's outskirts, and not enough starter homes, apartments, townhomes and condominiums within cities."

"Although many new homes are being built, these homes are not affordable to many families that currently work and live in Solano. The problem is a lack of affordable homes."

"The total number of new homes built between 1999 and 2003 hides the affordable housing problem. Solano County (including its seven cities and the county) actually built 109 percent of its total housing needed as determined by the Regional Housing Needs Allocation."

The entire article is available here http://www.greenbelt.org/resources/reports/report_thrutheroof.html

Enough said, please do your homework before voting, and avoid embarassing yourself as well.

PS:

Dear Mr. Davis, Mayor Intinoli, Mr. Pearsall, Mr. Cloutier, Mr. Bartee, and Mr. Sunga,

Please take the time to learn about terms such as "Inclusionary Housing Policy", "Sprawl", and about unbalanced housing markets. This conclusion that "People need homes, so let's build them" is an elementary level conclusion and based on a lack of knowledge and an inability to learn new concepts. Please educate yourselves before voting!

Contact info: Joe Valle may be reached at joevalle@gmail.com.

###