In Support of the State’s Housing Element

I support the state’s effort to force municipalities and counties to allow the construction of dense and low-income housing. Unquestioning deference to local authorities like the MAC is the reason why this state has such a housing affordability crisis.

I suggest we cooperate fully with the state. If we increase the density, and allow more people to live here, it will make Castro Valley a more vibrant, more walkable, more interesting place.

There are potential problems to overcome, sure: the school district and sanitary district may need more capacity. These are not excuses.

We should take the state’s mandate for denser and low-income housing as a blessing, an opening to make Castro Valley into the kind of charming, dynamic suburb where you don’t always need a car to get around, where there are things for a teenager like me to do. Let's replace the parking lots with mixed-income apartments, and watch Castro Valley blossom!

–Allie Mahaffey, Castro Valley