Response to Homelessness

To the Editor:

In regards to the recent article on homelessness (02/23/2022), Chelsea Andrews makes the pronouncement that “we must continue to push for legislation, resources, and initiatives to combat this crisis” of homelessness. Forget it, the state already mandates plenty of housing programs for the homeless. They can be found at Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (select California law; select WIC code; select miscellaneous; select code 8256). Evidently, they don’t work because the article hints at a steady increase in homeless since 2009.

Lawmakers tried a different solution with the creation of Senate Bill 9 (2021-2022). This law allows property owners of single-family homes to lot-split and land-develop up to 2 residences on each lot. Those of you who purchased single-family homes in planned community developments are NOT exempt from SB9. So, this means your association covenants are now meaningless. Your neighbor can now lot-split and land-develop without consent from your association. Local agencies have a say in HOW the development will happen but cannot STOP it. (gov. code 66411.7, 22nd paragraph down). 

This legislation, signed by Newson, is truly malevolent to the landscape of the traditional single-family home. Apparently, our planned, developed suburbs are now considered an indulgence. They are to be broken up into a patchwork of mini “porta-potty” homes. And for what purpose—affordable housing? Not a chance.

Property owners aren’t going to spend a fortune to create new ADUs and graciously sell/rent them below market value. What they are really going to do is use the legal ADU to grow and sell marijuana for an all-cash income and claim it as rental income from a fake tenant. Tax evasion with the added benefit of a tax deduction. 

If you want to shrink the number of homeless addicts in this state, repeal AUMA and reform driving laws to crack down on drug trafficking. The addicts will go elsewhere for their fix. 

–Monica Shieman, Castro Valley