The "Build our way to affordability" Fantasy

The City makes certain announcements on NextDoor and then responds to some of the comments people add.  I don't know who writes the responses or how they are vetted by other City staff or even if they are vetted.  It's probably time to find out though.  In response to the announcement about Stage 2 water restrictions that we noted here, the comments were very pointed.  People jabbed at overdevelopment leading to crazy traffic, water restrictions and a lack of respect for the people who "worked our nails to the bone" to afford to live here.  The official city response?

These are good points. Our city is in a state with cyclical droughts so once one drought cycle ends the next one is just around the corner. At the same time, California has a housing shortage and state laws require local governments to adequately plan to meet existing and projected housing needs. If housing development were to stop, not only would this be against state mandates, but it would make our city unaffordable in the long-term. We have heard from residents and businesses that they are concerned about their family members, co-workers, and neighbors who can no longer afford to live in the community. We also hear that local businesses, schools, and service providers are struggling to hire and retain people. Building more affordable housing is a solution to these challenges that may be affecting your neighbor down the street. Additionally, while our population has increased steadily our water consumption is lower now than it was ten years ago which shows that conservation and innovations in water efficiency works. For the data, see our 2020 Urban Water Management Plan available at www.burlingame.org/water.

That answer feels tone-deaf to me.  First, it's non-responsive to the water question and raised the additional issue of how much more water we can squeeze from the stone after what has already been done in the last ten years.  The Law of Diminishing Returns is in play and there are consequences to the flora and fauna in town.  Second, the state mandates that drive the building craze have not been vetted properly according to the state auditor or tested in court.  But most disturbing is this fantasy that we can outbuild the global demand for living in the Bay Area, on the mid-Peninsula and especially in Burlingame!  It's a dangerous fantasy and the disregard for the quality of life for those who are already here after "working their nails to the bone" is palpable.  Has the City heard from those residents and businesses as well?

Comments

[Joe]

Right on schedule we get another Chronicle piece on the drought with numerous "experts" saying Newsom's strategy of local control/limits on measures is bad. Buried 20 paragraphs in is exactly what I am talking about:

That said, Newsom has leaned into the notion that local control in drought response is ideal. He’s cited a report from Crowfoot’s agency about lessons from the 2012-16 drought. The report states that mandatory water cuts should “balance statewide ‘we’re-all-in-this-together’ approaches with ways to account for local and regional differences in climate and water availability.”

The report also cites unintended consequences from the state’s response to the last drought, including that cutbacks killed countless mature trees in urban areas, landscaping that provides crucial shade to combat rising temperatures because of climate change.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/newsom-drought-water-use-17247446.php

[Phinancier]

And the beat goes on. 292 units in South City, 321 at the Fish Market in San Mateo. What drought?

[MBGA]

They (remember when those of us using "they" were accused of generalizing in a racist way or of being conspiracy nuts? Now I can be using They as the personal pronoun for Gavi or really any democrat). Anyway I think Theys know that the new American 2.0 can survive with much less per capita water usage. In a few more years as Americans 1.x are less significant and the new post constitutional government structure is fully operational Theys will be able to control water usage how ever Theys want. Lawns are a shameful reminder of our white supremacy legacy. And frankly I think Theys may have a point when I look at who is out there tending all the greenery we love to look at.

Build back denser. And bill gates has some incredible toilet technology in his portfolio. And Zuck is working on virtual showers, right here in Burlingame.

[Phinancier]

Drought, what drought https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/whole-block-demo-approved-in-downtown-san-mateo/article_ab8b2426-f5ef-11ec-bc87-ebccc3cd221b.html?utm_source=smdailyjournal.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1656338408&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

[Joe]

It is kind of amazing isn't it. Clowns like Goethals just bury their heads in the sand like an ostrich and two council meetings later they can rail about water restrictions with no qualms. John Horgan had a nice piece about the slot machine guy losing his space in downtown SM. It was titled "Time to bid farewell to a San Mateo institution". Here is part of it:

Steve Squires is preparing to leave town. He has to make a clean break by the end of the month on orders from his landlord. The San Mateo rental property he utilizes east of the Caltrain rail line is scheduled for redevelopment.

Squires, a very sharp and spry 84, has been a quiet commercial fixture at the same location on South Claremont Street in San Mateo since 1977 when Jimmy Carter moved into the White House.

Squires’ chosen profession: Repairing, restoring, rebuilding, trading and selling antique slot machines. It’s a unique specialty.

A visit to his cluttered, cramped, 3,000-square-foot shop last week was instructional.....
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Soon San Mateo will look like a faceless Soviet-era LegoLand just like Redwood City. The question is will B'game also go that dismal route? At least a really smart city council woman got a few of the downtown buildings some historic resource protection.