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?
Recent Comments