Alameda fails to apply for housing funds - March 11, 1992

Alameda fails to apply for housing funds

By Brett Mahoney (The Tribune)
March 11, 1992

ALAMEDA – Although facing a court order, the city council voted last night against submitting an application for state funds to build low-income housing.

“We have made a good faith effort to meet the deadline, so we are still in compliance with the court order,” said City Attorney Carol Korade last night as the crowd of 500 cheered the council’s decision.

According to Alameda’s 1990 court settlement with resident Clayton Guyton, the city must use its best efforts to meet a March 20 deadline to apply for state Proposition 84 Rental Housing Construction funds to build 85 units of low-income housing.

Despite a “Herculean effort” by the city’s housing officials, the city council said no viable sites have been identified for building low-income and affordable housing.

The council voted unanimously to inform the Alameda County Legal Aid Society, which brought the suit on behalf of Guyton, that is was unable to meet the deadline but will continue attempts to provide low-income and affordable housing.

Thirty-five residents spoke at the meeting, complaining that low-income housing should not be built in their neighborhoods because it would lower property values, create traffic congestion and make streets unsafe.

One resident received a standing ovation when he said building low-income housing in the island city would only lead to the creation of “an East Alameda like East Oakland or create a roving bands of anarchist gypsies which vandalize storefronts as they do in Berkeley.”

At least one member of the crowd did not cheer the decision of the city council, which was sitting as the Alameda Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Guyton said that he will take the city back to court.

The Alameda Housing Authority listed 11 potential sites for low-income and affordable housing.

Eight of the sites were ineligible for the state Proposition 84 funds because the city did not own them and could not gain control in time to meet the March 20 deadline.

The council previously rejected two of the three sites it has control of after neighborhood groups voiced strong opposition.

Source: Mahoney, Brett, “Alameda fails to apply for housing funds.” Oakland Tribune, 11 March, 1992:A3.