Hi all,

If you know us at all, you know we come from a place of optimism.  We know that waiting for the perfect outcome isn’t necessarily going to happen so we try to move toward as good an outcome as we can get. And your support means that we might have a chance at getting pretty close to perfect.  That’s what we felt happened with Draft #2.
It wasn’t perfect but managed to remove single family, historic districts, coastal zones, and sensitive multi-family areas as targets for densification.  We worked a year and a half to get that done. 
But as we explained earlier, this would be only the first hurdle we needed to jump.  The second would be the Community Plans which would implement the changes in the Housing Element in our communities and could actually rezone for more!  But we felt on a local level, Community Plans would be easier to challenge than fighting the Citywide Housing Element.

However, we are hearing some homeowner groups have sent  letters of opposition to Draft #2 (we think) based on your opposition to your Community Plan.  They are not the same thing. The Housing Element is being challenged by pro density groups for exempting single family, historic districts and coastal zones. 

Your opposition to Draft #2 is simply being noted as opposition to excluding these neighborhoods not that you are opposed to your Community Plan. Please be careful when commenting on Draft #2.

We wanted you to be aware that we sent the attached letter of support for Draft #2 this morning to the mayor, Vince Bertoni and all councilmembers.  Why send it to councilmembers? Because the final draft of the Housing Element will be voted on by the City Council.  As we continue to reach out to the Planning Department, the Mayor’s office and councilmembers, we hope you will also reach out to your councilmember.  Your relationship with them matters. Remember this draft is only about the Housing Element.  Let’s get this approved.  

Staying optimistic,

Maria, Jeff, Cindy, Marc