16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 24-30, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com At the Threshold Proposition 5 will make it easier to pass infrastructure and affordable housing bond measures. By Geoffrey Morgan FORUM Have you ever handed a working family on the verge of homelessness the key to their new home? I was honored to do this twice last November at CHISPA’s new Alfred Diaz-Infante Apartments near Marina, first to a family of eight who previously had lived in a condemned garage in Watsonville and second to a family of seven, all living in a one-bedroom trailer. Now these two families could begin living with dignity in their new homes located near where they worked. These two families were among those selected for the 65 apartments we had available to lease. They were selected from the 1,800 applications which CHISPA received in only two weeks. What I try not to think about is: What happened to the more than 1,700 families who were not selected for Alfred Diaz-Infante Apartments? This is why CHISPA endorses and supports Proposition 5. Prop. 5 is a statewide measure on the November ballot that would lower the threshold to pass housing and infrastructure bond measures from today’s two-thirds supermajority down to 55 percent, the same threshold that education bonds currently need for passage. One of the reasons it is so difficult to build on the Central Coast is the fact that we do not, as a region, have the local matching funds that larger cities use to compete for state and federal housing resources. These funds could come from the passage of local measures like Measure H, which was defeated in Santa Cruz County in 2018, with 55.3 percent of the vote. In a separate funding stream after wildfires occurred in Santa Cruz County, the state awarded disaster relief funds to Santa Cruz. Those funds closed the gap in financing and as a result, several major housing developments were financed and built. It shows that funding is often the missing link—imagine what could have been built in Santa Cruz County if Prop. 5 had been in place when Measure H went before voters in 2018. It would have passed, generating local funds that would have been matched with state and federal dollars, enough to build over 1,000 units of affordable housing. When I was building affordable housing in Santa Clara County, we were able to build over 200 of the 4,000 units constructed thanks to the passage of Santa Clara County’s Measure A, which barely passed the two-thirds threshold. Proposition 5 also allows critical infrastructure bills to pass with a 55-percent margin, which will allow easier approval of funds for vitally needed road expansions, repairs of bridges and other public works. The measure includes strict accountability standards to help ensure these funds are put to the uses for which they were intended. For the sake of our hardworking neighbors and for future generations, let’s ensure that a small minority of voters cannot stop the will of the majority of people to pass future bond measures which will help to solve our housing crisis. Geoffrey Morgan is president and CEO of CHISPA, a nonprofit that has developed more than 1,400 affordable apartments and 800 single-family homes in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. OPINION Funding is often the missing link. This project was supported, in part, by grant number CFDA 90SAPG0094-05 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy. It’s tIme to talk about medIcare coverage Medicare costs, medicare advantage (Part C), and the prescription drug plans (Part D) change each year... learn more at one of our Free medicare updates Presentations King City: King City Library - Tue 10/29 at 2pm (English) & 3:30pm (Spanish) Seaside: Oldemeyer Center - Wed 11/6 at 1:30pm (English) & 2:45pm (Spanish) Pacific Grove: Meals on Wheels - 11/7 at 1:30pm (English) of the Monterey Peninsula Call to learn more about our FREE service in your area! 800-434-0222 www.allianceonaging.org Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program - ‘HICAP’ Help Fight Cancer Shop. Donate. Volunteer. For drop-off information, please call 831.443.8879 Salinas Discovery Shop at Harden Ranch Plaza 1534 North Main Street, Salinas cancer.org/discoveryCA Sponsored by Hillard Hives Honey sold at The Farm and Star Pharmacy
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