Saratoga's Housing Element
Why should Saratogans engage now?
Click here to read my op-ed piece on housing.
The Housing Element is the hottest topic of discussion in Saratoga and will continue to do so in 2022.
I have always been a proponent of managed growth - Yes, we need housing, but I have pushed for an approach that is pragmatic and based on the foundation of a proper urban plan. Not this approach, that is handing a blank check to the real-estate developers, with no accountability or an approach that addresses the infrastructure needs of traffic, water, schools, parking, or sewer. A proper urban plan is needed. Not this!
There are huge changes coming to Saratoga - scroll down for Housing Element details. Please stay vigilant and engaged.
Tax increases is the unfortunate reality we are facing. The push for housing without an infrastructure plan will impose inordinate pressure upon our city to increase taxes to fund the infrastructure gap. Yes, Saratoga will be tremendously pressured to raise taxes once the build-out (and up) of your city occurs over the next few years.
The push for housing density will be a key topic of conversation at our next town hall meeting. We will discuss my prudent, pragmatic, and people-centric housing policy - explained below.
I am keen to hear your perspective on the Housing Element and other topics. Take the survey please.
RSVP to join my monthly town hall meeting to discuss this along with other
People ask, “Rishi why were you denied the Saratoga Mayorship - not once, but thrice.” My track record speaks for itself –the reason why I was reelected with the most votes in 64 years of Saratoga’s election history. I was driven to public service to solve problems for the people, applying the same framework that has helped me as a Silicon Valley hi-tech software executive. As a councilmember, I have consistently rejected contributions from land developers and real estate developers, refunding their contributions many times. I will always stand firm for the people and will never sell out. I challenge the system and do not follow the herd. Help me with my efforts to fight for you and protect our neighborhoods.
THE HOUSING ELEMENT’S IMPACT ON SARATOGA:
At the Saratoga city council meeting of Tuesday December 14, the Housing Element was on the agenda. The meeting was attended by almost 230 attendees- a very high turnout. Since then, I have heard from many residents with concerns on this push for 1712 housing units in Saratoga as part of our Housing Element or RHNA allocation.
Here is the city of Saratoga link. Please review the deck and be aware of proposed development sites and proximity to where you live - page 17 onwards.
There are two important city council meetings coming up - please mark your calendar as this is the time for all of us to be vigilant and ensure that Saratoga makes the right choice.
Jan. 10th city council study session
Jan. 19th city council meeting
Saratoga needs to know! At the city council meeting earlier this month, I asked for a city-wide noticing, not just for neighbors around the proposed sites. You should see a postcard in your mailbox in early January informing you about meeting dates and about the proposed development sites.
The Housing Element RHNA allocation is a state-wide housing mandate from California's Department of Housing and Community Development. The 2022 RHNA housing numbers are exponentially higher than what has been allocated in the past. High-density housing sites are being proposed in every city as a result. Many cities and communities are reeling under this housing pressure and are fearful of its impacts that will be felt for decades to come. Saratoga is not a job center or a transit center, and yet our RHNA numbers are very high. The land developers will make a fortune and our cities will cease to be what they are today. These 1712 units are comprised of the following: 454 very low income housing, 261 low income, 278 moderate income, and 719 above moderate income housing. It is also an environmental disaster. Sacramento’s housing policy is relying on supply and demand to create more housing in the hope of driving prices down. As you know, there are legislative bills from Sacramento like SB-9 and SB-10 that are pushing high-density housing in every nook and corner. However, this approach has failed to adequately address the creation of more affordable housing or fix the systemic challenges that have led to today’s exodus from California.
GETTING INVOLVED
APPLY TO THE INTERNSHIP: Point your high school students - including rising high schoolers - or college students to our internship program. I would love to team up with them to continue the fight against ill-conceived housing laws. Note that college applications, devoid of SAT or ACT scores, have increased emphasis on the essay and the community leadership story - the impact that students have made with local issues and challenges. Registration for the summer internship is open now at RishiKumar.com/Fellowship. We highly recommend that students apply early and start getting trained now to ensure a successful 2022 summer internship performance.
MY HOUSING POLICY IN A NUTSHELL:
Protect property value and preserve the quality of life, while keeping crime and burglaries down. Develop a managed growth plan for Silicon Valley.; my policies favor housing on the foundation of an infrastructure plan that keeps the environmental impact, traffic, schools, roads, water, and sewers in consideration. Read my op-ed pieces here published in The Mercury News and The Palo Alto Daily Post. If we solve the transit problem, we will solve the housing problem - this is how cities like Tokyo and Singapore have approached the problem successfully.
Stand firm against the dark money’s influence on the political system and call out elected leaders who are selling out to special interests, such as real
I will do all I can to ensure that we make the best choice for you and your neighborhood with the above agenda. As part of the pushback, I am supporting the call for a state-wide 2022 ballot measure to ensure that local ordinances are NEVER preempted. Additionally, I am working with elected leaders from 21 counties via the Managed Growth group that I host. I am also leading efforts to get signatures for this petition locally - reply to this email to get involved - that will be submitted to the California Secretary of State to place the ballot measure on the Nov. 2022 ballot. Polling indicates about 70% of Californians are against the preempting of local control that Sacramento’s laws are pushing for. The petition will need 1.5 million signatures by April next year to qualify. If this ballot measure is passed, local housing laws will prevail, and prior bills like SB-35, SB-9, SB-10 will become null and void. And that will be the end of the blank check to land developers by our politicians.
Please stay vigilant and involved. Now is the time, as tomorrow never dies, but tomorrow will be too late.