We are winning the train wreck race
Earlier today, I was informed by a Cupertino contact that Cupertinoâs RHNA housing sites just made it to their Planning Commission and deliberations have begun. After a few meetings - the sites proposal will be eventually tossed over by the Planning Commission to the Cupertino City Council for discussion and action.
What does that tell you:Â Saratoga is definitely ahead of many neighboring cities with our Housing Element.Â
 â Shall we slow this train wreck down? Bring some common sense and prudent thinking please.
Why do we have a Whack a Mole Housing Element strategy? Why are we in a terrific rush and scheduling meetings at 9AM on a work day, Â when a huge percentage of Saratoga is at work? Beats me! Scroll down to find the details for tomorrowâs 9AM meeting tomorrow.
The deadline to submit is January 2023 and HCD will have us certified by April 2023.
 â I blame this Housing Element fiasco on the failure of our cityâs leader -  take the 2-minute survey at tinyurl.com/StopTheTrainWreck
Saratoga is seemingly ahead of the game compared to other cities and the path we have pursued has divided up our community - neighbors pitted against neighbors - that has never happened in 65 years of Saratoga. Where is the leadership? Are we listening to our neighbors? How did we fail to include the churches and school locations - additional few housing units - as housing sites during the course of a yearâs work on this? HCD allows us to - it is explained in my plan below.  All the more reason we correct this train and do it right! Do-over please!
 â To get real time updates
 I have been posting real time updates at https://www.facebook.com/groups/managedgrowth. Join this Facebook group.
I just posted an interesting article on what is going on in San Francisco with housing.
 â  Where should the lower income housing units be placed?
RHNA states that âsites identified to accommodate the lower income RHNA must be distributed throughout the community in a manner that will affirmatively further fair housing.â We cannot pack all the lower income housing in just one lot - HCD wants us to distribute it evenly. We donât have a choice if we want to get HCD to approve our Housing Element submission. I have heard rumors of packing all the low income housing at the Prospect Center location. Bad idea! Not a feasible idea!
 â Join the city council meeting tomorrow @9AM
 I have proposed a plan https://rishikumar.com/thesaratogaplan - but that is not in consideration at the meeting tomorrow.
A few net new housing sites have been added for consideration by our city - find it here. Please review it.Â
Yan and Kookieâs sites are on the list that will be considered. Kookie proposed Prospect Center and Saratoga Country Club - everything north of Cox. Yan has suggested Montalvo (a net new site) and additional housing units for the Quito/Pollard Friendship Park location.
Tina and Mary-Lynne Bernald proposed no new sites.
People have asked me if they are in support of the postcard plan that was mailed out to all Saratoga households. My answer is - I donât know.
Our citizens have asked the city council for an equitable plan; looking at the council options above, "I ainât seen that yet."
Consequences of not having a certified housing element is explained here as part of the agenda packet.
How to join the Friday 9AM meeting ⢠Join Using the Zoom website https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82033650673; Webinar ID 820 3365 0673 OR ⢠Calling 1.408.638.0968 or 1.669.900.6833 and entering the Webinar ID provided above
 â  An Internship Opportunity for high school and college students:
I would love to team up with your student at home to continue the fight against ill-conceived housing laws or fighting San Jose Water company against their rampant rate increases. Point your high school students - including rising high schoolers - or college students to our internship program.  College applications, devoid of SAT or ACT scores have increased emphasis on the essay and the community leadership story - impact that students have made with local issues and challenges. Did you know that one of our interns designed and developed the Silicon Valley Water app that thousands in Silicon Valley are using to send their protest emails to PUC in less than 10 seconds. Registration for the summer internship is open now at RishiKumar.com/Fellowship.
Bedtime reading material - please take the time to educate yourself
 â White paper:  RishiKumar.com/ManagedGrowthÂ
 â Have you sent in your request to audit the RHNA numbers? https://rishikumar.com/hcdaudit
 â Rishiâs Housing Element Plan for Saratoga https://rishikumar.com/thesaratogaplanÂ
 â Real time updates at https://www.facebook.com/groups/managedgrowth
 â Take the survey tinyurl.com/StopTheTrainWreck