HomeMy WebLinkAboutLisa Talmage - Ecomment From: nore00@aranicusideas.com
To: Yasuda.Erica;Woodward.Carrie;City Clerk; E-Comments
Subject: New eComment for Joint Housing Element Workshop of the City Council and Planning Commission
Date: Tuesday,May 11,20214:59:15 PM
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New eComment for Joint Housing Element
Workshop of the City Council and Planning
Commission
Guest User submitted a new eComment.
Meeting: Joint Housing Element Workshop of the City Council and Planning Commission
Item: PUBLIC INPUT—At this time, any member of the public may address the City Council and
Planning Commission on the agenda or matters within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City
Council or Planning Commission.
eComment: Thank you, Mayor Clark, City Council members, Planning Commissioners, and
Tustin City staff for the opportunity to voice my concerns and expectations regarding our city's
Housing Element and its broad impacts on the health and economic security of Tustin residents
and businesses. My name isLisa Talmageand I moved to Tustin in 2009 after living in Costa
Mesa while attending UC Irvine. After being priced out of Costa Mesa, I moved here specifically
to access rental housing I could afford while maintaining a reasonable commute to my job. I've
since fallen in love with my city and neighborhood, especially the walkable distance from my
home to the library, civic center, Old Town, parks, schools, and many local restaurants and
businesses . Yet, the limited supply of affordable housing in our city has contributed to rent hikes
that are threatening my ability to stay and plant roots in the city that I love. And I am not alone;
my friends and countless more vulnerable members of our community (including low-income
workers and families, seniors, students, people with disabilities) are paying unaffordable rents
that put them at risk of traumatic evictions, homelessness, and serious negative health and
economic effects. Unfortunately, most of those individuals are unable to participate in Tustin's
Housing Element planning process due to the disappointing lack of multilingual, culturally
competent, outreach and inclusion of the residents and workers who will be most impacted by
Housing Element decisions. In order for Tustin to create a plan that fairly incorporates the needs
and interests of all residents, the City must rapidly ramp up its education and outreach efforts to
all residents. This should include a robust social media campaign, mailed letters and surveys to
every resident, outreach to parents of school children, community cultural/faith/business groups,
and announcements to local media. Awareness and education communications should focus on
multiple ways for busy residents to participate, relevant myth-busting facts, Frequently Asked
Questions, and figures that demonstrate the proven benefits of inclusive, affordable housing for
neighborhoods and cities like ours. According to expert academic researchers and well-
respected organizations like Orange County's United Way and the Kennedy Commission,
somem of the most effective ways to ensure that a city's housing landscape meets the needs of
current and future residents are to: 1) establish an inclusionary zoning ordinance that mandates
a minimum percentage of affordable units in all future development, 2) prioritize the needs of
those at greatest risk of homelessness and housing instability 3) and aggressively incorporate
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing principles into every aspect of the Housing Element. Lastly,
I'd like to state my opposition to Senator Min's SB 719 bill, which would be a step backwards in
the stewardship of our City's land and resources that should be prioritized for affordable housing.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I will support the Planning Department, Commission,
and Council in working together to ensure Tustin is a livable and thriving city for all. Sincerely,
Lisa Talmage Founder and Member of the Tustin Planning Partnership
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