This letter to the editor was first published here.
Reasons to Support Measure T, from a prior Measure Y supporter
Editor,
I voted yes on Measure Y, when it passed by a few dozen votes out of thousands cast. This year I’m voting Yes on Measure T. Here’s why:
First, we simply must build more housing. Young people, families and service providers every community depends on are priced out of our market. T allows slightly denser and taller housing in transit-friendly areas — only 10%-25% of the city. Y’s height restrictions will still apply to 75% of our land.
Second, without T, the state has warned San Mateo our housing element approval could be rescinded. We could face the loss of tens of millions in state funding, and some $600K in fines yearly. Even worse, we could lose local control of housing development citywide. The Builder’s Remedy would allow nearly any sized project in any neighborhood, like the seven-story building that was proposed for a single-family lot in North Central, when Builder’s Remedy was temporarily in effect earlier this year. These are real, and dire, consequences.
Every single councilmember — including the two members that many No on T advocates supported passionately in 2022 — as well as all three candidates for the open seats this year, ardently support T. On an often-divided council, this is stark evidence of the gravity of the situation.
Finally, I am troubled that mischaracterization of the issues, innuendo and personal attacks have, at times, been adopted by some who rightly railed against this recent tendency in our city discourse. We can do better than this.
Kevin Simpson
San Mateo
Read Next: 10 Reasons to Vote Yes on Measure T
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