Dear Housing and Planning Commissioners and staff,
The Updated Draft Housing Element (2023-2031) has addressed many of the issues recommended by residents, housing organizations, in addition to the Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD). The staff is commended for this timely turn-out and the inclusion of important recommendations.
On February 25, 2020, a county supported program, GARE, was introduced to council. Menlo Park received a letter from the County Office of Public Health, Poly & Planning, commended Menlo Park for being one of the first cities to look at becoming a member of GARE. Healthy safety measures were instituted by the Governor March 19, 2020 and almost everything was put on hold.
In order to address our housing challenges and ensure successful creation and implementing new programs a strong lens of equity needs to be applied. Without education and training, it is difficult to assess whether or not a lens of racial equity is being used when we are attempting to Further Affirm Fair Housing. If there is no common ground and understanding of what racial equity means, it is difficult to ensure we are creating more equity in our city. The HCD AFFH handbook states:
Cultivate Values of Inclusion
Fostering inclusion in an agency’s values can have a significant impact in program and activity design. Agencies could consider implementing a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, such as racial equity training, incorporating racial equity into hiring practices and promotional opportunities, and committing to creating an organizational culture of inclusion and open communication. Making sure that staff and leadership are better trained and consistently practicing inclusion will have an ongoing impact throughout the processes.
Upon reviewing a few of the programs (H1.4, H1.8, H1.A, H1.C, H1.D, H1.E, H1.K, H2.1, H2.2, H2.A, H2.B, H2.C, H2.D, H3.1, H3.H and more) application of an equity lens will be an asset.
I request that a statement is included in the 2023-2031 Housing Element that commits the city to the county program GARE, and recommend this item be placed on the council’s 2022-2023 work plan.
Respectfully,
Pam D Jones, Menlo Park resident
The impossible dissipates when I becomes WE.
Forgetting history is the path to re-writing history.
PamÉlla
