This month the Housing Justice Workgroup testified before the City Council on rent stabilization and adaptive reuse, supporting action on the former and retaining the city’s 10% inclusionary requirement on the latter. We were active participants in the City’s Strategic Plan meeting, arguing that solving the city’s affordable housing shortage requires new sources of revenue such as an increase in the hotel tax or enacting a real estate transfer (“mansion”) tax. We met with Maricela Morales, SB Foundation’s Home Team Director, briefing her on CLUESB’s position on housing issues. We also attended the AB (Alliance Bernstein) open house on the proposed Paseo Nuevo development, talking with Patricia Flynn (ED, Maxima Group LLC), the independent consultants who are advising on financial issues. We actively participate in the weekly Housing brainstorm meetings. If you are interested in joining our efforts, our Workgroup meets by Zoom the second Wednesday of the month, 2:00-3:30. Email Rich Appelbaum (rich@global.ucsb.edu) for more information.
Mission Statement
CLUE’s Housing Justice Workgroup advocates for affordable community-controlled housing, the protection of renters and mortgage-holders from displacement and unfair eviction, and supports efforts at rent stabilization.
What We Do
On any given night there are some 2,000 unhoused people in Santa Barbara County. Skyrocketing rents greatly outpace household income. Many of our working people are forced to spend hours commuting.
We partner with local organizations striving to achieve housing justice. Our role is to reach out to communities of all faiths. We provide information and make presentations in hopes of involving them in housing justice issues.
