HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/7/2023 Item Public Comment, Ayral
From:Odile Ayral <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Public Comment
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Mayor Stewart and Council Members,
I contacted this council and previous ones about the low income studios that were supposed to be included in the luxury
student apartments built in my neighborhood: 22 Chorro, 790 Foothill, 71 Palomar. For quite some time, it looked like
nobody lived in these studios, but it was very difficult to find out. Then, I heard rumors that, even though these studios
were supposed to have been built for low income residents, people with low income could not afford them anyway or
did not fit in. Now, I have been informed that studios at the Academy Palomar (71 Palomar) are renting for $2,250 a
month.
If you remember well, the cunning developers who managed to build these things over the outcry of the neighborhood
were supposed to include studios for very low income people. This was the only condition because, otherwise, the staff
bowed to every wish the developer demanded, and the council went along. We were told that these overpriced
apartments would help push rents down, but the opposite has happened: Landlords upon seeing the outrageous prices
demanded for these apartments raised their own rents to match.
This may be unfair, but you are responsible for the sins of the previous councils. You cannot go on sticking your heads in
the sand as they did, you need to pursue this matter and find out how many of these studios are filled, how much rent is
charged, and why people say they can't afford them or can't qualify for them. I especially appeal to the new council
members, Emily Francis and Michelle Shoresman to get involved with this problem. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Odile Ayral
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