Prop 5 Is Needed in Marin — Vote YES
| VOTE YES ON PROP 5 TO HELP MARIN BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES |
| The housing crisis has left California in dire straits. Due to decades of chronic underbuilding, sky-high rents now leave us with the unsavory distinction of holding the single highest functional poverty rate of the 50 states. That means even many working families – though lucky enough to keep their heads above water – are struggling to maintain even a poor quality of life.  Yet despite this worsening catastrophe, California has failed to react; a recent report found we produce the 2nd fewest new homes per year nationally (just ahead of Utah). While existing research clearly shows that legalizing zoning and planning for more middle-income homes is a vital and effective way to lower rents in the long run, in the meantime, new affordable housing will help people today who struggle to afford the going market rate.However, state funding or subsidies to support creating affordable homes is sparse. In 2023, near-ready affordable housing projects requested over $3.5 billion in total in funding assistance, but the state only had $576 million to give out. And in Marin, state and federal funding for affordable housing production and preservation was just $38 million in 2023, a 54% decrease from the year prior. One pivotal reason for this is because it is so difficult and the threshold is so high to pass affordable housing bonds in California. But that’s where the statewide Proposition 5 comes in. By allowing vital affordable housing and infrastructure bonds to pass with 55% of the vote, Prop 5 would fundamentally redefine California’s future. More background here>> California Legislative Analyst Prop 5 gives Marin voters more power to address the affordable housing and infrastructure needs of our communities. In 1978, Proposition 13 instituted a sweeping array of tax reforms in California. One of these reforms mandated that local bond measures would need 67% of the vote to pass. (Ironically, Prop 13 itself would have failed if it was required to receive this level of support from voters.) There was not, and there is not, any other state that requires a yes vote as high as we do. Not a single one.  In fact, even some of the most fiscally conservative states in the country, like Texas and Florida, require just a simple majority to pass these bonds. This is the democratic approach. If the majority of taxpayers support a bond measure, it would be fundamentally undemocratic to allow one-third of voters to override them. Yet that’s what we do in California. The 67% threshold for affordable housing bonds makes their passage so unlikely that voters rarely get a chance to support this funding mandate. In fact, in Marin County, not a single regional or local affordable housing bond has been placed on the ballot over the past two decades, despite Marinites’ stated support for seeking funding for affordable/workforce housing. |
| How would Prop 5 help combat our housing crisis? Prop 5 increases local voter power by setting the threshold for passage of affordable housing and infrastructure bonds at 55% of the vote, rather than 67%. Even in California, there’s precedent for this, as this is the same percentage requirement that Proposition 39 set for school bonds in 2000. Unsurprisingly, a study in 2013 found that these types of general obligation bonds were 60% more likely to be passed than the standard variety. And because the number 1 barrier to affordable housing developments in Marin is a lack of funding, we desperately need the aid of these bonds. As it stands, nonprofit developers are forced to slowly collect financing from countless sources, each with their own application and regulatory requirements and deadlines. It’s not uncommon for this process to take over a decade, and many projects fall through while stuck in this purgatory. In Marin alone, over 1100 affordable homes are currently ready to break ground but don’t have the financing to do so. This system needs to change.  Moreover, these bond measures would be constrained by common sense taxpayer protections: multiple measures to mandate accountability, including limits on the debt localities can take on, a requirement that no funds raised can go outside the area that approved the bond, and the persistent scrutiny of the spending by a citizens oversight committee. It’s up to voters to act now. Taxpayers deserve full democratic rights and the ability to confront our state’s housing crisis. If you agree, vote yes on Prop 5. |
| This November, local ballot measures will be presented to address important issues of housing security in Marin County. We reprise from last issue MEHC’s analysis and our endorsements on anti-displacement measures on the ballot. |
MEASURE
Fairfax Measure I: This measure was put forward by landlords arguing against the rent control already in place in Fairfax. Measure I would repeal current Fairfax tenant protections, as well as some protections that Fairfax renters have had for years. It would leave Fairfax renters worse off than when tenant protections were initially raised to the Town Council. The existing rent control regulation is aligned with state law; this measure would repeal it, and replace it with fewer protections for tenants.
MEHC SAYS
NO on Measure I
Larkspur Measure K: Would keep rent affordable, prevents unfair evictions, provides a fair return on rents, helps combat displacement from Marin
YES on Measure K
San Anselmo Measure O: Would provide Just Cause tenant protections
YES on Measure O
San Anselmo Measure N: Would implement rent stabilization
YES on Measure N
| MEHC is a working member of the Housing For All Marin coalition to educate Marinites on affordable housing and the need for more funding. The coalition is focusing efforts on Proposition 5. The passage of Prop 5 is necessary to pave the way for affordable housing bond measures in the future. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR |
| All events are open to the community. PROs and CONs – all 10 state ballot measures, including Prop 33 Marin League of Women Voters will hold a public session offering nonpartisan views. Click here >> to register. Tuesday, October 1, 12:30 – 1:30 In English with Spanish simultaneous interpretation channelHosted by North Marin Community Services — on Zoom MEHC’s ANNUAL FRIENDRAISER! Thursday, October 10, 5 pm Join MEHC for a night of fun, food, drinks, and conversations about affordable housing in Marin! Special guest Paul Fordham, Co-CEO Homeward Bound, will speak. Held at Homeward Bound in Novato. Optional tour at 4:30 pm. GET YOUR FREE TICKETS NOW! |
| R E S O U R C E S: Explore our library of videos and one-page fact sheets and backgrounders on Marin’s lack of sufficient affordable housing accessible to our community including students and young people, employers and workers, professionals, seniors and long-time residents. |
| V I D E O S Dr. Tracy Smith, NUSD, Education/Workforce Housing ENGLISH SPANISH Attracting and retaining teachers is a challenge in Marin County… One of the biggest hurdles to hiring? The high cost of housing. Nicole Cruz, Environment/Affordable housing vs commuting ENGLISH SPANISH After nearly 20 years working in Kentfield, Nicole Cruz considers Marin County her home. But the lack of affordable housing here means she must commute every day from her house in the East Bay. Dr. Jonathan Eldridge, College of Marin, Recruiting, traffic, housing for graduates ENGLISH SPANISH Setting people up for success starts with housing they can afford. We sat down with College of Marin’s President/Superintendent who tells why affordable housing is a priority for educators. Dr. Andrea Martin, Health/Homeownership out of reach ENGLISH SPANISH Marin ranks third in the country for the highest income needed to buy a home. With the median single-family home price in Marin at $1.6 million today, recruiting talent is a challenge across industries in Marin because many people – even professionals – can’t afford to live here. O N E – P A G E R S WHAT IS PROP 5?Prop 5 empowers Marin voters to approve bonds for affordable homes, critical public infrastructure, and emergency response with a 55% vote, giving Marin a necessary tool for fixing our affordable housing crisis. TOP 14 FACTS ABOUT THE HOUSING CRISIS We face a colossal housing crisis in Marin. COMBATING SEGREGATION Affordable housing will help us fight segregation and achieve racial justice. EDUCATION AND HOUSING The quality of our public schools depends on affordable housing. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS As the destructive threat of climate change starts to flood the planet and sprawl continues throughout California, affordable housing is the easy environmental choice. HEATHCARE IMPACTS The affordable housing crisis is creating large cracks in our healthcare system. HOUSING FOR STABLE COMMUNITIES Our lack of basic affordable housing infrastructure is undermining all that we love. OLDER ADULT HOUSING NEEDS Like potholes on a neglected road, Marin’s insufficiency of affordable housing is a basic infrastructure failing that greatly endangers our growing senior population. |
 You can be a part of MEHC’s important work by reading and sharing our monthly PERSPECTIVE newsletters, joining our weekly COMING UP IN HOUSING email list (signup forms here>>), participating in our advocacy campaigns, and also, if you can, by making a donation to help defray our expenses. Thank you. |