We Get Letters

Comments from the readers

Feb. 14, Cinema 21

Your in-depth articles are really welcome and needed. Special thanks for today’s piece on the Washington Theater – it is great to know what has been going on at this site. So many of us in the community have been hoping to see a positive development here. I’m not sure whether or not to be hopeful, but at least I’m no longer in the dark!

I hope you’re enjoying your new gig.

Jeannette Bovard

---

 

Feb. 10, Political Gumbo

I don’t think anyone is saying that ADUs will end homelessness. I think the point is that some argue we have a housing shortage in general. More units are more units. But if it’s just providing privacy for someone’s son or daughter after college (rather than moving back into their old room), it probably isn’t changing much. I think most ADUs will be rental units unless gobbled up by AirBnB.

Ryan Bell

---

 

Feb. 12, Robinson Plaque

John Kennedy is absolutely correct that the sign should be beefed up. Further, we all as a city need to apologize to Jackie and to Mack for the harm done by our past history of blatant racism. A formal apology by council resolution. I for one would be delighted and proud for a huge sign over where the freeway becomes arroyo boulevard proudly noting Pasadena as the home of Jackie and Mack.

Bob Carlson

---

 

Feb. 17, Advocates, State Disagree on Affordable Housing Numbers

When RHNA comes up in reports, etc., it is almost universally poorly described. This description and explanation below in today’s report in PN is the clearest, most straight forward and concise description I have seen. And I have seen a lot.

According to the 2014 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) the city needs to build 1,332 new housing units.
The city’s housing element is one the state-mandated elements in the General Plan and must be updated every four to eight years to address the current and projected housing needs.

“There’s a lot of debate over whether the numbers are sufficient,” said Housing Director Bill Huang. “The Regional Housing Needs Assessment Numbers are the ones that are broadly used. The state allocates a certain amount of housing need to each jurisdiction through regional entities. The bottom line is certain numbers come down to each city.”

The state does not require a jurisdiction to construct the number of new housing units in its RHNA. Instead, each jurisdiction is required to plan for the new housing units by providing appropriate zoning with adequate density to accommodate the number of new units in its RHNA target.

Ross S. Selvidge, Ph.D.

---

 

Got something to say, email Managing Editor Andre’ Coleman, at andrec@pasadenanowmagazine.com