Local housing, less commuting would fight climate change
In your “Water Worries” report (March 20), the water worriers claim to be worried about climate change and alleged lack of water supplies. As your article made clear, the city of San Luis Obispo has plenty of water. We have, however, run out of housing.
Those of us genuinely concerned about climate change should get serious about supporting more housing for some of the 30,000 workers who commute into SLO every day so they can live nearer their jobs.
The single most meaningful way to address climate change would be to reduce commuter miles, traffic, parking and associated impacts. The best way to do that? Build more houses. This is a simple equation. I run the Green Division at The Mortgage House and work with folks every day who would buy decent, sustainable housing in SLO if it were available at an affordable price. Alas, workforce housing is virtually nonexistent.
More workforce housing in SLO would make the city healthier in other ways, including providing significant money via development fees to help pay for increased water recycling, more bike paths and other traffic improvements.
Kevin Hauber, San Luis Obispo
This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 8:40 PM with the headline "Local housing, less commuting would fight climate change."