East Bay Leadership Council Taking New Approach to Housing Advocacy
EBLC to begin endorsing housing projects for the first time in its more than 80-year history.
Mark Orcutt, President & CEO of the East Bay Leadership Council
Debates of spiraling doom loops have inundated the Bay Area, fueled by commercial vacancies, layoffs, homelessness, inflation, and crime. While important, these issues miss the most persistent economic threat of them all: a chronic housing shortage.
Economic success requires housing. Housing for students primed to join the workforce and propel the next wave of business innovation for industries like healthcare, biotechnology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. Housing for seniors seeking economic security in communities they love. Housing for healthcare providers, first responders, public servants, and teachers who are at the foundation of a high quality of life.
Yet, too often in public meetings and kitchen table debates, vocal residents, appointed leaders, and elected officials oppose housing projects that have the potential to strengthen their neighborhood and the regional economy.
Some call them NIMBYs, I call them underinformed. These housing opponents fear traffic, noise, and new neighbors but lack a full understanding of the benefits that more housing will bring.
That’s why, as President and CEO of the East Bay Leadership Council (EBLC), I am proud to announce that our organization will begin using our influence to support projects that will bring more housing to the East Bay. EBLC recognizes that, along with a fundamental need for shelter, addressing the housing shortage is essential for cultivating economic growth, ensuring environmental protection, and fostering diverse and inclusive communities.
It is no secret that a thriving economy depends on a robust workforce. Attracting and retaining employees is an uphill battle in even the healthiest of housing markets. Add in stark housing shortages, and business executives will increasingly write off the region as destined to demand unsustainable salaries or commutes that take hours away from their employees’ families.
By expanding the housing supply, the region will alleviate these burdens and help businesses start, stay, and grow in the East Bay.
Let me be clear: unnecessary housing sprawl threatens open spaces and natural habitats, contributing to environmental degradation. This is why EBLC will prioritize infill development, land recycling, and dense projects. By prioritizing this housing, the region will mitigate harmful effects while conserving natural resources and reducing our carbon footprint. It's a win-win for the economy and the environment.
But more importantly, expanding housing options is a matter of social justice. Diverse communities are stronger communities, enriched by all cultures, backgrounds, professions, ages, abilities, and perspectives. When housing options are limited, homelessness, segregation, and inequality thrive. By embracing a variety of housing types, from deeply affordable housing to market-rate developments, the region can break down barriers and build a more equitable community where everyone can access a world-class quality of life.
So, why isn’t the East Bay building enough housing?
There is no question that the current cost of construction and materials is a significant barrier to development and EBLC will continue to advocate for a more streamlined regulatory process that reduces bureaucratic barriers to construction. But even the most challenging of market forces can be overcome with the right leadership.
That’s where the East Bay Leadership Council comes in. For the first time in our more than 80-year history, EBLC will begin evaluating and endorsing proposed housing projects. We believe these efforts will not only help win the hearts and minds of community leaders but win desperately needed victories for housing projects hanging in the balance of local decision-makers.
I hope that you will join us in this work by engaging with our criteria, submitting housing projects for endorsement, and speaking out in support of the housing needed to create a region primed for equitable economic growth for decades to come.
To learn more about the East Bay Leadership Council’s housing project endorsement process, visit www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com/housing.
