Guest opinion: We must work together to solve county's housing crisis

As a former first responder on the peninsula and Woodside resident/homeowner who moved to Oregon in the 80's, I agree wholeheartedly with Don Horsley on this issue. Not only can the area expect most of the young people to move to more affordable areas, but other folks as well will find it financially impossible to return once they leave if housing costs remain unaffordable.

We bought our first Woodside home for $40,000 in 1970 with our combined police officer and nurse salaries. We enjoyed Woodside immensely and always lived within our means. We upgraded to a bigger property in Woodside a few years later. According to Zillow it would cost us $14,000 per month to rent our former home today. That is beyond sticker shock. I understand supply and demand. I understand why Woodside is so desirable that it carries a premium price tag. When an entire region commands premium prices for housing, quality of life inevitably suffers for many. Few people would choose a long commute between work and home if not a financial necessity. We work to live. Not live to work. How can we make that a reality for all.

Don Horsley eloquently articulates the unintended consequences for the entire community when wealth becomes the ticket to live affordably on the peninsula. I applaud the effort to address this issue and take is as seriously as possible.

I post this comment to remind people that Woodside and the surrounding area was not always priced out of reach of the middle class. Communities thrive when families and friends live in close proximity long enough to form lifelong bonds.

Maybe it is time to think outside the box.

The current housing crisis is 30 years in the making. Counties promoted job growth over everything else for decades, and made only tiny investments in transportation infrastructure and housing development.

Most of the bay area is green, undeveloped. Just look at google earth. It's all beautiful protected land. Our choices now are to build up (multistory, high density), out into green space, or across: high speed train that actually matches commuting patterns.

But no one likes these choices - NIBY
so we have more inaction.

Inaction for decades must be matched with action, and fast. Every year you delay compounds the problem.

The bay area has changed radically and there is no going back. Swallow your pride for the small town feel of yester year. Just like Trump voters' hope for the return of coal and manufacturing, that ship has sailed.