Housing mandates betray county's working families, retirees

I am Diane-Louise Alessi, a board director of Christian Valley Park, CSD; in District 5 and 60-year domiciliary of Placer County. California's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) mandates and projects like the recently approved Hope Way Apartments in Penryn are failing the very families they claim to help. Far from providing true affordability, they impose high-density development that erodes our rural character and burdens local infrastructure. The Hope Way project – 240 units at an estimated $117.8 million – costs roughly $490,753 per unit. Breaking it down: One-bedroom units approach $835 per square foot, and two-bedrooms around $630 per square foot. These figures, driven in part by the developer's in-house construction model maximizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) profits, are far beyond reach for Placer County's working families and seniors earning $32,000 or $53,600 annually. RHNA calculations rely on outdated data, blending high-earning commuters and retirees into averages that distort local realities. True low-income units are often deferred for decades, while developers opt for modest in-lieu fees and deliver higher-end housing instead. This top-down approach from Sacramento overrides local control, threatens family farms and ranches with rezoning, imposes long-term deed restrictions that undermine property rights and generational wealth, and risks fines or the Builder's Remedy if we resist – without guaranteeing needed roads, schools or services. Placer County's demographics – median age 42, over 21 percent retirees and multi-generational families – do not support forced population surges without corresponding local jobs. Our elected leaders must act: Challenge these mandates through every legal channel, demand real-time data, prioritize front-loaded truly low-income construction, and impose fees that encourage actual building over payoffs. Placer deserves housing policies that honor our roots, protect our heritage and secure a future for our grandchildren not endless bureaucratic overreach. Diane-Louise Alessi Auburn 4 candidates for Kiley's seat – so study them now Kevin Kiley has opted out of running for the newly revamped 3rd District seat. Currently, there are four candidates on the Democratic side: Ami Bera, Lyndon Cervantes, Chris Bennett and Nevada County Supervisor Heidi Hall. I urge voters to visit each candidate's website and determine their "fit" with that voter's values. My purpose is not to advocate for a candidate but to urge voters to study now, not last minute. Bera, the career politician of the group, has roots in the California Democratic Party, nearly earning their endorsement and bankroll by his decision. The other three candidates are newcomers with similar "platforms." Given the dysfunction in Washington, I'm inclined to support a newcomer. We're shedding a career politician in Kiley and, for my money, would benefit the average American with new blood in Congress. My concern is that Bera will be a formidable primary foe, with resources like name recognition, party contacts and connections to campaign cash. I'm afraid the three newcomers will knock each other out and enable Bera to steal the nomination. So it is my hope that voters will decide early, perhaps influencing polls enough to induce the less-well supported newcomers to drop out and throw their support to a more viable candidate. What do you think? Richard Howell Nevada City Smile, say hello, be helpful While watching the Super Bowl, I paid close attention to the commercials, as I usually do. One in particular showed a young girl and a man, both of whom shared a smile with a neighbor, and yet didn't receive any act of kindness in return. The commercial ended up showing that common courtesy does pay off. I'm not saying this is guaranteed to always happen, but in a world so divided, I believe if we gave a smile more often, said hello to others more often and were helpful more often, not only with those who are very much like us but also with those who are different than us, wouldn't it be worth it? At the very least, we can know we made the effort. We each have the power to make an impact on the world. Will it be negative or positive? Life is too short, so therefore we only have time to give our best. Are you up to this challenge? Monty Hecker Another Frady fan Dear Tom (Frady), Your cycling articles are thought provoking and inspiring. Sounds like you are doing well. Best wishes, Ron SRHS 1965 Ron Gester Boonville