The following testimony was presented to the Planning Commissions of Fremont, Newark and Union City in early May of 2005.  The presenters were:   Alex Starr (Fremont Council), Jane Mueller (Newark Council) and Miriam Keller (Union City Council).

Good evening.  I am ______ and I represent the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City.

The seven Leagues of Alameda County are supporting the East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO) conference on Affordable Housing on June 6.  We are letting the members of our 3 planning commissions in the Tri City area know ahead of time so that you may put this event on your calendar now and attend the special breakfast on June 6th.

The EBHO is a 20-year old affordable housing advocacy coalition dedicated to working with communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to preserve, protect and expand affordable housing opportunities through education and advocacy.  EBHO will be inviting developers, planning staff and planning commissioners and elected officials.

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will host the breakfast for elected officials on Monday, June 6th.  There will be a panel including an architect, a reporter on urban development, the mayor of Union City and a manager of affordable units.  They will talk about density issues.

EBHO indicated that 81 percent of Alameda County residents cannot afford to buy a home in the area.  Your League, the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City strongly urges each of you to attend this meeting.  We know that you support more work force housing within your city.  Attending this meeting will help you and members of your community reach the goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing.

Thank you for listening to our request.