As the incoming San José director at SPUR, I believe strongly in San José and the idea that the city can achieve social equity as it continues to develop its downtown core and other areas. I believe it is possible to not only grow San José’s jobs base and housing supply but also provide economic opportunity, cultural amenities, open spaces and recreational areas that directly benefit all residents and improve quality of life. For this to happen, however, those of us who work in urban policy must collectively strive to plan and implement policies that incorporate the input of the broader community. For real change to take place, we must be willing to admit our past failings, struggle through our differences and work together to better our community.
For decades, the American Dream has entailed owning a nice car and moving into a single-family home in the suburbs. Now, we know better. Sprawl has immense negative impacts on the environment, economy and health of our families, and it contributes to racial inequities and segregation. For many people, living in the outskirts of the Bay Area was not a choice but a consequence of the high cost of housing; now many find themselves trapped in areas that require long commutes to work. In response, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅand others
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