Advocating for MORE housing of all kinds! 
Become a member at http://yimbyaction.org/join
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
We're now hearing about an EIR, "the most complex document" from the Planning Staff. EIRs are meant to help us promote environmentally friendly development. This is an unrelenting source of irony. But at least we're switching to Vehicle Miles Traveled, and HOUSING RICH is best!pic.twitter.com/y0QCNMpK6Z
"Nearly a year long community engagement process, where residents shared what they liked and didn't like about ideas for revitalization at the dead mall." Three years ago they unveiled "The Hills of Vallco" and there was a "sense of opportunity in the air."pic.twitter.com/qb1QZnIR25
![Bone, Candy, and [Destroy All Border] Fences](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1072523617567690752/KUeeX7A0_normal.jpg)
"Do we potentially let another golden opportunity slip through our fingers." "$700k a day" in costs for delay. That's "$250million dollars a year" in costs. JFC.
There's a lot of talk about the crazy "community benefits" that current residents might get, including a $14.25 MIL CASH GIFT to the school district. Wish we can get folks to hear that housing itself is a community benefit.pic.twitter.com/qp6lsg0Tl9
Benefits are contingent on there not being delay, on their not being litigation.
First question from council member is about the "viewshed." Because we should focus on what's *really* important: the views of nearby homeowners. Never change, Cupertino. "Ultimately parking was also an issue."
"What's the angle at which I would first encounter something in my eye?"pic.twitter.com/X9kXtmLuFL
The inevitable pivot from views to pretending this is about getting the maximum number of low income units. It's a beautiful Bay Area tradition to layer concerns about views into a fauxgressive sandwich.pic.twitter.com/ht1owFqZ3n
Wonder if they're mobilizing support of Props 1 & 2 to get stable funding sources for Affordable Housing. Or voting for by right permitting of Affordable Housing, supportive housing, shelters. Or perhaps not KILLING THE HOUSING GOOSE IN THE NAME OF AFFORDABILITY.
Talk about committing to clean energy. Green cities need bring more people in, not just because it reduces sprawl, traffic and carbon emissions, but also because more people should benefit from green policies!
Things they specifically want to see to ensure there is literally something for everyone: - teacher housing - senior housing - student space - housing for the disabled - incubator space etc etc etc
VTA (local transit) has said previously that it won't run various bus lines because Cupertino isn't dense enough. With this develoment, VTA has said they'll step up! Turns out density can help current residents get better services!pic.twitter.com/A3Xjr0N0oA
Break. There's still time to find a babysitter and get to Cupertino for these easily accessible, numerous hearings that definitely represent an equitable access to the levers of power.
Because the city budget is so dependent on corporate taxes, with Prop 13 keeping us from taxing extremely high land value, Cupertino talks about how they wanted to permit a lot more office space in order to diversity their tax base, making them less dependent on Apple.pic.twitter.com/XGUmSSs2uP
Just got a little feisty! "Is there a question...?" Boos! Gavel! Order order!
Lots of discussion about hypothetical projects that the developer isn't interested in building. Struggling to figure out what the point of this is. It's hard to imagine that Cupertino is going to do the right thing tonight...
Did you know: the League of Cities is assuring city council members that they can still base fees on the "Level of Service" rather than the more environmental measure "Vehicle Miles Traveled." This is what climate change denial looks like y'all.
There's a poison pill: if Better Cupertino or anyone else sues, there will be a 50% reduction in community benefits. Makes sense when you look at the cost of delay.pic.twitter.com/UlLhaqCwlD
First speaker from @Evan_Low's office begs the City Council to just make a decision for something viable because this has gone on waaaay too long, and the community "needs housing, especially Affordable Housing."
Silicon Valley Leadership Group speaks about the need for all kinds of housing, talks about how the crisis is having devastating consequences.
Also plugs Prop 1! #YesOn1http://Yimbyaction.org/Endorsements
"We have regional traffic issues, we have a regional housing shortage." LPT: allow more housing near jobs.
"Please don't feel that this is your *sole* responsibility. ...No snowflake in the avalanche ever feels responsible. ..let's do this together, with all of our communities.
"We love our children... But we don't love them so much we want them to live in our home forever."
Local "longtime resident" is mad that SB35 offers a less ideal project in her mind than the Specific Plan. Conveniently forgets that without SB35 this Hail Mary Pass by Cupertino would not even be on the table. The Vallco Mall would remain a dead mall.
School district talking about the benefits they're getting, mention "sometimes we get nothing at all, other than develoment fees." 
"We fight, we work for more funding for our schools."
::COUGH:: Prop 13 and exclusionary zoning keep California schools segregated. ::COUGH::
"I'm kinda a Zillow-watcher, because new property taxes help our school district." "And they've gone up?" (Giggles) "Yes, they've gone up."
Talk about how great the Cupertino schools are and how "mitigation fees" will help them deal with things. When every district manages their own public schools and their own housing regulations, exclusionary suburbs maintain invisible barriers to opportunity.pic.twitter.com/BBtIQU2EWy
Discussion about how people report that they want to leave, but population doesn't go down. That's what happens when you attract people with jobs and amenities and then make them miserable with artificially high housing costs.
"..So many of us moved here for the excellent public schools, and frankly many of us are homeowners..." Councilmember makes (somewhat circuitous) point that astronomical housing costs make it hard for teachers and workers to live in the city, reducing everyone's quality of life.
So many people are here to fight for their piece of the community benefits. But it feeds a nasty cycle that housing is a negative that needs to be "offset." This kind of process is not going to get us the housing we need.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.
