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Thank you to the residents of Alder Grove and Marina Vista public housing who came out to this and gave some REAL COMMUNITY input. More to come on the meeting.
We’re going to wait until everyone comes up for air tomorrow after the debate. Stay tuned ✌️
It is, we’re told, debate night in America.
Some impressions of the "outreach" meeting last night. It started with @Steve4Sac giving a warmed-over speech while literally wearing shorts and flip flops. Enjoy that cruise, Steve. Then several consultants and city staff gave a powerpoint nearly identical to the one last year.
@Steve4Sac They did, however, mention @HUDgov's RAD program, though they didn't do specifics. RAD is the program aimed at "leveraging" aka privatizing all public housing in the US. HUD claims there's no money to improve public housing, but the DoD is about to get an extra $90 billion. 🤔
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Anyways, in classic consultant fashion, the audience of presumably planners, developers, investors, and other sharks were directed to view a series of vision boards and add commentary using post-it notes. Democracy, baby!
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov "Natural surveillance" & enhanced security. The question is, who is being protected, and from what? Everyone, whether they live in public housing or not, should be secure in public spaces. This stinks of neighborhood watch and security guards hassling black people. 
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov The "vision boards" were full of consultant speak like "activate," "energize," "placemaking," etc. 🤮
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Most troubling was the board on housing. Point 1. says that this plan may displace current residents. That's the last mention of public housing. The rest is all "mixed-income" and "affordable," but no definitions. Low-income housing will be supported by "policy." Great!
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Also not sure what AMI consulting got paid but the copy-editing on their presentation materials was atrocious.
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov And if you had any doubts about the future of the people who live in public housing in Sacramento, they made it clear...
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Now people accuse us of being naysayers, so we did find a couple good things. Preservation of Aldrer Grove wasn't a choice (it's mandated by law), but still, we dig it. Also, the neighborhood is in need of more verdant public spaces, but we question who will occupy these spaces.
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Another thing that struck us is that while the majority of the room was white, our group was far more diverse. Not once did any consultant attempt to strike up a conversation with any of us. We clearly weren't the target audience for their branded bullshit.
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov So you're asking yourselves, "what can we do?". Well, it's important to protect public housing at all costs, and to improve it. To provide amenities for the people who already live there. How about cooperative housing? What is affordable? Where will public housing residents go?
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Since the city didn't bother to make the meeting inclusive at all, we're encouraging you to voice your objections to the project & suggest alternatives that'll help the poor tenants of this city. Print & fill out the attached form and email it to tcoover@aimconsultingco.com.
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov If you can't make that happen, DM us with your feedback, and we'll submit a form for you. It's a few minutes of your time that could have an immense impact on the thousands of Sacramentans who rely on public housing for their very survival. We appreciate you all!
@Steve4Sac @HUDgov Oh and here's a link to the West Broadway Specific Plan website in case you want to explore it more cityofsacramento.org/Community-Deve…
