We are a diverse coalition working towards a more vibrant, inclusive, and climate smart future for San Mateo. This campaign brings together affordable housing non-profits, environmental policy experts, economic development groups, independent restaurants, educators, union workers, and more.
“Voting NO on Measure Y is the only way to remove obstacles
to building urgently needed affordable housing.”
– Maureen Sedonaen
CEO, Habitat for Humanity, Greater San Francisco
Bay Area Chapter
“We risk losing the restaurants, bars, cafes and other small businesses that bring a wealth of experiences and diversity and make San Mateo such a wonderful place to live. The future could be even more inclusive, diverse, and equitable.” – Kenji López-Alt, Small Business Owner
“We need to be able to provide for our most vulnerable folks. Measure Y prevents us from building more supportive homes.”
– Rev. Dr. G. Penny Nixon, Co-director of Peninsula Solidarity Cohort
“Every year, our school district loses quality teachers because of the high cost of living. We need to start providing more housing options for staff and faculty. Measure Y limits our ability to provide these options. Vote No.”
– Shara Watkins, San Mateo – Foster City School Board Trustee
“Measure Y’s restrictions will add traffic, climate pollution, and pressure for sprawl that are among the biggest threats to a healthy Bay. Save The Bay Action Fund opposes Measure Y because extending these strict height and density limits is bad for the environment and people.”
– David Lewis, Executive Director,
Save the SF Bay
Measure Y is an example of exclusionary zoning.
If Measure Y wasn’t standing in the way, we could allay our housing crisis by building homes in walkable and vibrant urban neighborhoods near transit.
Over the past 30 years, Measure Y has silently and insidiously prevented affordable housing from being built. Measure Y forces many housing developers to build fewer, but much larger units marketed as luxury apartments. This trend would be problematic anywhere, but in Silicon Valley it is catastrophic.
Why does this happen?
Measure Y limits how many homes can be built on a piece of land. These limits are particularly detrimental to special needs, or supportive affordable housing. For special needs housing to be financially possible, it must almost always be over 100 units per acre, even if it is only two stories. This is because supportive affordable housing requires resource-intensive on-site services. Non-profit builders cannot sustain these costs if the housing doesn’t serve enough people.
This is why the density limits are so harmful, particularly to affordable housing.
No on Y, San Mateans for Affordable Housing, sponsored by the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County
With Major Funding By:
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Advocacy