PHOTO/RONALD ORLANDO
By Liz Gonzalez, Silicon Valley DeBug
SAN JOSE, CA — Silicon Valley recently made headlines as the third worst place for renters in the country. Only 21% of families here can afford to buy a median priced home and average rent for a one-bedroom apartment starts at more than $2,200. Longtime residents are priced out of their homes and new housing developments only cater to the influx of people on the high end of the wage scale.
A recently launched coalition of labor, faith leaders, community-based organizations and workers called Silicon Valley Rising is working to make sure all workers here share in Silicon Valley’s prosperity. The coalition aims to raise wages and standards of all workers, get tech companies to pay service workers a living wage, and tackle the housing crisis. They’ve already won victories in tech, including for Facebook drivers, who won a union negotiated contract.
In mid-March, tenants organized an initial renters’ rights dialogue in one of the city’s most impacted districts where families pile into rooms, garages, back rooms and even living rooms. In such a prosperous region as Silicon Valley, these conditions are unacceptable and attendees voiced that the resources are obviously available to adequately house families to work and live in Silicon Valley and thrive.
Richard Babcock is a member of the Affordable Housing Network, an organization dedicated to preserving and expanding affordable housing for low-income community members. He’s been part of the move for rent control and, although he is determined to see strengthened rent control, he has a back-up plan of moving to Nevada where he could more easily afford rent. Such back-up plans have become the only option for too many people who do not see themselves included in San Jose’s future.
The campaign is focused on increasing renter protections by prohibiting discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders, reducing allowable rent increases, adding 10,000 housing units into rent control, and enacting just cause for evictions. Tenants in San José are joining other cities who are also taking up the fight for housing across the Bay Area. Longterm solutions to house all people is a matter that the entire region is facing and one where we have the greatest opportunity to be inclusive and value all the people who contribute to the success of Silicon Valley.
Solution to housing crisis
The suffering in Silicon Valley’s housing crisis is not an aberration or temporary dysfunction. It is the predictable result of a dying system. The private property economy cannot meet the needs of the people today, even in wealthy Silicon Valley. It is only organized to benefit the profits of the owning class. In our daily battles, we have to educate one another about this truth. We will win only when we abolish private property and share society’s housing resources as part of a cooperative economy that benefits everyone. — From the Editors
