Editorial

Sometimes regional thinking is needed

The entire town council seemed amused on Sept. 5 at Saratoga's suggestion that Los Gatos help alleviate some of the nightmare congestion at Highway 85 and Saratoga Avenue by making a full interchange at Highway 85 and Winchester Avenue.

Council member Joe Pirzynski conceded that traffic going through Saratoga from Highway 85 is horrendous, but he said, "It's not our fault."

The fact is that both Saratoga and Los Gatos were engaged in some pretty provincial thinking when Highway 85 was on the drawing board. Each tried to keep the freeway away from its borders and neither wanted interchanges in their communities.

When the battles were done and the freeway was completed, Los Gatos ended up with 1¹/2 interchanges, a situation that has to have frustrated even the most die-hard NIMBY on numerous occasions. And Saratoga ended up with one interchange--and bumper-to-bumper traffic through it's charming city during the morning and evening commute.

Let's call that regional planning at its worst--come home to roost.

What's an example of regional thinking at its best? The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Clara County, a private/public partnership designed to complement and leverage other housing resources throughout Silicon Valley. It's purpose is to make a major impact on the affordable housing crisis throughout our greater community.

To its credit, the town heartily endorsed the program with a $250,000 contribution. What's more, the town, through a Memorandum of Understanding, which staff has been instructed to draft, is making an effort to put these leveraged funds to work within its borders.

Without more affordable housing here, the community will lose much of the diversity that has been its strength. Putting more affordable housing here also contributes to the housing inventory throughout the valley.

The lack of affordable housing is an absolute crisis in Silicon Valley. Employers ranging from major high-tech firms to mom-and-pop shops are desperate for employees. But with virtually no housing vacancies, it's impossible for them to hire anyone who isn't already living here--in a valley close to full employment.

It's a problem that won't be resolved by requiring a below-market rate unit or two every time a developer builds new homes. What it will take is a major public/private effort aimed at encouraging developers to build affordable housing and helping first-time buyers with low-interest loans for their down payment and closing costs.

That's what the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County is doing, and we commend the town council for its commitment of at least $250,000 to help ease the housing burden both in Los Gatos and in the region. Definitely regional planning at its best.

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