News

News

Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, made opening remarks at the special housing forum.

Attendees in the main conference room at the Oakland Marriott City Center.

A large crowd filled the main conference room at the Oakland Marriott City Center.

MTC Commissioner and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf welcomed the forum's attendees and spoke about the housing challenges that Oakland faces.

Julie Pierce, ABAG President, MTC Commissioner and Clayton Councilmember.

David Campos, MTC Commissioner and Supervisor, City and County of San Francisco.

Melissa Jones spoke about the challenges of working as a teacher and raising a child in the North Bay.

Bay Area residents shared their experiences struggling with high housing costs and pressures to move. Melissa Jones spoke about the challenges of working as a teacher and raising a child in the North Bay.

Reyna Gonzalez of San Mateo described the separation caused in her family due to the region's housing costs.

Theola Polk of Oakland spoke of her struggle to find housing in the East Bay and the region's displacement problem.

Attendees listened attentively to the residents tell first-person accounts of their housing struggles.

Forum attendees pick-up handouts in the lobby.

Forum attendees picking up handouts in the lobby.

Display boards, including this one on Bay Area population, income, employment and housing, were on view.

Dave Cortese, MTC Chair, ABAG Executive Board member and Santa Clara County Supervisor, moderated the opening panel discussion.

Claudia Cappio, Oakland Assistant City Administrator; Carol Galante, Faculty Director, U.C. Berkeley; Jennifer Martinez, Executive Director, Faith in Action Bay Area; Bob Glover, Executive Officer, Building Industry Association

(left to right): Claudia Cappio, Oakland Assistant City Administrator; Carol Galante, U.C. Berkeley; Jennifer Martinez, Executive Director, Faith in Action Bay Area; Bob Glover, Executive Officer, Building Industry Association

Small group discussions were organized by sub-region. Here, one of the East Bay breakout sessions.

Attendees in the San Francisco breakout session.

Discussion in San Francisco breakout session.

Tilly Chang, the Executive Director of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA), participated in the San Francisco County breakout discussion.

North Bay county discussion group, including MTC Commissioner and Napa County Board of Supervisor Mark Luce as well as ABAG Executive Board member and Mayor Pro Tem of Novato Pat Eklund.

Participants in this North Bay discussion group included MTC Commissioner and Napa County Board of Supervisor Mark Luce as well as ABAG Executive Board member and Mayor Pro Tem of Novato Pat Eklund.

MTC Vice Chair and Rohnert Park Councilmember Jake MacKenzie participates in a small discussion group.

MTC Vice Chair and Rohnert Park Councilmember Jake MacKenzie (left), participating in a small discussion group.

Discussion group members lift up there list of ideas.

Table groups worked together to brainstorm solutions to the region's affordable housing challenge.

South Bay residents and representatives in conversation.

South Bay residents and representatives, including MTC Chair Dave Cortese, in conversation.

Two lunchtime talks offered perspectives from outside the region. Pictured: Nela Richardson, Chief Economist, Redfin.

Robert Feldstein, City of Seattle, Director of the Office of Policy & Innovation.

Economist Nela Richardson speaks with a group of forum attendees after her presentation.

Calling the Bay Area Home: Tackling the Affordable Housing and Displacement Challenge

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Bay Area housing and transportation policymakers, city planners, community and business leaders, housing developers and advocates attended a half-day event for a timely and important dialogue on the role that Bay Area local governments and regional agencies — as well as the state and federal government — can play in addressing skyrocketing housing costs and displacement of long-time residents. Read more here.

Affordable housing