Oxnard-- The District
One Candidate Forum continues with League of Women Voters Moderator David Maron asking candidates
Doug Partello, Eduardo
Huerta, and Incumbent about the balance of economic development and affordable housing and how the two are tied together to achieve both. ARTELLO said Oxnard needs high-tech companies and jobs, and there has to be adequate housing.
“There also has to be an adequate workforce,” he said. “They want to get to work and get their revenue started. We’ve got to change this permit system. It’s a bloody nightmare for businesses, and they lose money in this process. Now, if I’m putting something in my backyard, I can wait six months. These companies can’t wait for this nightmare of a permit. We’ve got to take care of that. The development we’re going to do it in a measured and balanced way. I understand there is a housing shortage, but we need affordable housing.”
He said right now, 85 percent or more of the housing is for above moderate income.
“The RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) for low and very-low-income housing is only at 11 percent,” he said. “The gap is widening the way they are doing their developments now. I…
