Green New City: Economic Inequality

We face a huge wealth and housing gap in the Bay Area. Our campaign has concrete goals to get the cost of housing down and plans to implement it. We will further address economic inequality by providing direct assistance to those with the most need. We’re looking for win-win solutions by building in corporate spaces that are underutilized. We will seek innovative mechanisms to tax those with $10 million in assets or more and use public funds to ensure new construction is low income and affordable, as well as to fund direct relief to disadvantaged residents.

The cost of a home has increased by about 33% since Jesse was elected, and average rents have increased around 65% in the last 7 years to $3400 per month. This is a hardship for many in our community and is part of the reason why many who call Berkeley home have moved out. Berkeley is among the most expensive places to build in the nation, and the process is slow.

There is extensive land owned by corporations that could be used for housing. Our campaign wants to take this underutilized land from corporations and build affordable housing. Golden Gate Fields is an example: the company has over 100 acres, most of which is being unused. Our long term goal is to build affordable housing on every tract of available un-utilized land, and get our average rent down to $1600 per month.

Wayne’s first experience with activism was in the projects of Chicago, working on housing and police accountability. He is a published economics researcher, in addition to being an activist, and has what it takes to push these initiatives forward.

If you want to help address economic inequality in Berkeley, sign up to join the movement at www.wayneformayor.com/volunteer!