Tehachapi News

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Several letters to the editor as well as other citizens addressing the Tehachapi City Council have recently spoken out regarding affordable and low-income housing. Their statements indicate their opinions that all such housing is a magnet for criminals, drug use and worse. In the past, this has often been the case with many large, urban developments, usually administered by an inadequately staffed, government-controlled Housing Authority. Current programs are better administered, especially those built and managed by privately owned companies, as those owners have a financial motive to protect their investment.

No one wants to see the type of housing with its attendant problems of which the critics warn us. But there is no denying the need for accommodation for low-income residents, as well as its requirement by government. The state of California periodically assigns a Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) to each region in California. Working with regional and local governments, the RHNA allocates to individual jurisdictions a required number of new units in several income categories.

For the 2000 to 2013 period, Tehachapi is required to provide 454 new housing units. The breakdown requires 110 units in the very low-income category, 75 in low income, 83 in moderate and 86 in the above moderate category. By state mandate, the city must provide the required units in each category, either through its own building program or through developer-built units.

An additional requirement currently under consideration concerning low income or affordable housing for Tehachapi regards Redevelopment Agency (RDA) funds. The city is required to set aside 20 percent of RDA funds for affordable/low income housing. Once that set aside fund reaches one million dollars, the city must formulate a plan to utilize those funds for the prescribed housing. After the one million dollar threshold is met, if the city does not approve and implement such a plan, the state can step in to formulate a plan and force the city to implement it, thereby usurping the city's authority to determine its own housing plan. Tehachapi is currently closer to the two million dollar mark, so immediate action is urgent.

The majority of Tehachapi's early inhabitants were traditionally low-income, with many railroad, farm and ranch workers. Many of the Monolith employees were provided affordable company housing at the township across from the cement plant. Through the years, many of these families moved into Tehachapi and are now the basis of the old time families of Tehachapi. They are still hardworking families, and do not have any higher incidence of crime or drug problems than other demographic groups in the area.

Today, many of them and other more recently arrived residents fall within the low income demographic. There are many elderly residents, as well as low wage earners and students who require more affordable housing. The city has a responsibility, both morally and legally to provide for their housing needs.

It should be apparent to all that Tehachapi must move forward with a plan to provide for the housing needs of the community, so that through the Planning Commission and the City Council, we can control its appearance, location and management. By attending the regularly scheduled meetings, all area residents have an opportunity to help determine the outcome of this process.