Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou, a staunch critic of California's approach to encourage more housing, announced on Monday, May 15, that she plans to run for the state Assembly.
Kou, a Realtor who has been serving on the City Council since 2016 and is now in her second term, hopes to win a seat in a district currently being represented by Assembly member Marc Berman, another former Palo Alto City Council member, in the 2024 election. The 23rd Assembly District includes Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Atherton, Woodside, Pacifica, Ladera, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Portola Valley, Saratoga and Campbell.
Though both are Democrats, Berman and Kou have significant policy differences. While Berman has been a reliable vote of support for recent housing bills that have created streamlined and by-right processes for housing developments, Kou has strongly opposed these laws, characterizing them as an attack on local control. In March, she used her "State of the City" speech as a platform to attack recent Sacramento bills such as Senate Bill 9, which allows split lots in single-family zones; SB 10, which creates a process for cities to build at higher densities in transit-rich areas than underlying zoning would normally allow; and SB 35, which created a streamlined approval process for housing projects in jurisdictions that fail to meet their housing quotas.
She had referred to the methodology used to develop the housing quotas as "highly flawed," called the numbers "widely inflated" and criticized the housing laws for failing to provide "genuine affordable housing." She also blamed "developer-friendly legislators" for raising Regional Housing Needs Allocation targets to "unrealistic levels," to ensure that most cities will fail to meet their targets.
On the local level, Kou has established a reputation as a tough critic of new developments and a stalwart of the council's slow-growth political camp, often referred to as "residentialists." Last week, she was the only council member who voted against adopting the new Housing Element, arguing that the entire process is based on misguided mandates from Sacramento.
"There is little evidence that these Housing Elements … actually address the high cost of living, the housing affordability crisis," she said at the May 8 meeting. "Furthermore, the state bills that rewrote the number of housing units that need to be built are flawed beyond logic," she said.
In her May 15 announcement, Kou said she wants to move to the Assembly to "fight for new approaches to addressing homelessness, crime, affordable housing and the rising cost of living." The top priority on her list would be to stop politicians who she claims are "taking away local democracy by putting developers in charge of land use and silencing local communities." Kou also said she would address homelessness by building more shelters and giving local governments the power to require that people use that shelter, rather than sleep on the streets.
She also wants to see a greater emphasis on mental health and training for individuals as they transition from homelessness. Focusing solely on housing construction in insufficient, she told this publication.
"I really think we need to kind of also invest in mental health part of it and drug treatment ... They have to be mentally on the path in order to be get into training for a job and then work their way to a stable housing," Kou said. "We're just building, building and building and it's not really solving the problem with homelessness."
She also said she supports taking on "career criminals" by making sure there are consequences for individuals who commit repeated thefts and other crime. This may include revisiting Prop. 47, a 2014 initiative that reclassified various drug offenses and other non-violent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The goal, she said, is to make sure criminals face consequences.
"When something bad happens, we expect police officers to do their jobs. When officers do their jobs and then we turn around and the problem is not addressed and we let the (offenders) go, it's a revolving door," Kou said. "It doesn't help police officers and it doesn't help the people who are harmed."
Kou also said she would like to curb government spending by reconsidering major projects like the extension of Caltrain to downtown San Francisco. She told this publication that she is undeterred by the barriers of challenging an incumbent.
"We live in a democratic society, so it's up to the people: If they want to see change, they can elect me. If they want status quo, they can stick with whomever they want," Kou said.
Comments
Registered user
another community
on May 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Registered user
on May 15, 2023 at 4:00 pm
From the article:
“ Kou also said she would address homelessness by building more shelters and giving local governments the power to require that people use that shelter, rather than sleep on the streets.”
Maybe we could call them “Kouvilles.”
Registered user
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 15, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Registered user
on May 15, 2023 at 5:34 pm
Her shtick may play well with the Palo alto elite, but I doubt it will go over well in neighboring cities that are actually making an effort to meet their housing obligations. She feels that Palo alto can continue to ignore their obligations. Plus shall we discuss her conflict of interest as a realtor wanting to keep housing prices high?
Registered user
another community
on May 15, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Registered user
on May 15, 2023 at 9:51 pm
@ VictorBishop
Kou is running for assembly from a district that includes not only Mountain View and “elite” Palo Alto, but also Atherton (the richest ZIP code in the country) and the also-wealthy cities/towns of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Woodside, and Portola Valley. I think her message will resonate with many of those folks, too.
Also, any possible conflict of interest that Kou may have as a real estate agent would be determined by the state Fair Political Practices Commission in Sacramento. You can file a complaint, but since Kou has been a councilwoman for several years in Palo Alto, I’d guess her opponents have already exhausted that route.
Registered user
Sylvan Park
on May 16, 2023 at 12:41 am
Registered user
on May 16, 2023 at 12:41 am
While it is true that Kou's electoral prospects may benefit from appealing to residents in cities like Atherton, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Woodside, and Portola Valley, it is important to note that Palo Alto's slow growth policies could hinder her campaign. Despite the affluent nature of these areas, the overall population of these cities combined is relatively small compared to Mountain View alone. Therefore, while Kou's message may resonate with the wealthy residents in these cities, the impact of their support may be limited due to the smaller population size.
Additionally, Palo Alto's slow growth policies have the potential to create challenges for Kou's campaign. These policies typically aim to limit development and preserve the character of the city, which can lead to higher housing costs and limited housing availability. As a result, it may be difficult for Kou to gain traction among voters who are adversely affected by these policies, such as younger residents, families, and individuals with lower incomes. This demographic diversity within the district suggests that Kou's message may not resonate with all constituents equally.
Furthermore, Kou's focus on appealing to affluent areas may create a perception among voters that she primarily represents the interests of the wealthy, potentially alienating other constituents. In a district that includes a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, it is important for a candidate to have a message that resonates with a broader audience, addressing the concerns and needs of all residents, not just the affluent few.
In summary, while Kou's message may indeed resonate with some residents in affluent cities like Atherton, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Woodside, and Portola Valley, the impact of their support may be limited due to the smaller population size compared to Mountain View alone. The slow growth policies in Palo Alto could pose challenges for Kou's campaign, potentially alienating voters and limiting her appeal.