Ironically, this "affordable" housing program actually makes housing more expensive because it gets its $35 million (so far) through a tax on open market new housing. When the tax was imposed, housing development was stifled until there was enough of a shortage of housing to drive the price up enough to pay the tax to the city. Still it's kind of cool for a city council member to decide where people should live, how, who (please pick me), and who gets the no-bid development project. Oh, yea the council gets election dollars from low income housing developers, and perhaps the wealthy that have homes already and want the prices driven up. Oh, yea higher home prices means higher property taxes to pay salaries for the planners to plan. Every one wins, except those that can barely afford to rent, or save up enough to buy some day.

Nicely reasoned "neighbor of Old Mountain View Neighborhood"... People should live in what "THEY" can afford. Why is there some lottery to give away money in the form of "reduced cost housing, paid for by tax payers". It didn't work for the "old" Soviet Union... With the schools and everything else in disarray, how about spending the $18 million on a non-entitlement program (unless of course, you pick me)...