Letters: S.J. leaders must keep downtown construction rolling

"Surface-level parking lots, decaying fenced-off structures and countless signs promising projects that continually face delays litter the downtown landscape. This under-utilized land makes for a great place to build housing units, where new towers can slide in among the existing surroundings and provide a boost to downtown commerce. I believe our elected officials need to better understand the issues facing the development and construction industry and work toward policies that aim to make building quicker and cheaper."

"Plan Bay Area 2050+ does not take sufficient account of the impacts that shared robotaxis will have on public transportation. The Plan's executive summary's first page mentions "more autonomous vehicles". However, I found no other reference to either autonomous vehicles or robotaxis in the Draft Transit 2050+ Report nor in the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Transportation Project List Report. Shared robotaxis with four passengers each trip could reduce rush hour commuter vehicles."

"I find the amount of unutilized potential that exists in downtown San Jose frustrating. This is particularly concerning given the continually worsening housing crisis facing the Bay Area. We, the voters, need to be wary of supporting politicians and initiatives that threaten to add costs to or draw out the building process. Keeping the construction of new units continuing is a key element to overcoming the housing crisis."

Downtown San Jose has underutilized land: surface parking lots, decaying fenced-off structures, and stalled projects. That land can host housing towers to increase housing supply and boost downtown commerce. Elected officials should adopt policies to speed construction and lower development costs. Voters should oppose politicians or initiatives that add costs or prolong building because continued construction is essential to the housing crisis response. Plan Bay Area 2050+ overlooks shared robotaxi impacts on public transit and road needs. Shared four-passenger robotaxis could reduce rush-hour vehicles and alter transit demand and road construction requirements. Paying Congress during a shutdown is wrong while hundreds of thousands of employees are furloughed without pay.

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