Another group sees the dark side of Measure B

One aspect of Measure B that hasn't received attention is the effect that such a law would have on the development of new affordable housing, especially housing for low-income seniors.

Measure B contains no affordable housing exception. While most of Many Mansions' affordable housing is smaller apartment complexes, the state and federal governments prefer to finance larger developments for housing of our senior population. Because of the lower rents and greater need for services, larger developments for seniors are desirable.

Yet Measure B would effectively kill new housing for our lowincome senior population at just the time we need to develop more such housing as our population ages.

Although this community has tremendously supported affordable housing and although we believe that it would continue to support such housing, Measure B would impose such substantial obstacles for a nonprofit such as Many Mansions that we couldn't develop such housing.

Unlike a private developer, Many Mansions lacks the financial resources to place a proposed project on the ballot, wait for the next election cycle and bear the risk of the rejection of the voters.

Thus, even where the community wanted and needed such housing, we simply couldn't take the chance.

Because of this chilling effect on the development of new affordable housing- especially housing for lowincome seniors- we oppose Measure B. Rick Schroeder Executive Director Many Mansions