(LIVERMORE, CA.) – The Mar. 23 city council meeting continues intense discussions on affordable housing and other community issues, including local infrastructure.
Senior Planner Shannon Pagan presents the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the council, which is “a state-required part of the city's general plan that outlines how Livermore will accommodate the housing needs for all income levels in our community.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
After summarizing Livermore’s affordable housing update and plans, several residents express their perspectives on affordable housing, a topic being closely examined by OpGov.news in cities like Charlotte and Maui.
Member of Livermore Valley Arts board of directors Jean King questions the specifics of deed restrictions and how non-deed-restricted units operate.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Pagan clarifies that while inclusionary units require deed restriction, other low-to-moderate income units are typically non-deed-restricted ADUs.
Following King’s comments, Livermore resident Alan Marling doubles down on his assertion that King and the founder of The Independent, Joan Seppala, have obstructed affordable housing.
Marling states that King’s current concerns are ironic, claiming that, “when the moment came for her to support lots of affordable housing downtown, she opposed it with all her fortune, funding multiple disinformation campaigns.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
“The truth of it is, I have not called either Jean King or Joan Seppala racists as that suggests insight into their motivations, which I do not know,” he concludes, “I cannot judge them for what they think, only what they do, and their actions are cruel, elitist, and racist.”
The tension is palpable when the next speaker, Matt Montreal, arrives at the podium to advise against affordable housing, citing the external funding needs and construction obstacles as its primary challenges.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Instead, he recommends using a lottery system for affordable housing and building more to satisfy the law of supply and demand.
Earlier, Montreal also expressed support for the increase of multimodal infrastructure over the overpasses and disappointment that the chargers in the new parking garage are CCS only.
He urges the city to only install car chargers with dual compatibility, both CCS and Knack standards, because “all major car brands are now moving to the Knack standard.”
Joe Lee returns to continue his advocacy for free software and thanks the council for considering his idea of “a pilot program to install Libre Office on a fraction of the city’s computers.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Lee also offers his expertise as a volunteer to help the city with the possible transition to free software, referencing how he helped his 90-year-old piano teacher transition from Microsoft Office to Libre Office.
Considering the city’s 1.587 million Microsoft 365 contract renewal, Lee compares Microsoft Office to a jug of old milk and Libre Office to a healthy cow with udders waiting to be milked.
“Just because the spoiled milk is paid for does not mean we have to continue consuming it,” Lee concludes, “I encourage all of us to pour out that spoiled milk and enjoy the fresh milk of the free software cow.”
In a change of topics, Livermore resident Richard Streeter continues his comments on democracy from a previous council meeting where he ran out of time.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
“We can only have a democracy as long as we first insist upon freedom of speech and due process for all without exception. The instant these are suspended, democracy disappears, and it is not easy to get back.”
Streeter expresses that “I think everyone in this country should be reminding their local authorities, whether they need reminding or not, to oppose the Trump regime every chance they get.”
In sharp contrast to Streeter’s point of view, Iranian-American Sai Matin shares his optimism and appreciation for “our wonderful and great armed forces under the leadership of honorable President Donald J. Trump.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
The meeting concludes after the Council reiterates both the challenges and successes of Livermore's affordable housing and highlights its immense importance to our community.
If you would like to add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at mollyscheid7@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
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