In 2020 Making Housing and Community Happen organized its first candidate’s forum focusing on homelessness and affordable housing. Over 150 people showed up at the Orange Grove Quaker Meetinghouse and 13 out of 15 candidates took part and answered questions. All of them provided written responses which we published on our blog. This was one of many such candidates forums that took place in Pasadena at that time. It was exciting to see vibrant discussions of important issues. Democracy was thriving at the local level.
Flash forward to 2024. MHCH planned a Zoom candidates forum for Jan. 31, 2024, and sent out invitations to all the candidates multiple times during the preceding month. We even went to a City Council meeting and handed the invitations to incumbent candidates politely inviting them to attend. None of them took part in our forum or sent us written responses to the questions we sent them. (We heard from Gene Masuda’s spouse that he had to attend a meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee,) Over 90 people registered for our candidate’s forum and heard five challengers, but not the incumbents. One must wonder: what has happened to our democracy in our city in the last four years?
One explanation that comes is the egregious example of presidential candidate not showing up for debates because it doesn’t benefit him politically. I hope this isn’t becoming a new normal in Pasadena. A properly run candidates forums is an opportunity for candidates to engage in a serious discussion of important issues, for the benefit of the public.
This was true at the MHCH’s forum on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with nearly 90 registrants and 5 candidates taking part: Rick Cole, John Boyle, Jonathan Horton, Brandon Lamar, and Allen Shay. Our questions required candidates to explain how they plan to address the homelessness and housing crisis and we learned about them from hearing their responses. You can access this candidates forum by going to makinghousinghappen.org/events.
Back in 2020 there were so many candidates forums, and they were so well attended, that some of the candidates complained it was taking up too much of their time. This year there were only a few forums, and often only challengers showed up. This lack of responsiveness is becoming a growing concern. A reporter told me that it is like pulling teeth to get elected officials to respond to interview requests these days. It didn’t used to be that way. In the past most were willing and even eager to meet and share their opinions. Something has changed in our city, and not for the better.
When elected officials don’t show up at public forums and respond to policy questions, the public learns about their views from slick political mailers or op eds instead from their thoughtful responses to questions posed in a public arena.
It is puzzling why some candidates decided to ignore our invitation since we are a nonpartisan, faith-rooted organization that has 1,700 subscribers on our mailing list. Eigh local organizations have partnered with us, including the Clergy Community Coalition, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, POP!, NDALON, Pasadena Tenants Union, Friends In Deed and over 30 congregations, including the Salvation Army, First United Methodist Church, First AME Church, the Pasadena Mennonite Church, and many more. This summer we organized a bus tour of affordable housing in Pasadena and 38 elected officials from the San Gabriel Valley attended, including four mayors. We have a large following and a reputation for fairness locally, and nationally.
Why would candidates not be willing to show up and share their views with us so we can share them with the faith community and others concerned about homelessness and affordable housing in our city?
As a faith-rooted organization, we believe in redemption and a second chance. It is not too late for candidates to send us their responses which we are happy to publish on our blog and circulate in our newsletter. The public deserves to know where the candidates stand on these important questions.
1) What concrete steps would you take to end homelessness in our city?
2) What policies do you support that would create more affordable housing in our city?
3) Now that rent control is part of our City Charter, what will you do to make sure that tenants in our city are protected and treated fairly?
4) What steps would you take to support federal and state laws requiring cities to “affirmatively further fair housing” and ensure that there is affordable housing in all parts of our city?
5) Now that SB 4 rezones religious and college land for affordable housing statewide, what would you do to make sure this bill is implemented in our city and how would you support religious institutions and colleges interested in having affordable housing built on their underutilized land?
6) Are you in favor of a dedicated fund for affordable housing either through a transfer fee (as Culver City and LA have done), vacancy tax, or some other means?
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