Housing Rally Slated Tuesday Night In Mountain View

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Mountain View residents will rally before a City Council meeting Tuesday and urge council members to end displacement and protect existing affordable housing from demolition.

Housing advocates say the city has approved three demolitions of naturally affordable apartments in the last five months to make way for pricey homes. The City Council is setting priorities for the next two years at Tuesday's meeting, and activists want protections for longtime residents on its agenda. Currently, displacement ranks among the top 10 issues in the city's tentative work plan.

"Displacement is the most disruptive thing I've ever experienced. I wouldn't wish this on anyone," 17-year-old Jackie Cashen said in a news release. "I hope the City Council can find the right rules so that building new housing doesn't mean destroying existing housing."

Cashen is a former resident of the rent-controlled 2310 Rock St. The City Council voted earlier this month to convert 59 homes at the address into 55 market-rate town homes at $1.5 million each. Residents used to pay about $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

The rally is set for 5:30 p.m. at Castro and Mercy streets in Mountain View. The City Council will meet at at council chambers at 500 Castro St.

—Bay City News