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8. B. - Page 160 <br /> contractor team many times and encouraged the Commission to approve the EIR with <br /> no additional constraints. <br /> Bruce Louazzano stated it seemed the UHG had gone through a lot of homework <br /> to make this project fit into the community. He stated Redwood City had been struggling <br /> against density for years and this is a good chance to get something going. He stated <br /> he has been in business in the area for over thirty years and sees the stagnation in <br /> development. <br /> Tom Linebarger stated he was formerly the president of Painters Local 913 and <br /> has lived in Redwood City for 40 years. He noted his concern for hiring outside laborers <br /> rather than hiring locally. He stated that residents must be able to pay for what they're <br /> producing. He stated people are not paid enough to handle the cost normally paid for by <br /> unionized employees with medical benefits. He stated 38% of his members were not <br /> working at the time, and half have lost their medical benefits because they are not <br /> getting enough hours. He stated it is wrong to build housing that doesn't have provisions <br /> for lower income people and that doesn't hire people locally. He stated he does not <br /> want to city to deport low-income people. <br /> Mark Molton, representing the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo <br /> County, spoke about the affordability of housing. He stated his excitement at the <br /> potential use of the Mel's Bowl site, the design and improvement of infrastructure, but he <br /> is concerned about who will be left out of this housing. He stated rents on the peninsula <br /> are going up 5-7% faster than wages. He asked what seniors and young families are <br /> going to do to get affordable housing. <br /> Sandra Cooperman, resident of Redwood City since 1965, member of the <br /> Redwood City Senior Affairs Commission and on the Affordable Housing Committee in <br /> Redwood City, stated her dismay at the lack of affordable housing in this project. She <br /> stated it's important that every single future project that comes forward will have an <br /> affordable housing option. <br /> Diana Reddy, lifelong resident of Redwood City and the Housing Leadership <br /> Council's community builder, agreed with the previous speaker. She stated this project <br /> is beautiful and in close proximity to shopping but has no affordable housing. She stated <br /> her concern that the city doesn't have a mechanism that would provide Staff and the <br /> Planning Commission an opportunity to push affordable housing. <br /> David Dunlop, Segway Construction spoke about a recently completed project in <br /> Redwood City that would bring 225-250 new jobs. He stated they had been working with <br /> the UHG for several months including reaching out to Redwood City-based contractors <br /> and suppliers that might be interested and are qualified to do the project. As a former <br /> Redwood City resident, he stated he would appreciate the opportunity to work again in <br /> the city. He stated his support for the approval of the project. <br /> Mike Kastrop, AIA, resident of Redwood City for over 25 years, stated his support <br /> of the closure of the adult bookstore. He stated this project meets the ordinances and <br /> people may have feelings about affordable housing but that's not what the need was for <br /> this developer. He stated this project will improve the area and lift everything up. He <br /> stated that UHG has done a great job designing the project and have reached out to <br /> everyone they could. He asked the Commission to approve the project. <br /> Page 10 of 17 <br />