Palo Alto Candidates Set Dividing Lines

At a recent candidate forum incumbents and challengers laid out their key differences on several issues Palo Alto is facing. Unsurprisingly, the candidates had familiar dividing lines between those who support property rights and those who want more city oversight of future development and housing policy.

Incumbent Mayor Pat Burt made it clear he supports rent control and that state rent increase caps established by AB 1482 were not sufficient. At the far opposite end of the spectrum is candidate Anne Cribbs, who made it clear she believes rent control is largely a failed policy that limits future housing. Several other candidates, including George Lu and Cari Templeton, indicated the city is in the process of collecting rent registry information, so if it is indeed something they need to look at they will have data in due time. Katie Causey, who generally is open to tenant protections, made it clear she couldn’t support rent control if it would clearly impede future housing growth.

Candidates also differed on issues to promote and grow the downtown and core commercial areas. Several candidates voiced that they would be open to lifting the 50-ft. height limit on new development, expanding the type of businesses and uses that would be allowed in these areas, and working to reconsider parking and other infrastructure requirements to make it more of a pedestrian-friendly, walkable, and bikeable area. Differing in opinion is Mayor Pat Burt, along with Greer Stone, Doria Summe, and Keith Reckdahl, who want to tax vacant storefronts and are against height increases or expanded zoning options.

On housing issues, candidates Doria Summa explained that she didn’t believe many of the housing projects that came forward were legal and that was why she even voted against teacher housing on El Camino Real. Cari Templeton, on the other hand, noted the city needs to work harder on its area plans and not just protect the rights of property owners who want to develop, but make sure the neighbors nearby also get something out of future development.

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