Attn mods, this is not about Prop 13!calumnus said:95bears said:
How we're ever going to compete vis-a-vis the powerhouses that are in affordable areas is beyond me.
We're at a 3X cost of living disadvantage compared to somewhere like Lincoln, NE.
Cost of living comparison for Berkeley vs Lincoln
This is before factoring in the income tax differences, with California having the most oppressive income and misc. taxes and enforcement in the country.
To deal with even more ridiculous housing costs, Stanford built housing for their coaches. The university owns land, maybe a donor could build some homes on land the university owns that could be rented at below market rates to coaches? Maybe in Strawbery Canyon? Maybe near Lawrence Berkeley Labs or Lawrence Hall of Science? Or along the Bay? It is too bad they let Panoramic Hill get away.
Good idea, but if the University were going to build subsidized housing for employees, wouldn't the first few hundred go to rising stars on the faculty (who probably get paid less than football assistants)? Okay, you mentioned "donor-built", but if you're looking for a new way to increase the rift between athletics and the faculty, this could be it. I don't have any figures, but I'm sure we lose faculty every year due to the high cost of buying a home here.
I'd love to see more affordable homes for BOTH groups. Of course, I'd love to see more affordable homes for public school teachers, too. I suppose the solution is more housing for all.