THAT’S DEBATABLE:Affordable housing

Would you support a citywide program that requires developers to provide affordable housing?

No, I would not support such a program. The middle-class home buyer pays the price of programs such as this in higher housing prices. It is ironic that some demand that we increase the price of housing with a $19,000-per-unit, low-cost-housing tax — all in the name of affordability.

ERIC BEVER

Costa Mesa

city councilman

Did not respond.

LINDA DIXON

Costa Mesa

city councilwoman

Did not respond.

KATRINA FOLEY

Costa Mesa

city councilwoman

The four urban plans adopted by the City Council last year — Mesa West Bluffs, 19 West, Sobeca and Mesa West Residential Ownership are examples of market-driven solutions for Costa Mesa’s housing challenges.

We should provide incentives to developers to build affordable housing on lots in some of the downtrodden parts of town and examine our land-use restrictions that may discourage any new development. We need to look at manufactured housing options similar to what the city of Yorba Linda has done. We should contact Mercy Housing, a nonprofit based in Chicago that worked with Anaheim officials to develop affordable housing there.

In the future, we should share our needs for affordable housing and quality fields, parks, libraries, bike trails, etc., and let developers come up with ideas. I believe these ideas and how to pay for them should be discussed early in the planning process.

Our planning department will update the affordable housing element by June 2008 to comply with state law. With this in mind, we need to continue to encourage revitalization of our city to include affordable housing and be open to creative, market-driven solutions.

WENDY LEECE

Costa Mesa city councilwoman

No. If we require a developer to provide subsidies in order to lessen the cost of some units, then he is going to have to make up the difference by raising the cost of others. This will hurt the very middle class you are trying to help. The best way to reduce costs is to reduce regulation. It is simple supply and demand. More government interference is not the answer.

ALLAN MANSOOR

Costa Mesa mayor