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July 22, 2007
Families press for affordable housing opportunities in Orange County, CA
Orange County Congregation Community Organization

Orange County Congregation Community Organization gathered 500 people to press the City of Anaheim to include low-cost housing in a large-scale home development being planned near Angel Stadium.  The City of Anaheim has approved over 11,000 new housing units for families that earn above $78,000, of which, only 316 are deed-restricted units for families earning less than $78,000. The area surrounding Angel Stadium (called the "Platinum Triangle") has been slated to undergo significant urban development in the form of new hotels, restaurants, stores, theaters, museums, and 9,000 new housing units. None of the new units are for families earning less than $78,000.

St. Boniface LOC members and other parish leaders moved to address this issue with the Anaheim City Council. Only 3 out of 5 council members were willing to meet with the LOC. Only Councilwoman Lorri Galloway accepted the invitation to attend the community action. Councilors Harry Sidhu and Lucille Kring declined, citing previous political engagements.

Members of the community in attendance held up signs that declared, "People, Not Politics!" and expressed their disappointment that their elected officials made decisions to attend political functions instead of the action. Anaheim residents presented moving testimony and sound research. Lorri Galloway committed to support a developer of the 51.4 acre city-owned land in the Platinum Triangle only if the developer agrees to include a significant amount of affordable housing as part of the development.

The following evening, members of the community attended the Anaheim City Council meeting. They gave testimony, expressed a desire for reconciliation with the councilors who did not attend, and presented about 200 signed letters stating their desire that Anaheim increase its affordable housing stock.