Renters are a voting majority here, and successfully passed rent control, at the same time, the city council down-zoned the city, and NIMBYs are able to stop developments via California's crazy environmental review process. So, we have a shortage and rent control, which means Mountain View is becoming more unaffordable to every newcomer, but some renters will have some protection.
The local residents show up in droves to oppose housing, particularly the home owners, with the arguments being "the infrastructure can't take any more". They never hold the city to its responsibility or providing infrastructure, instead, use the bad infrastructure as an excuse to stifle development.
It's a backwards, topsy turvy world here. City governments are meant to serve people, not rule over them.
Because they vote in all the Democrats, irrespective of views, as long as the party affiliation is correct. There isn't that much choice. The city council has seven members, three-ish are usually up for re-election, and you'll have a choice of maybe six on the ballot, half Democrats, and that's the half that gets all the votes.
The local residents show up in droves to oppose housing, particularly the home owners, with the arguments being "the infrastructure can't take any more". They never hold the city to its responsibility or providing infrastructure, instead, use the bad infrastructure as an excuse to stifle development.
It's a backwards, topsy turvy world here. City governments are meant to serve people, not rule over them.