In response to “Grannies Only: New Rental Units Limited to Long-Term Tenants” published on Sept. 13.
In the article on granny flats, Commissioner John Mazza is quoted as warning “If half of the people in Malibu build an ADU (auxiliary dwelling units), you’re going to add 2,000 short-term rental potentials.” I have no opinion about whether they are good or bad for our community; however, if one were to look for a positive outcome of such a building boom, one could also see it as providing 2,000 dwelling units for homeless people. This would adequately cover the stated goals of the City of Malibu Homeless Strategic Plan to: “Reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Malibu by providing access to a temporary and permanent housing solution … “ (page 16). In fact, if we were to use last January’s figures for the homeless population in Malibu, we would only need 150 such dwelling units to house all our homeless community. I realize that not all the people living on our streets or in cars would fit the requirements for acceptance into this program, but let’s imagine 25 or 50 who could; what a wonderful way to begin bringing new life to some of our most needy neighbors. It would put Malibu at the forefront of showing how to partially relieve the crisis that is plaguing most of our cities.
Rev. Paul Elder