I believe that adequate affordable housing is the biggest issue facing Newport right now. Not only do we need to ensure that subsidized and affordable housing stays in place and doesn’t expire but we also need to look at workforce housing that is priced for our blue collar and working residents. We need to look at housing for our retiree community and those who are on a fixed income. In addition, we need to make sure that Newport is an affordable place to live year round because right now it is not.
This is evident in the many businesses that have been struggling to hire employees and remain fully staffed. Our hospitality industry, retail, schools, and hospital have struggled to hire and retain employees, as many in their workforce cannot find a place to live.
Many businesses and Government agencies, like the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Naval Station, have employees that are not able to buy a house in Newport as the market is too high and they have to commute into and out of the city on a daily basis. This will continue to put pressure on the transportation system making streets more congested and less safe for cyclists and pedestrians.
Short-term rentals play a part in the housing issue as it has decreased the availability of long-term housing. Many cities in the U.S. have short-term rentals that have not affected the availability of long-term housing and have provided their city with additional tax revenue. We need to look at how those cities are achieving this and see if it is a model that we can adopt. One example is Mill Valley, CA, which requires owners to purchase a business license and pay registrations fees.
We need an Affordable Housing Commission that is comprised of homeowners, renters, business owners, and individuals that have a background in real estate, taxes, planning and zoning. This commission needs to be able to look at the whole process such as the impacts on each stakeholder, and long-term effects on the local economy.