Tempe resident urges big increase in low‑income housing; mayor rejects idea of cutting Section 8
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
During the call to the audience, Tempe resident David Sokolowski urged the city to increase funding and adopt aggressive density bonuses to address a projected shortfall of low‑income units; the mayor immediately denied the council supports cutting Section 8 benefits.
David Sokolowski addressed the City Council during the call to the audience and urged Tempe to “increase funding for low income housing” to address what he described as one of the state’s worst housing shortages. Sokolowski cited numbers from what he described as the city’s housing report — saying the city has "86,421 units with 50% low income" and projected that the low‑income ratio could drop to 30% by 2030 — and recommended a generous density‑bonus program and doubling the construction rate to avoid a multi‑decade shortfall.
After the public comment the mayor asked the city attorney whether staff could comment on agenda items and then directly addressed the speaker’s suggestion that benefits be cut, saying, “I am, of course, not in favor in any way, shape, or form of anyone cutting Section 8 benefits.” The mayor emphasized that councilmembers and city employees do not support cutting benefits for vulnerable residents.
No formal council action followed the public comment; the mayor took the opportunity to correct the record and the meeting moved on to the scheduled survey presentation.