Recent arguments by the ABC have focused on the need to build more "affordable housing" in Cupertino to accommodate our teachers, police and fire professionals, while claiming that the CCC initiatives would be harmful.

Yet an April, 2004 study by Powell and Stringman of San José State University http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/economics/faculty/powell/Housing-powell.html concludes that such housing policies actually drive up the prices of new and existing homes, making housing overall less affordable to everyone.

In Cupertino, their research indicates that "inclusionary housing" has added more than $100,000 to the price of new homes. The reason is that "affordable housing" policies allow developers to increase the price of "market based" housing to subsidize the affordable ones.

It is also argued that "affordable housing" is needed for teachers, police and fire professionals. Yet a Feb. 2, 2004, San Jose Mercury News article showed that teachers own homes at a higher rate (66 percent) than any other professional group. Right behind teachers are police, fire and EMS professionals at 60 percent.

If supporters of the ABC and opponents of the CCC initiatives really believe we need more housing for teachers, police and fire professionals, then we should pay them more rather than treating them like second-class citizens who are incapable of owning a home without public assistance.