California schools chief Tony Thurmond has announced a bold plan to build 2.3 million homes on public land for the benefit of teachers, claiming there is a teacher shortage with the solution being government-subsidized housing. However, this plan is seen as a distraction from the failures in California’s public education system, where student achievement has dropped and enrollment has declined over the past five years. Thurmond’s ultimate goal may be to secure support from teacher unions for his campaign for governor.
California’s high cost of housing is attributed to regulations that make construction difficult and expensive due to red tape. Thurmond’s plan to build millions of homes faces many challenges, including limitations on affordable housing for teachers and surplus property in school districts that are shrinking due to declining enrollment.
The history of failed attempts to provide affordable housing for teachers, such as in LAUSD, serves as a cautionary tale for Thurmond’s ambitious plan. The complexities of turning school districts into landlords raise concerns about potential tradeoffs and challenges in managing housing equity, rent control, and maintenance.
In the face of skepticism, some officials, like LAUSD school board member Nick Melvoin, see Thurmond’s plan as an opportunity to utilize public land for the benefit of the workforce. However, critics question the feasibility and impact of such a massive housing project in a state with existing regulatory hurdles and declining student enrollment.
As Thurmond pursues his vision of building homes for teachers, the broader implications for California’s education system and real estate market remain uncertain, with concerns about the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of such an endeavor.
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