A year and a half after a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, took the lives of seven farmworkers, a new housing project has been approved to address the poor living conditions of agricultural workers in the area. The 40-unit building will provide lodging for elderly farmworkers who continue working into their 70s and 80s due to low wages and high living costs. The project faced backlash from city planners concerned about its fit with the surrounding area but ultimately went forward with pressure from Governor Gavin Newsom.
The shooting brought attention to the inadequate housing available for farmworkers, with some living in shipping containers. Advocates highlight the difficult conditions and low pay faced by farmworkers in California, the state leading in crop value. The delayed housing project is seen as indicative of broader challenges in constructing new residences in the state due to concerns like building height and parking.
Governor Newsom’s involvement in pushing the project forward has sparked debate, with some officials feeling it undermines local planning decisions. However, affordable housing advocates welcome the intervention as necessary to address the housing crisis in the state. Farmworkers have faced multiple challenges over the years, from the economic fallout of COVID-19 to wildfires and flooding affecting their livelihoods.
The new housing project aims to provide dignified and humane housing for farmworkers in Half Moon Bay, serving as an example for other cities to support this essential workforce. Advocates hope the building, which will include access to services like medical care, can offer a template for addressing the housing needs of farmworkers across California.
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