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Q&A
Commissioner Greenberger and Council Member Won discuss accountability for housing thresholds and the nature of member deference
1:27:10
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113 sec
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger presses Council Member Julie Won on accountability mechanisms (besides elections) if minimum housing thresholds were mandated. Won reiterates that member deference itself cannot simply be outlawed by the charter as it's based on relationships and negotiation within the Council. She stresses the need for a shared understanding of the housing crisis and acknowledges again that any fair share targets would need to account for varying district capacities.
- Accountability beyond elections for meeting housing targets remains a challenge.
- Member deference is described as an intrinsic part of council dynamics, not easily removed by rule.
- Solutions require both mechanisms (like potential thresholds) and political will/shared understanding.
Sharon Greenberger
1:27:10
I'm just gonna follow-up and ask because I think all of us are struggling with with respect to member deference.
1:27:16
And you used the word minimum threshold, right, that every Centimeters has to say, I'm committing to this threshold.
1:27:22
What's the accountability besides elections?
1:27:25
What's another mechanism that we can ensure that that distribution and that those minimum thresholds are met?
1:27:31
And you can think about it, but I just that's I think that's part of the struggle here is with respect to member difference, how do we ensure that those that that complete fair share is actually enacted?
1:27:45
Yeah.
Julie Won
1:27:45
I think it's something that I still have to noodle with and think about.
1:27:48
But just know that member difference is not gonna be something you can outlaw because it's based on relationships.
1:27:54
You know, I've had colleagues where they were depending on member deference.
1:27:58
It didn't work out for them because not everyone respects member each member.
1:28:03
But it's based on your relationship and their trust of you and understanding of your district and the ways that you have been communicating it with each other that is what makes member difference work in negotiation.
1:28:13
So it's not something that you could just, like, squash out and be like, well, the charter says member difference is not available anymore.
1:28:18
We're still gonna be sitting there conferencing and be like, look.
1:28:21
I will get to a yes, but I need your help.
1:28:23
This is how we're gonna get there.
1:28:25
Or someone might be like, no.
1:28:26
I'm gonna be a no forever, and I I hope you'll be there with me.
1:28:29
And depending on how the relationships are, that can carry.
1:28:33
So it's something that's very sensitive, but it's also very powerful, but we all have to work together to really understand the bottom line, which is you all need to do your fair share.
1:28:42
We're in a housing crisis, and for each district, it will look different because I can I could carry a lot more density than somebody else can?
1:28:49
But what does that mean?
1:28:50
Is that by percentage?
1:28:51
If your population is a 85,000 people and you're looking to grow your population by x percentage to meet our housing goals, then this is how we're gonna get there in stages or phases.
1:29:01
Appreciate it.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
1:29:02
Thank you so much, council member.
1:29:04
We really appreciate your testimony and your leadership, sir.