Veterans Rally Against Poway City Council Affordable Housing Defeat

After the City Council’s the defeat of an affordable veterans’ housing project earlier this month in Poway, veterans held a rally Saturday to protest the decision.

The City Council,  including Poway’s mayor Steve Vaus, voted three to two against the project, citing concerns about traffic and money.

Vaus put out a statement in reaction to the rally that read: “Poway's commitment to veterans is unwavering. I'm looking forward to the meeting I've scheduled with a preeminent developer of affordable housing for veterans. I'm confident we'll be able to find a site suitable for such a project and Poway will continue its proud tradition of honoring our heroes.”

The city's planning staff had recommended the 22-unit complex be approved for a two-acre property along Twin Peaks road, and now protesters are demanding a re-vote.

Congressman Scott Peters, Poway Deputy Mayor Jim Cunningham and former State Assemblyman and veteran Nathan Fletcher all spoke at the rally.

"I offer a lot to my community,” veteran Ben Holmes tells NBC 7. “Veterans bring a lot to the table and I benefit from affordable housing. Extending an opportunity to other veterans to live here in Poway and allow them the opportunity to benefit this community I think is something Poway should definitely take advantage of."

The housing development was a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and would have cost the city $800,000.

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