Give California Rep. Matsui and Bera another term, but hold them to task on homelessness

Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, and Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, face no serious threats to re-election this year. Both are smart elected leaders with a track record of focusing on issues that matter to their districts.

Matsui has introduced legislation to reduce carbon emissions and promote electric cars. She also secured federal funding to raise Folsom Dam and improve the region’s protection from catastrophic floods. These are key issues with an urgency that may not be readily apparent to everyone today, but they matter immensely to the future of our region.

Bera said his office prides itself on being highly accessible and responsive to constituents, which is commendable. As a medical doctor, Bera said he has also worked to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act, which has been under attack by the Trump administration.

But here’s where both representatives must improve: homelessness and the housing crisis. In interviews with The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board, neither representative seemed to grasp the urgency of the housing crisis.

The number of people who were homeless in Sacramento County grew 19 percent from 2017 to 2019, to 5,570 people. The count report estimated more than 10,000 people would experience homelessness within 2019.

It’s time for Bera and Matsui to actively work on solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis. Bera has served since 2013 and Matsui since 2005. Both face multiple opponents in the March primary, from which the two top vote-getters will move on to the November ballot.

Doris Matsui, 6th Congressional District

Matsui put too much emphasis on mental health and addiction, not enough on housing, and was vague on solutions her office might bring forward

“Many of them have mental illness,” she said of Sacramento’s homeless. “And a lot of them who are violent — there are some violent homeless people — are on meth.”

Some experiencing homelessness fit those descriptions. The latest point-in-time count in Sacramento County found 21 percent of homeless people had a severe psychiatric condition, while 9 percent said alcohol or drug abuse prevented them from holding on to work or housing.

But the top hurdle to sustaining housing, cited by 45 percent of unhoused people surveyed in the count, is that they couldn’t find affordable homes. Many also said they needed rent assistance or that there weren’t enough shelter beds.

Matsui said she would ask Mayor Darrell Steinberg how he thought she could support the housing and homelessness needs of District 6, which includes the city. We hope she also asked this in 2018, when Sacramento City Council first declared a shelter crisis.

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Matsui said one hurdle to working on homelessness was working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which she said is more likely to fund a program if it has already been a success.

HUD has faced criticism for holding up funding and resources for California, and for proposing discriminatory new hurdles for individuals seeking housing aid. But the federal agency has of late expressed greater openness to working with local leaders in California on solving homelessness, according to The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.

HUD announced $22.2 million in grants for homeless programs within Sacramento County last month, the fourth-highest amount announced for any California region and out of $415 million for the whole state.

Matsui is being challenged by progressive Democrat Benjamin Emard, Republican Chris Bish, and Republican Sherwood Ellsworth Haisty Jr.

Ami Bera, 7th Congressional District

Bera has introduced fewer bills in Congress than 11 other members of the House from California who, like him, started their terms in 2013. He is the only member of this cohort who has not passed a bill through the House.

Introducing legislation isn’t the only way to effectively represent one’s constituents, but it’s time for Bera to turn ideas into action.

Bera discussed housing only when specifically asked about it. He said he supports high density housing development around transit hubs, and described the Florin SacRT light rail stop in south Sacramento as an “opportunity zone.”

“There are a lot of the folks that…can’t afford to live downtown or Midtown who work at the state,” he said. Notably, he didn’t describe any specific ways to expand housing.

Bera described staying out of new wars and responsibly withdrawing troops from Afghanistan as top priorities, but suggested no timeline for doing so.

He cited education costs as one of the biggest issues for his constituents.

Bera’s challengers are Democrat Jeff Burdick, and Republicans Robert “Buzz” Patterson and Jon Ivy. Green Party candidate Robert Christian “Chris” Richardson is also running.

Editorial Board endorses Matsui and Bera

Bera and Matsui are each likely to get another term, and deservedly so. But both must focus on the rising crises of housing and homelessness in their districts. They have a duty to provide leadership to bring in the federal resources and solutions.

Editor’s note: This editorial has been updated to include Green Party candidate Chris Richardson’s candidacy.

This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 3:55 PM.