Building Community & Affordable Housing: A Local Leader’s YIMBY Perspective | John Lewis, Scotts Valley CA
Care More Be Better: A Podcast For Sustainable Social Impact and Regeneration
Corinna Bellizzi
5 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 1 November 2024
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of Care More Be Better, host Corinna Bellizzi dives deep into local politics and community activism with John Lewis, a city council candidate in Scotts Valley, California. John shares his vision for the future of Scotts Valley, touching on pressing local issues like rising housing costs, the need for a town center, and the importance of personal agency in shaping our communities. This conversation is packed with insights on the challenges and rewards of running for office and what it means to be a “YIMBY” (Yes In My Backyard) advocate.
Key Topics Covered:
[00:00:26] Introduction to Care More Be Better and guest John Lewis.
[00:00:46] John’s background: Engineering expertise and community issues in Scotts Valley.
[00:02:21] Community engagement and motivation to run for city council.
[00:03:48] The need for a town center in Scotts Valley and why previous efforts stalled.
[00:06:37] Environmental and infrastructural challenges: From airport to town center.
[00:10:12] Essential traits and qualifications for running for local office.
[00:13:00] How city council can directly impact community well-being.
[00:18:55] Defining NIMBY vs. YIMBY and John’s endorsement from Santa Cruz YIMBY.
[00:26:04] Why John isn’t accepting political donations.
[00:28:42] The importance of local elections and civic engagement.
Call to Action: If you’re a Scotts Valley resident, consider voting for John Lewis to support local development that fosters community and sustainability. For resources on how to get involved, visit our website at CircleB.co.
Connect with John Lewis:
website: https://www.johnlewissvcity.com/
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lewis-44784516/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnLewisSVCity
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Right now, we're building a world that requires incumbent wealth by not building our world. |
| 0:08.1 | And it's tough to say, where are our kids going to live? |
| 0:13.4 | Because our kids are finally starting to grow up and figure out where their options are for living. |
| 0:19.5 | And when the city you're living in permits |
| 0:21.6 | a mean four houses a year or four dwellings a year, the option is that they're not going |
| 0:27.2 | to live nearby. And that's sad. And that also means that the people who work in the city |
| 0:33.5 | in retail, the people who are first responders sometimes, definitely the teachers, |
| 0:38.7 | it means that they can't afford to have a house in the area. So when you ask me what it means |
| 0:44.5 | to be a YIMBY, it means that not only are we producing the future generation of people |
| 0:51.1 | who are going to make our society, but it's also planning on giving them a place to live, |
| 0:57.4 | giving them opportunities. Welcome to Care More Be Better, a podcast for people like you who care |
| 1:04.4 | about the social impact of conscious companies and everyday heroes. Hear inspiring stories from |
| 1:10.6 | those who put people in planet before profit and personal gain. |
| 1:14.2 | You'll learn how you can make a difference, vote with your dollars, and get involved today. |
| 1:19.1 | Here's your host, Karina Belizei. |
| 1:24.5 | Hello and welcome to Care More Be Better, a Circle B podcast. Each week I invite you to care more about a |
| 1:31.7 | specific issue so that we can create a better world together. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to |
| 1:37.3 | someone in my backyard who is working to be the change that he wants to see in the world, starting |
| 1:42.6 | with our community. His name is John Lewis. John has worked |
| 1:46.3 | at a broad swath of engineering firms and Stanford Research Institute startups, contributing |
| 1:51.7 | his work to civil engineering teams that make sure buildings, dams, and bridges stand up to wind |
| 1:58.3 | and earthquakes. As a Scotts Valley resident in Santa Cruz County, he's become |
... |
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