COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS LUNCHEON MEETING FRIDAY July 26, 2024 AT 11:45 AM
The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a LUNCHEON Board /Members Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday JULY 26, 2024 at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay ONLINE, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door-$25 for members, $30 for guests.
INTRODUCING OUR SPEAKER CONCORD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND MAYOR EDI E. BIRSAN
Mayor Edi E. Birsan was elected to the Concord City Council in November 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He served as Vice Mayor in 2017 and 2023, and as Mayor in 2018 and again in 2024.
Edi is also an active community leader and has served in many positions, from the Director of Community Services for the Rotary Club of Concord-Diablo, to the President of the Friends of the Library, and has been volunteering for numerous non-profit organizations, including the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.
Edi Birsan came to Concord in 1983 working for a global, inter-modal container leasing company. He started his own company in 1986, which currently focuses on certification/inspection and service in the inter-modal equipment field. He brings a history of running a small business as well as world-class experience in pioneering efforts in containerization of global trade.
Edi Birsan was born and raised in New York City where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in dual majors of History and Political Science from City University of New York (CCNY). He and his wife were high school sweethearts and have been married for 50 years. They have lived in New York City, Belgium and England before moving into his house in Concord in 1983 where they have raised their children in the area off of Monument Boulevard.
Rent control has been a constant issue before the City Council with numerous proposals and hearings before its elected body on the lack of affordable housing. Concord has an affordable housing problem.
With an affordable housing scarcity, a developer secured financing from the state for a large affordable housing development of 183 new apartments in downtown Concord, all nearly affordable.
This raised a classic example of State preemption over Local control. Before the council came an issue of two competing public policies, affordable housing versus a state policy of avoiding a concentration of low-income housing in one area of a city. Concord was concerned because it had already approved 300 affordable units of low- income housing in the downtown area of the City.
On June 10th Concord was faced with a warning letter from the State Housing Department when it withheld granting consent to the proposed project that the decision may violate
fair and affordable housing laws. On June 24th the City Council reversed its decision.
In the near future it is not clear whether real property taxes will be paid or exempt or whether the density of concentrated low-income housing will cause an increase in crime.
Who will cover the costs of additional law enforcement and fire protection. Time will tell. You can see this is a presentation that you will want to hear. Hope to see you at lunch on July 26th!
