In an announcement that underscores the depth of the housing crisis gripping the Bay Area, Newark City Councilmember Mike Bucci resigned from his position on Thursday. He cited being priced out of the community he has served for nearly a decade. Bucci, first elected to the Newark City Council in 2014, has been a familiar face in local government and a persistent advocate for affordable housing. Still, the escalating cost of living has forced him to step down.

Bucci took to Facebook to share his plight, revealing that his efforts to secure a home in Newark were thwarted by exorbitant prices. "Unfortunately, we're just the next people in a long line of folks who have been priced out of town. We tried to buy a home a number of times over the years but it never happened for us," Bucci said in the post. With a median home value of just over $1.3 million, according to Zillow, affordability is a distant dream for many. Bucci's statement pointedly illustrated the irony of his situation, as he could not afford to live in the community he was dedicated to serving despite a commendable credit score and substantial down payment in hand.

Demonstrating the same commitment to his constituents that defined his tenure, Bucci has been part of numerous civic improvements in Newark. He played a significant role in creating the City's first Parks Master Plan and oversaw the development of key community spaces such as the all-weather turf fields at Mel Nunes Sportsfield Park, a new skate park, and Newark's first dog park. According to a Facebook post by the City of Newark, he supported several affordable housing projects, such as the Cedar Community Apartments funded by Project Homekey.

The resignation has stirred responses from other city officials, with Mayor Michael K. Hannon expressing gratitude for Bucci's contributions. "I thank Council Member Bucci for his nearly 10 years of service to the City and for his leadership and support of parks and affordable housing, and for his extraordinary passion for the services we provide to our residents", Hannon said, paying homage to Bucci's dedicated service. With the vacancy now open, the next steps for the Newark City Council include a special meeting to decide to either operate with four members or to appoint a temporary replacement till a special election can be held on November 5.