As a trailer bill to the proposed budget, Governor Brown has proposed a bill that would make it significantly easier to build housing projects that include units dedicated to low-income residents. Specifically, the bill would grant approvals by right to projects in transit priority areas that include 10% low-income units or 5% very low-income units, and to projects outside transit priority areas that include 20% units reserved for households making less than 80% of the area’s median income. The LA Times has a good run down of specifics.
This means that projects that comply with the zoning would be approved without being subject to detailed reviews and arbitrary NIMBY lawsuits that waste time and money, and prevent new housing from being built. We agree with the state Legislative Analyst’s Office that the bill doesn’t go far enough, but it is a great start and it is very encouraging to see the governor take up this issue.
Now, the most important thing to do is show your support for more housing! Call your state representatives, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and Senate President Kevin de León, and tell them to support the Governor Brown’s affordable housing bill, Budget Trailer Bill 707.
Find your local rep: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon: (916) 319-2063 or (562) 529-3250
Senate President Kevin de León: (916) 651-4024 or (213) 483-9300
You can also send a postcard to all your reps quickly and easily through this site. Do it now!
