WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I
WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE APRIL
17TH HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE 22 ITEMS ON
OUR AGENDA TODAY, FOR THE RECORD
, AB 2314. THAT IS, ITEM NUMBER
SIX HAS BEEN PULLED BY THE
AUTHOR, WE HAVE SEVEN GOALS ON
CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AB
2117, ITEM NUMBER NINE, AB 2638.
ITEM NUMBER TEN 2663. ITEM
NUMBER 12. AB 2694. ITEM NUMBER
13 AB 2835. ITEM NUMBER 15, AB
2898 AND ITEM NUMBER 21 AB 3122.
WHEN WE'VE ESTABLISHED A QUORUM,
WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A, VOTE AND
A MOTION AND A VOTE ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. EACH BILL CAN
HAVE TWO MAIN WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION, AND EACH
MAIN WITNESS GETS TWO MINUTES
EACH. I WELCOME YOU TO SUBMIT
WRITTEN TESTIMONY THROUGH THE
POSITION PORTAL ON THE
COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE. IT WILL
BECOME PART OF THE OFFICIAL
RECORD FOR THE HEARING. OUR
HEARING ROOM TODAY WILL BE OPEN
FOR ATTENDANCE AND ALL ARE
ENCOURAGED, OF COURSE, TO WATCH
THE HEARING FROM ITS LIVE STREAM
ON THE ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING. WE
HAVE A BUSY AGENDA THIS MORNING,
BUT I THINK A LOT OF PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATION TO, GET THROUGH.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO
BEGIN AS A SUBCOMMITTEE AND
ENCOURAGE ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO ROOM 126.
IN THE MEANTIME, I SEE OUR FIRST
AUTHOR WAS HERE BEFORE ME. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR ARAMBULA, WHEN
YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN PRESENT
ITEM NUMBER ONE, AB 1840, AND WE
WELCOME YOUR WITNESSES AS WELL.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS. THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS
OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. AB 1840
ENSURES THAT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM FOR ALL PROGRAM
INCLUDES UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS,
UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM
HOUSING INITIATIVES BECAUSE OF
FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS AT THE
STATE LEVEL, LEGAL STATUS CAN
COMPLICATE ACCESS TO HOME LOANS
AND HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS, POSING A SIGNIFICANT
HARDSHIP IN AN ALREADY
CHALLENGING SECTOR OF
CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY. ENSURING
UNIVERSAL ACCESS BY ALL
QUALIFIED BORROWERS TO THE
CALIFORNIA DREAM FOR ALL PROGRAM
WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL
SUCCESS AND VITALITY OF
CALIFORNIA. TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT IS CYNTHIA GÓMEZ, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF CHIRLA, THE STATE
POLICY AND ADVOCACY. EXCUSE ME,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF STATE POLICY
AND ADVOCACY AT CHIRLA. CYNTHIA
GÓMEZ, WELCOME. GOOD MORNING,
MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS CYNTHIA GOMEZ, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF STATE POLICY AND
ADVOCACY FOR THE COALITION OF
HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. CHIRLA
CHIRLA IS PROUD TO SPONSOR AB
1840 AND ARE THANKFUL TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER
ARAMBULA ON THIS BILL. LIKE
WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR HOME
OWNERSHIP IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
CONTRIBUTORS TO BUILDING WEALTH
FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
FAMILIES. A REPORT BY THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOUND THAT
ANNUALLY, HOUSING WEALTH
ACCUMULATION DUE TO THE
DEPRECIATION OF HOMES RANGES
FROM $1,712 TO UPWARDS OF
$4,460. HOWEVER, IT'S ALSO WELL
UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE ARE MANY
BARRIERS TO ACCESS FOR HOME
OWNERSHIP, IN PARTICULAR FOR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
CALIFORNIA'S SOLUTION
ORIENTATED, AND WE HAVE
IMPLEMENTED VARIOUS POLICIES
THAT HAVE MADE HOME OWNERSHIP A
REALITY FOR CALIFORNIANS. AMONG
THAT HAS BEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE DREAM FOR ALL PROGRAM,
WHICH HELPS FIRST TIME HOME
BUYERS PROVIDE A DOWN PAYMENT ON
A HOME. THE DREAM FOR ALL
PROGRAM IS A MONUMENTAL PROGRAM
THAT BENEFITS MANY LOW AND
MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES. HOWEVER,
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL
CALIFORNIANS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
PROGRAM AND THIS IS PRECISELY
WHAT AB 1840 SEEKS TO ACHIEVE.
AB 1840 WOULD ENSURE THAT AN
INDIVIDUAL IS NOT TURNED AWAY
FROM THE DREAM FOR ALL PROGRAM
SOLELY BASED ON THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS. CALIFORNIA
IS HOME TO APPROXIMATELY 10
MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
WHO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE THEIR
FAMILIES WITHIN OUR STATE, AND
IMMIGRANTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART
OF WHAT MAKES CALIFORNIA THE
GOLDEN STATE ECONOMICALLY.
IMMIGRANTS ARE ALSO A LARGE
CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR STATE,
CONTRIBUTING ROUGHLY $37.7
BILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES
IN RECENT YEARS. CALIFORNIA HAS
MADE GREAT STRIDES IN ENSURING
THAT WE LIVE UP TO OUR IDEALS
AND EMBODY THE NOTION OF BEING A
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL. AB 1840
CONTINUES OUR COMMITMENT TO
ENSURING THAT ALL CALIFORNIANS,
IRREGARDLESS OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, HAVE HAVE
ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY
NEED TO THRIVE. WE THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS BILL
AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON
AB 1840. I CONTINUE. GOOD
MORNING. MY NAME IS LETICIA
LOPEZ, CENTRAL VALLEY ORGANIZER
WITH CHIRLA, SHARING TESTIMONY
FROM KAREN ZEPEDA, CHIRLA MEMBER
FROM LINDSAY. THANKS TO THE
DREAM FOR ALL PROGRAM, I WAS
ABLE TO ACHIEVE MY LONGTIME GOAL
OF BUYING A HOME AS A DACA
RECIPIENT. IF ONE PERSON IN THE
COMMUNITY SUCCEEDS, THAT PUSHES
THE COMMUNITY FORWARD AND I AM
FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO INSPIRE
OTHERS, TO BE UNAFRAID OF TAKING
RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES. I'M A
HUGE ADVOCATE WHEN IT COMES TO
PUSHING FORWARD THE COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR MY PARENTS AND
MANY MEMBERS IN MY PREDOMINANTLY
HISPANIC IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY,
THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN ONLY
DREAM OF IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY,
FARMWORKERS MAKE UP A GREAT
PORTION OF THE WORKFORCE. THIS
LEADS ME TO THE QUESTION IS
CALIFORNIA TRULY UPHOLDING
EQUITY? IF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
CARRY OUR STRONG, AGRICULTURALLY
DOMINATED ECONOMY ARE STAYING
BEHIND? MANY OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK HARD DAY IN
AND DAY OUT, PAY RENT, PAY
TAXES, AND GIVE SO MUCH TO THEIR
COMMUNITIES. WE ARE SPEAKING
ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PUT
IN BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS OVER
THE COURSE OF 20, 30, 40 YEARS
AND ASPIRE TO OWN A HOME. BEING
ABLE TO FULFILL THIS LONGTIME
DREAM OF PROVIDING A HOME FOR
THEIR FAMILIES AND EXCEL IS
SOMETHING MANY MEMBERS OF MY
COMMUNITY CAN ONLY DREAM OF
EXTENDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WOULD ALLOW
MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOUSING
SECURITY, NOT HAVING TO WORRY
ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. AND AFTER AN
IMMENSE PHYSICAL TOLL DAY IN AND
DAY OUT IN HARD LABOR JOBS, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR
LIVELIHOODS. I ASK YOU, PLEASE
SUPPORT AB 1840 AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM?
YES. NAME, ORGANIZATION AND
POSITION. SO MY NAME IS OH, I'M
SORRY, I'M SORRY, I DID NOT
COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTIONS,
PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE
AND STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, SUSAN MARTIN AT W
STRATEGIES. HERE ON BEHALF OF
UNIDOS US. AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALICIA
BENAVIDES HERE ON BEHALF OF ACLU
CALIFORNIA ACTION IN SUPPORT,
MARK STIVERS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT IN
SPANISH. YESENIA ALTAMIRANO,
ESTE DE CHIRLA APOYANDO LA.
THANK YOU. I'M JOANNA LOPEZ FROM
CHIRLA AND I SUPPORT AB 1840.
THANK YOU. BUENOS DIAS. MY NAME
IS YANA ORTIZ Y PERTENEZCO A
CHIRLA Y TAMBIÉN APOYANDO LA
CUARENTA. GRACIAS. BUENOS DIAS A
TODOS. MY NAME IS MONICA
SANCHEZ. Y VENGO REPRESENTANDO A
CHIRLA Y VENGO REPRESENTANDO
CUARENTA Y APOYO DE GRACIAS. ME
NOMBRE ES OLGA GARCIA Y APOYO A
LA CUENTA. MY NAME IS MARIA
HERNANDEZ CON CHIRLA. MY NAME IS
KRISTEN CAMACHO AND I SUPPORT 18
AB 1840. MI NOMBRE ES FELIPE
MARTINEZ. YOU APOYO A GRACIAS.
THANK YOU. YO SOY ELSA MARTINEZ
DE APOYO LÀ ÁP DE SOTO CUARENTA.
GRACIAS BUENOS DIAS. ME NOMBRE
ES MARTIN ACOSTA Y VENGO ESTE
REPRESENTANTES CHIRLA ALLA Y
APOYO A LA CUENTA. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE
GOING TO PAUSE AND ASK OUR
COMMITTEE SECRETARY TO ESTABLISH
QUORUM. WARREN HERE WEREN'T HERE
PERSON HERE. PERSON HERE.
GRAYSON. GRAYSON. HERE. CHOLERA
LEE. QUIRK-SILVA. QUIRK-SILVA
HERE. REYES. REYES. HERE.
SANCHEZ. WILSON THANK YOU. WE
HAVE A QUORUM. WE'LL CONTINUE ON
THIS ITEM AND ARE THERE ANY
PRIMARY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION
SEEING NONE. ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WISHING TO STATE
OPPOSITION ON THE RECORD? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING THIS
BACK TO COMMITTEE. ANY MEMBER
COMMENT? MISS REYES MOVES THE
BILL. MR. VICE CHAIR PATTERSON.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR ARAMBULA, IS I
KIND OF ALLUDED TO LAST WEEK ON
ANOTHER BILL IS, YOU KNOW, MY,
MY STEPDAD WHO'S WHO'S BEEN IN
MY LIFE FOR SINCE I WAS SIX
MONTHS OLD, IS A MEXICAN
IMMIGRANT AND ALL MY BROTHER'S
OLDER BROTHER AND THREE YOUNGER
BROTHERS ARE LATINOS, AND AS A
RESULT OF THAT, BEING FROM NAPA,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF
FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT
CAME HERE FROM MEXICO. WE HAVE
PEOPLE ON WORK VISAS, YOU KNOW,
LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I'M VERY
SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS, THE PLIGHT
OF IMMIGRANTS, I WELCOME
IMMIGRATION TO THIS COUNTRY, AND
I AGREE THAT THE MEXICAN
POPULATION IN PARTICULAR, THE
IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN GENERAL,
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT IN
CALIFORNIA, PROVIDES A LOT OF
LABOR FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR
FARM FARMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I'M SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS
OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
IMMIGRANT POPULATION, FOR SURE,
LAST FRIDAY I HAPPENED TO VISIT,
THE BORDER IN SAN DIEGO AND, AND
MET WITH THE CALIFORNIA BORDER
PATROL, WHERE I WAS INFORMED
THAT 1200 PEOPLE PER DAY, ARE
CROSSING THE BORDER,
UNDOCUMENTED, SEEKING ASYLUM IN
THE UNITED STATES. THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THEM NOT ACTUALLY
MEXICAN, THEY'RE FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES, COMING THROUGH THE
CALIFORNIA BORDER FOR A
COMBINATION OF REASONS. AND WHAT
HAPPENS IS, AND I'M SURE YOU
KNOW ALL THIS, I'M JUST KIND OF
PUTTING THIS ON THE RECORD IS
RIGHT NOW UNDER THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION AND THE CURRENT
PRACTICES IS IF THEY GET ACROSS
THE FIRST FENCE, WHICH IS 18FT
IN SAN DIEGO OR HOWEVER ELSE YOU
COME ACROSS, THEY ARE PROCESSED
AND RELEASED AND GIVEN 5 TO 7
YEARS DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY
GO. IF THEY GO TO IOWA, IT'LL BE
FIVE MONTHS. IF THEY GO TO NEW
YORK OR SAY THEY'RE GOING TO NEW
YORK, IT'LL BE 5 TO 7 YEARS
BEFORE THEY GET THERE, COURT
HEARING AND WITH LIMITED FUNDS
THAT WE HAVE IN CALIFORNIA, I
JUST I CANNOT GET BEHIND. AND BY
THE WAY, I UNDERSTAND IN A LOT
OF CASES THE DACA SITUATION
WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAME
WITH THEIR PARENTS, WHEN THEY'RE
CHILDREN. RIGHT. AND THAT'S SOME
OF MY FRIENDS, ON CITY COUNCILS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT CAME HERE
AND WERE DACA, CAME HERE, DACA
RECIPIENTS. BUT I JUST CAN'T GET
BEHIND USING OUR LIMITED DOLLARS
, FOR PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO,
WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY
UNDOCUMENTED AND, WHEN WE HAVE
VERY LIMITED FUNDS, WE HAVE A
LOT OF PEOPLE SUFFERING IN THIS
STATE. AND I THINK WE HAVE WE
HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS. AND,
THERE'S WHERE DO WE MAKE THOSE
DECISIONS? WHERE DO WE DRAW THAT
LINE? AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I
CAN'T SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND I SAY
IT WITH A LOT OF RESPECT TO YOU,
THE AUTHOR, AND THE PEOPLE
ADVOCATING FOR THIS. BUT I JUST
CAN'T SUPPORT, GIVING LIMITED
FUNDS TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE
LEGALLY. I UNDERSTAND THE
COMPLICATED PROCESS OF GETTING
HERE LEGALLY. TRUST ME, IN 17
YEARS TO GET A VISA FOR MY
STEPFATHER'S FAMILY MEMBERS.
BUT, LONG WAY TO SAY I JUST. I
ABSOLUTELY AM VERY AGAINST THIS
BILL, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF
RESPECT FOR YOU, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THROUGH THE
CHAIR, IF I MAY, I DON'T WANT TO
CONFLATE THE LARGER IMMIGRATION
ISSUE WITH THE PROPOSAL THAT WE
HAVE BEFORE US. WE WERE VERY
INTENTIONAL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
WAS AN IMMIGRANT WHO WOULD BE
ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN TO DO
SUCH, THEY WOULD HAVE EITHER AN
I10 OR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER,
WHICH WOULD ELEVATE THE BAR MUCH
HIGHER THAN YOU WERE
REFERENCING. VICE CHAIR. SECOND,
I'LL JUST SAY OFTENTIMES IT IS
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO
ARE TAXED WHO DON'T HAVE
REPRESENTATION AND DON'T GET THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
BUILD THE GENERATIONAL WEALTH
THAT HELPS THE AMERICAN CITIZENS
THAT THEY'RE HAVING HERE IN OUR
STATE RIGHT NOW. AND SO THERE'S
A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT FROM US AS
A SYSTEM TO RECOGNIZING THAT ALL
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE SHOULD HAVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DREAM THAT
HOMEOWNERS. NICE ENTRANCE. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR ARAMBULA ANY OTHER
MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,
MISS REYES. I DO WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL. I
THINK THAT YOU HAVE AND THANK
YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT WE'RE WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, THE
APPLICANTS HAVE TO QUALIFY, IT
ISN'T GIVEN OUT WILLY NILLY TO
JUST ANYBODY, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE
EFFORT YOU PUT TO PUTTING THE
GUARDRAILS. WE DON'T WANT
SOMEBODY TO ALSO BUY A HOUSE AND
THEN LOSE IT BECAUSE THEY SHOULD
NOT HAVE QUALIFIED IN THE FIRST
PLACE. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT
HAPPENED A LOT WITH A WHOLE LOT
OF PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT THEIR
HOMES, SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEEING NO
OTHER MEMBERS WISH TO COMMENT, I
WE HAVE A SECOND BY MR. GRAYSON,
DOCTOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE
SUPPORTING ALL CALIFORNIANS WHO
ARE HERE AND IMPORTANTLY. AND I
WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK. ARE YOU
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE'S
CLARIFYING AMENDMENTS? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU. BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE PROGRAM CAN BE SOLD AND
SERVICED BY FANNIE MAE, WITH
THAT, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING
FURTHER TO CLOSE? THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. THANK YOU, MADAM
SECRETARY. CALL THE ROLE. MOTION
IS TO PASS, AS AMENDED, TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE AND
APPROPRIATIONS. WORK I BOUGHT I,
PATTERSON, PATTERSON, NØ GRAYSON
. GRAYSON I CHOLERA, CHOLERA. I
LI QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I
REYES I REYES I SANCHEZ. WILSON
ORPHALI WILSON NOT VOTING THAT
BILL CURRENTLY HAS FIVE VOTES.
FIVE VOTES IT IS OUT WILL HOLD
THE ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
NEXT WE HAVE HERE, MR. SOME
MEMBER, JUAN CARRILLO. AND SO
WE'LL TAKE ITEM NUMBER 2485. AND
WHEN YOU ARE READY WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION, YOU MAY BEGIN.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY
BILL 2485. THIS BILL SEEKS TO
ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, KNOWN AS
HCD, REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS.
CALCULATING PROCESS BY CREATING
AN ADVISORY PANEL AND REQUIRING
THE PUBLICATION OF METHODOLOGIES
USED ON HGTV'S WEBSITE. THE
REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS
ASSESSMENT ARENA IS REFERRED TO.
IS A STATE MANDATED PROGRAM THAT
REQUIRES CITIES AND COUNTIES TO
BUILD NEW HOUSING FOR EXPECTED
POPULATION GROWTH OVER AN EIGHT
YEAR PLANNING PERIOD. THE
PLANNING CYCLE, AS IT'S CALLED
COMMUNITIES USE ARENA IN THEIR
LAND USE PLANNING,
PRIORITIZATION, LOCAL RESOURCE
ALLOCATION AND DECIDING HOW TO
ADDRESS IDENTIFIED HOUSING NEEDS
RESULTING FROM POPULATION,
EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSEHOLD GROWTH.
WHILE IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY
ENCOURAGE OR PROMOTE GROWTH, IT
ALLOWS COMMUNITIES TO ANTICIPATE
IT SO THAT IT COLLECTIVELY THE
REGION AND THE SUBREGION CAN
GROW IN WAYS THAT ENHANCE
QUALITY OF LIFE, IMPROVE ACCESS
TO JOBS, PROMOTE TRANSPORTATION
AND MOBILITY, AND ADDRESS SOCIAL
EQUITY AND FAIR SHARE HOUSING
NEEDS. IN MARCH OF 2022, THE
STATE AUDITOR CONDUCTED AN
EMERGENCY AUDIT TO EXAMINE THE
RENA PROCESS AND IDENTIFIED
SEVERAL ERRORS IN THE CITY'S
HOUSING PROJECTIONS THAT
RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE
ALLOCATED HOUSING AMOUNTS.
SPECIFICALLY, SACRAMENTO COC
FELL SHORT BY 2484 HOUSING UNITS
AND SANTA BARBARA COC BY 1338
UNITS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE
AUDITOR FOUND THAT HCD COULD NOT
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAD
ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED ALL THE
FACTORS AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW
IN RESPONSE, THE STATE AUDITOR
STATED THAT SHORTCOMINGS IN
CALCULATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR
EACH OF THESE FACTORS
CONSIDERATIONS, RISKS ERODING
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THEIR
ABILITY TO PROVIDE ACCURATE
INFORMATION TO COCS CONCERNING
HOUSING NEEDS. THE STATE AUDITOR
RECOMMENDED A FORMAL REVIEW
PROCESS AND THROUGH
DOCUMENTATION MEASURES TO ENSURE
THAT ALL ARENA CALCULATIONS
PROVIDED TO COCS ARE ACCURATE.
TO ASSIST IN THIS FORMAL REVIEW
PROCESS, THE ADVISORY PANEL
WOULD INCLUDE A UNITED STATES
CENSUS BUREAU AFFILIATED
PRACTITIONER, AN EXPERT ON DATA
RELATED TO ARENA, AND
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COX AB
2485 AIMS TO ADDRESS THESE
CONCERNS FROM THE STATE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THE ADDITIONAL
STEPS IN THE ARENA DETERMINATION
PROCESS WILL BE SEAMLESSLY
IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE CURRENT
CALCULATION TIMELINE, AND WILL
NOT DELAY THE DISTRIBUTION OF
HOUSING NEEDS TO COX AND THEIR
CITIES OR COUNTIES.
ADDITIONALLY, I AM COMMITTED TO
WORKING CLOSELY WITH HCD AND
REGIONAL COLLEAGUES TO DETERMINE
REASONABLE DATA WITHIN THE
CURRENT CYCLE TIMELINE TO
PERFORM THESE NEW STEPS. GIVEN
THE IMPORTANCE OF ARENA PROCESS
IN ALLEVIATING THE STATE'S
HOUSING CRISIS, IT'S VISIBILITY
AS IT AFFECTS NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF HOUSING
NEED COMPARED TO WHAT HAS BEEN
BUILT IN THE PAST. THERE IS A
SEVERE RISK TO THE CREDIBILITY
OF THE PROCESS IF IT IS
INSUFFICIENTLY TRANSPARENT,
CREDIBLE AND ROBUST. THE BILL.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A
SECOND. IS THERE A WITNESS IN
SUPPORT THAT WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY? WE DO HAVE A PRIMARY
WITNESS. THE VICE CHAIR OF SCAG
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, FROM
RIVERSIDE, MAYOR PATRICIA LOCK
DAWSON. FANTASTIC. YOU'RE
WELCOME TO JUST, OFFER SUPPORT
STATEMENT OR ANY OTHER
INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE TO. I
HAVE A VERY LONG STATEMENT,
PLEASE USE THE MICROPHONE. SO,
FOR THOSE LISTENING ON THE TV.
THANK YOU. AND ALSO WITH MAYOR
JOSE LUIS ALSO HERE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE UP TO TWO
MINUTES EACH. ALL RIGHT? YES SO,
SO GOOD MORNING. ALL. MY NAME IS
PATRICIA DAWSON. I'M THE MAYOR
OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, AND
I'M ALSO THE CURRENT CHAIR OF
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HEARING US
TODAY TO DISCUSS THIS BILL, THE
PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS NOT TO
LOWER OR INCREASE RINA
DETERMINATION, BUT TO ENSURE ITS
ACCURACY. AND I THINK WE'RE ALL
INTERESTED IN THAT. IN 2022,
STATE AUDITOR CONDUCTED A REPORT
AND FOUND THAT SOME OF THE RINA
DETERMINATIONS MADE BY HCD WERE
INACCURATE, SHOCKING.
ADDITIONALLY, IN THE SCAG
REGION, WITH OUR 1.34 MILLION
RINA DETERMINATION, MANY OF OUR
MEMBER CITIES AND COUNTIES
EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY SURROUNDING
THE PROCESS. SO OUR BILL SEEKS
TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BY ONE
CREATING SIMPLE PROCEDURES FOR
HCD TO PUBLICIZE ITS DATA BEFORE
FINALIZING A REGION'S RINA
DETERMINATION, AND TWO CONVENING
A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO ADVISE THE
DEPARTMENT ON THAT DATA. AND
THAT PANEL WOULD BE SPECIFIC TO
EACH COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
COMPRISED OF THREE ENTITIES,
INCLUDING A CENSUS BUREAU
AFFILIATED PRACTITIONER, A
DEMOGRAPHIC EXPERT AND A COG
REPRESENTATIVE. CURRENTLY, THE
DETERMINATION PROCESS INCLUDES A
CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT BETWEEN
COGS AND HCD, BUT IT'S STILL
DEFINED IN STATE LAW. THIS BILL
SEEKS TO BOTH MAINTAIN THE
FLEXIBILITY WHICH WE APPRECIATE
AND ENHANCE THE CONSULTATION
PROCESS BY HAVING A NEUTRAL
THIRD PARTY WITH DEMOGRAPHIC
EXPERTISE PROVIDE PEER REVIEW TO
ENSURE THE NUMBERS, ASSUMPTIONS
AND EQUATIONS ARE VETTED AND
FACT CHECKED. SO I WILL STOP
THERE AND WE ENVISION THE
PROCESS LAID OUT BY OUR BILL
BEING INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING
CONSULTATION TIMELINE. AND WE
HOPE THAT BY INCREASING TRUST IN
THE PROCESS THROUGH ADDED
TRANSPARENCY, THERE WILL BE
FEWER APPEALS AND DELAYS, WHICH
WE HAD A LOT OF LAST YEAR. SO
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I
WOULD LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUE, MAYOR JOSE LUIS
SALAS, WHO'S THE VICE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. THANK THANK YOU,
MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AGAIN, JOSE LUIS SALAS
PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY, JUST TO
BE AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR HOUSING
NEEDS IN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, YOU KNOW, JUST TO
REITERATE, YOU KNOW, WE
REPRESENT SIX COUNTIES, IN THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION, AND
WE'RE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A
66,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS
THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
VÀ I THINK THE MAYOR ALREADY
ELOQUENTLY STATED A LOT OF THE
FACTS THAT WE WANTED TO SHARE.
SO WE WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF
TIME, BUT ALSO ADDITIONALLY, WE
ARE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR HOUSING
PROGRAMS THAT HELP OUR CITIES
AND COUNTIES SUPPORT HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE FRIENDLY
WAY, SUCH AS AN INFILL
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAM AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. BUT IT'S,
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS, WE'RE THANK YOU
OF SENATOR CARRILLO FOR HELPING
US PUSH THIS BILL TOGETHER FOR
OUR COMMUNITIES. AND WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING A
PARTNER WITH OUR STATE LEADERS
AND CREATING MORE HOUSING FOR
OUR FAMILIES. FOR SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
ITEM? PLEASE APPROACH THE
MICROPHONE. GOOD MORNING.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SABRINA
BRADBURY WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF COUNCILS OF
GOVERNMENTS AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. MARK NEWBERGER WITH THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTIES IN SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING. CHAIR MEMBERS. BRADY
GIRTON ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE
OF CALIFORNIA CITIES IN SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
CARLY SHELBY, ON BEHALF OF THE
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. AND ARE THERE ANY, ANYONE
HERE IN PRIMARY OPPOSITION TO
THIS BILL FOR TESTIMONY? SEEING
NONE, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISHING TO STATE OPPOSITION ON
THE RECORD AND SEEING NONE,
WE'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE
MEMBERS FOR QUESTIONS. SO,
MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA, YES, I HAVE
A FEW QUESTIONS, THIS BILL
DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTENT TO
TRANSFER, ANY HOUSING
ALLOCATION. THAT IS CORRECT.
THERE IS NO INTENT TO CITY. NO,
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, THERE HAS
BEEN SOME ATTEMPTS TO DO THAT,
WHICH I'M HIGHLY OPPOSED TO.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A THIRD PARTY
IN PARTIAL MEMBER ON PART OF
THIS BOARD, I BELIEVE YOU
MENTIONED IN YOUR COMMENTS THAT
IT WOULD BE, WHO WOULD THAT
THIRD PARTY BE? CAN YOU RESTATE
THAT? SURE I CAN IN MY COMMENTS.
I HAVE HERE, BUT I WOULD ALSO
DEFER TO THE AUTHOR. BUT THE WAY
WE HAD IT WRITTEN IN THERE WAS
THAT IT WOULD HAVE THREE
ENTITIES US CENSUS BUREAU
AFFILIATED PRACTITIONER,
DEMOGRAPHIC EXPERT, AND A COG
REPRESENTATIVE WHO IS AN
AFFILIATED PRACTITIONER. WHAT
WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, I DON'T
KNOW IF WE HAVE REALLY SPECIFIED
WHO THE PRACTITIONER WOULD BE,
BUT WE TALKED ABOUT RESULTS FROM
THE CENSUS DATA. THAT IS PART OF
IT. SO IT COULD BE SOMEBODY FROM
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE
IN CHARGE OF THE CENSUS PROCESS.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE BILL
TODAY, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS
THAT THIS, WOULD NOT DELAY THE
IMPLEMENTATION OR THE PROCESS AS
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN, MANY, MANY
ATTEMPTS BY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
TO DELAY, TO PROLONG AND NOT TO
MEET WHAT THE SPIRIT OF THE RENA
NUMBERS AND THIS IS, IN FACT,
WHY WE ARE IN THE POSITION WE
ARE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BUILDING
AT THE PACE WE NEED TO. AND
MANY. YOU SAID THERE'S BEEN MANY
APPEALS AND THAT IS CERTAINLY A
JURISDICTIONS RIGHT. BUT AS WE
KNOW WHAT IT DOES, IT ADDS YEARS
TO PROJECTS AND THEN PROJECTS
ULTIMATELY DON'T GET BUILT. SO I
GET A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN I
SEE THE SUPPORT HERE, WHICH IS
USUALLY THE SUPPORT, INDIVIDUALS
OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO OPPOSE
HOUSING. SO I'M JUST GOING TO BE
AS BLUNT AS I CAN. I WILL
SUPPORT IT UNDER THE GUISE THAT
WE WANT TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB
OF HAVING, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
ACCEPT THE RENA NUMBERS AND MOVE
FORWARD IN A STREAMLINED, PRO
HOUSING FORMAT TO GET THE
HOUSING THAT WE KNOW WE
DESPERATELY NEED IN CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT IF I CAN, ELABORATE ON THAT,
ON I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL
ACTUALLY ACCELERATE THE PROCESS
ON CITIES ACCEPTING THE
ALLOCATIONS. AND I SAY THAT
BECAUSE I PARTICIPATED IN THE
OECD PROCESS ON THE EIGHTH CYCLE
AND A LOT OF THOSE, THOSE 2 OR 3
APPEALS THAT THEY DO BECAUSE
THEY QUESTIONED THE METHODOLOGY
ON HOW THESE NUMBERS CAME ABOUT.
SO BY HAVING THAT TRANSPARENCY
AND THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE
HCD AS TO WHAT THE METHODOLOGY
REALLY IS, I DO BELIEVE THAT IT
WILL ACTUALLY LESSEN THE NUMBER
OF APPEALS BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE ON THE Ã CYCLE.
WELL, ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARILLO,
YOU ARE WELL RESPECTED AND THAT
IS WHY I WILL BE A YES ON THIS,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE
HEARD DIRECTLY FROM MY CITIES
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN THE RENA
PROCESS. THEY THINK THEY'RE
INACCURATE AND THEY'RE GOING TO
DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO FIGHT
IT. BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE THE LEAD
AUTHOR ON THIS, I WILL SUPPORT
IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
VICE CHAIR. GREAT. THANK YOU, I
AGREE, I AGREED WITH, SOME OF
THE SENTIMENTS, FROM MY
COLLEAGUE HERE ON THE COMMITTEE,
THAT WE ARE SEEING, JUST NOT
REALLY GOOD FAITH EFFORTS, FROM
SOME JURISDICTIONS, BUT I JUST
WANT TO SAY JUST, WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, IS THAT I DO BELIEVE
RENA, NUMBERS ARE FICTION.
FICTION AND IMAGINARY, MY CITY
WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING
CITIES. APPROVED EVERY PROJECT
IN THE SIX YEARS THAT I WAS ON
THERE. AND THE NEW RENA NUMBERS,
DESPITE IT BEING COMPLETELY
BUILT OUT, ARE DOUBLE THAN WHAT
THEY WERE BEFORE. NOW. WE WENT
THROUGH THE PROCESS, FOUND ALL
THE SITES WE DID IT, BUT EVEN.
BUT THAT AMOUNT OF HOUSING JUST
ISN'T GOING TO COME TO THE CITY
BECAUSE WE APPROVED EVERYTHING
AND WE ONLY GOT HALF THE NUMBER
THEY'RE ASKING FOR. AND I THINK
UNTIL WE SORT OF START TAKE, YOU
KNOW, RECOGNIZING THAT AS AN
INSTITUTION, THEN THEN CITIES
ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE. I'D RATHER WE PUT A
LOT MORE TIME AND EFFORT ON,
ACTUALLY DELIVERING HOUSING. BUT
I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD
BECAUSE THIS ADDS THAT COMPONENT
IN TERMS OF SOMEBODY WHO'S KIND
OF LIKE DISINTEREST, AND THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHIC
CHANGES, WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING
TO AND THE LIKELINESS OF
POTENTIAL SUCCESS THAT WE COULD
MEET THOSE NUMBERS. AND SO I
JUST THINK IT BRINGS AN ELEMENT
TO, TO THE IT BRINGS A LITTLE
BIT MORE OF A REALISTIC. AND I
WILL SAY I ALSO LOOKED AT THE
SUPPORTERS AS WELL, WE'RE NOT
OFTEN ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE SAW
IN COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, SO I GET
THAT, BUT ALSO I THIS BRINGS A
LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DOSE OF
REALITY TO THE PROCESS. AND I
THINK IT'S A GOOD BILL. AND
ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED
AS A COAUTHOR IF YOU WOULD DO
THAT. WHEN? THE TIME.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. YES.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR. AND
SEEING NO, MISS REYES. WELL, I
APPRECIATE THE WITNESSES YOU
BROUGHT, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO
HAVE SOME SOME LOCAL PEOPLE COME
IN AND TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR
SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT I'VE
GOT TO TELL YOU THAT A LOT OF
THE COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUE
FROM ORANGE. ORANGE COUNTY, THIS
IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS IN
MIND. AND THEN WHEN MY COLLEAGUE
SAYS THESE ARE MADE UP NUMBERS,
THEN I KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE REAL
NUMBERS AND WE REALLY. SO IF
WHAT WE'RE COUNTING IS NOT BEING
COUNTED PROPERLY, THEN WE DO
NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY, OUR
COLLEAGUE HAS MENTIONED YOU HAVE
A GREAT REPUTATION. YOU. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT YOU SPENT YOUR
CAREER IN, ON PLANNING, AND SO
THIS IS IMPORTANT, AND I, I KNOW
IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU. I AND MY
COLLEAGUE SAID OUR JOB IS TO
DELIVER HOUSING, OR OUR CITY'S
JOB IS TO DELIVER THE HOUSING,
YOU TALKED ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
THOSE ARE ALL THE RIGHT THINGS
TO SAY, BUT THE RENA NUMBERS ARE
REAL, AND WE DO HAVE TO INCREASE
OUR HOUSING. WE NEED TO MEET OUR
GOALS. AND IF THERE'S SOME
BETTER WAY TO DO IT, I. I'M
WILLING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. BUT WE DO HAVE TO
MEET THOSE GOALS. SO, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SEEING MR. CULVER. NO. FANTASTIC
MR. CARRILLO, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. I'D ARGUE THAT THESE
ARE NOT MADE UP NUMBERS. THERE'S
SOMETHING GOING INTO THE FORMULA
THAT IS TRYING TO INFORM WHAT WE
NEED TO PLAN FOR, AND I THINK
THE TRANSPARENCY PIECE THAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO TEASE OUT HERE
IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO
YOUR WITNESSES SUPPORT POINT AND
YOURS AS WELL, THAT WE ARE
UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING INTO
THAT. IT'S GOING TO REDUCE A LOT
OF THE TENSION AND DEBATE AND
POTENTIAL, LAWSUIT AND DELAY ON
THE BACK END, BUT I THINK THAT
THE CONVERSE IS TRUE. IF WE'RE
NOT MEETING OUR RENA NUMBERS,
IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PRODUCING
THE HOUSING THAT WE NEED. AND IF
WE'RE NOT PRODUCING THAT
HOUSING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
REAL CHALLENGES WITH OUR
POPULATION AND WITH OUR, SOCIETY
AS A STATE. I THINK IN THE
COMING TIME. SO, BUT LET'S
START, YOU KNOW, BACK AT THE
BEGINNING AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE DOING THIS IN A VERY
TRANSPARENT WAY. I'D ENCOURAGE
YOU TO WORK WITH HCD TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE ADVISORY BODY, AS
YOU ARE DESCRIBING IT,
IMPLEMENTS CORRECTLY. AND BY
THAT I MEAN THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS, DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT
MEETS THE INTERESTS OF BOTH OUR
LOCAL PARTNERS AS WELL AS YOUR
INTERESTS AS AN AUTHOR WITH
THAT, I INVITE YOU TO CLOSE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND
YOU ALL HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT
I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HCD,
AND WITH THAT, I ASK FOR A NO
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL. THE ROLL
MOTION IS TO PASS THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WARD A WARD I PATTERSON.
HARRISON I GRAYSON. GRAYSON I
CHOLERA CHOLERA I LEE NOT VOTING
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I REYES
REYES I SANCHEZ. WILSON HI.
WILSON. I THAT MEASURE HAS SIX
SEVEN VOTES. IT WILL BE OUT AND
WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK
YOU. NEXT ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ALVAREZ. IS HERE. AND I THINK WE
HAVE ONE ITEM, THIS IS ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN, AB 2430. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WELCOME BACK. AND IF
YOU HAVE WITNESSES IN SUPPORT,
THEY MAY JOIN YOU AT THE
PRESENTATION TABLE AS WELL.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING
TO YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
ELIMINATING FEES WHEN IT COMES
TO BUILDING HOUSING. THIS IS
ASSEMBLY BILL 2430, WE STARTED
THE CONVERSATION ON THIS BILL
BACK IN DECEMBER. IT'S, A
CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN VERY
ACTIVE BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS AND
CERTAINLY THE COMMITTEE
APPRECIATE THE STAFF FOR, THE
CONSISTENT FEEDBACK, AND YOU
HAVE AMENDMENTS TODAY BEFORE YOU
THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THAT
FEEDBACK, WHICH, OF COURSE, WE
WILL BE ACCEPTING. ASSEMBLY BILL
2430 WOULD EXEMPT A LOCAL
DEVELOPER FROM PAYING AN EXTRA
UNNECESSARY AND DUPLICATIVE FEE,
CALLED A MONITORING FEE, ON
PROJECTS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE IN
NATURE AND BY REQUIREMENTS ONLY
PROJECTS THAT USE STATE
INCENTIVE, KNOWN AS THE STATE
DENSITY BONUS LAW AND IS SUBJECT
TO REGULATORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN
TWO CDLAC OR HCD THAT HAS
MONITORING PROVISIONS BUILT INTO
IT, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS
EXEMPTION OF THIS FEE TO ENSURE
THAT THIS BILL ONLY TARGETS
DUPLICATIVE MONITORING. THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS ALSO
EXEMPTS PROJECTS THAT USE A
LOCAL DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM THAT
REQUIRE DEEPER AFFORDABILITY,
AND ACCEPT A LOCAL FUNDING
SOURCE THAT REQUIRES DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY AND HAS
A FUNDING SOURCE THAT OBLIGATES
THE LOCALITY, THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, TO MONITOR THAT
PROJECT IF IT ISN'T ALREADY
BEING MONITORED BY THE AGENCIES.
I MENTIONED EARLIER. AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW FROM SERVING IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, ALL AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN
CALIFORNIA THAT RECEIVE STATE
FUNDING ARE SUBJECT TO
COMPLIANCE, MONITOR WITH
MONITORING THAT ENSURES THAT THE
UNITS ARE OCCUPIED BY A TENANT
WHO'S ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE AT THOSE
INCOME LEVELS TO LIVE IN THOSE
UNITS. TCAC, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
TAX CREDIT ALLOCATION COMMITTEE
ROUTINELY, HAS PHYSICAL
INSPECTION SITE INSPECTIONS OF
UNITS ON THE CONDITIONS,
PROPERTY STANDARDS AND THE SHARE
OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AT EVERY
DEVELOPMENT SITE. THERE IS AN
ANNUAL FILE MONITORING OF THE
TENANT INCOME OVER THE 55 YEAR
LIFESPAN THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE
REMAIN AFFORDABLE, AND PHYSICAL
INSPECTIONS ARE ALSO DONE ON AN
AS NEEDED BASIS. WHEN IT
DISCOVERS OR REPORTS OF ANY
PROBLEMS. ALTHOUGH SOME CITIES
RELY ON STATE MONITORING
ACTIVITIES ALONE, OTHERS CHOOSE
TO CHARGE DEVELOPERS ADDITIONAL
FEES TO COVER THEIR OWN
DUPLICATIVE MONITORING
ACTIVITIES THAT LARGELY MIRROR
THE STATE'S ACTIVITIES. THESE
FEES ARE NOT TRIVIAL, ALTHOUGH
THEY CAN VARY. MOST FEES ARE
THAT ARE CHARGED ANNUALLY, CAN
BE UP TO $400 PER UNIT. THIS
RESULTS IN A COST OF TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR, AND
OVER THE LIFESPAN, CERTAINLY,
COULD BE IN THE HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS AND POTENTIALLY
MILLIONS, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE
OF THE DEVELOPMENT. THE
DUPLICATION OF MONITORING FEES
ADDS UNNECESSARY COSTS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE OBVIOUSLY
LOOKING TO BUILD MORE OF IT AND
PROJECTS ARE STRUGGLING TO
PENCIL. AS WE HEAR. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY PERTINENT WHEN
CONSIDERING HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.
HOUSING IN GENERAL AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
PARTICULAR. AB 2430 PROVIDES
RELIEF BY REMOVING THIS
DUPLICATIVE FEE AND THEREFORE
LOWERING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND BRINGING
CALIFORNIA A LITTLE CLOSER TO
MEETING ALL OF OUR HOUSING
PRODUCTION NEEDS. WITH THAT,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR TWO
WITNESSES. WE HAVE GRACIELA
CASTILLO, KINGS FROM THE
CALIFORNIA HOUSING CONSORTIUM,
AND NATALIE SPIVAK FROM HOUSING
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS,
GRACIELA CASTILLO KRINGS. I'M
HERE REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING CONSORTIUM AND REALLY
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU
AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE NUMEROUS
HOURS YOU HAVE SPENT WORKING
WITH US ON THIS BILL. REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK. A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE HOUSING
CONSORTIUM, WE ARE A NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR
THE PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION
OF HOUSING, AFFORDABLE TO LOW
AND MODERATE INCOME CALIFORNIANS
TACKLING HOUSING CRISIS WILL
REQUIRE BUILDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AT SCALE, BUT OUR
ABILITY TO DO SO DEPENDS ON HOW
EXPENSIVE IT IS TO PRODUCE THESE
UNITS. AS THOSE COST DRIVERS
CONTINUE TO GO UP, THAT MEANS WE
EITHER NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FROM THE STATE OR THE UNITS WILL
NOT BE PRODUCED AND AS MANY OF
YOU ALREADY KNOW, WE ARE RUNNING
OUT OF GENERAL FUND SUBSIDIES.
WE DON'T HAVE A HOUSING BOND. SO
SOME OF AREAS WHERE WE CAN SAVE
MONEY BECOME ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL
. ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS
BILL, IT IS ACTUALLY HOPING TO
HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN
COMPLIANCE AND MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE REDUCING THE COST
WHEREVER POSSIBLE, TO PRODUCE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BACK TO WHAT
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER WAS SAYING.
BASED ON THE AVERAGE COST,
PROJECTS CAN PAY AROUND $600,000
TO 1.9 MILLION, AND THAT MAY NOT
SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT THAT'S IN
ADDITION TO ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR
INSURANCE, MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW
OPERATING COSTS ARE GOING UP. SO
THE REALITY IS, WHEN WE ASK
OURSELVES WHY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IS SO EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE IN
CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE OUR KIND OF
WE HAVE THE REASONS. SO WE ASK
FOR SUPPORT ON THIS MEASURE.
AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING TO BALANCE
HOW TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
PRODUCING AFFORDABLE UNITS AT
THE LOWEST COST POSSIBLE,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT REQUIRES STATE SUBSIDY. SO
LESS MONEY TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE
UNITS MEANS LESS STATE SUBSIDY.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AND
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS NATALIE
SPIVAK, AND I'M A SENIOR POLICY
ADVOCATE AT HOUSING CALIFORNIA,
WHICH IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS
ON ENDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS CRISES. AS THE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND GRACIELA
HAVE EXPLAINED, AB 2430 WILL
PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
TACKLING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CRISIS BY BRINGING DOWN THE COST
OF DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY
DISPEL SOME POTENTIAL CONCERNS
ABOUT THE BILL. FIRST, AB 2430
ONLY APPLIES TO 100% AFFORDABLE
DENSITY BONUS DEVELOPMENTS THAT
A STATE AGENCY IS ALREADY
MONITORING. FOR EXAMPLE, A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CAN CONTINUE TO
MONITOR AFFORDABLE UNITS
PRODUCED THROUGH A LOCAL
INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE
IF THE STATE ISN'T MONITORING
THEM. SECOND, THIS BILL DOES NOT
COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO COMPLY WITH
MONITORING ACTIVITIES REQUIRED
OF THEM BY FEDERAL OR FEDERAL,
REGIONAL OR STATE AGENCY. IF THE
REQUIRED MONITORING ACTIVITIES
ARE NOT BEING CONDUCTED BY TCAC
OR HCD, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAY
CARRY THEM OUT. FINALLY, SOME
LOCAL AGENCIES USE MONITORING
FEES TO PROVIDE SERVICES
UNRELATED TO MAINTAINING THE
AFFORDABILITY AND HABITABILITY
OF UNITS. WE DON'T INTEND TO
SUGGEST THAT THESE SERVICES
AREN'T VALUABLE, BUT RATHER THAT
THEY SHOULDN'T BE PLACED ON THE
BACKS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS UNDER THE GUISE OF
MONITORING FEES. IF WE MAKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FOR
PAYING THE COST OF ANYTHING
THAT'S GOOD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WILL NOT BE FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE
AT A TIME WHEN IT'S ALREADY VERY
DIFFICULT TO MAKE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. PENCIL. AND WHEN
CALIFORNIA IS FACING POTENTIAL
BUDGET CUTS TO KEY AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PRODUCTION PROGRAMS,
IT'S EVEN MORE CRITICAL TO
ELIMINATE DUPLICATIVE COSTS
FACED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPERS. AB 2430 WILL MAKE
IMPORTANT STRIDES TOWARD THAT
END. HOUSING CALIFORNIA THINKS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALVAREZ FOR
AUTHORING THIS IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUESTS YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS ITEM?
MARY ELLEN SHEA, CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL HOUSING
FINANCE AGENCIES IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER
NOBODY ELSE WISH TO BE
RECOGNIZED. ARE THERE ANY,
TESTIMONY HERE TODAY IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL? OKAY.
SEEING NONE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL
, WISHING TO BE ON THE RECORD,
SEEING NONE. WE'LL TURN IT BACK
TO COMMITTEE. COMMENTS. MOVE BY
MISS REYES. SECOND AND A SECOND
BY MR. QUIRK-SILVA.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GRAYSON. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST TO CLARIFY
AND EXCELLENT TESTIMONY. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. FROM THE
WITNESSES, AUTHOR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE BILL COMING
FORWARD. WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
WAYS TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
I KNOW WE HAVE A VERY LARGE
AGENDA TODAY, SO, TRY TO KEEP MY
COMMENTS SHORT AND NOT COMMENT
ON EVERY BILL, HOWEVER, ON THIS
ONE, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THIS
ONLY APPLIES, TO DEVELOPMENTS
WHERE HCD OR FEDERAL LEVEL ARE
NOT MONITORING, AND THAT THE
CITY WILL THEN THE ONLY THE ONLY
ENTITY THAT WOULD MONITOR IT IS
THE CITY THEN IS THAT NO, NO.
SO, THIS BILL WOULD, ELIMINATE
THE NEED FOR CITIES THAT
SOMETIMES DO MONITORING THAT IS
DUPLICATIVE TO WHAT ALREADY THE
STATE IS DOING IN TERMS OF
MONITORING. RIGHT. SO THEY'RE
ALREADY BEING MONITORED. THIS IS
COMPLETELY DUPLICATIVE OF WHAT'S
ALREADY BEING DONE. CORRECT. AND
THE CITY IS RELIEVED OF THE DUTY
OR RESPONSIBILITY OF MONITORING.
AND THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE TAKE,
SAY THAT EXCEPT IN THE CASE
WHERE PERHAPS A CITY IS,
REQUIRING A DEEPER LEVEL OF
AFFORDABILITY, WHICH MEANS THEN
THEY NEED TO GO AND MAKE SURE
THAT THE AFFORDABILITY IS
MAINTAINED AT THAT LEVEL. SO IF
IT DOESN'T MATCH WHAT THE STATE
IS REQUIRING, THEN THE CITY
COULD GO AND DO MONITORING AND
CHARGE THOSE FEES. THANK YOU FOR
THE CLARIFICATION. SURE THANK
YOU AND SEE NO OTHER MEMBERS
WISHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I
WANT TO THANK YOU VERY WELL FOR
WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH YOUR
SPONSORS, OTHER SUPPORTERS AND
THE OPPOSITION. I THINK THE
PREVIOUS OPPOSITION AS WELL. I
BELIEVE THEY'RE REMOVING THEIR
OPPOSITION WITH YOUR AMENDMENTS.
I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT ONE, WE'RE NOT
DUPLICATING EFFORTS HERE. WE
SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT. AND SO
YOU WERE, RIGHTEOUS TO BE ABLE
TO BRING THIS BILL FORWARD AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING TO
SAVE COSTS AT THE FRONT END AND
REDUCE THAT DUPLICATION EFFORT
BETWEEN STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS. AND IT'S ALSO
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL,
WHERE THERE ARE LOCAL PROGRAMS
THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, A
LITTLE BIT MORE STRENUOUS, MORE
STRINGENT THAN, THAN STATE
REQUIREMENTS AS WELL, THAT
SOMEBODY IS IN CHARGE FOR
ENSURING COMPLIANCE. RIGHT. WE
DON'T WANT SOMEBODY WHEN WE
ALREADY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LOW
INCOME HOUSING, IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T WANT
SOMEBODY WHO IS OF WEALTHY MEANS
TAKING UP THAT UNIT. WE'VE GOT
TO MAKE SURE. AND THAT'S JUST
ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY DO IN
MONITORING SITUATIONS. SO I
THINK YOU'VE STRUCK A REALLY
STRONG BALANCE. AND I KNOW THESE
AMENDMENTS BECAUSE OF A TIMING
ISSUE. WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOU
UP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE'LL
NEED TO BE TAKEN IN THAT
COMMITTEE. BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THAT END, WITH
THAT, WOULD YOU HAVE ANYTHING
YOU WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH
JUST AGAIN THANKING THE STAFF
FOR THE ONGOING CONVERSATION ON
THIS, HELPING US GET TO WHERE WE
ARE AND, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK
AT WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE ANY
FEES, NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE
ARE, TO PRODUCE THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING THAT I KNOW WE ALL
SUPPORT. AND I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF OUR BILL TODAY. WE
WILL DO THAT. THANK YOU, MR.
ALVAREZ. MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL MOTION TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WARD A WARD I
PATTERSON, PARIS AND I. GRAYSON
GRAYSON. I CHOLERA COLOR. I LI
LI I QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I
REYES REYES I SANCHEZ. WILSON.
THAT MEASURE HAS SEVEN VOTES. IT
IS OUT, AND WE WILL HOLD IT OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WE ARE GOING TO PUT
OUT THE CALL FOR ANY MEMBERS ON
THE AGENDA TODAY TO MAKE THEIR
WAY TO THE COMMITTEE ROOM TO BE
EFFICIENT WITH OUR TIME, I SEE.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS? YOU GOT ME. WE CAN DO
CONSENT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU
FOR THE REMINDER, MADAM, MOTION
BY MR. LEE, SECOND BY MISS REYES
FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR. MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
CONSENT CALENDAR, ITEM NUMBER
FOUR, AB 2117. Dð. PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, ITEM NUMBER NINE, AB
2638, DO PASS TO ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE AND APPROPRIATIONS,
ITEM NUMBER TEN 2663, TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, ITEM 12 AB 2694 DO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
AND APPROPRIATIONS. ITEM NUMBER
13, AB 2835 DO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE AND
APPROPRIATIONS. ITEM NUMBER 15,
AB 2898 DO PASS THROUGH THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY.
AND ITEM NUMBER 2130 AB 3122 DO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WARD A WARD
I HARRISON HARRISON, I GRAYSON
GRAYSON, I CHOLERA CHOLERA I LI
LI I QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I
REYES REYES I SANCHEZ. WILSON
THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS SEVEN
VOTES, THOSE ITEMS WILL BE OUT.
WILL HOLD ROLLS OPEN FOR ABSENT
MEMBERS. STILL SEEING NO MEMBERS
AGAIN. REMINDER TO MEMBERS ON
THE AGENDA. PLEASE COME DOWN TO
ROOM 126 TO PRESENT YOUR BILLS,
IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL TAKE UP
ONE BILL. MR. VICE CHAIR. I'LL
PASS THE GAVEL TO YOU, I'LL
BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER 14, AB
2093.
GREAT WELL, THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS, I WANT TO
START BY THANKING OUR COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON
THIS BILL. AS CALIFORNIA
CONTINUES TO NAVIGATE THE MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR UNHOUSED
POPULATION, ALONG WITH THE STATE
HOUSING CRISIS, WE'VE LEARNED
THESE ISSUES ARE OFTEN
INTERTWINED. MANY UNHOUSED
CALIFORNIANS ARE ARE THERE
BECAUSE OF A LACK OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OPTIONS, AND IT CREATES
A NEGATIVE AND UNSTABLE
SITUATION THAT OFTEN LEADS THEM
TO DRUG USE OR MAJOR MENTAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND ONCE A
PERSON BEGINS STRUGGLING WITH
ADDICTION AND THEIR MENTAL
HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH
THAT, IT BECOMES HARDER FOR THEM
TO FIND HOUSING. IT'S AN ENDLESS
CYCLE. SOME OF OUR SOBER LIVING
FACILITIES ARE OFTEN TOO STRICT
AND UNSTABLE FOR THEIR
SITUATION, AND TEMPORARY HOUSING
IS NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO
ADEQUATELY NAVIGATE THEMSELVES
OUT OF THEIR ADDICTION, AN
OPTION THAT'S BEEN WORKING FOR
PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN
THIS POSITION IS RECOVERY
HOUSING, WHICH FOCUSES ON
TREATMENT BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT
OF CLINICAL SETTINGS. RECOVERY
HOUSING ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY AND
IS STABLE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE CAN
SUCCESSFULLY PROGRESS OUT OF
THEIR ADDICTION. AB 2093 WILL
ESTABLISH A STATE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS FOR RECOVERY HOUSES
THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
CARE SERVICES. THE CERTIFICATION
WOULD STANDARDIZE CARE
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RECOVERY
HOUSES IN CALIFORNIA, WHILE ALSO
MAKING IT AVAILABLE AS A TOOL
THAT THE STATE CAN USE TO
ADDRESS AND TREAT OUR UNHOUSED
POPULATION. I HAVE TESTIFYING IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, AMY HINES
SCHAAKE, ON BEHALF OF THE SHARE
HOUSE COLLABORATIVE HOUSING, AND
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE. HONORABLE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS AMY HINES-IKE,
REPRESENTING SHARED
COLLABORATIVE HOUSING SHARE, WAS
STARTED BY PEOPLE IN RECOVERY
FROM TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES AND CURRENTLY OPERATES 35
RECOVERY RESIDENCES, ASSISTING
CALIFORNIANS IN NEED. SHARE
COLLABORATIVE HOUSING IS A
PUBLIC, PRIVATE SOLUTION TO
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES THAT USES EVIDENCE
BASED PEER TO PEER PRACTICES AND
SELF-HELP SUPPORT GROUPS. A
COUPLE OF STORIES OF IMPACTED
FOLKS IN DECEMBER OF 2023, A 52
YEAR OLD MAN WAS HOMELESS AND
SLEEPING IN A PARKING LOT IN
CERRITOS. HE HAD LOST HIS
PREVIOUS JOB DURING THE
PANDEMIC, CAUSING HIM TO
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS WITHOUT
ANY SOCIAL SUPPORT. HIS CASE
MANAGER REFERRED HIM TO SHARE,
AND THAT SAME DAY WE HOUSED HIM
IN A SHARED COLLABORATIVE HOUSE
IN EAST LA, NOT FAR FROM HIS
ONLY FAMILY MEMBER AND ONLY FORM
OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, UNTIL HE
BECAME HOMELESS. HIS SHARE PEER
SPECIALIST IMMEDIATELY HELPED
HIM CONNECT TO FULL TIME, A FULL
TIME JOB IN A FIELD HE LOVED. HE
RECEIVED LOTS OF PEER SUPPORT
FROM SHARE, WHO EVEN HELPED HIM
REUNITE WITH HIS ONLY FAMILY
MEMBER, HIS UNCLE. ALSO IN
JANUARY OF 2024 THIS YEAR, A 22
YEAR OLD WOMAN, A FORMER FOSTER
CARE TRANSITION AGED YOUTH, WAS
LIVING IN HER CAR IN WHITTIER.
SHARE MOVED HER INTO A SHARE
COLLABORATIVE HOUSE NEARBY AND
CONNECTED HER TO HIS SULACO
SHARES. GATEWAY CITIES
EMPLOYMENT PARTNER WHO ENROLLED
HER INTO A STATE SPONSORED
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WHICH SHE
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. SHARE
AND SULACO THEN CONNECTED HER TO
A JOB SHARE, RECENTLY HELPED HER
MOVE SUCCESSFULLY FROM HER
COLLABORATIVE HOUSE INTO A
MARKET RATE APARTMENT, AND SHE'S
NOW COMPLETING ONLINE CLASSWORK
FOR HER COLLEGE DEGREE, A B
2893. WARD WOULD REQUIRE THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE
SERVICES TO OVERSEE
CERTIFICATION OF RECOVERY HOUSES
THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS
EXPERIENCING, OR WHO ARE AT RISK
OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THIS WOULD
ESTABLISH RECOVERY HOUSES AT THE
END OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE
THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY
LICENSED MEDICAL SERVICES ON
SITE. THIS DEFINITIONAL BILL IS
CRUCIAL TO ENSURE THAT DURING
THESE DIFFICULT BUDGETARY TIMES,
ONLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE A CERTIFIED AND PROVEN
TRACK RECORD SHOULD GAIN ACCESS
TO OUR STRAPPED STATE FUNDS. WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE FOR AB 2893. MISTER WARD,
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT, ANY, SEEING NONE. ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? PRIMARY
WITNESSES SEEING NONE. ANY
OPPOSITION AT ALL? SEEING NONE.
ALL RIGHT, MISTER COLORADO,
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MISTER
CHAIR, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD
AS SOMEONE THAT FOR SEVERAL
YEARS REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS IN
DRUG TREATMENT COURT, ONE OF THE
MOST ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES WAS FINDING
APPROPRIATE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY
FOR THOSE GRAPPLING WITH
ADDICTION. AND THERE JUST AREN'T
ENOUGH PLACES FOR THOSE THAT
REALLY WANT HELP AND ARE TRYING
TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND THE
COURTS, TRYING TO GIVE THEM
GUIDANCE AND PROBATION IS TRYING
TO SUPERVISE THEM. AND
ULTIMATELY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE
APPROPRIATE HOUSING, IT'S NEXT
TO IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE THE STEPS
NECESSARY TO REALLY TURN YOUR
LIFE AROUND AND SO I APPRECIATE
THIS LEGISLATION. I THINK IT'S
GOING TO SAVE A LOT OF LIVES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYTHING
ELSE? ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO THANK
THE AUTHOR FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF MEETING THE
NEEDS OF CALIFORNIANS, AS MANY
OF US KNOW, THAT HAVE INTERFACED
WITH HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS,
THERE IS A CERTAIN POPULATION
THAT NEEDS THESE RECOVERY HOMES.
TOO OFTEN, THOUGH, WE ARE SEEING
PROPOSALS TO SHUT THEM DOWN,
AND, MOVE THEM OUT OF CERTAIN
AREAS. AND AGAIN, THIS DOES NOT
MEET THE NEEDS OF CALIFORNIANS.
SO WITH THAT, KNOWING THAT THIS
IS A SPECIFIC POPULATION THAT
NEEDS SPECIFIC TYPES OF TRAUMA
INFORMED PRACTICES, AND IT IS
PART OF THE PUZZLE TO HOUSING,
AND WE NEED THIS PIECE OF IT.
WITH THAT I SUPPORT IT. AND,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANY ANY OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? NOPE
APPRECIATE THIS, I KNOW, I HAVE
CONCERNS. ANYTIME WE ADD
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DCS, I'VE
BEEN HAVING, WE HAVE PROP ONE.
ITEMS WILL BE GOING THROUGH
THEM, AND, I'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM WITH SOME PEOPLE AT
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND
IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN VERY
DIFFICULT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE
YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS AND
APPRECIATE, YOUR WORK ON IT. SO
WITH THAT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION
AND A SECOND AND, YOU WANT TO
TAKE ROLL? OF COURSE. I'LL JUST
NOTE IF I, IF I COULD. OH, YEAH.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. YEAH YOU'RE
THE CHAIR. SO YOU JUST TELL ME.
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORTIVE
COMMENTS AS WELL. AND I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, THIS,
BILL, REALLY CAME FROM THOSE WHO
ARE RUNNING THESE PROGRAMS. I
WANT TO, THANK THEM SINCERELY
FOR, WORKING REALLY HARD WITH A
VERY, CHALLENGING SITUATION. AND
FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED, THE, THE,
THE TOTALITY OF SUPPORT THAT
THEY DO NEED TO, TO GET ON THE
RIGHT PATHS, BUT THEY'RE, THEY
WANT TO STEP UP. THEY WANT TO BE
ABLE TO MEET STANDARDS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM
PERFORM BETTER, KIND OF AS A, AS
A, AS A CLASS OF HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES. AND THIS BILL IS
GOING TO GET US TO THAT END. I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I
VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE
TAKE ROLL MOTION TO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH,
WARD A WARD. I PERSON NOT
VOTING. PERSON NOT VOTING.
GRAYSON I GRAYSON I CHOLERA
CHOLERA I LEE LI I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I REYES REYES I
SANCHEZ. LEE WILSON. SORRY.
THANK YOU. HE'S STUFFING THE
BALLOTS OVER THERE. SIX ZERO.
THAT'S OUT. CORRECT. ALL RIGHT,
SIX ZERO. THAT BILLS OUT. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. VICE
CHAIR. WE WILL BE GOING BACK ON
FILE TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER TÍNH
WITH FILE NUMBER 18. THIS IS AB
2967, WHEN YOU ARE READY, YOU
MAY BEGIN PRESENTATION. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. TODAY I'M
PRESENTING AB 2967, WHICH
EXPANDS THE TEACHER HOUSING ACT
TO INCLUDE EMPLOYEES OF PUBLICLY
FUNDED NONPROFITS THAT OPERATE
ON SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY AND
SERVE CHILDREN FROM LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES, WE ALL
KNOW WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN
PARTICULAR, SO MANY DISTRICTS
HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
EMPLOYING TEACHERS AND MANY OF
THEIR STAFF BECAUSE THERE JUST
SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH HOUSING.
THAT'S WHY WE PASSED THE TEACHER
HOUSING ACT IN 2016. THIS WOULD
EXPAND IT TO INCLUDE, THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE THE
QUALIFICATIONS SO THAT NONPROFIT
EDUCATORS WHO ARE DOING WORK IN
THOSE DISTRICTS CAN ALSO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS, MY ONE OF
MY DISTRICTS IN DALY CITY HAS
PUT HOUSING ON THEIR
ADMINISTRATIVE PROPERTIES BEEN A
HUGE SUCCESS. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE
TO BUILD IT RELATIVELY QUICKLY,
BUT WITHIN THAT SAME COUNTY, SAN
MATEO, WE'RE REALIZING THAT WE
HAVE NONPROFIT EDUCATORS WHO ARE
AFTER SCHOOL PROVIDERS REALLY
ARE PART OF THE SCHOOL ECOSYSTEM
. PART OF THE SCHOOL PROCESS.
BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE TECHNICALLY
NOT DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, THEY
DON'T QUALIFY. THIS BILL WAS
SIMPLY ALLOWED THEM TO QUALIFY,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE,
VOTE FOR THAT. I HAVE RAYMOND
HODGES, WHO'S DIRECTOR OF THE
SAN MATEO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
UP TO TWO MINUTES. THANKS. GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR WARD. HONORABLE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M RAY
HODGES. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING IN SAN
MATEO COUNTY. AND I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR
COUNTY'S HOUSING AUTHORITY. I'M
HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING IN
SUPPORT OF AB 2967, THE 21
JURISDICTIONS IN SAN MATEO
COUNTY MAKE UP ONE OF THE
HIGHEST COST AREAS OF THE STATE.
BUT WE HAVE PLANS TO BUILD
20,000 NEW UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR OUR LOWER INCOME
RESIDENTS OVER THE NEXT EIGHT
YEARS, AND ONE OF THE MOST
SUBSTANTIAL PROJECTS IN OUR
PIPELINE IS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF
A SITE IN DALY CITY CALLED
MIDWAY VILLAGE, WHICH INCLUDES
PROPERTY OWNED BY OUR HOUSING
AUTHORITY AND A LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT. WE JUST COMPLETED
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST OF
FOUR PHASES AT THE PROPERTY, THE
REDEVELOPMENT AND SOME WILL
REPLACE 150 AGING UNITS AND AN
OUTDATED EARLY LEARNING CENTER
WITH 550 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES
AND A BRAND NEW AND EXPANDED,
EARLY LEARNING CENTER. ONE
REQUEST WE HEARD REPEATEDLY
DURING COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR
THE PROJECT WAS A DESIRE TO
PROVIDE A PREFERENCE FOR EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, IN
CALIFORNIA, EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS ARE IN ALMOST 40% LESS
THAN THEIR COLLEAGUES IN THE K
THROUGH EIGHT SYSTEM, AND MANY
WOULD BE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME IN OUR COUNTY, WHERE
THE TWO BEDROOM FMR IS NEARLY
$3,400. THESE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATORS FACE HOUSING
INSECURITY AND ARE OFTEN FORCED
TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION, FIND
SECOND JOBS, OR UNDERTAKE VERY
LONG COMMUTES THAT CAN SEPARATE
THEM FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL BILLS
PASSED IN RECENT YEARS
SUPPORTING HOUSING FOR TEACHERS
AND SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF, BUT
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ARE
NOT CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
UNDER THE TEACHER HOUSING ACT OF
2016, SO AB 2967 WOULD EXTEND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
TO NONPROFIT EARLY LEARNING
CENTER EMPLOYEES THAT SET
CHILDREN OF LOW AND MODERATE
INCOME FAMILIES ON A PATH TO
STRONG ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, WHICH
IS A GOAL WE STRONGLY SUPPORT.
THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS ITEM? CHRIS LEE, ON BEHALF
OF THE URBAN COUNTIES OF
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT, THANK YOU
. SEEING NO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WISHING TO REGISTER
POSITION, ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION AND
SEEING NONE? ANYBODY ELSE THAT
WISHES TO REGISTER OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. WE'LL TURN IT BACK
TO COMMITTEE. NO MEMBER COMMENTS
ON THIS. FANTASTIC. WELL, I
THINK IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHT TO
ME. I LOOKED AT EVERYBODY. MR.
VICE CHAIR, YOU'RE JUST I THINK
HE WAS LOOKING AT BOTH SIDES.
ONE IN MY SCOPE. OKAY, MR.
CHANG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WORKING ON THIS MEASURE. LET'S
SEE, I THINK A NUMBER OF US HAVE
BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE PROVIDING MORE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS, HERE
AT THE K-12 LEVEL. CERTAINLY.
I'VE GOT ONE THAT I'M WORKING ON
RIGHT NOW WITH CSU PREVIOUSLY,
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. SO
IMPROVING ON THIS, I THINK IS
ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE ABLE TO.
AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE ON
UPDATING SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND
SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. THANK YOU
TO OUR WITNESS FOR YOUR
COMMITMENTS LOCALLY TO BE ABLE
TO BE A PARTNER IN PRODUCING
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WILL
ENJOY AN I RECOMMENDATION.
ANYTHING FURTHER TO CLOSE? JUST
RESPECTFULLY THAT'S FIVE VOTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU,
MOTION TO PASS THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
WARD A PORT I PATTERSON.
PATTERSON. I GRAYSON. GRAYSON I
CHOLERA LI LEE I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I REYES REYES I
SANCHEZ. WILSON THAT VOTE HAS,
THAT ITEM HAS SIX VOTES, IT WILL
BE OUT AND WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. OKAY
I'M SORRY, WE WAS 29, 67, THE
MOTION WAS ACTUALLY TO, ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. CAN WE
CORRECT THAT? OKAY THAT'S
CORRECT. FOR THE RECORD,
CORRECTING FOR THE RECORD, AB
2967, THE MOTION IS TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION. THANK YOU, MADAM
SECRETARY. AND UNLESS ANOTHER
MEMBER JUMPS IN THAT DOOR, I
HAVE A SECOND BILL TO PRESENT.
SEEING NONE. MR. VICE CHAIR. ALL
RIGHT. AGAIN, A CALL TO OFFICES.
I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 6 OR 7
MEMBERS THAT STILL NEED TO
PRESENT BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE.
FOR YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. IS
THIS, AB 1932? YES. MR. CHAIR,
THIS IS AB 1932, FILE ITEM
THREE. THE BILL. THANK YOU FOR
THE, THE FAITH, BUT I DID WANT
TO WALK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE I
THINK IT WOULD HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR THE WORK
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN
A VERY CHALLENGING BUDGET YEAR.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE GOVERNOR
HAS PROPOSED $1.2 BILLION OF
REDUCTIONS FOR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAMS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WOULD BE A VERY STRONG SETBACK
FOR THE GOALS THAT WE KNOW WE
NEED TO REACH. 181,000
CALIFORNIANS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AT THE LAST TIME OF
OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT. AND SO
I WOULD ARGUE IT'S THE WORST
THING ON ONE OF OUR BIGGEST
ISSUES TO BE REGRESSING ON SOME
OF THESE FUNDING STREAMS. AND
IT'S ON US AS A LEGISLATURE TO
COME UP WITH COUNTER OFFERS OR
TO FIND SOLUTIONS. AND THAT'S
WHAT THIS BILL DOES. NOW, THE
MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION, CAN
BE VIEWED CERTAINLY IN A LOT OF
WAYS. BUT ONE WAY TO VIEW IT IS
THAT IT IS A MAJOR TAX BENEFIT
OFFERED TO EXISTING HOMEOWNERS
EVERY YEAR. WITHOUT QUESTION. IN
FACT, OF ALL OF OUR HOUSING
PROGRAMS, IT'S ACTUALLY THE
LARGEST FISCAL BENEFIT THAT THE
STATE OFFERS FROM STATE
RESOURCES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD
COME IN, WE'RE NOT FOR THAT
BENEFIT. $3.5 BILLION IS
RETURNED TO HOMEOWNERS, AND I'M
NOT PROPOSING, AND I WOULD NOT
PROPOSE TO TOUCH THE MORTGAGE
INTEREST DEDUCTION FOR PRIMARY
HOMES. THERE'S SIGNIFICANT
BENEFITS TO BOTH THE HOMEOWNERS
AND COMMUNITIES ALIKE, HOWEVER,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS
WHO ALSO GET TO DEDUCT A
MORTGAGE INTEREST ON THEIR
SECOND HOME OR THEIR VACATION
HOME, AS WELL AS THEIR PRIMARY
HOME FOR MORTGAGES UP TO A
CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF $1 MILLION.
I ARGUE THAT'S A WASTEFUL AND
INEFFICIENT USE OF A PUBLIC
RESOURCE, MONIES THAT WE BELIEVE
FROM, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
INITIALLY THAT COULD AMASS TO
ABOUT $200 MILLION OR ONE SIXTH
OF OUR SHORTFALL TO RESTORE SOME
OF THE CRITICAL HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS THAT WE
NEED. ACCORDING TO FTB, THE TAX
FILERS THAT TAKES THIS DEDUCTION
FOR A VACATION HOME RECEIVE
APPROXIMATELY $1,100 IN TAX
BENEFIT. IT'S DISPROPORTION
ACCRUING TO WEALTHY HOMEOWNERS
WITH LARGER MORTGAGES. IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE
PERSONAL RESIDENCE, NOT
PERMANENT RENTAL UNITS.
MEANWHILE, THE RENTERS CREDIT
HAS BEEN FROZEN AT $60 A YEAR
FOR SINGLE FILERS, 120 FOR JOINT
FILERS OVER FOUR DECADES. THESE
KINDS OF FISCAL POLICIES ARE
DEEPLY INEQUITABLE WHEN AT A
TIME OVER TWO THIRDS OF
CALIFORNIANS ARE SPENDING HALF
OF THEIR INCOME OR MORE ON
HOUSING WITH THIS BILL, AB 1932,
I AM PROPOSING THAT THE STATE
STOP SUBSIDIZING AND PURCHASE
FOR PURCHASING OF SECOND HOMES
OR VACATION HOMES, AND INSTEAD
USE THAT $200 MILLION TO
PERMANENTLY. WE TALK OFTEN ABOUT
THIS ONE TIME FUNDING AND WE
NEED TO FIND PERMANENT FUNDING
STREAMS. THIS BILL WOULD
PERMANENTLY INCREASE HOME
OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FIRST TIME BUYERS AND BUILD
DESPERATELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
CONSTITUENTS, HELPING OUR
HOUSING VOUCHER RECIPIENTS FIND
APARTMENTS EASIER. WITH ME TODAY
TO TESTIFY IS CHRIS MARTIN, THE
POLICY DIRECTOR FOR HOUSING
CALIFORNIA AND LÀ MADDOX, THE
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR THE
SAN DIEGO REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON
THE HOMELESS. GOOD MORNING, VICE
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS CHRIS MARTIN, POLICY
DIRECTOR AT HOUSING CALIFORNIA.
WE ARE A STATEWIDE ADVOCACY
NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON THE
PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROTECTING
LOW INCOME RENTERS, AND ENDING
HOMELESSNESS. HOUSING CALIFORNIA
IS PROUD TO SUPPORT AB 1932,
WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE SECOND
HOME MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION
AND TARGET RESOURCES TO CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING
PRODUCTION, HOME OWNERSHIP AND
TOOLS TO HELP UTILIZE FEDERAL
HOUSING VOUCHERS. DESPITE NEARLY
TRIPLING OUR PRODUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS, THANKS TO CRITICAL
STREAMLINING LAWS AND
UNPRECEDENTED STATE INVESTMENTS,
WE STILL ONLY FUND ABOUT 20% OF
WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED TO MEET
OUR GOALS. ON TOP OF THIS, WE
ARE SEEING FUNDS FROM
PROPOSITION 1 IN 2018, OUR LAST
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND DRY UP
THIS YEAR. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE
ARE FACING A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET
SHORTFALL. AND THE GOVERNOR IS
PROPOSING CUTTING ALL STATE
INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING COMMITTED
IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THIS WOULD
LEAD TO A LOSS OF OVER 6000 NEW
AFFORDABLE HOMES OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, FOR
BOTH RECENT ROUNDS OF NOTICE OF
A FUNDING AVAILABILITY FROM OUR
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE
PAST YEAR, THE FUNDS WERE
OVERSUBSCRIBED 10 TO 1, AND NEW
RESEARCH FROM THE ENTERPRISE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS SHOWS THAT
OUR PIPELINE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING HAS ABOUT 46,000 UNITS
SIMPLY AWAITING FUNDING. THIS
ALL POINTS TO EXACTLY WHY WE
NEED AN ONGOING SOURCE TO
INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRODUCTION. WE CANNOT RELY ON
THE VOLATILE, EBBING AND FLOWING
OF STATE BUDGET TO FUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ONE TIME
SPURTS. WE'RE FACING AN ONGOING
CRISIS THAT REQUIRES ONGOING
RESOURCES. AB 1932 PRESENTS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A
REASONABLE, ONGOING FUNDING
SOURCE. OUR TAX SYSTEM SHOULD
REFLECT OUR VALUES, AND IN A
STATE WITH OVER 170,000 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND A
SHORTFALL OF OVER 1.2 MILLION
HOMES, WE SHOULD BE SUBSIDIZING
SOMEONE TO ACCESS THEIR FIRST
PLACE TO CALL HOME BEFORE WE
SUBSIDIZE LARGELY WEALTHY
HOMEOWNERS TO BECOME TO PURCHASE
A SECOND HOME HOUSING CALIFORNIA
APPLAUDS ASSEMBLY MEMBER WARD
FOR HIS VISION AND EFFORT TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS TO ACCESS THEIR
FIRST AFFORDABLE HOME AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR AYE
VOTE. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.
I'M LAILA MADDOX, THE CHIEF
OPERATIONS OFFICER WITH TFX. WE
ARE THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE CITY
AND COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE,
OUR TFX ADMINISTERS THE CORE
FEDERAL FUNCTIONS OF A CONTINUUM
OF CARE. TWO OF WHICH THOSE
PRIMARIES ROLES ARE DATA AND
BEST PRACTICES. WHILE WE
RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
CONTINUES TO RISE, WE ARE
HOUSING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
UTILIZING THE ONE TIME STATE
FUNDING AND OTHER RESOURCES.
HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS IS
INCREASING AT A RATE THAT
EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE
ARE HOUSING ON A DAILY, MONTHLY
AND YEARLY BASIS. WE HAVE
LIMITED HOUSING STOCK AND HIGH
RENTAL MARKETS, ESPECIALLY IN
SAN DIEGO. AS A LEADER IN DATA
AND BEST PRACTICES. AND AS WE
FACE CUTS, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON
WHAT IS WORKING, WE KNOW THAT
HOUSING PEOPLE AND KEEPING THEM
HOUSED WORKS. OUR TF HAS
UTILIZED THE ONE TIME STATE
FUNDING BOTH THE HOMELESS
EMERGENCY AID PROGRAM KNOWN AS
HEAP, AND THE CURRENT HAP ROUNDS
OF FUNDING TO FOCUS ON
ESTABLISHING WHAT WE CALL A
FLEXIBLE HOUSING POOL MODEL.
THIS CREATES A PORTFOLIO OF, OF
PRIVATE RENTAL MARKET UNITS AND
PROVIDES LANDLORD AND TENANCY
SUPPORTS AND INCENTIVES. OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE
HOUSED MORE THAN 900 INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES. AND THIS INCLUDED
PARTNERING WITH OUR HOUSING
AUTHORITIES AND LEVERAGING THESE
FUNDS WITH THOSE THAT HAVE
VOUCHERS. WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY
HOUSED OVER 400 VETERANS, AS
WELL AS FOLKS WHO RECEIVED
EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS FROM
HUD DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE
A 95% RETENTION RATE SUCCESS
AFTER THREE YEARS, WHICH FAR
EXCEEDS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF
82% RETENTION RATES. WE SPENT
ABOUT $9.3 MILLION OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS, WHICH WORKS OUT TO
ABOUT $10,000 PER HOUSEHOLD TO
PERMANENTLY HOUSE AND KEEP
SOMEONE HOUSED. AN ONGOING
DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE WILL
ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND
THIS MODEL AGAIN. ONLY $9
MILLION GOING INTO THIS PROJECT
HAS HOUSED OVER 900 PEOPLE. THIS
SUCCESSFUL MODEL CAN BE EXPANDED
AND SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON WHEN WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE LIMITED
RESOURCES AHEAD OF US, WE MUST
BUILD AND EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE
THE RENTAL MARKET IN ORDER TO
GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS, WE MUST
MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO
BUILDING A BETTER CALIFORNIA AND
IDENTIFYING ONGOING SOURCES OF
FUNDS TO HOUSE CALIFORNIANS. WE
THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHRIS WARD
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, ANY OTHER,
SUPPORTERS, PLEASE COME TO THE
MICROPHONE AND, NAME AND
AFFILIATION. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. AND MEMBERS. AND MARTIN,
ON BEHALF OF THE AIDS HEALTHCARE
FOUNDATION AND ITS HEALTHY
HOUSING FOUNDATION IN SUPPORT OF
AB 1932. THANK YOU. GRACIELA
CASTILLO HERE ON BEHALF OF ALL
HOME IN STRONG SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. MARY ELLEN SHEA, CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION LOCAL HOUSING
FINANCE AGENCIES AND SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, RAFA SONNENFELD,
IMB ACTION IN SUPPORT. MARK
STIVERS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORT.
BRIAN AUGUSTO WITH THE
CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION, THE
PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PROJECT IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. ANY, PRIMARY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? THANK
YOU. YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES. I'M
JUST CHECKING. HEY, HEY, HEY.
JUST KIDDING TO YOU. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS VANESSA CHÁVEZ WITH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS HERE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO AB 1932. THIS
MEASURE PENALIZES CALIFORNIA
FAMILIES WHO HAVE MADE A
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT
BY IMPOSING A TAX INCREASE ON
HOMEOWNERS BY ELIMINATING THE
MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION ON A
QUALIFYING SECOND RESIDENCE.
THIS CHANGE WOULD HURT THOSE
WORKING FAMILIES WHO HAVE TAKEN
ON THE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT IN HOME OWNERSHIP.
LET'S BE CLEAR THE MORTGAGE
INTEREST DEDUCTION IN OUR
CURRENT HOUSING MARKET WILL
LIKELY ONLY APPLY TO THE
PRINCIPAL RESIDENTS DUE TO THE
HIGH COST OF HOUSING. FOR
FAMILIES WHO TAKE ON THE SECOND
LOAN, IT IS OFTEN TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILY, WHETHER
THAT BE IN THE FORM OF
GENERATIONAL LIVING, BY CARING
FOR AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE OR TO
PROVIDE SHELTER SUITED TO THE
DEMANDS OF THEIR DYNAMIC FAMILY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY'RE A FIRST
RESPONDER, A FIREFIGHTER, OR A
MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR
EVEN A MEMBER OF ANOTHER
PROFESSION SEEKING TO BALANCE
FAMILY LIFE AND THEIR HYBRID
WORK SCHEDULE IN THIS EVER
EVOLVING POST-PANDEMIC WORK
ENVIRONMENT. FURTHER, 1 IN 3
CALIFORNIANS ITEMIZE THEIR
DEDUCTIONS OR THEIR RETURNS.
CALIFORNIA IS GENERALLY REGARDED
AS A HIGH COST STATE, WHERE THE
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME SITS AT
RIGHT UNDER $100,000, AS FOUND
BY THE US CENSUS BUREAU. THAT
TREND IS EVER MORE PREVALENT IN
COASTAL AREAS SUCH AS SAN DIEGO,
WHERE THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD
INCOME CHECKED IN AT JUST SHY OF
$99,000. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS
WORTHWHILE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
SUCH A CHANGE IN THE LAW WILL
LIKELY NOT RESULT IN A COST
SAVING TO THE STATE, BUT WILL
ACTUALLY RESULT IN INCREASED
COSTS DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
AND THE NATURE OF TAX
PREPARATION. RIGHT NOW,
TAXPAYERS HAVE THE OPTION TO
ITEMIZE THESE DEDUCTIONS.
WITHOUT THIS PROVISION IN THE
LAW, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
HOW THE FTB WOULD MANDATE A
TAXPAYER TO REPORT THESE COSTS.
WHY WOULD A TAXPAYER INSTEAD
CLAIM THE STANDARD DEDUCTION
RATHER THAN ITEMIZE? THIS GOES
TO THE HEART OF THE ARGUMENT
REGARDING THE INABILITY TO
ACCURATELY TRACK FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM. WE BELIEVE THAT
SUCH A CHANGE IN THE LAW WOULD
IMPACT, ACCELERATE, ACCELERATE
THE OUTWARD MIGRATION OF
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, AS THIS
MEASURE WILL RESULT IN A TAX
INCREASE ON CALIFORNIA'S WORKING
FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES
IN THIS VOLATILE ECONOMY. FOR
THESE REASONS, WE MUST OPPOSE
THIS MEASURE, AND WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR NØ
VOTE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION? HI,
INDIRA MCDONNELL, ON BEHALF OF
THE CALIFORNIA MORTGAGE BANKERS
ASSOCIATION, RESPECTFULLY
OPPOSED. THANK YOU, ANY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS? MR. LEE, I
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR FOR
BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD AND
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT.
I'M A PROUD COAUTHOR ON THIS
MEASURE, AND, LOVE TO SEE THAT
THIS MEASURE IS ADVANCING WHERE
AS I HAD DONE THIS BILL TWO
YEARS AGO, AND DAVID HSU BEFORE
US HAD ALSO DONE THE BILL
SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS A GREAT
INEQUITY IN OUR SYSTEM, IN THE
FACT THAT THE MORTGAGE INTEREST
DEDUCTION, WHICH PRIMARILY
BENEFITS PRIMARY RESIDENCES.
THIS IS TRUE, BUT STILL
SUBSIDIZES PEOPLE WHO BUY, WHO
BUY THEIR SECOND OR VACATION
HOME IS A GREAT TRAVESTY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A BUDGET
DEFICIT SITUATION NOW WHERE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING
CUT FROM THE BUDGET, EVEN
ESTIMATED RIGHT NOW THAT WE
COULD SAVE ROUGHLY $200 MILLION
PER YEAR JUST ON LIMITING MID ON
THOSE VACATION ON SECOND HOMES.
NOW NOW, I HEARD FROM THE
OPPOSITION, AND I'M VERY ACUTELY
AWARE THAT EVEN IN MY DISTRICT,
A FAMILY OF FOUR, THE AREA
MEDIAN INCOME IS 120 K, BUT THEY
SAVE AND WORK VERY HARD TO GET
TO THEIR FIRST HOME AND THEY, MY
OWN CONSTITUENTS, ARE APPALLED
THAT WHEN THEY SAVE SO HARD TO
GET TO THEIR FIRST HOME, THERE
ARE PEOPLE USING THE SAME TAX
BREAK. THIS IS GOVERNMENT MONEY
BEING GIVEN TO THEM AS A TAX
BREAK TO BUY A SECOND HOME OR A
VACATION HOME WHEN THEY HAVE
WORKED SO HARD TO GET TO THEIR
FIRST HOME. IN FACT, HALF OF
CALIFORNIANS OWN ZERO HOMES. AND
YET WE ARE SUBSIDIZING PEOPLE
WITH VACATION HOMES AND TO HAVE
MULTIPLE HOMES AT ONCE IS
RIDICULOUS. I REALLY LIKE THIS
PART. ON PAGE FOUR OF THE
ANALYSIS THAT POINTS OUT THE
DISPARITY BETWEEN AN EQUITY IN
OUR BUDGET, THE RENTERS TAX
CREDIT, WHICH HAS BEEN FROZEN
FOR DECADES. IT WOULD TAKE A
SINGLE FILER 18 YEARS TO RECOUP
THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAX BENEFIT
TAX BREAK AS ONE PERSON RECOUPS
FROM THE SECOND HOME. MID 18
YEARS AND A FAMILY OF TWO, WE
TAKE THEM NINE YEARS TO DO SO.
WE REALLY HAVE AN INEQUITABLE
SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, AND IF WE WANT
TO EXPAND THE CALIFORNIA DREAM
FOR EVERYONE, WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSING THE DOLLARS ON MAKING
SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE BECOME
HOMEOWNERS, NOT BECOME MULTI
HOMEOWNERS, AND ESPECIALLY AT A
TIME WHEN A LOT OF OUR BUDGET IS
BEING SLASHED RIGHT NOW, I THINK
IT'S VERY SMART THAT OUR CHAIR'S
PROPOSED A FORMULA OF PUTTING IT
TO HOME OWNERSHIP INTO
HOMELESSNESS AND TO RENT RELIEF.
THIS IS VERY SMART TO DO SO,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOSING ALL
THIS MONEY OUT THERE. AND THIS
IS VERY SUSTAINABLE TO DO SO.
AND EVEN, AND EVEN IN THE
HORIZON TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MIGHT MAKE CHANGES
THAT AFFECT THE MID, WHICH THIS
WOULD BE EVEN MORE SMART TO DO.
SO. SO I'M VERY PROUD COAUTHOR
OF THIS MEASURE. I BELIEVE IT'S
VERY SMART MEASURE NEED
ESPECIALLY IN OUR BUDGET CONTEXT
RIGHT NOW. AND I'M VERY PROUD TO
SUPPORT IT TODAY. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE? MISS REYES? THANK
YOU. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
MEASURE. THE ONE COMMENT THAT
WAS MADE BY THE OPPOSITION IS
WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO,
BECAUSE OF THEIR JOB DUTIES, MAY
HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND HOME TO
LIVE IN AND SOMETHING JUST TO
CONSIDER AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
THE DETAILS OF THIS. BUT I
ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH MY, MY
COLLEAGUE, WITH ALL OF HIS
COMMENTS, THE, THE WAY THE MONEY
IS GOING TO BE DIVIDED ALSO IS
GENIUS, BECAUSE IF WE'RE TRYING
TO DO IS INCREASE HOME OWNERSHIP
FOR EVERYONE ELSE AND TAKE THAT
TAX BREAK AND GIVE IT TO OTHERS.
I THINK THAT JUST THE WAY THAT
YOU'VE SET IT UP, BUT VERY
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE 25% GOING
TO THE HOUSING NAVIGATION
SERVICES, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
HAVE PEOPLE HOUSED AND TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICES, AND THE
OTHER 25% FOR FIRST TIME HOME
BUYERS, WE KNOW THAT CAL HOME IN
THIS BUDGET LOST $150 MILLION,
TO BE ABLE TO RECOUP PART OF
THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WOULD
BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. PROVIDE
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOME
OWNERSHIP FOR OTHERS, SO I IF IT
HASN'T BEEN MOVED, IT HAS. WE
MOVED IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS PEREZ. GREAT.
THANK YOU. OH I'M IT, WELL, WE
Ó. DID YOU HAVE A SECOND
MOTION? SECOND. OKAY SHE WROTE
IT DOWN. SHE SHE GOT IT, I
PROBABLY NOT VERY SURPRISING TO
YOU THAT, I HAVE A LOT OF
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, I I'M I WAS
PLEASED TO SEE MR. LEE SUPPORT,
INCREASE TAX CREDITS FOR RENTERS
. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING
FOR? BECAUSE I'LL GO FOR THAT,
BUT A QUESTION FOR MAYBE THE,
SUPPORTERS IS WE I THINK THERE'S
TALK ABOUT A HOUSING BOND, YOU
KNOW, MULTI-BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON OTHER HOUSING,
SITUATIONS. COMMUNITIES ARE
GIVING A LOT OF MONEY, OF THEIR
OWN. AND IF, LET'S SAY RESIDENT
XYZ LOSES THIS DEDUCTION, THAT
ONE PERSON LOSING THE DEDUCTION,
HOW DOES THAT HELP SOMEBODY
ELSE, PURCHASE A HOME? I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER
SOLUTIONS, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR
ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO EITHER RESTORE
MANY OF THESE CUTS OR, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, PROPOSE STABILITY
IN OUR HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
PROGRAMS GOING FORWARD, AND SO
THAT THOSE BEING SEPARATE,
SEPARATE QUESTIONS WORTHY,
WORTHY OF THIS DEBATE, WHAT THIS
BILL STRICTLY DOES IS REALLY
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS REALLY A
FISCAL TRADE OFF. IT TECHNICALLY
IS A IS A BALANCE OF REVENUE,
RIGHT. YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO BE
SUBSIDIZING AND LOSING REVENUE
OVER HERE OR YOU'RE TO VACATION
HOMES OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE
SPENDING REVENUE ON PROGRAMS
THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER. WE'RE TRYING TO
BALANCE THE BOOKS HERE IN OUR
STATE AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THAT OUR FISCAL POLICIES
ALIGN WITH OUR PRIORITIES. YEAH,
YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED A LOT AS
A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO TRY TO
INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE
EFFORTS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS, I
THINK THIS IS REPRESENTS ABOUT,
I THINK, 2/10 OF A PERCENT OF
THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE IN. AND,
MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WILL
HAVE BIG IMPACTS ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYBODY HEY,
LOOK, I GREW UP NOT OWNING A
HOUSE. MY OR MY PARENTS DON'T
OWN A HOUSE TO THIS DAY, VERY,
WE SHOULD INCREASE THE RENTERS
TAX CREDIT. I SUPPORT THAT, BUT
I FEEL LIKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT
WE GOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM PEOPLE
WHO MAY HAVE WORKED THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES, AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE
HOUSES, YEAH, I THAT'S THAT
COULD BE ALL THEIR INVESTMENTS,
THAT THEY HAVE TOO. AND I, I
JUST THINK IT HAS A REALLY BIG
IMPACT ON A WIDE SWATH OF PEOPLE
THAT DOESN'T ONLY GO AFTER THE
PEOPLE. I THINK THAT YOUR, MAYBE
TRYING TO ADDRESS MAYBE THE
WEALTHY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE YOU
ALWAYS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I
HAVE TO OPPOSE THIS BILL, SO.
THANK YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND I
WOULD WANT TO ECHO THAT I HAD A
CHANCE TO EARLY BEFORE, WE HAD
MEMORIALIZED THIS AND PUT THIS
INTO INTO PRINT, TO MEET WITH
OPPOSITION, KNOWING SOME HISTORY
THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS ENJOYED
ON TRYING TO DEBATE THIS ISSUE,
AND THE DEEP CONCERNS THAT THE
OPPOSITION HOLDS AND I DON'T I
DON'T DISMISS THOSE, AT ALL, SO
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THOSE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE. AND
THIS BILL DOES NOT AFFECT,
SECOND UNITS THAT ARE GOING OUT
TO RENT. RIGHT. BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY, THOSE RENTAL UNITS,
WERE THERE TO BE A FISCAL IMPACT
ON THOSE WOULD BE PASSED ON TO
THE RENTER. AND WE DON'T WANT TO
SEE THAT HAPPEN EITHER, BUT THE
IMPORTANT THING IS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S
CHALLENGES, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING
FOR SOLUTIONS TO HAVE A BALANCED
BUDGET AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
MONITORING WHAT WE ARE DOING
WITH OUR OUR FISCAL POLICY
DECISIONS, WITH REGARD TO
HOUSING FINANCE, THAT THIS IS A
BILL THAT PARTIALLY SOLVES, YOU
KNOW, THAT THAT HISTORICAL
INEQUITY THERE. I WOULD
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I VOTE
. GREAT. THANK YOU, WITH THAT,
YOU CAN TAKE, ROLL MOTION IS Dð
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
AND REVENUE AND TAXATION WARD.
I, I SEE NO HARRISON. NO
GRAYSON. CHOLERA CHOLERA. I LI
LI I QUIRK-SILVA REYES REYES I
SANCHEZ. WILSON. 4 TO 1. SO
WE'LL KEEP IT OPEN. IT'S ON
CALL. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
. A REMINDER TO OFFICES TO SEND
AUTHORS TO THIS, HEARING ROOM
126. YES OR THE CHAIR IS GOING
TO GET VERY UPSET. RIGHT.
OH
MR.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT. THIS IS
RIGHT NOW. HE'S STANDING. YES.
WE ARE. AND THIS. IS 35. THIS
ONE? NO NO NO NO. NEXT YEAR. OH,
NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I DO HAVE A
. OH, HELLO. YES. OKAY. STARTING
THE CALENDAR. GO AHEAD. GO WITH
IT. YEAH. I KNOW I WAS TOLD I
CAN'T, BUT I.
HAVE NOT. I'M NOT COOL. BUT
INTERESTING. OKAY NO I DO. YES.
OKAY. YEAH. SO SO. YEAH SPECIAL
THANKS.
DID YOU NOT.
I DO NOT I WOULD APPROACH SO
. OH
ITEM SIX I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S DROP.
OH SO I HAVE IT. NO OKAY. IS IT
TWO, SIX? SIX. SEVEN, TWO. SIX.
GOT IT. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
OKAY, OKAY. OKAY NEXT, NEXT
.
OKAY NEXT. OH CHAIR. ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK MADAM
SECRETARY TO CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ITEMS FOR MISS SANCHEZ. AND,
MR. LEE, IF. MISS, IF YOU MISSED
ANY TWO AND MR. KALRA, WE'LL
FIND OUT. SORRY. ITEM NUMBER
ONE, AB 1840, LEE. LEE, I
SANCHEZ. NO. SANCHEZ. NO 62.
CURRENT COUNT IS 6 TO 2. NUMBER.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, 1932.
SANCHEZ. NO. SANCHEZ NO.
GRAYSON. THIS IS, WE. THIS BILL
WAS UNCALLED AB 1932, ITEM
NUMBER THREE. I I. CURRENT IS
FIVE TWO. THAT BILL WILL BE OUT.
WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN FOR
ABSENT MEMBERS. ITEM NUMBER
SEVEN 2430S. SANCHEZ YES, I.
CURRENT COUNT IS 8 TO 0. ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT 2485. SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ I CURRENT VOTE IS 8 TO 0
ZERO. ITEM NINE TÍNH I 18. I'M
SORRY. AB 2967. CHOLERA CHOLERA.
I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ NOT BORING.
CURRENT VOTE IS 7 TO 0. AND I
BELIEVE WE HAVE THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ. I. AB8 TO
ZERO. 8 TO 0 IS THE CURRENT,
VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THANK YOU ALL.
SANCHEZ.
OKAY OKAY. COME ON. OKAY. THANK
YOU. OKAY THAT.
WAS AWARDED. I'M GOING TO INVITE
. OUR.
GREAT BYPASS THIS TIME. OKAY,
GREAT. SHE IS
.
I'M NOT KEEPING ANY
.
OKAY, ALEX. HERE. WE HAVE A
MOTION ON YOUR BILL. YAY! ARE
YOU
.
DID YOU AGREE TO.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. YEAH. YOU
MUST KEEP TIME. SHARE OUT OF
THIS. YEAH GOOD LUCK. OH. FUN.
SO.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING TEAM. I
DIDN'T DO THAT, THOUGH. HE IS
.
MISS SANCHEZ, WE HAVE ONE MORE
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ON THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU'RE WELCOME. AND THERE IS
ITEM NUMBER 14, AB 2893. NOT
BORING. THANK YOU. THAT IS STILL
6 TO 0. WE'RE WORKING. OKAY. WE
WILL RESUME BUSINESS AND WE ARE
VERY EXCITED TO AGAIN, WELCOME
BACK OUR FORMER COMMITTEE CHAIR.
ARE WE DOING. FOR US? HI. HI
EVERYONE. WHO HAS TWO VERY
IMPORTANT BILLS. AND, MISS
WICKS, I WILL NEED TO GO PRESENT
A BILL IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE
RIGHT NOW. SO AT THE MOMENT WITH
OUR VICE CHAIR ADDING ON TO
OTHER VOTES, I'M GOING TO TURN
THE GAVEL OVER TO MR. GRAYSON,
IF THAT'S OKAY. ARE YOU
AVAILABLE FOR SOME TIME, GREAT.
SO YOU GOT TWO VERY IMPORTANT
BILLS TO PRESENT, I'LL LET MR.
GRAYSON KICK US OFF. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON BOTH OF THESE BILLS,
OKAY. I'M HERE TO PRESENT AB
1893, A BILL TO MODERNIZE THE
BUILDER'S REMEDY. FIRST, I'D
LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THEIR
WORK ON THIS. I'M HAPPY TO
ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THE
INCLUSIONARY FROM 10% FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO 10% FOR
VERY LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. LET
ME START OFF BY DESCRIBING WHAT
THE BUILDER'S REMEDY IS. THEN I
CAN SHARE WHY IT NEEDS
MODERNIZING. AND THEN I'LL
FINISH WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF
HOW WE'RE PLANNING TO MODERNIZE
IT. THE BUILDER'S REMEDY IS A
PART OF HOUSING ELEMENT LAW THAT
SAYS THAT IF A CITY OR COUNTY
DOES NOT HAVE A HOUSING ELEMENT
THAT IS COMPLIANT WITH STATE
LAW, THAT CITY OR COUNTY CANNOT
DENY A HOUSING PROJECT MERELY
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH
THE LOCAL GENERAL PLANNING OR
ZONING. ESSENTIALLY IN
JURISDICTIONS WITHOUT A
COMPLIANT HOUSING ELEMENT, IT
ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO PROPOSE
A PROJECT THAT CAN BE OF ANY
SIZE, ANYWHERE IN THE
JURISDICTION. IF THAT SOUNDS
SCARY, IT'S BECAUSE THAT'S ON
PURPOSE, BECAUSE IT'S MEANT TO
COMPEL CITIES AND COUNTIES TO
COMPLETE THEIR HOUSING ELEMENT,
WHICH WE REALLY, REALLY WANT
CITIES AND COUNTIES TO DO. WE
WOULD LIKE THEM TO ADHERE TO
THEIR HOUSING ELEMENT. WHY?
BECAUSE WE HAVE A MASSIVE
HOUSING CRISIS, AND THE HOUSING
ELEMENT IS THE CONTRACT BETWEEN
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATE THAT SHOWS HOW LOCAL
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HELP
SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS. IT
SHOWS HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ZONE
TO ALLOW HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS
OF AFFORDABILITY. VÆ IT IT
SHOWS, HOW THEY ARE REMOVING
CONSTRAINTS FROM THEIR HOUSING
APPROVAL PROCESS. IT SHOWS HOW
THEY'RE GOING TO AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING. WHEN A
CITY OR COUNTY HAS A COMPLIANT
HOUSING ELEMENT THAT MEANS THAT
THE STATE THINKS IT'S DOING ITS
PART TO ADDRESS A COLLECTIVE
SOCIETAL PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY,
WE HAVE OVER 200 JURISDICTIONS,
ABOUT 40% OF THE TOTAL, THAT ARE
OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSING
ELEMENT LAW. THOSE JURISDICTIONS
ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT
SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS IS
NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THIS IS WHERE
THE BUILDERS REMEDY COMES INTO
PLAY. THEORETICALLY AND
NON-COMPLIANT CITIES AND
COUNTIES. WE'D BE SEEING LOTS OF
BUILDERS REMEDY PROJECTS THAT
RESULT IN LOTS OF HOUSING, SO
THAT IGNORING STATE LAW DOES NOT
MEAN AN END TO HOUSING
PRODUCTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
BUILDERS REMEDY HAS NOT
FUNCTIONED IN THIS WAY. YES,
THERE ARE NOW AT LEAST 100
BUILDERS REMEDIES PROJECTS
PROPOSED IN THE STATE, AND WE
HAVE APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS OF
THOSE DEVELOPERS TO GET HOUSING
BUILT IN THESE JURISDICTIONS.
BUT WE'VE OBSERVED THAT THOSE
PROJECTS HAVE A HARD TIME
GETTING TO THE FINISH LINE
BECAUSE THE LAW INCLUDES ENOUGH
AMBIGUITIES THAT MAKE THE
PROJECTS DIFFICULT TO PROCESS
AND EASY TO DELAY THIS RISKINESS
IS ALSO A TURNOFF TO A LOT OF
DEVELOPERS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD
LIKE TO BUILD IN THESE CITIES.
THE LAW ALSO INCLUDES AN
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT OF 20,
WHICH SOUNDS NOBLE AND LOFTY,
BUT ACTUALLY MAKES MOST HOUSING
PROJECTS ECONOMICALLY INFEASIBLE
. THE RESULT IS THAT THE CURRENT
BUILDERS REMEDY ISN'T ENOUGH OF
A CREDIBLE THREAT TO GET THOSE
200 PLUS JURISDICTIONS INTO
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW, WHICH
IS WHY WE NEED TO MODERNIZE THE
LAW. WORKING WITH OUR SPONSOR,
ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA, WE
HAVE CRAFTED A BILL THAT REMOVES
ANY AMBIGUITY ABOUT WHERE THE
BUILDERS REMEDY WOULD APPLY, HOW
MUCH DENSITY WOULD BE ALLOWED,
AND WHAT OBJECTIVE STANDARDS
WOULD APPLY. IT ALSO ENHANCES
FEASIBILITY BY REDUCING THE
AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENT TO
SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT RENDER
PROJECTS INFEASIBLE. NOW I KNOW
THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T LIKE
THE REDUCTION IN AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS. TO THOSE, I SAY
20% OF NOTHING IS NOTHING. WE
NEED SOMETHING THAT IS FEASIBLE
AND THAT WILL RESULT IN ACTUAL
AFFORDABLE UNITS IN NON
COMPLIANT JURISDICTIONS. AND WE
ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CITIES
AND COUNTIES WHO MIGHT BE
CONCERNED THAT THIS BILL
OVERRIDES THEIR ZONING TO
FACILITATE TOO MUCH HOUSING TO
THEM. I SAY PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR
HOUSING ELEMENT. BUT I'LL ADD I
KNOW THAT THE SIXTH CYCLE WAS
VERY CHALLENGING, AND I'M
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE
CITIES AND HCD TO MAKE IT A
BETTER PROCESS FOR ALL. WE WANT
100% OF CITIES AND COUNTIES TO
HAVE COMPLIANT HOUSING ELEMENT,
AND TO DO THEIR PART TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSING CRISIS, BUT IF YOU
REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW,
THERE SHOULD BE CONSEQUENCES.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER
CONSEQUENCE, IN TRYING TO STOP
HOUSING THAN IN FACT, MORE
HOUSING HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF
OF THE BILL ARE JANA STEINORTH,
BOARD REPRESENTING THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND
DEBBIE ORACLE, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY. WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY
ALEX FISCH, SPECIAL ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO
ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO CAN HELP
ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER. AND TWO MINUTES
FOR THE TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES.
TWO MINUTES EACH. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M JANICE
STANFORD, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE
AND DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE,
ON BEHALF OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
ROB BONTA, I WANT TO START BY
THANKING ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS
FOR AUTHORING THIS BILL, WHICH
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS PROUD TO
SPONSOR. THE BUILDER'S REMEDY
HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS SINCE
1990. IT WAS INTENDED TO SERVE
AS A COMPLIANCE TOOL TO
ENCOURAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
ADOPT THEIR HOUSING ELEMENTS AND
TO PROVIDE A PATH FOR HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT, EVEN WHEN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO DO SO.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LACK OF
CLARITY IN THE EXISTING BUILDERS
REMEDY STATUTE HAS LED TO LOCAL
DISPUTES AND LITIGATION, WHICH
IS DELAYING PROJECTS. AB 1893
WOULD CLARIFY THE BUILDERS
REMEDY AND BRING IT INTO THE
21ST CENTURY. A LOT HAS HAPPENED
SINCE 1990. THIS BILL WOULD
ALIGN THE BUILDERS REMEDY WITH A
PLETHORA OF OTHER STATE LAWS
THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED SINCE THE
BUILDERS REMEDY WENT ON THE
BOOKS 30 PLUS YEARS AGO, LIKE AB
2011, SB 35 AND 423, AND RECENT
REVISIONS TO THE HOUSING
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AND DENSITY
BONUS LAW. THE BILL ALSO ALIGNS
THE BUILDERS REMEDY WITH OTHER
STATE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE
EMERGED SINCE THE BUILDERS
REMEDY WAS ADOPTED, LIKE
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGIES
PROMOTING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN
URBAN INFILL AND NEAR TRANSIT
CENTERS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE CONSIDERATIONS LIKE
KEEPING RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AWAY
FROM INDUSTRIAL USES. WE WANT
CITIES TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE,
BUT IF THEY WON'T, BUILDERS
REMEDY SHOULD PROMOTE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT IN PLACES WHERE IT
MAKES SENSE. BY MODERN DAY
STANDARDS, AB 1893 WOULD ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY HAS SPIRALED OUT
OF CONTROL. HARD WORKING
CALIFORNIANS AT ALL INCOME
LEVELS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND
AND AFFORD HOUSING. WE NEED MORE
AFFORDABLE AND MIXED INCOME
HOUSING TO BE BUILT, AND WE NEED
MANY MORE SMALLER PROJECTS TO BE
BUILT, LIKE TOWNHOMES, WHICH
HAVE LOWER PRICE POINTS THAN
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. AB 1893
WOULD MAKE THE BUILDERS REMEDY
WORK BETTER, WOULD PROVIDE
CLARITY FOR DEVELOPERS AND CITY
PLANNERS AND COURTS, AND CREATE
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
BUILD HOUSING AND MEET THE NEEDS
OF HARD WORKING CALIFORNIANS. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES. GOOD
MORNING, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TESTIFY. MY NAME IS DEBBIE
ORACLE, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
CALIFORNIA. AND I'M HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE VIEWS OF ALL OF
OUR STATEWIDE HABITAT
AFFILIATES, REPRESENTING AND
OPERATING IN 42 COUNTIES. AND WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT AB 1893. WE
BELIEVE IN USING ALL THE TOOLS
IN OUR TOOLBOX TO BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THIS
LEGISLATION CALLS ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO JOIN US IN THESE
EFFORTS. LET'S NOT SPEND TIME
LITIGATING. LET'S SPEND OUR TIME
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TOGETHER AT HABITATS ACROSS
CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE BUILT
THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF BUILDING HUNDREDS
MORE HABITAT. HOMEOWNERS EARN 30
TO 80% OF THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO
SAY THAT 83% OF OUR HOMEOWNERS
ARE HABITAT HOMEOWNERS ARE
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR, HABITAT IS UNIQUELY
POSITIONED IN THIS HOME
OWNERSHIP SPACE AS A BUILDER,
DEVELOPER, MORTGAGE LENDER, AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPER, WE SUPPORT
AB 1893 BECAUSE WE BELIEVE A
MORE EFFECTIVE BUILDERS REMEDY
WILL ENCOURAGE CITIES TO ADOPT
ROBUST HOUSING ELEMENTS WITH
STRONG AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMS AND ON TIME THROUGH THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED
BUILDERS REMEDY AND PARTNERING
WITH BUILDERS LIKE LIKE THEIR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHAPTER AND
OTHER SMALL SITE BUILDERS,
CITIES CAN ENSURE WE MEET OUR
COLLECTIVE GOALS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN ALL COMMUNITIES OR BE
ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH REASONABLE
CONSEQUENCES. AB 1893 WOULD
FINALLY AMEND THE CURRENT
BUILDERS REMEDY AND ADDRESS THE
SYSTEMIC AMBIGUITIES AND
CHALLENGES. THIS BILL BRINGS
CLARITY TO THE RULES FOR
JURISDICTIONS TO GET INTO
COMPLIANCE HABITAT ACROSS THE
STATE IS READY TO PARTNER WITH
OUR CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO
BUILD MORE HOMES FOR 100%
AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP, WE
NEED TO USE THE TOOLS LIKE AB
1893 AND OTHERS TO HOLD EACH
OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND COMMIT TO
MEETING OUR REQUIREMENTS THROUGH
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS AND MORE
HOUSING TOGETHER. I AM GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP
ON THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION,
AND I URGE AN AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS
IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO
ADD ON? PLEASE STEP TO THE
MICROPHONE, ADD ON AND SUPPORT.
THAT IS STATE YOUR NAME,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION. HOLLY
FOR MANY DAYS WITH LIGHTHOUSE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS HERE IN SUPPORT
OF AB 1893 ON BEHALF OF SPUR
CIVIC WELL, SANDHILL PROPERTIES,
BUCKEYE PROPERTIES AND THE INNER
CITY LAW CENTER AND UNITED WAY,
GREATER LOS ANGELES. AND BOB
NAYLOR FOR FIELDSTEAD AND
COMPANY, THAT'S HOWARD AHMANSON
JR IN ORANGE COUNTY,
PHILANTHROPIST AND STRONG
SUPPORT. AUDREY RITECHECK, ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A
POSITION, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH THE AUTHOR AND
STAFF. THANK YOU. KEITH
COOLIDGE, ON BEHALF OF AARP
CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT. BROOKE
PRITCHARD, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YIMBY AND STRONG
SUPPORT. TONY BUI WITH THE
CALIFORNIA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
IN SUPPORT. RAFA SONNENFELD, ON
BEHALF OF YIMBY ACTION AND YIMBY
LAW. WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A
POSITION AND ARE CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THE AUTHOR. THANK YOU.
AND ANY SECOND WE DO HAVE A
MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY OTHERS
IN SUPPORT? SEEING NONE, WE WILL
GO TO OPPOSITION. IS THERE
OPPOSITION PRESENT IN THE ROOM?
PRIMARY OPPOSITION. PLEASE COME
FORWARD. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
GOOD MORNING. OH, I CAN SIT.
YEAH GOOD MORNING. CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. BRADY GIRTON, ON BEHALF
OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES, APOLOGIES, WE DIDN'T GET
A LETTER IN, BUT THE AUTHOR'S
OFFICE IS AWARE OF OUR OPPOSED
UNLESS AMENDED POSITION. WE'VE
HAD VERY PRODUCTIVE
CONVERSATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. JUST A COUPLE
THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO POINT
OUT. SO WE APPRECIATE THE AUTHOR
AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
DESIRE TO LIMIT THE APPLICATION
OF BUILDERS REMEDY PROJECTS BY
RESTRICTING WHERE THESE PROJECTS
CAN OCCUR, LIMITING DENSITY, AND
ALLOWING THE USE OF OBJECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS. IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES. REYES. HOWEVER,
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE LESS FOCUS
SHOULD BE ON WHAT HAPPENS IF A
CITY DOES NOT ADOPT A HOUSING
ELEMENT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY
COMPLIES WITH THE LAW, AND MORE
TIME AND ATTENTION SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON HOW THE STATE CAN
PARTNER WITH CITIES AND ENSURE
THAT ALL JURISDICTIONS COME INTO
COMPLIANCE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE
AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND APPRECIATE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS
IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ANY
OTHERS IN THE ROOM IN
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL
BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS?
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE I LIKE TO
THANK SIMILAR WICKS FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL FORWARD. I THINK IT'S
ON NET IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL
CHANGES TO THE BUILDER'S REMEDY
IS IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED THESE
TO HAPPEN, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS
TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T SOME
PROVISIONS THAT DO GIVE ME SOME
HEARTBURN IN THIS ASPECT. I
THINK OVERALL A LOT OF GOOD
PROVISION HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I
DON'T LOVE THAT THERE'S A
MAXIMUM DENSITY IN HERE BECAUSE
I DO BELIEVE THAT IF POSSIBLE,
WE SHOULD ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM
DENSITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT
THERE ALSO IS NO MINIMUM DENSITY
ASPECT. AND I KNOW THIS IS A
PRODUCT OF MANY OF YOUR
CONVERSATIONS, AND I WOULD LIKE
TO BE PART OF THESE
CONVERSATIONS IF POSSIBLE GOING
FORWARD. BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
FOR YOU THAT IN THE CITY I LIVE
IN, CITY OF SAN JOSE, THAT I
SHARE REPRESENTATION WITH
ASSEMBLYMEMBER CARRA IS THAT
WHEN THE CITY FAILED TO BE
CERTIFIED WITH ITS HOUSING
ELEMENTS, A LOT OF DEVELOPERS
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF BUILDERS
REMEDY, BUT THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION THAT WE EXPECT. THEY
DE-DENSIFY AND THEY WENT
DOWNWARDS AND SOMETHING VERY
NOTABLE. AND THIS WAS MANY
PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN
JOSE, ALL AT ONE TIME, ONE IN MY
DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
BERRYESSA BART STATION,
LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT TO THE BART
STATION, THEY DÍAS THEY DOWNSIZE
AND DENSIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND
IN THE END, THE CITY CAVED AND
GAVE THEM A LOT OF PUBLIC
BENEFIT, WHICH IS VERY
CONTROVERSIAL AS WELL, THAT
GIVES US A LOT OF HEARTBURN BACK
HOME. I MEAN, BUILDERS REMEDY, I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HOPED
WOULD BE A WAY THAT IF A CITY
WAS NOT BEING COMPLIANT, WAS
BEING AN OBSTRUCTIONIST, THAT WE
COULD GO IN AND DELIVER THE
HOUSING, ESPECIALLY IN TRANSIT
ORIENTED PLACES, TO DELIVER IT
AS MAXIMUM AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE
SAW THAT DEVELOPERS CHOSE
PERHAPS BUSINESS WISE,
UNDERSTANDABLY UNDER THIS
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, THAT THEY
CHOSE TO SCALE BACK BUT HAVE BIG
SOCIAL LONG TERME CONSEQUENCES
TO OUR AREA THAT WE HAVE PUT A
LOT OF EFFORT INTO BEING AS PRO
HOUSING AS POSSIBLE. SO I JUST
WANT TO VOICE THAT I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THE BILL TODAY. I'LL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS
AND WANT TO BE COLLABORATIVE AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND GIVE YOU
SOME SOME BACKUP ON THE MINIMUM
ASPECT OF IT, DON'T LOVE A
MAXIMUM, BUT I DO THINK AT LEAST
A MINIMUM IS NECESSARY BECAUSE
WE ALSO DON'T WANT THE INSTANCE
IN WHICH THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
BUILDERS REMEDY AND GO THE OTHER
DIRECTION TOO. AND YES, OF
COURSE ONE HOUSE IS BETTER THAN
ZERO HOUSES. BUT YOU KNOW,
ESPECIALLY IN VALUABLE LAND IN
TRANSIT CORRIDORS, IF YOU LOCK
IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOUSES
THERE, THAT COULD BE THERE FOR A
LONG TIME. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
CONSEQUENCES IN NORTHERN SAN
JOSE. SO I JUST WANT TO VOICE
THOSE OPINIONS. BUT I DO WANT TO
BE COLLABORATE WITH YOU AND I'LL
BE SUPPORTING THE BILL TODAY.
GREAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND,
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THIS. HAPPY TO INCLUDE YOU
IN ALL OF THOSE WITH OUR
PARTNERS, DEBATING EXACTLY THIS
QUESTION AROUND THE MINIMUM
DENSITY, I SHARE THE SAME GOALS
AS YOU, AND I'LL SAY ON THE
MAXIMUM DENSITY, IT'S STILL A
VERY DENSE, AMOUNT OF HOUSING
THAT CAN GO PARTICULARLY IN THE,
LIKE, HIGH RESOURCE COMMUNITIES,
WHICH I THINK IS WHERE, WE NEED
IT THE MOST. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
KALRA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
THANK YOU, SENATOR, FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. I SUPPORT WHAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND
WE'VE HAD SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS
ON THE MINIMUM DENSITY. I THINK
THAT IN SOME CASES, IT'S ALMOST
IT'S WORSE. YOU KNOW, TO, TO
HAVE LOW DENSITY THAN NOTHING
THERE, BECAUSE ONCE IT'S THERE,
IT'S THERE FOR GENERATIONS, AS
EVIDENCED BY, WELL, DOWNTOWN SAN
JOSE. NOW THAT WE'RE BUILDING
HIGH RISES. BUT THERE ARE THREE
STORY THESE THREE STORY, HOUSING
THAT WAS BUILT DECADES AGO, AND
THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR
DECADES MORE. AND THE POTENTIAL
I JUST THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
THAT'S LOST. RIGHT. AND SO
ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE THERE'S
GOING TO BE A REDUCTION OF
AFFORDABILITY K¾T, THEN THE
CONCERN IS THAT THAT THE
BUILDERS ARE GOING TO DO AS LOW
DENSITY LUXURY HOUSING, AND I'D
MUCH RATHER SEE IT GO IN THE
OTHER DIRECTION OF MORE
AFFORDABILITY, HIGHER DENSITY, I
DON'T HAVE AS MUCH PROBLEM WITH
THE MAXIMUM DENSITY BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE
KIND OF TAKING THAT LOCAL
CONTROL AWAY IN THIS ONE AREA,
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME, YOU KNOW
, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME LIMIT
TO IT. I GET IT, I GET THAT. BUT
BUT I ALSO WOULD ENCOURAGE AS
MUCH DENSITY AS POSSIBLE WITH,
WITH A FLOOR OF DENSITY.
OTHERWISE WE'LL SEE WHAT
HAPPENED AROUND THE BART STATION
AND BERRYESSA WHERE THE, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PENCIL
OUT AND TRY TO PROFIT WHATEVER
MAKES SENSE THAT DAY FOR THEM,
THAT MOMENT FOR THEM, MAYBE IN
SOME MOMENTS IT'S HIGHER
DENSITY. MAYBE IN MANY CASES
IT'S NOT ESPECIALLY, THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION, THE MORE DENSITY
INCREASES. A LOT OF BUILDERS ARE
JUST GOING TO KIND OF GET GET AS
MUCH AS THEY CAN, WITH THE LOWER
DENSITY PROJECT AND GET OUT OF
TOWN. AND THEN THE CITY AND THE
COMMUNITY IS STUCK WITH THAT
DENSITY. SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE
I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE SAME ON
THE SAME MINDSET ON THIS. AND SO
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED
WORK ON THAT COMPONENT OF IT.
YEAH. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO PULL
TOGETHER A CONVERSATION WITH
SOME OF THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON
THIS SPECIFIC QUESTION WITH YOU
ALL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF YOUR
EXPERIENCE IN SAN JOSE. THAT'D
BE GREAT. ANY OTHER MEMBERS?
SEEING NONE THERE IS A STATEMENT
FROM THE CHAIR OF HOUSING,
HOUSING ELEMENT COMPLIANCE IS
KEY TO ACHIEVE OUR COMMITTEE'S
GOALS. BUILDERS REMEDY IS ONE OF
THE HAMMERS TO GET CITIES IN
COMPLIANCE. YOUR BILL WILL
STRENGTHEN THE BUILDERS REMEDY
BY PROVIDING CERTAINTY TO
DEVELOPERS AND ALSO PROVIDE
GUIDANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON
HOW TO PROCESS A DEVELOPMENT
USING BUILDERS REMEDY. THANK YOU
FOR AGREEING TO ADJUST THE
AFFORDABILITY REQUIRED FROM 10%
LOWER INCOME TO 10% VERY LOW
INCOME. THE RECOMMENDATION IS
SUPPORT WITH AMENDS. AMENDS BE
TAKEN. ASSEMBLY, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND WITH THAT, WE DO
HAVE A MOTION FROM A SIMILAR
MEMBER, REYES, A SECOND FROM,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA.
MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL MOTION. DO PASS TO THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. WARD PATTERSON.
GRAYSON HI. GRAYSON. I CHOLERA.
CHOLERA I LI LI I QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA I REYES REYES I
SANCHEZ. NOT 40. WILSON FIVE. WE
HAVE FIVE VOTES. THE BILL HAS
FIVE VOTES. WILL HOLD THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. WE WILL
MOVE TO, I BELIEVE ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, AB 2243. IS THAT CORRECT?
YES, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS. AB
2243. YES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
PLEASE BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THANK YOU. HI, TEAM. OKAY. THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M HERE TO
PRESENT AB 2243, A BILL TO
CLARIFY AND EXPAND AB 2011.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF
FOR SLOGGING THROUGH THIS BIG
BILL AND HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO FIX AN
IMPORTANT TYPO. AB 2011, ALSO
KNOWN AS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND HIGH ROADS JOB ACT OF 2022,
WAS A BILL I AUTHORED IN 2022,
WHICH A COUPLE OF YOU WERE JOINT
AUTHORS ON, IT ALLOWS THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIFAMILY
INFILL HOUSING IN AREAS ZONED
FOR PARKING, RETAIL AND OFFICE
IN RETURN FOR MAKING THESE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS BY RIGHT,
DEVELOPERS NEED TO PROVIDE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE AND
ENSURE THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
ARE PAID THE PREVAILING WAGE.
SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF AB 2011,
THERE HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL
CHANGES TO THE ECONOMY,
INCLUDING THE COLLAPSE OF DEMAND
FOR OFFICE SPACE, THE REDUCED
DEMAND FOR BRICK AND MORTAR
RETAIL, AND AN INCREASE IN
INTEREST RATES. THESE CHANGES
HAVE CREATED BOTH THE DEMAND AND
OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP SITES
WHERE HOUSING MIGHT BE
ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.
ADDITIONALLY, SINCE AB 2011
ENACTMENT, HOUSING DEVELOPERS
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE
IDENTIFIED ASPECTS OF THE LAW'S
LANGUAGE THAT ARE SUBJECT AND
OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. THIS
SUBJECTIVITY HAS LED TO PROJECT
DELAYS AND DISSUADED UTILIZATION
OF THE LAW. IT HAS ALSO LED TO
INCONSISTENT APPLICATION ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS, AND CREATED THE
POTENTIAL FOR UNNECESSARY
LAWSUITS. AB 2243 WOULD ADDRESS
BOTH OF THESE ISSUES BY
EXPANDING AB 2011 GEOGRAPHIC
APPLICATION AND CLARIFYING
ASPECTS OF THE LAW THAT ARE
SUBJECT TO INTERPRETATION IN
TERMS OF GEOGRAPHIC EXPANSION.
AB 2243 WOULD APPLY AB 2011 TO
THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PROJECTS
ONE. THE CONVERSION OF OFFICE TO
HOUSING, EVEN IF THE SITE IS NOT
ALONG A MAJOR COMMERCIAL
CORRIDOR. TWO REGIONAL MALLS
THAT EXCEED 20 ACRES IN SIZE,
THREE SITES WITHIN 500FT OF
FREEWAYS, AND 3200FT OF OIL
EXTRACTIONS. AS LONG AS THOSE
PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED, HAVE
REQUIRED AIR FILTRATION. AND
LASTLY, VÆ TO EXISTING HIGH RISE
OR EXISTING HIGH RISE DISTRICTS.
EVEN IF THE SITE IS NOT ALONG A
COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. IN TERMS OF
REMOVING SUBJECTIVITY, AB 2243
INCLUDES A SERIES OF
CLARIFICATIONS, INCLUDING ONE
CLARIFYING THAT ALL ASPECTS OF
AB 2011 PROJECTS ARE MINISTERIAL
AND NOT SUBJECT TO SEQUA TWO.
CLARIFYING HOW AB 2011
INTERSECTS WITH DENSITY BONUS
LAW, AND THREE SPECIFYING THAT
ANY SITE REMEDIATION NEEDS TO
OCCUR AFTER PROJECT APPROVAL BUT
BEFORE THE SITE CAN BE OCCUPIED.
IMPORTANTLY, AB 2243 DOESN'T
TOUCH AB 2011 LABOR STANDARDS OR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING STANDARDS,
WHICH IS WHY IT'S STILL
SUPPORTED BY 2011, A DIVERSE
COALITION OF CONSTRUCTION,
LABOR, SEIU AND CSCA AFFORDABLE
AND MARKET RATE DEVELOPERS AND
OTHER PRO HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS.
AB 2011 HAS ONLY BEEN IN LAW FOR
20 MONTHS. DURING THIS PERIOD,
HIGH INTEREST RATES HAVE
DAMPENED THE HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION MARKET, AND WHILE
THE USE OF AB 2011 HASN'T GONE
GANGBUSTERS LIKE WE HAD WANTED,
WE NOW HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE FROM
PROJECTS THAT ARE USING 2011 OR
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW SOME FIXES
ARE NECESSARY TO ALIGN THE
LANGUAGE OF THE BILL WITH ITS
INTENT. MY GOAL IS THAT WITH
THIS BILL, THE MOMENT ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS IMPROVE, PROJECTS
WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE AB 2011
AS IT WAS INTENDED, WHICH WAS TO
PROVIDE CERTAINTY TO SMART
PROJECTS IN RETURN FOR
AFFORDABILITY AND HIGH LABOR
STANDARDS. AND FOR THOSE
REASONS, I WILL ASK FOR AN AYE
VOTE. WITH ME HERE TO TESTIFY IS
ANN SILVERBERG, CEO OF RELATED
COMPANIES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND NORTHWEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DIVISION, AND MR. DANNY CURTIN,
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA
CONFERENCE OF CARPENTERS. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER, TWO
MINUTES EACH. ALL RIGHT.
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ANN
SILVERBERG AND I AM THE CEO FOR
RELATED NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND
NORTHWEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DIVISIONS IN MY ROLE, I'M
CURRENTLY OVERSEEING THE
PRODUCTION OF 5000 AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS AND IN OUR 30 YEAR
HISTORY RELATED CALIFORNIA HAS
DEVELOPED OVER 20,000 HOUSING
UNITS. I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER
OF THE HOUSING ACTION COALITION,
A SPONSOR OF AB 2243, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
EXTREME GRATITUDE TO THE
ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE FOR
YOUR CLEAR AND CONSTANT
COMMITMENT TO COMBATTING OUR
SEVERE HOUSING CRISIS. THE LAW
IS RELATED TO STREAMLINING AND
SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION OF NEW
HOUSING UNITS ARE MAKING A
MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE AS THEY
ARE HELPING US DELIVER MORE
HOUSING, MORE QUICKLY,
SPECIFICALLY, THE PASSAGE OF THE
LANDMARK BILL AB, AB 2011 HAS
BEEN CRITICAL AND EXPEDITING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FROM
OUR PORTFOLIO. WE'RE CURRENTLY
USING AB 2011 ON LAND ZONED FOR
PARKING, AT A VTA LIGHT RAIL
STOP IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, THE
SITE WILL BE QUICKLY CLEARED FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF 90 AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS, FOR LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS IN A Kò LOCATION, NEAR
AMENITIES AND SERVICES, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, NEAR HIGH QUALITY
TRANSIT USING AB 2011. THIS
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PROCESSED IN
A MATTER OF MONTHS INSTEAD OF
YEARS, AND SO I AGAIN WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR
AB 2011. IT IS WORKING. I'M
SPEAKING TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF AB 2243, WHICH AMENDS AB 2011
TO PROVIDE HELPFUL
CLARIFICATIONS WHILE ALSO
EXPANDING ITS APPLICABILITY TO
CATALYZE EVEN MORE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES. THESE
CLARIFICATIONS WILL IMPROVE THE
LAW, AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, TO
ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL SITES TO BE
DEVELOPED FOR HOUSING SITES THAT
WERE PREVIOUSLY INELIGIBLE FOR
STREAMLINING WILL NOW BE
FEASIBLE, AND IT WILL EXPAND
PRODUCTION, POTENTIAL THROUGHOUT
THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY
INCLUDING INFILL LOCATIONS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE FROM OUR
PORTFOLIO THAT WE'RE WORKING ON
CURRENTLY, OUR FIRM IS PURSUING
HOUSING ON AN UNDERUTILIZED TWO
PARCEL SITE ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL
IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, IT'S AN
ACTIVE INFILL AREA, AND IT'S
VERY PROMISING FOR HOUSING
PRODUCTION. WITH THE
CLARIFICATIONS OF AB 2243, THIS
SITE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
STREAMLINING CLEARING THE WAY
FOR NEEDED HOUSING IN THIS
REALLY KEY LOCATION NEAR
CLOSING. THANK YOU. SERVICES.
TRANSIT AND JOBS. THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR VISIONARY SUPPORT
. THANK YOU TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
BUFFY WICKS. AND I'M HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. TWO MINUTES
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
WATCHING THE COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS
ENLIGHTENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR HARD WORK UP HERE. THANK
YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER, FOR THE
INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'VE DONE, I'M
HERE BASICALLY, JUST TO
REITERATE OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS
MEASURE, I WANT TO THANK ANN
SILVERBERG FOR THE SPECIFICS
THAT SHE PUT OUT THERE. BUT HERE
WE ARE, DEJA VU, IF ANY OF YOU
REMEMBER YOGI BERRA ALL OVER
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, I
JUST WANT TO SAY I BROUGHT A
COUPLE OF FLOOR ALERTS FROM TWO
YEARS AGO, AND THEY WERE GREAT
THEN, AND THEY'RE GREAT NOW.
URBAN FOOTPRINT. CALTHORPE, EPS
ANALYSIS, POSSIBLY 1.6 TO 2.4
MILLION HOMES, 300 TO 400,000.
LOWER INCOME HOMES OR LOWER COST
HOMES. HOUSING COSTS ARE LIKELY
TO BE REDUCED. FIGHT CLIMATE
CHANGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUILD IN
THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, YOU
BRING DOWN DRIVING TIME, FEWER
GREENHOUSE GASES, ETC. GROSS
STATE AND LOCAL ECONOMIES. THIS
IS FABULOUS. YOU RAISE THE VALUE
OF THE LANDS AND THAT YOU'RE
DEVELOPING. YOU GET MORE INCOME
STREAM. YOU CAN INVEST THAT
INCOME STREAM IN MORE HOUSING,
IT WAS GREAT. WE ALSO DID SOME
GREAT STUFF ON, I WOULD SAY A
VIGOROUS OR HOW WOULD I PUT IT,
SPIRITED LABOR DEBATE ON THE
ISSUES IN TERMS OF LABOR CAME
OUT GREAT PREVAILING WAGES,
HEALTH CARE AND LABOR
MANAGEMENT, ENFORCEMENT OF THE
PROGRAM. SO WE'RE STILL THERE.
IT'S ALL GREAT. WE JUST GOT TO
GET THIS BILL OUT OF JAIL, SO TO
SPEAK, FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE
LEGITIMATE, THAT PEOPLE ARE
HAVING TROUBLE APPLYING THE LAW,
EXPAND IT AND GET BACK TO WORK.
AND MAYBE WE CAN START SEEING
THIS HOUSING BUST LOOSE. SO I
JUST AGAIN, BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, GROW THE ECONOMY,
PROTECT THE CONSTRUCTION
WORKFORCE, BUILD GENERATIONAL
GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR THOSE
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. WE'RE HERE
TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN, AND
LET'S GET THIS BALL ROLLING.
THANK YOU TO THE WITNESSES FOR
THEIR TESTIMONY. THOSE IN THE
ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON
NAME, ORGANIZATION AND POSITION,
PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. CASSIE
MANCINI, ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. BOB
NAYLOR FOR FIELDSTEAD AND
COMPANY IN SUPPORT. MARY ELLEN
SHEA, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
LOCAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCIES
AND THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING
CONSORTIUM STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
MORNING, FRANCISCO MORALES HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING ACTION
COALITION, A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS
MEASURE, IN STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. RAFA SONNENFELD WITH
IMB ACTION ON BEHALF OF OUR
CHAPTERS IN CALIFORNIA, THE EAST
BAY YIMBY, MOUNTAIN VIEW, YIMBY
NORTHERN NEIGHBORS, PENINSULA
FOR EVERYONE, SAN FRANCISCO
YIMBY. SANTA CRUZ, YIMBY, SANTA
ROSA, YIMBY, SLOCUM, URBAN
ENVIRONMENTALIST, GROW THE
RICHMOND, VENTURA COUNTY M
STREETS FOR PEOPLE SOUTHSIDE
FORWARD, HOW TO ADU PEOPLE FOR
HOUSING, ORANGE COUNTY, PROGRESS
NÓI VALLEY, SOUTH BAY, YIMBY AND
NAPA SOLANO FOR EVERYONE IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. WE ALWAYS
HAVE AN ARMY. LESLIE RODRIGUEZ,
ON BEHALF OF HOUSING TRUST
SILICON VALLEY AND STRONG
SUPPORT. TONI BOU WITH THE
CALIFORNIA APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
IN STRONG SUPPORT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. JAMES THÀNH, DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL
OF LABORERS AND STRONG SUPPORT.
FOR MANY DAYS WITH LIGHTHOUSE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF SPUR
CIVIC WELL, BUCKEYE PROPERTIES,
SANDHILL PROPERTIES AND THE
INNER CITY LAW CENTER IN STRONG
SUPPORT. KEITH COOLIDGE, AARP
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT. BROOKE
PRITCHARD, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YIMBY IN STRONG
SUPPORT. DAN BRANTON, DRYWALL
AUTHORS LOCAL 909, IN STRONG
SUPPORT. SAMSUNG LOCAL 46
CARPENTER UNION SUPPORT. FOR
LOCAL 46 AND SUPPORT. ANTONIO
ACEVEDO CARPENTERS LOCAL 46. IN
SUPPORT. MATT KELLY, CARPENTERS
LOCAL 46, IN STRONG SUPPORT.
LELAND JONES, CARPENTERS LOCAL
46, IN STRONG SUPPORT. APRIL
ATKINS CARPENTER, LOCAL 22
STRONG SUPPORT. RICHARD CRUZ
PROUD MEMBER, CARPENTERS UNION
IN STRONG SUPPORT. ROD FINDLAY,
DRYWALL. LUTHER'S 9109 AND
STRONG SUPPORT. EMILIO TREVINO,
LOCAL 46 CARPENTER AND SUPPORT
LINDSAY SACASAS, LOCAL 46
CARPENTERS. VERY STRONG SUPPORT
LUIS OROZCO, CARPENTERS, LOCAL
46, IN STRONG SUPPORT. RAMON
AMARAL, CARPENTERS, LOCAL 152
STRONG SUPPORT. ALEXANDER
HAMPTON, LOCAL 46 STRONG SUPPORT
. CHRIS MARTINEZ, LOCAL 1599 AND
SHASTA COUNTY IN STRONG SUPPORT
SEAN REESE, CARPENTERS, LOCAL
1599. IN STRONG SUPPORT. SURELY
THERE HAS TO BE ONE MORE IN
SUPPORT. THE ROOM. THERE'S ABOUT
200 OUTSIDE. WELL, WE HAVEN'T
COME BACK TO COMMITTEE YET, SO,
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO
OPPOSITION. IS THERE OPPOSITION
IN ROOM PRIMARY OPPOSITION. YOU
HAVE TWO MINUTES. PLEASE. TWO
MINUTES. GOOD MORNING AGAIN,
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. BRADY GRANT,
ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES IN RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURE, WE
STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT CITIES
NEED THE TIME AND SPACE TO
IMPLEMENT THE DOZENS OF NEW
HOUSING LAWS PASSED IN RECENT
YEARS. AND ADDITIONALLY, MANY
CITIES ARE STILL ACTIVELY
WORKING TO UPDATE THEIR REQUIRED
HOUSING ELEMENT BEFORE MAKING
YET MORE, YET MORE CHANGES TO
THE LAW. LAWMAKERS AND THE
GOVERNOR SHOULD PARTNER WITH
CITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE
THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP
HOUSING PLANS THAT WORK IN EACH
UNIQUE COMMUNITY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE AND
APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED DIALOG.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. ANY OTHERS THAT WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ON IN OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK
TO THE COMMITTEE. QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES
WELL, I WANT TO BEGIN BY
THANKING THE AUTHOR FOR BEING A
BOLD LEADER IN THIS SPACE, FOR
BEING SOMEONE WHO HAS TAKEN ON
THIS ISSUE HEAD ON, YOU DID THAT
WITH 2011 AND NOW WITH THIS
BILL, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'RE
LOOKING TO EXPAND SITES FOR
BUILDING A MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE
NEED, I THE ONE AREA THAT AND
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, IS THE
SITES THAT ARE 500FT FROM, FROM,
FREEWAYS FOR THIS, FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING, FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE
HAD THE CONVERSATION SOMETHING
THAT WILL BE YOU'LL BE WORKING
ON, THE AIR FILTRATION AND TO
FIND OUT, FIND OTHER WAYS TO
PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO
BE SO CLOSE TO THE FREEWAYS, WE
DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT
JUST PROVIDE THEM HOUSING, BUT
HOUSING THAT IS SAFE, THAT IS
NOT GOING TO HARM THEIR HARM
THEM. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU
KNOW, WHEN WE I MEAN, YOU ALL
KNOW, WE DO THESE BILLS AND WE
SEE THEM OUT IN THE WILD, YOU
KNOW, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT I
WANTED TO DO HERE WAS I THINK
IT'S BECAUSE I'M SORT OF LIKE
LEGISLATIVELY MIDDLE AGED WHERE
I'M STARTING TO RECOGNIZE, YOU
KNOW, THE WORK I'VE DONE AND HOW
MUCH LONGER I HAVE AND, YOU
KNOW, WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT.
YEAH, BUT ALSO THAT WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS ACTUALLY WORKING. AND
THE ONLY WAY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS
WHEN THE BILL GETS PASSED,
SIGNED INTO LAW, AND THEN YOU
CAN SEE ITS IMPACT, YOU KNOW,
AND SO ONCE WE SAW THE IMPACT,
WE REALIZED THERE'S WHOLE
COMMUNITIES THAT 2011 DOESN'T
EVEN APPLY TO BECAUSE OF SOME OF
THE SETBACKS. RIGHT. AND SO
FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE EXPAND
THE SCOPE OF THE FOOTPRINT. BUT
I ALSO HEAR YOU ON THE CONCERN
OF ENSURING THAT WE'RE DOING
ENOUGH REMEDIATION SO THAT THOSE
COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO PROTECTED
FOR LOW AND HIGH INCOME
COMMUNITIES, BOTH. RIGHT. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, PEOPLE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO BREATHE
CLEAN AIR, NO MATTER WHERE THEY
LIVE. SO I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE
TO WORK ON THAT AND FIGURE OUT
OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE THE REMEDIATION,
BECAUSE I SHARE THE SAME VALUES
THAT YOU DO IN THAT SPACE. AND
FIGURING OUT SORT OF HOW DO WE
MAKE THIS DECISION ON BALANCE,
TO, I THINK, ACCOMMODATE BOTH
NEEDS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
MEMBERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE. THERE IS A
STATEMENT FROM THE, CHAIR OF
ASSEMBLY HOUSING AB 2011 HAS A
PIVOTAL WAS A PIVOTAL BILL THAT
OPENED UP THOUSANDS OF
COMMERCIAL SITES ACROSS
CALIFORNIA FOR THE POTENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF MILLIONS OF NEW
HOMES. I'M GLAD TO SEE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WIX BRING THIS BILL
FORWARD TODAY, AND I'M PLEASED
THAT HER STAFF IS ACCEPTING OUR
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, WHICH, IN
THE INTEREST OF TIMING, WILL BE
TAKEN IN THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. AB 2243 WILL EXPAND
AB 2011 GEOGRAPHIC APPLICABILITY
AND CLARIFY ASPECTS OF THE LAW
THAT ARE CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO
LOCAL INTERPRETATION. WE MIGHT
EVEN SEE SOME ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROJECTS COME OUT OF THIS BILL,
WHICH I AM PARTICULARLY, EXCITED
ABOUT. SO WITH THAT, THE
RECOMMENDATION IS SUPPORT WITH
AMENDMENTS AND DO WE HAVE WE
NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO I
HAVE A MOTION FROM
ASSEMBLYMEMBER REYES, A SECOND
FROM A SIMILAR MEMBER, PATTERSON
, MADAM SECRETARY, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MOTION TO
PASS THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARD.
PATTERSON. PATTERSON. I GRAYSON,
I GRAYSON I CHOLERA I LI LI I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I REYES
REYES I SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I WILSON
. SANCHEZ WITH YOU I FILLS OUT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
OKAY. WE HAVE, SOME, REMEMBER.
OKAY WE HAVE, IS ONLY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER LOWE. ANY OTHER. ALL
RIGHT, SO THAT'S 29, 33. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND
COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING ME TO
PRESENT ASSEMBLY BILL 2933. AND
FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR WORKING WITH
US AND ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS AS OUTLINED IN
ANALYSIS AS WELL. THIS BILL
HELPS TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY ON
WATER CONSERVATION. WITH ME
TODAY IS MARK OPREA ALSO TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT? MR. CHAIR,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MARK
APRIL, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
SUPPORTERS OF THIS BILL, AND I
WANT TO THANK ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LOWE FOR AUTHORING THIS MEASURE.
AB 2933 SETS IN MOTION A PROCESS
THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
ANNUALLY SAVE THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA OVER 275,000 ACRE
FEET OF WATER, ENOUGH WATER TO
SUPPLY HOUSEHOLD WATER NEEDS FOR
NEARLY 1.9 MILLION CALIFORNIANS.
MALFUNCTION MONNING WATER
DEVICES AND PLUMBING LEAKS
GENERATE SIGNIFICANT WATER
LOSSES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA,
AND FINDING LEAKS IN MULTIFAMILY
PROPERTIES IS PARTICULARLY
DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH
NUMBER OF TOILETS AND WATER
DEVICES. TOILETS ARE THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT GENERATORS OF WASTED
WATER BECAUSE THEY MALFUNCTION
FREQUENTLY, RESULTING IN 300
GALLONS PER DAY FOR SLOW LEAKS
AND OVER 2000 GALLONS PER DAY
FOR STUCK VALVES PER TOILET. THE
MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE SHOWS
THAT IN ANY GIVEN TIME, 5.5% OF
TOILETS MALFUNCTION, 3.6% IN THE
STUCK CONDITION AND 1.9% IN SLOW
LEAK CONDITIONS IN MULTIFAMILY
HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA, WITH TEN
UNITS OR LARGER, ACCOUNTS FOR
17.1% OF TOTAL RESIDENTIAL
INVENTORY, OR AN ESTIMATED 5.1
MILLION TOILETS. AS A POINT OF
USE LEAK DETECTION DEVICE, WHICH
I'M HOLDING IN IN MY HAND, CAN
BE ATTACHED TO A TOILET AND USES
REMOTE DATA GATHERING AND REAL
TIME ANALYTICS TO DETECT WATER.
WATER THAT'S, JUST GOING DOWN
THE DRAIN AND IDENTIFY THE POINT
OF FAILURE. ITS PURPOSE IS TO
QUICKLY AND PRECISELY LOCATE
FAULTY FIXTURES AND PLUMBING
LEAKS AND ALERT THE LANDLORD SO
REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. I WANT TO
JUST TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS IN
THE LATE OPPOSITION LETTER, AND
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT TO
THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR
WORK ON THIS BILL. THE BILL IN
ITS PRESENT FORM IS THE FORM IN
WHICH THE MEASURE WAS
RECOMMENDED TO US BY THE
OPPONENTS, WHICH IS TO LEAVE IT
UP TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, THE
BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION,
TO INVESTIGATE, DETERMINE IF
THESE DEVICES ARE EFFICACIOUS
AND IF TO AND WHETHER OR NOT TO
ASK THAT THEY BE, INSTALLED AND
WHAT THE TIMING OF THAT IS. THE
SECOND, THE COST TO PROPERTY
OWNERS TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A
POINT OF USE, WATER LEAK
DETECTION SYSTEM IS RECAPTURED
IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE AVERAGE
WATER SAVINGS OF OVER 17,000
GALLONS PER TOILET WILL AMOUNT
TO A $307. ANNUAL COST SAVINGS
PER TOILET. THAT'S BASED UPON
WHAT ARE THE COST OF WATER AT
LESS THAN $0.02 PER GALLON IN
LOS ANGELES? AS AN EXAMPLE,
EFFECTIVE Kò THE PROPERTY OWNER
WILL GENERATE A POSITIVE RATE OF
RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT IN
LESS THAN A YEAR. SO THE
POSITIVE FISCAL IMPACT IS
SIGNIFICANT NOT ONLY FOR THE
LANDLORD BUT FOR TENANTS. AS
WELL. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWE FOR
INTRODUCING THIS MEASURE, AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOUR AYE VOTE.
GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY, WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT? OTHER WITNESSES
SEEING NONE ANY, PRIME PRIMARY
OPPOSITION TO THIS MEASURE?
SORRY. FORGOT. MY GOSH. HI GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS ANGIE MINETTI,
REPRESENTING THE CALIFORNIA
APARTMENT ASSOCIATION AND
REGRETFUL OPPOSITION. WE HAVE
BEEN ASSESSING THE IMPACT THAT
THIS BILL HAS ON, LANDLORDS AS
IT RELATES TO INCREASED COSTS.
AND WE ARE VERY ENCOURAGED BY
THE DIALOG WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
MAINTAIN WITH THE AUTHOR AND THE
SPONSOR, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH
THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY
OTHER, OPPOSITION TO THIS
MEASURE? ALL RIGHT, I WISH
PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE MY BILLS
WOULD GIVE ME A HUG. WELL, OKAY,
WE'LL GO TO THE COMMITTEE, MR.
GRAYSON, THANK YOU, MR. VICE
CHAIR. AND I ALSO WANT. I'LL
STAND UP. I'LL GIVE YOU A HUG
AFTER WE'RE DONE, I'M NOT IN
OPPOSITION. I WILL BE SUPPORTING
THE BILL TODAY. HOWEVER I DO
WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, AND,
IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY,
IT'S MORE ABOUT STUDYING AND
FINDING OUT IF, THE DEVICES ARE
WORTH PUTTING ON. RIGHT, SO I DO
APPRECIATE THAT, I'M SO GLAD YOU
USED AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU DID.
AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE THE
HIGHEST REGARD FOR BOTH THE
SPONSOR AND, MY DEAR FRIEND WHO
IS THE AUTHOR, I'M GLAD YOU USED
THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU DID ABOUT A
TOILET IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE,
IT'S HARD NOT TO DETECT A LEAK,
A LEAKING TOILET, BECAUSE IF
IT'S THE TANK, THEN IT'S GOING
TO GO THROUGH ITS CYCLE. IF
THERE'S A LEAK, IT'S GOING TO GO
THROUGH ITS CYCLE. YOU'RE GOING
TO KNOW PHÐ. SO IF YOU'RE NOT
FIXING IT, YOU'RE KNOWINGLY NOT
FIXING IT. IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T KNOW THERE WASN'T A LEAK.
IF IT'S A TANKLESS, YOU'RE STILL
GOING TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S
GOING TO BE FLOW INTO THE INTO
THE ACTUAL BOWL, THAT YOU WILL
ACTUALLY VISIBLY BE ABLE TO SEE,
EVEN IF IT'S A SMALL LEAK,
YOU'LL SEE THAT. SO IF IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE DEVICES
MAY COST AROUND $250 OR
SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE TO PUT
ON. THIS IS NOT JUST A DEVICE
FOR THE HOME. IT'S A DEVICE FOR
THE FIXTURE. SOME JURISDICTIONS
ACTUALLY HAVE A FEE ON TOP OF
THE PERMIT FEE. YOU PAY FOR A
PERMIT FEE TO BUILD A HOME, BUT
THEN YOU PAY ON TOP OF THE
PERMIT FEE, WHAT'S CALLED A, A
TRAP FEE. SO EVERY SINGLE TRAP
IN THE STRUCTURE GETS AN
ADDITIONAL FEE PUT ONTO THE, THE
ACTUAL PERMIT FEE TO BUILD A
STRUCTURE. IN SOME CASES, THAT
TRAP FEE CAN BE AS HIGH AS $750
PER TRAP. SO EVERY SINGLE
FIXTURE YOU HAVE IN THAT HOUSE
IS A $750 FEE. IF IT HAS A TRAP
TO IT, SO THAT IS AN SO $250.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT UNTIL
YOU START COUNTING ALL THE
FIXTURES. AND IN SOME FIXTURES
YOU DON'T HAVE ONE WATER LINE.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TWO WATER
LINES THAT ARE GOING TO IT, A
HOT AND A COLD. SO NOW YOU GOT
TO BUY TWO OF THEM FOR ONE SINK.
AND SO THE COST DOES ADD UP A
SINGLE COST OF THAT'S NOT BAD,
BUT THE COST DOES ADD UP. NOW IF
THERE ARE LEAKS WE SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT IT. IN CALIFORNIA, ONE OF
THE GREATEST THINGS WE SHOULD
HOLD PRECIOUS IS OUR WATER. AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ADDRESS THIS. SO THIS IS WHY I'M
SUPPORTING IT TODAY IS BECAUSE
IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH WHEN
IT COMES TO WASTING WATER AND
JUST SENDING IT DOWN THE DRAIN
UNUSED. HOWEVER AT THE SAME
TIME, I THINK IT'S VERY PRUDENT
OF US TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT
THAT THIS IS IMPACTING THE COST
OF HOUSING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR
FORM. SO WITH THAT, I'LL BE
SUPPORTING THE BILL TODAY. THANK
YOU FOR, TURNING INTO SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT AND
STUDY AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO
MAKE SURE WE CONSERVE WATER AND
STILL PROTECT OR AT LEAST
CONTROL COST OF HOUSING AT THE
SAME TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MISS REYES. I WOULD ALIGN MY
COMMENTS WITH MY COLLEAGUE, THE
OTHER THE OTHER ISSUE THAT I SAW
WAS THE MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURE IS IDENTIFIED AS TWO
OR MORE UNITS. AND SO WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE COST FOR A MULTI
UNIT RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE, THE
COST THAT YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED
THAT HAS JUST BEEN DESCRIBED IS
GOING TO BE MULTIPLIED A NUMBER
OF TIMES, EVEN FOR SMALL UNITS
OF TWO OR OF JUST TWO UNITS,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT
CLEARLY WE NEED TO SUPPORT
BECAUSE WE NEED TO CONSERVE
WATER AND, AND FIND THOSE LEAKS
AND FIX THEM AS, AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. AND I THINK THE
TENANTS AND THE, THE, THE, THE
OWNERS ALIKE ARE GOING TO WANT
TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. BUT THE
FACT THAT IT IS FOR AS LITTLE AS
TWO UNITS IS OF CONCERN. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT OR.
SURE I BOTH, MEMBER GRAYSON AND
MISS REYES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
COST PROHIBITIVE NATURE TO BE A
FACTOR OF CONSIDERATION AND
BEING SENSITIVE TO THAT SHOULD
THIS BILL MOVE FORWARD TO, YOU
KNOW, THAT WE WORK WITH THE
COMMITTEE STAFF AS WELL TO ON
THE NUMBERS SPECIFICALLY. AND
THAT ALSO WAS SUGGESTED FROM A
COMMITTEE AS WELL. SO SHOULD
THIS MOVE FORWARD? THE
COMMITMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE
COST INHERENTLY AND WHILE ALSO
GETTING TO THE GOAL AT HAND OF
CONSERVATION AND UTILIZING
TECHNOLOGY. GREAT. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTION
DOES THIS, JUST A LITTLE
CLARIFICATION ON ON THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, I THINK
THE BILL IS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO PROPOSE,
CHANGES REYES. AND, I'M NOT
REALLY EXACTLY SURE IF THAT
PROCESS WOULD BE THROUGH THE
REGULATORY PROCESS OR THROUGH
US. Ã IS THAT STILL IN THERE?
AND B, IF IT IS STILL IN THERE,
EXACTLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO
PROPOSE THROUGH THE REGULATORY
PROCESS OR THROUGH THEIR NORMAL
UPDATE PROCESS, THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS? YES. AND I
APOLOGIZE IF I DID NOT CLARIFY
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS, AS NOTED AS WELL
TOO. AND MR. THROUGH THE CHAIR
TO ALSO ADDRESS MR. PATTERSON'S
YEAH. MR. PATTERSON, THE
COMMITTEE CONSULTANT, CORRECTLY
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL BE
AMENDED SO THAT THIS IS A MATTER
THAT IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THEM
TO EXAMINE. THIS TECHNOLOGY, THE
NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, TO LOOK
AT THESE KINDS OF DEVICES AS
WELL AS OTHER MATTERS, AND TO,
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO
WHAT TO RECOMMEND AND ITS TIMING
. THANK YOU, WELL, WITH THAT, DO
WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT, MR. LOWE AND
MR. GRAYSON, MOTION TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE, JUST, ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS
COMMITTEE DID PASS OR. MR. LEE,
SENATE BILL 745, AS A BILL
DEALING WITH, GRAY WATER AS
WELL, AND SIMILARITY. AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR. AYE,
VOTE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR.
LOWE. AND NOW WE CAN, TAKE ROLL.
MOTION TO PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS. WARD
PATTERSON. PERSON NOT VOTING.
GRAYSON. GRAYSON AYE. CHOLERA.
CHOLERA. AYE. LEE. LEE AYE.
QUIRK-SILVA. QUIRK-SILVA. AYE.
REYES REYES. AYE. SANCHEZ.
SANCHEZ NO. WILSON ONE. ALL
RIGHT. OKAY. GREAT. OKAY. WELL,
THERE WE GO, MR. LOWE, YOUR BILL
IS, YOUR BILL IS OUT, BUT WE'LL
LEAVE, THE ROLL OPEN. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER AUTHORS
?
THIS IS, AB 3116 AND, START
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND
COLLEAGUES, AB 3116 DEALS WITH
THE ISSUE OF STUDENT HOUSING,
I'M GOING TO JUST, ALLOW OUR
WITNESSES TO GIVE THEIR
TESTIMONY, TO THE POINT, CONCISE
AND TO THE POINT AND, HAVE,
DELIBERATION WITH YOU ALL. THANK
YOU, FOR THE COMMITTEE ANALYSIS.
WE'LL BE ACCEPTING THE
AMENDMENTS AND RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR. I VOTE TO APPROVE THE
BILL. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND, AND WE HAVE, TWO
WITNESSES, TWO MINUTES EACH,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
MATT EINY. I'M A JUNIOR AT UC
BERKELEY AND A CO-CHAIR OF THE
STUDENT HOMELESS COALITION. THE
STUDENT HOMES COALITION
REPRESENTS A MYRIAD OF STUDENT
AND YOUTH LED ORGANIZATIONS
SPREADING ACROSS THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. ALL COMMITTED TO
ADVANCING POLICIES WHICH EXPAND
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MAXIMIZING EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS.
AS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS Þ, AS
A PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS BILL,
THE STUDENT HOMES STRONGLY URGES
THE PASSAGE OF AB 3116 OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY. IT'S NOT NEWS
TO YOU ALL THAT IN RECENT YEARS,
THE COST OF HOUSING FOR COLLEGE
STUDENTS HAS BECOME A GROWING
CONCERN. BUT WITH THE
SUBSTANTIAL AND LONG STANDING
GAP BETWEEN ON CAMPUS HOUSING
BEDS AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT AT
CALIFORNIA'S COLLEGE CAMPUSES,
THERE'S BOTH A NEXUS AND A
CRITICAL NEED FOR HOUSING POLICY
TO ADDRESS THE STUDENT HOUSING
CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO OFF
CAMPUS HOUSING, THIS WAS THE
IMPETUS FOR THE INITIAL STUDENT
HOUSING DENSITY BONUS, WHICH
I'LL REFER TO HEREAFTER AS QCB
AND IS A CATALYST BEHIND AB 3116
CHANGES TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM
WORK. WITH THE INCORPORATION OF
AMENDMENTS LAID OUT IN THE BILL
ANALYSIS, THIS BILL WILL MAKE
IMPORTANT TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
TO ENHANCE THE USABILITY OF THE
QDB, AS WELL AS BRING THE QDB
INTO THE DENSITY BONUS FORMULA,
WHICH HAS BEEN BUILT UP OVER THE
PAST SEVERAL YEARS. AB 3116
ACKNOWLEDGES THE LIMITATIONS OF
THE QDB, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN
ITS CURRENT TOTAL OF ZERO
STUDENT BEDS PRODUCED SINCE THE
INITIAL LAW'S INCEPTION IN 2018,
AND BY ENABLING STUDENT HOUSING
DEVELOPERS TO VERIFY STUDENT
ELIGIBILITY FOR UNITS WITH
METHOD OTHER THAN UNIVERSITY
MASTER LEASE. QDB PROJECTS NO
LONGER REQUIRE UNIVERSITY ADMIN
SUPPORT IN ORDER TO OPERATE.
MOREOVER, BY REMOVING PARKING
MINIMUMS FOR QDB ELIGIBLE
PROJECTS, WE CAN ENSURE THAT
STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE
BURDEN OF FUNDING PARKING THAT
WOULD GO UNUSED. FINALLY IT'S
WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS
BILL IS BEING HEARD UNDER A
BUDGET CLIMATE WHERE PREVIOUSLY
COMMITTED FUNDING FOR STUDENT
HOUSING HAS BEEN PARED BACK
FURTHER, ELEVATING THE NEED FOR
ADDITIONAL STATE ACTION ON THIS
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU.
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR AN
AYE VOTE. PERFECT. THANK YOU.
NEXT WITNESS. GOOD MORNING AND
THANK YOU FOR HEARING FROM ME
TODAY. MY NAME IS JOSHUA SMITH
AND I'M A TRANSFER STUDENT AT UC
DAVIS. AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK
BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT
OF AB 3116 AS VICE CHAIR OF UC
DAVIS'S STUDENT HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY
COMMITTEE. I UNDERSTAND THERE
ARE MANY FACTORS TO CONSIDER
WHEN FINDING SOLUTIONS AND
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS SEEKING
HOUSING ON AND OFF CAMPUS.
HOWEVER FOR MANY STUDENTS I
INTERACT WITH, HOUSING
INSECURITY BEGINS WITH A LACK OF
CHOICES. WHILE MY HOME
INSTITUTION, UC DAVIS,
GUARANTEES ON CAMPUS HOUSING FOR
TRANSFER STUDENTS LIKE ME. FOR
MY FELLOW STUDENTS AT DAVIS,
WITHOUT ON CAMPUS HOUSING
GUARANTEES, THE HOUSING HUNTS IN
THE SPRING IS A MUCH DIFFERENT
STORY. CLASS MATES,
ACQUAINTANCES AND FRIENDS OF
MINE OFTEN SOLICIT AND SUBMIT
SEVERAL APARTMENT APPLICATIONS
SIMULTANEOUSLY ACROSS THE CITY,
HOPING THERE'S A FALLBACK ON,
YOU KNOW, ON AN APARTMENT IF
THEY DON'T GET ON CAMPUS
APARTMENTS. SOME STUDENTS AT
DAVIS WORKED THROUGH AS MANY
OVER TEN RENTAL. YOU KNOW,
APPLICATIONS BEFORE GETTING AN
OFFER ACCEPTED AS A RESULT, IT'S
NOT UNCOMMON FOR STUDENTS TO
FIND THEMSELVES STUCK ON
MULTIPLE HOUSING WAITLISTS, BOTH
FOR OFF CAMPUS AND EVEN ON
CAMPUS. AND THAT'S WHERE
UNIVERSITY HOUSING AND ITS
ACTUALLY ADDING UNDUE PRESSURE
ONTO STUDENTS AS THEY'RE JUST
TRYING TO ACCESS HIGHER
EDUCATION DURING A PERIOD OF
LIFE WHEN STUDENTS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO FOCUS ON LEARNING AND
SELF-GROWTH, TOO MANY OF US HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF
CONSIDERING HOW MUCH MORE WE
HAVE TO PAY FOR TO SETTLE FOR
WORSE HOUSING CONDITIONS THAN,
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE LIVE RIGHT
NOW ON UNIVERSITY HOUSING, THE
MORE THAT I AND MY PEERS HAVE TO
FOCUS ON HOUSING, THE WORSE IT
IS FOR OUR EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE. I CAN ATTEST TO
THAT. THE TIGHTER ONE'S BUDGET
IS, THE MORE ACUTE THIS KIND OF
PROBLEM BECOMES IN THE WAKE OF
THIS CURRENT SITUATION. WHAT
STUDENTS NEED TO WHAT STUDENTS
NEED AT THE MOMENT IS MORE
AFFORDABLE AND ABUNDANT. HOUSING
OPTIONS AB 3116 STRIVES TOWARDS
THIS GOAL AND ENABLING THE
CREATION OF MORE STUDENT HOUSING
BEDS AND PROVIDING A PATH TO
CREATE BELOW MARKET RATE OFF
CAMPUS HOUSING FOR A FUTURE
WHERE STUDENTS CAN PLACE LESS
FOCUS ON AFFORDING A PLACE TO
LIVE AND FOCUS MORE ON BECOMING
STUDENTS, I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO
VOTE IN FAVOR OF AB 3116. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT,
PLEASE, STATE YOUR NAME AND
AFFILIATION. RAFA SONNENFELD
WITH MBA ACTION AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. SEAMUS GARRITY WITH
LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ON
BEHALF OF POWER CALIFORNIA AND
THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION
IN SUPPORT. FRANCISCO MORALES,
HERE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSING
ACTION COALITION IN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
ANY PRIMARY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ANYBODY ELSE IN
OPPOSITION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE. BRING IT BACK TO THE
COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE. MR. KALRA,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR
GARCIA, FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD, I REPRESENT SAN JOSE
AND SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY,
WHICH AT LEAST THE MOST RECENT,
NUMBERS I SAW HAS THE HIGHEST
RATE OF HOMELESSNESS OF ANY CSU
CAMPUS AMONGST THE STUDENTS AND
STUDENT. AND HOMELESS SHOULDN'T
BE IN THE SAME PHRASE, IN THE
SAME SENTENCE. AND SO WE KNOW
HOW CHALLENGING IT IS IN EVERY
CORNER OF THIS STATE, BUT IN
PARTICULAR IN SOME OF OUR URBAN
AREAS WHERE IT'S HARD ENOUGH,
YOU'RE EARNING A GOOD SALARY TO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE THERE,
LET ALONE IF YOU'RE A STUDENT,
THE CAMPUS, LIKE MANY COLLEGE
CAMPUSES, IS GETTING REALLY
CREATIVE IN TRYING TO FIND
HOUSING FOR STUDENTS. THEY JUST
LEASED OUT, A BIG ANNEX OF OUR
FAIRMONT HOTEL, OR USED TO BE
OUR FAIRMONT HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN,
AND ARE CONVERTING IT TO STUDENT
HOUSING. AND SO THOSE ARE THE
EXAMPLES OF, OF KIND OF THE
CREATIVITY WE KIND OF FORCED BY
THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION. SO
I'M HOPING THIS LEGISLATION WILL
FURTHER ALLOW FOR GREATER
CREATIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY, AND
FLEXIBILITY FOR CAMPUSES TO DO
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE
EVERY STUDENT, HAS GOOD QUALITY
HOUSING SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON
THEIR STUDIES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MISS REYES, THANK
YOU. THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR FOR
BRINGING THIS. I KNOW FOR SAN
BERNARDINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT, THEY ARE BUILDING SOME
STUDENT HOUSING. BUT AS NOTED IN
THE ANALYSIS, SO MANY, SO FEW OF
OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE
HOUSING FOR STUDENTS. THIS IS
MUCH NEEDED, AND I SINCERELY
APPRECIATE THE TESTIMONY OF THE
STUDENTS BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY,
IT IS YOUR VOICE THAT NEEDS TO
BE HEARD. AS TO WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE PERSONALLY. PLUS,
THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, ON
ON YOUR CAMPUSES TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE WITH US HOW IMPORTANT THIS
NEED IS. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD
MOVE THE BILL IF IT HASN'T
ALREADY BEEN MOVED. ALL RIGHT,
MOTION, MISS REYES AND A SECOND.
MR. LEE. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE
ADDED ON AS A COAUTHOR, IF YOU
WILL ACCEPT THAT. OF COURSE. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING
NONE, YOU CAN CLOSE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. AGAIN, I WANT TO JUST,
REALLY SAY HOW MUCH WE
APPRECIATE THE CHAIR AND HIS
TEAM. LISA PARTICULARLY IN
WORKING WITH US, WORKING WITH
THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL, THIS
IS A INITIATIVE THAT HAS BEEN
DRIVEN BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR
THE STUDENTS. AND SO WE'RE VERY
GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH
THEM. AND BRING THIS ISSUE.
BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY,
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF WE CAN
TAKE A ROLL MOTION TO PASS TO
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT WARD, WARD I,
HARRISON, HARRISON I, GRAYSON
GRAYSON I CHOLERA COLOR I LEE LI
I QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I
REYES REYES I SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ I
WILSON. ALL RIGHT. 8 TO 0 THE
BILLS OUT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. NOW WE JUST NEED
AUTHORS. KEEP EVERYBODY ON THE.
OUTSIDE. I GOT WATER BALLOONS.
YOU GUYS GET THEM TO. THAT'D BE
HILARIOUS. OH, YEAH. ABSOLUTELY
YES. I. HAVE SCHOOL.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT. 16.
CONSERVING ENERGY
.
YEAH OKAY. OKAY.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE
SIDEBAR. ALL RIGHT. JUST A QUICK
ANNOUNCEMENT. I THINK FOR THOSE
LISTENING ON TV WAS NICE
EARLIER. I'M GETTING LESS
PATIENT, WE HAVE FOUR AUTHORS
REMAINING THAT NEED TO COME DOWN
HERE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THEIR
BILL. MR. SANTIAGO, MR. HANEY,
MR. GABRIEL, AND MISS CARRILLO.
YOU KNOW THAT AN OPTION IS THAT
ANOTHER MEMBER CAN PRESENT YOUR
BILL. WE ALL HAVE PLACES TO BE,
AND MEMBERS ARE SITTING HERE ON
THIS DAIS WAITING FOR YOU TO
PRESENT YOUR BILLS. SO PLEASE DO
SO. AND IF THIS REALLY STRETCHES
ON FURTHER, THEN WE MAY ACTUALLY
HAVE TO, CALL IT A DAY AND LET
US ALL GO ON TO OUR BUSINESS. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
.
THANK YOU, MR. HANEY. OH HEY.
HOW ARE YOU? YES. THANK YOU, MR.
HANEY. APPRECIATE, YOUR BEING
HERE TO PRESENT ITEM NUMBER 19,
EB 3068. WHEN YOU ARE READY, YOU
MAY BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, I WANT TO START BY
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE'S
AMENDMENT AMENDMENTS TODAY. AND
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR
THOUGHTFUL AND DETAILED FEEDBACK
ON THE BILL. I THINK IT MADE IT
MUCH CLEARER AND STRONGER AND
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
WAS DONE ON IT. AB 3068 IS THE
OFFICE TO HOUSING CONVERSION ACT
, AND IT IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO
THE CRISIS OF CALIFORNIA'S EMPTY
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND
THE NEED TO CONVERT
UNDERUTILIZED OFFICE BUILDINGS
WITHIN PRIME LOCATIONS TO NEW
HOUSING. DOWNTOWNS ARE
STRUGGLING AS OUR WORK CULTURE
SHIFTED TOWARD REMOTE AND HYBRID
WORK POLICIES. WITH FEWER
EMPLOYEES WORKING FULL TIME IN
THE OFFICE, COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
IN DOWNTOWNS ACROSS THE STATE
ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH RATES OF
VACANCY. THIS SHIFT HAS LEFT
DOWNTOWN IN TROUBLE AND IN
DESPERATE NEED OF CATALYTIC AND
INNOVATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS. THIS
WILL CREATE LIVABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS AND HELP MEET OUR
DESPERATE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING.
WHILE DOWNTOWNS ARE CURRENTLY
FACING THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS
OF EMPTY OFFICE BUILDINGS AND
SLOW ECONOMIC RECOVERY, WE DON'T
NEED TO DESCRIBE SUBSCRIBE TO
THE IDEA OF THE URBAN DOOM LOOP.
THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW. A STUDY
FROM UC BERKELEY SHOWED THAT
CITIES THAT DON'T INCLUDE
HOUSING IN THEIR DOWNTOWNS
EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER
RECOVERY FROM ECONOMIC CRISES
THAN DOWNTOWNS THAT PRIORITIZE
LIVABILITY. AND WHILE THERE IS
CERTAINLY A NEED FOR HOUSING IN
OUR DOWNTOWNS, WE ALSO HAVE TO
PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR
CREATIVE, MIXED USE PROJECTS,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE
REIMAGINING WHAT CITIES SHOULD
LOOK LIKE POST COVID 19
PANDEMIC. AB 3068 WILL
ACCELERATE OFFICE TO HOUSING
CONVERSION PROJECTS BY CREATING
A PATHWAY FOR BY RIGHT
MINISTERIAL APPROVAL OF OFFICE
CONVERSION PROJECTS, ENSURING
MORE PREDICTABLE AND FEWER
BARRIERS TO AN ALREADY DIFFICULT
BUILDING PROCESS. IT WILL ALSO
PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO ENSURE
THAT HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE MORE
ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR
CONVERSION, MEANING WE CAN
PRESERVE OUR BUILDINGS FOR
HOUSING WHILE MAKING SURE THE
DOWNTOWN'S DIVERSE AND UNIQUE
CHARACTERISTICS ARE KEPT INTACT.
WITH ME IN SUPPORT TODAY ARE
RAFA SONNENFELD FROM YIMBY
ACTION AND CINDY HEITZMAN FROM
THE CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION
FOUNDATION. THANK YOU. WELCOME
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING UP THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. RAFA SONNENFELD
WITH MBA ACTION YIMBY ACTION.
AND OUR CHAPTERS FIGHT FOR
BETTER HOUSING POLICIES BECAUSE
WE WANT TO REDUCE POVERTY AND
HOMELESSNESS, ELIMINATE RACIAL
SEGREGATION, CREATE JOBS AND
STOP CLIMATE CHANGE. CALIFORNIA
FACES A SEVERE HOUSING SHORTAGE
AT ALL INCOME LEVELS. AT THE
SAME TIME, CALIFORNIA IS IN THE
MIDST OF A GENERATIONAL
GENERATIONAL SHIFT IN WORK
CULTURE. COMPANIES ARE SHIFTING
TO HYBRID WORK MODELS, WITH
FEWER EMPLOYEES WORKING FULL
TIME IN THE OFFICE, WITH VACANCY
RATES HITTING RECORD HIGHS WITH
OVER 35% VACANCY IN DOWNTOWN SAN
FRANCISCO AND NEARLY 30% IN
GREATER LOS ANGELES. IN 2023,
CONVERTING VACANT COMMERCIAL
SPACE INTO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING
THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE CAN
GREATLY REDUCE UNDERUTILIZED AND
VACANT BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
DECREASING IN VALUE, THEREBY
HELPING TO STABILIZE THE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET
AND FILLING THESE SPACES WITH
MORE VALUABLE TAX GENERATED TAX
GENERATING USES. ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROJECTS CAN ALSO INCREASE
ACTIVITY AND FOOT TRAFFIC IN
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE STATE,
WHICH HELP SUPPORT LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND ENHANCE THE
CULTURAL LIFE OF CITIES AND
TOWNS. UNFORTUNATELY, LOCAL
DISCRETIONARY APPROVAL PROCESSES
AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS FOR
HOUSING CAN CAUSE YEARS LONG
DELAYS, INCREASE RISK TO
DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING HOUSING
PROJECTS INFEASIBLE, AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHALLENGING
CHALLENGES IN RESOLVING THE
STATE'S HOUSING SHORTAGE. AB 36
3068 THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
CONVERSION ACT PROVIDES A
STREAMLINED MINISTERIAL APPROVAL
PROCESS FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE OF
EXISTING BUILDINGS INTO
RESIDENTIAL USES IN ALL ZONES.
THE ACT FACILITATES THE
CONVERSION OF UNDERUTILIZED
SPACE INTO OFFICES AND OTHER
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES.
IF AT LEAST 50% OF THE CONVERTED
SPACE IS USED FOR RESIDENTIAL
USE, THERE'S ALSO AN INCENTIVE
FOR PROPERTY TAX REBATE
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE
ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT. THANK
YOU. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MA'AM. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
CHAIRMAN WARDEN, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND STAFF, I'M CINDY
HEITZMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION
FOUNDATION, AN ORGANIZATION
COMMITTED TO PROTECTING
CALIFORNIA'S RICH HISTORIC AND
CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH
ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION. TODAY, I
SEEK YOUR SUPPORT OF AB 3068.
WHAT SETS AB 3068 APART IS ITS
STREAMLINED REVIEW OF HISTORIC
RESOURCES, PROMOTING CONVERSION
OF COMMERCIAL SPACES INTO
HOUSING WHILE PRESERVING THOSE
PORTIONS OR FEATURES OF
BUILDINGS THAT CONVEY A HISTORIC
CULTURAL OR ARCHITECTURE VALUES.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MUCH
OF OUR OLDER BUILDING STOCK ARE
LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR ADAPTIVE
REUSE. THE REVIEW PROCESS
CONSIDERS FACTORS LIKE THE AGE
OF THE BUILDING, ITS LANDMARK
STATUS, AND UTILIZATION OF
FEDERAL OR STATE HISTORIC TAX
CREDITS. FURTHERMORE, IT
MANDATES COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF
HISTORIC PROPERTIES, ENSURING
THAT PRESERVATION STANDARDS ARE
MET. WE SEEN NUMEROUS SUCCESS
STORIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA OF
ADAPTIVE REUSE FROM OFFICES,
HOSPITALS, FACTORIES, AND EVEN
FUNERAL HOMES INTO HOUSING, NÓI
ONLY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
ADAPTIVE REUSE ORDINANCE,
ADOPTED IN 1999, HAS REVITALIZED
ITS HISTORIC CORE AND HAS
GENERATED OVER 12,000 UNITS OF
HOUSING SINCE ITS ADOPTION IN
SACRAMENTO. BUILDINGS LIKE GLOBE
MILLS, A FORMER FLOUR MILL, NOW
SERVES AS SENIOR HOUSING, WHILE
THE CAPITOL PARK HOTEL, ONE
BLOCK FROM THIS BUILDING, HAS
BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR THE
HOMELESS. AB 3068 IS A CATALYST
FOR ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION,
ALLEVIATING HOUSING SHORTAGES
AND SAFEGUARDING THE CHARACTER
OF OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS. BUT
THIS ISN'T MERELY A HOUSING
BILL. IT IS A BLUEPRINT FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,
HARMONIZING ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH
HISTORIC PRESERVATION, SHAPING A
VIBRANT FUTURE WHILE HONORING
OUR PAST. 10S, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND REQUEST YOUR
SUPPORT OF AB 3068. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WISH TO REGISTER SUPPORT. THANK
YOU FOR LINING UP BOB NAYLOR FOR
FIELDSTEAD AND COMPANY IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SHAME IS
SCARY WITH LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC
AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF SPUR,
BUCKEYE PROPERTIES AND SANDHILL
PROPERTIES IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
. MARK ON BEHALF OF STREETS FOR
ALL IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
REBECCA MARCUS REPRESENTING
LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. LESLIE RODRIGUEZ ON
BEHALF OF HOUSING TRUST SILICON
VALLEY IN SUPPORT. SKYLAR
WONACOTT ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PROPERTIES
ASSOCIATION IN STRONG SUPPORT.
BROOKE PRITCHARD, ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA YIMBY IN SUPPORT.
FRANCISCO MORALES, ON BEHALF OF
THE HOUSING ACTION COALITION AND
SUPPORT. MISTER CHAIR MEMBERS
RANDALL MARTIN, ON BEHALF OF THE
AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION AND
ITS HEALTHY HOUSING FOUNDATION.
THIS IS A GREAT BILL. PLEASE
SUPPORT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HERE IN OPPOSITION,
EITHER FOR TESTIMONY OR WILLING
TO INTERESTED IN STATING ON THE
RECORD, SEEING NONE? WE'LL TURN
IT BACK TO MEMBER COMMENTS. MISS
QUIRK-SILVA, THIS IS A GREAT
BILL AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY SPECIAL
ABOUT IT IS THAT THE
PRESERVATION GROUPS ARE JOINING
IN SUPPORT. AS WE KNOW,
SOMETIMES YOU DON'T, AND SO WE
APPRECIATE THAT, BUT I LIKE IT
SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS
A JOINT AUTHOR. IT'S THE RIGHT
BILL FOR THE RIGHT TIME. AS WE
KNOW, JUST LOOKING AROUND THIS
AND VICINITY, WE SEE SO MANY OF
OUR STATE BUILDINGS THAT ARE
VACANT AND INCLUDING OTHER
OFFICE BUILDINGS. WE ALSO TAKE
IN ACCOUNT, THAT BUSINESSES, MAY
NOT NECESSARILY BE GOING
BACKWARDS IN THE SENSE OF
RECALLING EVERYBODY BACK TO
WORK. THERE MAY BE, CONTINUE
WITH THE HYBRID, MODEL, WHICH I
THINK IS, VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY
AND SO FORTH. SO THE QUESTION IS
, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THESE
VACANT OFFICES AND THIS IS THE
SOLUTION IS TO, READAPT THEM TO
HOUSING THAT WE SAW SO MUCH NEED
WITH, SOME OF THE GUARDRAILS,
THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO
COMMUNITY. SO GREAT. BILL AND I
FULLY SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR.
KALRA. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR
FOR THIS BILL AND WISH HIM A
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. AND I HOPE ALL
EIGHT OF HIS BILLS HE'S
PRESENTING IN VARIOUS COMMITTEES
FIND SUCCESS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISHING
TO COMMENT? MR. HANEY, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR WORKING ON THIS
ISSUE. I THINK THERE WAS A LOT
OF CERTAINLY ONE, YOUR OWN
PERSONAL PASSION TO BE ABLE TO
BE HELPFUL IN THIS SPACE, WE
KNOW MANY OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREAS,
AND MANY OF OUR HISTORIC
PROPERTIES ARE IN NEED OF
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. AND YOUR
BILL GOES RIGHT TO THE HEART TO
BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT. I ALSO
WANT TO WISH YOU A HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, AND I INVITE YOU TO
CLOSE ON THIS MEASURE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND,
APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS AND
THE WELL WISHES. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE, AS, AS MY COLLEAGUE
DID, THAT IT IS INCREDIBLY
SPECIAL TO HAVE THE COALITION
THAT WE HAVE ON THIS, HAVING
BOTH YIMBY ACTION AND CALIFORNIA
PRESERVATION FOUNDATION TOGETHER
IS A IS A VERY BIG DEAL. AND I
THINK THE BENEFIT OF THIS WILL
FLOW TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA
. AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK
THANK YOU AND RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU.
MEMBER, JUST FOR NOTE, THE
AMENDMENTS WILL BE TAKEN IN THE
ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE. MADAM SECRETARY,
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION TO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WARD A,
WARD I PATTERSON. GRAYSON
CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I LI LEE I
QUIRK-SILVA. QUIRK-SILVA I
REYES. SANCHEZ SANCHEZ I WILSON.
A WILSON I. THAT MEASURE HAS SIX
VOTES. IT IS OUT. WE'LL HOLD A
ROLL OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. NEXT. MR. GABRIEL,
WE'LL TAKE FILE ITEM NUMBER 22.
THIS IS AB 3160. AND WHEN YOU
ARE READY WITH YOUR PRESENTERS,
YOU MAY BEGIN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES,
I AM PLEASED TODAY TO PRESENT AB
3160, WHICH WILL PRESERVE 500
MILLION IN ENHANCED STATE
HOUSING TAX CREDITS, HELPING TO
BUILD THOUSANDS OF NEW
AFFORDABLE UNITS EACH YEAR. IN
2019, CALIFORNIA BEGAN ISSUING
ENHANCED STATE HOUSING CREDITS
TO HELP ADDRESS FINANCING GAPS
ASSOCIATED WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND BETTER
LEVERAGE MATCHING FUNDING.
CALIFORNIA'S ENHANCED HOUSING
CREDITS HAVE HELPED BUILD TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE HOMES
FOR LOW, VERY LOW AND EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
ADDITIONALLY, THESE CREDITS HAVE
ENABLED CALIFORNIA TO DRAW DOWN
BILLIONS IN FEDERAL HOUSING
CREDITS, LEVERAGING EXISTING
FEDERAL, LOCAL, AND PRIVATE
FUNDING AT A RATIO GREATER THAN
5 TO 1. DEMAND FOR THESE
ENHANCED CREDITS HAS ALSO BEEN
DRAMATICALLY OVERSUBSCRIBED
SINCE THEIR CREATION IN AB 3160
WILL ENSURE THAT THE 500 MILLION
IN ENHANCED CREDITS CONTINUE TO
BE AVAILABLE, PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS
WITH ESSENTIAL CERTAINTY AS THEY
PLAN TO BUILD THE HOMES OUR
STATE DESPERATELY NEEDS. THE
CALIFORNIA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
PROJECTS THESE CREDITS WILL HELP
TO CREATE THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF
DESPERATELY NEEDED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THIS BILL IS SUPPORTED
BY A BROAD COALITION OF HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS AND HAS NO KNOWN
OPPOSITION. WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL
IS MARK STIVERS, THE DIRECTOR OF
ADVOCACY AT THE CALIFORNIA
HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU
AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. GREAT.
THANK YOU, MARK STIVERS. AND
JUST TO PUT SOME SPECIFICS TO
THE COMMENTS OF MR. GABRIEL, IS
THAT IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS,
THESE CREDITS HAVE PRODUCED OVER
25,000 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES,
LEVERAGED $5.3 BILLION IN
FEDERAL TAX CREDITS THAT
OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GONE, BUT
WE WOULD HAVE LEFT ON THE TABLE
AND HAVE ALSO LEVERAGED BILLIONS
IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND TODAY
WE HAVE 46,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES
THAT ARE PERMITTED AND TITLED BY
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THEY ARE
SHOVEL READY TO BUILD, BUT FOR
FINANCING. AND THESE TAX CREDITS
FILL THAT FINAL GAP AND ALLOW US
TO START CONSTRUCTION ON A GOOD
NUMBER OF THOSE UNITS. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE THREE OTHER
OBSERVATIONS. ONE IS THAT THIS
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALWAYS HAD VERY
STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, BOTH
AT THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, TWO IS JUST ABOUT ALL
OTHER STATE, ALL OTHER TAX
CREDITS IN STATE LAW ARE
PERMANENT. THIS IS ONE OF THE
VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS TO THAT
RULE. AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE BUDGET PROCESS EVERY SINGLE
YEAR TO SEE IF THESE CREDITS ARE
GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. AND OF
COURSE, THE DEVELOPMENT
TIMELINE. IT TAKES MULTIPLE
YEARS TO PUT A DEVELOPMENT
TOGETHER, WHICH CREATES A BIG
UN, BIG LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY FOR
OUR PARTNERS. AND THEN LAST, I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS
THIS BILL ACTUALLY HAS ZERO
IMPACT ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THESE CREDITS ARE CLAIMED 2 TO 6
YEARS FROM NOW, IF AWARDED IN
2025, THEY WOULD NOT. THE
DEVELOPERS WOULD START CLAIMING
THEM WHEN CONSTRUCTION IS
COMPLETE TWO YEARS LATER AND THE
CREDITS ARE DIVIDED OVER A FOUR
YEAR PERIOD, SO THIS HAS NO
IMPACT ON THE CURRENT BUDGET
DEBATE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO
OUR BUDGET CHAIR FOR INTRODUCING
THIS MEASURE, AND WE LOOK FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. BILL
HAS A MOTION AND A SECOND,
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO
REGISTER SUPPORT, PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME, ORGANIZATION AND YOUR
POSITION. NATALIE SPIVAK, ON
BEHALF OF HOUSING CALIFORNIA AND
THE CALIFORNIA HOUSING
CONSORTIUM IN STRONG SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MARY ELLEN SHEA,
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL
HOUSING FINANCE AGENCIES IN
SUPPORT. KAITLYN DOBBINS WITH
THE CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR
RURAL HOUSING STRONG SUPPORT.
REBECCA MARCUS, ON BEHALF OF
LEADING AGE CALIFORNIA AND
SUPPORT. SEAMUS GERAGHTY WITH
LIGHTHOUSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS ON
BEHALF OF EDEN HOUSING SUPPORT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS.
ANDRÉS RAMIREZ, ON BEHALF OF THE
NONPROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU ALL. ARE
THERE ANYBODY IS THERE ANYBODY
HERE WHO IS WISHING TO SPEAK IN
OPPOSITION, EITHER THROUGH
TESTIMONY OR SEATING POSITION?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TURN IT BACK
TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A
SECOND, AND I'LL JUST TAKE THE
PRIVILEGE OF, YOU KNOW, THANKING
OUR BUDGET CHAIR FOR
PRIORITIZING THIS AS I HAD A
CHANCE TO REALLY RECONCILE SOME
OF THE EARLY, PROPOSALS THAT
WE'VE SEEN IN JANUARY, WITH
THOSE THAT ARE PRODUCING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IN OUR
DISTRICTS, THE, HONING IN ON,
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX
CREDIT, YOU KNOW, WAS CRYSTAL
CLEAR TO ME. AND THIS IS ONE
THAT WE MUST MAKE SURE IS STILL
ON THE TABLE. IT HELPS TO
LEVERAGE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AS
WELL. AND IT ACTUALLY MAKES
THINGS PENCIL OUT ON THE BACK
END. SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE
PRESERVE THIS IN PERPETUITY. IF
YOU'LL HAVE ME, I'D LOVE TO BE
ABLE TO BE ADDED AS A PRINCIPLE
COAUTHOR, WITH THAT, I'D BE,
INVITE YOU TO CLOSE, I'D BE
DELIGHTED AND HONORED TO ADD
YOU. AND I DON'T THINK I COULD
HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF. SO I
WILL USE YOUR COMMENTS AS MY
CLOSE AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST
AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU. MADAM
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
MOTION TO PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND
TAXATION. WARD A PORT. AYE
BARRISON GRAYSON COLERA COLERA
LEE. LEE QUIRK-SILVA
QUIRK-SILVA. AYE. REYES SANCHEZ.
WILSON. WILSON. AYE. THAT
MEASURE HAS FIVE VOTES. IT WILL
BE OUT, AND WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SANTIAGO,
WE'VE GOT TWO BILLS OF YOURS, IN
OUR COMMITTEE TODAY. I'LL LEAVE
IT TO YOUR CHOICE. WOULD YOU
LIKE TO PRESENT FIRST, 2667, IF
IT WOULD PLEASE THE COMMITTEE?
GREAT. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 11,
MR. SANTIAGO. WHEN YOU'RE READY,
YOU MAY BEGIN. SURE IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL BE
BRIEF FOR THE COMMITTEE. FIRST,
WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND THE
COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THEIR WORK
ON THIS BILL, VERY PLAIN AND
SIMPLE, THIS BILL WOULD
STRENGTHEN CALIFORNIA'S
AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR
HOUSING LAWS BY PROVIDING
STAKEHOLDERS MORE TOOLS TO
ENSURE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE
TAKING MEANINGFUL ACTION TO
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING LAWS, MR.
CHAIR, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT,
I'LL HAND OVER TO THE WITNESSES.
THAT'D BE GREAT. WELCOME. THANK
YOU. HONORABLE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS, AMY HINES-IKE,
REPRESENTING ABUNDANT HOUSING.
LA CALIFORNIA HAS A LONG WAY TO
GO IN FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF
THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT
PASSED OVER 50 YEARS AGO, AND
WHERE THE FIRM AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING, OR AF,
ORIGINALLY APPEARED, HISTORIC
PATTERNS OF SEGREGATION PERSIST,
AND MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SEVERE
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BURDENS AND
LACK OF ACCESS TO NECESSITIES
SUCH AS RELIABLE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. THÀNH. SINCE THE
ENACTMENT OF AB 686 AND AB 1304,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE HAVE DEVELOPED A MYRIAD OF
NEW HOUSING PROGRAMS. HOWEVER,
ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED
PROGRAMS SUGGESTS THAT MOST OF
THEM WILL LIKELY HAVE MINIMAL
IMPACT. PROPOSED PROGRAMS OFTEN
HAVE HAD LONG OR UNCLEAR
TIMELINES, VAGUE OBJECTIVES, AND
IN MANY CASES REPRESENT MINIMAL
COMMITMENTS TO STAFF TIME OR
RESOURCES. MANY PROPOSED AF
PROGRAMS DO NOT FOCUS ON THE
LAND USE AND ZONING POLICY
CHANGES THAT WOULD MAKE PROGRESS
TOWARD THE SPIRIT OF THE FAIR
HOUSING LAW. MOST CITIES
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SITES FOR LOW
INCOME HOUSING AND THEIR LESS
AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR
EXISTING MULTIFAMILY ZONES, THUS
EXACERBATING THE STATUS QUO OF
SEGREGATION. RATHER THAN
FACILITATING INTEGRATION IN THE
WAY IN WHICH LOCAL PROGRAMS
PRESENT THEIR AF PROGRAMS AND
HOUSING PLANS IS ALSO
INCONSISTENT AND INCOMPLETE,
MAKING EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL
IMPACTS CHALLENGING. AB 2667
WOULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND
ADVANCE FAIR HOUSING BY
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO DEVELOP A
STANDARDIZED REPORTING FORMAT
FOR AF PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS, AND
REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
MAKE A DRAFT INVENTORY OF SITES
AVAILABLE TO HCD AND THE PUBLIC.
AT LEAST 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
ADOPTION OF ITS HOUSING ELEMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SANTIAGO, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE AND WE RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST AN AYE VOTE. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE CHAIR
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS MARTY MENGE,
AND I'M WITH INNER CITY LAW
CENTER. WE'RE THE ONLY PRO BONO
LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER BASED IN
SKID ROW IN LOS ANGELES, SKID
ROW IS A COMMUNITY FORMED FROM
GOVERNMENT CONTAINMENT POLICY TO
EXCLUDE POOR PEOPLE FROM THE
REST OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
BUT EVERY DAY, PEOPLE FROM SKID
ROW AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA COMMUTE
LONG DISTANCES TO JOBS IN
WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND
WEALTHY COMMUNITIES REQUIRE LOW
INCOME WORKERS TO THRIVE. BUT
OFTEN FAIL TO ADEQUATELY PLAN
FOR HOUSING. LOW INCOME WORKERS,
FORCING OUR CLIENTS TO ENDURE
LONG COMMUTES, WHICH DEPRIVES
OUR CLIENTS OF THEIR QUALITY
TIME TO SPEND WITH THEIR
CHILDREN OR THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEIR FRIENDS. IN 20. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR THE TESTIMONY. ARE
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
HERE THAT ALSO WISH TO REGISTER
SUPPORT? RAFA SONNENFELD WITH
MBA ACTION AND SUPPORT.
FRANCISCO MORALES, ON BEHALF OF
THE HOUSING ACTION COALITION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANYBODY HERE WISHING TO EXPRESS
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, EITHER
THROUGH TESTIMONY OR BY
REGISTERING THEIR OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TURN BACK TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, AND I
THINK WE HAVE NO QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS BILL. MA'AM, DO
WE HAVE A MOTION OR A SECOND
YET? I ENTERTAIN A MOTION BY
MISS QUIRK-SILVA. I HEARD A
SECOND BY MISS WILSON, SUMMER
SANTIAGO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR DEEP CONCERN FOR MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE
CAN TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA'S FAIR
HOUSING LAWS. I THINK THIS BILL
IS GOING TO STRIKE A VERY GOOD
BALANCE BETWEEN COMPLIANCE AND
MAKING A LITTLE EASIER FOR SOME
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FUTURE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD
SITES IDENTIFIED EARLIER IN THE
DRAFTING PROCESS, CRITICAL ROLE
THIS BILL CAN PLAY WITH THAT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I'LL
TAKE THAT AS MY CLOSING. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MOTION TO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARD A WARD
I PATTERSON PERSON I GRAYSON.
CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I LI LI I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I REYES
SANCHEZ. SANCHEZ NÓ. WILSON HI.
WILSON I. THAT BILL CURRENTLY
HAS A 6 TO 1 VOTE. IT WILL BE
OUT AND WE'LL HOLD THE ROLL OPEN
FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. AND NEXT YOU
HAVE ITEM NUMBER 16. THIS IS AB
2910. WHEN ON YOUR PRESENTERS
ARE SITUATED YOU MAY BEGIN.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
I'LL, I'LL START. BY THE TIME
THEY GET HERE THEY'LL SURE.
YEAH. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
THE CHAIR AND THE COMMITTEE
STAFF AND ACCEPT ALL THE
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS, NEEDLESS
TO SAY, DOWNTOWN'S HAVE CHANGED,
POST COVID, WE BELIEVE THIS IS
STRAIGHTFORWARD, BILL. THAT
WOULD GIVE CITIES THE
FLEXIBILITY AND NUANCES NEEDED
TO AMEND THEIR LOCAL BUILDING
CODES AND BETTER ENABLE ADAPTIVE
REUSE PROJECTS, WHILE ENSURING
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS THE
APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT
AND DISCRETION, THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES,
ALLOWING, CITIES WITH A
POPULATION OF 400 OR MORE TO BE
ABLE TO USE THESE TOOLS, IN THE
COMMITTEE'S INTEREST OF
RESPECTING THE COMMITTEE'S TIME
AND WORKLOAD TODAY, I'LL END MY
PRESENTATION AND HAND IT OVER TO
OUR WITNESSES. THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR. GOOD MORNING. ALMOST
AFTERNOON. I'M NELLA MCCOSKER,
CEO OF CENTRAL CITY ASSOCIATION,
OR CA TO EXPLAIN OUR
ORGANIZATION A BIT. WE REPRESENT
300 BUSINESSES, INSTITUTE AND
NONPROFITS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO
ENHANCING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
VIBRANCY AND INCREASING
OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA REGION. WE'RE STRONG
ADVOCATES OF POLICIES THAT
SUPPORT ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND
WE'RE PROUD TO SPONSOR AB 2910.
CA SPEARHEADED THE CITY OF LA'S
ADAPTIVE REUSE ORDINANCE BACK IN
1999 THAT CATALYZED THE
CONVERSION OF COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS TO ABOUT 12,000 UNITS
OF HOUSING AND REALLY
TRANSFORMED DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
INTO A 24 OVER SEVEN MIXED USE
URBAN HUB. TODAY TODAY, AMID
HISTORIC LEVELS OF OFFICE
VACANCIES, WE ARE AGAIN LOOKING
TO ADAPTIVE REUSE TO HELP
ADDRESS SOME OF OUR BIGGEST
CHALLENGES AROUND HOUSING,
CLIMATE AND OUR ECONOMY. WHAT
WE'RE SEEING IS DAY TO DAY
OFFICE OCCUPANCY IS ABOUT 50% AT
THE FEW OFFICE BUILDINGS IN
DOWNTOWN LA THAT HAVE SOLD
RECENTLY WENT FOR BELOW HALF OF
THEIR PRIOR VALUE LEVELS NOT
SEEN SINCE THE EARLY 2000, AND
THIS WILL SOON HAVE A SERIOUS
IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAX REVENUES
AND OUR GOVERNMENTS ABILITY TO
PAY FOR BASIC SERVICES.
DETERIORATING DOWNTOWNS ACROSS
THE STATE AMID OUR GREAT HOUSING
NEEDS. WE WANT TO TAKE STEPS TO
CONVERT THESE BUILDINGS TO
HOUSING IN THE CITY OF LA ALONE.
WE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATE THAT
IF JUST 5 TO 10% OF THE CITY'S
OFFICE SPACE WAS CONVERTED, IT
WOULD YIELD 8000 TO 16,000 NEW
UNITS. THE GREENEST BUILDINGS WE
KNOW ARE EXISTING ONES. REUSING
THESE BUILDINGS MEANS PRESERVING
THEIR CARBON AND CUTTING DOWN
EMISSIONS. THE PROBLEM IS, IS
THAT CITIES LIKE OURS ARE
CURRENTLY LIMITED BY THE STATE
AND HOW WE CAN INTERPRET
BUILDING CODES FOR CONVERSIONS
AND SO THIS IS HOLDING BACK
CITIES LIKE LOS ANGELES THAT
HAVE SMART BROADLY SUPPORTED
APPROACHES TO AMEND THEIR CODES
TO UNLOCK MORE ADAPTIVE REUSE
PROJECTS. AB 2910 WOULD ALLOW
LARGER CITIES WITH ADAPTIVE
REUSE POLICIES TO ADOPT
ALTERNATIVE BUILDING REGULATIONS
TO FACILITATE THESE CONVERSIONS.
AFTER, OF COURSE, REVIEW AND
APPROVAL BY STATE AGENCIES, WE
WANT TO CREATE THIS PROCESS FOR
NUANCED, NEEDED LOCAL BUILDING
CODES TO FOSTER ADAPTIVE REUSE.
10S. AND WE WOULD. THIS IS A
CRUCIAL TOOL TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
THIS ISSUE. AND I ASK
RESPECTFULLY FOR YOUR AYE VOTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN SUPPORT
OF THE BILL. SKYLER WONACOTT
WITH CALIFORNIA BUSINESS
PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION AND,
BOMA, CALIFORNIA. AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MEMBERS.
BRADY GIRTON, ON BEHALF OF THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
RAFA SONNENFELD WITH MBA ACTION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SUPPORT IF
AMENDED POSITION. LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE AUTHOR ON
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FRANCISCO
MORALES HERE ON BEHALF OF
HOUSING ACTION COALITION AND
SUPPORT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC HERE IN OPPOSITION
THROUGH TESTIMONY OR JUST TO
STATE YOUR POSITION OF
OPPOSITION? SEEING NONE, I'LL
TURN IT BACK TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. A MOTION BY MISS
QUIRK-SILVA, SECOND BY MR. LEE.
SEEING NOBODY ELSE WISH TO BE
RECOGNIZED. I JUST WANTED TO
COMMENT. MISS SANTIAGO, THANK
YOU FOR, WHAT I, WHAT I THINK IS
, INCREDIBLY CREATIVE AND
IMPORTANT, POTENTIALLY
IMPORTANT. BILL, WHEN YOU, YOU
KNOW, HAD SOME EARLY
CONVERSATION WITH ME AROUND
THIS, I KIND OF HAD SORT OF TWO,
TWO THOUGHTS IN MIND, YOU KNOW,
ONE, I THINK, LIKE YOU, YOU
KNOW, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'VE
GOT AN IMPORTANT MISSION RIGHT
NOW THROUGH OUR BUILDING
STANDARDS COMMISSION TO BE ABLE
TO UPDATE THEM THROUGH PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION. THE CODE SECTION
REGARDING ADAPTIVE USE THAT IS
NOW UNDERWAY, THAT WILL HAPPEN.
IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL
YEARS TIME, BUT MEANWHILE, WE
HAVE A LOT OF NEED BACK IN OUR
HOME COMMUNITIES. AND WHAT CAN
WE DO ABOUT THAT? RIGHT. BECAUSE
THE URGENCY IS NOW, AND THE IDEA
THAT WE'VE GOT EXCELLENT
MUNICIPAL STAFF THAT MAYBE CAN
PULL TOGETHER THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE ABLE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW,
VERY MUCH THE SAME OUTCOMES, IS
GOOD BECAUSE THAT COULD GET
ENACTED FASTER AND COULD BE ABLE
TO HELP FACILITATE MANY OF THE
PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT LOCAL
DISCUSSION FOR SOME OF THESE
LARGER CITIES CAN ACTUALLY
INFORM THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING
UP HERE AT THE STATE. SO THIS
REALLY COULD ACTUALLY BE A PILOT
PROGRAM FOR HOW WE ACTUALLY ARE
WORKING ON A LOT OF OTHER CODE
SECTIONS, AND I LIKE, YOUR
CREATIVITY IN MIND WITH THAT. I
INVITE YOU TO CLOSE THAT WILL BE
MY CLOSING AND RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR AN EYE VOTE. THANK YOU. SOME
MEMBER, MADAM SECRETARY, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL MOTION TO PASS TO
THE COMMITTEE AND THE
UNASSEMBLED ON THE ASSEMBLY, DO
PASS TO THE COMMITTEE, ASSEMBLY
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARD. WARD
I PERSON HARRISON I. GRAYSON
CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I LEE. LEE I
QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA I REYES
SAN CHÁVEZ. SANCHEZ I WILSON.
WILSON I SEVEN ZERO. THAT BILL
WILL BE OUT AND WE'LL HOLD IT
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. THANK
YOU MR. THANK YOU. SOME MEMBER
OKAY. I THINK AT THIS TIME WE
WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE
ROLL FOR ABSENT MEMBERS. AND WE
DO HAVE ONE BILL REMAINING ON
FILE, AND I'M STARTING A FIVE
MINUTE CLOCK. I NEED AN AUTHOR
OR A BILL FOLDER TO PRESENT IN
THE ROOM WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.
PLEASE OPEN THE ROLL, ON THE
CONSENT CALENDAR, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON I. I Â NINE ZERO.
THAT CONSENT CALENDAR IS OUT. OH
I'M SORRY. 9 TO 0 9 TO 0. THAT'S
RIGHT, WE HAVE EVERYONE ON
NUMBER ONE, ITEM NUMBER TWO,
1893. AS A MEMBER, WARD, I, WARD
I, HARRISON NOT VOTING WILSON.
WILSON I. 7 TO 0 TWO NON VOTING
7 TO 0 WITH TWO MEMBERS NOT
VOTING. THAT BILL IS OUT. ITEM
NUMBER THREE. WE HAVE SAID
MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA I, I SAID
MEMBER WILSON I, I OKAY, 7 TO 2
THAT BILL IS OUT. ITEM NUMBER
FIVE 2243 SEVEN MEMBER WARD A
WARD I, SEVEN MEMBER WILSON I
WILSON I NINE 9 TO 0. THAT BILL
IS OUT. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN 2437
MEMBER WILSON. I WILSON. I NINE
TO 9 TO 0. THAT BILL IS OUT,
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. WE DON'T NEED
TO VOTE AT ANY VOTES. THEN ITEM
NUMBER 11 2667. GRAYSON REYES.
ABSENT ON THAT. OF COURSE.
VOTING ON ITEMS. THE RESULT. IT
WON'T. OKAY I TO NO. ALL RIGHT,
SO ITEM NUMBER 11 2667 FROM I TO
KNOW ASSEMBLY MEMBER PATTERSON.
AND WE'LL HOLD THAT OPEN FOR MR.
GRAYSON SO THAT WE ARE NOW SIX
TO TÊ TWO 162 IN THE MOMENT.
OKAY 12 IS A CONSENT, 13 IS A
CONSENT ITEM. NUMBER 14, 2893,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON, THIS IS
ITEM NUMBER 14. I, I. 7 TO 0 TWO
947 TO 0 TWO. MEMBERS NOT VOTING
. THAT BILL IS OUT. LET'S
CONTINUE. LET'S NUMBER 16, IT
WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES, WE ARE AT
SEVEN ALL RIGHT. NOW. SEVEN
ZERO. OKAY WE'LL HOLD THAT ROLL
OPEN FOR ABSENT MEMBERS, ITEM
NUMBER 17 2933, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WARD I, WARD I, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
WILSON, ON ITEM 17, I THAT WILL
BE, 7 TO 1 WITH ONE MEMBER NOT
VOTING. 7 TO 1. OKAY. THAT BILL
IS OUT, ITEM, 18 2967 ASSEMBLY
MEMBER WILSON. SO WHY DON'T YOU
5678 8 TO 0 WITH ONE MEMBER NOT
VOTING? THE BILL IS OUT, ITEM
NUMBER 19. 3068 SEVEN. MEMBER
PERSON I. SORRY. ITEM 19 IS
THAT'S, ACTUALLY THE HIÆN IS
BILL. YES. GRAYSON AND REYES. SO
THAT IS 7 TO 0. 7 TO 0. THAT
BILL IS OUT, ITEM NUMBER 2031
16. ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON I, I
9 TO 0. THAT BILL IS OUT 20.
ITEM 21 IS A CONSENT AND ITEM
NUMBER 22 AB 3160 ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PATTERSON I ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
REYES. SO THAT WILL BE 6 TO 0, 6
TO 0 AT THE MOMENT. WILL HOLD
THAT BILL OPEN AND WE WILL
PRESENT OUR LAST BILL WITH MISS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARILLO. THIS IS
ITEM NUMBER 23 AB 3177. YOU MAY
BEGIN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND
MEMBERS, YOU RUN A VERY TIGHT
SHIP RUNNING FROM BUILDING TO
BUILDING. I AM PROUD TO PRESENT
AB 3177, WHICH LIMITS SPOT
WIDENING, A PRACTICE IN WHICH
DEVELOPERS CEDE A PORTION OF
THEIR LAND ADJACENT TO THE
ROADWAY TO WIDEN IT WITHOUT
COMPENSATION. THIS PRACTICE IS
DONE IN A HANDFUL OF
JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA, OFTEN RESULTING IN
ROADS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY
ZIGZAGGED BY PARCEL BY PARCEL,
FAILING TO MEET THE INDEPENDENT
PURPOSE OF TRAFFIC MITIGATION,
AND FREQUENTLY INDUCING FASTER
AND MORE DANGEROUS DRIVING ALONG
THE ROADWAY. SPOT WIDENING
REQUIREMENTS SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE HOUSING COSTS, ADDING
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10,000 TO
$50,000 PER HOUSING UNIT IN LOS
ANGELES ALONE, AMOUNTING TO
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, PER
PROJECT. THIS ADDITIONAL COST
TRANSLATES DIRECTLY INTO HIGHER
RENTS, UNDERCUTTING HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY. MOREOVER, THESE
REQUIREMENTS REDUCE THE AMOUNT
OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING,
REDUCING THE NUMBER OF FEASIBLE
UNITS ON A PROPERTY. LIKEWISE,
THE DEMANDS IMPOSED BY SPOT
WIDENING CAN MAKE ANY POTENTIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT INFEASIBLE
AS WE AS WAS THE CASE WITH THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
PROJECT IN LOS ANGELES THAT
FOUGHT FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS TO
RECEIVE A WAIVER. THIS BILL
LIMITS THE PRACTICE OF SPOT
WIDENING BY PROHIBITING A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING A LAND
DEDICATION REQUIREMENT FOR
ROADWAY WIDENING ON A HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND A TRANSIT
PROJECT. PRIORITY AREA, OR FOR
DEVELOPMENTS WITH STREET
FRONTAGE OF LESS THAN 500FT.
THIS BILL PROVIDES THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, MAY STILL IMPOSE A
LAND DEDICATION REQUIREMENT ON
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FOR STREET
WIDENING IF THE LOCAL AGENCY
MAKES SPECIFIC FINDINGS THAT THE
DEDICATION IS NECESSARY TO
PRESERVE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, PROVIDING
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH
FLEXIBILITY. ADDITIONALLY, AB
3177 REPLACES THE REFERENCE TO
TRANSIT STATIONS WITH TRANSIT
PRIORITY AREA WITH THE
MITIGATION FEE ACT PROVIDING
REDUCED MITIGATION FEES FOR
HOUSING NEAR BUS STOPS AND
PLANNED TRANSIT STOPS NOT
COVERED UNDER THE LIMITED
DEFINITION OF TRANSIT STATION.
AS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
BILL ARE WELL ALIGNED WITH THE
STATE'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES.
ACES AND PRIORITIES TO
INCENTIVIZE NEW HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE SMART
PLACES. THIS BILL IS SPONSORED
BY STREETS FOR ALL AND SUPPORTED
BY A COALITION OF HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE FOR
BOTH MARKET RATE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. AS WELL AS
ENVIRONMENTAL AND STREET SAFETY
ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE BILL HAS NO
OPPOSITION, HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT IS MARK VUKOVICH WITH
STREETS FOR ALL. THANK YOU, MARK
STREETS FOR ALL. SPONSOR OF THE
BILL. OUR BILL ENDS THE PRACTICE
OF REQUIRING A HOUSING DEVELOPER
TO GIVE UP POTENTIAL HOUSING,
LAND AND PAY HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE
SOLE PURPOSE OF WIDENING THE
ROAD AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL
FOR ENTITLEMENTS. THIS PRACTICE,
KNOWN AS SPOT WIDENING, TAKES
PRIVATE LAND WITHOUT
COMPENSATION FROM HOUSING TO
PUBLIC ROADS ON A PER PROJECT
BASIS, AND DOES NOT ACHIEVE ITS
OFTEN PURPORTED GOALS OF TRAFFIC
MITIGATION. BECAUSE THE WIDENING
IS LIMITED TO THE ROADWAY JUST
ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT, LEADING
TO SENSELESS ROADWAY
CONFIGURATIONS. SPOT WIDENING IS
BASED ON THE ANTIQUATED AND
DISPROVEN IDEA THAT WE CAN WIDEN
OUR WAY OUT OF CONGESTION ON A
PARCEL BY PARCEL BASIS, OR
PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.
THROUGH THIS FUTILE ATTEMPT TO
REDUCE CONGESTION, WE'RE MAKING
OUR STREETS MORE DANGEROUS AND
OUR CITIES LESS LIVABLE. EVEN
SACRIFICING THE WIDTH OF THE
SIDEWALK. IN SOME OF THESE
CASES, SPOT WIDENING TYPICALLY
ACHIEVES NOTHING MORE THAN AN
INCREASED WIDTH OF THE TRAVEL
LANES FOR VERY SHORT DISTANCE,
WHICH DOES NOTHING TO MITIGATE
THE CONGESTION. BUT WE BELIEVE
IT HAS THE EFFECT OF
FACILITATING COLLISIONS. AS
RESEARCH FROM JOHNS HOPKINS ON
LANE WIDTHS FOUND. I ALSO WANT
TO SHARE WHAT THIS IS LIKE ON
THE HOUSING SIDE. ONE PROJECT IN
LOS ANGELES LOST OVER 6000FT² OF
LAND TO ROAD WIDENING, WHICH
MEANS THEY LOST THE ABILITY TO
BUILD OVER 30 DWELLING UNITS.
ANOTHER PROJECT, CONSISTING OF
100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING BY A
NONPROFIT DEVELOPER, WAS DELAYED
BY ALMOST TWO YEARS, AFTER THEY
APPEALED THE REQUIREMENT, SAYING
THAT THE PROJECT WOULDN'T PENCIL
OTHERWISE IN THE TIME IT TOOK
FOR THAT DEVELOPER TO GET THEIR
WAIVER, AN ADDITIONAL 12,000
PEOPLE FELL INTO HOMELESSNESS IN
CALIFORNIA. IN SOME GOOD
GOVERNANCE, FOLKS SUPPORT OUR
BILL BECAUSE OF OUR GROWING
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE BACKLOG,
BANKRUPTING OUR RURAL AND
SUBURBAN CITIES.
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SUPPORT THIS
BECAUSE SPOT WIDENING RIPS UP
MATURE TREES, INDUCES MORE CAR
TRAVEL, AND WORSENS THE URBAN
HEAT ISLAND EFFECT MARKET RATE
AND AFFORDABLE DEVELOPERS ARE
SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE THIS PROJECTS
MAKES THEIR PROJECT THEIR
PROJECTS CHEAPER TO FINANCE AND
PENCIL. AND LASTLY, SAFE STREETS
GROUPS LIKE US ARE THE SPONSORS
BECAUSE THIS SORT OF WIDENING
JUST INDUCES DANGEROUS SPEEDING
WITH WIDER LANES NEXT TO BRAND
NEW HOUSING. I RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES. IS THERE
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL?
RAFEAL SONNENFELD INB ACTION AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. REBECCA
MARCUS ON BEHALF OF LEADING EDGE
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU
, BROOKE PRITCHARD ON BEHALF OF
CALIFORNIA. I'M IN SUPPORT AND
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY BUILDERS.
THANK YOU. FRANCISCO MORALES
HERE REPRESENTING HOUSING ACTION
COALITION AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC HERE IN OPPOSITION
THROUGH TESTIMONY OR JUST TO
STATE POSITION, SEEING NONE,
WE'LL TURN THIS BACK TO MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A
MR. VICE CHAIR. YES. THANK YOU.
SO I GET WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
GOING ON THIS AND I OBVIOUSLY
LIVE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY THAN LOS ANGELES, AND
I CAN SEE PARTICULARLY ON INFILL
PROJECTS WHERE THAT CAN BE
PROBLEMATIC. I DON'T THINK IT'S
REALLY IN THIS. I DON'T
GENERALLY THINK CITIES WANT TO
DO, YOU KNOW, WEIRD ROAD, YOU
KNOW, THAT'S NOT GOOD PLANNING,
BUT NOT AT DOUBTING THAT
HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, YOUR AREA AND
DISTRICT MUCH BETTER THAN I DO.
BUT IN MY COMMUNITY WHERE WE DO
HAVE, YOU KNOW, TRAIN, GOING
THROUGH, YOU KNOW, AND STOPS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S ALMOST
ALL GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT. AND
MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS
ALMOST LIKE A STANDARD PRACTICE
IN THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT,
PARTICULARLY IF THERE'S HAPPENS
TO BE TRANSIT OR TRANSPORTATION
AROUND. SO SO IT'S KIND OF HARD
FOR ME BECAUSE I KIND OF I GET
WHAT THE INTENT IS. WE DON'T
REALLY WANT TO WASTE DEVELOPER
BEALL AREA IN A LIMITED, YOU
KNOW, WHERE THERE'S LIMITED LAND
ALREADY, BUT IT'S LIKE A LOT OF
CITIES BUILD THEIR ROADS, I
MEAN, THEY, I MEAN, THEY GET IT
FROM THE DEVELOPER AT THE END OF
THE DAY, AND SO I'M KIND OF I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A
RESPONSE TO THAT, BUT I'M I DO
HAVE SOME CONCERNS. YES. MR. MR.
PATTERSON, I DO HAVE A RESPONSE.
SO I WANT TO FIRST NOTE THE
AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL. SO YOU
OBVIOUSLY MENTIONED THE TRANSIT
PRIORITY AREAS, WHICH LIMITS THE
BILL PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY TO
THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS. YOU KNOW,
THE OTHER AMENDMENT IS THE 500FT
REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS ENSURING
THAT IF THIS IS BEING DONE, IT'S
ON PROJECTS AT SCALE THAT Ã CAN
CAN WITHSTAND THE SORRY CAN
CANCEL OUT THROUGH THE ECONOMIES
OF SCALE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY, I THINK, MORE
ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE MORE THE
PURPOSE OF WHAT THIS IS SUPPOSED
TO DO, WHICH IS WIDEN
ESSENTIALLY FOR A WHOLE BLOCK,
RATHER THAN DOING ON THIS, THESE
INDIVIDUAL PARCELS THAT LOOK
LIKE, LIKE CUT OUTS, LIKE, WHICH
IS WHAT I PROVIDED, PROVIDED YOU
ALL. SO IN THAT SENSE, I WANT TO
JUST NOTE THAT I BELIEVE IT
ACHIEVES THAT PURPOSE. THE LAST
THING I'LL ALSO MENTION AS WELL
THAT OUR OUR BILL DOES NOT
PROHIBIT THE ADDITION OF A NEW
ROAD. SO LET'S SAY THERE'S A
BRAND NEW SUBDIVISION BEING
DEVELOPED. DEVELOPED. OUR BILL
DOES NOT PROHIBIT A NEW ROAD
GOING TO THAT AREA. IT'S MERELY
THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING
ROADWAY CAPACITY, WHICH IN MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES ISN'T GOING TO.
AND I'LL JUST SAY NO, MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES THERE MIGHT BE
EXCEPTIONS TO THIS, BUT IN MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES ISN'T GOING TO
NHIÀU LANE CAPACITY, BUT IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO LANE WITH
CAPACITY, WHICH IN OUR
CIRCUMSTANCE AS A STREET SAFETY
ORGANIZATION IS JUST CAUSING
MORE PEOPLE TO SPEED IN FRONT OF
NEW HOUSING. SO WHAT I'VE SEEN,
I MEAN, AGAIN, I CAN ONLY SPEAK
TO MY EXPERIENCE IN OUR DOWNTOWN
CORE, WHICH IS CLOSE FOR
DOWNTOWN CORE, FOR A COMMUNITY
MUCH DIFFERENT THAN LOS ANGELES,
SO IT'S MUCH SMALLER, BUT WE'VE
BEEN TRYING TO CREATE SOME
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE.
SO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THEY
THERE ARE UNDEVELOPED LOTS IN
THE DOWNTOWN CORE, AND THEY'VE,
INSTALLED ROUNDABOUTS. AND THE
PURPOSE OF THE ROUNDABOUT IS
OBVIOUSLY TO REDUCE CONGESTION.
AND PEOPLE STOPPED AT LIGHTS AND
ACTUALLY HAS CLIMATE, YOU KNOW,
GOALS THAT IT ACHIEVES. BUT THAT
DID REQUIRE THE PEOPLE WHO
EVENTUALLY ENDED UP DEVELOPING
AROUND THERE TO DEDICATE SOME OF
THEIR LAND FOR THAT PURPOSE. MAY
I RESPOND, ONE OF THE OTHER
PROVISIONS WE ALLOW IN OUR BILL
AND THIS THIS IS A PROVISION I
WOULD SAY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO
US, IS WE ALLOW FOR A FINDING
AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
TO BE MADE. SO IN MANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, ROUNDABOUTS ARE
EITHER LIKE YOU'RE MENTIONING
ABOUT POLLUTION CONTROL, BUT
THEY'RE ALSO ABOUT SAFETY
BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTENTIMES SAFER
THAN A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION.
AND IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN
MAKE A FINDING THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ACTUALLY WIDENING THIS
SPECIFIC AREA OR NEED THE EXCESS
LAND TO MAKE THE ROADWAY, SORRY,
TO MAKE THE ROADWAY CONDITIONS
AND THE RIGHT OF WAY CONDITIONS
SAFER. WE ALLOW FOR THAT
EXCEPTION TO BE MADE TO DO THE
DEDICATION FOR THAT REASON. LIKE
I SAID, WE'RE A STREET SAFETY
ORGANIZATION. IF THERE IS A
DEMONSTRABLE EVIDENCE BACKED
FINDING THAT IT'S FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY, WHICH IN MY
EXPERIENCE, THAT'S A LOT OF
TIMES WHAT ROUNDABOUTS ARE
DESIGNED FOR. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR
YOUR COMMUNITY, WE ALLOW FOR
THAT EXCEPTION TO BE MADE. WELL,
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
THOUGHTFULNESS PUT INTO THIS, I
WAS DEFINITELY GOING TO OPPOSE
THIS, AS WE STARTED, I THINK I'M
GOING TO LAY OFF AND JUST DO
SOME MORE, GET THOSE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS IN THERE. AND BEFORE
IT GETS TO THE FLOOR. BUT,
APPRECIATE YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOU
THINKING OF ALL THOSE THINGS.
THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MR. VICE CHAIR SELL MEMBER
WILSON. THANK YOU TO THE AUTHOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION
THAT JUST OCCURRED, YOU KNOW,
I'M SUPPORTING THIS TODAY. AND
PRIOR TO, I WAS SUPPORTING IT
PRIOR TO THE DISCUSSION, BUT
PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT DID GIVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TO MAKE A FINDING, I THINK
THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WHEN
WE'RE DOING, ANYTHING AS IT
RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION,
BECAUSE THERE IS A OVERALL
POLICY OF THE STATE THAT WE WANT
TO DECREASE THE RELIANCE OF,
DEPENDENCY ON AUTOMOBILES. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO
GIVE PEOPLE CHOICE. THAT IS A
SIGN OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY, IS
THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHAT TYPE
OF MODE OF TRANSPORTATION YOU
WOULD LIKE TO USE. AND SO AND I
KNOW AS IN YOU HAD IT IN THE
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, BUT
JUST IN THE LANGUAGE IT TALKS
ABOUT THE BASICALLY COOKIE
CUTTER POINT OF VIEW IN TERMS OF
THE WAY CERTAIN LAND, IS, THE
WAY CERTAIN LANES ARE ACTUALLY
OCCURRING IN THE CITY OF LOS
ANGELES, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN SOME OF THE MORE RURAL, YOU
KNOW, SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES LIKE
MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE,
REPRESENT. AND SO THE FACT THAT
IT ALLOWS FOR THAT FINDING TO
SAY, HEY, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S
IN OUR BEST INTEREST OF THE
COMMUNITY FOR THOSE REASONS. I
THINK IT'S HEALTH, SAFETY AND
WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE
CAN ALLOW FOR THAT. AND FOR THAT
REASON, I WAS, YOU KNOW,
SUPPORTING IT. AND SO IF THERE'S
NOT A MOTION, I'LL MAKE THE
MOTION. THERE'S A MOTION. I'LL
MAKE THE SECOND. THANK YOU. MISS
WILSON. I APPRECIATE THE MOTION,
MR. GRAYSON. AND I'LL MAKE THE
SECOND. I CAN'T THANK THE AUTHOR
ENOUGH FOR BRINGING THIS BILL
FORWARD. I KNOW TO ALL WELL,
PERSONALLY AND INTIMATELY A
PROJECT IN WHICH THE REQUIREMENT
WAS TO WIDEN THE ROAD TO THE
TUNE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS ON A ON THIS PROJECT
THAT RAISED THE COST AND ONLY TO
WATCH THE MUNICIPALITY COME BACK
A FEW YEARS LATER AND MAKE
SIDEWALKS AND NEW CURBS ON THE
SINGLE LANE. AND SO WE HAVE THIS
CARVE OUT, AND JUST OUT IN THE
MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WITH HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EXPENDED
ON IT THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE
EXPENDED. I DO LIKE THE FACT
THAT THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE
BALANCE IS THERE FOR A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A
FINDING, BUT TO JUST MANDATE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON A PROJECT
, JUST TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ON
A PLAN, WITHOUT ANY
JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER, AND
THEN TO COME BACK AND COMPLETELY
UNDERMINE IT, I THINK THIS IS A
GREAT BILL. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. GRAYSON.
SEEING NO OTHER MEMBERS WISHING
TO ADDRESS THE BILL, I WOULD
ECHO THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL.
APPRECIATE YOU WORKING CLOSELY
WITH STAFF ON SOME OF THE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND WOULD
INVITE YOU TO CLOSE. THANK YOU,
OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE
RESPONSIBLE, SMART, HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION POLICY THAT'S
ALSO FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO
VARIOUS DIFFERENT AREAS ACROSS
THE STATE. LOS ANGELES URBAN
AREAS, VERY DIFFERENT. THEY'RE
RURAL AREAS, BUT WHAT WE ARE
SEEING IS THE DEMAND FOR MORE
HOUSING. SO WE JUST WANT TO BE
SMART ABOUT POLICIES THAT WE'RE
MOVING ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT
ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE
DAY, HELP PEOPLE. SO WITH THAT,
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A NO VOTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MOTION TO
PASS TO THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WARD A WARD
I HARRISON, NEIGHBORING GRAYSON.
GRAYSON. I CHOLERA. CHOLERA. I
LEE LI I QUIRK-SILVA QUIRK-SILVA
I REYES REYES I SANCHEZ. NOT
VOTING WILSON A WILSON I THAT
BILL IS OUT SEVEN ZERO WITH TWO
NOT VOTING. THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. OKAY. WE HAVE JUST A
COUPLE MORE ADD ONS, I THINK.
MR. GREAT. DO WE NEED ITEM ONE
AGAIN? NO, WE NEED 11. ALL
RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
FORWARD TO ITEM NUMBER 11.
PLEASE CALL THE ABSENT MEMBERS.
GRAYSON. GRAYSON, I REYES REYES.
I KNOW I WILL BE. FIVE SIX.
SEVEN, BILL IS OUT. 7 TO 2. AND
THEN NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 1616,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON GRAYSON.
I REYES REYES I THAT BILL IS OUT
9 TO 0. NEXT WE'VE GOT ITEM
NUMBER 19 TÍNH 1930 68. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON, I REYES I BILL
IS OUT 9 TO 0 AND LAST AND LAST
IS ITEM 2231 60. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GRAYSON GRAYSON I REYES REYES I.
THAT IS OUT 8 TO 0 WITH ONE
MEMBER NOT VOTING. AND WITH THAT
WE ARE ADJOURNED