State Senator Scott Weiner.
Photo: Scott Wiener’s office.
San Francisco Democratic Senator Scott Wiener wrote on X around 4 p.m. “SB 79 — our bill allowing more housing near public transportation — just received final approval by the Senate & IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR!”
Senate Bill 79 would allow developers to build large apartment buildings on residential and commercial lots within a walkable half mile of well-trafficked public transit stops. (The State Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents union construction workers, agreed to drop its opposition to the bill in exchange for an amendment that would require some of the projects that make use of the bill to hire union workers.)
The Assembly voted on the bill on September 11 and ultimately passed it with the needed votes, sending it back to the Senate today for a final concurrence vote before going to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for a signature.
This bill takes away local control over housing projects. The Los Angeles City Council voted 8-5 to oppose it, the Pacific Palisades Community Council opposed it, as did Councilmember Traci Park.
Proponents said this bill is “marking a significant step forward in the state’s ongoing battle over housing affordability, climate change, and land-use policy.”
SB 79 applies to any qualifying site zoned for residential, mixed-use, or commercial properties within a half-mile of transit, or a quarter-mile in smaller cities. Pacific Palisades is not exempt.
To address fire safety, the bill includes provisions allowing local governments in very high fire severity zones to defer density requirements for up to three years while adopting local fire protection plans.
This plan takes away single-family housing under the premise that there is a shortage of housing. “It’s a one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento that puts short-term profit over long-term safety,” said Marcella Bothwell, chair of Neighbors for a Better California.
California continues to lose population. When Pacific Palisades and Altadena residents were displaced by the fire, contrary to the mantra, there was available housing everywhere in Southern California.
California has lost residents over the last 30 years.
Contact Gavin Newsom and ask him to veto this bill click here. Call (916) 445-2841 or to sent a letter:
Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Gov. Newsom;
I am so grateful for your intellect, relentless courage and commitment to our state. I am writing tonight to urge you to stop SB 79. My small and battered neighborhood in the Alphabets Streets, Pacific Palisades is threatened by this bill. We are already dense with our topography and limited access. My neighborhood has very narrow streets and the Fire Dept. would like to discontinue street parking. SB 79 does not work for most neighborhoods, it’s a bad bill. We’ve lost everything. We’re doing our best to be strong and rebuild. We’re required to meet so many constantly changing requirements and restrictions and this bill allows developers to reap profits with minimal requirements. I have to rebuild my home with 6 foot side yard where I previously had 3 ft. The 7 story developers are not bound by the same rules as the people who lost everything and are underinsured and have been committed to the community for 40 years. Please reconsider the effects of this bill.
Thank you Sue for keeping our community informed and providing the link that made it easy for me to voice my disapproval of SB 79 to Gov. Newsom.
There are no qualifying transit stops in Pacific Palisades, including trains, light rail, subways or dedicated bus rapid transit routes. And none are proposed.
Scott Weiner is the same creep that wants pedophiles to walk freely among any community. He was the sponsor of SB 145.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190223185752/https://thewashingtonpundit.com/2019/02/21/ca-democrats-introduce-lgbtq-bill-that-would-protect-pedophiles-who-rape-children/
Sunset Boulevard is considered a major transit route–which is why the Community Council is approving SB 79.
Thanks, Beth, for sharing your letter to Newsom. I trust you provided it to allow others to cut and paste.
I am a Palisadian and have lived in the Alphabet Streets since 1995. I am absolutely opposed to this legislation which would dramatically and negatively impact our neighborhood by grossly increasing density.
The Statewide legislation is too broad and does not take into consideration local areas.
Michael Shilub