California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 79 into law, which will enable the state to overrule local zoning ordinances by allowing the creation of taller and denser housing developments to be built near transit corridors including bus stops and train stations.
SB 79 was proposed by State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and will allow for the creation of multifamily projects up to nine stories that are located adjacent to certain transit hubs, up to seven stories on building within a quarter-mile of the hubs, and up to six stories on buildings within a half-mile.
“All Californians deserve an affordable place to live — close to jobs, schools, and opportunity,” said Newsom in a statement. “Housing near transit means shorter commutes, lower costs, and more time with family. When we invest in housing, we’re investing in people — their chance to build a future, raise a family, and be part of a community.”
The legislation was backed by the influential nonprofit housing group California YIMBY, labor unions, and environmental organizations, but was opposed by many municipal leaders including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Also opposing the law was Mark Wells, a commentator for the World Socialist Web Site, who complained, “SB 79 represents not a social reform but a calculated concession to the construction and financial industries that dominate California politics. Behind the technocratic rhetoric of ‘density,’ ‘climate efficiency,’ and ‘transit-oriented development’ lies a naked transfer of power and profit to corporate developers and hedge fund-backed real estate trusts served by the Democratic Party machine.”
Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr Creative Commons
Its one thing to build several 9 story apartment complexes around transportation hubs, but they need to be supported by the infrastructure such as sewage, roads, power and etc. San Francisco and many other Northern California cities are already dumping their sewage into the ocean at great risk to human and marine life and this will only exacerbate this.
Did ANYONE ask where all these people are going to park?? Or does Newsom assume everyone will ride bikes or public transportation?? He should live in one the areas he’s signed for. The local people are the best suited to approve or reject zoning changes. What a travesty! How much money got funneled to him? Just more greed by this idiot. God help us if he actually becomes president!
Good point, John.
We tried to address that in Dearborn MI, what funding better drainage did was solve part of the problem. Sewage won’t get dumped after a rain, but road waste still will.
LOL Suzanne;
The super train, or whatever they call that unfinished boondoggle railway.
I tend to agree with Suzanne about the local control issue. Change should come from ground up. However, her personal criticism is an unnecessary element in the discussion.
I can’t believe how democrats are so radicalized to keep voting in Democrats 😁😁😁 i can’t believe how looney California is. it’s a shame
Anything Gavin is doing from this point out is not to benefit California it’s to further his dreams of being President. God help the rest of the Country if he does for America what he is doing to California.