The California Supreme Court ruled that the City of Huntington Beach must approve plans for residences that low-income people could afford.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports the city argued the decision to build a specific amount and type of housing belongs to local government and not the state government. On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court upheld a lower-court order requiring Huntington Beach to follow California laws in approving housing for low-income people – the state demanded 533 housing units when it sued the city in 2021.
According to 2017 US Census data, Huntington Beach had a median income of $88,000, roughly 20% above the statewide average, with less than 9% of its residents living below the poverty level.
The city, which cited environmental concerns as part of its reason to avoid new affordable housing, will have 120 days to adopt an affordable-housing plan that complies with state law. If it refuses, state officials can prohibit the city from granting new building permits.
“The Legislature has found that ‘the availability of housing is of vital statewide importance,’ ” Presiding Justice Judith McConnell wrote in a 3-0 ruling. “The need to promote housing for all economic segments of society is particularly acute because, as the Legislature has recognized, our state is suffering from ‘a housing supply and affordability crisis of historic proportions’ that has harmed millions of Californians.”
Freedom to choose what they want to do. The City, representing it’s constituency knows what they want to do.
I do not believe the State, just wanting more affordable housing, should force any entity to adopt their credo.
Our country is set up as a democracy and thus, our individual rights as tax payers and citizens should decide, not the State
Precisely
Most people are for environmental considerations in all types of building. But to use extremist environmental views to severely limited needed housing especially for our lower income population is border line immoral. People in the community need new housing. New duplex designed buildings with ADU’s along with small to medium sized apartment complexes would help. If zoning needs to be amended or variances granted for specific areas and lots then so do it and get on to allow yours residents the opportunity to purchase or rent affordable housing. Its not rocket science. Time is waisting away as your people suffer.
It’s about time to build low income housing. Huntington beach send it’s poor people to long beach, los Angeles or one of the more Democrats cities. Republicans just kick the can and give tax breaks to the wealthy. guess the buck stops here now. it’s everyone’s problem even the rich Republicans need to pay the bill. get friendly with your new neighbors.
Getting the illegals out will result in a resolution of the housing, healthcare and inflation issues. This Marxist ruling is rich when the government has prevented citizens of Malibu and the Palisades from rebuilding after a disaster that was exacerbated by government corruption and incompetence.
Well said. Even affordable housing in Huntington Beach is probably not really that affordable.