Placeholder Logo!

We need  new efforts to infirm and engage people statewide on the devastating effects of California  housing policy. To that end I will soon be launching WAKE UP CALIFORNIA!  The goal is narrative change, and bring together all of our organizations statewide — from neighborhoods to Our Neighbirhood Voices. Please see blog post  below for more information.  

STAFF REFUSING TO BUDGE

Please see  previous posts about the Corcoran Community Plans lawsuit for context; update below in blog post.

Using Sonoma County as a case study, the film showcases community opposition to state-mandated housing policies, county supervisors' decisions, and a developer's plans to transform a beloved, historic, and environmentally sensitive wildlife corridor into a large-scale development with minimal affordable housing. 

Blog post below

WE NEED TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AGAIN — FAST!  PLEASE SIGN ASAP, CUTOFF OCTOBER 28th! 

ASK OUR SUPERVISORS TO SIMPLY FOLLOW THE COURT ORDER! 

The petition contains this letter and full explanation of the issues: 

We, the undersigned, strongly support the Planning Commission’s reasoning and decision that simply restores the relevance of community plans, as per court order, without staff’s unnecessary language that further complicates interpretation of our Countywide Plan. We ask you to end this contentious chapter by following the recommendation of your expert Planning Commission, and simply remove the precedence clauses. 

Amy Kalish,
Director, Citizen Marin
Chair, Tam Design Review Board (signing as an individual)

At the last Planning Commission hearing, Commissioner Desser made such strong points that I write an Op Ed to highlight her comments, and the constant attempts by CDA staff to undermine Marin County’s interests.

The piece ran in the Marin IJ and is available here as a petition update:

Three sold out showings at the Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma , with excellent panel discussions. 

Showing for public and local government in Los Altos Hills, I was a panelist

Catalyst Town Hall event featured the film; Carolyn Scott and I were panelists 

To as about setting up a showing in your area, please email:

1citizenmarin.org

From the Mercury: “We’ve known about the structural deficit, which results from expenses associated with the housing element and increases to the sheriff’s contract, exacerbated by staff turnover and rising legal and consulting fees,” said Portola Valley Mayor Sarah Wernikoff during a Town Council meeting earlier this month.

Among the town’s largest expenses are costs associated with its contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, compliance with state housing requirements, and employee-related costs.

Portola Valley has also incurred unexpected costs for consultancy services to revise its housing plan, known as the housing element, which was decertified earlier this year. This decertification requires planning for affordable housing growth, and the town has spent approximately $1.7 million on consultants and legal fees related to the housing element this fiscal year.

The state’s Housing and Community Development Board decertified the town’s housing element after delays in rezoning areas to accommodate 253 additional homes — just a small share of the Bay Area’s targeted 441,000 homes that it is supposed to build by 2031.

From  THE REAL DEAL: 

“But insurance experts caution lenders that the stakes are getting too high”

“High-risk developments are coinciding with insurers  upping premiums and pulling back from markets, leaving many property owners scrambling to provide a safety net for their properties. Given the potential profit for developers eyeing projects in high-risk areas, and the swelling losses for insurers covering such assets, the misaligned incentives are putting real estate, its backers and insurance firms at odds. “

County finally acknowledging the Superior Court ruling in favor of Corcoran vs County of Marin — which would restore community plans —  but the changes made to plans  still muddy the waters. 

blog post below with my  7/30/24 letter to the Board of Supervisors  

Emmy-nominated, award winning filmmaker Carolyn Scott’s new film in progress, "SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL," documents a small rural community’s fierce  battle against  an ill-conceived, massive development  in a high-fire risk zone — and atop a crucial wildlife corridor. This project threatens safety, the environment, and biodiversity,  

California's relentless urbanization takes center stage in this compelling documentary.  Highly recommended,. Trailer  here, more info coming soon:

https://vimeo.com/953221618?share=copy

This “spot” bill happened so fast there weren’t even any arguments submitted in support or opposition; please put your voice into the public record now! 

We can all recognize the critical need for affordable housing. None of the current punitive policies that rely on the private market are going to create it, and cities are punished as a result. SB 7 is a continuation of these dangerous, destructive, and unsuccessful policies.

See blog post below for details

Big win for local zoning control. Five Charter Cities sued the state over  SB9, a 2022 state law that allows homeowners to split lots, and add 2 homes to each side —   without neighborhood notice or on site parking. It was  ruled unconstitutional in Charter Cities (which have their own constitutions, as opposed to General Law cities). The court decision soundly questions housing policy that promotes a “housing emergency” with  the cover of “affordability”— while the law has provisions to provide none;  there is not a single word in the law about affordability or even a requirement to rent any of the resulting new homes.

See blog post below for details

San Diego Area cities are facing mid-cycle review soon, and bluntly tell the HCD that they resent being set up for failure. They can approve projects, but HCD only counts permits pulled — an action taken by developers. Because they can’t get most developers to add more than 10% affordable units, they will fail the low income category mandates even if massive numbers of new units are built.

See what every locality’s future is like:  

start at minute 43 to skip over HCD presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arKeg7IFk7w&t=2617s

full video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arKeg7IFk7w

Marin County Community Plans have long zoned sensitive wildlife areas, the Bay Lands Corridor, the Ridge and Upland Green Belts, areas with no water or sewage, and no road access at lowest density -- allowing the fewest homes per acre possible.

The County is moving forward to codify changes that go beyond what is required. These areas will be open to density, just to  “prove to the state that we‘re serious about housing.” These areas aren’t  suitable  for anything but market rate  homes — if that.

This  doesn’t improve access to affordable housing. See more in blog post below. , 

Not satisfied with last year’s SB 423 to override Coastal Commission decisions, this  years’s laws intend to gut the commission and allow density along our treasured coastline —  for profit, largely market rate, and  close to the shore. 

SB 951 is whipping through the senate, along with two others. The assembly will be next to push back or — cave. 

So many major insurers non-renewed policies  that the state insurance plan — FAIR — is on the brink of insolvency. Plans are not just being cancelled for fire risk, they’re being cancelled for age of home and density — in cities!  The state is trying to lure insurers back with a plan that lets them use disaster modelling to base rates, which can set them sky high. It also allows easier rate increases. Unless you’re a mega corp, you can’t build or buy homes without insurance. 

New legislation will make it possible for the state to start fining cities up to $10,000 per day, to $50,000 per month, starting at the time they are noticed that their housing elements are being revoked. There are plenty of other fines, withholding of funds, and lawsuits that already pressure cities — watch the SANDAG video to see how impossible it is to satisfy the HCD and avoid Attorney General Bonta’s Housing Strike Force.