Stockton Mayor Tubbs and San Jose Mayor Liccardo Endorse Senator Wiener’s SB 50, which Allows for More Housing Near Public Transportation and Job Centers

San Francisco –  Today, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo announced their support for Senator Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 50, the More HOMES Act.  SB 50 eliminates hyper-low-density zoning near transit and job centers, thus legalizing apartment buildings and affordable housing in these locations so that more people can live near transit and near where they work. It also reduces or eliminates minimum parking requirements for new developments.  

“California’s severe housing shortage continues to harm communities throughout our state,” said Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. “In Stockton, we have seen the average home price almost double in the last 5 years, making it harder for families and young people to afford to live here. We have similarly seen our rental prices dramatically increase. This a big reason why California has the highest poverty rate in the nation.  As we force individuals to pay more for their rent, we also push them into poverty.  This is a policy failure that we must address. I strongly support the concepts of SB 50, which will help our state build more housing, ensuring communities, especially our most vulnerable, can afford to live here.”

“Too many Californians cannot afford to live close to work,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. “I hear too many stories of working moms who commute two or more hours every day because housing costs price them out of our urban centers.  Too many children go to bed at night without seeing parents who are stuck in crippling commutes--a reality that is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. SB 50 will spur more affordable housing near transit and job centers so that people can live close to where they work. I applaud Senator Wiener for taking on this issue, and look forward to working for SB 50's passage--for our children, our environment, and our communities.”

“I am honored to have the support of these two incredible leaders and housing champions,” said Senator Wiener. “Our housing crisis is a local, regional, and statewide issue. Mayors Tubbs and Liccardo understand the issue on a personal level. They work hard to increase the supply of housing, and advocate for innovative approaches to ensure families and individuals are able to remain housed. Restrictive zoning policies hurt all of us and especially our low-income and working families. I want to thank Mayors Tubbs and Liccardo for their support.”  

Mayors Tubbs and Liccardo join a broad coalition of supporters, including local elected officials and labor and business groups. SB 50 is also supported by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Emeryville Mayor John Bauters, and El Cerrito Mayor Gabriel Quinto, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has made positive statements regarding the direction of the bill. SB 50 is also supported by the State Building and Construction Trades Council (which opposed SB 827) and the California Apartment Association and is sponsored by California YIMBY.

In addition to Senator Wiener, SB 50 is co-authored by a diverse and bi-partisan array of legislators, including: Senators Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa), and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Assemblymembers Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood), Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), Evan Low (D-Campbell), Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).

The More HOMES Act was officially introduced on December 3rd when the Legislature reconvened for the 2019-2020 legislative session.  It will be set for a committee hearing in the coming months. For the full text of SB 50 please click here.