Dozens of Local Elected Officials Announce Support for SB 50

January 27, 2020

Sacramento – Local elected officials and city councils from across California recently announced their support for SB 50, Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) zoning reform bill. The elected officials who are now endorsing the bill are from a wide swath of California, including Los Angeles County, the Central Coast, the North Bay, the Central Valley, and the Bay Area. Additionally, the City Councils of Albany and Milpitas both voted to endorse the bill, and San Mateo City Council – which had formerly opposed SB 50 – voted to withdraw its opposition.

These endorsements come after SB 50 was amended to include more flexibility in how the bill is implemented. Under the amendments, cities have two years to create their own plans for more density that can be tailored to their particular needs, building taller and denser in one area and shorter and less dense in another – as long as their plans still reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and meet fair housing standards by not concentrating housing in low-income areas.

The new amendments have won over dozens of local officials, who are now endorsing the bill. These new endorsers include Mayor Andrew Rodriguez of Walnut, Councilmember Shelly Masur of Redwood City, Councilmember Jed Leano of Claremont, and Councilmember Santos Garcia of Madera.

The following is a full list of new supporters:

  • City of San Jose, Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
  • City of Mountain View, Councilmember Lucas Ramirez
  • City of Grover Beach, Councilmember Mariam Shah
  • City of Albany, Councilmember Rochelle Nason
  • City of East Palo Alto, Councilmember Ruben Abrica
  • County of Humboldt, Supervisor Steve Madrone
  • City of San Mateo, Councilmember Rick Bonilla
  • City of Palo Alto, Mayor Adrian Fine
  • City of Milpitas, Councilmember Anthony Phan
  • City of Redwood, Councilmember Giselle Hale 
  • City of Carson, Mayor Albert Robles
  • City of Berkeley, Councilmember Lori Droste
  • Culver City, Mayor Meghan Sahli-Wells
  • City of Alameda, Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcroft
  • City of Berkeley, Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani
  • City of Walnut, Mayor Andrew Rodriguez
  • City of Redwood City, Councilmember Shelly Masur
  • City of Claremont, Councilmember Jed Leano
  • City of Madera, Councilmember Santos Garcia
  • County of Alameda, Supervisor Keith Carson (conditional support)

Senator Scott Wiener, the bill’s author, said:

“I’m thrilled to see SB 50 gaining momentum with these wide-ranging endorsements, confirming what we already know: California is in the midst of a terrible housing crisis, Californians are feeling it every day, and people want elected officials to take action now to alleviate it. It’s heartening that so many local officials see the urgency of our housing crisis, are reflecting the voices of their constituents by endorsing SB 50. With a 3.5 million housing shortage, we need all hands on deck if we are going to address this crisis with the urgency it requires.

There is a consensus building in favor of SB 50 from important stakeholders. I appreciate the leadership these elected officials are taking on our housing emergency, and look forward to working with them moving forward.”

Mayor Andrew Rodriguez of Walnut said:

"In the past, I’ve opposed other Sacramento legislation that attempted to increase housing without giving cities the freedom and flexibility to address the issue on their own terms. I support SB 50 because as amended it now provides ample flexibility to seriously address the state’s housing shortage, while encouraging a built environment that suits the lifestyle and aesthetic charm of each community. Encouraging new housing in walkable areas close to transit is a responsible way to address the housing issue."

Councilmember Jed Leano of Claremont explained why he is now endorsing the bill:

“When I approached Senator Wiener on this issue at the CA Economic Summit last November, he listened to my concerns and demonstrated his willingness to compromise.  He amended SB 50 to give cities more flexibility in creating zone changes and specific plans that achieve the same goals of increasing housing production near transit and job centers, streamlining housing production, and reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, while also giving cities choices on how to achieve these same objectives.  SB 50 reflects that spirit of compromise — the power of ‘and.’”

Councilmember Santos Garcia of Madera expressed his support for SB 50:

“SB 50 will get more housing built near jobs and transit, making it easier to find and afford housing and live near where you work. Local elected officials like me will be able to tailor their plans to local needs and priorities, integrating community input. But what cities will no longer be able to do is ignore the housing crisis entirely by neglecting to build enough units. California must remain a place of opportunity for all - and without housing that’s impossible. We need SB 50.”

Mayor Adrian Fine of Palo Alto explained why he endorses SB 50:

"SB50 is California’s most serious attempt to create affordable, abundant and secure housing for people of all generations and backgrounds. I support SB50 because it will create more affordable housing near jobs and transit, which is the right thing to do for our housing crisis, for the climate, and to ensure good opportunities for the next generation of Californians."

Councilmember Rochelle Nason of Albany said:

“Albany was built to provide homes that working people could afford, but today even the smallest houses on the smallest lots are out of range to most families.  We need homes for working people with ordinary incomes and savings.  SB 50 will clear obstacles to creating such homes. It will help our small town to thrive, and also help us do our share to ease the crises in housing and climate change that are hurting the quality of life in the whole Bay Area.”

Councilmember Anthony Phan of Milpitas described his and the Milpitas City Council’s support for the bill:

“I applaud Senator Weiner’s efforts to address many concerns raised about SB 50 in its previous iteration. The Milpitas City Council expresses unanimous support for the passage of SB 50, due in part to the updates made since then, namely regarding local control. We have devoted significant long-range planning efforts towards transit-oriented development through our Transit Area Specific Plan, and we encourage other cities to embrace what SB 50 is trying to accomplish.”

Councilmember Rick Bonilla of San Mateo said the following:

“I support SB 50 because many local jurisdiction leaders have not sought or been able to effectively deal with historical (ongoing and growing for decades) housing shortages, growing homelessness, rapid (well-paid) job growth and seemingly limitless increases in the cost of housing. The important thing about SB 50 is that it has the potential to start providing relief much sooner than any other approach. The simple truth is that what we have been doing has failed to provide adequate housing, transportation and infrastructure improvements, and climate protections. These things cannot wait for each separate jurisdiction to figure out how to do them.

Housing is the perfect place to start, because in planning for modern, climate-friendly housing the need to address transportation, congestion, circulation, air and water quality improvements will arise and have to be included as part of the appropriate planning process. Real people are suffering under these circumstances... I feel compelled to act on these issues right now and I am sincerely hoping that many of my elected colleagues will feel similarly.”

* * *

SB 50 is Senator Wiener’s zoning reform bill that would legalize apartment buildings and affordable housing in California. It aims to address California’s housing affordability crisis by helping alleviate the state’s 3.5 million home shortage.

SB 50 contains strong renter protections and anti-demolition restrictions and was recently amended to ensure that 40% of new affordable housing built through SB 50 goes to people who live in the area. Additionally, up to 25% of new homes must be affordable to low income residents, in addition to opening up dramatically more land for 100% affordable housing development. Sensitive communities at risk of gentrification and displacement, under SB 50, will have a 5-year delayed implementation to determine how best to build more housing in their neighborhoods in a way that will protect residents.

SB 50 is supported by a broad coalition of affordable housing, environmental, housing equity, anti-poverty, environmental justice, student, labor, and senior organizations, including: Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, United Farm Workers of America, United Ways of California, Habitat for Humanity,  Coalition for Clean Air, California Community Economic Development Association, Pacoima Beautiful, Clinica Monseñor, Local Initiatives Support Corporation San Diego, the Orange County Poverty Alleviation Coalition, AARP, UC Students Association, California Labor Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, California League of Conservation Voters (support in concept), and the California League of Women Voters.

It is also endorsed by the following elected officials and municipalities:

City and County of San Francisco, Mayor London Breed
City of Anaheim, Councilmember Jordan Brandman
City of Berkeley, Councilmember Rigel Robinson
City of Campbell, Former Councilmember Jeffrey R. Cristina
City of Culver City, Councilmember Alex Fisch
City of El Cerrito, Councilmember Gabe Quinto
City of Emeryville Councilmember Dianne Martinez
City of Emeryville, Councilmember John Bauters

City of Fairfield, Councilmember Chuck Timm
City of Foster City, Vice Mayor Herb Perez
City of Fullerton, Councilmember Ahmad Zahra                                                 

City of Half Moon Bay, Mayor Councilmember Deborah Penrose

City of La Mesa, Councilmember Colin Parent

City of Los Gatos, Councilmember Rob Rennie

City of Milpitas, Former Councilmember Marsha Grilli                                                     

City of Monterey, Councilmember Tyller Williamson

City of Moreno, Councilmember David Marquez                               

City of Oakland, Mayor Libby Schaaf

City of Pinole, Councilmember Vincent Salimi

City of Rancho Cordova, Councilmember Donald Terry

City of Rohnert Park, Councilmember; Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Commissioner and Past Chair, Jake Mackenzie

City of Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg

City of San Jose, Mayor Sam Liccardo

City of South San Francisco, Former Mayor Pradeep Gupta

City of Stockton, Mayor Michael Tubbs

City of Woodland, Councilmember Enrique Fernandez

County of Humboldt, Supervisor Steve Madrone

County of Imperial, Supervisor Michael Kelley

County of San Joaquin, Supervisor Miguel Villapudua

County of San Mateo, Supervisor David Canepa

City of Carson (Support with Amendments)

County of Santa Clara (Support with Amendments)

County of Solano

City of Emeryville