In the News

California Bills Would Make Insurers Cover More Mental Health

January 15, 2020

California Bills Would Make Insurers Cover More Mental Health - (SF Chronicle - Jan 14)

California legislators on Tuesday introduced two bills aimed at improving access to mental health and addiction treatment by requiring health insurance companies to authorize some forms of treatment more quickly and to cover more comprehensive mental health services.

Read more

Transgender Prisoners Say They 'Never Feel Safe.' Could a Proposed Law Help?

January 9, 2020

Transgender Prisoners Say They 'Never Feel Safe.' Could a Proposed Law Help? (KQED - Jan 8)

"Transgender inmates are some of the most marginalized members of society," said state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, SB 132’s sponsor. "They need more support. The housing aspect is one piece of the puzzle. And it's a really significant one."

Read more

Opinion: SB 50 is back. If you care about California’s housing crisis, give it a chance this time

January 9, 2020

Opinion: SB 50 is back. If you care about California’s housing crisis, give it a chance this time (LA Times - Jan 7)

Senate Bill 50 is back, and California lawmakers have a little over three weeks to demonstrate that they are serious about solving the state’s debilitating housing shortage...

Read more

Pricey California Targeted in New Effort for Housing Density

January 9, 2020

Pricey California Targeted in New Effort for Housing Density (Bloomberg - Jan 6)

A fight over how to fix California’s worst-in-the-nation housing shortage is about to heat up again in Sacramento...

Read more

California lawmaker again taking aim at single-family zoning

January 9, 2020

California lawmaker again taking aim at single-family zoning (LA Times - Jan 6)

California lawmakers will once again debate a contentious measure that could radically increase housing growth in the state after a legislator revamped his proposal to allow construction of mid-rise apartment complexes near transit and fourplexes in single-family neighborhoods...

Read more

Scott Wiener tries to save SB50 housing bill with local control changes

January 9, 2020

Scott Wiener tries to save SB50 housing bill with local control changes (SF Chronicle - Jan 6)

Seeking to revive a fiercely fought bill that would boost construction of apartment buildings and condominiums, state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced changes Monday designed to disarm cities’ objections that the measure would remove their control over neighborhood character...

Read more

California housing bill gets major makeover — and it gives local governments more control

January 9, 2020

California housing bill gets major makeover — and it gives local governments more control (The Sacramento Bee - Jan 6)

Last year, California local governments effectively blocked the broadest proposal out of the Legislature that attempted to boost home construction across the state.

This year, lawmakers behind that bill are trying to win over cities and counties by promising them a lot more control over their zoning laws...

 

Read more

Last year’s hottest housing fight just got resurrected — here’s what to know

January 9, 2020

Last year’s hottest housing fight just got resurrected — here’s what to know (CalMatters - Jan 6)

Sen. Scott Wiener's housing density bill is back in the pipeline, with amendments to appeal to the suburban homeowners, local governments, and anti-gentrification groups that twice sank it.  Will the third time be the charm?

Read more

Sen. Scott Wiener makes changes to controversial housing bill

January 9, 2020

Sen. Scott Wiener makes changes to controversial housing bill (The Mercury News - Jan 6)

The updated version of SB 50 would give cities at least two years to develop their own policies...

 

Read more

What You Need to Know About Trans Awareness Month

December 17, 2019

What You Need to Know About Trans Awareness Month (Out – Nov 3)

“San Francisco marked the beginning of Transgender Awareness Month by lighting up City Hall in the trans flag colors and raising the trans flag over the building….Senator Wiener also read the names of some of the transgender people who were slain this year. At least 22 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed this year….”

Read more