Many thanks to all of you who signed the petition to stop SB 79. Your voices were heard by our Assemblymember Jose Solache, who voted no in the Assembly. Still, the heavily-amended bill narrowly passed with just 43 yes votes, sending it back to the Senate for a concurrence vote.
Senator Lena Gonzalez, who cast one of the votes that moved the bill out of the Senate to the Assembly, did not vote on the bill when it returned to the Senate. Unfortunately, the bill passed the Senate by one vote and now moves on to the Governor's desk. The only way it can be stopped now is for a veto. He is expected to sign the bill. (If he does not sign or veto it, it becomes law.)
If you care to weigh-in to the governor's office with your concerns, click here.
CAL-Matters has an excellent recap of SB 79 and how housing policy is being shaped by legislation pushed by interest groups whose focus is the creation of higher-density housing and expanding mass transit options. This issue is not going away -- we all know how crazy-expensive housing has become in coastal areas. The question is how to preserve single-family neighborhoods like Lakewood and still build AFFORDABLE higher-density housing.
One might think we won't be affected since there are no commuter rail lines running through Lakewood -- but that doesn't mean that will never happen. Lakewood could still be impacted by the bus line that runs down Lakewood Boulevard. If at some point this line runs through a "dedicated bus lane" the whole line qualifies as a major transit line. Every bus stop along Lakewood Boulevard then becomes subject to SB 79, and the land within a half-mile radius of that bus stop becomes a target for high-density development. Obviously, a developer or transit agency would have to purchase a significant number of adjacent parcels of real estate in Lakewood to accomplish this, but it's not impossible. In addition, should the City of Long Beach proceed with plans to create a dedicated bus lane down Studebaker Road, the Lakewood neighborhood at Carson Street and Los Coyotes Diagonal will find itself within the half-mile radius of that bus line. That area, to me, seems a likely prospect for high-density housing given, the proximity to McBride High School, built on either the current Campfire property or the corner lot next to Heartwell Golf Course on the Long Beach side of Carson street.
The immediate issue for Lakewood now is how to stop the proliferation of multi-unit buildings in our neighborhoods brought on by SB 9. There could be a way through amending the law put in place by SB 9. Stay tuned for further developments.
Long term, the only way we regain local control to preserve our much-cherished quality of life is a ballot initiative. If you have not already done so, join Our Neighborhood Voices to stay informed about the proposed initiative and support putting it on the ballot.
Thank you for making your voices heard!
Joy Janes