California CRE News In Your Inbox.
Sign up for Connect emails to stay informed with CRE stories that are 150 words or less.
Bill to Repeal Constitutional Roadblock to Affordable Housing Passes Senate
Legislation to repeal article 34 of the California Constitution passed the Senate on Tuesday with a unanimous vote. The SCA 1 bill by Senators Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is sponsored by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles. It now heads to the Assembly for a vote.
Added by the voters in 1950, Article 34 of the California Constitution requires cities to submit projects to a voter referendum when public funds are allocated to developing low-income rental housing. No other type of housing is subjected to this requirement. This constitutional amendment was designed to keep people of color and poor people out of certain neighborhoods. In the decades since its passage, cities have also been forced to comply with a web of regulatory requirements and costly elections to build affordable housing.
Senator Wiener says, “Article 34 is a scar on the California Constitution – designed to keep people of color and poor people out of certain neighborhoods – and it needs to be repealed. Publicly- owned affordable housing for low income people is critical to reduce homelessness and ensuring that housing is available to people of all income levels. This important source of housing shouldn’t be singled out for voter approval when other types of housing aren’t. Today’s passage means we are one step closer to creating more equitable communities and will help us take on part of our housing crisis.”
For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser
