State Senator Scott Wiener failed last year in his attempt to get SB 827 passed; that bill would have allowed increased density and height in and around mass transit locations in the state. Now he and Senator Nancy Skinner are back with the 2019 version, SB 50, which has been changed to include minimum low-income housing requirements, additional transit options (such as ferries), an expansion of the types of housing that would be protected from displacement, and the way it defines targeted high-jobs areas.
SB 50 has been endorsed by many mayors (including London Breed), AARP California, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Habitat for Humanity, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, the BART board of directors, and other organizations. Opposition has also been vigorous, including the city of Beverly Hills, Palo Alto’s mayor, and the LA AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
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