| (April 24, 2021, 2:15 p.m.) -- Faced with Long Beach City Hall inaction, Long Beach neighborhood protective residents have taken action, directly participating in Sacramento legislative proceedings to oppose SB 9 which would require cities statewide to allow four housing units (some SB 9 opponents contend it's six units) on single family home lots.
Following submission of written testimony in opposition by the El Dorado Park South Neighborhood Association (LBREPORT.com coverage here), the April 22 meeting of the state Senate Governance and Finance Committee heard verbal opposition testimony from Corliss Lee (The Eastside Voice) founder/leader), Carlos Ovalle Exec. Dir. People of Long Beach), two Eastside Voice supporters (spellings unclear) and Laurie Angel (speaking on behalf of her 1,700 member southern NLB neighborhood group, prematurely cut off by audio operator.) To hear their testimony [edited together for presentation here], click here . The Long Beach speakers were among large groups pro and con limited to stating their name, affiliation and position, a common Sacramento Committee practice after two main speakers pro and con. SB 9 proponent's main speakers were from the American Planning Ass'n and United Way; SB 9 opponents didn't present two main speakers, but telephoned speakers in opposition (roughly 70) more than doubled the number of speakers in support. Opponents of SB 9 listed in the Governance and Finance Committee's legislative analysis included a lengthy list of cities (including Signal Hill and Lakewood), the League of CA Cities (opposed unless amended) and multiple neighborhood groups opposed statewide (full list below.) SB9's supporters include "Long Beach Yimby" (among several Yes in My Backyard groups statewide), the Mayors of San Diego, Oakland and Sacramento and advocacy groups including the Cal Chamber (full list below.) SB 9 supporters say SB 9's is a "modest" [their term] increase in density to deal with California's housing crisis. Some SB 9 supporters argue SB 9 also combats sprawl that fuels global warming and addresses past racial discrimination they say is reflected in present single family home zoning. SB 9 supporters acknowledge it would allow four units on a single family lot (a lot split plus ADUs on the split lots.) In opposition, Livable California says SB 9 allows up to six units (SB 9 proponents contend recent amendments limit the bill to four units.) "SB 9 is an unprecedented experiment that invites speculators and big investors to disrupt home ownership and harm the stability of 21M Californians," states Livable California's website. On April 22, with the City of Long Beach silent, the state Senate Governance and Finance Committee voted 5-0 (including the Committee's sole Republican, Jim Nielsen (R, Roseville-Chico) to advance SB 9 to the state Senate Appropriations Committee, one vote away from the state Senate floor. As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, the City of Long Beach took no position on April 15 as the state Senate Housing Committee voted 7-2 to advance SB 9 to the Governance and Finance Committee...with state Senator Tom Umberg (D, SE LB-west OC) voting "yes." On April 12, 2021, Long Beach City Hall's Government Affairs Manager, Dr. Tyler Curley, told LBREPORT.com that the City hasn't taken a position on SB 9 "at this time [since] it's still early in the legislative session [and] we continue to monitor these bills as they’re amended through the committee process." [Scroll down for further.] . |
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