| (June 10, 2021, 7:45 a.m.) -- With Long Beach's policy-setting City Councilmembers continuing to remain silent, a number of Long Beach residents voiced opposition telephonicaly in an Assembly Committee hearing on SB 9, a bill co-authored by (former LB Councilmember) state Senator Lena Gonzalez (D, LB-SE LA County) that would require cities statewide to allow (except for historic districts) up to four dwelling units on single family home lots and forbid City Halls from requiring additional parking for the new units within a half mile of "high quality" public transit.
SB 9 enables single family lot splits and two dwelling units on the split lots. Some opponents of SB 9 (including Livable California statewide) say the number could reach eight dwelling units per parcel through a legalistic use of ADUs. The June 9 vote by the Assembly's Local Government Committee (Dem majority, no LB reps) was 5-1, with two Dem members (who were physically present voting "no vote recorded") advances SB 9 to the Assembly's Housing & Community Dev'ment Committee (Dem majority, no LB reps.) A number of Long Beach homeowners, including Eastside Voice president Corliss Lee, veteran community advocate Ann Cantrell, and WLB community advocate John Taeleifi voiced their opposition in telephonic Committee testimony. Also speaking in opposition were Bill Shelton, Kelly Cusack and an Eastside voice member (a woman, name spelling uncertain.) One speaker from "Long Beach YIMBY" (part of "Yes in my Backyard" groups statewide) spoke in support of SB 9. As is common in Sacramento proceedings, the Committee chair limited public speakers to stating their name, group and position (support or opposed.) The chair limited time for each side's total speakers to 15 minutes each; the time expired with a number of SB 9 opponents left unable to speak. |
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