After Failing For Months To Agendize A Council Item To Oppose SB 9 and 10, CD 5 Councilwoman Mungo (With Councilmembers Price and Austin) Re-Agendize Last Week's Brown-Act Blocked Item To Urge Governor To Veto The Bills

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After Failing For Months To Agendize A Council Item To Oppose SB 9 and 10, CD 5 Councilwoman Mungo (With Councilmembers Price and Austin) Re-Agendize Last Week's Brown-Act Blocked Item To Urge Governor To Veto The Bills

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(Sept. 12, 2021, 7:00 p.m.) -- CD 5 Councilman Al Austin, joined by Councilmembers Stacy Mungo has Suzie Price, have reagendized their Brown-Act blocked and belated Sept. 14 Council item asking the Governor to veto SB 9 and SB 10.

SB 9, co-authored by former CD 1 Councilwoman now-state Senator Lena Gonzalez (D, LB-southeast LA County) would require (except in state defined historic districts) allowing four housing units on single family lots and prohibit requiring additional parking if the property is within half a mile of well-served public transit (including bus lines.)

SB 10 would let a City Council majority enact an ordinance allowing up to 10 housing unit buildings on single family lots within a half mile of transit.

Any Councilmember (or the Mayor who has no vote) could have agendized opposition to SB 9 and SB 10 "on any Tuesday." None did. (The bills were introduced in Dec. 2020.)

LB area State Senators Lena Gonzalez (D, LB-SE LA County (an SB 9 co-author) and Tom Umberg (D, SE LB-west OC) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D, NLB-Paramount) and Asseblyman Mike Gipson (D, NLB-Carson) already voted "yes" on SB 9 and SB 10 (some of them more than once.) In late August, (Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell (D, LB-San Pedro) voted "no."

Governor Newsom, before or after the Sept. 14 recall election, can now sign the bills into law, let them become law without his signature, or veto them.

On Sept. 4, CD 5 Councilwoman Al Austin wrote on his Facebook page.

I'm really concerned about the idea of planning residential neighborhoods and communities from Sacramento. If not vetoed by the Governor, SB9 and SB10 would have drastic impacts and many unintended consequences for Long Beach long term. Unfortunately a couple of my colleagues and staff are playing procedural politics at City Hall and have been working hard to keep our city council from taking a position on these important bills. We were elected to lead and be a voice for our city. Hiding and playing games is selfish and irresponsible leadership. We don't have to agree but the public deserves to hear the debate and know where there city council stands.

LBREPORT.com asked Councilman Austin (Sept. 4 via FB message) to name his Council colleagues and staff he said are "playing procedural politics at CIty Hall and have been working hard to keep our city council from taking a position on these important bills [SB 9 and 10.]" He didn't say...but did provide this response to criticism we said was coming of his record and all Councilmembers for failing to agendize and oppose the bills months earlier.

I do my best to respect our city council protocols and committee chairs who have the responsibility to set agendas and when committees meet on important issues. SB 9 and 10 came before the state leg committee as a receive and file item at the request of the committee chair. That is unacceptable, so I am bringing the item forth to put the Long Beach City council on record one way or another.

SB 10 would let a City Council majority enact an ordinance allowing up to 10 housing unit buildings on single family lots within a half mile of transit.