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Contact Assembly Member Levine. Urge him to VOTE NO on SB 35, SB 2, and SB 3.

Posted by: Linda Pfeifer - September 3, 2017 - 4:54 PM PDT

An important update on SB 35, the senate bill that would gut local control.

The Good News: THANK YOU to all who called Assembly member Marc Levine to oppose SB 35. Your voices were heard last week and SB 35 WAS POSTPONED.

The Bad News: Unfortunately, SB 35 hasn't died. SB 35 has now been "packaged" with two other bills, SB 2 and SB 3, which would hit the middle class hard (see details further below).

The assembly vote is anticipated sometime during the week of Sept. 5th (this coming week).

The Really Important Part:

It's my understanding that to kill SB 35, either SB 2 or SB 3 must die on the assembly floor. Why? Because Gov. Brown wants to sign a complete package -- SB 35, SB 2, and SB 3. I've learned that SB 35 only needs a simple majority to pass assembly, but SB 2 and SB 3 need a 2/3 majority to pass assembly, requiring every single Democratic assembly member's "yes" vote.

In other words, it's my understanding that if Assembly member Marc Levine votes NO on SB 2 or SB 3, the entire package --- including SB 35 --- will not go forward.

ACTION!

Please contact Assembly member Marc Levine between now and TUESDAY 9/5/17 and urge him to vote NO on SB 35, SB 2, and SB 3.

Your voice matters. Your efforts worked last week. We need to do it again!

Also, please contact your City Council and ask them to email Assembly member Marc Levine opposing SB 2, SB 3, and SB 35. I know some city councils have already written opposition letters to SB 35, so you'll need to stress the importance of opposing SB 2 and SB 3 also -- not only because these hurt the middle class, but because if SB 2 and 3 fail, this will kill SB 35.

If you cannot reach the entire council, seek individual council members to send an email to Levine opposing these bills.

Explanation of Bills:

SB-35 would Gut Local Control:

What is SB 35? It is a senate bill that removes public review (e.g., public notice, full CEQA, Planning Commission, etc.) and instead allows "ministerial" review (city staff approval) for new multi-unit housing proposals with a minimum of 10% affordable housing (or the percentage specified by a jurisdiction's inclusionary ordinance) if your city's RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) number of units has not been built.A City Watch article noted,

Since almost no local jurisdiction in the State of California meets 100% of its market rate RHNA goal on a sustained basis, this bill essentially ensures by-right approval for market-rate projects simply by complying with a local inclusionary requirement [for affordable housing] or by building 10% affordable units. (Source: SB 35 info HERE and HERE )

SB-2 "Fee" Would Hurt the Middle Class, Making Housing

Less - not more - Affordable:

What is SB 2? During every real estate deal, SB 2 would charge a $75 fee "per each single transaction per single parcel of real property." Where would the funds go?

....The bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require that 20% of the moneys in the fund be expended for affordable owner-occupied workforce housing and 10% of the moneys for housing purposes related to agricultural workers and their families, and would authorize the remainder of the moneys in the fund to be expended to support affordable housing, home ownership opportunities, and other housing-related programs, as specified.

In other words, according to Marin Post's Bob Silvestri, "70% of SB 2 revenues will be at the complete discretion of something called the 'Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund Governing Board' (politically appointed special interests) and HCD to distribute, with minimal oversight." (Source: HERE)

Also See:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavCli...

SB-3 would Burden the Middle Class with $4B in More Debt:

What is SB 3? In this 2017 session alone, one concerned senator observed that certain senators are pushing over $10 Billion Dollars in new bond proposals, which would mean taxpayers would have to pay $1 BILLION a year in tax service for THIRTY YEARS. One of those bond proposals is SB 3, which would,

...place a $4 billion general obligation bond on the 2018 ballot to fund existing affordable housing programs in California.

SB3 piles more debt on the middle class. By the way, last Friday 8/30, SB-3 was increased from a $3B bond to $4B. Just like that. Before a labor day vacation weekend.

Clearly, Sacramento thinks we're not watching the ball. Hopefully enough people learn about this and take action.

(Source: http://stone.cssrc.us/content/senator-stone-oppose...

Please forward this email to friends. Please post and distribute.

Sincerely, Linda Pfeifer

Former Sausalito City Councilmember