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catalystsca.org
Why Our Cities Decided to File the SB-9 Lawsuit
California 94941
5:00 PM PT - 6:30 PM PT
Join Mike Griffiths, Torrance City Council member, and John Cruikshank, Rancho Palos Verdes City Council member, discuss why their cities filed lawsuits against SB-9. Get answers to your questions.
- What options did your city consider before choosing litigation?
- What was the process for bringing it to your City Council?
- What were the pros and cons (benefits and risks) you considered?
- What is the cost? Was cost an issue?
- What was the role of your city attorney in deliberations?
- What role did the community play?
- How do you weigh the chances of winning/losing the lawsuits?
- Can other cities join the SB-9 lawsuit you filed? How?
- What lessons can we learn that apply to a city or county considering a lawsuit against HCD re: RHNA determination?
To register for the Catalysts Town Hall Zoom call, go to https://bit.ly/catalystsca2022
SB-9 is the housing bill that passed in the fall of 2021 with an implementation date that started in January 2022. It is known as the California Home Act. It was marketed as a solution to the state's housing crisis, tackling the bogus claim that cities are to blame for housing problems because of their zoning policies. With a few exemptions, the law eliminates a local jurisdiction's authority to set zoning requirements for single-family homes. Instead, an owner/investor can split a lot, put two units on each half, and thereby convert a formerly single-family property into four units. The law eliminated public hearings and failed to include requirements for affordability. One off-street parking spot is required per unit unless the property is near transit or a car-share vehicle.
Mike Griffiths is the founder of California Cities for Local Control, a statewide advocacy group for local control over zoning and land use
decisions. He has assembled a volunteer
organization of several dozen people from all around California,
including other elected officials, homeowner group representatives, city
planners, and passionate homeowners, all sharing the common belief that
Local Governments should remain the ultimate decision-makers for how
their communities grow and thrive.
John Cruikshank is President & CEO of two Southern California engineering firms. Through involvement with hundreds of unique engineering projects, John understands leadership, community outreach, and management. He became a Registered Civil Engineer in the State of California in 1993. He is a licensed professional engineer in more than 20 states. John is currently a Board Member and Past President of the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce where he formed their Workforce Development Committee. He represents his city on the South Bay Cities Council of Government and is a Los Angeles County Sanitation Board Member.
The Catalysts Town Hall series is free and open to the public, including elected officials, community leaders, and constituents. You must REGISTER in advance to get the Zoom login information.
Previous speakers were attorney Pam Lee, Aleshire & Wynder, describing how city councils can join lawsuits to protect against state overreach. The second Town Hall featured former eight-year Albany City Council member Michael Barnes talking about how the California housing assessment system is rigged to set cities up for failure. Bob Silvestri, publisher of The Marin Post, described housing solutions, based on the Marin Post article entitled 10 Things We Can Do Now to Promote Affordable Housing.”
Recordings of the Town Hall presentations, along with litigation resources, are available on the Catalysts website. Donations are welcomed.
Catalysts is proud to acknowledge these ENDORSER organizations.
Alameda County Taxpayers' Association, Better Cupertino, CA Alliance of Local Electeds (CALE), CA Cities for Local Control, Citizen Marin, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, Hills 2000, Friends of the Hills (Los Altos Hills), Livable CA, Los Altos Residents, Our Neighborhood Voices, Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning, Riviera Homeowners Association, Southwood Riviera Homeowners Association, Sustainable Tam Almonte, United Neighbors (Los Angeles), Valley Village Residents Association, and West Torrance Homeowners Association
To register for the Catalysts Town Hall Zoom call, go to https://bit.ly/catalystsca2022
Organization: Catalysts for Local Control
Contact: Susan Kirsch
Contact Phone: 415-686-4375
Contact Email:
Website: http://catalystsca.org