1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support the timely implementation of Senate Bill 79 and ensure that state agencies provide the necessary guidance to make this landmark housing law effective by its July 1 deadline. After seven years of legislative work, California cannot allow local obstruction to undermine this critical reform. SB 79 addresses a fundamental reality: mass transit requires population density to succeed. Billions in taxpayer dollars have been invested in transit infrastructure across the Bay Area, greater Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego. Without sufficient housing near these stations, ridership suffers and these investments fail to deliver their intended benefits. The law allows mid-rise construction of five to nine stories near transit hubs, with building heights calibrated to transit intensity. This is sound planning policy that connects housing with transportation infrastructure. Los Angeles has become the center of resistance to SB 79, with the City Council voting to oppose it and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto organizing a legal challenge. Most concerning, Metro officials report that cities like Paramount are now opposing transit expansion projects because of SB 79, with Metro's deputy executive officer Madeleine Moore stating that the law is causing cities to oppose their $120 billion transit expansion. This is exactly the wrong response. We should not allow cities to accept transit funding while blocking the housing density that makes transit viable. Regional planning organizations claim they need more direction before releasing required maps, but Senator Scott Wiener has indicated that some are exaggerating ambiguities to oppose the law entirely. While Wiener is working on cleanup legislation through SB 908, the state Department of Housing and Community Development must provide immediate guidance to prevent further delays. I urge you to ensure that state agencies deliver clear implementation guidance now, support SB 908 with an urgency clause for July 1 effectiveness, and resist any efforts to postpone or weaken SB 79. California's housing crisis and transit investments depend on moving forward, not retreating to failed local control policies.