1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge your support for AB 2074, The Downtown Revitalization Act, which would accelerate the construction of high-density residential housing near regional transit hubs in California's seven largest cities. This legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney on February 18, 2026, offers a practical solution to our housing crisis while promoting sustainable urban development. AB 2074 targets cities with populations over 400,000, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, and Long Beach. These transit-rich cities would designate regional transit districts and apply high-density residential standards within those areas. Projects meeting the bill's labor standards would receive streamlined approval, cutting through bureaucratic delays that currently make housing construction prohibitively expensive and slow. The legislation creates a state-backed revolving loan fund to lower construction costs for developers. This fund operates on a sustainable model where loans are repaid upon project completion, creating a self-replenishing mechanism that requires no ongoing taxpayer burden. Similar programs in other states have proven successful at reducing development costs and accelerating housing production. This approach makes sense for California's future. Building dense housing near transit reduces car dependency, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and creates walkable neighborhoods where residents can access jobs, services, and amenities without long commutes. It also maximizes the value of our existing transit infrastructure investments by increasing ridership and creating vibrant urban centers. The bill is sponsored by California YIMBY and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, demonstrating broad coalition support from both housing advocates and labor organizations. This collaboration ensures that new housing development creates quality jobs while addressing our critical housing shortage. I urge you to support AB 2074 and help create more affordable, transit-oriented housing in California's urban centers. This legislation represents smart growth policy that benefits our environment, economy, and communities.