Los Angeles Leaders Urge Newsom to Veto Key housing Bill, Drawing Criticism
SACRAMENTO – A coalition of Los Angeles city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, councilmember traci Park, and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, are actively lobbying Governor Gavin Newsom to veto Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), a state measure designed to streamline housing production. The effort has sparked sharp criticism from housing advocates who argue Los angeles has consistently failed to address its housing crisis without state intervention.
The debate centers on SB 79’s potential impact on local control over housing development. Proponents say the bill is crucial for increasing housing density in urban,transit-rich areas,while opponents,including the Los Angeles officials,claim it undermines local planning efforts.
This pushback from Los Angeles comes despite a history of the city resisting housing initiatives. According to observers, without Sacramento’s intervention, Los Angeles would be building significantly fewer homes. Critics point to Bass’s own actions as evidence of this resistance, including her decision to gut her flagship affordable housing policy, Executive Directive 1 (ED 1), and securing an exemption from SB 9 in the Pacific Palisades, effectively shielding a wealthy enclave from modest duplex reforms. Bass has argued that SB 79 somehow undermines a “pro-housing city like Los Angeles,” a claim disputed by those tracking the city’s permitting record.
Park and Feldstein Soto have also faced criticism for actively working to block the Venice Dell affordable housing project, a city council-approved initiative intended to house individuals in need. Opponents of the project have repeatedly raised obstacles and caused delays.
Newsom has previously pledged to prioritize housing solutions statewide. SB 79 aims to ensure housing is built in areas best suited for sustainable growth – urban, transit-accessible locations – reducing reliance on long commutes and car dependency.
The governor now faces a decision that will signal his commitment to addressing California’s housing crisis and whether he will side with local opposition or prioritize statewide housing goals. A veto would likely perpetuate the status quo of rising costs, displacement, and obstruction, while signing the bill would send a clear message that California’s future won’t be hindered by NIMBYism.
This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.
