Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed a package of housing bills aimed at fast-tracking construction, addressing homelessness and holding cities accountable to the state’s housing laws.
The legislation strengthens reporting requirements on cities’ progress in permitting housing, toughens penalties for localities that resist new development and requires cities and counties to take into account the needs of their lowest-income and homeless residents when they develop long-range housing plans.
“The original sin in this state is affordability,” Newsom said at a press conference in San Francisco with state and local leaders. “That’s the challenge we are trying to address here today.” Read more here.