Statement on Passage of SB 684

SACRAMENTO – Today, California YIMBY, California Community Builders, LISC San Diego, The Central Valley Urban Institute, UnidosUS, Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund, California Community Economic Development Association, and Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services released the following statement in response to the passage of SB 684 in the California State Legislature.

Authored by Senator Anna Caballero and co-sponsored by California YIMBY and California Community Builders, SB 684 was crafted to put homeownership within reach for more Californians by making it faster and easier to build smaller, more naturally-affordable “starter” homes in multifamily neighborhoods, as well as on vacant lots in single-family neighborhoods. Building lower-cost homes in single-family areas is the best way to ensure exclusionary neighborhoods become more accessible to working families and communities of color. 

Unfortunately, last-minute amendments now prevent SB 684 from applying in these wealthier, often whiter single-family neighborhoods. 

Our joint statement follows:

“We are disappointed that Assembly Housing Committee leadership supported the removal of single family zones from SB 684, despite the author having passed the bill through every policy committee in both houses and the Senate floor with bipartisan support, and without a single vote in opposition.

“We believe that all neighborhoods, especially those with the most resources, have a responsibility to accommodate new housing, and we look forward to addressing this issue more directly in the 2024 legislative session. We also want to offer our thanks to Senator Caballero for her leadership and commitment to creating more homeownership opportunities for all Californians.

“We hope that next year, Assembly leadership will choose to advocate for legislation that helps communities of color access the economic, health, and educational benefits available in higher-opportunity, single-family neighborhoods.”

Signatories:

Adam Briones, CEO of California Community Builders
Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY 
Ricardo Flores, Executive Director of LISC San Diego 
Eric Payne, Executive Director of The Central Valley Urban Institute; 
Esmeralda Lopez, CA State Director, Policy & Advocacy of UnidosUS
Jocelyn Duarte, Executive Director of the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund; 
Roberto Barragan, Executive Director of the California Community Economic Development Association;
Nikki Beasley, Executive Director, Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services