California YIMBY works with housing policy experts, elected officials, and grassroots organizations across California to craft and pass legislation at the state and local level that will help accelerate home building, solve the affordable housing crisis, and reduce climate pollution.
As a part of our work, we seek out elected leaders and candidates for office who are committed to solving the housing crisis, and are ready to advance legislation that helps us solve the housing shortage for Californians of all income levels.
During election season, this includes backing pro-housing candidates with resources and support to help ensure the pro-housing point of view is represented in our Legislature.
As a seasoned legislator, Senator Nancy Skinner has led the fight to end regressive zoning policies and advance policies make it easier to build new, affordable homes. Her successful push to pass SB 330 has made it easier for pro-housing advocates across the state to defend new housing proposals against anti-housing city leaders. We are proud to announce our endorsement of Senator Skinner in the 2020 election.
During Senator Wiener’s three years in office, he has established himself a preeminent leader in the pro-housing movement. Senator Wiener has taken bold and substantive action to end California’s housing affordability crisis, and has paved the way for policies to make housing in California more sustainable and affordable. We’re honored to endorse Senator Wiener in the 2020 election.
Supervisor Cortese is a leading local elected YIMBY in Santa Clara County. He is a skilled consensus builder, and his commitment to legalizing more homes will help us make strides on future legislation.
Laird served as the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency under Gov. Jerry Brown. As the elected Assemblymember representing the 27th District, he championed affordable housing and expanded housing opportunities for renters.
As a community activist and school board member, Abigail understands the connection between housing, education, and quality of life. She’ll be a strong fighter for environmental, education, and housing justice.
Sen. Gonzalez is a housing champion in the LA basin. Her leadership on bills like AB 1410, which would have protected tenants affected by COVID-19, is important to ensuring that California offers robust protections for renters and tenants alongside incentives to build more affordable homes.
President Pro Tempore Atkins is one of the most valuable allies to the YIMBY movement, and the lead author of SB 1120. Her leadership helps keep the pro-housing agenda at the top of the legislative priority list, which is a vital component of helping ensure the legislature addresses the housing shortage and affordability crisis.
Asm. Kiley was a co-author of SB 50, one of the most transformative housing bills introduced in California in generations. He has been a consistent supporter of legalizing and streamlining the production of more homes, and is among the strongest housing champions in the Republican caucus.
Asm. Grayson introduced a bill package in 2020 that would have made housing more affordable across our state by reducing excessive fees and local delays on housing. Although these bills did not advance, they were important contributions that helped educate legislators about the need for fundamental reforms in areas like local fees and permitting.
Asm. Wicks is a housing hero who needs no introduction. In addition to co-authoring SB 50, she pushed AB 725 and AB 1851 onto the Governor’s desk this year, making it easier for faith-based organizations to build affordable homes on their properties and accelerating progress on “missing middle” homes for middle-income workers.
Asm. David Chiu chairs the Assembly Housing Committee, and is one of the most pro-housing legislators in California. Asm. Chiu authored AB 1482, one of the most important tenant protection laws in state history, as well as AB 1905, which would have created a fund to provide housing to people experiencing homelessness. He is a champion for promoting affordable housing and expanding access to opportunity in California.
Asm. Ting is a stalwart housing champion who continued to show his strong leadership this year: Three of his housing bills, AB 69, AB 2553, and AB 3182, reached the governor’s desk and are awaiting signature; the bills would provide a fund for homeowners seeking to build ADUs; accelerate construction of shelters for people experiencing homelessness; and make it legal for renters to live in buildings owned by a Homeowner’s Association (HOA).
Alex is a grassroots housing activist who represents a next generation of Californians, who are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and ready to usher in a new generation of housing leadership.
Asm. Rivas has long been a champion of workforce housing and affordable housing for farmworkers, and continued his leadership this year with AB 3155, a visionary attempt to legalize “missing middle” housing for middle-income workers. While that bill did not advance, Asm. Rivas worked tirelessly to manage SB 1120, which would have legalized duplexes statewide, to a successful “yes” vote in one of the most unusual housing “victories” of the session.
As a leading champion of housing in Los Angeles, Asm. Friedman authored AB 67 and AB 2323, which sought to expand production of “granny flats” and streamline outdated state rules on housing. She has been a strident advocate for more housing since her time on the Burbank City Council.
Asm. Bloom is a leader in crafting innovative ADU legislation that has led to a boom in new “granny flats.” He authored AB 881 and AB 3107, which would have expanded ADU availability and allowed for housing in commercial zones.
Councilmember Ward is one of the leading YIMBY elected officials in Southern California. His regional work in San Diego, support of SB 50, and continuous support of pro-housing measures make him a strong candidate for AD 78.
Dr. Weber has been a powerful advocate for addressing the connection between racial inequity and housing policy. Her leadership on Prop. 16, and her support on AB 68, AB 1482, and SB 330 make her an invaluable voice for reform in the legislature and a consistent pro-housing legislator.