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cayimby.bsky.social
California YIMBY
@cayimby.bsky.social
14K followers 300 following 940 posts
California YIMBY is a statewide advocacy organization working to pass legislation to end California's housing shortage by empowering and growing the YIMBY movement. Learn more at https://cayimby.org.
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cayimby.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the San Diego Legislative Town Hall. Your energy, ideas, and commitment made the conversation productive and the day a real success.
Several dozen pro housing activists looking very cool and stylish.
November 18, 2025 at 7:20 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Palo Alto just released a financial feasibility analysis of development in its downtown. Key takeaways:

-Nothing is feasible under current market conditions

-Removing impact fees—which are over $100/square foot and ~15% of TOTAL cost for midrise housing—would have a huge impact
Housing Development Economic Feasibility and Implementation Analysis prepared for the City of Palo Alto Table explaining development cost results for various types of projects.
October 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Second, single stair midrise buildings are just as safe as other types of housing. www.pew.org/en/research-...
Close examination by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Center for Building in North America finds no evidence of safety risks for single-stairway buildings with sprinklers. From 2012 to 2024, fire death rates in modern single-stairway four-to-six-story apartment buildings in New York City were no different from those in other residential buildings; not one death in which the exit (or lack of a second exit) played a role was recorded in a modern four-to-six-story single-stair building in Seattle or New York City during that same 12-year period. Research from the Netherlands-where single-stairway buildings taller than three stories are common-also confirms that these buildings are safe.
October 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
If California is going to continue leading the nation on climate, we need to legalize dense, sustainable housing near our high quality transit. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social please do the right thing and sign SB 79.
September 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
We have a labor deal on SB 79. cayimby.org/news-events/...
New Provisions Win Support from UNITE HERE; Building Trades Go Neutral "Workers build California" SACRAMENTO - Today, California YIMBY announced new amendments to SB 79 that extend common labor provisions to new homes that will be built under the law. The bill, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener and co-sponsored by California YIMBY, now includes provisions that ensure new housing over 85 feet in height, or on land owned by transit authorities, is built by workers from participating construction unions.
September 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee comes out in support of SB 79!

“SB 79 provides essential statewide standards and tools to ensure that all communities do their part in addressing California's housing shortage, while advancing our shared climate and equity goals.”
Dear Senator Wiener. As Mayor of Oakland, I want to express my support for Senate Bill 79 (Wiener) relating to transit oriented development that seeks to create more housing. I see firsthand the urgent need for more housing that is affordable, sustainable, and accessible to working families. The Bay Area continues to face a housing affordability crisis, with rising rents and displacement disproportionately affecting low-income communities, seniors, and communities of color. At the same time, we must ensure that new housing development strengthens, rather than undermines, our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a more transit-oriented, equitable future. SB 79 takes important steps to address these challenges by ensuring that new homes are built where residents can access jobs, schools, and services without reliance on cars; streamlining approvals for multi-family housing near transit; and empowering transit agencies to build housing on their land, expanding opportunities for affordable development and increasing ridership. Oakland has long been a leader in pursuing equitable transit-oriented development, but we cannot meet the scale of this crisis alone. SB 79 provides essential statewide standards and tools to ensure that all communities do their part in addressing California's housing shortage, while advancing our shared climate and equity goals. For these reasons, I am proud to support SB 79. Thank you for your leadership. Sincerely, Babredge Barbara Lee Mayor, City of Oakland
August 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Now, six years later, the city is complaining that SB79 “undermines local governance, circumvents local decision-making processes, and imposes unintended burdens on communities.” Fair market rent is $2,625 and there are 43,699 homeless people.
WHEREAS, any official position of the City of Los Angeles with respect to legislation, rules, regulations, or policies proposed to or pending before a local, state or federal governmental body or agency must have first been adopted in the form of a Resolution by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles recognizes the importance of addressing the availability of affordable housing in a fair, equitable, and community-focused manner; and WHEREAS, existing law under SB 3 75 (Steinberg, 2005) encourages coordination of housing and transportation policy, with greater land use intensity and more housing near transit. Additionally, under AB 2097 (Friedman. 2022) and AB 2011 (Wicks, 2022), existing law preempts certain local land use restrictions that limit housing near transit and allows greater densities near transit; and WHEREAS, SB 79 establishes new state zoning standards around train stations and major bus stops (bus rapid transit stops) that allow for multi-family homes up to seven stories near immediately surrounding major transit stops, with lower height standards extending up to half a mile away from such stops; and WHEREAS, while the intent of SB 79 may be to address issues around the supply of housing, the bill’s provisions further undermines local governance, circumvents local decision-making processes, and imposes unintended burdens on communities; and WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles has a strong interest in maintaining, what little remains, of local control over land use and zoning laws to best serve the needs of its residents, ensure community input, and protect the unique character of its neighborhoods while still complying with state housing needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that by adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2025-26 State Legislative Program OPPOSITION for SB 79 (Wiener) unless amended to exempt municipalities with a state-approved and compliant Housing Element.
August 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
In 2019, when the city opposed SB50 because it would “impede our local land use control and thwart our current efforts to gather community input and support to customize” the Transit Oriented Communities program, rent was $1,791 and there were 35,550 homeless people in the city.
WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is leading the State of California in incentivizing multifamily development near transit through the passage of Measure JJJ, which was approved by the voters in November 2017, and WHEREAS, Measure JJJ resulted in the creation of a city-wide program known as Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), which provides both base allowances and additional incentives to build affordable housing if the project is within a half-mile of transit much like SB 50 (Weiner); and WHEREAS, the City has crafted a TOC program that is not allowed within single-family zones and aims to keep the expanded development capacity within the commercial and most multi-family zoned parcels; and WHEREAS, TOC is a city-wide approach which itself needs further tailoring to the unique communities within the expansive 503 square miles of the City of Los Angeles; and WHEREAS, the City is embarking on an aggressive program to update all thirty-five Community Plans which will provide the vehicle for tailoring the TOC program to each of our unique communities; and WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles is already exceeding our Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) target for market-rate housing through TOC and moving toward our below-market-rate housing goals; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill (SB) 50 aims to do a version of what Los Angeles' TOC program is doing without respecting the integrity of single family zoning and other local characteristics; and WHEREAS, as currently drafted, SB 50 includes terms and implementation concepts that are not yet adequately defined, such as "jobs-rich" and "sensitive communities." Further, SB50's relationship to other state laws such as the Ellis Act is vague, and lacks innovative incentives to increasing the amount of affordable housing required in return for development incentives beyond the City's local TOC; and WHEREAS, the passage of SB 50 would threaten to move Los Angeles backward in "right-sizing" our TOC program to each community through our St…
August 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
In 2018, when the city opposed SB827 because it would “effectively eliminate the ability for the City to engage in planning self-determination,” fair market rent for a 2 bedroom apartment was $1,663 and there were 31,285 homeless people in the city.
The city council resolution opposing SB 827.
August 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
The first big state-level transit oriented upzoning was SB827, introduced in 2018, and the city opposed it because they said they could solve the problem themselves. Since then, Los Angeles has had 7 years to update its housing policy and respond to its affordability crisis.

Have they?
RESOLUTION RULES, ELECTIONS & INTERCOVERNNHENTAL RELATIONS Senate Bill 827 (Weiner) Opposition WHEREAS, the Legislature is currently considering SB 827 (Weiner), which would exempt a housing project with parcels all within a 1/2 mile radius of a major transit stop or a 1/4 mile radius of a high-quality transit corridor from various requirements and empowers the State to override local zoning laws to let developers build taller and more densely around rail stations and bus lines; and HEREAS, these radi would encompass vast amounts of Los Angeles, effectively eliminating th bility for the City to engage in planning self-determination: an WHEREAS, SB 827 would let developers construct buildings between four and eight stories tall with no parking minimums and limited design review, even if local zoning codes preclude it, including in single family neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, the City must make every effort to expand affordable and middle-income housing, but not at the expense of local control over land use and community-driven planning; and WHEREAS, the City has taken substantial steps towards planning for future housing, including initiating updates to all thirty-five of its Community Plans, approving an affordable housing linkage fee, and exceeding its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) target for market rate housing; and its Genera REA, exed er ani prositions wit as equee colors no plate is Community Plans, update NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, with the concurrence of the Mayor, that by the adoption of this Resolution, the City of Los Angeles hereby includes in its 2017-18 State Legislative Program OPPOSITION to SB 827 (Weiner), which would allow the construction of housing developments near major transit stops without compliance with local land use regulations.
August 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
There is some wild MAGA disinformation out there about SB 79. So @maxdubler.com made this video to bring the facts about this important bill that will help make it easier to afford to live near certain rail and certain BRT stops (but won’t apply in the Palisades)
August 13, 2025 at 11:40 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
We’re looking forward to joining the Casita Coalition’s Build the Middle National Housing Convening next week in Pasadena, featuring our own Muhammad Alameldin!

More info and registration: www.casitacoalition.org/build-the-mi...
BUILD THE MIDDLE NATIONAL HOUSING CONVENING 2025 CLOSING PLENARY This Is Our Moment: Powering the National Middle Housing Agenda CO-MASTERS OF CEREMONY CASITA COALITION NOERENA LIMON CALIFORNIA YIMBY MUHAMMAD ALAMELDIN AUGUST 14, 2025 • PASADENA, CA
August 7, 2025 at 8:14 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
(2) The project site meets either of the following criteria: (A) Is located within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality. (B) Is located within an urban area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau. (3) The project site meets any of the following criteria: (A) Has been previously developed with an urban use. (B) At least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses. (C) At least 75 percent of the area within a one-quarter mile radius of the site is developed with urban uses. (D) For sites with four sides, at least three out of four sides are developed with urban uses and at least two-thirds of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses.
July 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM
cayimby.bsky.social
[BILL ALERT] AB 130, the budget trailer bill creating a broad CEQA exemption for mixed income and market rate housing, has passed the Assembly floor. It now goes to the Governor for his signature.
Roll call vote for AB 130
July 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM
cayimby.bsky.social
[BILL ALERT] AB 130, the budget trailer bill with CEQA streamlining language from AB 609, has passed the Senate floor. It now goes to the Assembly, then to Governor Newsom for his signature.
Roll call vote total for AB 130.
June 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Speaking of AB 130 -- it was great to see members of Nor Cal Carpenters in support of the bill today!
Men in hard hats and reflective vests hold signs Closeup of sign that reads "Carpenters say Yes, Elevate Workers, SB 130 AB 130, Organize, Build Housing"
June 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
But first: if your State Senator is on this list, can you send them a thank you email? Just click this link: actionnetwork.org/letters/than... Angry NIMBYs are flooding their offices with emails today, so let's show these Senators their constituents appreciate the Yes on SB 79 vote!
List of California State Senators' roll call vote on SB 79, organized alphabetically by last name, with a green Y next to those names who voted yes and a red N next to those who voted no. The caption is "YES: 21" in green, "NO: 13" in red.
June 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
[BILL ALERT] AB 413, which will require HCD to translate key state housing guidelines and handbooks into the non-English languages commonly spoken in California, has passed the Assembly floor by a vote of 61-0! It now heads to the State Senate. Learn more: cayimby.org/legislation/...
Screenshot of list of California State Assemblymembers and their votes on AB 413, which passed 61-0
June 2, 2025 at 9:41 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
[BILL ALERT] SB 9 (2025), which clarifies and strengthens HCD's enforcement authority over local ADU ordinances, has passed the Senate floor by a vote of 27-4! Congrats to author @jessearreguin.bsky.social on this win. Learn more about this bill: cayimby.org/legislation/...
May 28, 2025 at 6:11 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Huge thanks to everyone who came out for #YIMBYLobbyDay!
A large group of housing advocates photographed from above.
May 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
cayimby.bsky.social
Some of our 2025 YIMBY Lobby Day meetings have so many attendees that we need to meet in the hall! Here we are talking to Sen. Josh Becker's housing staffer about SB 79
A group of people standing in a hallway talking
May 20, 2025 at 11:20 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Hundreds of YIMBYs came to Sacramento today for 2025 YIMBY Lobby Day to advocate for more housing -- including these YIMBYs who made the trip up from Orange County to meet with Senator Tom Umberg's friendly and welcoming staff!
Five people standing in an office building lobby smiling for the camera
May 20, 2025 at 9:45 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Proud to host @eleniforca.bsky.social for a Fireside Chat on housing policy in California at our 2025 YIMBY Lobby Day!
A woman in a blue suit sits holding a microphone next to a man in a tan suit sitting.
May 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
Thank you @governor.ca.gov Newsom for proposing to include @buffywicks.bsky.social's AB 609 and @scottwiener.bsky.social's SB 607, exempting infill housing from CEQA, in the budget! The Governor's message today was strong:
May 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
cayimby.bsky.social
The Senate Housing Committee is about to return from its lunch break, so we are starting a new live blog thread.
April 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM