LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the largest city in California, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today to oppose State Sen. Scott Wiener's trickle-down housing bill, SB 50. The council members sent a strong message to state legislators that they must stop SB 50. The 12-0 vote is a major blow to Wiener's bill.
"Within a week," says Housing Is A Human Right Director René Christian Moya, "the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles City Council both voted overwhelmingly to oppose Scott Wiener's trickle-down housing, pro-gentrification bill. State legislators must listen, and stop SB 50 right now. It will harm middle- and working-class communities, especially those of color."
Housing Is A Human Right, the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, applauds the L.A. Council for opposing SB 50.
At today's City Council meeting, Councilman Paul Koretz said SB 50 pushes "trickle-down housing" and doesn't directly address L.A.'s housing affordability crisis, but will make huge profits for the real estate industry. "It's a hand out to developers," said Koretz.
(Read the Housing Is A Human Right special report: "Selling Out California: Scott Wiener's Money Ties to Big Real Estate.")
Councilman David Ryu said SB 50 is a "power grab" by Wiener and doesn't adequately build much-needed affordable housing. "We need housing that serves the people we represent," said Ryu.
Councilman Mike Bonin was also deeply troubled by SB 50: "I'm concerned it doesn't do enough to stop displacement. It doesn't do enough to build affordable housing."
Housing Is A Human Right urges state legislators to now stop the bill in committee.
We also urge Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators to come up with community-based solutions to urgently address our housing affordability crisis, such as the "3 Ps": protect tenants through rent control and other policies; preserve existing affordable housing such as rent-controlled units; and produce truly affordable housing.
About
Housing Is A Human Right, based in Los Angeles, is the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation—the world’s largest HIV/AIDS medical-care organization, serving more than one million people in 43 countries. Throughout the U.S., AHF patients have been negatively impacted by rising housing costs and gentrification, which threaten their health. HHR advocates for stronger tenants protections, fights gentrification, and advances progressive housing policies.