Streamlining new housing

Two housing bills that could quickly spur new housing in the East Bay, and elsewhere, face hurdles in Sacramento today; County touts success of past housing bond, while seeking another in '26

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Two major bills come before the State Senate Housing Committee chaired by Sen. Aisha Wahab this morning.

Senate Bill 677 and Senate Bill 79, both authored by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to streamline the process for building new housing units.

But both are believed to be in danger of dying in committee today.

• SB 677: Allows ministerial approval of duplexes in areas zoned for multi-family housing and split lots of equal proportions; and prohibits cities and counties from creating zoning and design reviews that would hinder construction of the two housing units. East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks is a co-author.

• SB 79: Allows upzoning to make way for multi-family housing within a half mile of transit hubs. Like SB 677, approval of the transit-oriented developments would be ministerial, therefore, streamlining the process; and fomenting greater public use of public transit.

—Also this morning, legislation authored by state Sen. Jesse Arreguín, hopes to rejuvenate the Jack London Square District comes before the State Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Senate Bill 304 would require the State Lands Commission to expand permitted uses of Oakland’s public trust lands on or before July 1, 2026.

Arreguín’s bill asserts the current restrictions are a contributing factor for Jack London Square’s high vacancy rates and ability to attract businesses and investment to the Oakland waterfront.

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—More inside:

• Alameda County’s Measure A1 affordable housing bonds was leveraged to create a massive amount of local investment.

• Castro Valley is becoming more wealthy, more diverse, but its business corridor needs upgrades.

• Bolstering Fremont’s case, polling shows most Californians want more action on homelessness.

• Budget cuts could eliminate, postpone filling of Pleasanton’s boards and commissions

• Resident leading the push for district-based elections in San Leandro chastises his opponents and the city.

• Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee announces her transition team