Affordable Housing Bill Squeezes by California Senate

The bill would allow local governments to require a portion of new residential developments be dedicated to affordable units.

Democratic Senator Mark Leno says the requirement already works well in San Francisco. He says developers prefer knowing in advance what’s expected of them.

“And they’re living with it,” he said. ”And they’re making money developing housing because they wouldn’t develop housing if there weren’t money to be made.”

But critics said the free market should be allowed to determine housing prices. And Republican Senator Bob Huff says the legislation in this debate is not a good solution.

“We frankly killed redevelopment, which provided for a lot of low-income housing and moderate,” he said. “And now we need to figure out a way to make that happen. But I don’t think this is the way.”

The bill failed to make it through the Senate on its first vote. It was put on “hold” for a few hours while several lawmakers were convinced to support it. The measure ultimately passed with the bare minimum 21 votes.

The bill now makes its way to the governor’s desk