Statement: YIMBY Action And Its Chapters Applaud New Housing Bill From California Senator Scott Wiener

San Francisco, CA— YIMBY Action and its chapters applaud California Senator Scott Wiener for introducing SB 79, which will streamline the process of adding more homes close to existing transit stops and empower transit agencies to allow homes to be built on their land. This bill has the potential to increase the number of homes close to amenities and resources that Californians desperately need. It will also help increase transit use and the stability of transit system funding.

“This is exactly the type of bill we need to improve the lives of Californians across the state,” said Leora Tanjuatco Ross, California Director at YIMBY Action. “The state’s housing shortage is forcing people to pay way too much to live close to transit, jobs, high-quality schools, and other amenities. This bill has the potential to reduce prices and commute times significantly for thousands of families.”

Most places in California have banned multifamily homes close to transit stops. This increases housing prices and reduces transit use because fewer people live nearby. Forcing homes to be few and far between also increases emissions from vehicles because it necessitates the use of cars, pushing back California’s climate goals and making our air less safe to breathe.

SB 79 has the potential to help address these issues while reducing California’s severe housing shortage. YIMBY Action and its chapters are proud to support SB 79 and look forward to advocating for its passage by writing letters, making phone calls, and testifying in Sacramento to help the California legislature see the importance of this bill.

YIMBY Action Chapters in California

East Bay YIMBY

Grow The Richmond

Mountain View YIMBY

Napa-Solano for Everyone

Northern Neighbors

Peninsula for Everyone

San Francisco YIMBY

Santa Cruz YIMBY

Santa Rosa YIMBY

SLOCo YIMBY

South Bay YIMBY

Southside Forward

Streets for People

Urban Environmentalists San Bernardino

Ventura County YIMBY

YIMBY Los Angeles

YIMBY Monterey Peninsula

YIMBY Oceanside

Yolo YIMBY