Homeowners and Political Allies Urge Newsom to Veto Controversial Upzoning Bill Near Los Angeles Transit

Homeowners associations and key political allies of Governor Gavin Newsom are urging him to veto Senate Bill 79, a controversial transit-oriented upzoning bill that has sparked heated debate among developers and residents in Los Angeles. The bill, known as the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, was authored by San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener with the goal of addressing the state's affordable housing crisis by allowing developers to build larger multi-unit residential buildings near transit stops.

However, homeowners associations and other opponents of the bill argue that it will lead to increased development and density in their neighborhoods, ultimately impacting the character and quality of life in those areas. They are pushing for Newsom to veto the bill before it becomes law.

"If the governor signs this bill, he's going to have to live with it," said Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, a former Republican congressman and current chairman of the California Coalition for Rural Housing, in an interview with The Real Deal. "He needs to listen to the people who voted for him and veto this bill."

In addition to concerns about increased development, opponents of the bill also argue that it will not truly address the affordable housing crisis in the state. "This bill is a giveaway to developers," said a spokesperson for the Coalition to Preserve L.A., a group opposed to the bill, in a statement to The Real Deal.

Despite these concerns, the bill has received support from organizations such as the California Building Industry Association and the California Apartment Association, who argue that it will help address the state's housing shortage and