California cities will face increased state oversight and penalties for resisting housing and homeless shelter construction, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of laws targeting local opposition on Thursday. Newsom has been addressing what he views as cities failing to comply with state laws amid California’s housing crisis, leading to a rise in homelessness within the state.
In recent years, California has taken legal action against cities that rejected affordable housing projects and homeless shelters. During the bill signing event at an affordable housing site in San Francisco, Newsom criticized the city of Norwalk in Southern California for extending a ban on new homeless shelters and affordable housing, accusing them of not supporting necessary housing solutions.
The governor signed a total of 32 housing bills, with supporters arguing that these new laws are essential for increasing housing availability across all price ranges and preventing local governments from bypassing state regulations. The legislation mandates that cities and counties must plan for housing for very low-income individuals, streamline permit processes, and enhance renters’ protections. The attorney general now has the authority to impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 per month on cities or counties that fail to comply with state housing requirements.
California aims to build 2.5 million homes by 2030 to meet housing demand, as stated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. However, the state only produces an average of 100,000 new homes annually, with merely 10,000 being affordable units. Republican State Senator Roger Niello criticized the laws as burdensome and warned they could lead to the courts making local housing decisions.
Governor Newsom, a Democrat with national aspirations, has placed significant emphasis on housing and homelessness issues in California. His administration has allocated approximately $40 billion for affordable housing projects and $27 billion for homelessness solutions. Earlier this year, Newsom pushed local governments to address homeless encampments, threatening to withhold state funding if progress wasn’t made.
