Realtors applaud Gov. Newsom’s State of the State Address
Realtors applauded Governor Gavin Newsom’s State of the State Address last week, as he kept the focus specifically on homelessness and the need for more housing. Newsom made a point to mention that “it is a disgrace that the richest state in the richest nation is failing to humanely treat and house its own people.” Newsom called on both state and local governments to get serious about increasing the state’s housing supply.
“The California Association of Realtors stands with Gov. Gavin Newsom and agrees that after decades of neglect we need more housing. The governor called
on our elected leaders to pass policies that will massively increase housing production in California at all levels of affordability,” said C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick. “Our state’s community of more than 200,000 Realtors joins with the governor in calling for a bold housing supply agenda in 2020.”
C.A.R. is sponsoring Asm. David Chiu’s bill to reduce impact fees on certain affordable housing units which Realtors believe will lead to lower housing costs for all income levels long term. The state Realtor group is also sponsoring AB 2506, a bill introduced last week by Asm. Jacqui Irwin, which seeks to establish a housing agency with a cabinet-level secretary to better coordinate the state’s housing production efforts.
“These are both promising bills we hope the legislature will pass and the governor will sign. We believe that housing is an integral part of achieving Gov. Newsom’s bold ‘California for All’ vision. We stand ready to work with him and the legislature to make it happen by advancing polices that make homes for rent and ownership more available and affordable for all Californians,” added Radsick.
Mary Kay Groth, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, indicated April 28 is Legislative Day which, for the past 48 years has given Realtors from the local trade association and others across the state the opportunity to meet and discuss real estate issues directly with their state legislators. Realtors form the largest business interest group that comes to the State Capitol each year to meet their elected officials and discuss issues affecting homeownership and the real estate industry.
“We hope this will be the year we can work with our legislators in advancing policies that make homes for rent and ownership more available and affordable for all Californians,” said Groth.
Newsom’s speech outlined several key priority items to help address the homeless and housing crisis in California. The governor is proposing to tie future funding for homeless services to a local jurisdiction’s production of affordable housing or a related metric that brings people off the streets. Other priorities the governor discussed included cutting regulations to build affordable housing and making it easier to place homeless with mental health issues into some type of care. Newsom also mentioned significant progress is unlikely without dedicated funding to address these issues. He later clarified he wanted to be sure that before any additional funding is approved that there is transparency where existing homeless funding is being spent.
Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to rmeily@silvar.org.