Silicon Valley Realtors take hot issues to their legislators
During Tuesday’s Legislative Day, California Association of Realtors senior vice president for governmental affairs and chief lobbyist Sanjay Wagle told the thousands of Realtors who tuned in virtually that Realtors cut across party lines and their power lies in member involvement.
“The bottom line is your participation is vital,” said Wagle. “Our power is in your involvement, your response to red alerts, your decision-making, your contributions.”
Wagle indicated in the 1960s, the median price was three times the average income; today, it is seven times the average income. The main reason is housing is not being built at the rate needed.
“It is vital that we make homeownership not some sort of a rich person’s privilege or a software
engineer’s privilege, but once again a normal part of California middle class life. The solution as we all know is supply,” said Wagle.
Wagle briefed members on two hot issues to take to their legislators: OPPOSE ACA 7, the anti-housing constitutional amendment, which undoes the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act and allows for radical rent control and guts laws that create housing; and SUPPORT SB 6, which makes it easier and quicker to convert unused commercial property to residential housing.
Members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors did just that when they met virtually with Assembly members Marc Berman (D-palo Alto) and Evan Low (DCampbell), and Senators Dave Cortese (D-san Jose) and Josh Becker (D-san Mateo). As legislators from the Bay Area, they said they see what is happening and understand the critical and urgent need for housing, but legislators from other parts of California do not see it the same way.
“Bay Area legislators understand it, but other legislators don’t see the sense of urgency,” said Low.
While other legislators believe the state should only focus on affordable housing and subsidies, Berman said, “Housing is the path to family wealth and affordability is a part of the solution. Housing affordability stretches across all ranges of income.”
The legislators are worried that based on the new census data, California will lose one Congressional seat for the first time. “The reason is clear. There is a direct correlation between the lack of housing development and our population growth,” said Berman.
“I’m passionate about housing development and recognize the importance of local control. The challenge of the housing crisis requires courageous effort,” said Low. “Many in office can’t muster the courage to vote what they believe … We need to invest in each other’s success.”
Cortese said, “California is the 5th largest economy in the world and has the growth potential if the state would just come in and do more than just talk about it.
The only way it’s going to happen is with the private sector, builders and your members.”
“It is critical we find housing for first-time homebuyers,” said Becker. He also stressed the need for intergenerational affordable housing, education, criminal justice reform and solutions to climate change.
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.