PRESS RELEASE – BIZFED SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BROWN’S HOUSING PROPOSAL

LA COUNTY BUSINESS FEDERATION SUPPORTS GOVERNOR BROWN’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPOSAL, URGES SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING INCREASE 
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Executive Committee of BizFed, the Los Angeles County Business Federation, today voted unanimously to support By-Right Affordable Housing policy included by Gov. Jerry Brown in the proposed 2016 state budget.  Following the vote, BizFed issued the following statement:

California is in the midst of a housing crisis that is hindering job creation and economic growth.  This crisis is affecting all levels of housing, from homeless, to affordable, to market-rate.  BizFed’s 2016 Business Pulse Poll of employers throughout LA County identified the high cost of housing as one of the top three reasons businesses either leave or choose not to locate in our region.  The BizFed Institute, our nonprofit, nonpartisan educational arm, convened a major half-day forum on housing affordability in October 2014 that identified local permitting challenges and nimbyism — empowered by CEQA lawsuit abuse — as major impediments to the creation of affordable housing.We believe that the ministerial approach contained in this proposal will be an urgently needed game changer in favor of the production of affordable housing.  We also note that, through general plan, zoning, and permitting requirements, local governments will maintain the ability to guide and control development.  But by removing legal and procedural impediments to approval of projects that otherwise comply with general plan, zoning, and permitting requirements, this proposal will make a significant difference in the creation of new affordable housing. 

Additionally, we strongly urge a substantial increase in funds over the $650 million proposed.  Substantial additional funding will be necessary to both subsidize affordable housing development and to incentivize local governments to fully utilize the important tools contained in this proposal.Housing affordability is a statewide crisis impacting our economy, and we stand ready to work with leaders at all levels to address this vital issue.

BizFed is a massive, diverse grassroots alliance of 155 top business groups representing 275,000 employers with 3 million employees throughout Southern California.  Click here to download a copy of BizFed’s official letter of support.