INSTRUCTIONS:
- To send the sample letter opposing SB 902 to Senator Jerry Hill, select and copy the text below. Then click on the link marked “Send to Senator Hill” and paste the text in the ‘Comment’ box on the email form. If you wish you may compose your own letter. Be aware that there is a limit of 2000 characters, including spaces. Complete the form with the information requested. Select the issue “I would like to share my opinion on a bill” and then click ‘Submit’.
- To send the sample letter opposing SB 902 to Assembly Member Marc Berman, select and copy the text below. Then click on the link marked “Send to Assembly Member Berman” and repeat the process above. Select “Bill Comment” and then click ‘Submit’.
- To send the sample letter opposing SB 902 to 18 Senate Committee Members, click the ‘Livable California’ link and follow the instructions.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Senator Hill / Assembly Member Berman
I ask that you vote against SB 902 by Scott Wiener, an unusual bill that takes away voter ballot rights in order to open up protected land, shorelines, sensitive and incompatible lands, to the senator’s longtime dream of 10-unit luxury apartments almost everywhere.
It sounds far-fetched but isn’t. Under SB 902:
– Municipalities would be empowered to undo voter-enacted citizen initiatives that restrict land use. This anti-democracy clause went unnoticed for months, due to the complex wording.
– SB 902 allows municipalities to override voters for the sole purpose of approving 10-unit luxury apartments of any height, on any type of parcel, on streets statewide.
An online search of protected open space, shorelines and sensitive areas finds that SB 902 would allow the nullification, by municipalities, of more than 20 major citizen initiatives approved in the past decade, and far more in previous decades.
Are you willing to go this direction, for a Bay Area senator’s push for 10-unit luxury housing complexes — the core aim of Sen. Wiener’s recently failed SB 50 as well?
Imagine the setback to basic democracy if developers had real hope of overturning voter decisions — by undoing laws approved by voters 5 or 25 years ago.
Imagine the lawsuits, as attorneys defend voters in Albany, Berkeley, Fremont, Martinez, Emeryville, Alameda, Merced, Gilroy, Dana Point, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Napa, Pacific Grove, Redondo Beach, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and other municipalities.
The rest of this bill enacts yet-to-be-determined new definitions. A new definition of “jobs rich” becomes any place where a 10-unit building would theoretically enable “shorter commute times.” Commutes to where?
Let’s do a reality check on SB 902. Many luxury housing bills wrong for California arise from Bay Area legislators facing unique challenges. Exporting an offensive idea statewide goes too far.
Please oppose SB 902.
