"This year, San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener passed a bill that will allow mid-rise housing to be built near transit stops, a win for the pro-housing lawmaker who'd seen two previous attempts collapse before even reaching the Senate floor, blocked by lawmakers concerned about state interference in local land-use decisions. On multiple occasions this year, Senate Bill 79 just narrowly escaped the same fate - saved only by a bit of legislative maneuvering by Wiener."
"Wiener has called SB 79 "landmark" legislation - but it remains to be seen if the bill helps to cement his legacy, or if it will be too weighted down with amendments to be of any practical use to developers, a common criticism of recent housing legislation. The bill is still sitting on Newsom's desk, and he has yet to give it his signature."
""Wiener is an incredibly effective legislator - part of that is not just about knowing how to negotiate, but also knowing how the process works," said Matthew Lewis, spokesman for California YIMBY, a pro-housing organization that regularly sponsors Wiener's bills. "In any game, the players who master all the rules, all the techniques better than everyone else will get the best results.""
Senator Scott Wiener passed Senate Bill 79 to allow mid-rise housing near transit stops after two prior attempts failed due to concerns about state interference in local land-use decisions. Wiener narrowly avoided earlier defeats by using legislative maneuvering, persuading committee chairs, keeping floor votes open to find absent supporters, and negotiating more than a dozen amendments to appease resistant lawmakers. Critics contend the added amendments could render the law impractical for developers. The bill awaits Governor Newsom's signature. YIMBY advocates praised Wiener's legislative skill and familiarity with process, while opponents criticized his willingness to bend norms.
Read at The Mercury News
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