YIMBY group sues Newsom over SB 9 pause in L.A. wildfire zones

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the state's yes-in-my-backyard coalition celebrated wins this year on housing legislation. Those same pro-housing activists have now sued him over an August executive order that exempts fire-ravaged areas in Los Angeles from a 2021 state law Senate Bill 9 that paved the way for higher density on single-family lots. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass mirrored Newsom's action with her own order, banning projects in the Pacific Palisades."

"YIMBY activists argue that Gov. Newsom's order undermines less-wealthy residents of wildfire-impacted areas in their efforts to rebuild and remain in their communities. They claim the order prevents residents of more modest means from benefiting financially by adding revenue-generating units to their properties and rebuilding their lives. The activists contend that the order unfairly favors the wealthiest property owners in the same areas, who typically prefer larger, more expensive lots and less-dense neighborhoods."

"This case demonstrates the lobbying influence of small, highly-connected, wealthy communities, and their ability to stop a type of housing they dislike, even in the midst of a generational housing crisis, the lawsuit says. YIMBY Law, a pro-housing group, argues in state court that the executive order effectively gave the not-in-my-backyard crowd an out from Senate Bill 9, which NIMBYs had opposed."

An August executive order exempts fire-ravaged Los Angeles areas from 2021 Senate Bill 9, which enabled higher-density development on single-family lots. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a parallel order banning SB9 projects in the Pacific Palisades. Pro-housing YIMBY activists sued, arguing the orders hinder less-wealthy wildfire survivors from rebuilding, adding revenue-generating units, and remaining in their communities while favoring wealthier homeowners who prefer larger, low-density lots. YIMBY Law asserts the orders effectively grant NIMBY opposition an exemption from SB9. Courts are weighing prior rulings that limited SB9 in some charter cities, and rebuilding progress remains slow.

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