#ceqa

#ceqa

The argument: The city used an environmental impact report done for the 2022 Housing Element of the General Plan to fulfill the requirements that the upzoning undergo review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The Yimby movement hates CEQA, but the law exists for a very good reason: Before any major project that could impact the environment gets approval, the public has the right to know what those impacts might be.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown once referred to overhauling the California Environmental Quality Act as the Lord's work because, he said, it made building much-needed things housing, transportation improvements, water storage, etc. too difficult and too expensive. In 2018, as he neared the end of his second stint as governor, Brown vetoed a bill that would have prevented developers from circumventing CEQA's laborious provisions by persuading local voters to directly approve projects.

I'm happy to present today, SB 71 on behalf of Senator Wiener, which will extend the statutory CEQA [California Environmental Quality Act] exemptions for transit and active transportation projects which significantly advance the state's climate, safety, and public health goals while improving access and mobility options to January 1, 2040. SB 71 will also make clarifying changes to existing law and provide exemption parity between ferry and other transit modes.

"We just have blinders on in terms of how much good CEQA - and looking at the environmental reviews - has done to preserve safety and safety for water and safety from fire."