September 16, 2019

Governor Gavin Newsom State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Senate Bill 5 – Housing -- Request for Signature

Dear Governor Newsom:

On behalf of a broad coalition of labor, local government, housing advocates, and business leaders, we ask that you sign Senate Bill 5 (Beall, McGuire, Portantino). SB 5 is the only legislation passed this year that will immediately result in housing being built, particularly for low-income families and those on the brink of homelessness.

Senate Bill 5 would create the Affordable Housing and Community Development Program to provide cities and counties the resources they need to help fund the construction of affordable housing, including rental housing, available to very low, low and moderate-income families. This bill would stimulate housing for those particularly vulnerable to homelessness.

There is not nearly enough affordable rental housing available to low- and very- low income households. More than 2.2 million extremely low-income and very low-income renter households are competing for only 664,000 affordable rental homes. That leaves more than 1.5 million of ’s lowest-income families without access to housing.

SB 5 would tap into the resources of the State and create a state-local partnership to provide ongoing and sustainable funding to local governments to increase the stock of affordable housing.

You are to be commended for providing hundreds of millions of dollars in this year’s state budget to help local governments plan for more housing, build emergency shelters and provide services for the homeless. While these one-time revenues are important, we need a dedicated program and ongoing funding to help attack these problems over the long-term.

SB 5 contains strong accountabili ty provisions including a statewide oversight body to ensure state priorities are met and empowered to approve or reject all projects proposed by local governments. Additionally, cities and counties must submit annual reports to the Legislature. SB 5 creates an annual cap on funds available, and the Legislature can suspend funding for new plans during fiscal downturns. Lastly, SB 5 provides state resources to ensure funding for schools and community colleges are not impacted.

We need bold solutions to begin to reverse course on the epidemic of homelessness and our lack of affordable housing. We need the state to step in as a partner with the hundreds of local communities struggling to house their most vulnerable residents.

We respectfully ask for your support of SB 5.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director Matt Schwartz, President & CEO League of California Cities California Housing Partnership

Lisa Hershey, Executive Director Cesar Diaz, Legislative and Political Director Housing California State Building & Construction Trades Council of California Debra Carlton, Senior Vice President Public Affairs Alice Huffman, Ph.D., President California Apartment Association California State Conference NAACP

Cornelious Burke, Senior Director for Mary Ellen Shay, Association Manager Government Relations California Association of Housing Authorities Bay Area Council (CAHA)

Emily Cohen, Executive Vice President Vince Rocha, Sr. Director Housing and United Contractors Community Development Silicon Valley Leadership Group Sandra Armenta, President California Contract Cities Association Alicia Berhow, Senior Vice President, Government Mayor Pro Tem, Rosemead Affairs Orange County Business Council

Rebecca J. Long, Manager, Government Relations Tracy Hernandez, Founding CEO Metropolitan Transportation Commission Business Federation (BizFed)

Kome Ajise, Executive Director Amie Fishman, Executive Director Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern Governments California

Dion Abril, Executive Administrator Eric S. Phillips, Vice President, Policy and Western States Council of Sheet Metal Legislation Workers American Planning Association, California Chapter

Jim Hartnett, Executive Director Eddie Bernacchi, Legislative Advocate Caltrain California Chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association Rebecca Long, Manager of Government (NECA) Relations Association of Bay Area Governments Diane Du Bois, President Gateway Cities Council of

Brett Barrow, Legislative Advocate Governments Northern California Allied Trades Jeffrey Levin, Policy Director Matthew R. Mahood, President & CEO East Bay Housing Organization The Silicon Valley Organization Jim Hartnett, General Manager/Chief Rob Stoker, Political Director Executive Director SMART Local Union 104 San Mateo County Transit District

Mary Ellen Shay, Executive Director Jim Hartnett, Executive Director California Association of Local San Mateo County Transportation Housing Authorities (CAL-ALHFA) Authority

Christina Watson, Principal Susan Friedland, CEO Transportation Planner Satellite Affordable Housing Transportation Agency for Monterey Michael Lane, Deputy Director County Silicon Valley At Home

Frank Nunes, Chief Executive Officer Wall and Ceiling Alliance Kevin Zwick, Chief Executive Director Housing Trust Silicon Valley Kim Stone, Lobbyist Associated Builders and Contractors Donald S. Falk, Chief Executive Officer – Northern California Chapter Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation Eddie Bernacchi, Legislative Advocate California Legislative Conference of E. Manny Cappello, President the Plumbing, Heating, and Piping Cities Association of Santa Clara Industry (CLC) County, Mayor, City of Saratoga

Catherine Bracy, Executive Director, Louis Chicoine, Executive Director and Founder Abode Services TechEquity Collaborative Senaida De La Rosa, Executive Sandy Perry, President Assistant

Affordable Housing Network of Santa San Joaquin County Hispanic

Clara County Chamber of Commerce

Dorsey Moore, Executive Director Joann Beattie, Executive Director San Jose Conservation Corps + Manteca Chamber of Commerce Chapter School Bill Baber, President Juan Garza, President League of California Cities – San League of California Cites – Los Diego County Division Angeles County Division, Mayor Pro Tem, Bellflower

Eric Garcetti, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Mayor City of Los Angeles City of

Rusty Bailey, Mayor Lee Brad, Mayor City of Riverside City of Fresno

Karen Goh, Mayor , Mayor City of Bakersfield City of Sacramento

Sam Liccardo, Mayor , Mayor City of San Jose City of Stockton

Robert Garcia, Mayor Miguel Pulido, Mayor City of Long Beach City of Santa Ana

Darrell George, City Manager , Mayor City of Duarte City of Anaheim

Gary Phillips, Mayor , Mayor City of San Rafael City of Oakland

Jill Techel, Mayor Sue Higgins, Council Member City of Napa City of Oakley

Heidi Harmon, Mayor Robert Link, Mayor City of San Luis Obispo City of Visalia

Tim Barnes, Mayor Gleam Davis, Mayor City of Lakeport City of Santa Monica

Heather Moreno, Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Mayor City of Atascadero City of Fontana

Margarita Rios, Mayor Steven Hernandez, Mayor City of Norwalk City of Coachella

John Johnston, Mayor Joe Burns, Mayor City of Ojai City of Sausalito

Melanie Bagby, Mayor John Mirisch, Mayor City of Cloverdale City of Beverly Hills

Brett Watson, Mayor Todd Rogers, Mayor City of Arcata City of Lakewood

Carlyn Obringer, Mayor Robert Taylor, Mayor City of Concord City of Brentwood

Eddie De La Riva, Mayor Blake Inscore, Mayor City of Maywood City of Crescent City

Eric Lucan, Mayor Sue Long, Mayor City of Novato City of Fortuna

Steve Nagel, Mayor Rick Rodriguez, Mayor City of Fountain Valley City of Downey

Paul W. Foster, Mayor Adele Andrade-Stadler, Mayor City of Redlands City of Alhambra

Paul Fadelli, Council Member Michael Barnes, Council Member City of El Cerrito City of Albany

Inga Miller, Mayor Dr. Marina Khubesrian, Mayor

City of Orinda City of South Pasadena

Lily Mei, Mayor William Lee, Mayor City of Fremont City of Fort Bragg

Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Mayor Scott Ignacio, Mayor City of Alameda City of Point Arena

John D'Amico, Mayor Bob Sampayan, Mayor City of West Hollywood City of Vallejo

Ted Brandvold, Mayor Maureen Mulheren, Mayor City of Modesto City of Ukiah

David Riviere, Acting City Valerie Muñoz, Mayor Administrator City of La Puente City of Chowchilla Debra Garnes, Mayor

Bill Peake, Mayor City of Rio Dell

City of Pacific Grove Jesse Arreguin, Mayor Candice Gonzalez, Chief Housing Office of the Mayor, City of Berkeley Officer/Managing Director Sand Hill Property Company Rebecca Elliot, Admin, Kristin Link, Admin and Lori Chaykin, Admin Stephen Emami, Vice President Indivisible San Jose ROEM Corporation Chris Neale, Executive Vice President Larry J. Kosmont, Chairman & CEO The Core Companies Kosmont Companies Sparky Harlan, CEO Brenda Narayan, Director of The Bill Wilson Center Government Relations MuniServices, an Avenu Company

Brian Saeki, City Manager City of Covina