Housing advocates are cheering a deal reached between Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic lawmakers to work on an affordable housing plan. The agreement was made the agreement during cap-and-trade negotiations.
Gov. Brown announced he will work with Democrats on a plan that includes a bond, establishing a permanent revenue stream for affordable housing and changes to development rules to encourage construction.
Ray Pearl is with the California Housing Consortium, an affordable housing advocacy group.
He says it’s encouraging to see Brown on board after rejecting other funding proposals. He says the state desperately needs a new plan.
“The state used to invest over $1 billion annually into affordable housing throughout the state and that money has trickled to almost zero,” says Pearl.
Brown rejected last year’s funding proposal arguing that the money is useless without regulatory reforms.
He proposed to streamline local development review processes in order to make it easier for construction projects to get approved.
Lawmakers head off for summer recess Friday, and are expected to take up the issue when they return in late August.
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