I can appreciate what Mark DeSaulnier and others at the State Capital are trying to do in putting Californian’s back to work while trying to provide safe and affordable housing with the California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013.
According to the Text of the Bill, Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Existing law requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing-related parks.
The California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013 (SB 391) will:
- Create 29,000 jobs annually, primarily in the beleaguered construction sector.
- Help businesses attract and retain the talent that fuels California’s economy.
- Generate an estimated $500 million in state investment and leverage an additional $2.78 billion in federal, local, and private investment.
- Deploy these dollars throughout California using a successful private/public partnership model, creating jobs and generating revenue for local governments.
- Build safe and affordable apartments and single-family homes for Californians in need, including families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.
According to the Press Release, the authors of the Bill include, Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) with co-authors Lou Correa, Jerry Hill, Mark Leno, Ted Lieu and Fran Pavley in the Senate and Toni Atkins, Raul Bocanegra, Tom Ammiano, Richard Bloom, Susan Bonilla, Rich Gordon, Kevin Mullin, Sharon Quirk-Silva and Norma Torres in the Assembly.
Here is the official Press Release
California Business and Housing Advocates Join Forces to Get California Building Again
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier’s SB 391 to create 29,000 jobs annually and build affordable homes for Californians
SACRAMENTO, CA — Leading California business organizations today joined advocates for affordable homes to announce the introduction of the California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013, legislation that will create jobs while building affordable places for Californians to live. Senate Bill 391 will get California building again to create 29,000 jobs annually and help businesses attract and retain the talent that fuels California’s economy. The bill is authored by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) with co-authors Lou Correa, Jerry Hill, Mark Leno, Ted Lieu and Fran Pavley in the Senate and Toni Atkins, Raul Bocanegra, Tom Ammiano, Richard Bloom, Susan Bonilla, Rich Gordon, Kevin Mullin, Sharon Quirk-Silva and Norma Torres in the Assembly.
“Building homes within reach of California’s workforce is an economic imperative for California, and that’s why the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013,” said Gary Toebben, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “State investment is a small piece of the overall housing finance puzzle, but without it we can’t unlock the billions in federal and private funding needed for affordable home construction. By supporting SB 391, the Governor and Legislators can greatly improve the business climate by getting California building again, putting construction workers back on the job, and helping companies attract and retain the talent that fuels our economy.”
The Los Angeles Chamber is one of several leading business organizations who have endorsed SB 391, including the Orange Council Business Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Los Angeles Business Council. The bill is sponsored by the California Housing Consortium and Housing California, and supported by AARP, United Ways of California, Mental Health America in California, SEIU State Council and other leading voices for working families, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness. A full list of supporters of the bill can be found at www.californiahomesandjobsact.org.
“Millions of Californians are caught in a ‘perfect storm’ where mortgages remain out of reach, home financing is more restrictive than ever, and the foreclosure crisis has driven more people to the rental market, pushing rents to record levels,” said Shamus Roller, Executive Director of Housing California. “The California Homes and Jobs Act will build safe and affordable single-family homes and apartments for Californians in need, and provide stable living environments for families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness.”
Business and housing advocates said action is needed now to address the home affordability crisis in California. With funds from successful state housing bonds (Props. 46 and 1C) exhausted and the complete elimination of redevelopment, the availability of state dollars that leverage federal and local funds and private investment is the lowest it has been in years. This threatens housing production and the jobs that go with it.
“Failure to act now will leave too many Californians without an affordable place to call home and make it challenging for California businesses to remain competitive,” said Ray Pearl, Executive Director of the California Housing Consortium.
“There is an affordable homes shortage in our state, and we cannot turn our back on the millions of Californians without a stable living environment. SB 391 will not only create jobs now, it will provide long-term benefits to our state. When working families can attain stable housing, our local communities and our state’s economy will be stronger for it,” said Senator DeSaulnier.
The California Homes and Jobs Act will get California building again. This legislation will:
- Create 29,000 jobs annually, primarily in the beleaguered construction sector.
- Help businesses attract and retain the talent that fuels California’s economy.
- Put a small ($75) recordation fee on real estate transactions – excluding home sales. This fee will generate an estimated $500 million in state “seed money” each year – without creating new debt — to leverage an additional $2.78 billion in federal and local funding and bank loans annually.
- Deploy these dollars in California communities through a successful private/public partnership model.
- Build safe and affordable single-family homes and apartments for Californians in need, including families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.
- Reduce homelessness, resulting in significant savings to taxpayers and reducing strain on our health and criminal justice systems.
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The California Housing Consortium is the statewide ‘big tent’ housing advocacy organization representing the development, building, financial, and public sectors united in a non-partisan effort to advance affordable housing and community development across California.
Housing California is the voice in the state Capitol for children, seniors, families, people experiencing homelessness, and everyone who needs a safe, stable affordable place to call home.
1 comment
Why would I want to pay $75 so someone else could have affordable housing? Not a good bill.
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