<!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ --></p> <p>By Michael Barnes, special for Calmatters</p> <p>This comment was originally published by <a href=""https://calmatters.org/"">Calmatters</a>S <a href=""https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/"">Register</a> about their ballots.</p> <p>Re: “<a href=""https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/08/building-more-housing-near-transit/"">Why building more homes near transit will transform life into California</a>“</p> <p>As a former member of the City Council, much of the comments around <a href=""https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb79"">Senate Bill 79</a> can be irritable. The SB 79 looks based on a little more than drawing circles around transit stops. It doesn’t plan that.</p> <p>The legislature already requires local jurisdictions to plan the zones for many more housing <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/2021/10/california-housing-podcast-enforcement/"">By evaluating the needs of regional housing</a>or rhna (pronounced ree-nah). Along with state reviewers, 540 local jurisdictions in California have spent countless dollars for RHNA over the years.</p> <p>SB 79 throws a wrench in the process.</p> <p>The purpose of exceeding the development of development should be to build higher apartments<br />Transit corridors. This increase in density creates more foot traffic on the street, allowing shops and restaurants to flourish. It also increases the number of travelers who can easily be served by transit.</p> <p>Too much upgrade, such as the SB 79 suggested, will allow developers to distribute buildings in a wide area, random the landscape with expensive apartment towers. This does nothing that can lead to the benefits of urban density.</p> <p>Both chairmen of the Senate Housing Committee, Democrat <a href=""https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/aisha-wahab-165437"">Aisha Wahab</a> and Republican <a href=""https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/legislators/kelly-seyarto-165446"">Kelly Syrto</a>They voted in succession against SB 79. Other legislators must follow their example.</p> <p>This article was <a href=""https://calmatters.org/commentary/reader-reactions/2025/08/housing-transit-sb-79-upzoning/"">Originally Published on CalMatters</a> and was reissued under <a href=""https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives</a> License.</p> <p> Copy HTML
