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Editor's Note
For a printable copy of Focus on Housing, visit the League of California Cities website.
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An Interview With Sen. Alan Lowenthal, Chair, Senate Transportation and Housing Committee
Q: What are your priorities for the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee in 2006?
A: I want to continue the policy direction set by Sen. Torlakson and Senate leadership by focusing on smart growth – promote housing near jobs, and maximize infill housing.
Secondly, I plan to work with the legislative leadership on an infrastructure bond, and to move the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee’s focus towards more sustainable programs, and a greener, more environmentally-friendly transportation policy.
My ultimate goal is a zero emission transportation system, and I’m focusing on goods movement, eliminating pollution, and working towards eliminating use of high sulfur content diesel fuel.
[FULL STORY]
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Salinas Adopts New Equity Share Model for Inclusionary Program
by Bill Higgins
The City of Salinas may be at the cutting edge of the inclusionary housing policy. The Salinas City Council just reviewed one of the currently "hot" housing issues – how to manage the public agency’s equity share in for-sale units – and has adopted a subsidy recapture approach, becoming one of the first cities to formally incorporate this approach into its inclusionary housing ordinance.
[FULL STORY]
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Anti-Eminent Domain Initiatives Filed
Two voter initiatives have been filed with the Attorney General that would eliminate the use of eminent domain for any property that would not be owned and used by a public entity. Both measures would have the effect of all but eliminating the use of eminent domain for redevelopment projects – significantly undermining cities’ ability to build the affordable housing that California so badly needs.
[FULL STORY]
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Housing in the News
Imperial Beach Helps Fund Low-Income Housing Renovation
The city of Imperial Beach will provide $1 million in redevelopment agency loans to help renovate 15 low-income apartments.
[FULL STORY]
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Six Tips for Managing Housing Trust Funds
Housing trusts can be very flexible tools for affordable housing. Trust funds are used for project finance, home purchase assistance, supportive housing, land banking, rehabilitation, and agency capacity needs.
[FULL STORY]
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Westminster Celebrates Opening of Affordable Intergenerational Housing
In October, the City of Westminster celebrated the grand opening of Windsor Court and Stratford Place, a combined 86-unit intergenerational affordable housing community for seniors and families.
[FULL STORY]
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Bell Gardens and Commerce Turn Brownfields Site Into Affordable Housing
A 10.2-acre site that sits between the cities of Bell Gardens and Commerce has been transformed into a single-family, affordable housing community called Vista del Rio.
[FULL STORY]
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About Focus on Housing
Focus on Housing is published monthly by the League of California Cities, in support of the League goal of working to expand the supply and affordability of housing, and to engage the League membership in discussion and debate on housing policy issues.
Brian Heaton (bheaton@cacities.org) serves as editor and principal writer. Megan Taylor (mtaylor@cacities.org) is the managing editor.
To subscribe, please fill out the subscription information on the left hand panel of the newsletter. For more information, or to submit information or story ideas, please contact either Brian or Megan at the e-mail addresses provided above.
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