The status quo approach to housing and development in California doesn’t work. Housing is too expensive and commutes are too long; climate pollution is growing and natural landscapes are suffering. Instead of limiting growth to sprawl, we need new investment and focused development in infill areas. However, with investment comes change. Coupled with infill, we need nuanced policy that protects and directs benefits to the Californians already living and working in these communities. Families, students, seniors—all Californians and especially the most vulnerable—need be protected from displacement. No one should be forced out of their home by arbitrary evictions and egregious rent increases—especially if rising costs are an indirect result of new development incentivized by public policy. That’s why ClimatePlan is proud to support the Keep Families Home package, including AB 36 (Bloom), AB 1481 (Bonta), and AB 1482 (Chiu).
Commitment to Investment without Displacement
Last month, ClimatePlan released its Commitment to Investment without Displacement platform to encourage investment in existing communities that protects against the harms of displacement. By re-segregating our neighborhoods and disrupting social and professional networks, policies and investments that contribute to displacement are simply the latest incarnation of America’s long history of discriminatory housing and land use strategies. In addition to these social impacts, displacement contributes to mega-commutes and the rise in emissions from the transportation sector—the largest source of climate emissions in California; it adds pressure to develop farmland and natural resources; and in many areas, it results in declining transit ridership, which makes the quality service necessary to make transit a convenient alternative to driving, even harder for agencies to provide.
Keep Families Home
Our partners at the Western Center for Law and Poverty, Public Advocates, and PolicyLink along with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) and PICO California have been leading the fight to protect renters for decades. This year, along with TechEquity Collaborative, they are co-sponsoring the Keep Families Home package to protect 17 million tenants from unreasonable rent increases and unjust evictions.
Two of the guiding principles of the Commitment to Investment without Displacement platform are to “protect renters from unwarranted eviction” and to “protect renters from excessive rent increases”—AB 1481 and AB 1482, respectively, make common-sense changes to do just that. As explained by Public Advocates:
- AB 1481 extends just-cause eviction protection to every renter in California.
- AB 1482 protects renters from egregious and sudden rent increases.
The state needs more housing. That’s clear. To reduce climate pollution and mega-commutes, the housing needs to be located near jobs and transit. And, new investments in housing must be coupled with anti-displacement protections. Without anti-displacement protections, policymakers will perpetuate inequity and environmental burdens. The Keep Families Home package delivers meaningful and common-sense reforms to protect California renters. New investment in infill development coupled with anti-displacement policies is the winning strategy for meeting our housing, climate, and equity goals.
Join the cause
We respectfully request “Aye” votes for AB 1481 and AB 1482, which are expected to receive votes on the Assembly Floor within the next few days. (AB 36 is delayed in the Rules Committee.)
Call your assemblymember today to Keep Families Home!
- Go to Housing Now! to identify your legislator and to send them an email asking them to support AB 1481 (Just Cause) & AB 1482 (Anti-Rent Gouging)!
- Make the call! Find a specific script for your district here.
ClimatePlan worked with our network and Steering Committee to develop our legislative positions. While our network is in support of AB 1481 and 1482, individual member organizations reserve the right to create their own legislative position on these bills—as well as others—that most effectively meets the needs of their organization.