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SB 79 - They had a nice long basically unchecked reign, but now.... TIME'S UP! You need to get outta here and give the actual reasonable (not "over the edge" radical far far left) "for the people" Democrats their party back. State Senator Scott Wiener, his get rich at-our-expense contractors, and all the YIMBY* groupies need to pack up and say bye bye to Sacramento. YIMBY is defined as "Yes In My Backyard". Ah, but there is the rub. They don't want a 5 to 7 story apartment building in THEIR OWN BACKYARD. California Senate Bill 79 that just narrowly was passed
the State Assembly and yesterday the State Senate is supposed to help deposit multi-story apartment buildings in YOUR BACKYARD! No one really believes any YIMBY would ever want one of these monstrosities next door to his own home. No, it's supposed to be YOUR NIGHTMARE and his delight.
And how did this horrific piece of legislation get passed by the Senate in lightning speed only one day after it was approved by the Assembly??? Well, looks like both bodies did it surreptitiously with zero input from their stakeholders. There was no widespread announcement of time when both votes would occur. No opportunity for the public to voice approval or disapproval of the measure... none of that.
But wait a minute, if I, as a member of a neighborhood council, should happen to talk to a few of my fellow board members about something of local community import, I may have violated the sacred Brown Act. OMG.
Brown Act? Wait a minute again. How can I get in trouble, but both the Assembly and Senate get to have back-room meetings about this critical measure??? I thought the whole purpose of the Brown Act was to prevent elected officials from making decisions in private without public input. Did I miss something orrrrrr should the Brown Act make SB 79 null and void since it was NOT ENACTED LEGALLY!!!
Andddd, if our elected public officials do not want to adhere to the Brown Act, then they should resign immediately. If not that, is this a jailable offense? Heck, I don't know, but this continual total disregard of their beloved Brown Act should finally cost them something....or at least their jobs. And I'm betting not a single one of them would ever cop to betraying every homeowner in LA, though not one of them would ever ever themselves hope for 7 stories of no additional parking and lots increased traffic congestion next door.
After we clean house of our houses of government, we can then elect folks who would never think of allowing money-grabbing contractors to stick multi-story apartments in our precious single-family-home neighborhoods. They are supposed to represent and help us, not ruin the American Dream.
By the way, our own LA City Council is just as guilty of this back-room conniving to pass ordinances and laws without constantly violating the Brown Act. However, in this one instance they do get some plaudits for opposing SB 79 like our state reps should have done. Credit where credit is due.
Is some prominent citizen going to finally call out our elected officials for violating the Brown Act all the time? However, there is an urgent pressing need before the Governor can approve SB 79 and make this horror show a reality. The next immediate action is getting Governor Newsom to understand that vetoing this monstrous legislation is the best thing he can do to keep his name in bright lights. But, after that consideration, what is the next step in getting SB 79 ruled null and void? Anyone but me see the need for this?
(Ken Ross is a retired dentist, former Associate Professor at UCLA Dental School, and a longtime animal advocate. He serves as NENC First Vice President, is a staff writer for Valley News Group, and a regular contributor to CityWatchLA.com.)
