Newsom OKs cutting red tape to build affordable housing

(The Center Square) – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Monday to make building affordable housing easier throughout California.

In a press conference at a new residential building under construction in Oakland’s Chinatown neighborhood, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 179. The bill, which passed the Legislature on July 2, allocates more bond money and low-income tax credits to build affordable housing. The new law, which takes effect immediately, also lowers impact fees, which builders are required to pay when building new homes.

The bill also stipulates providing roughly $900 million of state money to the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, with 97% of it going to large cities and counties. About 3% is allocated to tribes.

Newsom said the effort was a change in state and local policy that effectively made the development of affordable housing more difficult over the la...