Redondo Beach wins case against state housing bill (SB9)
by Garth Meyer Was state Senate Bill 9’s goal to create affordable housing defined sufficiently to override the authority of Redondo Beach and four other California cities, who sued the state saying it was not? Superior Court of Los Angeles agreed with the cities on April 22, in a ruling of potential statewide significance. Judge Curtis A. Kin found “SB9 is neither reasonably related to ensuring access to affordable housing, nor narrowly tailored to avoid unnecessary interference in local governance.” Judge Kin’s decision makes it so the 2022 state law does not apply to Redondo Beach, Torrance, Carson, Whittier and Del Mar — the cites who sued – and possibly 117 other charter cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego. Under state law, charter cities have more autonomy. “We’re extremely pleased. It was an overreach by the state,” said Mike Webb, Redondo Beach city attorney. “It violated the home-rule provision (for charter cities) and it wouldn’t have led to affordable housing. Judge Kin’s very well-reasoned opinion protects local control over local zoning.” State Attorney General Rob Bonta led the respondents in the case. Judge Kin said their view lacked in…
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