BIG morning at SANDAG. With Coronado’s Mayor Bailey taking lead, some electeds ‘walked out’ in protest before the vote to approve the final RHNA plan (which determines the total number of new homes needed in jurisdictions throughout the region) Some reflections:

Context: AB 805 gave SANDAG Board Members the option to call for a weighted vote, based on population, following a tally vote. This is truly a huge feat of democratization + transportation justice, ensuring equal representation for every resident! https://www.calbike.org/tag/ab-805/ 

Two weeks ago, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, and Solana Beach argued for their housing allocation appeals, which were then mostly rejected. Today, the final RHNA plan failed by tally vote, and in the lead up to the weighted vote, arguments over AB 805 ensued:

Supervisor Desmond: "AB 805 disenfranchises and silences the votes of smaller communities...and is going to be the undoing of SANDAG and regional collaboration." Reminder that with a tally vote, power is unequally distributed to smaller cities!

The plan ultimately passed.

Council President Gómez, concerning approval of the final RHNA plan: "What are we going to do for people who need housing? We can't turn our backs to them." Thank you to the CP and others for your leadership and commitment to solving SD’s housing crisis!