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An Open Love Letter (or maybe not exactly) to Governor Gavin Newsom;
With Senate Bill 79 now upon your desk, you alone get to decide the future of homeowners all over California. After the State Assembly and Senate let them down, you alone get to choose if the American Dream (of owning a single-family home) takes a horrific hit. True, even if someone builds a 7 to 9 story monstrosity next door, you still own your home. Unfortunately, It may then be worth only a fraction of what it was worth prior to the multistory construction. So much for a lifetime of hard work so your heirs get a dream house. And unfortunately, the whole neighborhood suffers from the parking catastrophe and the traffic congestion that is guaranteed. But that really isn't your problem, Governor....or is it?
Pretty certain that you wouldn't be happy if a 7 to 9 story apartment building sprouted up in your affluent neighborhood.
And what if one of your relatives or close friends have to suffer this disastrous situation? Even the Bible suggests a course of action for you. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Would you please, pretty please look at it from that perspective?
OK, so if that doesn't strike a chord, what about this thought? How is your 2028 Democratic Primary Campaign going to look on TV with hundreds (or thousands?) of angry California homeowners protesting? Will you probably get that nomination regardless of non-stop "9-Story Newsom" chanting? And those people were your former huge supporters and donors before you foolishly passed SB 79. Then again, maybe after all that a Presidential Convention won't seem so attractive. You may just want to go back to the good old days when Democrats loved you.
However, it doesn't have to end that way. You can turn it all around and give your political career a huge boost by vetoing SB 79. Sure, you may lose several huge donations from the money hungry contractor's lobby. And the minority of voters, who call themselves YIMBYs (i.e. Yes In My Backyard), won't support you. Note: a YIMBY should more appropriately be labelled a "yiYby" (i.e. "yes, in YOUR backyard). Senator Wiener and his bunch will make good and sure they don't have to personally deal with these construction nightmares. Oh, and don't be fooled by the phony-baloney argument that SB 79 will help eliminate homelessness. Few, if any homeless folk, will actually benefit from these monstrous multi-stories. Relatively few people will get housing compared to entire neighborhoods that will wish they could afford to move out. All surrounding neighborhoods will suffer from parking insufficiencies, increased traffic congestion and diminishing home values. So, if you remove the threat of devastation to single family homeowners, they should consider you a hero.
Democratic homeowners will want to reward you for protecting them from this potential nightmare. Actually, this could turn out to be a huge windfall to your future anticipated Presidental campaign. All you have to do is veto this ill-conceived legislation. Then, you will probably receive a substantial rise in the polls. You will remain the stately leader who promotes (small "d") democracy, wants to uphold the Constitution and fights Texas gerrymandering by spearheading Proposition 50.
Sincerely,
Ken Ross on behalf of California homeowners (with fingers crossed)
(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.)
