News broke yesterday that the dormant SB 50, a bill proposed last year by California State Senator Scott Weiner, has new life in the new year.

"For the third year in a row, California lawmakers will consider a controversial housing proposal that would force neighborhoods to allow taller, denser housing near public transportation and job centers," reports Matt Levin.
In terms of chronology, Levin is referring to SB 827, the bill that died in 2018, and SB 50, a bill that almost died in 2019. SB 50, including new amendments, is moving forward again to kick off the legislative session in California.
"San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener — whose Senate Bill 50 has twice been beaten back, in different forms, by an assortment of constituencies focused on California’s housing crisis — on Monday announced revised legislation aimed at satisfying concerns over local control, among other issues, that blocked the bill last year," explains Levin.
After the announcement, Wiener took to the Internet to post an explanation of new amendments and the ongoing effort to build political support for the bill.
Among the open questions about the bill posed by Levin is whether the changes of the bill will be enough to win the support of local control advocates.
As for what changed and what stayed the same in the plan in 2020, Levin lists these broad categories with more details included in the article:
- Cities would be allowed to craft their own housing plans, but the state "would wield a big stick against those that don't comply."
- Single-family zoning would still be eliminated for the vast majority of the state.
- The support of Governor Gavin Newsom is still undetermined, though the bill will likely require the governor's support to make it through to approval.
FULL STORY: Last year’s hottest housing fight just got resurrected — here’s what to know

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)