A message from our friends at United Neighbors

6/17/26

Hi Everyone,

We have a lot of new people who have joined us, so I want to clarify why sometimes we pay attention to state bills while still addressing local issues.

State bills are very impactful because they overrule any local ordinance or zoning. We often don’t pay attention to them until they become law at which point local governments can’t protect us from their impacts. Currently, the pro housing agenda is supported by the Democratic leadership.  If your state representative isn’t hearing any concern from you, they will definitely support the leadership’s agenda for the sake of their own political future.  They may reconsider that support if they hear from enough constituents.

This week we need to send letters opposing SB 1116.  

Why do we oppose SB1116?  The state is trying to take more discretionary rights away from local government.  This bill takes up where SB 1123 left off.  SB 1123 became law in 2024 and allows 10 units of housing on any single family lot that is vacant.  It has ministerial approval which means no one in the public will be notified and no one will have their concerns addressed.  With SB 1116 those 10 units can be placed onto smaller lots than previously allowed. We feel local governments can not be excluded from reviewing these developments. The State is trying to remove as much discretion over developments as they can. We need to fight that. 

Call to Action: Oppose SB 1116

United Neighbors has submitted a position letter to the portal. We now need all of us to send letters to the Housing and Community Development committee members hearing this bill. The hearing is June 24. 

Please send out letters now

Just click here Click to Oppose SB 1116   and this goes to the members of the Committee and their legislative directors.  Again feel free to edit the letter or write your own.  Be sure to add your name and community at the end of the letter.  That’s all you need to do. 

If “Click and Send” does not work for you, use this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12_b6tRACNS7e7eE8BDLU59VV0TTGtBY1muhQTpLh3Fs/edit?usp=sharing

STATE BILLS WE ARE TRACKING:

AB 2005 (will enable corporations to use SB 9 lot splitting without being an owner/occupant) passed the first policy committee and now heads to the second one.  AB 2005 goes to the next policy committee hearing June 30. We will prepare another “click and send” letter next week for AB 2005.

Thank you all for being part of this.   We know it is tedious to continue sending letters but these bills will alter our lives and our neighborhoods needlessly. Please send the link to your neighbors. 

Best and Thank You!!

Maria, Cindy, Jeff, Marc