On Monday January 3, 2011, Jerry Brown was sworn in as the 39th Governor of the State of California. To read a transcript of his inaugural remarks at his swearing in, please visit this link.
On Monday, January 10, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown has released a balanced state budget proposal that slashes spending by $12.5 billion. "These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice," Brown said. "For 10 years, we've had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth."
SCANPH and state affordable home advocates are reviewing the proposals of Governor Brown and are concerned about his plans regarding local community reinvestment. For a full summary of the Governor's proposal, please visit this link.
Changes in the State Legislature Relevant to Affordable Homes
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has merged the Senate Revenue and Taxation committee and Senate Local Governments committee into one committee, the "Senate Committee on Governance and Finance." Senator Lois Wolk will chair.
Senator Alan Lowenthal, who had chaired the Senate Transportation and Housing committee will move to chair the Senate Education committee. Senator Mark DeSaulnier has been named new chair.
Senator Noreen Evans will chair the Senate Judiciary committee replacing Senator Ellen Corbett, who moves to her new position as Senate Majority Leader.
Senator Juan Vargas is now the chair of Banking and Finance.
In the Assembly, the Housing Committee will remain chaired by Assembly Member Norma Torres, but in an unusual move, newly-elected Toni Atkins, also a Democrat, will join her as vice chair. (Committees almost always have chairs of one party, and vice-chairs of the other.)
Cathy Creswell has been appointed Acting Director of the Department of Housing, replacing Lynn Jacobs. Creswell has been at HCD for 25 years, and for the last 10 years she has been Deputy Director of the department's Division of Housing Policy Development.
Take Action on on redevelopment and help protect housing funds now!
From what we can tell based on the press conference this week, the governor’s budget assumes the Low and Moderate RDA Housing Funds (L&M) will be swept to local taxing entities. We’re working on a back-up plan with the State Assembly to preserve at least the amount needed for development in 2012-13 and, hopefully, 2013-14. To determine these figures, we need additional information from any organizations with threatened projects.
Online Registration (will soon be available)
Save the Date! now for the annual SCANPH conference and awards presentation on Friday, September 28, 2012, at LA Live! at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
As a houser, make you voice heard. The June 5 primary election is less than a month away and here is some helpful voter information.
WHO CAN LEGALLY VOTE
To register to vote in California, you must be: