Tensions Rise Amid Housing Crisis Debate

California State Senator Ben Allen (SD26 - Santa Monica) speaks on the California Housing Crisis at "Where Goes the Road to Solving California's Housing Crisis" on the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Senator Allen said, "If you don't like this path [SB-50], we've got to figure out another one." The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Lawyer and journalist Chris Legras of Santa Monica holds a sign questioning the motives of California State Senator Scott Weiner's (SD11 – San Francisco) SB 50 which proposes new approaches to California’s housing issues, outside the the Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Legras said, "I worry about SB-50, it's a poorly planned, rushed solution to a problem we all know exists. It's going to effect the poor and marginalized the most." The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Lesley O'Toole from Hollywood, by way of Hampshire, England, holds a sign opposing SB-50 and tries to engage with California State Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), the author of SB-50, but Weiner does not acknowledge her presence as he walks swiftly into the SMC Broad Stage, on Thursday, May 9, 2019. As Weiner passes her, O'Toole adds "and, you're late", although he actually arrived before SB-50 opponent Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica), O'Toole said she was attending tonight because, "I want to try to save my neighborhood from destruction." The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Jill Stewart, the executive director of the Coalition to Preserve Los Angeles stands outside the SMC Broad Stage with a sign protesting California SB-50 (senate bill) before the beginning of a program featuring diverse opinions on housing in California and SB-50 on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Stewart said, "We're fighting senate bill 50. We're going to try to shut it down in the next couple of months. It's going to generate displacement, gentrification, and homelessness. It's going to be the opposite of what he's [California State Senator Scott Wiener (SD11 - San Francisco)] trying to sell. The Fillmore District is almost gone now. High density means high prices. The working class has to move further and further away. He's [Senator Wiener] taken at least $700k from developers. He is the spokesperson for global investors." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

California State Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 - San Francisco), author of SB-50, gives the first presentation for "Where Goes the Road to Solving California's Housing Crisis?" on the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. During his remarks, Senator Weiner said, "We have to up our game in terms of that low-income affordable housing... When people say that SB-50 wants to get rid of single family homes - that's completely untrue... when we ban apartment buildings, that's a ban on affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein introduces the moderator for tonight's California Housing discussion, fellow SMC Public Policy Institute faculty member Shari Davis, at the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

SMC Fashion Design major Yasmina Sadki from Reims, France serves herself some olives from the hors d'oeuvres table at the reception before tonight's housing discussion at the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Sadki said that she came partly for the extra credit offered by her SMC Political Science instructor, but that she is "also very interested in the issues. I hope to be an investor in real estate one day, so I want to understand both sides. Also, I love cheese!" The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Lesley O'Toole from Hollywood, by way of Hampshire, England, sits in the front row and documents the discussion on the California Housing Crisis at the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. O'Toole said she was attending tonight because, "I want to try to save my neighborhood from destruction." The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Mary Rushfield, Samuel Tolkin, and Ron Goldman, all of Santa Monica, visit with each other as they wait for the house to open for tonight's California Housing discussion at the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

After the conclusion of "Where Goes the Road to Solving California's Housing Crisis", panelist California State Senator Ben Allen (SD26 - Santa Monica) goes to the edge of the stage to answer a question from Santa Monica resident Mary Rushfield at the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

As he completes his remarks, California State Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 - San Francisco) is greeted by colleague Senator Ben Allen (SD26 - Santa Monica) who had just flown in to town and arrived late for tonight's discussion "Where Goes the Road to Solving California's Housing Crisis" on the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

California State Senator Ben Allen (SD26 - Santa Monica) speaks on the California Housing Crisis at "Where Goes the Road to Solving California's Housing Crisis" on the SMC Broad Stage on Thursday, May 9, 2019. Senator Allen said, "If you don't like this path [SB-50], we've got to figure out another one." The SMC Public Policy Institute is presenting its 8th Annual Spring Symposium, "There Goes the Neighborhood, Part II: How might policy approaches prevent displacement in neighborhoods affected by gentrification?" from May 4-9. Tonight's final event in the series is "Where Goes the Road to Solving California’s Housing Crisis? A Keynote Discussion with Legislative Leaders." The panel includes California state legislators Senator Ben Allen (SD26 – Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Weiner (SD11 – San Francisco), author of SB 50 which proposes bold approaches to California’s housing issues, and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis, a former Co-Chair of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights and leading advocate for Santa Monica’s innovative policy solutions and funding for affordable housing." (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

On Thursday, May 9, Santa Monica College's (SMC) Public Policy Institute hosted a panel discussion on potential solutions to California's housing crisis. The keynote discussion, which took place in the Broad Stage at the Performance Arts Center, was the culminating event of this year's Spring Symposium. The three speakers were state senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and Santa Monica Mayor Gleam Davis.

At the heart of the discussion was a debate over the controversial Senate Bill (SB) 50, which if passed, would override local zoning laws to allow for the construction of denser housing near transit stops. Proponents of the bill argue that it is designed to make housing more accessible, while opponents argue that more housing does not necessarily mean affordable housing.

"In 80 percent of California, it is illegal, prohibited, to build any type of housing except for single-family homes," Weiner explained. SB 50, Wiener argued, would allow for different types of housing, including single-family homes, apartment buildings, and multi-unit housing.

Audience members were overwhelmingly against SB 50. Some carried signs decrying Wiener, the author of the bill, as being bought off by developers. "There are a lot of different opinions on housing," Wiener acknowledged, "but I think it's so important when we talk about housing to always remember that this debate is about real people and the effects on real people's lives when we have housing crisis."

At the crux of the argument was the question of local versus state government. Proponents of the bill argue that although SB 50 is extreme, such measures are necessary given the gravity of the situation.

"Local control is good when it delivers good results," Wiener said. "And I would posit that California, our approach to housing of almost pure local control with almost no state role has not worked out."

SMC student Lucia Aguilar-Cole, a political science major, expressed support for the bill. "Of course there are problems with it, but…we can't just hope that developers are going to be incentivized to build low-incoming housing," she said. "The city that we have built doesn't function, that's why there's 60,000 people without homes…If you go to downtown Los Angeles, it looks like an apocalyptic site. That is inhumane."

Detractors of the bill argued that SB 50 is a case of state government overreach and that its one-size-fits-all approach would prove to do greater harm than good.

"At the end of the day, the idea that we're just going to take away so much of the basic, fundamental power of understanding the local dynamics associated with development and kind of give it to a by-right system run out of Sacramento just doesn't feel right to me," Allen, who opposes the bill, stated.

Davis, like Allen, expressed concerns with the bill. "We are working on this issue locally," she said. "First, we actually have been investing as a community in the production and preservation of affordable housing. And second, we have used our local control, regulatory mechanisms to support the creation of housing with an emphasis on affordable housing."

Another concern about SB 50 is the potential threat it poses to historical neighborhoods. Lesley O'Toole resides in a small neighborhood near Hollywood which is designated as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. "When the film industry started here, all the silent actors and directors lived here," O'Toole said. "We're tiny little houses. We're a hundred years old…This bill will destroy all of our historical neighborhoods."

The atmosphere in the Broad was tense throughout, but when Wiener left before the Q&A portion could begin, the audience turned near mutinous, shouting in anger and dismay.

SB 50 is currently in the committee hearings stage. Students interested in learning more about the bill may visit the California State Legislature website.