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California’s attorney general is concerned about the affordable housing crisis filing in the state.
This Wednesday, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that a new emphasis will be placed on trying to alleviate this seemingly insoluble problem with the creation of a “strike team” to focus primarily on tenant protection , where local authorities comply with state housing laws and other related issues.
The team made up of the attorney general’s office will be made up of 12 members and will have attorneys from four existing sections within the entity’s Department of Justice.
“This is, I think, something unique in the history of the California Department of Justice to have priority, and The emphasis and focus on housing, the enforcement of the law that we have, ”said Bonta, a Democrat who took office in April and will surely seek reelection next year.
Bonta indicated that a new law clarifies and increases its authority to enforce state housing and zoning laws in conjunction with the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
The attorney general is also considering filing lawsuits against local authorities in case the housing supply is not increased, including fair and affordable housing.
To be determined how many homes are needed
The Department of Housing and Community Development will determine how many new homes are needed in a region to provide them according to each income level . A Housing Responsibility Unit was also created with the purpose of confirming compliance.
San Francisco Democratic Senator Scott Wiener maintained that the purpose is to put more force on laws that have existed for 40 years, so the attorney general is now empowered to take action to enforce it.
The League of California Cities Executive Leadership highlighted progress made and expressed his confidence that for 2023 will have been planned more than 2 million additional homes statewide .
California government recently enacted two high-profile housing bills, including one that requires cities to approve up to four housing units in space that previously occupied a single-family lot.
The ab Attorneys General will also focus on tenant rights, mortgages and other laws that will offer greater consumer protection
The prosecution announced the creation of a new housing section on the department’s website, with resources and information for owners and tenants.
It is estimated that 150, 000 of California residents do so in shelters, in their cars or on the street , while others 700, 000 Californians are at risk of being evicted.
It may interest you :
· Undocumented immigrants among the most exposed to evictions
· The fear of eviction has plagued tenants since before the pandemic
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