April 9, 2024
The Honorable Mike McGuire
Senate President pro Tempore
1021 O Street, Suite 8610
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker of the Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Scott Wiener
Chair, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee
1020 N Street, Room 502
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Jesse Gabriel
Chair, Assembly Budget Committee
1021 O Street, Suite 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Protect Dedicated Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2.0) Program Funding Dear President Pro Tempore McGuire, Speaker Rivas, Chair Wiener and Chair Gabriel:
On behalf of the City of San Marcos, I urge the Legislature to protect investments made to the Regional Early Action Planning Grants (REAP 2.0) program as you deliberate on the FY 2024-25 State Budget. While we recognize the incredible budget challenge the Legislature is facing, reversion of half of the dedicated REAP 2.0 funding would be devastating to our region’s progress towards meeting our ambitious climate and housing goals.
On May 30, 2023, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) approved SANDAG’s full REAP 2.0 application, formally committing $43 million to our region. Since that time, SANDAG has moved forward with all of its proposed uses including a suballocation of $12.3 million through a competitive call for 15 transformative projects to local jurisdictions.
In the City of San Marcos, REAP would provide over $600k through the Housing Acceleration Program (HAP) Grant in providing a specific plan that would help to accelerate the development of potentially over 1000 new infill residential units including polices and implementation strategies assuring a range of diverse housing opportunities and transportation choices which allow multiple modes of travel that reduce the reliance on vehicles.
Since 2016, the governor(s) have signed into law over 100 new housing bills. In the past legislative cycle, 2023, the governor signed into law roughly three dozen (37) new housing laws. With the proposed cuts to REAP 2.0, SANDAG’s local jurisdictions will be unable to address the many technical, capacity, and financial obstacles faced to successfully execute their housing element programs and implement new state housing law and guidance.
The local jurisdiction grant program and other initiatives that were approved in SANDAG’s REAP 2.0 application by the state play a critical role in increasing housing supply and affordability, advancing equity and reducing vehicle miles traveled in our region. Cutting this funding threatens our ability to address the housing crisis and meet the state’s important climate goals.
We respectfully urge you to reject the Governor’s proposal to halve REAP 2.0 and protect this crucial program.
Thank you for considering the City of San Marcos’s perspective on the importance of REAP 2.0 program and potential impacts of cutting this funding. Please contact Phil Scollick, City Clerk at [email protected] with any questions about this letter.
Sincerely,
Rebecca D. Jones
Mayor
cc:
Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Toni Atkins
Senator Catherine Blakespear
Senator Brian Jones
Senator Steve Padilla
Assembly Member David Alvarez
Assembly Member Tasha Boerner
Assembly Member Laurie Davies
Assembly Member Brian Maienschein
Assembly Member Marie Waldron
Assembly Member Chris Ward
Assembly Member Akilah Weber
2 City Council
[email protected]