CITY COUNCIL 2023
FLOR NICOLAS, MAYOR (DIST. 3)
MARK NAGALES, VICE MAYOR (DIST. 2)
MARK ADDIEGO, MEMBER (DIST. 1)
JAMES COLEMAN, MEMBER (DIST. 4)
EDDIE FLORES, MEMBER (DIST. 5)
SHARON RANALS, INTERIM CITY MANAGER
March 9, 2023
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Support for AB 1319: Modifications to the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority Dear Assemblymember Wicks:
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to addressing housing affordability in the Bay Area and across California. The City Council of the City of South San Francisco would like to express its support for the set of focused modifications to the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority put forward in AB 1319. We believe this important bill will maximize the benefits that BAHFA can deliver for Bay Area residents facing rising housing costs, instability, and homelessness.
Since AB 1487 was passed in 2019, BAHFA has hired its first six staff members and engaged a team of expert consultants to work on the BAHFA Business Plan and Equity Framework. By focusing on the next steps for BAHFA’s work and preparing for a future regional affordable housing bond, the BAHFA team has identified a number of legislative clarifications and modifications necessary for the success of BAHFA in meeting the housing needs of the region. In addition, affordable housing partners across the state are exploring statewide measures that may interact with future BAHFA ballot measures, and BAHFA has identified key changes that will allow BAHFA to benefit from any potential changes passed by voters in the future. We appreciate how this new context has informed AB 1319.
We know that you, your staff, and your colleagues in the Assembly and Senate, including some of our own South San Francisco representatives, worked hard to negotiate and build consensus to pass this ground-breaking legislation in 2019. Our staff and Council believe that AB 1319 puts forward narrowly focused clarifications and modifications that will make BAHFA as high functioning as possible with a future ballot measure. Thank you for your leadership in this effort.
Sincerely,
Buenaflor Nicolas
Mayor, South San Francisco
cc.
Assemblymember Phil Ting
Assemblymember Diane Papan
Senator Josh Becker
Senator Scott Wiener