More than 50 residents gathered in Pacific Palisades on Saturday as part of statewide demonstrations against Senate Bill 79, California's controversial transit-oriented housing legislation that has split cities in the region.
The rally, organized by Our Neighborhood Voices, was one of more than a dozen protests held across the state, including in San Diego, San Francisco, and Marin County.
"This bill lets developers pack massive developments into neighborhoods with no guarantee of infrastructure, fire safety, or affordability," said Marcella Bothwell, chair of Neighbors for a Better California, one of the organizing groups. "It's a one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento that puts short-term profit over long-term safety."
The protests highlighted opposition to SB 79, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener, which aims to address California's housing crisis by encouraging high-density development near public transit. The bill would override local zoning rules to allow multi-family buildings up to seven stories tall within a quarter-mile of major rail stations or rapid bus stops, and up to four stories within a half-mile. It also empowers transit agencies to set zoning standards on land they own near transit lines, streamlining approvals for projects in these areas.
Supporters argue the legislation will help lower housing costs, reduce traffic congestion, and boost public transit usage by encouraging more homes near trains and buses. However, the bill has sparked fierce debate, with nearly 100 municipalities formally opposing it while only a handful have expressed support.
In Pacific Palisades, where residents are still rebuilding after January's devastating fire, the opposition was particularly pointed. "Unscrupulous developers and investors already tried taking advantage of existing laws to build multifamily in the Palisades where it is completely inappropriate," said Jessica Rogers, president of the Pacific Palisades Residents Association. "SB 79 would be 100 times worse — literally — allowing dozens of units on single-family parcels."
The municipal response to SB 79 has revealed divisions among local cities. Los Angeles voted against the bill when the City Council voted 8-5 in late August to formally oppose it, with Mayor Karen Bass signing the resolution.
Los Angeles officials argue that SB 79 would strip away local control over development by allowing apartment buildings up to six or seven stories near rail and bus corridors, regardless of existing zoning rules. Councilwoman Traci Park, who co-authored the opposition resolution, warned that the bill threatens community-driven planning, particularly in disaster-prone areas.
"We all know that we need new housing, and it needs to be affordable," Park said. "But this bill eliminates exemptions for irresponsible development in places that are not safe, that don't have the infrastructure, including evacuation capacity, to support it."
However, some on the council dissented, with members like Hugo Soto-Martínez arguing that the city should not block statewide solutions while falling short on its own housing commitments.
In contrast, Santa Monica has endorsed SB 79 as a tool to address housing and climate challenges. The Santa Monica City Council (minus Mayor Lana Negrete who opposed the measure) joined West Hollywood in passing a resolution supporting the bill, viewing it as aligned with the city's goals to add more affordable housing in transit-served areas.
Local leaders believe SB 79 could help build needed housing in areas that they say makes the most sense – near light rail stations and frequent bus routes. Santa Monica officials said they see state-driven zoning changes as complementing, rather than threatening, the city's housing strategies.
Malibu has been adamantly opposed to the legislation. The Malibu City Council authorized a letter to Senator Wiener strenuously objecting to the bill, arguing it disregards locally crafted housing plans and imposes density mandates ill-suited to their community.
Malibu officials warn that the bill could force approval of projects up to seven stories high near highway bus routes without normal public review, ignoring environmental constraints and wildfire risks acute in their area.
As of late August, SB 79 is still moving through the California Legislature. The bill passed the State Senate in June by a 21-13 vote and has since cleared key Assembly committees. It was scheduled for review by the Assembly Appropriations Committee in late August, with a potential Assembly floor vote in subsequent weeks. Governor Gavin Newsom would need to sign the bill by mid-October for it to become law.