In the Headlines
March 26, 2025
Will This Bill Be the End of California’s Housing vs. Environment Wars?
CalMatters
West Coast Land Use and Environmental Group Leader Jennifer Hernandez was quoted in a CalMatters article about the potential transformative impact of a bill that would exempt most urban housing developments from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, the proposed legislation could significantly shift the balance in the debate between affordable housing proponents and environmental protection advocates. Ms. Hernandez, who has authored numerous publications and studies on CEQA litigation abuse, emphasized the inefficiency and obstacles created by the current use of the statute.
"The whole construct of using CEQA to allow the dissenting 'no' vote, a community member with resources, to hold up a project for five years is just ridiculous. It's like making the mere act of inhabiting a city for the people who live there a harm to the existing environment," she said.
READ: Will This Bill Be the End of California's Housing vs. Environment Wars?
"The whole construct of using CEQA to allow the dissenting 'no' vote, a community member with resources, to hold up a project for five years is just ridiculous. It's like making the mere act of inhabiting a city for the people who live there a harm to the existing environment," she said.
READ: Will This Bill Be the End of California's Housing vs. Environment Wars?