Note from the Executive Director – September 2019
Of the more than 200 housing bills introduced this year, only a few dozen are still moving. But with less than two weeks to go in the session, I’m proud to say CHC’s affordable housing package is still largely intact. After our successful campaign to secure major new affordable housing investments in this year’s budget, […]
Note from the Executive Director – August 2019
It’s a quiet time in Sacramento, with the Legislature out on recess, but that will change quickly when members return on August 12 for the last five weeks of the session. We’ve been spending the month preparing for the final legislative stretch, when we hope to see all five of CHC’s sponsored bills move through […]
Note from the Executive Director – July 2019
When Governor Newsom signed his first state budget last week—investing more than $2 billion in affordable housing, local infrastructure, and homelessness programs—he took a historic first step toward fulfilling his campaign pledge to be a champion for the millions of Californians struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live. This is real, substantive progress, […]
Note from the Executive Director – June 2019
With the deadline passing last week for bills to move out their house of origin, we’re nearing the midway point of the legislative session—and have learned a lot about what’s possible this year to help the millions of Californians struggling to find safe, affordable housing, where there can still be progress, and who the true […]
Note from the Executive Director – May 2019
As the milestone of the new governor’s 100th day in office passed this month, affordable housing advocates find ourselves in new territory. State leaders understand our work and the need for action—an outcome CHC has worked for years to produce. At the same time, the field has become more crowded and the housing narrative more […]
Note from the Executive Director – March 2019
March 30, 2009, began on a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to the Bay Area where I settled into CHC’s offices that were then located in San Francisco and spent time talking with CHC’s Chair at the time Elizabeth Bluhm, and concluded the day with a meeting with BRIDGE’s then-CEO Carol Galante. Who knew that […]
Note from the Executive Director – February 2019
The end of February was a whirlwind of activity in Sacramento, with the much anticipated bill introduction deadline hitting February 22. As usual, there was no shortage of activities by CHC members and staff in advancing our policy and budget goals. We met with senior leaders in Governor Newsom’s Administration and various legislative leaders committed […]
Note from the Executive Director – January 2019
As I start reflecting on my nearly 10 years as Executive Director of CHC, it’s hard to recall the start of a new year that brought such genuine hope from Sacramento that housing policies might actually be a top priority. Yes, there are many months, budget hearings and negotiations to be endured before proposed policies […]
Note from the Executive Director – December 2018
As I think about this year, I’m astounded by how much CHC accomplished in a short amount of time. The adage “the days are long, but the years are short” comes to mind. Over many months, our CHC members put in countless hours and dollars into two statewide campaigns all in the name of ensuring […]
Note from the Executive Director – September 2018
We are just about 40 days from Election Day but even closer to absentee ballots hitting voters’ mailboxes, giving them their first opportunity to say YES to Propositions 1 and 2. While it may feel like we all know these two measures inside and out, we also know that many Californians are only now learning […]