YIMBY Law Prevails in Defending Homes for Unhoused People in Millbrae, CA

San Francisco, CA— YIMBY Law and the County of San Mateo have prevailed in their defense of a plan to purchase a La Quinta Inn & Suites with the intent to convert it into affordable homes for unhoused seniors and families. The County will now be allowed to continue buying the hotel and planning homes for dozens of currently unhoused county residents.

“We’re thrilled to see San Mateo County be allowed to continue its plan,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director at YIMBY Law. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home, and this project will make that a reality for dozens more people in the county.”

On September 12, 2023, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the plan to purchase and convert a La Quinta Inn and Suites into affordable housing for unhoused seniors and families. The City of Millbrae sued to block the plan on November 13, 2023. On January 8th, 2024, YIMBY Law answered the suit in defense of the County’s plan.

The City argued that Article 34 of the California Constitution—which passed in 1950 and requires local governments to put projects up for a community vote before developing, buying, or funding “low-rent housing”—should apply. This is due to the City speculating that the County planned to use Project Homekey funding to create the homes.

The court ruled that the City’s case was not ripe—meaning the case was not ready for litigation because it relies on future events that may not occur as anticipated, or may not occur at all—and therefore it could not advise on the subject. The court’s decision outlined that the County had not yet submitted an application for the funding needed to convert the hotel and allow residents to rent the homes. Due to the court’s decision, the County’s purchase of the La Quinta Inn & Suites may continue. Article 34 will not prevent the project from moving forward at this time, as the project does not currently require voter approval.

YIMBY Law will continue to monitor the City of Millbrae’s behavior regarding this project to ensure homes can be created for unhoused seniors and families in San Mateo County. YIMBY Law applauds the County of San Mateo for moving forward with the project and defending it in court.
“This building will benefit the community much more as housing than as a hotel,” said Leora Tanjuatco Ross, California Director at YIMBY Action and YIMBY Law. “Article 34 is a racist scar on our State Constitution and it should not get in the way of the development of these much-needed homes.”

Press Release: YIMBY Law Announces National Expansion to Enforce Pro-Housing Laws Across the US

San Francisco, CA— Today, YIMBY Law has announced plans to expand its pro-housing law enforcement across the country. The organization will hire two additional staff to support the expansion, including a Research Attorney and a Legal Associate. This expansion will allow cities and counties across the country to be held accountable for following state laws supported by and passed by YIMBYs.

“We’re excited to expand our work to support more housing across the country,” said Jae Garner, Communications Director at YIMBY Law. “YIMBY Action chapters and other pro-housing groups have asked for legal support and we’re looking forward to being able to provide it.”

Since its founding in 2019, YIMBY Law has enforced and facilitated the implementation of pro-housing laws in California. It has won over ten lawsuits and appeals, led the Campaign for Fair Housing Elements, and sent hundreds of warning letters to cities and counties that have violated state housing laws. In the first few weeks of 2024, YIMBY Law has filed two lawsuits against the City of Los Angeles for illegally delaying 100% affordable housing projects.

YIMBY Law’s expansion will build on recent pro-housing state law wins in states with YIMBY Action chapters and provide support for housing projects that are proposed throughout the US. YIMBY Law will write support letters, provide technical assistance to advocates and city officials, and where necessary, file lawsuits to ensure cities and counties follow pro-housing laws. Support can be requested via YIMBY Law’s website.

YIMBY Law is accepting applications for its two new positions, Research Attorney and Legal Associate. Applications will be accepted until Sunday, February 25th, 2024 at midnight Pacific Time. 

“Housing law enforcement is sorely needed, especially in places where pro-housing laws have recently passed,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director of YIMBY Law. “We’re looking forward to holding more cities accountable and making sure we achieve abundant, affordable housing everywhere in the US.”

YIMBY Law Files Second Lawsuit Against the City of Los Angeles Defending Affordable Homes in Single-Family-Only Neighborhoods

Los Angeles, CA — YIMBY Law has filed suit against the city of Los Angeles for illegally delaying a 100% affordable housing project with a total of 190 homes. The project, located on Wilbur Ave in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles, falls under the original form of Mayor Karen Bass’s Executive Directive 1 (ED1) which streamlines 100% affordable housing projects. This marks YIMBY Law’s second lawsuit against the city for illegally delaying affordable housing projects in single-family-only neighborhoods.

“When ED1 was first announced, we were so excited to see thousands of affordable homes being proposed throughout the city,” said Jae Garner, Communications Director of YIMBY Law. “But revising the order and retroactively applying new restrictions to projects that have already been submitted is illegal. These homes need to be approved. It’s the law, and it’s what Angelenos need.”

ED1 created a path to streamline the project on Wilbur Ave as well as similar projects representing over 1,500 affordable homes. Instead, the city is illegally subjecting them to the same laborious and expensive process that has killed dozens of affordable housing projects in the past. This is due to a revision in ED1 that exempts single-family-only neighborhoods from the policy. The revision was enacted in June of 2023, after the application for the affordable housing project on Wilbur Ave was submitted.

YIMBY Law filed suit against Los Angeles for a similar project on Winnetka Ave in January of 2024 after reaching out to the Mayor’s office multiple times to urge the approval of the homes proposed under the original form of ED1. Additionally, a broad coalition of pro-housing advocates supported these homes at local hearings and in communications with the Mayor’s office, the planning commission, and the city council. Despite these efforts, the planning commission and the city council illegally delayed hundreds of affordable homes. 

The lawsuit defending proposed homes on Wilbur Ave aims to strengthen the efforts to get this project approved and streamlined, in addition to the other projects that fall under the same version of ED1. YIMBY Law is following this policy closely and will continue to take legal action where necessary to ensure more affordable homes are built in Los Angeles and beyond.

“The city knows what it’s doing,” said Sonja Trauss, Executive Director at YIMBY Law. “They just need to know that we’re paying attention. And we won’t let them get away with denying these much-needed affordable homes.”