From Neighbors for a Better San Diego
WATCH: SB 79 Will Undo Everything
It’s bad, real bad, and it’s making its way through the State legislature.
SB 79 would allow 6-story apartment buildings to be built IN OVER HALF OF SAN DIEGO’s RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. (Much worse than SB 10!)
We ask that you watch this short video on Senate Bill 79
And for a more detailed explainer, watch this 8-minute version:
Although a few minor changes have been made to the bill since these videos were posted, nothing has been done to restrain the reach of SB 79 into our single-family neighborhoods.
We hope you take time to watch and then share with your contacts in California.
For more information on SB 79, including our position paper, read this:
California Senate Bill 79 is worse than the Bonus ADU program, SB 10, Complete Communities, and any other program that has been proposed locally.
UPDATE July 2, 2025 — The State Assembly’s Housing and Community Development Committee moved SB 79 forward on an 8-1 vote. The hearing was highlighted by the surprise participation of San Diego Assembly Member Chris Ward, whose testimony included the misrepresentation that the City of San Diego supports the bill. (San Diego has taken no position on the bill. At the county level, three cities – Del Mar, Encinitas, and Oceanside – submitted formal letters in opposition, and no city has supported it.)
San Diego, like many California cities, has zoned for high-density housing on transit corridors, making SB 79 at best redundant but more likely in conflict with San Diego’s transit-oriented development incentives. These conflicts will likely result in years of litigation and uncertainty for both homeowners and developers.
The failure to use accepted walking distance standards to transit and the reliance on future transit stops that won’t exist until decades in the future, if ever, makes it clear that the real intention of SB 79 is to open up unsuspecting neighborhoods to predatory land speculation.
Because it isn’t restricted to existing high-quality transit, most residents will probably think that SB 79 doesn’t apply to their neighborhood. To evaluate the impact of SB 79, we suspect that San Diego will use the Transit Priority Area (TPA) map, or something very close to it, to implement SB 79 if it is passed. To determine whether SB 79 will affect you, CLICK HERE and navigate to the Transit Priority Area layer. The TPA will appear in pink on the map. Type in your address and click Enter. If your address appears in the pink area, you are in the TPA and will be impacted by SB 79.
We suggest you find your Assembly Member and State Senator below and send them a screenshot to let them know just how far SB 79 extends beyond transit corridors.
UPDATE June 24, 2025 — After passing the State Senate by a single vote (Locally, Senators Blakespear and Jones voted against it, while Padilla and Weber Pierson voted for it.), SB 79 now goes to the Assembly, starting with the Housing and Community Development Committee on July 2.
Even though none of the members of the Committee are from San Diego County (an outrage by itself), it is not too early to let your Assembly Member know your opinion on SB 79.
CA State Assembly members who represent residents in San Diego County are:
District 74 Laurie Davies
District 75 Carl DeMaio
District 76 Dr. Darshana R. Patel
District 77 Tasha Boerner
District 78 Christopher Ward
District 79 Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins
District 80 David Alvarez
If you’re unsure who your California Assembly representative is, CLICK HERE.
Please take action and let your Assemblymember know your position on SB 79. Click here to find your state representative.
It’s important to let your State Senator know that you oppose SB 79!
It’s important to let your State Senator know that you oppose SB 79.
Here are the Senators who represent residents in San Diego County and links to their contact portals:
District 38: Catherine Blakespear
District 39: Akilah Weber Pierson
The Senator contact portals are set up to accept comments only from the voters they represent. If you’re unsure who your Senator is, you can look it up HERE.
NFABSD caved. They touted 4 is fair. Well a property up for sale nearby has a converted home, a converted garage and a 2 story ADU for a total of 13 beds and 6 baths with virtually no parking on the end of a cul de sac. If everybody did this, even for 3 units, neighborhoods still would be overbuilt with zero parking.
I contacted Senator Weber Pierson’s office about opposing SB 79 and this is the response I received.
Dear Neighbors,
Californians from every walk of life know that our state is facing a historic housing crisis. Rents are rising, homeownership is out of reach for too many families, and long commutes are taking a toll on our quality of life and the environment. That’s why I voted in favor of Senate Bill 79, a measure that allows for more housing to be built near transit-oriented developments (TODs).
This bill is about making smarter and more efficient use of the land we already have, especially near public transit, so that we can grow in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and practical. SB 79 focuses development in areas where transportation infrastructure already exists, reducing the strain on our roads and cutting down on vehicle emissions by making it easier for people to live near where they work and commute.
At the same time, I have heard from many constituents, particularly long-time homeowners, who are concerned about the potential impacts on their neighborhoods. I understand the concerns about parking, school crowding, and preserving the character of residential communities. This legislation is not a one-size-fits-all mandate. It gives local jurisdictions a say in how growth is implemented, so long as they are contributing to regional housing goals.
Supporting SB 79 was not a vote to change the identity of our neighborhoods overnight. It was a vote to begin addressing a housing shortage that is hurting our teachers, nurses, seniors, and young families. By building more homes where it makes the most sense, near transit, we can reduce pressure on suburban sprawl and help ensure that our children and grandchildren can afford to live in the communities they grew up in.
I will continue to advocate for thoughtful growth, respectful of our neighborhoods, while working toward a future where all Californians have a place to call home.