Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Land Trusts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senator Smallwood Cuevas spotlights community land trust leaders; says she will author SB 592 to lift preemption
Summary
Senator Smallwood Cuevas introduced community land trust leaders to the Senate floor and said she will author SB 592 to remove preemption that limits community land trust activity, framing CLTs as a tool to expand homeownership and preserve affordable housing in high‑cost areas.
Senator Smallwood Cuevas used privileges of the floor to introduce leaders of community land trusts from across California and to highlight their role in expanding affordable homeownership models. She said community land trusts and housing cooperatives “have become proven partners and offer real tools to increase access to not only ownership but also to alleviate poverty and improve living conditions.”
On the floor, Smallwood Cuevas named attendees from multiple organizations, including Michael Wharton (Bay Area Community Land Trust), Lydia Lopez (California Community Land Trust Network), Tamika La Cruz (Sacramento), and representatives from Mountain View, Oakland, Ventura and other local trusts. She said many of those leaders were visiting Sacramento to meet with legislators and advocate for shared‑equity homeownership models.
Smallwood Cuevas told the chamber she will author SB 592, which she described as seeking to remove community land trust preemption to allow CLTs to expand their investments in homeownership models. She framed CLTs as one of several strategies to address California’s low homeownership rates in high‑cost communities, noting her district had a single‑digit homeownership rate for some neighborhoods and that statewide rates remain low.
The remarks were introductory and ceremonial; SB 592 was announced as forthcoming legislation but was not acted on during the floor session.
Names of individuals and organizations introduced on the floor included (as spoken): Michael Wharton; Lydia Lopez; Tamika La Cruz; Asunia Castanon; Olga Mello; Shaquino Samaya Thomas; Christopher Samaya Thomas; Linda Brashega; Cesar Agriae; Rose Cabral; Sonia Sonequiros; Marilou Cuesta Flores; Nadia Mora; Paula Perez; Isabel Salazar; Phoenix Mangrum; Shamar Theas; Laura O'Connor (Liberty Land Trust).
