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State and federal field representatives brief Carson council on housing, townhome bill and HUD public‑housing transfer
Summary
City lobbyists and federal field representatives updated the council on AB 1751 townhome legislation, an effort to make smaller cities eligible for homelessness assistance, and early work to pursue a HUD public housing authority transfer to the City of Carson; federal grants for a community center and safe routes project were also reported.
Two outside legislative representatives briefed the City Council on June 16 about state and federal activity that could affect Carson.
Jason Gonsalves, a Sacramento lobbyist who said his firm has represented Carson since 2021, told the council the Legislature is winding down a two‑year session and flagged AB 1751 — described as a "townhome ownership act" that would expand by‑right siting for townhomes and limit local land‑use control. "It's just dovetailing on what we saw last year with SB 79...circumventing local land use authority," Gonsalves said, and urged council members to follow developments.
Gonsalves also praised the city attorney’s office for advancing a bill (discussed as AB 2529 in remarks) that would require statements of fact when filing lawsuits against public agencies; he said that measure advanced out of its first committee following staff work.
At the federal level, Jason Bridal (field representative) briefed the council on early efforts to transfer administration of the public housing authority from the county to the City of Carson and said the city has submitted letters to HUD and engaged staff in early planning. Bridal reported $250,000 in federal funding secured for a Safe Routes to School fiber‑optic project and said a $1.25 million appropriation for the Carson Community Center upgrade has been approved in the House‑level language and awaits final action and signature.
Bridal told the council, "This is a large endeavor...we are at the very early stages of that right now," referring to a potential HUD transfer, and offered to coordinate additional follow‑up with staff and the city attorney.
Council members asked about the effects of federal HUD funding cuts on homelessness programs and whether there is appetite for local control over some unhoused projects in Sacramento. Bridal said Assembly Member Solace (spelled in remarks) had sponsored work to make smaller cities eligible for HAP funding and that regionally there may be champions for increased local involvement.
Why this matters: the townhome‑related bill would change local land‑use authority if adopted; the HUD public‑housing authority transfer, if successful, would shift program administration and funding responsibilities from the county to the city and could affect local housing operations and budgets.
Sources: Presentations by Jason Gonsalves and Jason Bridal to the City Council.
