Half Moon Bay Emergency Fund

Our hearts go out to the entire community of Half Moon Bay. We grieve for the lives lost and the families forever changed. HLC would like to share opportunities to donate to local organizations supporting those affected by the tragedy. 

To help those affected by the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, please consider donating to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation's Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. This fund works with local organizations in Half Moon Bay to support those impacted and their communities.  

• Contribute to the SVCF Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. 

Also, Puente de la Costa Sur is organizing support for the families affected in Half Moon Bay. As a community resource center for the South Coast, Puente is working with local partners to provide direct assistance. 

• Contribute to Puente de la Costa Sur

Housing Elements Review

Breaking ground in San Mateo County, the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has deemed Redwood City’s 6th cycle housing element to be in “substantial compliance” with state law. Jargon aside, this means that Redwood City is on the brink of full compliance with housing element law and can pursue the adoption of its housing element after making minor changes. Congratulations to Redwood City, the only city in San Mateo to have complied with state law by the Jan. 31 deadline! 

The Housing Leadership Council released a letter of support for Redwood City’s housing element back in October, the only housing element we have advocated for certification by HCD so far. Check out our support letter for a summary of our favorite policies in RWC’s housing element or see a longer note we sent to San Mateo city staff in December for more details. 

Except for Redwood City, HCD has declined to certify every housing element in San Mateo County. Nonetheless, over the past week, several other cities passed resolutions declaring their housing elements to be in compliance with the law. These resolutions are perfectly legal, made possible by an unresolved loophole in state law. (Check out gov code 65585(f)(2) if you want to get wonky!) 

Cities are passing these so-called “self-certification” resolutions in an attempt to avoid legal penalties for housing element noncompliance like the Builder’s Remedy. In jurisdictions without legally compliant housing elements, the Builder’s Remedy means that zoning rules no longer apply to buildings that are at least 20% low-income homes. For example, a city without a compliant housing element could not use its zoning rules to deny a 10-story, 100-unit development on a quarter-acre lot in a single-family neighborhood, as long as it included 20% low-income homes. 

However, by passing “self-certification” resolutions, cities declare their housing elements to be legally compliant, which is for all legal intents and purposes assumed to be true unless the city gets sued and loses. Cities believe the extra burden of a lawsuit–which carries uncertain legal risks–will disincentivize developers from taking advantage of the legal tools intended for them by the state legislature. 

So far, San Carlos, San Bruno, South San Francisco, and Colma have all voted to approve resolutions finding their housing elements to be in substantial compliance; a majority of the rest of the cities in San Mateo County will do so next week. Some cities, such as Brisbane, have made no changes in response to HCD’s review letter, even though the state identified several shortfalls in Brisbane’s housing element and HLC sent a public comment letter clarifying necessary policy changes.

However, a few jurisdictions in San Mateo County cannot legally adopt their housing elements by the deadline. The County itself and Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, and Burlingame have yet to submit a draft to HCD for review, which is a prerequisite for adoption. Therefore, these jurisdictions will certainly be subject to the Builder’s Remedy for at least four months in the very best-case scenario. 

HLC will send out regular email blasts for housing element meetings, so keep your eyes out for opportunities to give public comment in your city! You can also subscribe to our google events calendar to see meetings happening around the county.

Black History Month

As this year's Black History Month approaches, please commit to supporting the cultural events hosted by local African American community groups and organizations. Dedicate yourself to learning about Black Historical figures from San Mateo County and support Black-owned businesses.

Black history matters. Black stories matter. But remember, Black stories are not simple tales of trauma to triumph. The hardship the community has faced has been manufactured by racist laws and inequities– some of which persist today. Black History Month is just as much about appreciation and learning as about action and affecting change toward equity.

   “I, for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.” 

— Malcolm X

Career Opportunities

Our partners at Urban Habit are a movement support organization working to democratize

power and advance equitable policies to create a just and connected Bay Area for low-income communities of color. If this piques your interest, then click here or see below to learn about the various job opportunities they have available!

• Director of Transportation Justice
• Program Manager of Equitable Development
• Vallejo Justice Coalition Organizer (part-time)
• Housing Justice Internship

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to jobs@urbanhabitat.org; also remember to include the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

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