The state will file companion litigation against the City of Huntington Beach accusing it of willfully refusing to comply with state housing law

January 25, 2019 – Kennedy Commission and low-income veterans, represented by The Public Interest Law Project, Public Law Center, Legal Aid Society of Orange County, and Jones Day have been pursuing litigation to require Huntington Beach to make sites available for affordable housing since 2015. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will launch a new, strong approach to enforce state law against a city, using AB 72 to sue the City of Huntington Beach for violating state housing law.The state accuses the City of standing in the way of affordable housing production and looks to force the City to amend its housing plan to encourage "the development of additional housing units that are accessible to residents of all income levels."The Governor approved legal action against Huntington Beach and Attorney General Xavier Becerra will file a lawsuit against the City on Friday, January 25, 2019, after extensive attempts to offer partnership and support from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.PILP Staff Attorney Craig Castellanet, commented on Governor Newsom’s announcement, "We applaud the Governor for making enforcement of state housing law a priority for his administration. We welcome the state's participation in this effort to address our state's affordable housing crisis."Read Governor Gavin Newsom's full press release.Press Coverage:East Bay TimesSan Francisco ChronicleSacramento BeeLos Angeles Times