Voting citizens and families who are strongly outspoken about protecting South Pasadena’s neighborhoods may be barking up the wrong tree. City Council may make the perfect ‘Tree Ordinance’, but it may not matter much if SB79 is ignored by Newsom.
The controversial ‘housing bill’ with sweeping implications for local control of development, Senate Bill 79, now sits on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. The Governor has until October 12 to either sign or veto the measure.
If Newsom takes no action by the deadline, the bill will automatically become law under California’s legislative rules.
The Stakes
SB 79, authored in the Legislature earlier this year, has drawn intense scrutiny across the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Supporters argue it is a critical tool for advancing affordable housing mandates and streamlining compliance with state housing law.
Opponents, including City of Los Angeles, residents in South Pasadena and neighboring cities, see it as a fundamental side-stepping of existing local decision-making, potentially opening the door to larger and denser projects that bypass voter oversight.
If SB 79 becomes law, South Pasadena may lose much, or all, of its authority to protect the City’s trees when developers claim housing law protections. The ordinance would remain on the books, but in practice, state law would override it, especially for larger housing projects.
The debate has escalated in recent weeks as communities raise questions:
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Does SB 79 actually guarantee new affordable housing units? Critics say the bill shifts power away from residents and local councils without binding developers to affordability requirements.
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What happens if the Governor does nothing? Under California law, Newsom’s silence would allow SB 79 to become law by default. In effect, not vetoing is equivalent to signing.
A Tense Countdown
The Governor’s office has not indicated how he intends to act on SB 79. For many observers, the timing raises alarm: by law, bills passed late in the legislative session must be acted on within 30 days. That window closes on October 12.
If signed — or allowed to become law without a signature — the measure would take effect on January 1, 2026, reshaping how housing development is approved and contested in cities like South Pasadena.
Why It Matters Locally
South Pasadena has already been at the center of contentious development battles, from the Mission Bell project to height-limit measures and the long-running fight over Caltrans-owned properties. Residents and city officials alike warn that SB 79 could override years of careful local planning and voter-approved safeguards.
Now What?
As the deadline approaches, advocacy groups, city officials, and residents are ramping up calls, letters, and lobbying efforts urging the Governor either to sign or to veto. The risk, many say, is that inaction alone could set in motion one of the most consequential housing shifts the region has seen in decades.
For now, communities are left waiting — watching the calendar tick toward October 12, when silence from Sacramento could speak louder than words.
