This op-ed was written by Alex Arellano, the founder of Everybody’s Long Beach, and two members: Randi Wright and Simi Sardana. Everybody’s Long Beach is a grassroots organization that advocates for policies to increase housing supply and affordability in the Los Angeles region.
Long Beach has always been known as “the International City” – both because of our world-famous port and because, historically, people from all backgrounds could afford to live, work, and thrive here.
But too many hardworking people from all walks of life are being priced out of the neighborhoods they helped to build. Our community has a housing shortage, and for years, exclusionary rules have made it almost impossible to build apartments and lower-cost starter homes near public transit.
California lawmakers are considering a new law, Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), that would allow more homes and apartments near train and rapid bus stations in cities such as Long Beach. This housing offers a necessary fix that addresses our affordability crisis while relieving the traffic, congestion, and air pollution that all too often choke our city.
The state has made major investments in public transit – such as the $350M A Line upgrades – but without access to affordable housing nearby, fewer people are able to ride those train lines. For decades, we’ve underinvested in housing and kept local laws that prohibit building new homes along frequent bus lines or Metro stops, resulting in far too little affordable housing near reliable transit services.
Our disconnected policies create a self-defeating cycle. Residents get priced out of neighborhoods near key A Line stations, despite working nearby. Take the Wardlow Station, which received an “F” rating in performance from a statewide study. Despite an infusion of public funding, the station still ranks poorly due to its distance from jobs, lack of nearby housing, and poor pedestrian accessibility.
The housing shortage causes rents to be 10-20% higher near public transit stops. A UCLA study found that for every $230 monthly rent increase near transit, nearby ridership drops by 22%.
Most Long Beach residents cannot afford to live near the transit services they paid for with their tax dollars, meaning investments in good public transportation go to waste.
SB 79 would legalize mid-rise apartments within a half-mile of major rail stations and frequent bus stops, while leaving it up to local governments to fine-tune details, such as design and affordability requirements. Research shows that building more homes near transit cuts climate-warming pollution, boosts public transportation, and lowers families’ transportation costs.
Long Beach and Signal Hill are uniquely positioned to benefit. The Metro A Line carries more than 15 million riders annually, and anchors mixed-use commercial and residential neighborhoods downtown. SB 79 would build upon existing state law AB 2097, which eliminates costly parking requirements in areas with frequent transit. Combined, these reforms make it cheaper and easier to build family housing across our most active transportation hubs.
We already know that policies like SB 79 work. In Long Beach, for example, the Midtown Specific Plan has allowed for the construction of The 101, an upcoming 52-unit permanent supportive housing project located less than a quarter mile from the Pacific Coast Highway Metro station. These units will help families gain stability, seniors avoid displacement, and workers stay close to jobs. Plus, families living near reliable transit who can avoid using a car save an average of $9,000 to $12,000 a year in transportation costs.
These approaches also serve as a climate solution. Lower-income families living near public transit typically drive nearly 50% fewer miles than those in other areas. Long Beach has invested in solutions like all-electric buses, but these work best when paired with reforms that make it easier for people to live without a car.
California needs to step up to protect its residents by changing these local rules that restrict affordable housing and by helping create communities where people can afford to live near jobs and transit.
Thanks to the support of Long Beach State Senator Lena Gonzalez, SB 79 passed the State Senate and is now making its way through the State Assembly with final votes in early September. Local voices matter more than ever.
Long Beach residents should contact their local representatives to urge them to support the bill:
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (916-319-2069)
Senator Gonzalez (916-651-4033)
Mayor Rex Richardson’s office (562) 570-6801.
Track the bill’s progress and get updates here.
By passing SB 79, California’s leaders can align our transportation investments with our housing goals — giving families in Long Beach and across the state the vibrant, affordable, transit-connected communities they deserve.
