California lawmakers fast-track low-income housing
Tran Nguyen and Sophie AustinASSOCIATED PRESS/REPORT FOR AMERICA
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are considering nearly 1,000 bills during the hectic final two weeks of the Legislative session. Here’s action taken by the California Legislature on Thursday:
Affordable housing on churches’ lands
Religious institutions and nonprofit colleges in California could soon turn their parking lots and other properties into low-income housing to help combat the ongoing homeless crisis, lawmakers voted on Thursday.
The legislation would rezone land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, and synagogues, to allow for affordable housing. They would be able to bypass most local permitting and environmental review rules that can be costly and lengthy.
California is home to 171,000 homeless people — about 30 percent of all homeless people in the U.S. The crisis has sparked a movement among religious institutions, dubbed “yes in God’s backyard,” or “YIGBY,” in cities across the state, with a number of projects already in the works.
But churches and colleges often face big hurdles
trying to convert their surplus land and underutilized parking lots into housing because their land is not zoned for residential use. An affordable housing project in a San Jose church had to go through a rezoning process that took more than two years before it could break ground in 2021.
The goal of this legislation is to carve an easier path to build much-needed housing in the state, said Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who authored the bill.
The bill, which was approved by the Assembly, needs the final approval in the state Senate before heading to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will decide whether to sign it into law.
Long-term mortgage rate slips, but remains near its 22-year high
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell again this week, but remains near the 22-year high it hit three weeks ago, little relief for house hunters facing persistently high prices and a near-historic low number of homes for sale.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan fell to 7.12 percent from 7.18 percent last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.89 percent.
The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, fell to 6.52 percent from 6.55 percent last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.16 percent, Freddie Mac said.
High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans. They also discourage homeowners who locked in low rates two years ago from selling.
Mortgage rates have been climbing in recent weeks, echoing moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans.
The yield, which two weeks ago neared its highest level since 2007, has been hovering above 4 percent since August as bond traders weigh whether recent economic data increase the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will decide it needs to keep interest rates higher for longer to lower inflation.
It would only apply to affordable housing projects, and the law would sunset in 2036.
Democratic Assemblymember Sharon QuirkSilva, who represents Orange County, said there are hundreds of faith-based organizations and several community colleges in her district that could use this bill as a tool to expedite affordable housing projects.
“If only a small fraction of them chose to build very small amount of units, we could start picking away at this issue one church at a time, one educational institution at a time,” she said Thursday.
Supporters of the bill said it could help add hundreds of thousands of af-
fordable housing units to the state’s housing stock. A recent study by the University of California, Berkeley, Terner Center for Housing Innovation estimated California religious and higher education campuses have more than 170,000 acres of land that would be eligible under the bill.
But several cities opposed the bill and said it would take away local control over housing developments. Environmental groups also worry the bill doesn’t have enough guardrails and would put low-income housing close to polluting areas such as freeways, industrial facilities, and oil and gas plants.
Lawmakers have until Sept. 14 to act on this and
other bills. When lawmakers finish, Newsom will have a month to decide whether to sign them into law.
Gender-neutral bathroom
The state Assembly on Thursday approved a bill to require schools serving first through 12th grade to have at least one gender-neutral bathroom available for students by 2026.
The legislation would apply to schools with multiple female and male restrooms. The bill comes amid debates in California and elsewhere about the rights of transgender and nonbinary students, including whether teachers should notify parents if their child changes pronouns at school.
The state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond supported the bill, saying it would help gender nonconforming students feel safe in the restroom they choose to use on campus.
“This legislation is a critical step toward preparing California students to succeed by ensuring the necessary steps of having a safe foundation to rely on; having a safe and inclusive place to use the restroom,” Thurmond said in prepared comments to the Legislature.
Diverse textbooks in schools
The state Senate passed
a bill to ensure school curricula reflect the cultural and racial diversity of California and the U.S.
The bill would also require school governing boards to approve instructional materials that include accurate depictions of LGBTQ+ people and their contributions. It would ban governing boards from rejecting textbooks because they mention the contributions of people with a particular racial background or sexual orientation.
It’s an issue that has cropped in many states, and one that garnered renewed attention in California when a Southern California school board, Temecula Valley Unified, rejected an elementary social studies curriculum that included materials mentioning Harvey Milk, a former San Francisco politician and gay rights advocate. Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened the school board with a $1.5 million fine. The board later reversed course.
State senators debated intensely on the bill. They took a “timeout” after Democratic Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, who chairs the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said Republican Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh’s comments about the bill were off topic. Republican lawmakers and Democratic Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil voted against it.
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AUCTION DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. on the front steps of the Kauai Judiciary Complex, Fifth Circuit Court Building, 3970 Ka’ana Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766. TERMS OF SALE: NoUpsetPrice.Propertysoldin“ASIS”conditionwithout anywarrantyoftitleoranyotherwarranty.Purchaserisresponsiblefor makinghis/herowninvestigationregardingtheproperty.Propertymaybe subjecttootherliens.Propertyissoldatpublicauctionwith10%of highestbidpayableincash,certifiedorcashier’scheckatcloseof auction,balancepayableupondeliveryoftitle.Potentialbiddersmustbe abletoprovideproofofhis/herabilitytocomplywith10%ofbid requirementpriortoparticipatinginthepublicauction.Buyersshallpayall costsofclosingincludingescrow,conveyancetaxesandisresponsiblefor securingpossessionoftheproperty,includingthecostofeviction,upon recordation. SALE SUBJECT TO COURT CONFIRMATION.
For Further information call: Melinda K. Mendes, Commissioner; Ph: (808) 212-6635 P.O. Box 3504, Lihue, Hawaii 96766 Email: attymkmendes@gmail.com (TGI1427309 8/25, 9/1, 9/8/23)
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT STATE OF HAWAII SUMMONS STATE OF HAWAII
To: Defendant KALEB M. K. M. JARDINE
YOUAREHEREBYNOTIFIEDthatthePlaintiff KAUAIFEDERALCREDITUNION,formerlyknownas KauaiGovernmentEmployeesFederalCreditUnion,a federallycharteredcreditunion,filedaComplaint (Assumpsit-MoneyOwed);Declaration;Exhibits1,2 &3;andSummonsagainstyouinCivilNo.5DRC-23345,intheDistrictCourtoftheFifthCircuit,Stateof Hawaii,prayingforjudgmentforsumsdueandowing fornonpaymentofsignatureandVISAloans,interest, latefees,costsandattorneys’feesandforother proper relief.
YOUAREHEREBYSUMMONEDtoappearinthe CourtroomofthePresidingJudgeoftheabove-entitled Court,Kauai,Hawaii,onMonday,the30thdayof October,2023,at8:00a.m.ofsaiddayortofilean answerorotherpleadingandserveitbeforesaidday uponSHERMANSHIRAISHI,Plaintiff’sattorney,whose addressis2403UluMaikaStreet,Lihue,Hawaii, 96766.Ifyoufailtodoso,judgmentbydefaultwill betakenagainstyouforthereliefdemandedinthe Complaint.
DATED: Lihue, Hawaii, August 24, 2023. /s/ REY AGCAOILI CLERK OF THE ABOVE-ENTITLED COURT (TGI1428418 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29/23)
NOTICE TO MOTORISTS
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
KUHIO HIGHWAY EMERGENCY SLOPE STABILIZATION FOR HANALEI HILLS & WAIKOKO
The Kuhio Highway Emergency Slope Stabilization for Hanalei Hills & Waikoko project will commence on September 5th, 2023 and is expected to be completed by the end of November 15, 2025.
COUNTYOFKAUAIPLANNINGCOMMISSION–4444RiceStreet,SuiteA473,Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii, 96766, tel: (808) 241-4050, email: planningdepartment@kauai.gov
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENofan agencyhearingwithapublichearingand anopportunityforpublictestimony fromallinterestedpersonstobeheldby theKaua‘iPlanningCommissionpursuanttotheprovisionsofSpecialManagement AreaRules,KauaiCountyCode,Chapter8,asamended,HawaiiRevisedStatutes (HRS)Chapter92and91,andtheRulesofPracticeandProcedureoftheCounty of Kauai Planning Commission. The hearing will be held regarding the following:
AMENDMENTTOSPECIALMANAGEMENTAREAUSEPERMIT(SMA(U)-83-4), CLASSIVZONINGPERMITZ-IV-83-27,andUSEPERMITU-83-17toallowa modificationtoConditionNo.24thatwouldallowpermanentuseoftheoutdoor diningexpansionareaonaparcelsituatedonthemakaisideofLawa‘iRoad, commonlyknownasTheBeachHouseRestaurant,furtheridentifiedas5022Lawa‘i Road, Tax Map Key: 2-6-005:011, containing a total area of 34,900 square feet.
SPECIALMANAGEMENTAREAUSEPERMIT(SMA(U)-2024-1)toallow constructionofanewsingle-familydwellingunitandassociatedimprovementsona parcelsituatedatthealongthemaukasideofKuhioHighwayinWainiha,situated atitsintersectionwithMakamaePlace,andfurtheridentifiedasTaxMapKey:(4)58-012:027, containing an area of approximately 10,492 square feet.
SPECIALMANAGEMENTAREAUSEPERMIT(SMA(U)-2024-2)toallow reconstructionofanewsingle-familydwellingunitandassociatedimprovementson aparcelsituatedatthealongthemakaisideofWekeRoadinHanaleiTown, situatedapproximately350feeteastofitsintersectionwithMaloloRoad,and furtheridentifiedas5252WekeRoad,TaxMapKey:(4)55-002:007,containing an area of approximately 54,667 square feet.
SPECIALMANAGEMENTAREAUSEPERMIT(SMA(U)-2024-3)toallow constructionofanewcomfortstationandassociatedsiteimprovementswithinthe Ha’enaStateParkinHa’ena,alongthemakaisideofKuhioHighway,further identifiedasTaxMapKey:(4)5-9-008:001andcontainingatotalareaof50.38 acres.
Meeting Lihu‘e Civic Center, Moikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A-2B, Location : 4444 Rice Street, Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i
*InterestedpartiesshouldlooktothePlanningCommissionAgenda for October 10, 2023 for final determination of location.
Date : October 10, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. or shortly thereafter
Oraltestimony willbetakenonspecificagendaitems,in-personatthepublic meeting location indicated on the meeting agenda.
Writtentestimony indicatingyour1)nameorpseudonym,andifapplicable, yourposition/titleandorganizationyouarerepresenting,and2)theagendaitem thatyouareprovidingcommenton,maybesubmittedonanyagendaitemin writingtoplanningdepartment@kauai.govormailedtotheCountyofKaua‘i PlanningDepartment,4444RiceStreet,Suite473,Lihu‘e,Hawai‘i96766.Written testimonyreceivedbythePlanningDepartmentatleast24hourspriortothe meetingwillbepostedastestimonytothePlanningCommission’swebsitepriorto themeeting(https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Boards-andCommissions/Planning-Commission).Anytestimonyreceivedafterthistimewillbe retainedaspartoftherecord,butwecannotassuretheCommissionwillreceiveit with sufficient time for review prior to the meeting.
IFYOUNEEDANAUXILIARYAID/SERVICE,OTHERACCOMMODATION DUETOADISABILITY,ORANINTERPRETERFORNON-ENGLISHSPEAKING PERSONS,PLEASECONTACTTHEOFFICEOFBOARDS&COMMISSIONSAT
(808)241-4917ORADAVIS@KAUAI.GOVASSOONASPOSSIBLE. REQUESTSMADEASEARLYASPOSSIBLEWILLALLOWADEQUATETIMETO
The proposed work will consist of the following:
• Clearing & Grubbing
• Slope Stabilization
• Drainage & Street Improvements
• Landscaping
Expect intermittent single lane closure starting September 5th, 2023 until September 14, 2024 Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M to 3:30 P.M. at Hanalei Hill. Starting December 16, 2023 to September 14, 2024 work hours will be Sunday-Thursday 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. full lane closure at Hanalei Hill. Waikoko’s will have a 24 hour single lane closure with traffic signals starting July 29, 2024 until November 15, 2025. The closures will keep the public safe during the construction, and help to expedite the work. Signage will be posted to keep the public informed about the road closures. Motorists should take into consideration there are no alternative routes, expect delays, and plan their travel accordingly. Please drive with caution in the construction zone and watch for workers.