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State amends lawsuit against Huntington Beach over affordable housing
Orange County Apr 11, 2023
Huntington Beach. | Photo by Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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The state Monday moved to amend its lawsuit against Huntington Beach in a dispute over affordable housing.
Since Huntington Beach officials reversed course on a suspension of applications to add additions to existing homes and properties, the state has amended its lawsuit — filed last month — to allege the city has not filed an affordable housing plan as required.
“Huntington Beach continues to fail its residents,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “Every city and county needs to do their part to bring down the high housing and rent costs that are impacting families across this state. California will continue taking every step necessary to ensure everyone is building their fair share of housing and not flouting state housing laws at the expense of the community.”
Attorney General Rob Bonta faulted the city for not adopting an affordable housing plan.
“The city’s refusal last week to adopt a housing element in accordance with state law is just the latest in a string of willfully illegal actions by the city — decisions that worsen our housing crisis and harm taxpayers and Huntington Beach residents,” Bonta said.
“We won’t stand idly by as Huntington Beach continues to flagrantly violate state housing laws designed to bring crucial affordable housing opportunities to our communities. We’ll use every legal tool available to hold the city accountable and enforce state housing laws.”
Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland brushed off the criticism.
“AG Bonta’s statement today about ‘amending’ the state’s current lawsuit against Huntington Beach is wrong,” he said. “The city attorney is requesting the court dismiss the state’s lawsuit involving (Senate Bill 9) and (accessory dwelling units) because it is entirely moot.
“If the state wants to now sue the city for an alleged housing element violation, the state’s laws on procedure require the state to file a new lawsuit. Simply ‘amending’ is not an option. Bonta should know that.
“Moreover, Bonta has over 240 other cities in the state of California that do not have certified housing elements. The fact that the attorney general is singling out Huntington Beach only strengthens the city’s arguments in court that the state is not following the law with these housing mandates. These regular state press releases announcing legal actions against Huntington Beach may grab headlines, but they do not intimidate or deter the city, and they have no effect in the court of law, where these conflicts of law will ultimately be decided.”
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