Newsom signs housing bill into law relaxing zoning regulations

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed into law on Friday a bill loosening zoning regulations critics contend have contributed to California’s housing crisis.

Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 79 is viewed as one of the most sweeping state-imposed housing reforms in California’s recent history. The measure, opposed by some Democrats such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, allows the construction of buildings up to nine stories near major transit stops in eight California counties, overriding local zoning restrictions.