Government

When It Comes To Housing, Big Cats Aren’t A Force Majeure

Don’t the rich know that NIMBY by proxy isn’t the cat’s meow?

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House key on a house shaped silver keyring in the lock of a door

(Image via iStock)

California is known for many things: Love, Nication, and now, Mountain Lions.

California passed Senate Bill 9, allowing four housing units to be built in a single family lot. This is a powerful adjustment that would allow for the creation of more low-income housing in the state. California’s struggle with homelessness is widely documented and any amelioration to the problem would be greatly appreciated — you’d think.

In comes Woodside. After discovering a provision in Bill 9 that exempted the construction of homes on land identified as habitat for protected species, they wanted to reclassify the entirety of Woodside as a wildlife sanctuary.

That did not fly. First, the Mountain Lion Foundation was having none of it:

 

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Second, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta called the attempt to #KeepWoodsideGreatAgain “a deliberate and transparent attempt to avoid complying with SB 9.” Isn’t it refreshing when lawyers refuse to mince words? Bonta’s diagnosis came with a follow up for the town too, namely to “[a]ct in good faith, follow the law, and do your part to increase the housing supply. If you don’t, my office won’t stand idly by.”

Between frequent examples of millionaires getting away with light treason or contributing to goofy Facebook debates about Joe Rogan or Neil Young, I am happy to see at least one example where money can’t shade you from the law’s effects. When the construction begins, it would be a nice little nod for the apartments to have a big cat-themed flair. Maybe the keychains can have a little apex predator on them?

Wealthy California Town Backpedals On Declaring Itself A Mountain Lion Habitat To Skirt Affordable Housing Law [Fox Business]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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