EBHO Proudly Endorses the Cap & Trade Auction Revenue Proposal! Learn what you can do to show your support...
- Cap and Trade Auction Revenue Proposal
- California Housing Partnership Corporation Report
- Learn How You Can Show Your Support
- Local Lobby Day - Friday, April 5th
Cap & Trade Auction Revenue Proposal:
Funding for transportation choices and homes affordable to core transit riders
To help reach the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals of AB 32, the California Air Resources Board has implemented a Cap and Trade program. California's transportation sector is responsible for the most emissions of any sector, 38%, making it an important focus. Because transportation needs are driven in large part by where people want - and can afford - to live, housing affordability affects the sector's emissions.
A broad-based coalition proposes allocating a significant percentage of the revenue from the Cap and Trade program to improve clean transportation choices and build homes affordable to lower-income households near transit. Funding and policies that avoid displacement of existing residents where transit investments are made are paramount to achieving both environmental and social equity goals. By implementing SB 375 equitably and re- investing in existing communities, the state can advance this goal while maximizing co-benefits of improved public health, social equity, green jobs and protection of habitat and agricultural land.
The state
can also ensure that these revenues benefit communities most affected by
GHG emissions. Senate Bill 535 requires that a minimum of 25% of Cap
and Trade revenues be invested in projects that "benefit disadvantaged
communities," and at least 10% be invested in projects located in these
communities. Our coalition partners Public Advocates have created a set of 3 principles for SB 535 implementation that we are urging policymakers to adopt:
- Make the process inclusive, transparent and accountable.
- Invest in disadvantaged communities' high priority needs.
- Ensure that benefits for disadvantaged communities outweigh the burdens.
To learn more, read the one-page SB 535 Principles document
prepared by Public Advocates. Let's show policymakers that we are
united behind these principles and that we will hold them accountable
for meaningfully implementing SB 535.
Proposed eligible uses include:
- Expanding or improving public transit service, with significant funding for operations to quickly expand service and increase ridership.
- Supporting unmet transit capital maintenance needs.
- Developing and rehabilitating transit-oriented residential development that is affordable to low- income households and provides trip reduction strategies such as transit passes and car share.
- Expanding bicycle and pedestrian networks, facilities and programs that promote additional use and safety and provide access to transit, schools, colleges, shopping and other destinations.
- Expanding vanpool, car share and carpool promotion programs.
- Implementing transportation demand management strategies and incentives that reduce both vehicle travel and ownership, such as discounted transit passes in transit priority zones.
- Investing in energy efficiency improvement in existing multifamily rental homes affordable to lower income households.
- Modifying and/or maintaining roadways in a way that creates complete streets and/or provides dedicated transit lanes.
To learn more and see which other organizations have already endorsed this proposal, click here.
For additional information or to sign on to the proposal, please contact:
Megan Kirkeby, California Housing Partnership Corporation - (415) 433-6804 or mkirkeby@chpc.net
Joshua Stark, TransForm -- (916) 441-0204 or jstark@transformca.org
Ryan Wiggins, TransForm -- (760) 707-7019 or rwiggins@transformca.org
Julie Snyder, Housing California -- (916) 287-9887 or jsnyder@housingca.org
Felicity Lyons, Housing California -- (916) 287-9885 or flyons@housingca.org
California Housing Partnership Corporation Report
The California Housing Partnership
Corporation (CHPC) released a report titled "Building and Preserving
Affordable Homes Near Transit: Affordable TOD as a Greenhouse Gas
Reduction and Equity Strategy." This report helps strengthen the case
for allocating cap and trade revenue funding for transit-oriented
development. The document assesses the existing research on the role of
preservation and development of affordable housing in transit-oriented
development areas as a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction strategy. According to CHPC, there is strong evidence
that building and preserving affordable homes near transit will allow
California to achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions. The report also highlights that investing only in transit
would cause displacement of low-income households.
Click here for the full report.
How to Show Your Support
From our friends at the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California and the California Housing Partnership Corporation:
Comment Letters Needed on Cap and Trade Auction Revenue Proposal
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is currently accepting written comments
regarding the three-year investment plan for cap and trade auction
proceeds. The Department of Finance (DOF), in consultation with the ARB
and other state entities, will develop and submit the plan to the
legislature. The plan will identify the priority programs for investment
of proceeds to support achievement of the State's goals for greenhouse
gas emissions reduction. NPH joins many other organizations across the
state in advocating that transit-oriented affordable housing and energy
efficiency upgrades of existing affordable housing developments be
included as eligible uses and allocated funding in the investment plan.
Written comment letters should hit on the following points:
- What types of investments should be funded with Cap and Trade revenue
- How those investments meet the GHG nexus requirements and their "bang for the buck"
- What existing programs could be used to fund those investments (readiness)
- What are the co-benefits (health, jobs, equity) of those investments
Both
the Cap and Trade Auction Revenue Proposal and the CHPC report should
be included as attachments to submitted letters. Here are both documents
in a zip file for your convenience.
Please send comment letters supporting the Cap and Trade Auction Revenue Proposal to the ARB. Please see here for a template comment letter that can be customized. Comment letters are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 8, 2013 and can be submitted online.
The ARB will formally present their recommendations at public hearings in Sacramento on April 25-26.
Click here for the comment submittal form on the ARB website.
For more information contact Michael Lane, michael@nonprofithousing.org or Megan Kirkeby, mkirkeby@chpc.net
Local Lobby Day - Friday, April 5th
Inspired by all this new legislation? EBHO's first annual local lobby day is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2013. We will coordinate in-district visits with local and statewide elected officials to discuss important housing policies and legislation. This will be an opportunity for EBHO members, affordable housing residents, and allies to build strong relationships with policy makers and share ideas. If you are interested in participating or helping plan this work, please contact Jean Cohen, EBHO's Director of Resident and Community Organizing, at jean@ebho.org or 510-499-3660.
