In the latest of several recent signs of increasing voter pushback against overreaching city and state laws enabling "unintended consequences" like the 23-story Turquoise Tower in Pacific Beach and apartment complexes masquerading as ADUs across San Diego, a Monday Zoom meeting attracted concerned citizens and community groups across San Diego.

NFABC Chair Marcella Bothwell began the meeting with a slideshow presentation of the Summary of Density Bonus Laws in California. Starting with the Housing Element Law in 1969, Bothwell's presentation traced law after law that eventually led to where we are today - a 23-story skyscraper proposed in secret in a coastal community whose 30-foot height limit has been voided by one of the state laws.

NFABC, Bothwell said, is weighing joining with another party to fund a statewide survey to determine if the time is right to launch a constitutional amendment to restore citizen rights.

"We want to know the answer to the question: Is this the right time to say this has to stop," Bothwell said.

"The last time the average house price in California was the same as in the nation was 1970. Then the state passed these housing laws and everything has gotten worse. The State's housing policies are not working. We need to try something new," added John Terell, a board member of Neighbors for a Better California, which hosted the meeting.

The slideshow can be accessed on the nfabc.org website either directly or as part of a Special Report on Housing.

Another of the groups at Monday’s Zoom meeting - Neighbors for a Better San Diego - focused on a San Diego program with developer incentives for accessory dwelling units that goes beyond state requirements and which had been offered as a model for all of California. In a surprise move last week, the San Diego City Council voted to ask staff to research how to stop the city's ADU density bonus program and report back in 60 days.

At least three City Council members said staunch community opposition to the ADU program was a major factor in their votes.

"Council members have not (yet) committed to vote for that motion (the end of the ADU density bonus program)," said Danna Givot, vice chair of NFABSD. "We need all the help we can get to push over the finish line on this. We need everyone coming together to help us kill it."

If that happens, said NFABSC Chair Geoff Hueter, it will have a huge impact.

"If we can end the program, it will start to stem the tide of out-of-control development and reverberate in Sacramento," Hueter said.

Please keep visiting nfabc.org for updates and ask your friends/family to join Neighbors for a Better California in this fight. We saw what citizen involvement can do last week in City Council. Please keep emailing Mayor Todd Gloria and other elected officials. Tell them you deserve more of a say in what is built in your neighborhood than developers.