Listen to this note:
The Governor Gavin Newsom has asked the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission to stop delaying approval of a 40-unit project to provide affordable housing for older farmworkers.
In a public statement, the California governor stressed that the commission's delay comes after last year's deadly shooting, which highlighted the dire living conditions of farmworkers in the area.
“Last year, a deadly shooting brought to light the dire living conditions of farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. Instead of doing the right thing and approving much-needed housing for the workers who feed us, a 40-unit complex for low-income seniors is being halted by local officials,” Newsom said.
“This delay is egregious and jeopardizes the well-being of Californians,” he said, noting that the state’s Housing Accountability Unit is reviewing the city’s actions and will take all necessary steps to hold Half Moon Bay accountable if the project does not move forward as required by state law.
In 2023, following the Half Moon Bay shooting, Newsom met with survivors and witnessed firsthand the unacceptable living conditions of farmworkers in the area, so he allocated millions in funding and resources to ensure that those working in the agricultural industry receive state support.
Newsom, meanwhile, has called for greater accountability and has put in place new approaches to address the state's need for more housing.
The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission has the opportunity to move this important housing project forward next week at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, May 14.
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