Calif. cities test paths as SB 79 housing law nears its deadline

California cities are choosing how to implement SB 79, the transit-oriented upzoning law, by July 1: some push for bespoke local plans, others delay changes, and a few aim to delay until 2030–2032 using legal escape clauses. Los Angeles is rolling out a delay to buy time, exempting certain poorer, fire zone, and historic districts while allowing modest multi-unit buildings in pricier areas; San Francisco and Oakland are pursuing their own rollout strategies, and Sacramento may make only minor tweaks. State housing regulators’ approvals remain necessary, and Governor Newsom has publicly criticized delays, as cities balance housing gains against political and logistical hurdles.}{