Editorial: Here’s a warning, Pasadena. Don’t even think about trying to evade SB 9

Hell hath no fury like city officials forced to comply with state-mandated increases in housing density. Further, the deputy attorney general said his office was aware of local efforts to create new landmark districts to avoid allowing SB 9‘s duplexes and lot splits. The letter also flagged a report to the Pasadena City Council saying the Planning Commission urged the city to look into the possibility of a “citywide historic overlay” to exempt all of Pasadena from SB 9. Despite the city staff report suggesting otherwise, Gordo insists the Pasadena City Council is not trying to cloak the city in a giant historic overlay to thwart SB 9. The message behind the attorney general’s letter is clear — there’s a new housing sheriff in town, and local governments’ attempts to water down or block state laws, like SB 9, will be scrutinized.