India-West News Desk
SACRAMENTO, CA- California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have reached a settlement with the city of Artesia, compelling the city to comply with state housing laws. The agreement, which is pending court approval, requires Artesia to create a plan for 1,069 new homes, including 608 designated for low- and moderate-income residents.
The settlement was announced after the city repeatedly failed to submit a compliant housing element, a crucial component of its general plan. The housing element is a tool used by cities to plan for the needs of low- and very low-income Californians by identifying housing needs, inventorying resources, and outlining a program to facilitate construction.
“Artesia has wasted time and money stalling on their obligations when they could have instead been providing necessary housing for the families in their community,” said Governor Newsom. “Every jurisdiction must do their part to create more housing and make their communities more affordable.”
The state’s Housing Accountability Unit, established by Newsom in 2021, had issued a Notice of Violation to Artesia in May 2023, followed by a second notice in October 2024, after the city missed its own self-imposed deadlines for compliance. The new agreement provides a binding timeline with clear legal and financial penalties for any further delays.
“I commend the City of Artesia for doing the right thing,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Cities and counties that still have not adopted compliant housing elements should pay close attention. The deadline for compliance passed years ago, and so, this settlement includes new enforcement tools.”
The settlement details, including the terms and proposed judgment, have been made available to the public. The Housing Accountability Unit has been instrumental in supporting the creation of over 10,000 housing units since its inception.
The Newsom administration’s broader strategy to combat the housing and homelessness crisis includes streamlining new construction, funding shelters, and holding local governments accountable.
These efforts, along with the voter-approved Proposition 1 and the new CARE court system, are aimed at reversing a decades-long crisis. While homelessness has increased nationally by over 18% in 2024, California has limited its overall increase to 3%, a rate lower than 40 other states. The state also recorded the largest reduction in veteran homelessness in the nation, a statement from the Governor’s office said.