Senator Portantino Seeks to Help Glendale Free up $27 million Dollars for Affordable Housing Mayor Najarian Testifies in Senate Committee

Sacramento, California – Today, SB 532, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), passed the Senate Government and Finance Committee. Senator Portantino introduced SB 532 at the request of the City of Glendale, to help free up $27 million dollars of dormant Redevelopment bonds for use to build affordable housing.  Mayor Ara Najarian and Director of Community Development Philip Lanzafame flew to Sacramento to offer testimony on behalf of the effort.  

“Glendale is a special city that had used the Redevelopment tool well until it was taken away.  Glendale has also been working on several affordable housing options within the city.  It would terrific if we could free up and leverage $27 million dollars for new affordable housing units.  I am very grateful to the City for asking me to help, impressed that the Mayor flew up to add his support for this effort and pleased to be in a position to offer my help for the city’s plans,” commented Portantino. 

SB 532 would repurpose $27 million dollars of stalled Redevelopment bonds for affordable housing.  If SB 532 becomes law, the city could leverage the money for property acquisition, increased financing options and opportunities for affordable housing.

“I was very pleased to fly to Sacramento to offer testimony in support of SB 532 authored by my friend Senator Portantino.  Glendale needs the state to grant us flexibility on the bond dollars so we can move forward with several opportunities on the table.  We are very grateful to Anthony for authoring this legislative solution.  It’s a testament to our positive working relationship and the responsiveness of his office on our behalf.  We appreciated Senator Portantino sticking up for us when he was in the Assembly and he’s continuing to do it in the Senate,” added Mayor Najarian.

Senator Portantino has long-wanted to help cities with an economic tool to help finance affordable housing.  While in the Assembly, his independent vote in favor of cities and for maintaining Redevelopment Agencies put him at odds with then Governor Brown and the Assembly’s leadership.  At the time, his pro City stance put him on the receiving end of harsh punishments.  A former Mayor himself, SB 532 is a continuation of his efforts to help cities manage their affairs and incentivize the building of more affordable housing.

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