State Sen. Catherine Blakespear rarely votes “no.” This week was different.
On Monday, the Encinitas lawmaker joined a handful of Senate Democrats and Republicans to oppose a bill related to a controversial housing law that passed last year.
The bill would add minor tweaks to Senate Bill 79, a landmark housing mandate the governor signed into law that makes it easier to build apartments near major transit stations. Narrowly passing the Senate, Senate Bill 677 resurfaced an intra-party tension between Democrats skeptical of developers and those all-in on the pro-housing YIMBY movement and slashing local zoning laws.
The new proposal changes the definitions of commuter rail and high frequency commuter rail so that more cities are subject to the law.
Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones and Blakespear were the two out of San Diego’s four state senators to oppose the measure.
Blakespear cited concerns over diminished local control as to why she voted against the bill and SB 79.
“I recognize that there’s a lot of ambitious and aspirational housing bills, and Senator Wiener has proposed many of them. And this one goes too far,” Blakespear said, referring to Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, the author of both bills. “I come from local government. And it’s hard for me to support that.”
Democrats rarely, if ever, vote “no” on legislation by the time it reaches the Assembly or Senate floor. Most bills only advance to the floor if they have the support of the supermajority. And if lawmakers are wary about a proposal, they often don’t vote at all.
Blakespear voted “no” 14 out of 2,161 times, or less than 1 percent, last year, according to CalMatters’ Digital Democracy database.
She also overwhelmingly votes for measures backed by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who strongly supported the housing bill.
San Diego continues to lead most major cities in home permitting and its state delegation — mostly notably Assemblymember Chris Ward — have authored or supported numerous laws aimed at addressing the state’s acute housing crisis.
Blakespear agreed with bills supported by the city and pro-housing group California YIMBY more than 9 out of 10 times from 2023 to 2025, according to the database. Several years after her mayoralty, many residents in Encinitas continue to blame Blakespear for their frustrations on homelessness and housing because they view her as too pro-housing.
However, Encinitas historically has fiercely opposed new homes and its leaders opposed last year’s major housing reform
Blakespear has been on the opposing side of some housing advocates before. Last year, she authored a statute that closed a loophole in density bonus law that some worried could discourage the development of affordable housing.
Democrats Respond to Minnesota Killings
This week, state senators advanced a bill that would make it easier to sue federal immigration officers for civil rights offenses.
Lawmakers passed the legislation after a press conference on Monday denouncing the killing of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse and American citizen shot by border patrol agents last week.
Democrats also introduced a bill that would prohibit local police officers from contracting or volunteering with the Department of Homeland Security, and another that would disqualify those who have worked at the agency from becoming teachers or law enforcement.
Other measures — like banning federal agents from making courthouse arrests — aimed at targeting immigration officials have also been floated around the Capitol in the weeks since protests against the Trump administration’s immigration surge have rattled cities across the country.
In Other Capitol News
The bill to expedite funding for environmental projects, including for Tijuana River pollution, cleared the Assembly and awaits a committee hearing in the Senate.
Legislation to allow Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista to award bachelor’s degrees also passed the Assembly with ease this week. However, the bill, authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez, has received stiff opposition from the state’s public university systems over concerns that it will compete with their degree offerings.
Sen. Steve Padilla’s proposal to further restrict AI chatbots from showing minors sexually explicit materials also passed the Assembly and now awaits a hearing in the Assembly.
What I’m Reading Now
California’s insurer-of-last-resort continues to face ballooning policy claims despite efforts to limit them, The Sacramento Bee reports.
Investments in AI are sucking up all the tech financing oxygen, leaving San Diego biotech firms out to dry, The San Diego Union-Tribune writes.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan aims to differentiate himself as a Newsom critic in a crowded race for governor, from the Los Angeles Times.