Image - Home Is Where the Housing Is
Past Event

New Laws Protect Tenants, Prevent Homelessness and Create Affordable Housing—Now What?

On October 8, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the nation’s most far-reaching bills, which are designed to prevent homelessness, protect tenants from being evicted and make it possible to create new homes for many thousands of Californians. The work was made possible by a collaboration of diverse allies who are attempting to preserve existing affordable homes, protect the families in them and produce more housing at all income levels. They were joined by a broad coalition of elected officials, including Assemblymember David Chiu, who authored several of the recently passed bills and who has made preventing homelessness and providing affordable homes to all Californians one of his signature issues.  

While these represent important strides, some say a great deal of work still needs to be done. On November 4, The Commonwealth Club will host a panel discussion about the implications of this new legislation as well as what the future holds for addressing the challenge of homelessness and housing in the Bay Area.

The panel will include Chiu; Guillermo Mayer, president and CEO of Public Advocates—a key organization that helped advance the public call for a comprehensive housing package; Denise Pinkston, a partner at TMG Partners—a local developer that has been involved in the housing debate at the local, regional and statewide levels and that has been a strong advocate for more housing; and Gina Dalma, special adviser to the CEO and vice president of government relations at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, where she has brought her leadership into the housing arena.

The event will be moderated by Fred Blackwell, CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, which helped lead the coalition to advance the housing legislation. Larry Kramer, president of the Hewlett Foundation, which is providing unrestricted grant support to the San Francisco Foundation, will provide introductory remarks.

November 4, 2019

The Commonwealth Club
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, 94105
United States

Speakers
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Larry Kramer

President, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation—Introductions

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David Chiu

State Assemblymember Representing California’s 17th Assembly District (D–San Francisco)

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Gina Dalma

Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Special Adviser to the CEO, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation

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Guillermo Mayer

President and CEO, Public Advocates Inc.

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Denise Pinkston

Partner, TMG Partners

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Fred Blackwell

CEO, the San Francisco Foundation—Moderator