State senator wants new Sacramento housing agency. These mayors are against it
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- Senator Ashby’s bill would create a new regional housing and homelessness agency.
- Local officials criticized the rushed process and lack of prior consultation.
- Cities raised concerns over reduced control of funding and program decisions.
Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen was slated to speak in support of California state Sen. Angelique Ashby’s latest legislation for a regional housing development and homelessness agency on Wednesday. But when Ashby took to the podium to announce her proposal, Singh-Allen was missing.
Ashby’s proposed Sacramento Area Housing and Homelessness Agency will succeed the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency to develop affordable housing and administer homelessness programs should Senate Bill 802 pass. SHRA has distributed federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the county and city of Sacramento since 1982.
The legislation proposes a single governing board with three seats for the Sacramento City Council, three seats for Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, two seats for Elk Grove City Council and one seat each for the city councils of Folsom, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova.
But by Wednesday’s end, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and mayors of Elk Grove, Folsom, Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova all wrote letters of opposition.
“SB 802 was introduced less than 24 hours ago; therefore, county officials have not had adequate time to fully analyze this measure,” wrote Elisia De Bord on behalf of the Board of Supervisors Wednesday. “A bill of this magnitude on the serious topic of homelessness should not be done in haste or introduced by surprise.”
According to De Bord, the Board of Supervisors last met with Ashby on May 22. The Board of Supervisors updated Ashby on progress in supporting the county’s homeless population, but Ashby did not mention a new agency during the meeting or any alterations to the county’s approach.
“She was silent about the bill,” De Bord said.
Ashby did not immediately respond for comment on Thursday.
Ashby’s amended bill is set to be heard in the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development Wednesday. To be included in the committee’s analysis, position letters had to be submitted five business days prior to the hearing — the same day Ashby hosted her press conference.
The tight turnaround between the amendment’s unveiling and its hearing limited the scope of opposition letters. De Bord said the county is analyzing the bill’s legal standing and was unable to include any findings by the deadline.
The legality of the bill is also being considered by District Attorney Thien Ho. When Ho spoke at the news conference Wednesday, he said he was still evaluating the language in the bill.
Singh-Allen said she was asked to speak at the press conference before she ever saw the legislation. She said she and Ashby had spoken vaguely about a joint powers authority, but never had a meeting about the bill.
Ashby’s amendment emerged from committee on Monday, and Singh-Allen did not see it until she reached out to Ashby mid-Tuesday morning, the Elk Grove mayor said. Despite the bill mandating Elk Grove’s involvement in its proposed agency, Singh-Allen said she and Ashby never discussed details of her city’s involvement until after the bill was filed.
“I informed her immediately that I would not appear at the press conference,” Singh-Allen said.
While Singh-Allen was absent, former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg made an appearance to speak in favor of the bill. He was joined on stage by Sacramento City Council members Caity Maple and Karina Talamantes.
Sacramento is the only city named in the amendment whose mayor has not written a letter of opposition. The other cities’ letters have each included concerns for a loss of local control of funds. Under the amendment, the proposed agency will apply for, receive, and administer federal, state and local funding for housing and homelessness.
“This change would undermine the city’s ability to design and deliver programs that reflect the unique needs of our community and residents” wrote Citrus Heights Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa. “Local governments are closest to the challenges on the ground and are best to allocate resources effectively and responsively.”
Singh-Allen ended her letter with a plea.
“Please allow us to continue to work together to find a solution that works for everyone, rather than a heavy-handed, forced solution by the state.”
This story was originally published June 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
