Big City Mayors Ask for “Yes” Vote on Housing Bond Measure; Conservatives Say “No”

August 28, 2026

A bipartisan group of mayors from California's major cities held a rally at the State Capitol on August 19 to advocate for Proposition 1, an $11. 25 billion bond measure appearing on the November ballot that would fund affordable housing and veterans' programs. The measure would allocate $10 billion toward affordable housing development and homeownership assistance, with an additional $1.

Who is affected

Residents of California's largest cities including Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, San Diego, Fresno, and San Francisco
People experiencing homelessness across California
Low- and moderate-income households seeking homeownership
Fresno residents, where more than 1 in 5 live in poverty
Military veterans seeking to purchase homes
Farmworkers needing housing
Students at University of California and California State University campuses
Native American tribes
Black and Latino communities affected by historical redlining and discriminatory lending
Working-class families throughout California

What action is being taken

A bipartisan coalition of mayors is urging voters to approve Proposition 1
Mayors gathered at the State Capitol on August 19 to advocate for the measure
The Legislature has enacted regulatory and permitting reforms to streamline housing approvals
Thousands of affordable housing projects are sitting in the pipeline waiting for funding

Why it matters

This measure is significant because it addresses California's severe housing crisis and homelessness epidemic by providing critical funding for affordable housing development. The bond would finance approximately 40,000 shovel-ready housing units that have cleared regulatory requirements but lack financing to begin construction. Additionally, the measure aims to address longstanding racial inequities in homeownership, particularly for Black and Latino communities impacted by decades of discriminatory lending practices. The funding would replenish resources from a 2018 housing bond that was fully committed years ahead of schedule, demonstrating ongoing demand. Without this state support, city leaders say they cannot adequately address housing affordability challenges affecting residents at all income levels.

What's next

Voters will decide on Proposition 1 in the November ballot election.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint