Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo went all in on “local control” during a recent meeting, pledging future City Council hearings — and even possible litigation — over the latest bill from Sacramento to build affordable housing near transit hubs.

Gordo suggested he would plan future discussions over new law signed in October by Gov. Gavin Newsom, called SB79.

The contentious bill takes aim at the state’s high housing costs by pushing for denser development near transit stops in bigger cities.

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In a state where many have been priced out of the market in recent years as costs have skyrocketed, California leaders see the law, which fast-tracks denser housing, as a big step toward bring the cost of living down.

“Housing near transit means shorter commutes, lower costs, and more time with family. When we invest in housing, we’re investing in people — their chance to build a future, raise a family, and be part of a community,” Newsom said of the bill.

But locally, Gordo, sees it as a threat to local control — specifically the authority of locally elected officials to make and shape policy. Also, in a city with many historic districts and structures, Gordo is concerned about “upzoning” that would mean higher-density development in areas where such density had been limited.

Preservationists share the concern. The L.A. Conservancy said the law’s amendments don’t add up to much protection for historic resources — especially in areas like Pasadena.

At a City Council meeting earlier this month, Gordo voiced his frustration during a State of the State presentation by state Sen. Sasha Renee Pérez, D-Pasadena.

Pérez, while pushing for amendments to assuage concerns of local cities who agree with Gordo, voted for the legislation.

Gordo couldn’t have agreed more on most of her legislative updates: Homeless support. Check. Immigration related bills. Check. Fire recovery legislation. Check.

But major housing bill? No check.

“The state of California is now functioning as our planning department,” he said from the dais. “I’m very disappointed that the right of the city council and Pasadena to determine their future and how this city evolves is simply taken out of our hands and put into the hands of a very small group of people in Sacramento.”

Pérez took pains in replying to Gordo to say that much work had been put into amending the bill to assuage critics such as Gordo, mindful of not forcing cities to re-do their Housing Elements — a city’s policy document outlining a community’s housing needs and ways those needs will be met over time. They are required by the state to meet goals for housing.

That said, Pérez noted that transit and housing “are inextricably linked to one another.”

“I think you are seeing a desire by members of the Legislature to try and figure this out,” she said, noting the skyrocketing of rents as demand for housing outstrips supply. “We have to apply all these solutions to really see movement on us getting to the root cause of this housing crisis.”

According to Zillow, the average rent in the Pasadena market is $2,795, 40% higher than the national average.

In an earlier letter to the state, before SB79 was passed and signed, acknowledged a statewide housing crisis, Gordo urged “that steps must be taken to address housing affordability.” He repeated those words during the recent council meeting.

Gordo said recent state legislation works against those steps, saying that it forces cities to approve transit-oriented developments at specific transit stops, up to seven stories high and a density of 120 homes per acre, without public input, he said in a September letter to Newsom, signed by City Manager Miguel Márquez, and representatives from the League of California Cities.

Gordo said the city’s general plan already supports high-density housing and mixed-use development along commercial corridors, such as on Colorado Boulevard, Fair Oaks Avenue, Foothill Boulevard and Lake Avenue – areas near transit hubs.

Gordo, of course, is not the only city leader locally who’s been concerned. Earlier in the year, a coalition of Gateway Cities chimed in with opposition, from Whittier to Pico Rivera to South Gate, noting their own projects they believe were threatened land-use authority, which they fear would go to the state.

“Many cities along the planned 14.5-mile Southeast Gateway Line and 9-mile extension of the Metro E Line have spent years developing comprehensive plans to help guide land use around the proposed light rail Meto station,” the letter said. “For example, the following cities have spent years developing specific plans to support transit-oriented development that balance growth with infrastructure, environmental sustainability, public safety, and community character.”

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The Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion on Nov. 4,directing Los Angeles City Planning to prepare recommendations for the implementation of SB 79.

The bill’s author, Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, as well as Newsom’s office, don’t agree with Gordo and critics. They say the bill will fast-track permitting, while beefing up enforcement of housing laws, while promoting homes closer to jobs, schools and economic opportunity.

Other critics suggest that “local control” — as it relates to housing policy — has triggered  “segregationist zoning” and more un-affordable housing.

Even Pérez said some cities have tried to designated their entire city as “historic” in order to avoid housing mandates.

Pasadena’s resistance to SB79 isn’t a total surprise. The city, and Gordo, were not thrilled with SB9, which, effective three years ago, aimed to increase housing density by enabling homeowners to subdivide their lots.

In 2022, Pasadena faced scrutiny from state Attorney General Rob Bonta for passing an ordinance that sought to dilute the effects of SB9.

Bonta had sent a letter to Pasadena that took issue with city leaders for passing an emergency ordinance on Dec. 6, 2021. That measure, among other efforts, allowed the city to broadly exempt existing areas from SB9 requirements by declaring the areas “landmark districts,” Bonta said.

Gordo spoke up.

“The Attorney General simply got it wrong and unfairly targeted Pasadena,” he wrote in a statement. “Pasadena was a pioneer in creating affordable housing, and we will continue to prioritize the creation and retention of desperately needed affordable housing—while at the same time continuing our strong protection of the City’s landmark districts and neighborhoods.”

SB79 is “SB9 on steroids,” Gordo continued from the dais.

At a certain point last week, Councilmember Rick Cole — who himself has urged a pragmatic approach to SB79 — chimed in, acknowledging that the City Council has not truly engage in a proper debate over SB79.

“I respect how sincerely you feel about this,” he told Gordo. “But I don’t think this is the time to debate our state legislator. I also think she’s open the door for us to work with her, and I think we should.”

Gordo suggested the city could ultimately take a formal position on the law, and a potential further push for amendments.

And expect more debate on the council.

“We’ve never had that debate. It would be good to have it,” said Councilmember Jessica Rivas.