State of California – Proposition 4 (SUPPORT)

A red graphic with the HFE logo upper left. The center has "Build Climate Resilience." Below it are three graphics: a wildfire on a hill, a wildfire behind homes, and the aftermath of a wildfire. At the bottom it reads: Support SB 867 (Allen).

Early Details:
With the passage and signing of Senate Bill 337 (Min), California committed to protecting 30% of California’s lands and waters by 2030 (dubbed 30×30). However, the financial investments needed to make that happen have not been made. During this budget crisis both the Legislature’s and Governor’s versions of the State Budget proposed considerable cuts, further jeopardizing conservation work statewide. They even threatened to eliminate the Habitat Conservation Fund, a voter-approved funding source providing $30 million a year for wildlife conservation. Advocates across the state rallied to this save particular fund, but conservation overall took a larger hit than most departments.   

As a follow up to the Budget, conservation advocates continued to work toward getting approval to place conservation funding on the November ballot via Senate Bill 867 (Allen). It covers wildfire resilience, drought, watershed protection, and clean water and air investments. In the hours before the Legislative Session ended on July 3rd, the Assembly, Senate, and Acting Governor approved and signed this legislation. Voters will consider this bill as a $10 billion investment supporting conservation work statewide. It is Proposition 4, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.

Yorba Linda – Measure JJ (SUPPORT)

A map from the City of Yorba Linda General Plan showing the designated Open Spaces in green.

In addition to needing a General Plan, every city needs to have a state certified Housing Element. To be certified by the state Housing and Community Development Department, the Housing Element must provide the zoning for these newly-assigned housing allotments. Without that certification, the State can take over local control of building approvals. In Yorba Linda, an existing local law also requires a vote of the people for General Plan changes like updated zoning.

The Yorba Linda City Council placed its revised Housing Element on the its November ballot, Measure JJ. Because of the potential consequences of NOT approving the measure, Hills For Everyone has endorsed Measure JJ. The new Element is a compromise solution designed by a Yorba Linda Residents Working Group after much listening, understanding, and studying. If the vote fails, Yorba Linda will not have a state certified housing element, which opens the door to what is called “Builders Remedy.”

This tool forces the city or county to approve most housing development projects, regardless of the local zoning. So, a 10-story apartment building can be placed in the middle of a single family neighborhood as long as it doesn’t pose a health or safety issue.

To protect the hills and our wildlands, focusing development on the city center, we have given Measure JJ a thumps up—the risks of not approving it are too great.

LA County – Measure PH (Puente Hills) (SUPPORT)

A man and a woman walk a dirt trail with a large tree overhanging the path and blue skies above.

Early Details: Hills For Everyone supports Measure PH, which creates a community facilities district surrounding the protected lands of the Puente Hills Preserve. As more information becomes available, we will post it here.