Millbrae’s La Quinta Inn at 1390 El Camino Real.
The state of California has officially taken a side in the lawsuit between San Mateo County and the city of Millbrae, with the state Attorney General’s Office filing an amicus brief Wednesday, Feb. 28, in support of the county’s purchase of La Quinta Inn as part of the state’s Project Homekey to shelter the unhoused population.
The hearing has now been moved from March 13 to April 3 to give both parties time to review the roughly 100-page document.
The case originated after the county Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of La Quinta Inn with the intention of using funds from the state’s Project Homekey — which provides local jurisdictions with funds to purchase and rehabilitate housing developments for homeless individuals and families.
In response, Millbrae filed a petition in November, invoking Article 34 of the state Constitution, which prevents the county from purchasing the site for what is referred to as “low-rent housing projects” without a ballot vote.
The lawsuit has drawn ire from both sides, with some claiming Millbrae’s tactics impede housing production at the peak of an affordability and mental health crisis, especially with its usage of an outdated legal loophole. The city has asserted it is already making substantial progress on its housing goals, mostly done through public-private partnerships, rather than full government ownership and operation. City Manager Tom Williams said the recent state certification of its Housing Element — a state mandated document outlining how a city will allow a certain amount of development growth — is proof of Millbrae’s effective housing approach.
“This shows that Millbrae is doing the right thing, and some of the criticism from special interests is unwarranted,” Williams said. “We support affordable housing, and we build affordable housing.”
He said he is not aware of residents voting on such housing developments in the past.
The state’s brief notes that “state legislation implementing Homekey provides that Homekey-funded projects are not subject to the requirements” of Article 34 — largely because they have determined not to be low-rent housing projects — and Legislature has leeway in defining its scope due to the article’s ambiguity. It also notes that Homekey is a critical program that leverages the many vacant motels and hotels, largely as a result of the pandemic, and has already funded about 250 projects statewide.
Williams did not comment on the contents of the amicus brief.
Note to readers: This story has been changed. La Quinta Inn is currently open.
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(2) comments
Talk about an anti-climactic decision… Well of course the state of CA would side with San Mateo County. If I understand the article correctly, the state says Article 34 cannot be used because the hotel has not been determined to be a low-rent housing project. So what is the amount of rent that will be charged to folks living at the hotel? If it’s free, then that more than meets the requirement of being low-rent. In fact, you can’t beat it. Good luck to Millbrae in stopping SMC, or at least extracting a bigger annual payment and freedom from liability and policing.
It's not surprising when local city department heads on the Peninsula, San Mateo County Politicians and SM County Supervisors all get together and back each other up even on the most egregious, hideous scenarios looking them right dab in their collective faces.
Two who held their ground were Ann Schneider - City of Millbrae and Ray Mueller - San Mateo County Supervisor - District 3.
The two of them "Walked their Talk" and did not let the status quo-others vote one way or another because of the "You scratch My Back and I will do yours" mantra.
Like the politicians you / we see on TV from Washington - cat-fighting on TV in the assembly - and those same 50-100 career politicians end up down town DC having dinner and drinks - when 30 min earlier they were criticizing and demonizing each other.
Imagine our own Life time politicians doing the same and thus this Millbrae issue is being resolved due to each others loyalty to each other as Politicians.
I have two words: Shores Landing.
The billion dollar Redwood Shores former Hotel - turned 96 bed - place to stay for homeless over the age of 62 has been a disaster since the day it opened.
Day one: Two registered sex offenders were discovered as tenants 500 yards from the Counties largest day care center.
To HomeKey and MidPeninsula as well as Mike and Dave:
How's that working out for all you. ?
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