Policy Updates
Q&A with Senator Aisha Wahab
March 25, 2025
Senator Wahab can relate to the issues the community faces regarding affordable housing, because she has walked in their shoes. Placed in foster care at an early age, she was adopted by a young couple in the Bay Area, who gave her a warm and stable upbringing. Yet she knows what it feels like to…
Year in Review: 2024 Policy Update from Sacramento
December 17, 2024
Governor Newsom signed 13 bills supported by Eden during this legislative session—including legislation that strengthens protections for affordable housing providers from “bad faith” lawsuits, increases financing flexibility, and reduces or delays fees imposed on our projects. In spite of a multi-billion-dollar revenue shortfall, the 2024-25 state budget approved earlier this year also maintained state commitments…
Q&A with Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez
October 21, 2024
Cindy Chavez has been an incredible champion of affordable housing and a great partner to Eden Housing. Throughout her 11-year tenure as Santa Clara County Supervisor, she has been instrumental in many advances, including her role as the architect of Measure A, a $950 million affordable housing bond. As she prepares to embark on a chapter…
Q&A With Mark Salinas, Mayor of the City of Hayward
October 21, 2024
For approximately three decades, Mayor Mark Salinas has dedicated himself to serving the City of Hayward. Beginning as a student at Chabot College, he organized his classmates to tutor middle school students and mobilized community members to serve breakfast to Hayward children during the holidays. Today, as Mayor of Hayward, he continues his long-standing commitment…
Q&A with David Garcia, Up for Growth Policy Director and Eden Housing Board Member
June 20, 2024
A field as challenging—and critical—as affordable housing needs the best possible talent to ensure that important goals are met. That’s why Up for Growth recently appointed David Garcia as its first Policy Director, where he is responsible for building, stewarding and advocating for its portfolio of pro-housing policies. This follows a six-year stint for Garcia…
Q&A with Amie Fishman, Executive Director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH)
April 1, 2024
Amie Fishman has dedicated her entire career toward affordable housing. She has led NPH since 2015, spearheading its expansion into innovative electoral strategies, public campaigns and industry-strengthening initiatives. Her leadership efforts have resulted in substantial gains for Bay Area affordable housing, securing over $2 billion from county measures in 2016 and $6 billion from statewide…
Q&A with Congressman Jimmy Panetta
March 28, 2024
Congressman Jimmy Panetta has long been a champion of housing, playing a key role in introducing multiple pieces of legislation with the aim to reduce its cost. But he shows his support through more than his policies as a welcome visitor to numerous affordable housing developments, where he aims to get to know the residents…
Mayor’s Corner: Kate Colin, Mayor of San Rafael
March 1, 2024
This is part of Eden Housing’s ongoing “Meet the Mayor” series, where we highlight the leaders of the towns and cities Eden Housing serves. Eden is proud to work with more than 50 mayors throughout the state of California who, along with their other elected colleagues on the city or town council, have supported the…
Q&A with Assemblymember Timothy Grayson
March 1, 2024
Assemblymember Timothy Grayson took public office in 2010, serving on the Concord City Council, and was elected to serve in the California Assembly in November 2016, representing the 15th Assembly District, which encompasses portions of Contra Costa County. Stemming from humble roots, Assemblymember Grayson has been a staunch advocate of affordable housing and has also…
Q&A with Senator Steve Glazer
March 1, 2024
Throughout his eight-year tenure in the California State Senate, Senator Steve Glazer has been a dedicated advocate for affordable housing, public safety, education, water conservation and small businesses. Most recently, his commitment to CEQA reform and advocacy for state budget investments in affordable housing has made a significant impact. Additionally, in 2019, he played a…