Post Type
Anderson v. City of San José
About the Campaign
Public Advocates, along with our partners, successfully sued the City of San José for not complying with the state’s Surplus Land Act (SLA). The SLA requires cities who want to sell or lease public lands must offer it first to developers that will build affordable housing. The landmark ruling applies to the 121 charter cities in California and affirms that “public land for public good” isn’t just a slogan. As Deputy Managing Attorney Sam Tepperman-Gelfant noted, “every city can and must prioritize its surplus land for homes affordable to lower-income families.” San José has long faced its own affordability crisis, with the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment reaching $2,792. This price is affordable only to people making $54 per hour — nearly $112,000 per year.
Resources
- Press coverage of the ruling from the San Jose Union Tribune, SFGate, Courthouse News Service, and CBS Bay Area
- November 26, 2019 Press Release
- Complaint
- July 21, 2016 Press Release
- Opposition to Motion to Dismiss
- Demand Letter to City of San José