Working closely with California HCD through an iterative, back-and-forth review process — sending pre-drafts for quick staff review before formal submission — the City of Salinas became one of the only jurisdictions in the Central Coast region to achieve a certified housing element as of the spring of 2026. HCD staff took a “yes-first” problem-solving stance, working with jurisdictions to adjust projects rather than simply rejecting submissions: “We can’t do that, but maybe look at doing this.” Hollister and San Juan Bautista have since achieved certification as well — baby steps toward a regional norm that remains far from universal. The experience points to what becomes possible when state housing element compliance is treated as a collaborative, iterative process rather than a high-stakes one-time submission, particularly for under-resourced jurisdictions that lack the staff capacity to absorb rejections and start over.