Engage community-based organizations (CBOs) as true co-design/peer-review partners (not one-off meetings) during housing elements and major development reviews; use the SB 1425 EJ engagement model as a floor, not a ceiling.
Challenge/Local/State
Priority Area: Housing & Climate Nexus
Description
Local Solution
(Type of Activity: Community Program Implementation )
Existing Examples of Progress: City of Long Beach – CBO co-design of housing policy (inclusionary ordinance): Community-based organizations actively peer-reviewed and helped craft the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance and related policy, moving beyond one-off meetings. CBOs didn’t just “consult” but actually co-wrote and peer-reviewed housing elements and ordinances, ensuring that siting choices (e.g., where new housing would go) reflected environmental justice and anti-displacement priorities. The CBO role was described as a “mirror-holding” role, where CBOs pushed city staff to adjust policy drafts before adoption. This was seen as more effective than one-off workshops mandated by state law. Why it matters: Demonstrates a scalable model for true co-production of housing policy to improve equity and local legitimacy.
Region: Los Angeles
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