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REALTOR®: REALTORS® learn pending issues in Sacramento

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

While the California State Legislature is in its summer recess, California Assemblymember Rich Gordon (D- Menlo Park) is in the area meeting with constituents. Gordon represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes the communities of North Fair Oaks, Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, a portion of Cupertino, and the San Mateo County Coastside – from El Granada to the Santa Cruz County border.

Speaking to members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, Gordon highlighted a couple of bills he hopes will pass the state Legislature. Gordon is the author of AB 968, which clarifies that the owner of a separate interest in a common interest development is responsible for maintenance of the exclusive use common areas (EUCA) and the homeowners association is responsible for repairs of the EUCA. The bill is currently pending on the Senate Floor.

Gordon, who hails from Menlo Park, is co-author of AB 2231, which seeks to reinstate the Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens Property-Tax Postponement (PTP) Program that was shut down in 2009 due to budget cuts. AB 2231 would allow low-income senior and disabled homeowners to postpone their property tax payments until they choose to sell the property. In exchange, the state would place a lien on the property, which is payable with interest when the property is sold. Gordon said the bill has strong bipartisan support and is currently awaiting hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The third issue Gordon touched on concerned California's drought. He explained the Water Bond (Assembly Bill 1422) is on the November ballot. Upon voter approval, the bond would enact the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act and authorize the state to borrow $11 billion to finance a water storage program. Gordon said the amount is too high and there are too many unrelated projects tied to the bond. He is one of eight Assembly members charged with the task of crafting a less expensive bond measure more focused on the issue of water.

California is seeing a huge shrinking of its traditional reservoir. Due to global warming, the snowpack is being reduced each year. Gordon said the state needs to look at ways to store rain water, including desalination and use of reclaimed water.

"We simply do not have enough water for all our residents," said Gordon.

In closing, Gordon remarked Sacramento is a very partisan place, but he is confident by reaching out to Republicans and Democrats, "we can work together to make the system work."


The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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