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Dear Heritage Members and Residents of Claremont,
Last Friday, the California State Senate narrowly approved Senate Bill 79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener. Despite strong advocacy by Claremont Heritage and our preservation partners throughout the state, proposed protections for historic places were not adopted.
SB 79 now awaits action by Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until October 12 to either sign or veto it. If enacted, the bill threatens Claremont’s neighborhoods and historic resources.
Why SB 79 is Harmful:
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Protections limited only to local designations. Landmarks on the California and National Registers, the state’s highest levels of designation, would not count.
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Arbitrary 10% cap. Only 10% of any transit zone may be preserved, regardless of how many historic sites exist. In Claremont, this cap is especially harmful because so many historic resources are concentrated near transit.
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Retroactive cut-off. Only cultural resources designated before January 1, 2025, would qualify. This undermines recognition of properties that are currently being added to the Local Register and weakens ongoing survey work.
Immediate action is critical.
How to Contact the Governor
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Go to HERE.
- Under Topic, select An Active Bill
- Choose SB 79
- Select Leave a Comment, then click NEXT
- Select Con (oppose)
- Change the subject line to: Veto SB 79
- Write your message, then enter your information and click Submit
📞 To call: (916) 445-2841
Claremont Heritage remains deeply concerned about the long-term consequences for our historic neighborhoods and community character. Please take a few minutes today to tell Governor Newsom why SB 79 is wrong for California.
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