Huntington Beach to Keep Fighting Despite State’s Recent Court Victory on Affordable Housing

Surf City pushes for local control, but Attorney General Rob Bonta says cities are not above the law and ’should take notice.’

City Attorney Michael Gates updates residents at the Elks Club in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 20, 2024. Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times

During a May 20 gathering at the Huntington Beach Elks Club, City Attorney Michael Gates updated residents on a slew of lawsuits the city is facing, including one that could force city officials to adopt a state-mandated plan for affordable housing.

Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he and Gov. Gavin Newsom had secured a lower court victory in a March 2023 state lawsuit over the city’s failure to plan for housing. But the recent success will be short lived as the city pushes forward in a battle for local control, Mr. Gates said in his update.