On September 24th, Lowney Architecture had the pleasure of hosting Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, author of AB 130, at our Oakland headquarters for a deep dive into real CEQA reform—and what it means for housing and community growth across California.

The event brought together attendees from Oakland, Los Angeles, and beyond, both in person and online, creating a dynamic, statewide conversation about the future of development in California.

Assemblymember Wicks walked us through AB 130’s groundbreaking updates to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), highlighting how these changes aim to streamline housing approvals and promote equitable urban growth. The discussion also touched on AB 671, a complementary proposal to simplify restaurant and small business improvement permitting, emphasizing how thoughtful legislation can foster both community vitality and economic opportunity.

Hosted by Ken Lowney, Robert Selna, and the Oakland Builders Alliance (OBA), the evening was an inspiring reminder of how policy and design intersect to shape our built environment.

A huge thank you to Assemblymember Wicks for her leadership, and to everyone who joined us—whether in Oakland, Los Angeles, or online—to make this important conversation possible.