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HB's Measure U would give voters more say over housing — and it's heading to victory
Measure U in Huntington Beach would give voters a greater say on housing issues within the city.
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Apu Gomes
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AFP via Getty Images
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About the vote count
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As you watch these results, keep in mind:
- As of Friday, Nov. 15, Orange County voters had returned nearly 1.4 million ballots and 1.36 million had been tallied.
- The county has about 1.9 million voters considered to be active.
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Get full results:
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Keep in mind that in tight races the winner may not be determined for days or weeks after Election Day. This is normal. Here's why.
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In Orange County vote updates will the released each weekday by 5 p.m. until the last official results are posted.
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In California, ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 5 are counted toward the results as long as they arrive within seven days of the election. The California Secretary of State's Office is scheduled to certify the final vote on Dec. 13.
Let's start with all the caveats that nothing is certain until all the votes are counted. With that out of the way: The Measure U race in Huntington Beach appears headed for victory, according to early voting drops. And that means the beach city could be on a collision course with Sacramento — again. This time, the battleground will be housing.
What is Measure U?
Measure U is a charter amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot that critics say amounts to an end run around state housing mandates.
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Why it matters
If successful, Measure U would give local voters control over development decisions that could affect issues such as the environment and quality of life. It could also inspire other communities to follow suit.
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What would Measure U actually do?
If approved, the new law would give residents a vote on any city-initiated change to the city's zoning or general plan that could negatively affect the environment. It's easy to see how that sets the stage for blocking housing projects at the ballot box. And that in turn sets the stage for a showdown with Sacramento and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
How we got here
The state wants to build 2.5 million new housing units in California by 2030 — with 1 million of those being affordable. A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled earlier this year that Huntington Beach has to comply with state housing mandates. But proponents of Measure U are resisting. They say Huntington Beach voters, and not Sacramento, should have final say over housing within the city.
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What did critics say?
Among other arguments, opponents warned that this charter amendment will lead to costly legal battles with the state. Some say noncompliance with state housing laws could mean hundreds of thousands in monthly fines, and say that “the city's fiscal insolvency” could be at stake.
Isn't HB always fighting with Sacto?
Pretty much. Huntington Beach has feuded with Sacramento on many fronts — voter identification, parental notification issues, the beloved airshow, library books — especially since a strongly conservative majority took over in 2022. That is unlikely to change anytime soon. A conservative slate also appears headed for victory in the wake of Tuesday's election.
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