Circulator - 05/27/2026 - Circulate Planning & Policy

Published May 28, 2026

Post-Primary Mixer with Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee
Upcoming: Balboa Park Transit Trip & Pedestrian Audit!
Bike Anywhere Day Recap!
The Affordable Homes Bonus Law passes the Assembly!
Circulate CEO on Building Better Cities Podcast
Circulate News

Post-Primary Mixer with Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee

The ballots will be counted, the results will be rolling in, and the conversations will just be getting started.

Join Circulate Planning & Policy and the Urban Land Institute on June 3rd for our Summer Membership Mixer featuring special guest Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee. Together, we’ll break down what the California Primary means for housing, transportation, and the future of growth in our region.

Connect with local leaders, advocates, and members over drinks and conversation as we kick off the summer.

Learn More & RSVP!

Upcoming: Balboa Park Transit Trip & Pedestrian Audit!

In collaboration with RideSD, join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026 for a Transit Trip and Pedestrian Audit to Balboa Park.

We will be meeting at Fashion Valley Transit Center at 10:15 AM and departing at 10:35 AM promptly to take the 120 bus to Balboa Park.

Can't make it to the Transit Trip?

We will be meeting at Fourth Avenue and Laurel Street at 11:00 AM to start the Pedestrian Audit into Balboa Park.

RSVP HERE!

Bike Anywhere Day Recap!

Last week, the Circulate team had the pleasure of welcoming cyclists to our booths for Bike Anywhere Day 2026!

Bike Anywhere Day (formerly Bike to Work Day) is a free, annual event that SANDAG has hosted in the San Diego region for more than 30 years. It is an opportunity for everyone to ride to work, school, the beach, or anywhere.

This year, the Circulate team tabled near Chula Vista’s Living Coast Discovery Center, Portwood Pier in the City of Imperial Beach, and at SDSU’s Transit Center.

Check out the pictures from Bike Anywhere Day here!

The Affordable Homes Bonus Law passes the Assembly!

This Wednesday, the Affordable Homes Bonus Law passed the State Assembly 53-0. This Circulate-sponsored legislation will make it easier for builders to use California Bonus Law to construct affordable homes.

The bill is authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez, who represents District 80 in the South Bay part of San Diego County. Assemblymember Alvarez has been an author for several of our bills over the years. This reflects his priorities to create more affordable home ownership and rental opportunities in our region.

Earlier this month, Assemblymember Alvarez released a video discussing our bill, and why it is important for a more affordable California.

Watch the full video here!

Circulate CEO on Building Better Cities Podcast

Circulate CEO and General Counsel Colin Parent recently appeared on the Building Better Cities Podcast with Kate Gasparro.

Together, Kate and Colin discuss how Bonus Law evolved from a rarely used statute into a central housing production tool, now accounting for a significant share of multifamily housing approvals in California. We also examine how San Diego became an early testing ground for reform, how local innovation scaled into state policy, and why incentive-based approaches can sometimes outperform more traditional regulatory strategies.

Beyond the mechanics, this conversation explores broader questions of housing affordability, urban infrastructure, and coalition-building: what it takes to align public and private interests—and where even successful policies may still leave gaps, particularly for middle-income households.

Listen to the podcast here!