BIASC Demands Reform as SCAG Faces Backlash Over SB 1087 Sponsorship

The Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) is challenging the organizational structure of SCAG, arguing that its persistent sponsorship of SB 1087 ignores a clear regional consensus. Agencies including the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the Orange County Transportation Authority have either withdrawn support or moved to oppose the bill, which industry leaders have labeled a "housing killer" that threatens to complicate regional planning and worsen affordability.

BIASC CEO Jeff Montejano contends that SCAG’s internal processes are shielding the organization from accountability. Despite the shifting legislative landscape and growing opposition, SCAG Chairman Ray Marquez has refused to allow the elected Regional Council to vote on the agency’s stance. This refusal has prompted BIASC to launch an initiative aimed at examining SCAG’s governance, specifically focusing on whether unelected staff or internal procedures are overriding the will of the elected officials who serve the region. The association maintains that the current structure fails to provide the transparency and oversight necessary for effective regional leadership.