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Leading San Diego Housing Advocate Joins Gov. Brown's Administration

Leading San Diego Housing Advocate Joins Gov. Brown's Administration
Leading San Diego Housing Advocate Joins Gov. Brown's Administration
Guest: Susan Riggs, executive director, San Diego Housing Federation

A leading advocate for affordable housing in San Diego has been invited to work for Gov. Jerry Brown.

Susan Riggs, who leads the San Diego Housing Federation, will soon be deputy secretary for housing policy in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.

Riggs has led the Housing Federation since 2010.

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"Together, the members, partners, board and staff of the San Diego Housing Federation have built up a tremendous organization, one with the capacity and the vision to continue making a real and lasting difference in the lives of San Diegans. I have full confidence that this leadership transition will only make an already great organization that much stronger and impactful. I look forward to continuing to work with San Diego partners to champion the affordable housing needs of low-income residents of California and the San Diego region," Riggs said.

The appointment comes at a crossroads for affordable housing policy in California. Housing prices are higher and rents are going up. The redevelopment agencies that used to be tasked with building affordable housing have been eliminated.

Riggs has been outspoken about San Diego's linkage fee, which commercial developers pay to help finance affordable housing in the city of San Diego.

There's an effort underway currently to overturn the recent fee hike.

Riggs plans to start her role in April.

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She also serves on the board of directors for Civic San Diego.