BERKELEY, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – There's been some pushback to a recent court decision to halt student housing construction at People's Park in Berkeley.
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The plans for the park have been subject to constant protests and controversy since the possible project was announced.
Now, the California Courts of Appeal ruled that UC Berkeley violated state environmental law considering the noise impacts of possible loud student parties.
But Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement in response to the decision, saying that the ruling points to a broken system in regard to that law.
"A few wealthy Berkeley homeowners should not be able to block desperately needed student housing for years and even decades," said the tweet accompanying the statement over the weekend.
A local senator agreed with Newsom.
"It's a terrible ruling and we’re going to need to address it in the legislature," said Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents parts of San Francisco and San Mateo County.
This is the first time the governor’s office has weighed in on the issue since protesters first blocked construction last summer.
"We need to add millions of new homes in the state of California," said Wiener. "And what this ruling means is that anytime you're trying to build new homes someone could argue, 'Oh that’s bringing people in and that’s going to be pollution.'"
UC Berkeley officials also issued a statement saying that they plan to appeal the California Supreme Court.
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