Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Common Sense Bay Area Coalition?
The Common Sense Bay Area Coalition is a group of neighbors, families, renters, small businesses, and community leaders who are standing up against regulations that drive up costs without accountability. We believe that before new rules are passed, regulators should have to show their price tag.
Why was the coalition formed?
Life in the Bay Area is already expensive enough. We pay the highest gas prices in the country, utility bills that keep climbing, and housing costs that push people out of their communities. Yet the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) keeps passing new regulations without answering one basic question: how much will this cost the people who live here?
We formed the coalition to demand honesty and fairness. Families, renters, and small businesses deserve transparency before they’re forced to pay more.
What is our first project?
Our first step is requiring the Bay Area Air District (BAAD) to conduct an economic impact study before adopting new rules. That way, costs are put on the table up front, and everyone knows what the financial impact will be before it hits household budgets.
Who is behind the coalition?
The Common Sense Bay Area Coalition is a project of the Bay Area Council, a respected public policy and advocacy group founded in 1945. For nearly 80 years, the Council has brought together leaders from across industries and communities to solve the Bay Area’s toughest challenges—from housing and transportation to climate and the economy.
What problems are you focused on?
We are focused on the everyday costs that affect families most:
Gas Prices: Bay Area drivers pay the highest prices in the nation, and regulations are making it worse.
Utility Bills: Households here pay nearly double the national average, with costs climbing every year.
Housing Costs: Home prices and rents are soaring, and regulations make it harder and more expensive to build.
Overall Cost of Living: Families need over $120,000 a year just to cover basic expenses. Adding hidden costs is unfair.
Accountability: Regulators should be upfront about how their rules affect everyday expenses.
Why focus on accountability?
Because accountability is common sense. Right now, regulators can pass rules without showing the financial impact. That leaves families, renters, and small businesses to absorb hidden costs. By requiring an economic impact study, we can bring transparency and fairness into the process.