This week, berkeleys City Council Unanimously approved the first step of opting in to a new state law, which gives people the ability to buy an adu or accessory dwelling unit known as a backyard cottage. Sometimes theyre as small as 500ft■ s. They can be as big as 1000ft■ s in the city of berkel, but any size of a backyard cottage is typically smaller than a Single Family home here, so we expect the sale price to be lower as well. According to zillow, the average price of a home in berkeley now sits at around 1. 5 million. Thats why rashi kesarwani, a Berkeley City Council member, spearheaded bringing this proposal to the city council. A lot of times its, you know, existing homeowners who had an opportunity to buy a home when they werent as expensive, you know, so we want to give that opportunity to the next generation. East bay realtor shaniqua badger says it opens the door for more essential workers who cant afford to live where they work. Teachers should be able to buy where they teach. People who are working in the cities and the counties should be able to buy where they where they work. The Northern California land trust, a nonprofit working to provide and support Affordable Housing in the berkeley area, says theyre standing by to help potential buyers with this process. As soon as it gets a green light, having a policy that allows you to be able to potentially purchase a small home and be able to grow into that home with multiple families, youre really are seeing a way for folks to be able to have that opportunity at the american dream, kesarwani says. This will head to the citys Planning Department next. She hopes it will come back to city council for final approval within a year. The more cities that do this, the better the bay area is going to be. Off in berkeley. Lena howland, abc seven news state assemblyman phil ting, who represents San Francisco and a portion of san mateo county, wrote the bill that started all of this. We spoke with him earlier today on our 3 p. M. Program called getting answers. Home ownership is how you build wealth, how you build equity in your own life. Its a way that you get into the middle class. Its part of our california dream. Its a very key piece of it. And for some, you know, for many young people, its an elusive part of the dream. Other cities, including san jose, are also considering allowing the sale of backyard adus in cupertino. A tiny house is back on the market. Its 384ft■ s with a lit price of 1. 7 million. We told you about this when it first went on sale six weeks ago. Someone did put in an offer on the house in april, well over asking, according to the listing agent. But zillow says on monday it was listed for sale again. This is the smallest house in cupertino to hit the market in more than ten years. Its at the end of karman road and is sandwiched between homes worth around 5 million, according to zillow. 384ft■ s for that price. Well sticker shock in the south bay from the newest data on Single Family homes sale prices. Abc seven news south bay reporter Dustin Dorsey found the numbers even surprised. Some people who live there. Santa clara county, the home of innovation, technology and nearly 2 million people. And its also the home of some of the most expensive real estate in the country. What do you think the median home price is in Santa Clara County . Wow. Uh was taken in the last time there was, over 1 million. Im going to guess, 1. 5 million. I would say about 1. 5 to 1. 7 million. What about 2 million . Thats a bit high. Wow. Im a little shocked that its at that level. Thats right. Santa clara county association of realtors data found the median Single Family home price hit 2 million for the first time in april. Were talking the midpoint between the highest home sales price and the lowest. The data shows the top three median prices were in Los Altos Hills at 5. 8 million, monte sereno at 4. 5, and saratoga at 4. 2. Only five cities in the south bay are under the median san jose, at 1. 7 million, along with san martin, milpitas, morgan hill, and gilroy. Scc president Michelle Perry says there are only about 700 homes for sale and low inventory drives prices up. It has been a problem for many years and now its just out of control. The demand will not go away because the inventory is just too low, there needs to be significant amount of homes built in a short period of time, and we just dont see that happening. Real estate expert brad gill says its not just a lack of inventory that brought us to the 2 million price tag. He says real estate prices ebb and flow during peak sales times from the spring to the fall, shown here in Santa Clara County from last may to now. So what can we expect to see in the coming months . If the median home price for the month of may ends up slightly higher than 2 million, thats absolutely a possibility. But im also kind of figuring that i think well actually see it, decelerate a little bit. A possibility of much needed relief for buyers in a community that continues to be among the most expensive in the country. In Santa Clara County. Dustin dawsey abc seven news high housing costs are a factor in the bay areas homelessness crisis, according to data released today from San Franciscos point in time count conducted in january, the number of Homeless People is at a record high. The city has more than 8300 homeless, about 10 higher than last year, and roughly 2. 5 higher than the prior record set in january 2020, just before the pandemic. About half are unsheltered, living in cars, tents or on the street. 48 are sheltered, a percentage thats been trending upward lately. In last years count, both Santa Clara County and Alameda County had higher homeless populations than San Francisco. Developing news in the north bay, where the school year at Sonoma State University is ending with some controversy, the School President is on leave after he sent out a campus wide email announcing an agreement with propalestinian demonstrators. Its led to backlash from jewish organizations. Abc seven News Reporter cornell bernard is on the story. Its just kind of seems like everythings crumbling around us. Finals week is turning into drama week at sonoma state. The campus has been rocked by the departure of president mike lee, who was placed on leave wednesday. A lot of drama. University Officials Say it surrounds this campus wide email lee sent tuesday concerning an agreement reached with propalestinian student protesters seeking divestment from israel. It was on a list of demands made when the students created this encampment several weeks ago. But csus chancellor mildred garcia, says she was blindsided by the agreement, saying that message was sent without the appropriate approvals. For now, because of this insubordination and consequences, it has brought upon the system, president lee has been placed on administrative leave, garcia adding csus mission is to create an inclusive environment, not marginalize one community over another. The Jewish CommunityRelations Council says it fully supports putting lee on leave. We think that it was the right decision that he lost the confidence of the Jewish Community, and i would guess much of the Campus Community in that moment, and we hope that we can identify leadership that can hold all the communities suffering. Students for justice in palestine posted this message on instagram. Su demands met two weeks ago. A student from the group praised lees engagement. Our president , mike lee, finally for the first time, kind of truly acknowledged us yesterday by stepping on foot and talking to us. The encampment is now gone. I mean, for the most part, like they honestly were just out here trying to prove a point and it was it just kind of sucks that the president had to step down because he wanted to meet their demands. In a second email, lee issued an apology and affirmed he acted alone without approval from csu leaders. He said in my attempts to find agreement with one group of students, i marginalized other members of our student population and community. I realize the harm this has caused and i take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my actions. Its unclear how long lee will be gone. An interim president has been named. This has generated a lot of backlash with only days before graduation. Professor alexis bertini is hoping for unity. Personally, i hope he comes back, i think. I hope we recognize this as a unfortunate series of events, but that we can move on from them and that he can come back and help us come back together because we need to be building consensus right now, not encouraging this divisiveness that sonoma state. Cornell, bernard, abc seven news and a story we first started following yesterday. Propalestinian activists are still occupying a building at the anna head complex on the uc berkeley campus. The building was empty for two years until the protesters moved in this week. Uc berkeley says it is treating this as a crime scene, but weve seen no indication police are going to move in to clear out the protesters. Uc irvine held classes remotely today after 50 people were arrested when police cleared a propalestinian encampment yesterday. We brought it to you live yesterday at 6 p. M. On abc seven. Most of the people were arrested for failing to comply with the police order. A few were arrested for trespassing. The protest started a couple of weeks ago, but in intensified this week. Some of the students received suspension notices. Workers in the university of california system have authorized their union to call a strike over the handling of the protests that have roiled campuses for weeks now. The uaw represents roughly 48,000 people. The uc system, however, has a different view, saying, quote, this strike is illegal. Uaw decision to strike over nonlabour issues violates the no strike clause of their contracts with uc and sets a dangerous and far reaching precedent end of the statement. Stay with us for continuing coverage of the College Campus protest in the bay area and all across the country. Get the latest any time at abc seven news. Com. Happening tomorrow. Highway one leading into big sur will reopen to traffic. This is ahead of schedule. Part of the highway slipped out more than six weeks ago near the rocky creek bridge, sending a chunk of the road just crashing into the ocean. Abc seven News Reporter zach fuentes has been following one of the nearby businesses since this closure began, and is here with their reaction tonight. Zach their reaction is that they are thrilled. Imagine since march 30th, only twice a day convoy, primarily for residents, have been bringing people in and out of big sur. So now, starting tomorrow at 6 30 a. M, the portion of highway one impacted by the collapse is finally reopening. And heres some video from a few weeks ago when the road was first closed. When it reopens tomorrow, its going to be one way traffic with a temporary signal. Governor newsoms office announced that news this week, saying that the reopening is eight days ahead of the initial scheduled reopening for memorial day. In the week since the road slip out. Big sur businesses say the economic hit has been substantial. They tell me that the timing of this reopening one weekend before memorial day weekend couldnt have been better. But the biggest benefit to us is it gives us the time as well as our hospitality neighbors, to get on social media, call and email our guests and try and get the word out as far and as wide as possible. That all of big sur is open before memorial day weekend, and that everyone can come down and kick off their summer in big sur. Now, it is important to note that while most of us here, coming from big sur north can get through further south, highway one is still closed up. All slide, so you still cant take highway one through big sur to get to places like san luis obispo, Santa Barbara and la. But of course there is still plenty to see and do in big sur. As for the now stabilized portion of highway one south of rocky creek, the Governors Office says that a project to construct a permanent repair is in the design phase. The goal is for that to be finished in spring of 2025. Okay zach, thanks very much. A lot more to bring you here on abc seven news at six. Californias governor and catholics, why gavin newsom was at the vatican today and what he was speaking so passionately about. Im meteorologist sandhya patel. The marine layer is on the move tonight. Ill show you how much cooler its turnin for the week. Coming up, when . Abc a slow network is no network for business. Thats why more choose comcast business. And now, were introducing ultimate speed for business our fastest plans yet. Were up to 12 times faster than verizon, at t, and tmobile. And existing customers could even get up to triple the speeds. At no additional cost. Its ultimate speed for ultimate business. Dont miss out on our fastest speed plans yet switch to comcast business and get started for 49. 99 a month. Plus, ask how to get up to an 800 prepaid card. Call today today, mr. Biden announced that his administration plans to reclassify cannabis from a schedule one drug, like heroin and lsd to a schedule three drug like tylenol with codeine. Look folks, no one should be in jail merely for using or possessing marijuana. Period. Far too many lives have been upended because of failed approach to marijuana. And im committed to writing those wrongs. You have my word on it. The move wont make marijuana legal on the federal level, but would make marijuana easier to research and lessen the tax burden on state Legal Cannabis companies. Local dispensaries and their customers support this move. But a christian Public Policy organization based in sacramento opposes it. Nation is much more concerned about what weve seen societally, both through californias efforts to decriminalize this and now through president bidens administration. Anytime you see these types of changes, you do see usage grow up. The dea will next take Public Comment on this proposal, the first step in what is likely to be a fairly lengthy process. Governor newsom spoke today at the vatican climate summit. Reporter marc cotarobles from our sister station in los angeles, has his message from italy for californians and the world. This is the moment were living in, and it calls for clarity and it calls for understanding of what were up against. Governor newsom in rome speaking overnight with a speech on Climate Change at the vatican in a crisis he describes of extreme weather patterns. The huts are getting a lot hotter, the dries are getting a lot drier, the wets are getting a lot wetter. Its part of a three day summit hosted by pope francis, who has been urging leaders to preserve the planet for future generations. Leaders attending are discussing the effects of Global Warming in their communities. We have the tools we have the technology. We have the capacity to address this issue at a global level, a scale level. And theyve been fighting ever every single advancement. The governor taking aim at fossil fuel companies, saying they must be called out, the polluted heart of the Climate Crisis are these fossil fuel companies that have been lying to us. They have been deceiving us. Theyve known the science. Theyve denied the science. Theyve delayed advancement within the crisis. Newsom promoting progress and optimism. Im taking the moment to highlight specifically california s achievements. I come here today, day 32. 32 Straight Days over one month where californias economy is literally being run with 100 clean energy, saying its proof it can be done. The summit concludes tomorrow. Mark cotarobles abc seven news. Climate makes a big impact. Oh, it sure does. And on the subject of climate, lets turn to the weather meteorologist sandyha patel is here. Sandy. Yeah. Right. Now, if you look at our towercameras, dan and anna, you will notice that theres one thing in common. Good evening to all of you. We are seeing the marine layer in all of our images here. Its a big player in our forecast tonight sitting at 2000ft deep. Its already crossed over from the coast to the bay, and the wind is certainly pushing it along right now onshore, gusting to 32 in oakland, 21 out towards the delta in fairfield, 23 in concord. So do expect a widespread gray tomorrow morning as we go, hour by hour. The winds are going to remain gusty. 7 00 tonight, 25 to 30 mile an hour winds. Later on this evening they back off just slightly. But tomorrow morning they start out a lighter and then pick right back up again tomorrow afternoon and evening. So we are expecting the winds to remain with us. Unfortunately for those of us who suffer from allergies, the trees and grasses are running high. Oak, pine and grasses are the main culprits for why you may not be feeling your best at this point. All right, lets take a look at the satellite and the radar. High pressure still, the controlling factor. But just like this morning where we started out with some drizzle, it measured in some areas like Half Moon Bay trace amounts at the napa airport. Were expecting as you can see, that solid marine layers around to once again. So were expecting another round of that again tomorrow morning. Right now on live doppler seven, were just tracking the marine layer numbers anywhere from the 50s at the coast all the way to the 70s inland. And heres a look at what you can expect this evening. 7 p. M. Uh. In our inland areas in the upper 60s, quickly falling to the upper 50s by 11 p. M. You need a sweater or jacket. Thats f