Yes but I think that's incorrect. I see no evidence of those recent HEs getting rejected. All the article is going on is a flag in the HCD database, not actual official communications with the cities. The cities I'm familiar with have received no such letters (yet).
| 96 of 101 Bay Area municipalities had their housing elements rejected
Then TFA discusses one in particular at some length that did get their HE in by the deadline and had it rejected.