Single family homes under construction on an empty streetOPINION — In a recent commentary, the California Building Industry Association suggested it’s the impact fees paid by developers that make it hard to build homes Californians can afford. While that sounds convenient, it doesn’t stand up to the facts or to common sense if we just ask the obvious follow-up question: Then what?
Aerial panorama landscape view of a large new build housing development on green belt land due to a housing shortage with characterless design for first time buyersOPINION — There’s a lot of negativity surrounding the housing debate in California but not a lot of constructive criticism. It’s worth asking: what can the California legislature do to bring down the cost of a home?
Workers are constructing wooden frame beams for new building under roof trussesOPINION—Within the crowded field of candidates running for governor, California’s housing shortage dominates every campaign agenda. Voters are right to demand action on this issue.
New housing development next to Dumbarton Castle UKOPINION—As California’s affordability crisis continues to worsen, few Californians are aware of an approaching July 1 deadline for creating a new state agency to administer the state’s affordable housing programs.
Exterior view of modern apartment building offering luxury rental units in Silicon Valley; Sunnyvale, San Francisco bay area, CaliforniaOPINION — Landlords have begun using special AI computer software, known as “pricing algorithms,” to fix rents sky high.
Happy senior couple from behind looking at front of house and carOPINION – Over five years ago, California made a historic commitment to prepare for the demographic shift underway as millions of Californians live longer, healthier lives. Buy homelessness among adults 50+ is growing faster than any other age group, with nearly half of Californians experiencing homelessness over age 50.
Aerial view of unfinished wooden frames of affordable houses under construction. Development of residential housing in American suburbs. Real estate market in the USA.OPINION – With some of the most expensive housing in the country, the Legislature has spent years trying to make it easier to build more homes by cutting red tape and reducing unnecessary barriers. The Legislature passed a major housing reform package meant to help projects move faster and build the housing Californians desperately need. The goal was right. But parts of that law lack the legal certainty to be effective.
Image by JubJob.OPINION – California voters have a right to know whether their next Governor will stand up for a program that has delivered some of the most success in reducing homelessness, despite costing less than half a percent of state spending.
Image by Kirk Fisher.OPINION – California policymakers are obsessed with boosting “affordable housing,” which makes sense when housing in the state is out of reach to a large portion of its residents. They’re trying to solve the problem from the wrong end, though. The supply of affordable housing is best expanded not by focusing on building homes with artificially cheap price tags but by increasing the construction pace of all homes.
Single staircase apartment building. Image by Cebas. Numerous fire departments expressed opposition to relaxing building codes in a California Fire Marshal report, published Monday, that examines the safety of multifamily-unit buildings three or more stories tall.