LA Mayor Karen Bass’ budget calls for 80% drop in financing of new affordable housing

LA Mayor Karen Bass’ budget calls for 80% drop in financing of new affordable housing

By David Wagner
Published Apr 23, 2025

Facing a nearly $1 billion deficit, the city of Los Angeles is set to finance much less affordable housing over the next year under a proposed budget released this week by Mayor Karen Bass. The budget calls for a nearly 80% drop in city financing of new affordable housing units, declining from 770 homes in the current fiscal year to 160 homes in the next fiscal year. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Bass said economic conditions are increasingly unfavorable to housing development.

Aspirational goal becomes a wrecking ball

Aspirational goal becomes a wrecking ball

By Ann Duwe
Apr 22, 2025

When Governor Gavin Newsom declared he wanted 2.5 million new housing units in California, he failed to see how his “aspirational goal” would transform the Golden State into a matrix for high-rise, rental development. Newsom’s number became the basis for the 6th-cycle RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) numbers, the outsized housing demands now at the heart of every city’s housing element.

Bill to Reform Controversial California Environmental Law Clears First Legislative Hurdle

Bill to Reform Controversial California Environmental Law Clears First Legislative Hurdle

Adhiti Bandlamudi
Apr 22, 2025

A bill to exempt some housing projects from a controversial California law that pro-building activists blame for slowing down development cleared its first legislative hurdle this week.
On Monday, the State Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee approved AB 609, introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Berkeley), which would exempt infill housing projects built within existing cities from review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Emotions Run Hot Against Large Housing Projects in Manhattan Beach

Emotions Run Hot Against Large Housing Projects in Manhattan Beach

By Dave Fratello
Apr 20, 2025

Statistically speaking, there must be some people in Manhattan Beach who support a series of large new residential development projects currently under consideration by the city.

But at a forum hosted by city officials April 9, no such voices were in evidence, and opposition seemed to be universal from a boisterous, overflow crowd at the Joslyn Center.

Senate Bill 79 – Another Housing Rip-off from the California State Senate

Senate Bill 79 – Another Housing Rip-off from the California State Senate

By Dick Platkin
April 17, 2025

Are your lying eyes still deceiving you? Do you see vacancy signs on unrented apartments and houses in your neighborhood, yet you are repeatedly told that Los Angeles has so much homelessness and overcrowding because of a housing shortage? No, your eyes are not deceiving you; those vacancy signs are for real, and the claims of a general housing shortage are fabricated. They are a ruse because the homeless and overcrowded do not have enough money to rent or buy vacant apartments or houses.

YIMBY files lawsuit against Cupertino, claims city violated “builder’s remedy” law

YIMBY files lawsuit against Cupertino, claims city violated “builder’s remedy” law

By STEPHANIE LAM
April 11, 2025

Pro-housing group YIMBY Law has filed two lawsuits against Cupertino this week, claiming the city violated state laws by denying multiple housing proposals that would have added dozens of new homes.
The organization alleges that two preliminary proposals submitted under the builder’s remedy provision — Vista Heights and Schofield Drive — faced numerous roadblocks in their application process.