Mar 27, 2025 | Housing, Opinion
By Tim Redmond
March 27, 2025
Constraints on development, including zoning and environmental rules, have little or no impact on housing prices in the United States, a new study from economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco shows.
The study, also connected to the National Bureau of Economic Research, directly contradicts the fundamental economic thesis that has driven housing policy in the state for years: That development constraints have created high housing prices.
Mar 19, 2025 | Opinion, Housing
Posted by: Bob Silvestri
March 19, 2025
The term “efficiency” is in the news these days. However, contrary to the nonsense being peddled by the DOGE crowd, achieving increases in “efficiency,” which is fundamental to increased “productivity” and “wealth creation,” is about much more than randomly firing people to cut costs. If cost-cutting is not done in concert with even greater capital investment in people and technology, the net result is the degradation of operations and a sure path to bankruptcy.
Mar 18, 2025 | Opinion
Susan Kirsch
March 19, 2025
Recent news about a proposal to have school districts and the county be on the hook to “pay up” if not enough educators and county employees rent in an affordable workforce housing apartment complex is causing a stir on the IJ Opinion page.
Feb 28, 2025 | Housing, Legislation, Opinion
Eric Filseth
February 28, 2025
The coterie of housing pundits is addicted to the politically convenient but false narrative that zoning is the broad obstacle, when research shows that the true limitation has long been the rapidly escalating construction, materials and engineering costs that dominate dense housing projects in high-demand, high-inequality cities.
Feb 17, 2025 | Opinion
By RAYMOND LORBER
UPDATED: February 17, 2025
As we celebrate the 293rd birthday of the father of our country, I would like to note that George Washington’s strength of character is still portrayed as the standard for the office of the president of the United States of America. His character set the standard for honesty, courage, trustworthiness and respect.
Feb 7, 2025 | Opinion, Housing
By JOHN MCCAULEY
February 7, 2025
Given recent tragic wildfires in Los Angeles and Maui, fire danger is naturally on everyone’s mind. Evacuation readiness planning was a top priority during the nine years I served on the Mill Valley City Council.
In its zeal to promote more housing, the California Legislature passed numerous laws taking away local control of housing-development decisions irrespective of fire danger. Local jurisdictions like Mill Valley must comply with new state building mandates that appear to ignore fire risk.
